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Carrington Cove #2
Someone You Deserve
Penn Sheppard is the type of man any woman would be lucky to have—hard working, good with power tools, and dependable.
But I can’t have him because he used to be best friends with my ex-husband.
I became a single mom of two kids without warning, and Penn was there to help when my life was falling apart.
He loved my kids like they were his own, coached my son’s soccer team, and filled up the Kisses for the Daddy jar so my daughter never realized it would go empty.
But then he kissed me.
I tried to ignore the way my body reacted, how being touched with that amount of need made me wonder what other skills Penn possessed besides the ability to fix or build anything.
Instead, I pushed him away, begged him to forget it ever happened, and acted like nothing between us had changed.
Turns out lying to yourself is more difficult than telling a lie to someone else.
Now, I’m opening up my own bakery, and Penn is still there helping me, supporting me, even carrying around my favorite chocolate to feed me when I’m stressed.
Then one night everything changes, and I discover that cake frosting has a lot more uses than just for making dessert.
The closer we become, I realize I’m playing with fire and feelings as I navigate what I want, but I have to decide if Penn is my future, or if our history is something I can’t move past.
But I can’t have him because he used to be best friends with my ex-husband.
I became a single mom of two kids without warning, and Penn was there to help when my life was falling apart.
He loved my kids like they were his own, coached my son’s soccer team, and filled up the Kisses for the Daddy jar so my daughter never realized it would go empty.
But then he kissed me.
I tried to ignore the way my body reacted, how being touched with that amount of need made me wonder what other skills Penn possessed besides the ability to fix or build anything.
Instead, I pushed him away, begged him to forget it ever happened, and acted like nothing between us had changed.
Turns out lying to yourself is more difficult than telling a lie to someone else.
Now, I’m opening up my own bakery, and Penn is still there helping me, supporting me, even carrying around my favorite chocolate to feed me when I’m stressed.
Then one night everything changes, and I discover that cake frosting has a lot more uses than just for making dessert.
The closer we become, I realize I’m playing with fire and feelings as I navigate what I want, but I have to decide if Penn is my future, or if our history is something I can’t move past.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2024
696 people are currently reading
2410 people want to read
About the author
Harlow James
33 books1,397 followersHarlow James is a wife and mom who fell in love with romance novels, so she decided to write her own.
Her books are the perfect blend of heartwarming, addictive, and steamy romance. If you love stories with strong females, found family and friend groups, and plenty of emotion and steam with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then Harlow is your new best friend.
When she's not writing, she can be found working her day job, reading every romance novel she can find time for, laughing with her husband and kids, watching re-runs of FRIENDS, and spending time cooking for her friends and family while drinking champagne or a blended margarita.
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Her books are the perfect blend of heartwarming, addictive, and steamy romance. If you love stories with strong females, found family and friend groups, and plenty of emotion and steam with a guaranteed Happily Ever After, then Harlow is your new best friend.
When she's not writing, she can be found working her day job, reading every romance novel she can find time for, laughing with her husband and kids, watching re-runs of FRIENDS, and spending time cooking for her friends and family while drinking champagne or a blended margarita.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarlowJamesA...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/49499...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harlowjames...
Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/b2x1q8
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Harlow-James/e...
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/harlo...
Website: https://harlowjamesauthor.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 478 reviews
May 18, 2025
no puede ser que me quede despierta hasta las 4 de la mañana leyendo esta poronga
estoy enojada porque la sinopsis tenía la re pinta y después termino siendo todo re mediocre, en ningún momento me importaron los protagonistas, objetivamente puedo tener en cuenta que por lo menos la autora le metio un poco de ganas en darles una personalidad e historia de fondo con sus propias inspiraciónes y conflictos internos pero fue todo MEH
te hablan de que fueron amigos desde toda la vida y que tienen una re conexión y que no se que pija pero en todo el libro habran MENCIONADO, no explicado o desarrollado o MOSTRADO, maximo tres veces que eran amigos de antes, y me enfermo porque de vuelta se supone que todos se conocen desde bebes aproximadamente pero él era el "mejor amigo" del esposo muerto, ella nunca fue su mejor amiga, pero supuestamente crecieron juntos tienen una re conexión bla bla bla etc etc como que la autora no me lo logró vender de una manera CREÍBLE
otra otra cosa que no me termino de cerrar y no me gustó, y esto entiendo que es simplemente mi gusto particular en estos romances, fue que el protagonista se empezo a calentar (porque si, fue calentura) por la mina despues que el mejor amigo se murio, LO ENTIENDO PERO AL MISMO TIEMPO SE CONOCEN DE TODA LA VIDAAAAAA COMO ES QUE SE LES PRENDE DE UN DIA PARA EL OTRO LA LAMPARITA SIN NINGÚN TIPO DE INDICIO ANTES??? no lo compro no me gusta no no no, yo quiero que vuelvan los valores tradicionales y que él este enamorado de ella desde siempre ahogandose en culpa porque la ama pero su amigo se caso con ella, pero bueno eso ya seria otra forma de contar la historia completamente distinta... MEJOR... pero distinta
creo que fue más que nada como la autora lo desarrollo, porque de última si esta bien escrito TODO ES POSIBLE Y CREÍBLE pero mínimo ponele onda hija de puta
OTRA COSA QUE ME SACO DE QUICIO, hay una parte donde la mina se pone medio celosa (ponele) y su primer tren de pensamiento es decir "pero si él empieza a salir engonces no va a tener tiempo de ir a los partidos de fútbol de mi hijo y no va a poder llevar a mi hija a tal lado y no me va a ayudar a arreglar mi panadería y que voy a hacer si no me ayuda en absolutamente todo" ..... queres una niñera o un novio flaca, la verdad la mina tiraba comentarios medio de mierda cuando hablaba de como funcionaba su relación, siempre en funcion a como él le era funcional en su día a día, no si simplemente quería disfrutar de la vida y el futuro con el NO SE ME PARECIO MEDIO PORONGA
después me parecieron re poronga las escenas de sexo, siento que gran parte de la relacion que fue moestrada en el libro fue pura calentura, honestamente me leí la primera escena de sexo y despues me las adelante todas mira si voy a tener ganas de leer como la mina le chupa la poronga mientras dice el dialogo mas cringe posible pero dejame de joder encima no paraban de cojer dios mio uno más pelotudo que el otro si tanto se amaban y no querían romper el vínculo y cambiar la amistad dejen de mojar tanto la galletita y empiecen a COMUNICARSE!!!!!!!!
hay una escena que la autora metió para hacerla graciosa pero se olvido que no estamos en 2010 y es que en un momento la hija de la protagonista (tiene siete años) le dice "che vos ayer estabas rezando a la noche? digo porque no parabas de gritar OH DIOS OH DIOS la próxima avísame y rezo con vos"..... alguien leyó eso y dijo siiii fueeeee es re graciosooo publicalooooooooo
todo el conflicto de ella no queriéndole decir a él que el marido muerto fue de hecho un padre y marido de mierda y que antes que se muera se iban a divorciar ????????? no aporto a nada????? para romper las bolas nada más porque al final del día solo demostró que la mina es una pelotuda DIOS ME SACAN DE QUICIO LAS MUJERES ESTÚPIDAS PUEDO ESPERARLO DE UN HOMBRE que encima ni siquiera porque seguro el chabon si la esposa era una forra ya les dijo a todo el pueblo que él es la víctima y ella una soreta BUENO VOLVIENDO AL PUNTO: mina pelotuda get up it's embarrassing
entiendo que por un lado esta bueno (?) como plasma una relación de segundas oportunidades pero no logré conectar con nada de ellos, si me hubieran vendido que eran amigos hace unos meses te lo hubiera creído más que lo que me vendieron acá "amigos de toda la vida" DONDE FLACA DONDE ?????
