Emma Reynolds, a beautiful blue eyed, redhaired daughter of Maple Falls, New York, has experienced life outside of her childhood community. During her college years at NYU, she enjoyed the big city life and opportunities available in City. And, during her post- graduate years in New York City, she established a stellar reputation as an emerging and successfully innovative event planner.
But now, the young event planner who achieved success and notice with the events she staged in The City, has come home. And, she wants to share her event planning skills to highlight her Maple Falls community, creating an event that will engage a wider community to the uniqueness of the small town.
But, her dream of providing an event—or an annual event—is not just an act of altruism. One of NYC’s stellar event planners, Ava Stone, a former competitor in the event planning orbit, has engaged Emma in a challenge—a bet. Recognizing that Emma might become the more established event planner’s most challenging business competitor, Ava, has issued a challenge to the novice Emma—organize and event that will draw a crowd to the small Maple Falls, establishing a wider-reaching audience for the small community. If she is successful Emma will enter the competitive NYC event market with a unique and widely publicized reputation, and the possibility of a partnership with Ava’s established events enterprise. If she fails, she will not attempt to compete with Ava, rather she will agree to joining Ava’s organization, but not as a partner.
And Emma agrees to the challenge offered by NYC leading event planner. A child of the community, Emma is confident that she can win the support and the cooperation of the town’s citizens and leading businesses. But, having been in NYC for several years for college and working in the event industry, Emma has not been fully aware of some of the fiscal changes in the small town—especially the who has moved into the community.
But once back home, as she makes the rounds to re-introduce herself to the business community of Maple Falls, she meets with resistance to her ideas. As she speaks to the local business owners, one name in particular—Liam Harrington—is repeated again and again as a partner in the business, Harrington must approve of any advertising effort which might impact Harrington’s investment.
A wealthy son of wealthy parents from the West Coast, Liam Harrington, has invested in the local businesses, providing an infusion of capital into the local economy and becoming a power broker in the small town’s economy. But the handsome billionaire with dazzling blond hair, a strong jaw, and piercing green eyes isn’t just a benevolent entrepreneurial investor. His move to Maple Falls was to broaden his commercial holdings, but it was not out of benevolence. He has sought to relocate to the small community of Maple Falls, far from the tech world of Seattle, Washington, his home. He has experienced crushing and humiliating financial and romantic failures. So, he has moved to the East Coast to retreat and to rebuild his fortune, his reputation, and to put a continent between himself and the parents whom he has humiliated and who are threatening to withhold his inheritance. Emma, who had counted on her familiarity and connections in Maple Falls to be her entry into the business community’s favor, giving a “hometown girl” a break. But, the influence of the West Coast outsider’s money becomes a barrier to a hometown girl’s attempt to build her future and to help her hometown gain a new public draw which would infuse a new life and new money in her hometown.
But, what neither hometown girl, Emma, or the new face and financier in town, Liam, factor into their plan is that their personal attraction might redefine their apparent conflict. And, when malevolent forces from Liam’s past which have influenced his parents’ plan for his financial inheritance, a new plan evolves. The two apparent opposing forces—Emma and Liam—need to become members of the same team to save their personal plans and their plans for Maple Falls.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I do enjoy the style of Noelle's writing which always helps when you get a new book from her. The characters are always well researched and often have a back story that you don't always expect. Some women's fiction is very predictable and so I like it when a brickbat is thrown in our characters paths. Now I don't give spoilers - please read the other reviews for them, but I will say we have two very strong lead characters, who have come from the big city into a small town setting. I enjoyed their meeting, I will warn those of a sensitive disposition that the sex scenes between them and individually is very hot and quite intense. If you are easily offended then this is not the book for you. if you like some moderate steam that I must say is very well written then this will certainly be up your street! There is a character from the past who will create havoc given half a chance who I took an instant dislike to. The story is exactly what the title suggests so no surprises there but this is one of those books that stand out from the crowd as it just has that little bit extra that makes it a good read and you want to see where our characters will end up. So to recap, a great story, believable characters who are not perfect in any way and some rather spicy sex - what more do you want?
I received this book for my honest review. Since I am being honest I need to admit that I came so close many times on dnf this book. I had to tell a few friends some of my issues while I read who also were nice enough to keep pushing me to finish the book. But first let's talk about things that I did enjoy of this book. I really enjoyed the idea of this book. I have read a lot of fake fiancée or fake dating a billionaire type books. But this story has a different take on it which worked really well. It gave the book it's own style which I enjoyed. The reasons that I almost dnf this book are a lot. The one big one is I needed more personality of the two main characters. I felt both of the characters lacked in personalities and I couldn't see how they had any form of relationship with each other. The humor in this book fell flat if they were trying to be a Rom Com. Also the dialogue between characters did not flow well at all. I tried reading the dialogue pieces out loud and had a hard time picturing actual people using it. I think part of that issue was the fact that there was massive huge words throughout the book. There were other issues in this book but those would have been easier to overlook if the other issues I have posted would be fixed. But, if those things don't bother you feel free to check out this book.
**ARC** I loved this book! I love a good fake fiancé situation and I loved seeing the two worlds collide! It seemed like it was something that was going to inevitably happen but I liked how the characters came together to face it together. Definitely would recommend!
What a GLORIOUS DAY it is when you read a book as wonderful and romantic as this book is. Emma and Liam will draw you into their sex scenes, romance and even their emotions. I 110% LOVED reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.