Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

No One But You

Rate this book
Kora Mitchell’s luck finding the perfect man has been anything but kind. That’s one of the negative things about living in her small hometown of Orlinda Valley, yet she remains hopeful that someday love will find her.

Enter Kai Lawson—a rugged drifter with a past as stormy as the Tennessee skies. He's a man who's learned to keep his distance and his life private. When a job leads him to Orlinda Valley, he expects nothing more than a paycheck and a temporary refuge. Love? That's a luxury he can't afford.

But Kai's first glimpse of Kora is like a lightning strike. She's feisty, vivacious, and utterly irresistible. As he focuses on work, he finds himself drawn not only to the rolling hills that surround Orlinda Valley but also to the woman who wears determination like a badge of honor.

Kora, too, feels the pull—the way Kai's eyes linger on her, the way his rough hands ignite sparks when they touch. As they navigate the dance of attraction and vulnerability, Kai's haunted past threatens to unravel their fragile connection, while Kora's heart tiptoes on the edge of hope.

In a town where gossip spreads faster than wildfire, can two souls find solace in each other? Will Orlinda Valley weave its magic, turning strangers into friends, and perhaps, into something more? Will Kora and Kai discover that love isn't just about luck—it's about taking risks, embracing imperfections, and finding home in unexpected places.

No One But You is a heartwarming and spicy contemporary romance that will leave you craving moonlit kisses, apple pie, and the kind of love that blooms when you least expect it. Get ready to fall head over heels for this small town tale of passion, redemption, and the healing power of love.

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2024

57 people are currently reading
87 people want to read

About the author

Donna R. Madden

9 books38 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
47 (54%)
4 stars
31 (35%)
3 stars
6 (6%)
2 stars
2 (2%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for Diana.
124 reviews6 followers
January 10, 2025
This book is a small-town, strangers to lovers. The love story of Kora and Kai Lawson. Kora is a small-town 3rd-grade teacher who meets Kai, a construction worker, on the side of the road when her vehicle gets a flat tire. Kai came to Orlinda Valley to escape from a rough upbringing in Georgia. He stayed long enough to get his younger twin siblings out of the same unhealthy environment and through college and basic training.

Orlinda Valley was a small town where everyone knew everyone and everyone knew everyone's business, so when a new person showed up in town, everyone was buzzing about him; wondering about who he was and if he was there to stay. The book club gossips, Tonya, Kaye, and Diane, sprung into action to figure him out.

I loved the author's writing style. The book had a well-thought-out plot with spice, but the spice was tastefully done and gave you enough to know exactly what she was eluding to.

Favorite quote: "There were 52 cows between my house."

This is book one in the Orlinda Valley series. Book two, No Love Like Yours, is also out. There is another character in the book that I would love to see have her own book, Summer. Once you read this book you will understand.
Profile Image for Roberta Timmons.
126 reviews6 followers
December 29, 2024
Amazing read!

This book was a 5 star read for me. I loved the fact pace. the banter that lasted through the whole book. I love the found family troupe
Profile Image for Keith.
192 reviews8 followers
December 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5

This. Story. Was. Perfect.

We were introduced to Orlinda Valley a small town. Where everyone knows everyone, it’s very family oriented blood or not!

Kora and Kai meet due to a flat tire…. Well, let’s just say that’s all it took, Kora is a bit head strong. Kai has a past he’s trying to escape until he realizes a new town won’t erase his past!

The banter last in this book from page one to the very last page! You get realistic storyline and spice! There’s so many side characters that bring entertainment as well and you come to enjoy the moment you meet them! I throughly recommend this book if you are looking for a book that will have you laughing from the beginning to end but also comes with a good storyline, realistic storyline and just enough spice!
Profile Image for Jessica.
129 reviews5 followers
December 31, 2024
This book kept me engaged from beginning to end with the nonstop banter from everyone! The side characters are a hoot especially aunt Tonya and the book club!

I love small town romances and Orlinda Valley is no exception to that! This loving tight knit community welcomes newcomer Kia with open arms. And let’s just say our MMC isn’t use to people caring or what it mean to be part of a family. He is here for a fresh start, new state, new town, new job. A new woman was not on that list but that doesn’t stop him from developing feeling for this auburn haired beauty that barely lets him help her with a flat tire!

Kora has lived in Orlinda Valley her whole life, which also means she’s knows all the men in the town just as long. To say her interest is peaked by a raven hairs man with silver eyes is an understatement. Even more than that is the past he’s trying to run from that still has him by he throat.
While this story is a work of fiction, if someone told me it was a memoir I would believe them. The way Donna wrote this book you can hear, feel and see the community and couples existing. It isn’t over embellished or overly complicated.

Its titled enemies to lovers, but I would say it’s more strangers to lovers.
Things I enjoyed:
Dealing with past trauma
They fall at the same time
Not a true 3rd act break up
Overall lots of good communication
Bookclub
Goats
Kayaking
5th wheel!
Profile Image for Kat📚.
52 reviews
June 4, 2025
This book was really super cute 😊

Welcome to Orlinda Valley 🐐

Kora was stuck on the side of the road due to a flat tire 🛞 and here comes new comer Kai strolling in to save the day. And , that’s all it took to create the cutest love story.

One of my favorite lines was “I don’t even know his last name” 🤣🤣🤣

Kai runs into some trouble about his past. But, when he comes clean to Kora he feels a breathe of fresh air. And, ready to begin his new life here in Orlinda Valley.

Be on the lookout for the nosy book club. They are everywhere 🤣 No privacy in this town. Just a close knit family ❤️

Everyone is so welcoming to Kai and he’s starting to connect with the men here and make friendships. Kai can’t wait to make this his home.

There is banter from page to page. Some spice, and so many funny moments.

This is a must read :) Go run and grab the whole series. And, Follow Donna on TikTok 🎉
Profile Image for Julie.
23 reviews8 followers
September 5, 2024
I’m in my small town romance era and really enjoyed this one. I always love when there are quirky, fun family or friend side characters as they can add so much to the story. The book club ladies were so much fun and Aunt Tonya was a hoot. They had me laughing multiple times throughout the book. Kora gets a flat tire on a road out in the countryside and the new guy in town, Kai stops to help her out. Kora has a fun, feisty personality and Kai annoys her from their first encounter, however the connection with Kai is immediate much to her dismay. As Kai becomes a well liked member of the community, Kora begins to soften to Kai’s attention although she doesn’t like that they are the talk of the town. Kai is running from his painful childhood but finally has found a place he wants to call home. As he is settling in his past comes knocking at the door and he has to deal with it in his beloved new town, doubting himself and his relationship with Kora in the process. I was definitely rooting for Kai and Kora through their emotional journey and you will be too. I can’t wait for book two!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lindsay.
30 reviews1 follower
August 16, 2024
Small town romance that proves you can't outrun your past, but you might be able to overcome it with the right person by your side. And a lot of commentary from the peanut gallery.
Profile Image for Deanna Keri.
178 reviews
March 25, 2025
This was such a cute like Small Town romance!

Kora and Kia was the unexpected love story.

Very fast - paced love story, I love Kia even named his truck!

Love at first tire flat! :)
Profile Image for Kate Brasington.
344 reviews5 followers
August 6, 2024
Today I had the pleasure of reading “No One But You” I started this book at 8 this morning and finish it this afternoon it was hard to put down.
This is a small town romance. It all starts when Kora’s car gets a flat tire and has no cell service leaving her on the side of the road without a way to call for help in which she decides to berate a cow for not sharing its water with her when she could potentially die of dehydration. While having a discussion with the cow the steamy love interest Kai pulls up and saves the day despite Kora’s poor attitude. Since this is such a small town the two continue to run into each other until they give in and start spending time together voluntarily which causes sparks to fly. Kora and Kai find themselves being the talk of the town since nothing is private in Orlinda Valley and some of the women in the community start meddling in their affairs.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved then tension between the characters and how they each brought out the best in one another and also worked through traumas together. I’m excited to see where these two will go if they are the focus of the next book in the series.
I gave this book a 4 out of 5 stars. This book comes out on August 15th and I think it is totally worth picking up and giving a try especially if you’re looking for a good romance book that isn’t spice heavy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rebmay.
2,832 reviews50 followers
August 15, 2024
Kora and Kai’s story takes one on an emotional journey. There are plenty of hilarious moments right from the start including Kora berating a cow for not sharing water with her, the beer and margarita shower she took courtesy of Kai and the silly antics of Kora’s goats. Then there is her Aunt Tonya, who is an unfiltered, nosy and meddling hoot of a character. She along with the book club ladies have their ways of knowing everything that is going on in town, including Kai and Kora’s first sexy hookup. Matchmaking, teasing, gossiping and eavesdropping are their specialties, but they also offer unconditional support and advice when needed. They are more than happy for their Kora to find a man who appreciates her and is capable of blowing her socks off too. Kora’s friends are masters at teasing, nudging and supporting each other. They certainly add to the entertainment value of this book too.

Along with the entertaining moments, there are some angst-ridden ones too. Kai did not have a happy childhood at all. It was more of a test of endurance and survival than a typical happy childhood. Just when Kai thinks he has put the past firmly behind him, a spectre from his past shows up to prove it isn’t so. His fears and doubts about his worthiness of love lead to him messing things up with Kora. Thank goodness for the book club ladies and all of Kora’s friends who now consider Kai to be one of them. Some meddling is good if it gets Kai and Kora back on track. Kai lucked out when he came to this small town. He not only found a woman who accepts and loves him as he is, he also found fantastic friends who were more like family and accepted him into their fold.

I won’t hesitate to recommend this fabulous book.
58 reviews
September 8, 2024
No One But You is an amusing, open-door, small town romance. Kora and Kai meet over a flat tire and, while they get off to a rocky start, the chemistry between them can't be denied.

Kora is a teacher who raises miniature goats and chickens... and is leery of men after her previous relationship; Kai is a construction worker looking for a place to call "home" after a violence-filled childhood. The two eventually realize that they've found home in each other.

I enjoyed this book... but had some reservations. The sex-crazed aunt Tonya seemed more irritating than kooky (as so often is the case in character-driven small town novels). Kora herself seemed aggressively anti-men/-relationships in the beginning... for no reason that one could discern. The sex scenes felt somewhat stilted, for no reason that I could easily put my finger on.

Overall, it was a good book; but perhaps not fully to my tastes.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Reader_for_LifeTLG.
2,765 reviews17 followers
September 22, 2024
The power of family - A wonderful story of love, romantic and familial, with an enemies-to-lovers, small town theme. Kai is the new hot, handsome hunk in town, Kora a beloved hometown teacher. Their first two encounters are not cute at all, making it a marvel she even gave him the time of day. Their upbringings are vastly different, making him think she's too good for him. And he has a secret he is too ashamed to share. But she's got a stubborn streak a mile long and won't be swayed from caring for him. Backed by a town filled with loveable busybodies, the couple will get the perfect HEA they deserve. The power of family is a strong theme in this story, whether for good or ill. Luckily for the lovers, the good greatly outweighed the bad. I look forward to reading more in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for M19arta.
127 reviews
August 18, 2024
I'm glad I overcame my initial dislike of the main characters because the book got better and better with each chapter and completely drew me in during the second half.

Frankly, the first half of the book was a bit boring and maybe a bit too generic. But the second half was wonderful (except for Terry's character and his unrealistically quick redemption arc, but that's such a small part of the book that I won't make a big deal out of it).

I liked the background story of the main hero and his difficult past. I felt that his apprehensions and fears were justified.
He and Kora made a perfect couple in the end.
Overall, it was a good small-town romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ginny.
254 reviews
August 20, 2024
Funny Small Town Romance

Kora and Kai’s story is fun from their first not so cute meet cute. He’s new in town and trying to start over from his past. She’s a hometown girl through and through and the last thing she wants is to be the subject of small town gossip. They quickly find themselves the talk of this small town. There are so many fun side characters that just add to this story. The emotional journey both Kora and Kai go through was unexpected but so good. These two found each other at the right time and helped the other heal and really bring out the best in each other.

This book is funny, with a lot of heart and some spice. It’s a quick, entertaining read. I can’t wait to see more from this fun, quirky town.
Profile Image for Mabel.
Author 1 book24 followers
March 22, 2025
Love At First Sight

Donna R. Madden wrote a heartwarming , small town romance book.

Kai had a rough life as his mother left him and the twins. His father was an alcoholic and Kai had to step up to put food on the table. Now that the twins are on their own, he needed to find a place to start over. While he drove through Orlinda Valley he chose to call it his home.

He met Kora when she was stranded with a flat tire and instantly fell in love. Unfortunately, a secret from the past may ruin his chance for true love. Is Kai strong enough to battle his demons? Will he be able to convince Kora that he is worthy?

This book was beautifully written and will make you fall in love with Kai and Kora.
Profile Image for Kendra.
36 reviews
August 17, 2024
Overall I really liked Kora and Kai's story. Kora felt like such a fun and familiar character that I think a lot of people who grew up in a small town will be able to relate with. Truth be told, I did not like Kai until almost halfway but then he started growing on me. I don't want to give too much away, but in the beginning I didn't get the best vibes from him. If you like a small town romance that truly feels like it is set in a small town (not a "small town" that actually has a Target) then this is the story for you. The characters are fun, they have some good banter, and are well fleshed out.
Profile Image for Gillian.
55 reviews5 followers
August 10, 2024
This was a cute, fun read that didn’t take me long at all! Kai and Kora have a really sweet meet-cute at the very beginning, with Kai catching her arguing with a cow! It has super small town vibes, which I love, and a great cast of characters in addition to the MCs! And can’t forget the goats - Percy and Jackson!

