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Pine For You
Rosie Atwood is overwhelmed. Christmas used to be her favorite time of year, but everything changed five years ago when her best friend ghosted her right before she could tell him how she really felt. And it’s all gone downhill since. When her sister dies, and Rosie’s left in charge of her young nephew, she’s willing to do whatever she needs to protect him from the Atwood curse. Including becoming a surrogate for her oldest sister in exchange for meals and a place to live. Her last dream is to turn things around for Waldvogel Farms. Holden’s grandparents are the best family she ever had, and she refuses to let them down. But being pregnant and thrust into the role of parent doesn’t make it easy. Then Holden Moore shows back up, ready to reclaim his spot in her life like nothing changed. Rosie thinks things can’t get any worse. Until someone starts sabotaging all the work she’d done to save the Farm. Is Holden behind the damage? Using it as an excuse to get close to her? Or is there something more sinister at play? Holden Moore never intended to leave Pinesbury behind. He just wanted to be a soldier. And he wanted to be the kind of man his best friend could love. But a close call on his first deployment made Holden reevaluate everything he’d ever known. Afraid he wouldn’t be there for Rosie or his family back home, Holden cut ties. Now he’s back in town, five years later, and ready to leave combat behind and right his wrongs. It’s just too bad Rosie isn’t ready to welcome him back into her life. But Holden is determined to change her mind. When things start going wrong at Waldvogel Farms, Holden finds himself blamed by the town that helped raise him. Juggling the hunt for the mysterious saboteur, rebuilding his relationship with Rosie, and fighting his status as Pinesbury’s Fallen Golden Boy wasn’t how he planned to spend his first Christmas back, but when an innocent gets caught in the middle, Holden has no choice but to tap into his old training or risk losing everything. With Happily Ever After on the line, will Rosie and Holden be able to heal old wounds and save Waldvogel Farms in time for Christmas? Or will it all go down in flames?
168 pages, Paperback
Published December 4, 2023
4 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Leigh
3 books45 followersA good story lives somewhere between believability and fantastic imagination.
Leigh has been writing for about as long as she’s been able to hold a pen. What started as gibberish lines only interpretable into wild tales by a child’s eyes evolved into sensorial short stories and finally landed in the realm of mystery and intrigue.
An avid reader, Leigh discovered a passion for the genre when her mother purchased her the entire collection of Nancy Drew books. As her enthusiasm for reading and writing expanded, Leigh ventured into new topics and categories, but always came home to a good whodunit with a happily ever after.
Leigh loves a good mystery and characters you can fall in love with. Her stories tie together situational suspense, intense emotion, and a pinch of humor. Oh, and a splash of spice, too. They always have a happy ending, even while they still keep readers guessing about what will happen next.
Leigh has been writing for about as long as she’s been able to hold a pen. What started as gibberish lines only interpretable into wild tales by a child’s eyes evolved into sensorial short stories and finally landed in the realm of mystery and intrigue.
An avid reader, Leigh discovered a passion for the genre when her mother purchased her the entire collection of Nancy Drew books. As her enthusiasm for reading and writing expanded, Leigh ventured into new topics and categories, but always came home to a good whodunit with a happily ever after.
Leigh loves a good mystery and characters you can fall in love with. Her stories tie together situational suspense, intense emotion, and a pinch of humor. Oh, and a splash of spice, too. They always have a happy ending, even while they still keep readers guessing about what will happen next.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 12, 2023
⭐️4.25/5 | 🌶️ 2/5 | Holiday Novella | Romantic Suspense | Childhood Friends to Lovers | Small Town | Single Caregiver
This was such a cute read! A small town, hallmark vibes romantic suspense novel that is sure to gear you up for your holiday reading. This felt like JM Leigh putting her spin on Lovelight Farms!
I loved how cozy this whole novella felt from Holden’s grandparents owning a tree farm, to the endless hot chocolate, the little touches of Christmas decor and of course little Ri.
I loved the simplicity in Rosie and Holden’s relationship. Despite the falling out from Holden’s fears while in military, it didn’t take long for them to recognize how their friendship and love never really ceased. Holden was acknowledging of his faults and persistent in winning Rosie back. Them being best friends and being in love with each other secretly was so adorable!
Rosie was admirable and selfless. With the passing of her sister, she was chosen to care for her nephew Orion and he was the cutest little thing! Also, she became a surrogate for her other sister Lily while learning to care for Ri, run the tree farm and keep it from closing. Holden’s grandparents were a godsend as they provided her with the most support. Her passion to help the farm stems from her relationship with Wadvogels and Holden.
I liked the suspense part of the novella, although I secretly wish the resolution involved more of the crew, i get it that this is a holiday read and needed to keep it light. 😅 It could have used a little more sprinkle of Christmas magic but thats just me and how I want to feel the full force of the holiday spirit.
You know I need to mention Madi & Theo’s cameo! We get the same chemistry and magic from the couple that I loved so much. JM may have dropped a hint, more like a bomb 😂 that would make you squeal if you love Madi & Theo! If you haven’t read Misdirection & Misinformation you are missing out - both 5 star reads for me.
Anyway, just read this! You’ll enjoy it 💛
This was such a cute read! A small town, hallmark vibes romantic suspense novel that is sure to gear you up for your holiday reading. This felt like JM Leigh putting her spin on Lovelight Farms!
I loved how cozy this whole novella felt from Holden’s grandparents owning a tree farm, to the endless hot chocolate, the little touches of Christmas decor and of course little Ri.
I loved the simplicity in Rosie and Holden’s relationship. Despite the falling out from Holden’s fears while in military, it didn’t take long for them to recognize how their friendship and love never really ceased. Holden was acknowledging of his faults and persistent in winning Rosie back. Them being best friends and being in love with each other secretly was so adorable!
Rosie was admirable and selfless. With the passing of her sister, she was chosen to care for her nephew Orion and he was the cutest little thing! Also, she became a surrogate for her other sister Lily while learning to care for Ri, run the tree farm and keep it from closing. Holden’s grandparents were a godsend as they provided her with the most support. Her passion to help the farm stems from her relationship with Wadvogels and Holden.
I liked the suspense part of the novella, although I secretly wish the resolution involved more of the crew, i get it that this is a holiday read and needed to keep it light. 😅 It could have used a little more sprinkle of Christmas magic but thats just me and how I want to feel the full force of the holiday spirit.
You know I need to mention Madi & Theo’s cameo! We get the same chemistry and magic from the couple that I loved so much. JM may have dropped a hint, more like a bomb 😂 that would make you squeal if you love Madi & Theo! If you haven’t read Misdirection & Misinformation you are missing out - both 5 star reads for me.
Anyway, just read this! You’ll enjoy it 💛
December 10, 2023
Pine for You ARC Review
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Pine for You by J.M. Leigh and Alexis Layne. All opinions are my own and given freely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
content warning: this book contains adult content and content referencing adult situations, the loss of a sibling/parent, emotional neglect, abduction of a child, infertility, and trauma, including on-page discussions of violence. while our goal in writing this story was to provide entertainment and escape and situations and experiences have been simplified to that end, these topics are heavy and deserving of care and understanding.
