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Clover Hill Romance #13
A Common Bond
Construction Project Manager Carneline has a lot of her plate at the family business. The last thing she needs is romance.
But Josie, the skilled superintendent, is complicating things one iced coffee at a time.
Carneline Triana runs a tight ship. Her no-nonsense approach to project management saves her father’s historic restoration firm money—that’s why he put her on the company’s first project in Clover Hill. Her cool demeanor keeps all but the bravest at bay, and she’s fine with that. She's got her plants and her poetry, and doesn’t have time for dating anyway. At least, until she walks on to the construction site and finds Josie in charge.
An experienced site superintendent, Josie Basurto intends to fix up Clover Hill’s historic town hall one iced coffee at a time. She’s worked with the Trianas before, but never with Carneline. With her easy swagger and attractive confidence, she is determined to wiggle under Carneline’s frosty exterior and make Carneline smile by any means necessary.
Neither of them are looking for love, but when a faulty engine part strands Carneline downtown, staying over at Josie’s seems the logical choice. As sparks start to fly, the two women are forced to hide their mutual attraction in order to keep the project on track and avoid angering Carneline’s father. When a fateful night pushes them over the edge, Josie and Carneline have to make a choice. Do they figure out a way to do this thing, or do they ignore their feelings and pretend it all never happened?
But Josie, the skilled superintendent, is complicating things one iced coffee at a time.
Carneline Triana runs a tight ship. Her no-nonsense approach to project management saves her father’s historic restoration firm money—that’s why he put her on the company’s first project in Clover Hill. Her cool demeanor keeps all but the bravest at bay, and she’s fine with that. She's got her plants and her poetry, and doesn’t have time for dating anyway. At least, until she walks on to the construction site and finds Josie in charge.
An experienced site superintendent, Josie Basurto intends to fix up Clover Hill’s historic town hall one iced coffee at a time. She’s worked with the Trianas before, but never with Carneline. With her easy swagger and attractive confidence, she is determined to wiggle under Carneline’s frosty exterior and make Carneline smile by any means necessary.
Neither of them are looking for love, but when a faulty engine part strands Carneline downtown, staying over at Josie’s seems the logical choice. As sparks start to fly, the two women are forced to hide their mutual attraction in order to keep the project on track and avoid angering Carneline’s father. When a fateful night pushes them over the edge, Josie and Carneline have to make a choice. Do they figure out a way to do this thing, or do they ignore their feelings and pretend it all never happened?
- GenresRomance
172 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 6, 2023
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Clover Hill Romance series comes to a bittersweet conclusion with T.M. Kuta’s A Common Bond. Like always, this book stands alone, but now having read all of them, there’s not one that I dislike, and I love how this shared-world allows the different authors to reference each other’s stories in a fun Easter Egg-y way, while remaining self-contained.
I really liked both Carneline, also nicknamed Carrie by her family, and Josie. Both are very professionally minded, but the presence of the other throws them off-guard. It’s especially jarring from Carneline’s perspective, as she isn’t entirely sure what to do, and that plays a role in the third-act conflict (not a breakup per se, but it’s something that keeps the two apart and the HEA in doubt). I couldn’t help but root for them to get out of their own heads and figure out how to be together.
I was initially worried that I wouldn’t love this one as much, given how much of this book relies on the construction aspect. Many chapters begin with very professional email exchanges, not just between the two leads, but between other characters. That, and feeling the slow build of the first half, led to my initial struggle to get truly invested. However, as I got deeper into the story, and the romance truly picked up beyond them circling each other, I ended up being satisfied with how things turned out, even if there was a bit of miscommunication involved.
This is a satisfying conclusion for the Clover Hill Romance series and a great book in its own right. If you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted queer small-town romance, I’d recommend checking out this one, or any of the series, to see if there’s any you like.
The Clover Hill Romance series comes to a bittersweet conclusion with T.M. Kuta’s A Common Bond. Like always, this book stands alone, but now having read all of them, there’s not one that I dislike, and I love how this shared-world allows the different authors to reference each other’s stories in a fun Easter Egg-y way, while remaining self-contained.