I love the story - Kai moves to small town Orlinda Valley hoping to outrun his past, but of course he has to face it before he can move on and have a healthy relationship with Kora. There’s some angst and some drama, similar to a lot of small town romances I’ve read, but it’s no less enjoyable because of it.

I felt like the characters could have been a bit better developed (maybe flashbacks for Kai so we delve into his history a little more and why he is the way he is) but it’s still a fun read and I can’t wait to read the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ruth Honts.
31 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2025
Hey y’all I really really enjoyed reading the first book and I tend to read the next one after I read a book from my book club. But I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to put this book down. The author writes an amazing book, love the tropes, banter and really the character development. I love how the story develops around small town family. (This might give it away) it shows that no matter what life you lived not everything in our past is going to keep us from having a happy ever after. Can’t wait to get the new covers and the third book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ky.
32 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2024
Small town romance with engaging side characters that help these two love birds see they are right for each other.

Kora is the fiesty fmc who is hesitant at first to admit she has fallen for Kai our endearing mmc who is running from a past that will eventually catch up to him. This is a seemingly slow burn romance with lovable characters and some humorous moments. I read this book within a couple of hours and was surprised with how much I actually enjoyed it.
4,012 reviews34 followers
September 4, 2024
No One But You by Donna R. Madden a good, and enjoyable steamy small town enemies to lovers romance read. The story has a good entertaining world building story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. This story is an entertaining read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kkb.
14 reviews6 followers
September 6, 2024
Kara and Kai are just perfect just like this small town romance! Orlinda valley is a place I wanna live lol!! It has all the small town feels, family and friends who all have each others back and noses in each others business. (Aunt Tonya!!!!)

I absolutely adored this book and the story so much I couldn’t put it down!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lisa Tutty.
108 reviews2 followers
August 15, 2024
Well, if you love a good romance this is for you! This book has it all really, humor, love, heartache, the nosy townsfolk, the brooding childhood ex’s. Kai didn’t have a great childhood and has become the man all women dream of. Although he doesn’t think so. Kora is as sweet and funny as they come. Small town romance is where it’s at! Loved this book all the way through!
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
September 7, 2024
The first story in the Orlinda Valley, Kora Mitchell and Kai Lawson's story is a beautiful, entertaining well written with two lonely people finding each other. I found their story to be well worth reading and it held my interest. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Mandy Fiddler.
129 reviews3 followers
November 11, 2025
Kora is a sweet, caring teacher and Kai is the sexy mysterious new guy in town. Together they are fire!

I loved the characters, especially the book club ladies, in this book and the small town feel. The story was sweet, only slightly predictable and had a lot of good moments that felt very endearing.
Profile Image for Hazel_Lee_Reads.
249 reviews7 followers
December 24, 2025
No One, But You was absolutely precious! Witty banter, heartfelt romance, found family, and small town charm made this a joy from start to finish. The chemistry was immediate, the pacing was great, and the side characters added so much warmth and humor. I devoured this in one sitting and loved every moment. If you’re craving a sweet, feel good small town romance, this is a must read!
949 reviews13 followers
August 16, 2024
Such a sweet story! The first meeting was funny! Great relationship growth! The people in town were awesome! Kai was simply a great man and my favorite character, although I loved Kora and the others too! Amazing end! Great story!
1,503 reviews19 followers
August 20, 2024
honesty
Kora and Kai remind us, that without honesty a relationship won´t work, of course we all have history and things we would do different now, but as long as we are willing to learn from our mistakes and do better in the future, there´s no shame in failure, we´re only human after all.
Profile Image for Alexis Miller.
812 reviews22 followers
August 22, 2024
This was a good read that included enemies to lovers, small town, past trauma and so much more. It really shows you can’t outrun the past forever all alone and that when that true person comes around they can try to help you heal from it
12 reviews
September 4, 2024
This is the epitome of small town romance! The immediate fire you feel between Kai and Kora makes you want to know more. The “book club” really added an additional dimension to the overall story. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs a cute romance read!
Profile Image for HannahMReads.
104 reviews5 followers
January 1, 2025
This was a sweet small town romance. It’s like if Gilmore girls met Steel Magnolias. Those are the vibes it gave me. It was a quick read and flew by. It was a good read to end my 2024 reading journey.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.