APARTE me seco los huevos todo el plot del ex marido siendo un esposo de mierda y padre ausente y la mina siempre pelotuda queriendo "ciudar" su memoria porque se MURIO, dios me molestan las minas mogolicas perdon pero el forro te trataba de pelotuda y nunca te tomo en serio en tus aspiraciones personales, aparte de tratarte como una mucama PERO RAJA DE ACAAAAA pero pobre el chabon era un MARINEEEE EL ESTABA SIRVIENDO A SU PAAAIIIIs anda a la puta que te parió con tu propaganda militar de mierda me tienen harta los yankees si pudiera los bombardearia yo a ver que tan guapos son, dios hay una escena donde el protagonista dice "siempre voy a estar agradecido y admirarlo por haber servido a su pais" EL CHABON PROBABLEMENTE ESTABA MATANDO NIÑOS EN EL MEDIO ORIENTE (esos son otros militares no se que hacen los marines bien pero seguro estaban matando gente de países orientales no tienen mucho más que hacer)
bueno en fin fue una poronga basta de propaganda militar basta de minas mogolicas que cuidan siempre la memoria de un hombre que no lo merecía basta de romance solo basado en sexo basta de diálogos cringe a la hora de cojer y bueno no se que más poner muerte a estados unidos chau buenas noches
estoy enojada porque la sinopsis tenía la re pinta y después termino siendo todo re mediocre, en ningún momento me importaron los protagonistas, objetivamente puedo tener en cuenta que por lo menos la autora le metio un poco de ganas en darles una personalidad e historia de fondo con sus propias inspiraciónes y conflictos internos pero fue todo MEH
te hablan de que fueron amigos desde toda la vida y que tienen una re conexión y que no se que pija pero en todo el libro habran MENCIONADO, no explicado o desarrollado o MOSTRADO, maximo tres veces que eran amigos de antes, y me enfermo porque de vuelta se supone que todos se conocen desde bebes aproximadamente pero él era el "mejor amigo" del esposo muerto, ella nunca fue su mejor amiga, pero supuestamente crecieron juntos tienen una re conexión bla bla bla etc etc como que la autora no me lo logró vender de una manera CREÍBLE
otra otra cosa que no me termino de cerrar y no me gustó, y esto entiendo que es simplemente mi gusto particular en estos romances, fue que el protagonista se empezo a calentar (porque si, fue calentura) por la mina despues que el mejor amigo se murio, LO ENTIENDO PERO AL MISMO TIEMPO SE CONOCEN DE TODA LA VIDAAAAAA COMO ES QUE SE LES PRENDE DE UN DIA PARA EL OTRO LA LAMPARITA SIN NINGÚN TIPO DE INDICIO ANTES??? no lo compro no me gusta no no no, yo quiero que vuelvan los valores tradicionales y que él este enamorado de ella desde siempre ahogandose en culpa porque la ama pero su amigo se caso con ella, pero bueno eso ya seria otra forma de contar la historia completamente distinta... MEJOR... pero distinta
creo que fue más que nada como la autora lo desarrollo, porque de última si esta bien escrito TODO ES POSIBLE Y CREÍBLE pero mínimo ponele onda hija de puta
OTRA COSA QUE ME SACO DE QUICIO, hay una parte donde la mina se pone medio celosa (ponele) y su primer tren de pensamiento es decir "pero si él empieza a salir engonces no va a tener tiempo de ir a los partidos de fútbol de mi hijo y no va a poder llevar a mi hija a tal lado y no me va a ayudar a arreglar mi panadería y que voy a hacer si no me ayuda en absolutamente todo" ..... queres una niñera o un novio flaca, la verdad la mina tiraba comentarios medio de mierda cuando hablaba de como funcionaba su relación, siempre en funcion a como él le era funcional en su día a día, no si simplemente quería disfrutar de la vida y el futuro con el NO SE ME PARECIO MEDIO PORONGA
después me parecieron re poronga las escenas de sexo, siento que gran parte de la relacion que fue moestrada en el libro fue pura calentura, honestamente me leí la primera escena de sexo y despues me las adelante todas mira si voy a tener ganas de leer como la mina le chupa la poronga mientras dice el dialogo mas cringe posible pero dejame de joder encima no paraban de cojer dios mio uno más pelotudo que el otro si tanto se amaban y no querían romper el vínculo y cambiar la amistad dejen de mojar tanto la galletita y empiecen a COMUNICARSE!!!!!!!!
hay una escena que la autora metió para hacerla graciosa pero se olvido que no estamos en 2010 y es que en un momento la hija de la protagonista (tiene siete años) le dice "che vos ayer estabas rezando a la noche? digo porque no parabas de gritar OH DIOS OH DIOS la próxima avísame y rezo con vos"..... alguien leyó eso y dijo siiii fueeeee es re graciosooo publicalooooooooo
todo el conflicto de ella no queriéndole decir a él que el marido muerto fue de hecho un padre y marido de mierda y que antes que se muera se iban a divorciar ????????? no aporto a nada????? para romper las bolas nada más porque al final del día solo demostró que la mina es una pelotuda DIOS ME SACAN DE QUICIO LAS MUJERES ESTÚPIDAS PUEDO ESPERARLO DE UN HOMBRE que encima ni siquiera porque seguro el chabon si la esposa era una forra ya les dijo a todo el pueblo que él es la víctima y ella una soreta BUENO VOLVIENDO AL PUNTO: mina pelotuda get up it's embarrassing
entiendo que por un lado esta bueno (?) como plasma una relación de segundas oportunidades pero no logré conectar con nada de ellos, si me hubieran vendido que eran amigos hace unos meses te lo hubiera creído más que lo que me vendieron acá "amigos de toda la vida" DONDE FLACA DONDE ?????
APARTE me seco los huevos todo el plot del ex marido siendo un esposo de mierda y padre ausente y la mina siempre pelotuda queriendo "ciudar" su memoria porque se MURIO, dios me molestan las minas mogolicas perdon pero el forro te trataba de pelotuda y nunca te tomo en serio en tus aspiraciones personales, aparte de tratarte como una mucama PERO RAJA DE ACAAAAA pero pobre el chabon era un MARINEEEE EL ESTABA SIRVIENDO A SU PAAAIIIIs anda a la puta que te parió con tu propaganda militar de mierda me tienen harta los yankees si pudiera los bombardearia yo a ver que tan guapos son, dios hay una escena donde el protagonista dice "siempre voy a estar agradecido y admirarlo por haber servido a su pais" EL CHABON PROBABLEMENTE ESTABA MATANDO NIÑOS EN EL MEDIO ORIENTE (esos son otros militares no se que hacen los marines bien pero seguro estaban matando gente de países orientales no tienen mucho más que hacer)
bueno en fin fue una poronga basta de propaganda militar basta de minas mogolicas que cuidan siempre la memoria de un hombre que no lo merecía basta de romance solo basado en sexo basta de diálogos cringe a la hora de cojer y bueno no se que más poner muerte a estados unidos chau buenas noches
October 16, 2024
"Can't you see how messed up this is?"
That's this book in a nutshell.