“i didn’t know if there was any more christmas magic left for me. but, this christmas, i do.”
i absolutely adored this book! it was fast-paced and so much happened in such a short amount of pages but it was perfect! definitely gives off hallmark vibes and i loved it so much!!
the characters in this book are easy to fall in love with and i just wish this wasn’t a novella. i just wanted to keep reading about these characters 😭 but i absolutely loved rosie’s relationship with oma and opa! rosie having oma and opa to lean on and help her take care of her nephew orion in spite of the struggles they also face was so sweet 🥺 rosie always takes care of and helps everyone else and her finally having someone taking care of and helping her was important aspect of this book. and although holden ghosted rosie for 5 years, he was able to and will continue to prove over and over again to her that he isn’t going to make the same mistake twice and i’m so happy they were able to get their hea!
i definitely think the authors did a great job when it came to writing about such sensitive topics. it was done with so much care and understanding.
the second chance romance and friends to lovers trope mixed with a bit of suspense and a sprinkle of spice, is exactly what you’ll get if you read this book!! i cannot wait to read the authors future work and once again thank you much for giving me the chance to read pine for you early! 💚
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Pine for You by J.M. Leigh and Alexis Layne. All opinions are my own and given freely.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️/5
content warning: this book contains adult content and content referencing adult situations, the loss of a sibling/parent, emotional neglect, abduction of a child, infertility, and trauma, including on-page discussions of violence. while our goal in writing this story was to provide entertainment and escape and situations and experiences have been simplified to that end, these topics are heavy and deserving of care and understanding.
“i didn’t know if there was any more christmas magic left for me. but, this christmas, i do.”
i absolutely adored this book! it was fast-paced and so much happened in such a short amount of pages but it was perfect! definitely gives off hallmark vibes and i loved it so much!!
the characters in this book are easy to fall in love with and i just wish this wasn’t a novella. i just wanted to keep reading about these characters 😭 but i absolutely loved rosie’s relationship with oma and opa! rosie having oma and opa to lean on and help her take care of her nephew orion in spite of the struggles they also face was so sweet 🥺 rosie always takes care of and helps everyone else and her finally having someone taking care of and helping her was important aspect of this book. and although holden ghosted rosie for 5 years, he was able to and will continue to prove over and over again to her that he isn’t going to make the same mistake twice and i’m so happy they were able to get their hea!
i definitely think the authors did a great job when it came to writing about such sensitive topics. it was done with so much care and understanding.
the second chance romance and friends to lovers trope mixed with a bit of suspense and a sprinkle of spice, is exactly what you’ll get if you read this book!! i cannot wait to read the authors future work and once again thank you much for giving me the chance to read pine for you early! 💚
December 1, 2023
✨️🎄ARC BOOK REVIEW🎄✨️
I'm so glad I got an ARC of Pine For You. It was such a sweet and cosy and perfect read for the holidays!
I loved this story and the characters so much. It was so well written, and I couldn't help but love it from the start.
From the start of the book, it can be seen that Rosie is not having the best time in life, and nothing had planned out how she had hoped it would. One of her sisters died and left Rosie as the carer for her nephew, who is honestly the sweetest child, and I loved him so much. But Rosie is also being a surrogate for her other sister. It's really like the world couldn't give her a break.
And then the world decides to throw another thing at her, that being Holden, who Rosie had been in love with before he went into the military and never heard from him again for five years until he turns up at his grandparents farm which is where Rosie works. And he wants a second chance, best believe Rosie makes that pretty difficult.
When Holden sees Rosie pregnant and with a young child, he thinks that he has no shot of ever being with her again until he learns the truth, and over time, they grow closer once again.
This is definitely a short book slow burn, but it made me so happy when they ended up together as all I wanted was for Rosie to finally be happy again. These two authors did an amazing job with portraying struggles in life and also all the little things that make everything better.
I'm so glad I got an ARC of Pine For You. It was such a sweet and cosy and perfect read for the holidays!
I loved this story and the characters so much. It was so well written, and I couldn't help but love it from the start.
From the start of the book, it can be seen that Rosie is not having the best time in life, and nothing had planned out how she had hoped it would. One of her sisters died and left Rosie as the carer for her nephew, who is honestly the sweetest child, and I loved him so much. But Rosie is also being a surrogate for her other sister. It's really like the world couldn't give her a break.
And then the world decides to throw another thing at her, that being Holden, who Rosie had been in love with before he went into the military and never heard from him again for five years until he turns up at his grandparents farm which is where Rosie works. And he wants a second chance, best believe Rosie makes that pretty difficult.
When Holden sees Rosie pregnant and with a young child, he thinks that he has no shot of ever being with her again until he learns the truth, and over time, they grow closer once again.
This is definitely a short book slow burn, but it made me so happy when they ended up together as all I wanted was for Rosie to finally be happy again. These two authors did an amazing job with portraying struggles in life and also all the little things that make everything better.
December 6, 2023
ARC Review
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such an adorable holiday novella. Filled with holiday spirit, a second chance romanc, and a little mystery/ suspense mixed in.
Holden just returned home from the military after ghosting Rosie 5 years ago. Rosie is such a loving character who does everything for everyone else and is overly stressed and dealing with grief, barely able to support herself she is becoming a parent to a toddler after her sister passes away and she gets custody all while also being a surrogate for her other sister.
Rosie is working at Holden's family tree farm that has been struggling to stay open. Rosie pours her heart and soul into the place, but someone is out to see that the farm fails.
Holden, in an effort to prove himself to Rosie, is trying to help get to the bottom of things.
I really liked the characters, second chance romance, and found family vibes. It brought the holiday spirit I've been looking for.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such an adorable holiday novella. Filled with holiday spirit, a second chance romanc, and a little mystery/ suspense mixed in.
Holden just returned home from the military after ghosting Rosie 5 years ago. Rosie is such a loving character who does everything for everyone else and is overly stressed and dealing with grief, barely able to support herself she is becoming a parent to a toddler after her sister passes away and she gets custody all while also being a surrogate for her other sister.
Rosie is working at Holden's family tree farm that has been struggling to stay open. Rosie pours her heart and soul into the place, but someone is out to see that the farm fails.
Holden, in an effort to prove himself to Rosie, is trying to help get to the bottom of things.
I really liked the characters, second chance romance, and found family vibes. It brought the holiday spirit I've been looking for.
December 4, 2023
Pine for You is a cute, holiday novella with some romance and a little bit of suspense.
From the start, Rosie is an easy character to love. She is doing everything for everyone, and just trying her best to keep her head and the farm above water. Holden may have made mistakes in the past and has valid fears about the future, but I couldn't help but hope for these two to end up together. I'm always here for a friends to lovers slow burn. 💝
As a short read (under 200 pages), I felt the story was well paced and nothing felt rushed or out of place. The suspense/mystery of who was sabotaging the farm was definitely predictable, but the events leading up to the discovery kept me engaged. I also adored the relationship between Rosie and Holden's grandparents and her nephew. The family aspect added extra love and coziness to the whole story.
This one was short and sweet, with cozy, small town vibes that are perfect for a holiday read! (Its also an easy read if you're trying to meet your Goodreads goal for the year).
Thank you to the authors for the ARC in exchange for my honest review :)
From the start, Rosie is an easy character to love. She is doing everything for everyone, and just trying her best to keep her head and the farm above water. Holden may have made mistakes in the past and has valid fears about the future, but I couldn't help but hope for these two to end up together. I'm always here for a friends to lovers slow burn. 💝
As a short read (under 200 pages), I felt the story was well paced and nothing felt rushed or out of place. The suspense/mystery of who was sabotaging the farm was definitely predictable, but the events leading up to the discovery kept me engaged. I also adored the relationship between Rosie and Holden's grandparents and her nephew. The family aspect added extra love and coziness to the whole story.
This one was short and sweet, with cozy, small town vibes that are perfect for a holiday read! (Its also an easy read if you're trying to meet your Goodreads goal for the year).
Thank you to the authors for the ARC in exchange for my honest review :)
December 19, 2023
Let me start by saying that this story really tugged at my heartstrings. Rosie was so, so easy to love and to root for. Through everything that happened to her she kept going, even through tears. I wanted her to win at life so badly. Holden’s way of quietly loving her ripped my heart in two and put it back together. If you’re looking for a holiday love story about family and friendship, then this one is definitely for you.
December 3, 2023
I received an ARC for review, all opinions are my own and given freely!
this story was the perfect mix of Christmas and suspense! Very story and character driven! I did figure it out pretty early on who was behind everything which was okay because then I could focus on the rest of the story!! 🎄🎄
this story was the perfect mix of Christmas and suspense! Very story and character driven! I did figure it out pretty early on who was behind everything which was okay because then I could focus on the rest of the story!! 🎄🎄
December 6, 2023
4⭐
🎁 single guardian
🎁 childhood friends
🎁 second chance
🎁 found family
🎁 romantic suspense
🎁 small town
I finished this in less than 24 hours and really enjoyed it! I haven't seen many romantic suspense holiday novellas, so I was really excited to jump into this one. The pacing of the story was good, and I felt like the characters were well developed, especially for a novella.
The found family aspect of the story was one of my favorite parts, both with how close Rosie was to Holden's grandparents and how she is her nephew's guardian. The book tackled some serious/heavier topics but did it with care. There were more serious parts of the book, but it was balanced with the holiday feel to keep it cute and swoony.
You'll definitely want to add this one to your TBR, especially if you're a fan of romantic suspense!
Thank you so much to the authors for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
🎁 single guardian
🎁 childhood friends
🎁 second chance
🎁 found family
🎁 romantic suspense
🎁 small town
I finished this in less than 24 hours and really enjoyed it! I haven't seen many romantic suspense holiday novellas, so I was really excited to jump into this one. The pacing of the story was good, and I felt like the characters were well developed, especially for a novella.
The found family aspect of the story was one of my favorite parts, both with how close Rosie was to Holden's grandparents and how she is her nephew's guardian. The book tackled some serious/heavier topics but did it with care. There were more serious parts of the book, but it was balanced with the holiday feel to keep it cute and swoony.
You'll definitely want to add this one to your TBR, especially if you're a fan of romantic suspense!
Thank you so much to the authors for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2023
Considering Christmas Day is my favourite day, and the festive period is a strong feature in most of my favourite movies, it surprises me that I’ve never read many books based on this end of the year. However, ‘Pine For You’ certainly had me pining for more!
Thank you J.M Leigh and Alexis Layne for granting me an advanced reader copy of this sweet yet suspenseful holiday novella.
Following Rosie, who in short, has a lot on her plate right now, and Holden, who has a lot of amends to make, ‘Pine For You’ provides a dual POV look at how much life can change in both a few years and a few weeks.
Rosie and Holden were the best of friends, until Holden joined the army and cut ties five years ago. Although he only did so to protect the pair’s hearts, and he’s back in town for good now, the relationship he’s returned to is understandably nothing like the one he left behind.
See, Rosie has moved on. While coming to terms with the loss of one of her sisters and adjusting to life as the primary caregiver of her two year old nephew, Rosie has recently become a surrogate for her other sister - and as if that wasn’t enough for one person to handle, she’s also taken it upon herself to help Holden’s grandparents (and her honorary grandparents), save their Christmas Tree farm.
In addition to the usual struggles of running a small business, there’s a mysterious sabotage of sorts going on behind the scenes, so Rosie truly doesn’t have time to even think about, let alone act on the feelings for her friend that she swept under the rug all those years ago. She’s not ready to forgive Holden for breaking her heart, but he’s determined to right all wrongs and prove his love not only to her, but to the farm she’s poured her heart and soul into, and of course, the small town they call home.
‘Pine for You’ is a fabulous festive read. At different times, it warms, breaks, worries, and heals your heart, and I enjoyed it very, very much.
The Hallmark-like storyline was especially sweet to dive into this time of year, but it entailed some struggle and suspense as well, and I appreciated the depth that’s not often shown in holiday titles. I just wish it was longer, allowing us more of it all!
Thank you again to the authors. I recommend, and I can’t wait to read more by you both in the future!
Thank you J.M Leigh and Alexis Layne for granting me an advanced reader copy of this sweet yet suspenseful holiday novella.
Following Rosie, who in short, has a lot on her plate right now, and Holden, who has a lot of amends to make, ‘Pine For You’ provides a dual POV look at how much life can change in both a few years and a few weeks.
Rosie and Holden were the best of friends, until Holden joined the army and cut ties five years ago. Although he only did so to protect the pair’s hearts, and he’s back in town for good now, the relationship he’s returned to is understandably nothing like the one he left behind.
See, Rosie has moved on. While coming to terms with the loss of one of her sisters and adjusting to life as the primary caregiver of her two year old nephew, Rosie has recently become a surrogate for her other sister - and as if that wasn’t enough for one person to handle, she’s also taken it upon herself to help Holden’s grandparents (and her honorary grandparents), save their Christmas Tree farm.
In addition to the usual struggles of running a small business, there’s a mysterious sabotage of sorts going on behind the scenes, so Rosie truly doesn’t have time to even think about, let alone act on the feelings for her friend that she swept under the rug all those years ago. She’s not ready to forgive Holden for breaking her heart, but he’s determined to right all wrongs and prove his love not only to her, but to the farm she’s poured her heart and soul into, and of course, the small town they call home.
‘Pine for You’ is a fabulous festive read. At different times, it warms, breaks, worries, and heals your heart, and I enjoyed it very, very much.
The Hallmark-like storyline was especially sweet to dive into this time of year, but it entailed some struggle and suspense as well, and I appreciated the depth that’s not often shown in holiday titles. I just wish it was longer, allowing us more of it all!
Thank you again to the authors. I recommend, and I can’t wait to read more by you both in the future!
December 12, 2023
Pine for You by J.M. Leigh and Alexis Layne
3.5/5⭐️
•My Blurb•
Rosie and Holden have been best friends forever and while they’ve never crossed any lines, they both know there’s something there. When Holden deploys and gets injured he decides it’ll be easier on Rosie if he just stays away. 5 years later, Rosie’s life has taken some dramatic turns. Still single, she now has custody of her sister’s son and is also serving as a surrogate for her other sister. When Holden comes back to their small town to help with his family’s Christmas Tree Farm, he’s shocked at the changes not just with Rosie but with the town. What once was a small town worthy of hallmark movies, feels like a ghost town. Is someone sabotaging the businesses on purpose and can Rosie learn to trust Holden again?
•My Thoughts•
I saw “holiday romantic suspense novella” and I ran so fast for this arc! It has some really fantastic tropes and the story premise was really interesting. Our FMC, Rosie is dealing with a lot after the death of her sister, getting custody of her nephew, being pregnant AND trying to save the beloved local Christmas tree farm. I can’t imagine the toll all of that would take! I thought the found family aspect was great and yall probably know how I feel about a military man (🫠). I feel like there were a lot of great plot lines going on and I would have liked to flesh those out more and spend more time with the characters reconnecting and discussing their past choices. I still have questions! I do think that friends to lovers is a great way to do a novella because they have the relationship background to support a quick story! I enjoyed the “save the small town” vibes, the charming Christmas tree farm and the German nicknames!
Thank you to @authorjmleigh and @authoralexislayne for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Pine for You released on December 5th, 2023 and is now available!
3.5/5⭐️
•My Blurb•
Rosie and Holden have been best friends forever and while they’ve never crossed any lines, they both know there’s something there. When Holden deploys and gets injured he decides it’ll be easier on Rosie if he just stays away. 5 years later, Rosie’s life has taken some dramatic turns. Still single, she now has custody of her sister’s son and is also serving as a surrogate for her other sister. When Holden comes back to their small town to help with his family’s Christmas Tree Farm, he’s shocked at the changes not just with Rosie but with the town. What once was a small town worthy of hallmark movies, feels like a ghost town. Is someone sabotaging the businesses on purpose and can Rosie learn to trust Holden again?
•My Thoughts•
I saw “holiday romantic suspense novella” and I ran so fast for this arc! It has some really fantastic tropes and the story premise was really interesting. Our FMC, Rosie is dealing with a lot after the death of her sister, getting custody of her nephew, being pregnant AND trying to save the beloved local Christmas tree farm. I can’t imagine the toll all of that would take! I thought the found family aspect was great and yall probably know how I feel about a military man (🫠). I feel like there were a lot of great plot lines going on and I would have liked to flesh those out more and spend more time with the characters reconnecting and discussing their past choices. I still have questions! I do think that friends to lovers is a great way to do a novella because they have the relationship background to support a quick story! I enjoyed the “save the small town” vibes, the charming Christmas tree farm and the German nicknames!
Thank you to @authorjmleigh and @authoralexislayne for the advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Pine for You released on December 5th, 2023 and is now available!
December 14, 2023
Pine For You is a Holiday novella and the first book in the Pinesbury Reimagined series. It can be read as a stand alone story without any confusion.
Sometimes you read a book by a favored author, even though the major aspect of the book is not your forte, Pine For You is that book for me. I am more a Scrooge when it comes to anything Christmas, its just not usually my thing. Pine For You is the story that made this Scrooges heart grow three sizes. This Small Town Romance is heavy on the sweet, hallmark like vibes, has a small amount of suspense, and a really good spicy scene. Because this is a novella length story, the plot moves along rather quickly. Like with most novella length stories, I found myself wishing for more details, and a lot more answers to several questions that arose throughout my reading. There are several easter eggs about other books in the authors series, that are just making me impatient to see what becomes of those characters.
Holden and Rosie are one of my favorite cozy romance couples! From the very beginning my heart ached for Rosie and the things she was enduring. I occasionally wanted to sit down and have cocoa with her and give her some friendly advice. Holden is an absolute Cinnamon Roll Book Boyfriend, with more patience and self awareness than most Male Main Characters. I was rooting for this couple from the very beginning of the book. I absolutely loved the cameo of other main characters from J.M. Leigh books, it felt like I was reading about old friends of my own when they showed up!
I recommend this book to all Romance readers, even if you are not normally a holiday book reader. This is a sweet and fun quick read!
Sometimes you read a book by a favored author, even though the major aspect of the book is not your forte, Pine For You is that book for me. I am more a Scrooge when it comes to anything Christmas, its just not usually my thing. Pine For You is the story that made this Scrooges heart grow three sizes. This Small Town Romance is heavy on the sweet, hallmark like vibes, has a small amount of suspense, and a really good spicy scene. Because this is a novella length story, the plot moves along rather quickly. Like with most novella length stories, I found myself wishing for more details, and a lot more answers to several questions that arose throughout my reading. There are several easter eggs about other books in the authors series, that are just making me impatient to see what becomes of those characters.
Holden and Rosie are one of my favorite cozy romance couples! From the very beginning my heart ached for Rosie and the things she was enduring. I occasionally wanted to sit down and have cocoa with her and give her some friendly advice. Holden is an absolute Cinnamon Roll Book Boyfriend, with more patience and self awareness than most Male Main Characters. I was rooting for this couple from the very beginning of the book. I absolutely loved the cameo of other main characters from J.M. Leigh books, it felt like I was reading about old friends of my own when they showed up!
I recommend this book to all Romance readers, even if you are not normally a holiday book reader. This is a sweet and fun quick read!
December 7, 2023
ARC Review. Honest opinion only
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and a little teeny bit)
Tropes to look out for:
- Small town
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Single parent
- Mutual pining
- Elements of suspense
This story follows Rosie and Holden; childhood best friends who harboured feelings for each other. Holden left to join the military and stayed away for a long time. Rosie was hurt that her best friend abandoned her, but can she forgive and forget when he finally comes home?
Rosie has a wonderful relationship with Holden's family and her adorable Nephew. She is a strong and resilient person, but desperately needs to catch a break. I loved that Holden came back to make things right for everyone, and although I may have disliked him for a short amount of time when he stayed away, I empathised with his reasons why.
There were a fair few areas in this story that were left uncovered - yes I know, there just isn't room for all of the words to explain every little detail in a novella - and sadly it did leave me feeling rather unsatisfied when I got to the end. I wanted to know more about Rosie's complicated family, and I would have loved a few more flashbacks to Holden's time away and his thoughts about Rosie during that time.
Overall I do think this is a really cute holiday romance. What's not cute about this time of year?! Perhaps I'm just coming to realise that novella's aren't for me! I really loved the authors writing style though, and I will definitely be adding other works from them to my TBR.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this early.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (and a little teeny bit)
Tropes to look out for:
- Small town
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Single parent
- Mutual pining
- Elements of suspense
This story follows Rosie and Holden; childhood best friends who harboured feelings for each other. Holden left to join the military and stayed away for a long time. Rosie was hurt that her best friend abandoned her, but can she forgive and forget when he finally comes home?
Rosie has a wonderful relationship with Holden's family and her adorable Nephew. She is a strong and resilient person, but desperately needs to catch a break. I loved that Holden came back to make things right for everyone, and although I may have disliked him for a short amount of time when he stayed away, I empathised with his reasons why.
There were a fair few areas in this story that were left uncovered - yes I know, there just isn't room for all of the words to explain every little detail in a novella - and sadly it did leave me feeling rather unsatisfied when I got to the end. I wanted to know more about Rosie's complicated family, and I would have loved a few more flashbacks to Holden's time away and his thoughts about Rosie during that time.
Overall I do think this is a really cute holiday romance. What's not cute about this time of year?! Perhaps I'm just coming to realise that novella's aren't for me! I really loved the authors writing style though, and I will definitely be adding other works from them to my TBR.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this early.
December 3, 2023
Bet you didn't know you needed a holiday suspenseful romance in your line up this season just like I didn't - and now we're both better off for this excellent novella that checks this box!
There's so much going for this story - second chance romance, groveling through actions and not just words, single guardianship and surrogacy all set in a struggling small town in Vermont. Add in a family-owned Christmas tree farm on the brink of collapse that our FMC is struggling to save and you really have the perfect holiday story.
Rosie is literally a saint - I don't think I've ever felt such a strong desire for her to just catch a dang break so quickly. And Holden? He may have made some rather stupid decisions but you also find empathy for his actions - being afraid of having it all and losing it and causing pain to someone you love is at least a considerate (albeit short sighted) reason to ghost someone.
With dual POV you get to process the healing, the longing, the heartbreak and the hope of what happens when you miss your moment for both our MCs.
If you like:
- Hallmark movies but add a dash of heat
- your holiday romance with a healthy dose of suspense and thrills
- a true redemption story for the characters and the adorable Christmas tree farm..
.. be sure to pick this one up. And its always a happy holiday surprise when you get a chance to interact with some of Anderson Security's team members!
I want to thank the authors for my chance at reading this in exchange for my honest review.
There's so much going for this story - second chance romance, groveling through actions and not just words, single guardianship and surrogacy all set in a struggling small town in Vermont. Add in a family-owned Christmas tree farm on the brink of collapse that our FMC is struggling to save and you really have the perfect holiday story.
Rosie is literally a saint - I don't think I've ever felt such a strong desire for her to just catch a dang break so quickly. And Holden? He may have made some rather stupid decisions but you also find empathy for his actions - being afraid of having it all and losing it and causing pain to someone you love is at least a considerate (albeit short sighted) reason to ghost someone.
With dual POV you get to process the healing, the longing, the heartbreak and the hope of what happens when you miss your moment for both our MCs.
If you like:
- Hallmark movies but add a dash of heat
- your holiday romance with a healthy dose of suspense and thrills
- a true redemption story for the characters and the adorable Christmas tree farm..
.. be sure to pick this one up. And its always a happy holiday surprise when you get a chance to interact with some of Anderson Security's team members!
I want to thank the authors for my chance at reading this in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2023
Pine For You ARC book review!! 🌲
Holden and Rosie 💕
This was a book I could reread and never get tired of it. I love how this gave Hallmark vibes and it's so cute.
At first, I was a bit upset with Holden for literally ghosting Rosies, because come one dude! And then years later returns to Pinesbury to make up for lost time. Then finds (spoiler alert) Rosies pregnant and has a child which both aren't hers. Orion is her nephew she is taking care of being one of her sister who passed away. And she is a surrogate for the other sister. I felt so bad for Rosie, because it made her have a hectic life. But I love how selfless she was and took care of Orion like he was her own. I would love to have met the kid.
Holden came back to Pinebury in hopes of restoring the bond he had with Rosie. I liked how much effort he was putting into restoring the town. I especially love the grandparents and how much care they gave Rosie.
The moment when they both because friends to lovers warmed my heart. I almost yelled at Holden in the beginning for not replying to Rosie, but he wasn't going to listen since he's a character. 😂
But I'm glad the ending happened the way it did.
This was a cute, warm, cozy read and great for a holiday read!
I would for sure reread this novella. ❤️
4.3/5 ⭐
2.8/5 🌶️
Tropes:
🌲small town
🌲suspense
🌲childhood friends to lovers
🌲Second chance
🌲contemporary romance
Holden and Rosie 💕
This was a book I could reread and never get tired of it. I love how this gave Hallmark vibes and it's so cute.
At first, I was a bit upset with Holden for literally ghosting Rosies, because come one dude! And then years later returns to Pinesbury to make up for lost time. Then finds (spoiler alert) Rosies pregnant and has a child which both aren't hers. Orion is her nephew she is taking care of being one of her sister who passed away. And she is a surrogate for the other sister. I felt so bad for Rosie, because it made her have a hectic life. But I love how selfless she was and took care of Orion like he was her own. I would love to have met the kid.
Holden came back to Pinebury in hopes of restoring the bond he had with Rosie. I liked how much effort he was putting into restoring the town. I especially love the grandparents and how much care they gave Rosie.
The moment when they both because friends to lovers warmed my heart. I almost yelled at Holden in the beginning for not replying to Rosie, but he wasn't going to listen since he's a character. 😂
But I'm glad the ending happened the way it did.
This was a cute, warm, cozy read and great for a holiday read!
I would for sure reread this novella. ❤️
4.3/5 ⭐
2.8/5 🌶️
Tropes:
🌲small town
🌲suspense
🌲childhood friends to lovers
🌲Second chance
🌲contemporary romance
December 20, 2023
Pine For You ARC review 🎄
⭐️ Rating - 4⭐️
My thoughts 💭- So pleased to be on J.M. Leigh’s ARC team because it’s just banger after banger.
This is a short Christmas novella with second chance romance on a Christmas tree farm (also includes found family and single “parent”)
Holden left to become a soldier 5 years ago and made the choice for Rosie to cut contact in fear of him dying while out in the desert.
When Holden returns Rosie is pregnant and has a small child, unknown to him she has taken custody of her sisters son after her death and also became a surrogate.
Rosie’s main family is Holdens grandparents who treat her and Ri like their own, Rosie spends all her time maintaining the tree farm run by Holdens grandparents. At the same time as Holden arrives back to a much emptier Pinesbury, the tree farm begins to be targeted by vandals set on closing down the farm.
I absolutely loved the cameos from the Anderson Security team (making me miss the series and want Misconception to come out like yesterday!). Rosie was super relatable for me as she couldn’t walk away from the tree farm and found her responsibilities super stressful as she was struggling. My only complaint is we didn’t get to see Conrad suffer more (Fr let Madi at him).
100% recommend you read this this Christmas season!
⭐️ Rating - 4⭐️
My thoughts 💭- So pleased to be on J.M. Leigh’s ARC team because it’s just banger after banger.
This is a short Christmas novella with second chance romance on a Christmas tree farm (also includes found family and single “parent”)
Holden left to become a soldier 5 years ago and made the choice for Rosie to cut contact in fear of him dying while out in the desert.
When Holden returns Rosie is pregnant and has a small child, unknown to him she has taken custody of her sisters son after her death and also became a surrogate.
Rosie’s main family is Holdens grandparents who treat her and Ri like their own, Rosie spends all her time maintaining the tree farm run by Holdens grandparents. At the same time as Holden arrives back to a much emptier Pinesbury, the tree farm begins to be targeted by vandals set on closing down the farm.
I absolutely loved the cameos from the Anderson Security team (making me miss the series and want Misconception to come out like yesterday!). Rosie was super relatable for me as she couldn’t walk away from the tree farm and found her responsibilities super stressful as she was struggling. My only complaint is we didn’t get to see Conrad suffer more (Fr let Madi at him).
100% recommend you read this this Christmas season!
December 10, 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️
The novella Pine For You is the start of the new series Pinesbury, Reimagined. Thank you so much for the ARC ❤️
Rosie Atwood was ghosted by her best friend Holden Moore five years ago and doesn't know why. She still hasn't forgotten about him. But she doesn't have time to think about him and his return because her current life is going downhill and she is overwhelmed of needing to be there for everyone. Her dead sister left her two-year-old son in Rosie's custody, she is a surrogate for her older sister and the Waldvogel Farm, the only place she really loves, has huge financial problems. The farm belongs to Holden's grandparents. The same Holden who is now back and ready to win her over. But suddenly strange incidents start to happen around the farm. Can Rosie be a mother for her nephew, save the farm and rekindle the relationship with Holden or is it too much? Read it!
Rosie is such a sweet and devoted character and I really felt bad for her and everything she has to go through. Seeing the changes of Pinesbury through Holden's eyes, the place he loves and never forgot, and understanding the reasons why he went silent were really heartbreaking 💔 Holden's attempts to convince Rosie that he's serious and Rosie's struggles to trust him were really well written. I couldn't quite imagine the slowburn to work out since it's only a novella and not a full novel, but Leigh really made it work. The suspense was great and really fit together with their emotional struggles. The outcome was a little predictable though. I haven't read the Anderson Security series but the appearence of Holden's buddies made me instantly adding the two books to my tbr and I can't wait to read them. Rosie's and Holden's happy ending was so sweet 🥹
Spice: 🌶️
The novella Pine For You is the start of the new series Pinesbury, Reimagined. Thank you so much for the ARC ❤️
Rosie Atwood was ghosted by her best friend Holden Moore five years ago and doesn't know why. She still hasn't forgotten about him. But she doesn't have time to think about him and his return because her current life is going downhill and she is overwhelmed of needing to be there for everyone. Her dead sister left her two-year-old son in Rosie's custody, she is a surrogate for her older sister and the Waldvogel Farm, the only place she really loves, has huge financial problems. The farm belongs to Holden's grandparents. The same Holden who is now back and ready to win her over. But suddenly strange incidents start to happen around the farm. Can Rosie be a mother for her nephew, save the farm and rekindle the relationship with Holden or is it too much? Read it!
Rosie is such a sweet and devoted character and I really felt bad for her and everything she has to go through. Seeing the changes of Pinesbury through Holden's eyes, the place he loves and never forgot, and understanding the reasons why he went silent were really heartbreaking 💔 Holden's attempts to convince Rosie that he's serious and Rosie's struggles to trust him were really well written. I couldn't quite imagine the slowburn to work out since it's only a novella and not a full novel, but Leigh really made it work. The suspense was great and really fit together with their emotional struggles. The outcome was a little predictable though. I haven't read the Anderson Security series but the appearence of Holden's buddies made me instantly adding the two books to my tbr and I can't wait to read them. Rosie's and Holden's happy ending was so sweet 🥹
December 4, 2023
Rosie Atwood is living the definition of chaos. She’s suddenly the caregiver to her ridiculously sweet nephew, and as if that weren’t enough, she’s taken on the role of a surrogate for another sister—all while trying to keep a roof over her head. Poor Rosie—it’s like the universe decided to throw everything at her at once.
Holden Moore just strolled back into Rosie’s life, aiming to mend fences and make amends for past mistakes. But he’s got some explaining to do. Why did he cut ties in the first place? Rosie’s not making it a walk in the park for him, and honestly, who can blame her? Old wounds run deep💔
As if that’s not enough, someone’s out there sabotaging all of Rosie’s hard work at Waldvogel Farms, the Christmas tree haven she’s fighting tooth and nail to save🎄
With its adorable characters, swoon-worthy romance, and just the right amount of mystery, it’s the perfect addition to your festive reading list✨😍 I could practically smell the pine needles and hear the crunch of snow beneath my feet as I read🌲❄️ Huge thanks to the authors for the ARC—you’ve made my holiday season ten times better!
Holden Moore just strolled back into Rosie’s life, aiming to mend fences and make amends for past mistakes. But he’s got some explaining to do. Why did he cut ties in the first place? Rosie’s not making it a walk in the park for him, and honestly, who can blame her? Old wounds run deep💔
As if that’s not enough, someone’s out there sabotaging all of Rosie’s hard work at Waldvogel Farms, the Christmas tree haven she’s fighting tooth and nail to save🎄
With its adorable characters, swoon-worthy romance, and just the right amount of mystery, it’s the perfect addition to your festive reading list✨😍 I could practically smell the pine needles and hear the crunch of snow beneath my feet as I read🌲❄️ Huge thanks to the authors for the ARC—you’ve made my holiday season ten times better!
December 6, 2023
🎄 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 🎄
Pine For You by J. M. Leigh and Alexis Layne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️
✅ Military
✅ Small Town
✅ Second Chance
✅ Single Mom
✅ Miscommunication
✅ Mutual Pining
✅ Childhood Friends to Lovers
TW: PTSD, Kidnapping of a child.
Rosie had been in love with her best friend, Holden, most of their lives. Their situation at the time and certain unfortunate events cause them to lose touch for five years. Over the last five years, Rosie has done nothing but help everyone else. Taking care of her deceased sister’s son, being a surrogate for her other sister and helping Holden’s grandparents with the tree farm in their little town. Meanwhile, Holden has been living his life for the military. Now that he’s out, he’s coming home to claim what he wants. 𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨����? 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰?
Pine For You is such a sweet little novella! I loved the story line and the mystery! Rosie and Holden are so cute and I’m so glad they got their happy ending! Thank you, J.M. Leigh and Alexis Layne, for an ARC of this book! My review is mine and freely given!
Pine For You by J. M. Leigh and Alexis Layne
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️
✅ Military
✅ Small Town
✅ Second Chance
✅ Single Mom
✅ Miscommunication
✅ Mutual Pining
✅ Childhood Friends to Lovers
TW: PTSD, Kidnapping of a child.
Rosie had been in love with her best friend, Holden, most of their lives. Their situation at the time and certain unfortunate events cause them to lose touch for five years. Over the last five years, Rosie has done nothing but help everyone else. Taking care of her deceased sister’s son, being a surrogate for her other sister and helping Holden’s grandparents with the tree farm in their little town. Meanwhile, Holden has been living his life for the military. Now that he’s out, he’s coming home to claim what he wants. 𝘐𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨����? 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘴𝘰?
Pine For You is such a sweet little novella! I loved the story line and the mystery! Rosie and Holden are so cute and I’m so glad they got their happy ending! Thank you, J.M. Leigh and Alexis Layne, for an ARC of this book! My review is mine and freely given!
December 14, 2023
✨ 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰✨
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙉𝙤𝙬, 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮.”
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶️🌶️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 15
𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧: 73%
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Small town romance, friends-to-lovers, military romance
𝐏𝐎𝐕: 1st person, Dual POV
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: TBD
𝐊𝐔: Yes
This was a cute and quick read to get you in the holiday spirit! If you like the idea of a Hallmark movie, but spicy and add in a dash of suspense then you will love this book!
Rosie is a great FMC who demonstrates resilience and selflessness while never asking for anything in return. I love how Holden’s (MMC) grandparents were her main support system, and the little boy Orion was so cute!
I love the Christmas tree farm setting! I wish it had a bit more holiday magic, but other than that I loved it! If you have read Misdirection and Misinformation, you will love the cameos of the Alpha team!
⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:⚠️
One open door scene with explicit descriptions
Strong language
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢. 𝙉𝙤𝙬, 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙮.”
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌶️🌶️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 15
𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧: 73%
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: Small town romance, friends-to-lovers, military romance
𝐏𝐎𝐕: 1st person, Dual POV
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: TBD
𝐊𝐔: Yes
This was a cute and quick read to get you in the holiday spirit! If you like the idea of a Hallmark movie, but spicy and add in a dash of suspense then you will love this book!
Rosie is a great FMC who demonstrates resilience and selflessness while never asking for anything in return. I love how Holden’s (MMC) grandparents were her main support system, and the little boy Orion was so cute!
I love the Christmas tree farm setting! I wish it had a bit more holiday magic, but other than that I loved it! If you have read Misdirection and Misinformation, you will love the cameos of the Alpha team!
⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:⚠️
One open door scene with explicit descriptions
Strong language
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
December 20, 2023
Thank you to the authors for this ARC
All opinions are my own Rosie is trying to save the town that was once thriving and her exes grandparents farm, whilst trying to be a mother to her sisters baby and surrogate mother. She doesn't expect to see her ex Holden only he's back from your and still in love with her but Rosie is hurt because she thinks he didn't want anything to do with her.
Unfortunately someone is trying to destroy everything she is working hard for and needs to be stopped. Holden has to bring in his ex army buddies to assist.
Will it bring these two closer?
Not only is this a fantastic written mystery romance but also deals with surrogacy and real life fertility issues which can never be easy to handle or experience yet the authors have touched on this with huge empathy and it tugs on your heart.
It's a slow burn romance, with mild spice and definitely a recommendable book
I enjoyed the writing style and the Christmas vibes my absolute favorite especially this time of year.
Would I read more by this author? Absolutely and I've already lined a few up
Kerry Kennedy Author
All opinions are my own Rosie is trying to save the town that was once thriving and her exes grandparents farm, whilst trying to be a mother to her sisters baby and surrogate mother. She doesn't expect to see her ex Holden only he's back from your and still in love with her but Rosie is hurt because she thinks he didn't want anything to do with her.
Unfortunately someone is trying to destroy everything she is working hard for and needs to be stopped. Holden has to bring in his ex army buddies to assist.
Will it bring these two closer?
Not only is this a fantastic written mystery romance but also deals with surrogacy and real life fertility issues which can never be easy to handle or experience yet the authors have touched on this with huge empathy and it tugs on your heart.
It's a slow burn romance, with mild spice and definitely a recommendable book
I enjoyed the writing style and the Christmas vibes my absolute favorite especially this time of year.
Would I read more by this author? Absolutely and I've already lined a few up
Kerry Kennedy Author
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2023
Cute Suspenseful Christmas Novella! - ARC Review
I couldn’t put this novella down! Pine for You is a Christmas time novella where the FMC Rosie has had a hard couple of years, and is now faced with trying to save the farm and town she loves so much. Five years ago her best friend, and possible love of her life Holden, disappeared from her life. Holden, the MMC, has left the Army and come back to town. After five years of being afraid of his feelings for Rosie, he has come back to try and win her back. But when mysterious vandalism starts impacting the farm, Holden is determined to find out who is behind it to help Rosie save the farm, the town and maybe their relationship.
Pine for you is so cute and fun. You instantly fall in love with Rosie and Holden rooting for them to end up together. With the suspense and mystery of trying to figure out what is happening to the farm, it keeps you on your toes!
The POVs switch between Rosie & Holden, but doesn’t always indicate which person’s narrative you are reading which can be a little tricky. But once you get down the patten, it’s easy fun reading!
I received an ARC for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.
I couldn’t put this novella down! Pine for You is a Christmas time novella where the FMC Rosie has had a hard couple of years, and is now faced with trying to save the farm and town she loves so much. Five years ago her best friend, and possible love of her life Holden, disappeared from her life. Holden, the MMC, has left the Army and come back to town. After five years of being afraid of his feelings for Rosie, he has come back to try and win her back. But when mysterious vandalism starts impacting the farm, Holden is determined to find out who is behind it to help Rosie save the farm, the town and maybe their relationship.
Pine for you is so cute and fun. You instantly fall in love with Rosie and Holden rooting for them to end up together. With the suspense and mystery of trying to figure out what is happening to the farm, it keeps you on your toes!
The POVs switch between Rosie & Holden, but doesn’t always indicate which person’s narrative you are reading which can be a little tricky. But once you get down the patten, it’s easy fun reading!
I received an ARC for review, all opinions are my own and given freely.
December 2, 2023
3.5 ⭐ rounded up
I enjoyed this very cozy novella. I'm not the biggest fan of friends to lovers but I thought Rosie and Holden's story was done well, although I wished I knew exactly what Rosie's family's curse was and why exactly Holden left town to begin with but I do understand that this is just a novella. I enjoyed the story overall but there's just some scenes that didn't seem realistic to me personally - like the amount of physical exertion Rosie did being 9 months pregnant and that spice scene 😩 idk it's probably just me though bc I know my ass was huge close to my due date 🤭 the side characters deserve a shout out too bc opa and oma are just the sweetest and I love how understanding they are with the MCs situation but never really meddled.
I recommend this book if you're looking for a quick holiday read but still seeking that little mystery vibes- it's not unpredictable but it's still a nice little angst 👌
Thank you J.M Leigh for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this very cozy novella. I'm not the biggest fan of friends to lovers but I thought Rosie and Holden's story was done well, although I wished I knew exactly what Rosie's family's curse was and why exactly Holden left town to begin with but I do understand that this is just a novella. I enjoyed the story overall but there's just some scenes that didn't seem realistic to me personally - like the amount of physical exertion Rosie did being 9 months pregnant and that spice scene 😩 idk it's probably just me though bc I know my ass was huge close to my due date 🤭 the side characters deserve a shout out too bc opa and oma are just the sweetest and I love how understanding they are with the MCs situation but never really meddled.
I recommend this book if you're looking for a quick holiday read but still seeking that little mystery vibes- it's not unpredictable but it's still a nice little angst 👌
Thank you J.M Leigh for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 3, 2023
I received this ARC for review, all opinions are my own and given freely. Thank you J.M. Leigh 🤍
Let me preface this by saying, I notoriously do not enjoy novellas. When I signed up for this ARC opportunity I knew I was taking a risk. But the teasers that were being shared were just too tempting to pass up. I’m so happy I took the risk. I enjoyed Pine For You! I do wish it was a full fledge novel, but it was good. It was a short, cozy read. It certainly contains the Hallmark vibes with a little suspense thrown in for good measure, perfect for this time of year.
Holden ghosts Rosie for 5 years then shows up at the family tree farm out of the blue. Rosie still holds resentment towards him but she finds herself in a predicament that only Holden (and some of his friends) can resolve for her. He just has to prove to her he’s sticking around for the long haul and win her back w a little Christmas miracle razzle dazzle. 🎄
Pine For You Pub date is 12/05/2023. 🎉
Let me preface this by saying, I notoriously do not enjoy novellas. When I signed up for this ARC opportunity I knew I was taking a risk. But the teasers that were being shared were just too tempting to pass up. I’m so happy I took the risk. I enjoyed Pine For You! I do wish it was a full fledge novel, but it was good. It was a short, cozy read. It certainly contains the Hallmark vibes with a little suspense thrown in for good measure, perfect for this time of year.
Holden ghosts Rosie for 5 years then shows up at the family tree farm out of the blue. Rosie still holds resentment towards him but she finds herself in a predicament that only Holden (and some of his friends) can resolve for her. He just has to prove to her he’s sticking around for the long haul and win her back w a little Christmas miracle razzle dazzle. 🎄
Pine For You Pub date is 12/05/2023. 🎉
December 8, 2023
4⭐ A perfect Christmas romcom in a book!
If you love christmas romcoms (I'm a sucker for those), then you will adore the world JM Leigh has created with Pinesbury.
This novella was a perfect start to my Christmas season reading. I adored the characters and wanted more time with them, more than the 148 pages we get.
I could picture this book like a movie in my head, and boy would it make a perfect festive season romantic comedy. Netflix should probably get on this! Holden was the man coming back to claim the love of his life. Rosie is our small town heroine working to get her town and her best friend's farm back on track. The sisters' relationship was alluded to but had some powerful moments when we get to the surrogacy and adoption parts.
The mystery was maybe a bit underdeveloped? Or maybe there will be more explored in more Pinesbury books? If that is the case, I cannot wait for more adventures in Pinesbury. Fingers crossed.
If you love christmas romcoms (I'm a sucker for those), then you will adore the world JM Leigh has created with Pinesbury.
This novella was a perfect start to my Christmas season reading. I adored the characters and wanted more time with them, more than the 148 pages we get.
I could picture this book like a movie in my head, and boy would it make a perfect festive season romantic comedy. Netflix should probably get on this! Holden was the man coming back to claim the love of his life. Rosie is our small town heroine working to get her town and her best friend's farm back on track. The sisters' relationship was alluded to but had some powerful moments when we get to the surrogacy and adoption parts.
The mystery was maybe a bit underdeveloped? Or maybe there will be more explored in more Pinesbury books? If that is the case, I cannot wait for more adventures in Pinesbury. Fingers crossed.
December 14, 2023
✅ Small Town
✅ Childhood Friends to Lovers
✅ Holiday Novella
⚠️ TW⚠️
Talk of loss of a sibling, abduction of a child and infertility.
⭐️:4/5
🔥: 1/5
Can you imagine loosing a sister, becoming a parent overnight and being ghosted by your best friend?! Well those are just a few of the things that Rosie Atwood over comes is this sweet holiday novella!
5 years Holden Moore comes back to Pinesburry ready to leave behind his military days and try to fix the mistakes he made by cutting ties years ago.
This was such a good read and I found myself quite literally yelling at my kindle because of a particular character (I won’t spoil it, but take my word you’ll hate them too 😑). Overall a very sweet and charming read, never disappointed with anything by JM Leigh!
* I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
**This book is Dual POV and is written in first person perspective.
✅ Childhood Friends to Lovers
✅ Holiday Novella
⚠️ TW⚠️
Talk of loss of a sibling, abduction of a child and infertility.
⭐️:4/5
🔥: 1/5
Can you imagine loosing a sister, becoming a parent overnight and being ghosted by your best friend?! Well those are just a few of the things that Rosie Atwood over comes is this sweet holiday novella!
5 years Holden Moore comes back to Pinesburry ready to leave behind his military days and try to fix the mistakes he made by cutting ties years ago.
This was such a good read and I found myself quite literally yelling at my kindle because of a particular character (I won’t spoil it, but take my word you’ll hate them too 😑). Overall a very sweet and charming read, never disappointed with anything by JM Leigh!
* I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
**This book is Dual POV and is written in first person perspective.
November 30, 2023
I received an arc for this book, all my opinions are my own and this is my review for it. This was such a cute and cozy read for the holidays!! I absolutely loved the characters and their personalities. In this book things have not going good for Rosie she has been left taking care of her sisters child after her death and also pregnant as a surrogate for her sister working to help Holden’s grandparents run the farm not wanting it to vanish just like everything else has, after five years of no contact Holden shows up in town wanting a second chance. Wanting to make things right with Rosie he tries to prove he is willing to commit and show his true feelings giving her an explanation to why he ghosted her. With Rosie trying to avoid Holden at all costs will he end up winning her back? This book gives off hallmark vibes and i was absolutely here for it being a hallmark lover!!
December 8, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
This was a cute story! Rosie was such a relatable character. She had the weight of the world on her shoulders and tried to be everything to everyone, and she was burnt out. She had such a passion for the tree farm. She grew up there and didn’t want to see it fail. Some of her best memories were on that farm and with her pseudo grandma and grandpa, and of course, her BFF Holden. Holden knew that he wanted to get out of Pinesbury, which is why he enlisted in the military. He didn’t anticipate how hard it was going to be to leave Rosie, especially after so much went unsaid between them. He made a decision that affected the both of them while he was gone, and when he returned, nothing was the same. Holden knew his feeling for Rosie never went away, even though he tried like heck to make them. Once he saw her again after five years, it was like no time had passed, yet everything was so different. He had to ease back into Rosie’s life because he hurt her so deeply. Holden could see the passion she had for that tree farm and when vandals tried to destroy it, he made a vow to make sure the tree farm survived and in turn, made Rosie trust that he wasn’t going to leave her again. You could just feel the love these two had for each other, even after not seeing each other for five years. Holden made sure Rosie knew she was it for him, and Rosie let her heart fall for her best friend all over again. I’m loving the friends to lovers trope lately, and this one was so cute!
🌶️
This was a cute story! Rosie was such a relatable character. She had the weight of the world on her shoulders and tried to be everything to everyone, and she was burnt out. She had such a passion for the tree farm. She grew up there and didn’t want to see it fail. Some of her best memories were on that farm and with her pseudo grandma and grandpa, and of course, her BFF Holden. Holden knew that he wanted to get out of Pinesbury, which is why he enlisted in the military. He didn’t anticipate how hard it was going to be to leave Rosie, especially after so much went unsaid between them. He made a decision that affected the both of them while he was gone, and when he returned, nothing was the same. Holden knew his feeling for Rosie never went away, even though he tried like heck to make them. Once he saw her again after five years, it was like no time had passed, yet everything was so different. He had to ease back into Rosie’s life because he hurt her so deeply. Holden could see the passion she had for that tree farm and when vandals tried to destroy it, he made a vow to make sure the tree farm survived and in turn, made Rosie trust that he wasn’t going to leave her again. You could just feel the love these two had for each other, even after not seeing each other for five years. Holden made sure Rosie knew she was it for him, and Rosie let her heart fall for her best friend all over again. I’m loving the friends to lovers trope lately, and this one was so cute!
December 3, 2023
*ARC Review*
I needed a good Christmas themed story this week. I was instantly hooked by the small town charm. This novella has just the right amount of cute hometown romance, suspense, drama, and spice! Holden and Rosie had me holding out hope from the very beginning. With all that Rosie had gone through, I don't know if I would've been as forgiving as she was. Her relationship with Oma and Opa is so sweet, and I love that they are her found family with Orion. Holden proves over and over again that he will not make the same mistake twice, and that he loves Rosie, doing anything to win her back. That Christmas tree farm is their lifeline throughout and a perfect way to bring everyone together.
I also loved the crossover characters coming to the rescue! It ties everything together beautifully. Maybe we will see more of Pinesbury in the future!
I needed a good Christmas themed story this week. I was instantly hooked by the small town charm. This novella has just the right amount of cute hometown romance, suspense, drama, and spice! Holden and Rosie had me holding out hope from the very beginning. With all that Rosie had gone through, I don't know if I would've been as forgiving as she was. Her relationship with Oma and Opa is so sweet, and I love that they are her found family with Orion. Holden proves over and over again that he will not make the same mistake twice, and that he loves Rosie, doing anything to win her back. That Christmas tree farm is their lifeline throughout and a perfect way to bring everyone together.
I also loved the crossover characters coming to the rescue! It ties everything together beautifully. Maybe we will see more of Pinesbury in the future!
December 5, 2023
I. Loved. Every. Single. Second. Of. This. Book.
Seriously, I wasn’t feeling the Christmas Spirit, much like Rosie, but the magic of this book made me feel like “This is definitely what the Grinch felt like when his heart grew three sizes.” ;) iykyk
Aside from the story, I truly loved the character and the side characters. I’m obsessed with the Anderson Security: Alpha Team series and the camel of its characters in this story just made me go feral in the best way possible!
But I’m also super curious as to how Eric’s story will go and what Selby’s time in Pinesbury might bring.
If you are into Christmas, slow burn, former best-friends to lovers, a man with a plan to win the love of his life, this is totally the book for you.
Seriously, I wasn’t feeling the Christmas Spirit, much like Rosie, but the magic of this book made me feel like “This is definitely what the Grinch felt like when his heart grew three sizes.” ;) iykyk
Aside from the story, I truly loved the character and the side characters. I’m obsessed with the Anderson Security: Alpha Team series and the camel of its characters in this story just made me go feral in the best way possible!
But I’m also super curious as to how Eric’s story will go and what Selby’s time in Pinesbury might bring.
If you are into Christmas, slow burn, former best-friends to lovers, a man with a plan to win the love of his life, this is totally the book for you.
December 8, 2023
A slow burn second chance with a side of mystery. Rosie and Holden have been kept apart by war and distance.
Rosie is selfless and does everything for everyone else. She once thought golden would be her forever but 5 years later she’s a surrogate for her sister and a mother to her deceased sisters son. Holden believe she’s moved on , but once he realizes her circumstances are not her own he takes the second chance by the hand and runs with it. Nothing will stop him from finally having Rosie as his, especially when it comes to someone trying to sabotage Rosie’s pride & joy tree farm.
Suspense. Second chance. Slow burn. Single mom.
Rosie is selfless and does everything for everyone else. She once thought golden would be her forever but 5 years later she’s a surrogate for her sister and a mother to her deceased sisters son. Holden believe she’s moved on , but once he realizes her circumstances are not her own he takes the second chance by the hand and runs with it. Nothing will stop him from finally having Rosie as his, especially when it comes to someone trying to sabotage Rosie’s pride & joy tree farm.
Suspense. Second chance. Slow burn. Single mom.
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