I really liked both Carneline, also nicknamed Carrie by her family, and Josie. Both are very professionally minded, but the presence of the other throws them off-guard. It’s especially jarring from Carneline’s perspective, as she isn’t entirely sure what to do, and that plays a role in the third-act conflict (not a breakup per se, but it’s something that keeps the two apart and the HEA in doubt). I couldn’t help but root for them to get out of their own heads and figure out how to be together.
I was initially worried that I wouldn’t love this one as much, given how much of this book relies on the construction aspect. Many chapters begin with very professional email exchanges, not just between the two leads, but between other characters. That, and feeling the slow build of the first half, led to my initial struggle to get truly invested. However, as I got deeper into the story, and the romance truly picked up beyond them circling each other, I ended up being satisfied with how things turned out, even if there was a bit of miscommunication involved.
This is a satisfying conclusion for the Clover Hill Romance series and a great book in its own right. If you’re looking for a fun, lighthearted queer small-town romance, I’d recommend checking out this one, or any of the series, to see if there’s any you like.
May 20, 2026
I think I took too long to read this, and it lost a bit of the magic... it's still a very high three stars, but it was missing something... I think this one actually had some more references to the Clover Hill universe, which I've always wanted, but then at the same time I read the others in the series so long ago, that I couldn't pick up on those...
The ending was really sweet and adorable, but the need for it was a bit too drama-filled... I liked them getting together, the friendship developing, but we did not need the late arc into the book. I also wanted a bit more development from the family and friends, those are always relationships I really like in romance movies, and I didn't get it here.
The setting itself was also not a favorite for me, and that was a reason I put this off for so long, because in this series the setting/the town is part of the story!!! And I LOVED the town parts, again, I repeat that this book did a better job incorporating the world, but the work scenario wasn't for me...
Overall, a really cute romance, and a great addition of the Clover Hill series, I just took too long to read it...
I had received this book for free from the author and book series coordinators in exchange of an honest review (though I'm super later with it)
The ending was really sweet and adorable, but the need for it was a bit too drama-filled... I liked them getting together, the friendship developing, but we did not need the late arc into the book. I also wanted a bit more development from the family and friends, those are always relationships I really like in romance movies, and I didn't get it here.
The setting itself was also not a favorite for me, and that was a reason I put this off for so long, because in this series the setting/the town is part of the story!!! And I LOVED the town parts, again, I repeat that this book did a better job incorporating the world, but the work scenario wasn't for me...
Overall, a really cute romance, and a great addition of the Clover Hill series, I just took too long to read it...
I had received this book for free from the author and book series coordinators in exchange of an honest review (though I'm super later with it)
July 9, 2025
3 stars. Carneline was way too childish to be 35 years old. I couldn’t stand her and found her to be super unlikable. Josie was wonderful though and I felt bad for her that Carneline kept giving her the runaround. The town of Clover Hill was lovely and had a warm feeling to it and the side characters were great as well. There’s only like maybe three other books in this series that I’m interested in so I’ll definitely pick those up but this one was a dud for me unfortunately.
October 30, 2023
I got to read an ARC and thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, sassy romcom with heart at the very center. It plays into Pride and Prejudice vibes (egos and miscommunications) but not overly so, or not unbelievable. And the cast, both the main characters and their friends and family, are all lovely. Makes you want to move a small town and grab a papusa at Josie's Tias' restaurant.
November 15, 2023
Adorable! Took me a little to get into it because of the jargon involved, but once I got passed the first few pages and into the characters, it grabbed my attention. Definitely an adorable a cozy romance.
December 11, 2023
I'm excited to read this sexy work romance !
November 12, 2025
hot and sweet
I love a cozy awkward romance!!! And these characters are both. Absolutely wonderful writing and I can’t wait to read more from TM Kuta
I love a cozy awkward romance!!! And these characters are both. Absolutely wonderful writing and I can’t wait to read more from TM Kuta
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews