Cherry

Willow Hill #1

by Bretta Elaine

I’m used to spending my holidays alone.

Okay, alone might be a stretch. I am usually surrounded by people but fading into the background, forgotten even, which I like… Most of the time.

New Year’s was supposed to be different, or so my best friend said. The night started like usual, with me grabbing some booze and finding a hiding spot somewhere in the back of the room.

But everything changed when a dimple-dotting, dark-haired hottie slid into the booth with me.

The connection was instant. Sparks flew, metaphorically of course. But it did feel like we turned the heat up.

My luck with the holidays had finally changed. Or so I thought.

Next thing I know his date, the she-devil from work is all over him and I am puking on someone’s shoes.

Embarrassed, I try to forget that night, but it becomes impossible when Nate, the Greek god from the bar, shows back up, determined to win me over. Under the impression he is in a relationship, I do everything to shut his flirting down.

But a girl can only be so strong.

Through blush-inducing texts and flirtatious gifts, Nate clears up his relationship status one and for all. After that, it doesn’t take long for our relationship to heat up.

Everything between us is perfect. Almost too perfect. With my luck, I can’t help but feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Genres: Romance

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 4, 2024

About the author

Registered Nurse by day, romance author by night.

Bretta loves to read smutty books and has an unabashed addiction to Coca-Cola. When she isn't reading, you can find her daydreaming about her next book, making sarcastic comments, or being a hair-braiding enthusiast.

She lives in Oklahoma with her hot-mess son and a few fur babies, including a grumpy elderly dog and a diabetic cat.

Reviews

[Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book resonated on so many levels that it is sure to be hugely popular and if not, it would be a complete injustice

Written from an anxious heroines pov, it's reminiscent of listening to the escapades of your bestie and we all love a bit of gossip now and again, especially if it involves meeting a cinnamon roll mmc and getting one over from that b-word from work!

However, we can all relate to that feelimg of trepidation, when we have been almost conditioned throughout life (and within our family), to think we are not good enough or that we do not deserve to be seen (or heard)

It's just so real and relatable. It's a true love that we all hope to find and strive to build on.

The spice is balanced and in context without detracting from the core tenets of the storyline

This book was a fantastic read and it's fair to say it put me through an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. It's the type of tale that leaves you happily exhausted, replete and satisfied

Best Friend
Family Drama
Work Nemesis
Low Self-Esteem
Soul-Searching
Sparks Fly
NYE Work Party
Anxious Armadillo FMC
Cinnamon Roll MMC
He Falls First
Confessions
HEA

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mel Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. I thoroughly enjoyed this, every single part. Vivian felt so real and her emotions were palpable—yes I cried.
If I could marry Nate, I would. In a millisecond of a heartbeat. Sutton ia a babe and I love her! I need more of this world!

[Rifah Tasfia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've received this arc to give an honest review and guys I'm not lying I loved this book. This is hands down the best read of this month.
This was such a sweet, heartwarming, a little bit emotional book that stole my heart away.

This story is about Vivian and Nate. Vivian grew up in an environment where she always felt inferior, she felt like no matter what she does, she's good for nothing, an embarrassment to the family. She felt left out all the time and spent her time in a closet drinking alcohol. But this time her best friend forced her to leave her family behind and live this life a little where she found Nate. But when she found out Nate is here with other girl whom she hates the most, she ran away because she felt so stupid. But she again met him in her office and something that has always been between them clicked. But every story has a drawback.

Okay guys, hold me please because Nate is sooooooo wholesome, she's everything a girl needs in her life. How amazing he can make a girl feel, how secure he makes her feel is all a girl can ask. I loved Nate so much. He's hands down the greenest flag ever. And Viv is such a strong girl, my heart cries out for her. She has gone through a lot and when she finally found out the truth of her life, it shattered her. She deserves all the happiness in this world. She and Nate is such a cute, funny couple. I loved loved loved this one. And why this name? For that, you've to read the book.