My notes look like: "Argh!", "Oh boy!", "Grrrr!", "How???", "Dude!", "Brandon is dead!", "Seriously?!", "Ugh!", "Sure!", "Duh!", "Grrrrrrr!", "Uuuuh!", "Are you fucking kidding me?", "Brandon is dead!!!!", "Aaaaaargh!", "Come on!", "So ridiculous!", "Fuck me!", "Why???", "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!"
These two heroes deserve each other for sure! Both are insufferable. 🤬 They are supposed to be good, almost perfect people with high moral standards. In fact, they are boring, ridiculous, stupid, and annoying. I couldn't stand either of them, and Astrid is far worse than Penn.
As you learn from retrospectives and conversations, FMC Astrid, her husband Brandon and MMC Penn were friends for many years. After Brandon's passing four years ago, Penn took care of Astrid and her two children and became an indispensable friend. After too much tequila a year after Brandon's dead, they kissed, but Astrid prevented more from happening because she'd rather have him as a friend than risk losing him. It worked…more or less. They remained friends, but the kiss was followed by three years of longing and lusting and secretly loving each other.
Relentlessly urged by their friends and relatives, who all know Astrid and Penn are a dream team and belong together, it's finally time to act on their feelings. And when I say act, I mean screw. Of course, they don't talk and confess their feelings first, hell no, after an absurd argument, they fuck each other's brains out. (Although I'm not quite sure that they actually have brains.) Do I really need to mention that they don't talk after sex either? Astrid has to leave, so they postpone their conversation until the next day.
Unfortunately, they can't keep their hands off each other when they meet again, and the conversation has to wait once more. After sex, Astrid doesn’t want to "dampen the moment", despite there was so much she wanted to say ("so many concerns and thoughts … have been plaguing me"). It's only because Penn insists, a conversation takes place at all. As it turns out, the two have very different ideas about their future relationship:
Penn: "That night three years ago wasn't just the tequila talking. My feelings for you are real. They always have been. And I'm tired of pretending like this isn't something that we both fucking want."
Astrid: "There are so many reasons why we shouldn't though, Penn. […] I'm scared of what people may think. […] I'm starting a business and I don't want to tarnish my reputation."
Also Astrid, delivering the…uh…perfect solution: "If we do this, I think we should keep it quiet for a while […] I can't give you a timeline, Penn." She takes in a shaky breath. "I just know that I need some time to wrap my head around this."
After that, they keep spinning in circles, silently musing about not deserving each other, holding on to their secret relationship. While not really talking to each other, they talk to a lot of other people, though, and that's the theme of this book: Astrid and Penn share their feelings, thoughts and concerns with friends, relatives (dead or alive) and random strangers. Repeatedly. Endlessly!!! The same things are discussed over and over again–Penn with his mother, Astrid with her friend Willow, Penn with his brother Dallas, Astrid with her mother, Penn with his deceased father (admittedly, "discussed" is a bit of an exaggeration here), Astrid with Penn's sister Hazel, Penn with a complete stranger, and so on. Everyone offers sound advice and tries to talk some sense into these fools, but it takes an eternity for the two of them to finally get it together.
Meanwhile, trivialities keep us bored, such as bakery stuff, Astrid's son's soccer games and problems at school, blahdiblah. Irritatingly, several crises seem to be brewing, but then fizzle out rather unspectacularly. I had pinned all my hopes for some fun with the passion party but, of course, they were shattered. The sex toy sale is mega boring, the highlight being Penn's sister hitting him square in the forehead with a purple dildo. Ha, ha. Very funny. (If that's your kind of humor.) At least one of Astrid's purchases is used later, a vibrating cock ring, but the accompanying scene is just as lame as all the other sex scenes.
Best friend's widow is always a delicate and tricky trope and hard to execute without being awkward, but I'm sorry to say that the author does it extremely poorly. Both MC's motivations for not starting a relationship are ridiculous. For Penn, it's reasons of honor and "she deserves a better man", for Astrid it's her fear of losing him for good if it doesn't work out, but most of all it's her reputation and her oh-so terrible "secret": her husband wasn't a very good husband and they were about to get divorced when he deceased. Before you blame me for the spoiler, it isn't one, because it's told very early in the book and because she talks about it with several people. Several people but not Penn, that is. (Obviously!) She doesn't want Penn to know, so he doesn't think of his best friend differently or bad. Ugh. Yeah. Sure. Why should she make life easier for them by admitting that her marriage was over anyway? Okay, well, it probably wouldn't have been enough to ease Penn's guilty conscience anyway, because you know…bro code. (Insert dramatic eye-rolling here).
The book ends with a preview of the next book, which is about Astrid's brother who got his one-night stand pregnant. I rather dislike the surprise baby trope, so I'm going to skip the sequel, especially after this disappointment when I liked book 1 so much.
Overall rating: 1.4
Story: 1
Emotion: 1.5/5
Penn: 2/5
Astrid: 1/5
That's this book in a nutshell.
My notes look like: "Argh!", "Oh boy!", "Grrrr!", "How???", "Dude!", "Brandon is dead!", "Seriously?!", "Ugh!", "Sure!", "Duh!", "Grrrrrrr!", "Uuuuh!", "Are you fucking kidding me?", "Brandon is dead!!!!", "Aaaaaargh!", "Come on!", "So ridiculous!", "Fuck me!", "Why???", "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!"
These two heroes deserve each other for sure! Both are insufferable. 🤬 They are supposed to be good, almost perfect people with high moral standards. In fact, they are boring, ridiculous, stupid, and annoying. I couldn't stand either of them, and Astrid is far worse than Penn.
As you learn from retrospectives and conversations, FMC Astrid, her husband Brandon and MMC Penn were friends for many years. After Brandon's passing four years ago, Penn took care of Astrid and her two children and became an indispensable friend. After too much tequila a year after Brandon's dead, they kissed, but Astrid prevented more from happening because she'd rather have him as a friend than risk losing him. It worked…more or less. They remained friends, but the kiss was followed by three years of longing and lusting and secretly loving each other.
Relentlessly urged by their friends and relatives, who all know Astrid and Penn are a dream team and belong together, it's finally time to act on their feelings. And when I say act, I mean screw. Of course, they don't talk and confess their feelings first, hell no, after an absurd argument, they fuck each other's brains out. (Although I'm not quite sure that they actually have brains.) Do I really need to mention that they don't talk after sex either? Astrid has to leave, so they postpone their conversation until the next day.
Unfortunately, they can't keep their hands off each other when they meet again, and the conversation has to wait once more. After sex, Astrid doesn’t want to "dampen the moment", despite there was so much she wanted to say ("so many concerns and thoughts … have been plaguing me"). It's only because Penn insists, a conversation takes place at all. As it turns out, the two have very different ideas about their future relationship:
Penn: "That night three years ago wasn't just the tequila talking. My feelings for you are real. They always have been. And I'm tired of pretending like this isn't something that we both fucking want."
Astrid: "There are so many reasons why we shouldn't though, Penn. […] I'm scared of what people may think. […] I'm starting a business and I don't want to tarnish my reputation."
Also Astrid, delivering the…uh…perfect solution: "If we do this, I think we should keep it quiet for a while […] I can't give you a timeline, Penn." She takes in a shaky breath. "I just know that I need some time to wrap my head around this."
After that, they keep spinning in circles, silently musing about not deserving each other, holding on to their secret relationship. While not really talking to each other, they talk to a lot of other people, though, and that's the theme of this book: Astrid and Penn share their feelings, thoughts and concerns with friends, relatives (dead or alive) and random strangers. Repeatedly. Endlessly!!! The same things are discussed over and over again–Penn with his mother, Astrid with her friend Willow, Penn with his brother Dallas, Astrid with her mother, Penn with his deceased father (admittedly, "discussed" is a bit of an exaggeration here), Astrid with Penn's sister Hazel, Penn with a complete stranger, and so on. Everyone offers sound advice and tries to talk some sense into these fools, but it takes an eternity for the two of them to finally get it together.
Meanwhile, trivialities keep us bored, such as bakery stuff, Astrid's son's soccer games and problems at school, blahdiblah. Irritatingly, several crises seem to be brewing, but then fizzle out rather unspectacularly. I had pinned all my hopes for some fun with the passion party but, of course, they were shattered. The sex toy sale is mega boring, the highlight being Penn's sister hitting him square in the forehead with a purple dildo. Ha, ha. Very funny. (If that's your kind of humor.) At least one of Astrid's purchases is used later, a vibrating cock ring, but the accompanying scene is just as lame as all the other sex scenes.
Best friend's widow is always a delicate and tricky trope and hard to execute without being awkward, but I'm sorry to say that the author does it extremely poorly. Both MC's motivations for not starting a relationship are ridiculous. For Penn, it's reasons of honor and "she deserves a better man", for Astrid it's her fear of losing him for good if it doesn't work out, but most of all it's her reputation and her oh-so terrible "secret": her husband wasn't a very good husband and they were about to get divorced when he deceased. Before you blame me for the spoiler, it isn't one, because it's told very early in the book and because she talks about it with several people. Several people but not Penn, that is. (Obviously!) She doesn't want Penn to know, so he doesn't think of his best friend differently or bad. Ugh. Yeah. Sure. Why should she make life easier for them by admitting that her marriage was over anyway? Okay, well, it probably wouldn't have been enough to ease Penn's guilty conscience anyway, because you know…bro code. (Insert dramatic eye-rolling here).
The book ends with a preview of the next book, which is about Astrid's brother who got his one-night stand pregnant. I rather dislike the surprise baby trope, so I'm going to skip the sequel, especially after this disappointment when I liked book 1 so much.
Overall rating: 1.4
Story: 1
Emotion: 1.5/5
Penn: 2/5
Astrid: 1/5
October 2, 2024
• 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗺
• 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀
• 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘄
• 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗱𝘀
• 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀
• 𝗛𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁
• 𝗠𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
I honestly don't know where to start! 𝐈 𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊! And everything about it! And putting it into words seems so intimidating. I'll start by saying I didn't want it to end! I wanted more and more of Penn and Astrid! I didn't want to say goodbye.
This book was so beautifully written. The characters were unbelievably lovable! The way Harlow opened this book had you rooting so hard for Astrid from the start. AND then we meet Penn. My gosh!!! Hold on to your panties because there's a new book boyfriend in town!
Everything Penn did was sweet. Even the smallest gestures. I mean, he carried chocolate around in his pockets for her! Coach her son's soccer team. And helped remodel her bakery. And this man's mouth. It'll have you panting. The words he said to Astrid when he finally let his feelings truly take over. 𝐔𝐌. 𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄! I was squealing when he finally told her the way he had been feeling for years. 👏 He was so in tune with Astrid. And even more so when she finally opened up to him. He became so aware that her sparkle had been smothered from her previous experience with love! He went above and beyond to make her feel seen!
But enough about Penn. As much as I loved Penn, Astrid was equally as lovable. You can't help but love her beautifully gentle soul. And it showed most in the way she was always putting her kids first. She made sure to give them the best life after losing their dad!
I could keep going on and on about this book. But honestly you should just run to your kindle and download it and find out for yourself just how good it is!
I can't wait for the next book!!!
🎧𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐈𝐎𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖🎧
This audiobook was 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫!!! 𝑨𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒏𝒐𝒘 and 𝑽𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒂 𝑬𝒅𝒘𝒊𝒏 gave us the most incredible performance! They seriously brought this book to life! These are two narrators that I already loved listening to! They're two of my favorites. But this performance really solidified why they're two of my favorites. Vanessa played Astrid with so much passion. And with her sweet voice, she made Astrid shine! Aiden!!! Swoon! Aiden played Penn! This character was made for Aiden's gruff deep voice. I loved hearing Aiden play every side of Penn. From his possessive side to his sexy dirty-talking side. This man nailed it! And I couldn't have been more happy with this audiobook!
Read
October 4, 2024NOW LIVE!!!!
Penn and Astrid are ready to steal your hearts!
If you like:
Mutual Pining
Friends to lovers
Grumpy hero
Coastal small town
Single mom
Best friend’s widow
Brother’s best friend
Then download Someone You Deserve today in EBook, paperback, or AUDIO!
Someone You Deserve Book 2: https://mybook.to/someoneyoudeserve
SYD Audio narrated by Aiden Snow and Vanessa Edwin: https://adbl.co/4dUoOmS
SYD Discreet Paperback: https://mybook.to/someoneyoudeserveSE
Penn and Astrid are ready to steal your hearts!
If you like:
Mutual Pining
Friends to lovers
Grumpy hero
Coastal small town
Single mom
Best friend’s widow
Brother’s best friend
Then download Someone You Deserve today in EBook, paperback, or AUDIO!
Someone You Deserve Book 2: https://mybook.to/someoneyoudeserve
SYD Audio narrated by Aiden Snow and Vanessa Edwin: https://adbl.co/4dUoOmS
SYD Discreet Paperback: https://mybook.to/someoneyoudeserveSE
dnf
November 27, 2024I'm only about 30% in and the h is already frustrating me because girllllllllllllll.
I understand her husband died and he was the H's best friend but c'mon she was going to divorce him!!!!!!! And there's this amazing man who's doing all the things you wanted your husband too!!!!!!!!! Who's there for your kids more than the husband ever was!!!!!!!!!
How could she even entertain the thought of going out with another guy? I'm never a fan of the H turning into a manwhore but I hope he starts dating ow soon because this clueless bitch is pissing me off
I tend to get very frustrated with h's like this........deep breath
#currentlyreading
I understand her husband died and he was the H's best friend but c'mon she was going to divorce him!!!!!!! And there's this amazing man who's doing all the things you wanted your husband too!!!!!!!!! Who's there for your kids more than the husband ever was!!!!!!!!!
How could she even entertain the thought of going out with another guy? I'm never a fan of the H turning into a manwhore but I hope he starts dating ow soon because this clueless bitch is pissing me off
I tend to get very frustrated with h's like this........deep breath
#currentlyreading
October 6, 2024
So Astrid was a little bit of a bitch to Penn in the beginning to be honest. Like when that guy came into the bakery to ask her out, and she played dumb. It was a little bit bitchy to Penn because she knew he had feelings for her and she totally ignored them. It gave me the impression that she was using him and taking him for granted a little bit too much. As the story proceeded, she was acting like a 15 years old girl with him! Penn was too good for her. I also was mad at her when she said that she wanted to hide the relationship because she didn't want to tarnish her reputation, as if being with him was as something bad as to ruin a reputation. She kept things from him, a lot of things I must add, and he couldn't express his emotions about that with her because she become all defensive and shit, and when he kept a small secret, about his starting business because he was unsure of his potential, she went ballistic on him just for something so small and stupid... I don't like her, she is a little egocentric. And she kept not being honest with him. I don't know...
Penn is just perfect, maybe a little too perfect. I don't know if someone like him really exits on this earth. He is really a dream, even more with his little insecurities about his life choices. Overall, the story was good, but I couldn't connect with Astrid. I connected a lot more with Penn this time around because he is so similar to me in his way of trying to be there for everyone, I really liked him a lot.
Penn is just perfect, maybe a little too perfect. I don't know if someone like him really exits on this earth. He is really a dream, even more with his little insecurities about his life choices. Overall, the story was good, but I couldn't connect with Astrid. I connected a lot more with Penn this time around because he is so similar to me in his way of trying to be there for everyone, I really liked him a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2024
• Love After Loss
• Late Husbands Best Friend
• Friends to Lovers
• Single Mom
• Secret Relationship
• F it moment
• Small Town
• He Falls First
• Late Husbands Best Friend
• Friends to Lovers
• Single Mom
• Secret Relationship
• F it moment
• Small Town
• He Falls First
October 26, 2024
This was a really amazing audiobook!
I’m going to be a sucker for best friend’s ex, even when it comes in the form of a widow. There is just something about the forbidden nature of it all, even if it isn’t truly forbidden. You just know people in that small town are going to have opinions.
I also loved the heroine and how she was a proponent of being mom doesn’t mean that is your identity. You can be a mom, a friend, a business owner, etc. You can be all the things! Women are not defined by the role of mom.
I also really loved that hero! His own guilt with loving his best friend’s wife, honoring who he is to his kids, and more. It was such a fine line for him to walk.
I’m going to be a sucker for best friend’s ex, even when it comes in the form of a widow. There is just something about the forbidden nature of it all, even if it isn’t truly forbidden. You just know people in that small town are going to have opinions.
I also loved the heroine and how she was a proponent of being mom doesn’t mean that is your identity. You can be a mom, a friend, a business owner, etc. You can be all the things! Women are not defined by the role of mom.
I also really loved that hero! His own guilt with loving his best friend’s wife, honoring who he is to his kids, and more. It was such a fine line for him to walk.
October 4, 2024
🎧𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 - 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘
𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚝𝚘𝚗 𝙲𝚘𝚟𝚎 #𝟸
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹
⏳ 𝟬𝟵𝗛 𝟬𝟲𝗠
🎙️ 𝗗𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗻𝗼𝘄 & 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮 𝗘𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗻
🧁𝚂𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚃𝚘𝚠𝚗
🔨𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝙻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜
🧁𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍'𝚜 𝚆𝚒𝚍𝚘𝚠
🔨𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝙵𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍
🧁𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝙼𝚘𝚖
🔨𝙼𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝙿𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐
❝ ꜰᴏᴜʀ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴀɢᴏ, ᴘᴇɴɴ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ʜɪꜱ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʜᴏᴏᴅ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʜɪꜱ ᴡɪꜰᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴋɪᴅꜱ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴏɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɢʀɪᴇꜰ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ꜰᴇʟʟ ꜰᴏʀ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴘ, ᴀ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛᴇɴꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇꜱᴛʀᴏʏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ꜰᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ…❝
𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐧 - 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬
He’s spent his whole life trying to make everyone else happy and doing what’s expected of him. He never really cared about ambition before; he was content just working for other people. But when it comes to Astrid, he’s ready to step up and be better—he wants to be a real provider for her and her kids. The way he longs for her is just so romantic! It’s the little things he does, along with the bigger gestures, that really get to me. Plus, the way he interacts with her kids is so sweet. Honestly, he’s just a total dreamboat!
𝐀𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐝 - 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫, 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝟐
I really feel for her—what she went through was just devastating. But the way she was so real and vulnerable about it all really struck me. She was all set to choose herself and leave her unhappy marriage before her husband passed away. But even with all the grief and guilt, she didn't let it stop her from going after her dream of opening a bakery. Some of the honest conversations she had with Penn really hit home for me, especially about the shame and guilt you feel when you move on—it's even tougher when you're in a small town where everyone talks. With Penn, she gradually begins to forgive herself and comes to understand that she truly deserves someone who will love and support her and that it’s okay to let go of the past.
💭Wow, what a beautiful story! I couldn’t help but shed some tears for both of them. The way they dealt with all that longing and guilt was so intense and really hit me hard. But watching them finally find their way to each other and get the happy ending they truly deserved was just so heartwarming. I absolutely adore this story and can’t wait to see what happens next!
🅆🄷🄰🅃 🄸 🄻🄸🄺🄴 🄰🄱🄾🅄🅃 🅃🄷🄸🅂 🄱🄾🄾🄺
✅THE PINING🥹
✅Penn’s dirty mouth🥵
✅Sexy time at the bakery🔥
✅The kids! Lily and Bentley are so adorably chaotic
✅The mortifying praying scene😂
🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Vanessa is quickly becoming one of my favorite female narrators. I absolutely love her voice, so expressive and with such a beautiful tone. Her male voice was top-notch too, making this dual narration incredibly enjoyable. And Aiden! He's just the perfect Penn, he swept me off my feet with his performance. The way he delivers the dirty talk is so hot! Highly recommend this audio!
⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠/𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤⚠️
- Loss of spouse
- Grief
✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 THE AUTHOR AGENCY 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝙻𝙲, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨
October 4, 2024
🎧📖Audio and eBook Review📖🎧
My author 💙bestie💙 did it again *heart eyes*!! #swoonfest
I did my process in reverse this time, meaning I read my ARC one weekend and waited till the next weekend to get lost in the audiobook. You guys are going to absolutely love this audiobook because Aiden & Vanessa were glorious, but if you don’t like audiobooks and choose to read this story, it is also going to be glorious. There are some circumstances that did hit me a little harder while I listened to the audiobook which technically would qualify it to be a better experience, but I honestly don’t think it was a big enough impact to warrant me shouting from the rooftops that audio is the only possible way to feel this story cuz that’d be a lie! Okay, so that’s that LOL Now let’s talk a bout this swoonfest shall we!
Listen, this was romance personified. Like the entire story felt romantic and very deeply sincere. Every action and reaction between Penn & Astrid had an air of destiny to it and it all felt endearing and just swoony! I know I should be using better language but gah, that’s honestly what happened. During my listening, I felt myself being swept in by the story and it made so happy because when I felt, it was resounding and wonderous.
I won’t lie and say that the ”secret” Astrid was keeping didn’t make me eyeroll, because it did LOL that woman shouldn’t have had any inner conflicts with what was happening but I’m not the writer so *shrug* and I also won’t lie and say that Penn’s inner conflict didn’t make my eye twitch a time or two because, reasons I can’t say because spoilers … BUT none of that matter because the story as a whole was a huge, yes, you guessed it, swoonfest! That’s my term and I’m sticking to it!
Another well deserved 4.5 stars rounded to 5 because half stars are not a thing!
Sidenote: I really need to listen to Aiden Snow more! Lol I mean I listen to plenty of Vanessa Edwin and she’s a winner every time but I’m seriously lacking in my Aiden listens and his voice is ❤️🔥raawrrrr❤️🔥 👏🏻round of applause all around!👏🏻
My author 💙bestie💙 did it again *heart eyes*!! #swoonfest
I did my process in reverse this time, meaning I read my ARC one weekend and waited till the next weekend to get lost in the audiobook. You guys are going to absolutely love this audiobook because Aiden & Vanessa were glorious, but if you don’t like audiobooks and choose to read this story, it is also going to be glorious. There are some circumstances that did hit me a little harder while I listened to the audiobook which technically would qualify it to be a better experience, but I honestly don’t think it was a big enough impact to warrant me shouting from the rooftops that audio is the only possible way to feel this story cuz that’d be a lie! Okay, so that’s that LOL Now let’s talk a bout this swoonfest shall we!
Listen, this was romance personified. Like the entire story felt romantic and very deeply sincere. Every action and reaction between Penn & Astrid had an air of destiny to it and it all felt endearing and just swoony! I know I should be using better language but gah, that’s honestly what happened. During my listening, I felt myself being swept in by the story and it made so happy because when I felt, it was resounding and wonderous.
I won’t lie and say that the ”secret” Astrid was keeping didn’t make me eyeroll, because it did LOL that woman shouldn’t have had any inner conflicts with what was happening but I’m not the writer so *shrug* and I also won’t lie and say that Penn’s inner conflict didn’t make my eye twitch a time or two because, reasons I can’t say because spoilers … BUT none of that matter because the story as a whole was a huge, yes, you guessed it, swoonfest! That’s my term and I’m sticking to it!
Another well deserved 4.5 stars rounded to 5 because half stars are not a thing!
Sidenote: I really need to listen to Aiden Snow more! Lol I mean I listen to plenty of Vanessa Edwin and she’s a winner every time but I’m seriously lacking in my Aiden listens and his voice is ❤️🔥raawrrrr❤️🔥 👏🏻round of applause all around!👏🏻
September 26, 2024
4.5⭐️
1.5🌶️
Someone You Deserve is book 2 in the Carrington Cove Series. Which follows Penn Sheppard and Astrid Cooper. Astrid and Penn have been best friends practically their whole life since growing up together in Carrington Cove. Astrid is a single mom of two and a widow to Penn’s best friend. Since the last few years they’ve both been trying to push their feelings towards each other away but when Astrid gets asked out by a local Penn all but snaps. Will these two let the past define them and their feelings or will they give into what they both having been dying for!?
Tropes
small town
single mom
best friend's widow
he falls first
grumpy hero
brother’s best friend
friends to lovers
secret relationship
mutual pining
1.5🌶️
Someone You Deserve is book 2 in the Carrington Cove Series. Which follows Penn Sheppard and Astrid Cooper. Astrid and Penn have been best friends practically their whole life since growing up together in Carrington Cove. Astrid is a single mom of two and a widow to Penn’s best friend. Since the last few years they’ve both been trying to push their feelings towards each other away but when Astrid gets asked out by a local Penn all but snaps. Will these two let the past define them and their feelings or will they give into what they both having been dying for!?
Tropes
small town
single mom
best friend's widow
he falls first
grumpy hero
brother’s best friend
friends to lovers
secret relationship
mutual pining
October 5, 2024
4/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
Tropes:
💜Small Town
✨Single Mom
💜Best Friend’s Widow
✨Grumpy Hero
💜He Falls First
✨Friends to Lovers
💜Secret Relationship
✨Mutual Pining
This was such a cute read!! I love them soo much!
Someone You Deserve is the second book in the Carrington Cove series following Penn Sheppard & Astrid Cooper! They have been best friends practically their whole lives! Astrid is a single mom of two and a widow of Penn’s bestfriend! Since the last few years they’ve both been pushing their feelings for each other away! Penn is such a good guy towards her and her kids!! I love them soo much! The way Penn is towards her kids is so heart warming!!
I was so happy I got the audiobook! Vanessa Edwin & Aiden Snow did an amazing job!! I highly recommend the audio for this read!! I can’t wait to see what Harlow James has in store for the rest of this series!!
2/5🌶️
Tropes:
💜Small Town
✨Single Mom
💜Best Friend’s Widow
✨Grumpy Hero
💜He Falls First
✨Friends to Lovers
💜Secret Relationship
✨Mutual Pining
This was such a cute read!! I love them soo much!
Someone You Deserve is the second book in the Carrington Cove series following Penn Sheppard & Astrid Cooper! They have been best friends practically their whole lives! Astrid is a single mom of two and a widow of Penn’s bestfriend! Since the last few years they’ve both been pushing their feelings for each other away! Penn is such a good guy towards her and her kids!! I love them soo much! The way Penn is towards her kids is so heart warming!!
I was so happy I got the audiobook! Vanessa Edwin & Aiden Snow did an amazing job!! I highly recommend the audio for this read!! I can’t wait to see what Harlow James has in store for the rest of this series!!
October 5, 2024
I’ve been waiting for this book for so long! ALC/arc REVIEW to come.
Penn and Astrid are truly made for each other and I love the audiobook so so much it really brings the characters together and the banter in this book whew!! Loved this story Harlow always brings the best stories to us!!
Penn and Astrid are truly made for each other and I love the audiobook so so much it really brings the characters together and the banter in this book whew!! Loved this story Harlow always brings the best stories to us!!
October 2, 2024
My FIRST ARC read!
Astrid and Penn UGHHHH I loved this book. I want nothing more than to live in Carrington Cove! 5 stars and 10/10 recommend for anyone who loves LOVE and for anyone who loves friends to lovers. It’s a love after loss book but it’s also love in a small town and the ex was the new MMCs best friend. I didn’t read the first book in this series but Harlow killed it with making sure we know who is who without giving away all the details so I can go back and read the first book (which I will be doing because this book was so good)
Astrid and Penn UGHHHH I loved this book. I want nothing more than to live in Carrington Cove! 5 stars and 10/10 recommend for anyone who loves LOVE and for anyone who loves friends to lovers. It’s a love after loss book but it’s also love in a small town and the ex was the new MMCs best friend. I didn’t read the first book in this series but Harlow killed it with making sure we know who is who without giving away all the details so I can go back and read the first book (which I will be doing because this book was so good)
October 1, 2024
ALC Review
Release date 10/4
Tropes:
Widowed mother of 2
He falls first
Best friend's brother
Friends to lovers
Best friend's widow
"It's always been you"
Mutual pining
Found family
Small Town
Dual POV
Spicy
✨️Wow! I kinda went in blind on this, and I'm so pleasantly surprised! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Astrid and Penn's story. It was so beautifully written. I loved that the characters were closer to my age. I love that Penn was there for Astrid and her kids through their loss. It got a bit emotional at times. I loved the f*ck it moment and all of the swoony scenes. It was just a great read! The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life. I would definitely recommend giving this a listen if you are an audiobook lover!
Thank you, Harlow James and The Author Agency,for allowing me to read and review! I truly enjoyed this book!!
Release date 10/4
Tropes:
Widowed mother of 2
He falls first
Best friend's brother
Friends to lovers
Best friend's widow
"It's always been you"
Mutual pining
Found family
Small Town
Dual POV
Spicy
✨️Wow! I kinda went in blind on this, and I'm so pleasantly surprised! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Astrid and Penn's story. It was so beautifully written. I loved that the characters were closer to my age. I love that Penn was there for Astrid and her kids through their loss. It got a bit emotional at times. I loved the f*ck it moment and all of the swoony scenes. It was just a great read! The narrators did a great job bringing the story to life. I would definitely recommend giving this a listen if you are an audiobook lover!
Thank you, Harlow James and The Author Agency,for allowing me to read and review! I truly enjoyed this book!!
October 4, 2024
Book two in the Carrington Cove Series, and I loved Penn and Astrid’s story.
The best of friends for most of their lives, and now each other’s support system, but there are underlying feelings, and reasons to never act on them. Until another man asks Astrid out.
The timing might be right this time around for Astrid and Penn, but their busy schedules and concern of other’s might be their only excuses now. Will the widow and single mom of two and her husband’s best friend, take a risk at ruining their friendship?
Penn shows Astrid and her kids what they were missing while her husband was alive. You can not help but root for these two.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
The best of friends for most of their lives, and now each other’s support system, but there are underlying feelings, and reasons to never act on them. Until another man asks Astrid out.
The timing might be right this time around for Astrid and Penn, but their busy schedules and concern of other’s might be their only excuses now. Will the widow and single mom of two and her husband’s best friend, take a risk at ruining their friendship?
Penn shows Astrid and her kids what they were missing while her husband was alive. You can not help but root for these two.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
September 24, 2024
This was such a beautiful story of love after loss, and proof that it’s ok to follow your heart.
When Astrid finds herself on the precipice of divorce, and then raising two kids alone after a terrible tragedy. Her late husbands best friends in to help with whatever she may need.
Penn finds himself caught between his feelings for Astrid and honoring his late best friend. The neighborhood all around Mr. Fix it, who everyone thinks has no real set future.
Astrid has always aspired to make a career out of her baking talents, which her late husband didn’t support. When an amazing opportunity falls into her lap she jumps at the chance to make her dream a reality. When Penn steps into help with her dream their feelings blossom even more.
In a small town where gossip runs rampant, and the feeling of betraying his best friend and her ex-husband Astrid and Penn find themselves in a precarious situation.
This story was beautifully written with a hea they both deserved! There may be a spicy little 🧁 scene that is stuck in my head as well….I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book.
Thank you so much to Harlow James for allowing the the opportunity to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.
When Astrid finds herself on the precipice of divorce, and then raising two kids alone after a terrible tragedy. Her late husbands best friends in to help with whatever she may need.
Penn finds himself caught between his feelings for Astrid and honoring his late best friend. The neighborhood all around Mr. Fix it, who everyone thinks has no real set future.
Astrid has always aspired to make a career out of her baking talents, which her late husband didn’t support. When an amazing opportunity falls into her lap she jumps at the chance to make her dream a reality. When Penn steps into help with her dream their feelings blossom even more.
In a small town where gossip runs rampant, and the feeling of betraying his best friend and her ex-husband Astrid and Penn find themselves in a precarious situation.
This story was beautifully written with a hea they both deserved! There may be a spicy little 🧁 scene that is stuck in my head as well….I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book.
Thank you so much to Harlow James for allowing the the opportunity to read this pre-release in exchange for my honest review.
October 2, 2024
Curse you Harlow for making me fall for a book with so many of my least fave tropes 🤣 You wrote them all so perfectly! (Ex. friends to lovers + Brother's Best Friend + Sunshine x Sunshine MC's) romance! BUT OMG this book was so stinking adorable. Astrid and Penn were just so dang perfect for each other and rooting for them to get together was so fun for the beginning of the book! And when they get together?! YES PLEASE! Especially when Astrid's kids had me LAUGHING ("Mommy, can you pray to God quieter please?!) But yea, all in all? This was such an enjoying book and my fave book by Harlow so far!
"Love can be messy sometimes but its worth it. When you find the right person, you figure it out together and it all just becomes part of your story. "
💜Friends to Lovers
💛Single Mom
💜Brother's Best Friend AND Best Friend's Brother AND Deceased Husband's Best Friend
💛 Small Town Romance
Final Rating: 4.5⭐, 3.25🌶️
Thank you to the Author Agency and Harlow for granting me and ALC ( and eARC) of this book! This is my honest and unpaid review!
So excited for Sometimes You Fall and the Accidental Pregnancy trope I'm perpetually THIRSTY for!
"Love can be messy sometimes but its worth it. When you find the right person, you figure it out together and it all just becomes part of your story. "
💜Friends to Lovers
💛Single Mom
💜Brother's Best Friend AND Best Friend's Brother AND Deceased Husband's Best Friend
💛 Small Town Romance
Final Rating: 4.5⭐, 3.25🌶️
Thank you to the Author Agency and Harlow for granting me and ALC ( and eARC) of this book! This is my honest and unpaid review!
So excited for Sometimes You Fall and the Accidental Pregnancy trope I'm perpetually THIRSTY for!
October 5, 2024
I read book 1, and I knew I just HAD to read the story of a man who's in love with his best friends widow. And the woman who loves him back.
Penn has been there for Astrid ever since her husband passed away. He coaches her sons team and plans board games with her kids. He really takes care of them.
But he's in agony. He loves Astrid. He loves her kids. But she was married to his friend. And only sees HIM as a friend.
But things are changing. Astrid and Penn are making big moves in their work lives. When changes happen, you start looking around at your life around you. Or tbh the people in their lives start asking them... if not now, when?
It's so sweet with their friendship. Penn is a real stand up guy. Even when we think he needs to shut someone down, lol. And the changes each makes! I loved that they wanted to change their lives for the better.
There's some complications. What's it going to look like when Astrid was married to his best friend? What will other people think?
It's steamy too. Loved it!
Penn has been there for Astrid ever since her husband passed away. He coaches her sons team and plans board games with her kids. He really takes care of them.
But he's in agony. He loves Astrid. He loves her kids. But she was married to his friend. And only sees HIM as a friend.
But things are changing. Astrid and Penn are making big moves in their work lives. When changes happen, you start looking around at your life around you. Or tbh the people in their lives start asking them... if not now, when?
It's so sweet with their friendship. Penn is a real stand up guy. Even when we think he needs to shut someone down, lol. And the changes each makes! I loved that they wanted to change their lives for the better.
There's some complications. What's it going to look like when Astrid was married to his best friend? What will other people think?
It's steamy too. Loved it!
October 4, 2024
I absolutely adored this book!
Penn & Astrid were clearly meant to be and oh boy did it show.
Astrid becomes a single mom after she loses her husband who also happens to be Penn’s best friend. Astrid is now doing something for herself which is starting her own bakery.
There have been feelings brewing for years from Penn to Astrid, but there’s something stopping him from fully going after what he wants. Once they both realize guilt can’t stop them things shift.
I absolutely love this couple and the relationship they have. But the relationship Penn has with Astrid’s kids MELTS my heart.
This is such a sweet, spicy, best friend’s widow with hits of laughter you can’t control.
I cannot wait for book three!
•small town
•best friends widow
•handyman x baker
•single mom
Penn & Astrid were clearly meant to be and oh boy did it show.
Astrid becomes a single mom after she loses her husband who also happens to be Penn’s best friend. Astrid is now doing something for herself which is starting her own bakery.
There have been feelings brewing for years from Penn to Astrid, but there’s something stopping him from fully going after what he wants. Once they both realize guilt can’t stop them things shift.
I absolutely love this couple and the relationship they have. But the relationship Penn has with Astrid’s kids MELTS my heart.
This is such a sweet, spicy, best friend’s widow with hits of laughter you can’t control.
I cannot wait for book three!
•small town
•best friends widow
•handyman x baker
•single mom
September 29, 2024
Someone You Deserve is book two in Harlow James’ Covington Cove series and gives us Penn and Astrid’s story.
This was a highly anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint. This is a beautiful story of love after loss, and that it’s okay to move on and find happiness and follow your dreams.
As always, Harlow has written wonderfully developed and complex characters. Both Penn and Astrid have feelings and issues that force them to look deep within themselves to fight for their own happiness.
This book just affirms what I felt after reading book one: I want to live in Covington Cove.
This was a highly anticipated read for me and it did not disappoint. This is a beautiful story of love after loss, and that it’s okay to move on and find happiness and follow your dreams.
As always, Harlow has written wonderfully developed and complex characters. Both Penn and Astrid have feelings and issues that force them to look deep within themselves to fight for their own happiness.
This book just affirms what I felt after reading book one: I want to live in Covington Cove.
September 27, 2024
Someone You Deserve is a small town, single mom, brother’s best friend, best friend’s widow, he falls first romance! This is the 2nd in a standalone series but it was my first read from this author and I wasn’t lost at all!