[Jessica Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC of Cherry and allowing me to review it 💛

Cherry follows Vivian and the start of her relationship with Nate, which included cherry stem tying competitions, work place romance, spice and to make it even better, this is the first of a whole series.

I absolutely loved this book, it was exactly what i needed to read after the previous book i read had left me in tears. It was comedic at times, some times it got a little emotional but overall a real feel good romance.

Nate isn’t the usual type of book boyfriend that I’d be into but he was such a change and I really loved it, sort of a golden retriever type boyfriend. But I’m glad Viv still has a lot of time for her friends too as in some books the main character will get into a relationship and then never really speak to their friends again.

The plot and pacing was good, Viv sometimes had her own family troubles that I think a lot of people can relate to and the actual relationship between Viv and Nate was something i genuinely enjoyed reading. A lot of Romance books by upcoming authors I tend to not enjoy but this is definitely an exception.

Overall I’d definitely read Cherry again and I recommend this for fans of romance books too!

[Maddiereads24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in LOVE with Vivian and Nate’s love story in Cherry! Brettas book was a breath of fresh air! She had unique dates that they went on and lots of twists I didn’t see coming! I ugly cried literally laughed out loud happy cried got mad and was in shock at one point! It has all the feels and spice also!!! 5 out of 5 stars for me! Hands down the best romcom/ contemporary romance book I’ve EVER read! I also have never said I will re read a book until this book! I will be re reading this book a minimum of once a year! Ugh I just love it so much!!!

[Taryn Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the story and the friendship between the two female characters. I just wish there had been a little more background for Vivian earlier in the story so I could better understand her decisions.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
This was an adorable story. I enjoyed all the characters and appreciated that the timeline was actually longer than the typical week span of a romance.

[Brooke Gagnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cherry

Author - Bretta Elaine
Genre - Romance

4 Stars

He Falls First
Single POV
Workplace Romane

I received an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had lots of twists and turns! Vivian, who is the Female main character is not very confident, and is dealing with family issues drama alongside work stress. While attending her work NYE party, she bumps into Nate. There is an instant connection, and a cherry stem tying contest that occurs, but then the fun stops when it is discovered Nate is at the party with Vivians mortal enemy. Nate’s charm continuously sucks Vivian in, and she can’t resist giving him a chance to explain himself, and let her know why he was exactly at the party with her enemy.

There was a point in the book that it slowed down a bit, however, it doesn’t take much time for everything to blow up again. Nate messes up, and then Vivian’s parents throw another wrench into the mix. Sutton her best friend helps to ground Vivian, and helps her through the chaos that is turning into her life.

[megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need a second book for Sutton! This books gives it all it has a little work place drama, family secrets/drama, and all the spice. Vivi and Nate have to work through the challenges that there life keeps throwing their way. In the beginning it looks like nothing is going to happen and it will be a happy romance however that is not the last but love conquers all.

[Amanda Benson · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF: I couldn’t get into this. I tried so hard because the reviews were good but I stopped at page 50. The writing was not for me, but the book was funny!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy was I surprised! I received this book as an ARC read for my free, unbiased opinion. This is my first read by Bretta Elaine and she had me remembering why you do not jump to conclusions or make assumptions based on cover appearance or beginning chapters.

This book follows Vivian, an overthinker introvert, who works as an assistant to an architect in a big firm who would much rather binge watch Vampire Diaries at home than go out and be social. Her best friend, Sutton, works in the HR department at the same firm and basically helps push Vivian out of her shell and is the encouraging and uplifting voice to knock back Viv's insecurities. The opening chapter finds us witnessing Vivian hiding in a closet at her parents' house in order to try and escape an awkward Christmas where she is overlooked and belittled. It is in this said closet that Vivian calls Sutton to get her mind off her current predicament and Sutton convinces her to go out on New Years Eve to relax and have fun.

Little does Vivian know that Sutton has multiple parties lined up for NYE and one of them is the dreaded work party. In fact Vivian overheard her nemesis at work, Hadlee, raving about her date and how they are going to be the talk of the party earlier so needless to say, she is not looking forward to the event. Vivian tries to hide during the party but it is interrupted by a gorgeous, tall, blue-eyed man who asks if he can hide out with her too. She decides to allow him to join her and finds out just how amazing, funny, cute and FLIRTY this guy named Nate is. In fact, some of the flirting is involved with some cherry stems and their tongues!

The party does not end on the best note due to some unfortunate people so Vivian decides to forget she met Nate and how amazing he was. But she is surprised to find him at her work the next day and learns he is one of her boss' contacts. This work project allows them to start a fun and flirty dating relationship that quickly becomes droolworthy and heart pounding. As their relationship flourishes, they both start to realize this might just be the perfect match for both of them. When a shocking revelation is discovered, it appears that may be their happily ever after isn't for certain. The last half of the book was superb! The range of emotions felt by these characters was so intense and real. I teared up at one point!

I highly recommend you give this modern day romance a shot. You will not be disappointed - you will feel ALL the feels. 4.5 out of 5 stars for me!

[Nerdy Housewifey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped at around 70%, the twist the author adds is absolutely stupid, and I refuse to keep reading. It's cheap writing to try and add unnecessary angst to the story, but it completely goes against our previous set up and ruins the mmc in my eyes. It also makes a lot of stuff earlier in the book, not make sense. Completely destroyed what was a pretty good first book from this author for me. I will definitely never read her again though. I can't trust an author that doesn't keep her characters integrity. The way she used Nate (the main MMC) to create drama was ridiculous and not fair to the character he'd been up to that point.

Spoiler:

There's this woman the fmc works with that wants to date nate at the beginning (not a nice lady) and the fmc even over hears her talking about how they're (nate and mean girl) together but Nate is taking it slow and won't put out and stuff (the last part is important). Nate reassures Vivian he is not with the mean girl and in fact can't stand her, he was just being a wing man for his friend that's dating her roomate and had only met her twice.

The author then spends the first 60% of the book making a thoughtful, caring, loving and over all amazing man for Vivian to fall in love with. I mean Nate is an over all super nice guy.

Then just to add angst or make the book longer (gotta have our third act break up I guess). The girl from work ends up pregnant and it might be Nates because *gasp* they slept together once and he lied about it to Vivian....

The issue is this completely goes against what we previously over heard the coworker say Nate taking it slow and holding out on her. It also in my opinion destroys the whole kind, caring, not shallow mmc we've just spent hours reading about.

Just lazy freaking writing, sorry I'm angry, I feel like I've wasted my time and I'm mad for Nate. This wasn't fair to him a good guy can be a good guy.

[Angie Holden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivian, accustomed to the feeling of invisibility, finds herself at a New Year's Eve party, reluctantly convinced by her best friend Sutton to attend. It's at this event that she encounters Nate, and as they enjoy each other's company, an unexpected twist occurs when her snarky coworker, also Nate's date, makes an appearance. Despite the initial embarrassment, Vivian attempts to move past that awkward night, only to discover that Nate has other plans.

"Cherry" is, hands down, one of the most delightful rom-coms I've ever read! This book had me experiencing a whirlwind of emotions—laughter, swooning, giggling, blushing, annoyance, and even shedding a few tears. The rollercoaster of emotions intensified as I rooted for the main characters, Vivian and Nate. The banter between them is charming and humorous, adding a layer of sweetness to their relationship. The level of spice in the narrative is captivating, leaving me blushing and feeling a bit hot under the collar on several occasions.

Tied into the romance, is a beautiful and witty friendship between Vivian and Sutton, who serves as an excellent side character. Vivian's backstory, especially concerning her family, adds depth to the narrative, and a surprising and heartbreaking twist unfolds, catching me off guard. Bretta skillfully ties up all the loose ends, creating an unforgettable reading experience. These characters have taken up residence in my mind and heart, and will be living rent-free for months!

I can't express enough how much I adore this book. Having initially received it as an ARC, I promptly purchased a copy upon finishing, ensuring it has a permanent place on my shelf. I eagerly anticipate more literary gems from this talented author!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stacey T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a girl meets boy that falls hard in a seemingly perfect relationship only to discover it was built on a lie. Vivian (Cherry) is a personal assistant that feels like the oddball in the family and would rather stay home rewatching “The Vampire Diaries” then socially interact with strangers. Fortunately, Sutton, her longtime BFF, is a social butterfly and drags her to many NYE parties where she meets Nate and his cute dimples. Nate (Unicorn) is a landscape designer set to take over the family business and is intrigued by this stunning redhead. Unfortunately, his date for the evening is her workplace nemesis, Hadlee, and if he doesn’t do something quick, this relationship is about to be over before it ever starts and so a lie is told. Luckily, fate brings them together again at work and they eventually start dating and falling hard for each other. Oh, but remember that thing he had to do to save their connection – that little lie is about to come back and bite them in a big way. Will they be able to survive this and move forward or is this another tragic love story?
I really enjoyed these two characters – Vivian is a woman that struggles like many of us with insecurities and self-doubt. The side story of her relationship with her family is wonderful and adds to an understanding of who she is. Nate is the perfect guy, hence Unicorn, even though he is flawed and hiding good secrets of what he really wants in life. Sutton, BFF, is the friend we should all have that is always there at the drop of a hat with alcohol or ice cream to give us comfort and much needed advice. This is my first book from this author, but definitely not my last. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicole Never Reads Too Much · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for review purposes. I occasionally enjoy dipping into romance novels. Despite my initial expectations, I was captivated by the love story between Vivian and Nate.

Although the book contained more sex scenes than I anticipated, I couldn't help but become engrossed in the romance unfolding between the two main characters. Vivian and Nate's love story was beautifully portrayed, and despite the steamy moments, their connection felt genuine and heartfelt.

Additionally, Sutton's character stood out as the type of best friend anyone would want in their corner. Her unwavering support and loyalty added depth to the story, and her interactions with Vivian provided moments of inside jokes and insight.

I found myself swept away by the depth of emotion and chemistry between Vivian and Nate. Their love story resonated with me, and I couldn't help but root for their happiness throughout the book.

Furthermore, I appreciated the author's portrayal of Sally and her complex relationship with Vivian. Understanding Sally's motivations and witnessing both her and Vivian's willingness to grow and evolve added layers to the narrative.

Most importantly, Nate's genuine love for Vivian inspired her to be more open and vulnerable with those around her, leading to significant growth in her relationships. It was wonderful to see Vivian's character development as she learned to trust and open herself up to love and friendship.

Overall, while the level of explicit content was more than I usually prefer, I ultimately found myself falling in love with Vivian and Nate's love story. It's a testament to Bretta Elaine's skill in crafting compelling characters and engaging relationships that kept me hooked until the very end.

[Jacklyn B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivian wants nothing more than to be home on NYE, but her BFF Sutton convinced her to come out and they end up at their work party. She is hiding out and avoiding some of her coworkers when she meets a handsome man named Nate. They hit it off until she discovers he is at the party with her arch nemesis. Hard stop.

Imagine her surprise when he walks in her office and she now has to work with him. He is smitten and slowly starts to win her over with very cute texts and seems perfect for her…but is he hiding something?

I really enjoyed Viv and Nate’s story. It was very sweet and spicy and also a little rocky to get to the HEA! I loved their NYE meet cute and how he calls her Cherry and she calls him her Unicorn. They had immediate chemistry and I also liked how they really got to know each other via text and in person - it felt very authentic to me.

Vivian had struggled with her family and feelings of insecurity and not feeling loved. Nate really helped her grow her confidence and there is a very satisfying scene when she finally stands up for herself. Nate also had some struggles and Viv is so supportive of him in his pursuit of his dreams.

I loved the friendship between Vivian and Sutton!! They truly have such a special relationship. I also loved Cooper, Nate’s best friend and how the four of them get along so well. The banter in this story is hilarious between all the characters and I wonder if something is going to happen between Sutton and Cooper?

✨Tropes
🩷Office Romance
❤️‍🔥He Falls First
🍷Family Drama
🦄Cinnamon Roll MMC
💋Anxious Wallflower FMC
🥂NYE Meet-Cute
🍒Cherry Stem Tying Contest
🍾HEA

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! I am so in LOVE with this story. It was just so adorable, sweet and funny and there were only a few moments when I didn’t have a smile on my face while reading it. I just wanted to climb into the book and be best friends with Vivian and Sutton. These two women gave the story so much life!

Vivian has always felt like the outsider and never felt like she was good enough. When we see how her family treats her, we can completely understand why she feels this way. My heart ached for her whenever she was with her family and the way they continually treated her. But this girl has spunk. And with her best friend in tow, these two can get through any tough situation.

Nate is a complete cinnamon-roll. He’s everything you could want in a boyfriend. Nate and Vivian have this instant attraction to one another, but it will take a little bit of convincing by Nate before Vivian gives him a chance. When she does, their relationship flourishes from there, but not without some heavy bumps in the road too.

The back-and-forth banter between Vivian and Nate was hilarious and filled with sweetness, sarcasm, quips, flirty sexual innuendos and an undeniable passion and craving for each other. They have such fantastic chemistry that you knew these two were going to be explosively hot together. And DAMN were they ever!

This story was so well written that with every laugh, heartache, and pain that the characters go through felt real and relatable. Their emotional turmoil just oozed off the pages and had me tearing up not wanting anything to happen to this amazing couple.

I absolutely loved this story and look forward to reading more in this new series.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivien is a typical unassuming woman, she lacks self confidence and thinks she's unattractive as well as a disappointment to her family. Her whole life she has felt as though she doesn't belong, none of her family really acknowledge her or do just about anything to embarrase or know little about the real Vivien. She is lucky to have a friend who is always there when she needs that boost or a shoulder to cry on, Sutton is always her saviour. Then on New Year's Eve she ends up meeting Nate he ends up sitting with her all night they have instant chemistry, until the end of the night she finds he's the boyfriend of the bully at work who loves making fun of Viv. Will her life ever be normal, will she ever be enough for anyone will someone ever put her first. Nate is your average normal guy, he doesn't try to be something he's not, he's happy just go with the flow. His family business is his main priority and focus, until he meets Viv. She's clumsy, funny, shy and beautiful inside and out, but she thinks he's dating. Can he prove to her he's not, can he prove he's worth taking a chance on. This is a brilliantly written book and Vivien is totally relatable, it's one of those books you just can't stop rooting for her to finally be happy. I received this as an ARC copy and this is my own opinion and review of the book

[Lyndi (mibookobsession) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivien grew up always feeling like the outsider in her own family, not good enough or pretty enough, and most of her holidays are spent hiding away unnoticed. Her best friend invites her out for a New Year's party where she feels most comfortable hiding in a corner booth. But to her complete shock, a total hottie drops into her booth and they really hit it off... he might even be flirting with her. Until his date shows up, none other than Viv's work nemesis. Trying to forget about Nate, she's shocked when he starts texting her like he's not in a relationship. After she allows him to explain, things between them start to heat up, they have so much in common, and he's so perfect she starts to call him her unicorn. But nothing in her life has ever gone so perfectly and she's just waiting for everything to fall apart.
These two were so cute together right from the start and I loved their flirty banter and how well they fit. I got so mad at her family for how they treated her, the mean girls at work were so horrible, but the supporting best friend characters Sutton and Cooper were so great. I'm hoping for a book of their own eventually! The third act breakup was frustrating but so realistic and Nate's apology and groveling at the end won my heart.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Linda Dominick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't stop thinking about Vivien and Nate even though I'm done reading Cherry! I am so glad this book is coming out next month. It's a great way to start off anyone's reading goals. This book made me laugh, cry, get mad, hope and root for a HEA!!
I related to Vivien being the black sheep of the family and that not all holidays spent with family are always fun. I also felt her frustration at office gossip and politics, but at least she had Sutton there.
Do not get me started on Hadlee.
Vivien had a lot going on between her family, her workplace, Sutton, and her love life. All parts of the story felt real and relatable. She is genuinely a nice person. She is a college dropout, she believes she is not good enough, that she doesn't make her parents happy, she has low self-esteem and suffers from panic attacks.
Nate is gorgeous, kind, smart and creative. He has his own dreams but has put his family business first. He everything any women would want, and he perfectly imperfect.
The way that Nate and Vivien meet and then end up running into each other is done well, as is the complications of any relationship, honesty and communication. While Nate sure was a unicorn, he also proved to be just a guy who loves a girl.

[Hairi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before sharing my thoughts on this book, I would like to talk about its font first. I usually find it quite difficult to read ebooks as the screen triggers my migraine. But this one was so easy to read and I finished it quite quickly because of the accurate font and don't size.

This book is for all those who like spicy and mature content in the book. It had lots, like lots. I appreciate the author for putting up the trigger warning in the book. I usually don't read spicy books but for this, I was mentally prepared so I skimmed through the spicy content.

As for the plot and story, it was such a sweet and cute kind of story, right what I needed at the moment. I kinda predicted the twist and it turned out to be the same. Hadlee was such ****.
Vivian's character developed with the story and I'm glad she found her match who took care of her heart like a treasure.
Nate is just my dream boyfriend type lol. Okay earth to me, he was a very nice guy and caring plus handsome. Only fictional characters could be as perfect as Nate.

I loved Nate's sister, Cooper, and Susan. I want separate books on them, I mean their stories.

Thank you for entrusting me with the eArc.

[Helen Causer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivian meets Nate at her employer’s New Years Eve Party, and they hit it off straight away. Unbeknownst to Vivian, however, he was there as a plus one for her work Nemesis, and she leaves the party early.

It turns out that Nate is a client of her employer, and they meet up again at her place of work, and he persuades her to give him her number.
Vivian has very low self esteem, having been the youngest in her family, and feeling unloved, so is reluctant to hope he might call.

This is a fabulous story, which has been so well plotted, and written by the author, and with an amazing cast of believable characters.

Of course, Nate and Vivian get together, but the course of true love doesn’t run smoothly for them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which is much more than a just a love story, with a lot of soul searching, surprise confessions, and tears along the way. I cried along with the characters too!

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cherry tells the story of family, love and growing up. Vivian Benson is faced with the realities of learning to love imperfect people, herself included.

I liked the overall intent of this book and the story, while sometimes tangential was interesting and hooked me. There are some serious plot points that are treated with irreverence that drove me kind of nuts. This is a single POV and so many times throughout, I wanted another POV. Vivian as a MC is a bit draining and unreliable at many points in the story. This story is also not set within a specific geographic area, which left me feeling disconnected from really visualizing the story. The last functional note is that the tenses change frequently and it was distracting to me as a reader.

I am excited for the next book in this series to see how the writing and storytelling evolves.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Andrea Mehalco · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride! Vivian, the not-so-confident FMC dealing with family drama and work stress, bumps into Nate at the company's NYE party. Sparks fly, but bam, turns out he's hanging out with her mortal enemy causing her to immediately distance herself. However, Nate's charm is just too hard to resist. They start dating, and he's like the ultimate dream boyfriend, the illustrious unicorn.

Honestly about halfway through this book I was bored while waiting for the other shoe to drop. BUT that shoe, damn! Everything hits the fan. Nate messes things up big time, followed by her parents who throw some chaos into the mix. Thank goodness for Sutton, Vivian's awesome best friend. The story picks up as Vivian deals with the fallout, growing through the pain.