Astrid is a widowed, single mom of 2 kids who works at a bakery. And Penn is her late husband’s best friend who is still a part of her and her kids’ lives. Penn and Astrid have a friendship of their own as well and even though it’s 4 years after the loss of her late husband, Astrid still isn’t sure about moving on…especially with Penn, but she’s so pulled towards him.
I loved how he has been pining for her and crushing on her for years. They shared a moment a year after her husband’s loss and he hasn’t stopped thinking about it since, even though she said it was a mistake. They end up keeping their relationship a secret from some of their family and friends because they’re wary of others’ reactions. I really liked this setup and the tropes (a widowed, single parent romance always works for me)!
The audiobook was so easy to get into, narrated by Aiden Snow and Vanessa Edwin. I received an ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
Astrid is a widowed, single mom of 2 kids who works at a bakery. And Penn is her late husband’s best friend who is still a part of her and her kids’ lives. Penn and Astrid have a friendship of their own as well and even though it’s 4 years after the loss of her late husband, Astrid still isn’t sure about moving on…especially with Penn, but she’s so pulled towards him.
I loved how he has been pining for her and crushing on her for years. They shared a moment a year after her husband’s loss and he hasn’t stopped thinking about it since, even though she said it was a mistake. They end up keeping their relationship a secret from some of their family and friends because they’re wary of others’ reactions. I really liked this setup and the tropes (a widowed, single parent romance always works for me)!
The audiobook was so easy to get into, narrated by Aiden Snow and Vanessa Edwin. I received an ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
October 1, 2024
3.75 ⭐️ | 🎧 | 🌶🌶
In a world full of Brandons, find yourself a Penn. I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series and am really looking forward to the rest of the series. I love the single parent trope and Penn was an amazing book boyfriend. The development along the way was great and I felt like the progression of their love story was really nicely done
Looking forward to more of Carrington Cove!
In a world full of Brandons, find yourself a Penn. I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series and am really looking forward to the rest of the series. I love the single parent trope and Penn was an amazing book boyfriend. The development along the way was great and I felt like the progression of their love story was really nicely done
Looking forward to more of Carrington Cove!
October 7, 2024
… you’re actually joking me right now . this book is perfection . i stayed up all night reading/listening too it . this will be a “every book is 5 stars in this series” - i’m calling it now . FRTC <3
——————————————————————————————
Penn Shepard + Astrid Cooper both deserve the whole . entire . world ! Two best friend for practically their whole entire lives . Astrid is a single mom of twins + a Widow of Penn’s very best friend . Penn is the town’s fix it man because he has a very had time say no, but has big dreams he is working on . All the while the two of them are scurrying around their feeling that have only JUST recently developed in the years after her husband’s tragic passing . But there is always more to anyone’s story than actually meets the eye .. and boy does Astrid have a story to tell .
PERFECTION !!!! Carrington Cove is so magical and all of the characters that reside there completely draw you into the story as if you are one of the locals . Everything about Penn Shepard is a SWOON ALERT + everything about Astrid is a strong reminder that you are capable of doing hard things . I love them your honor . And I am so excited to see what book three and the rest of the series has in store for us !
This book was given to me for honest review from The Author Agency + the author .
——————————————————————————————
Penn Shepard + Astrid Cooper both deserve the whole . entire . world ! Two best friend for practically their whole entire lives . Astrid is a single mom of twins + a Widow of Penn’s very best friend . Penn is the town’s fix it man because he has a very had time say no, but has big dreams he is working on . All the while the two of them are scurrying around their feeling that have only JUST recently developed in the years after her husband’s tragic passing . But there is always more to anyone’s story than actually meets the eye .. and boy does Astrid have a story to tell .
PERFECTION !!!! Carrington Cove is so magical and all of the characters that reside there completely draw you into the story as if you are one of the locals . Everything about Penn Shepard is a SWOON ALERT + everything about Astrid is a strong reminder that you are capable of doing hard things . I love them your honor . And I am so excited to see what book three and the rest of the series has in store for us !
This book was given to me for honest review from The Author Agency + the author .
October 5, 2024
This was such a heartfelt and sweet small town romance! Penn and Astrid were perfect for each other!
March 12, 2025
4/5 ⭐
2.5/5 🌶️
2.5/5 🌶️
October 4, 2024
4.25 ⭐️ Penn pining for Astrid was everything to me, after reading Somewhere you belong, I couldn’t to wait to dive into this book.
At times I was frustrated with Astrid but I appreciated that they both were going through a lot. There was a frustrating miscommunication towards the end but these two care too deeply about each other to not work through it.
Love the ending and hint for the next book. Can’t wait for it.
And I loved the kids. Especially adorable Lilly.
“Mommy, why were you talking to God last night?” Lilly asks as she eats her cereal for breakfast. I nearly spit my coffee all over the kitchen floor. Stuttering, I say, “What?” “I heard you yelling, ‘Oh God! Oh God!’” She furrows her brow at me. “If you were praying, Mommy, I think you could be a little quieter next time.”
I was given an ARC and my opinions are my own.
At times I was frustrated with Astrid but I appreciated that they both were going through a lot. There was a frustrating miscommunication towards the end but these two care too deeply about each other to not work through it.
Love the ending and hint for the next book. Can’t wait for it.
And I loved the kids. Especially adorable Lilly.
“Mommy, why were you talking to God last night?” Lilly asks as she eats her cereal for breakfast. I nearly spit my coffee all over the kitchen floor. Stuttering, I say, “What?” “I heard you yelling, ‘Oh God! Oh God!’” She furrows her brow at me. “If you were praying, Mommy, I think you could be a little quieter next time.”
I was given an ARC and my opinions are my own.
October 8, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
👩👧👦 Single mom
🖤Best friend's widow
🏡 Small town
💕Friends to lovers
🎭Secret relationship
💋He falls first
Astrid is Penn's best friend's widow. After her husband passed away, they got really close and Penn takes care of her and her kids. They never got closer than friendship but feelings inevitably start to grow and they can't resist eternally.
__________
I absolutely adore Penn and Astrid and the kids! They took the time to get together, for good reasons, and they are so good together!
I was frustrated when they didn't talk to each other and kept too many secrets but I'm the end everything was good in the world again and I can't wait to be back in Carrington Cove!
𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕:
👩👧👦 Single mom
🖤Best friend's widow
🏡 Small town
💕Friends to lovers
🎭Secret relationship
💋He falls first
Astrid is Penn's best friend's widow. After her husband passed away, they got really close and Penn takes care of her and her kids. They never got closer than friendship but feelings inevitably start to grow and they can't resist eternally.
__________
I absolutely adore Penn and Astrid and the kids! They took the time to get together, for good reasons, and they are so good together!
I was frustrated when they didn't talk to each other and kept too many secrets but I'm the end everything was good in the world again and I can't wait to be back in Carrington Cove!
October 4, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was so happy to revisit Carrington Cove, and this time with a fall/winter setting, as if this town wasn’t already so cozy and comforting GAH! 🥹
First of all, Astrid is a BOSS BABE. She is such a strong FMC with everything she has been dealt and I was so drawn to her.
Penn was not my ideal MMC (probably bc I’m still obsessing over Dallas from book 1 & no one can compare🤭) but I do think he was the perfect fit for Astrid!
Could she handle single mom and business owner life on her own and absolutely kill it? Definitely.
But having Penn along side her to tackle those tough situations was heart warming. She deserved that happiness so much.
Thank you harlow & the author agency for this ARC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏼
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