Can Vivian patch things up with everyone? And does she get another shot at her unicorn? You need grab this book to get all the juicy details!

[Gabriella Jimenez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cherry and Unicorn

Reading Cherry is so good. I loved it so much.

Vivian and Sutton are best friends and non lovers who are thick as thieves. Vivian being the youngest and feeling like she doesn’t belong in her family as her twin siblings get more attention from mom than she does. Hiding in a closet in her family home she gets drunk and promises her best friend Sutton that she will go with her on a New Years Party. There’s where she meets Nate while she is hiding in a corner. Vivian and Nate are like magnets who have magnetic energy. Believing he’s in a relationship with her arch nemesis at work she tries to stay away from him. When he comes to her office the attraction is still there. Once he confirms he is in fact not in a relationship with her arch nemeses. The gloves. Come off and her and Nate begin their romance. With finding out stuff, betrayal, heartbreak, and growing up. Will this pair stay together?

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 in Elaine's new series Willow Hill and I cannot wait to read more in this series. Completely captivating with main characters Vivian and Nate as they begin a new relationship. I loved that Vivian is more introverted and overthinks things - I can relate at times and I loved that she comes thru relatable but not in a pitying way. I also loved how these two met and the growth of their relationship. Sweet, funny and steamy - this book checked all my boxes. I also love that while Vivian is starting on this new journey with Nate, she's still all about her friend(s) who have her back. I can't wait to see what's next in this series as there are so many characters, I want more from. Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC - and I can't wait for more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, I just love this book! Vivian is so relatable as no one has it together especially in a new relationship. Nate is just the best, doting guy.

Vivian promises her best friend, Sutton, to go out for New Years Eve and promptly regrets it once Sutton is off with her boyfriend. Finding a spot out of the way, Vivian is interrupted by a mystery hot guy, Nate. They hit it off, until Nate's date finds him and it's the mean girl from Vivian's work. Vivian had a great time, but reminds herself that Nate is taken. Time passes and they cross paths again and finally Nate gets to explain he's single. It works out so well… until it doesn't. Will they make it back to each other?

I'm hoping Vivian's friend Sutton gets a book. She was a hoot and perfect supporting cast in this book. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my review.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivian is at a New Year’s Eve party for her work. She does not mix well and decides to hide out in a booth. Nate is trying to get away from his date and asks if he can hide out with her. They enjoy their evening together and end up literally running into each other when Nate’s landscaping company comes to her office to work on a project. Vivian finds it hard to think someone would love her when her own parents do not. Nate and Vivian have many fun dates and when she meets his parents for the first time it is very humorous. I loved their relationship and the devotion he showed to Vivian. Vivian’s best friend is so supportive and adds a lot to the story. This is a great story with wonderful characters and surprises along the way.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. My heart went out to this compassionate and fun young lady, Viv or Cherry, whose family didn't seem to care about her. She always fell well hind her twin siblings, Rian and Bailey, on the family totem pole and even called her parents by their first names, as if they didn't want her to associate them as her parents.

The romance ride has been a rough one for Viv, as she never found anyone to truly care for her til Nate. Their romance ride was either estatically high or lowest of the lows with broken hearts. Felt all the highs and lows with the authors writing and wanted the story to go one.

I received an ARC copy and am giving my review freely and voluntarily.

[Amanda S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, Bretta Elaine is becoming a must read author for me. This is the second time I have been lucky enough to get an ARC by her, and I loved the other one just as much.

Vivien is is very relatable. Haven't we all felt like we don't fit in or that we aren't good enough? You can't help but root for her to find her HEA. When she meets Nate and he's practically perfect I thought "wow, this is her HEA" only to find out her was with her nemesis. I was hoping that Nate would convince her that he was worth taking a chance on. I don't want to spoil this book for anyone, so you'll just have to read it to find out if Vivien gets her man. This book is well written and kept me wanting more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.