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Dare Valley #4-5
Daring Declarations
Two shorter novels in the Dare Valley Series: The Holiday Serenade and The Town Square:
The Holiday Serenade
Professional gambler and millionaire Rhett Butler Blaylock is everything Martha Stewart wannabe Abbie Maven doesn't want in a man-flamboyant, flashy, and unreserved. After a horrible experience in her youth, she has spent her life trying to make all the right choices, pouring her energy into being the best possible single mother to her son. Rhett's determined to show Abbie he can be the man of her dreams. As Christmas approaches, he prepares a special surprise for her, hoping the holiday will work its magic and grant him a miracle. Will his holiday serenade heal Abbie's heart and convince her to give love a second chance?
The Town Square
Arthur Hale returns to his hometown of Dare Valley, Colorado to start a new newspaper that will channel the voice of the West. But the bigger the dream, the higher the price. Arthur's ambition and drive isolate him, and the only person who can break through his self-imposed solitude is Harriet Jenkins, his talented and mysterious secretary. What he doesn't know is that Harriet Jenkins is actually Harriet Wentworth. A newspaper article ruined her father and sullied her family name, and now she's out for revenge on the journalist who wrote it: Arthur Hale. Soon the impossible happens, and Harriet finds herself falling for the man she set out to destroy, but can the two build a future on a foundation of lies and ugly truths?
The Holiday Serenade
Professional gambler and millionaire Rhett Butler Blaylock is everything Martha Stewart wannabe Abbie Maven doesn't want in a man-flamboyant, flashy, and unreserved. After a horrible experience in her youth, she has spent her life trying to make all the right choices, pouring her energy into being the best possible single mother to her son. Rhett's determined to show Abbie he can be the man of her dreams. As Christmas approaches, he prepares a special surprise for her, hoping the holiday will work its magic and grant him a miracle. Will his holiday serenade heal Abbie's heart and convince her to give love a second chance?
The Town Square
Arthur Hale returns to his hometown of Dare Valley, Colorado to start a new newspaper that will channel the voice of the West. But the bigger the dream, the higher the price. Arthur's ambition and drive isolate him, and the only person who can break through his self-imposed solitude is Harriet Jenkins, his talented and mysterious secretary. What he doesn't know is that Harriet Jenkins is actually Harriet Wentworth. A newspaper article ruined her father and sullied her family name, and now she's out for revenge on the journalist who wrote it: Arthur Hale. Soon the impossible happens, and Harriet finds herself falling for the man she set out to destroy, but can the two build a future on a foundation of lies and ugly truths?
- GenresRomance
354 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2014
97 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
About the author
Ava Miles
100 books1,135 followersMillions of readers have discovered International Bestselling Author Ava Miles and her powerful fiction and non-fiction books about love, happiness, and transformation. Her novels have received praise and accolades from USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and People Magazine in addition to being chosen as Best Books of the Year and Top Editor’s picks. Translated into multiple languages, Ava’s strongest praise comes directly from her readers, who call her books and characters unforgettable.
Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.
After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.
Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.
After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 22, 2015
Don't buy this! After reading the other dare valley books this is a repeat of three of the books in the series. Waste of money.
Very disappointed. I love the series and thought it was the next one. Maybe if you don't want to read all the books someone else would like the shortened version.
Very disappointed. I love the series and thought it was the next one. Maybe if you don't want to read all the books someone else would like the shortened version.
March 14, 2015
Review haiku:
See reviews of each
Individual story
Nice small-town series
See reviews of each
Individual story
Nice small-town series
March 1, 2024
Redundant
While this was an ok book. It was redundant. But I plowed through. As a Colorado Native, this has been a fun series. Even if a little sappy. They're great to fill in the gaps and when you have a book hangover. They're pretty typical romance novels with predictable endings, but the journey through the stories was fun! Unrealistic true, but fun. Reading is a great escape and a good place to go to have the feel good, fairy tale endings.
My biggest gripe is that she messed up the football team! And of all the mishapps she called the team the Dever raiders (no I can not capitalize it). The raiders were Oakland, then LA and now Las Vegas. They've NEVER been a Denver team. Sunsets over the Rockies are orange and blue! We are the Denver Broncos!!!!!!
While this was an ok book. It was redundant. But I plowed through. As a Colorado Native, this has been a fun series. Even if a little sappy. They're great to fill in the gaps and when you have a book hangover. They're pretty typical romance novels with predictable endings, but the journey through the stories was fun! Unrealistic true, but fun. Reading is a great escape and a good place to go to have the feel good, fairy tale endings.
My biggest gripe is that she messed up the football team! And of all the mishapps she called the team the Dever raiders (no I can not capitalize it). The raiders were Oakland, then LA and now Las Vegas. They've NEVER been a Denver team. Sunsets over the Rockies are orange and blue! We are the Denver Broncos!!!!!!
April 14, 2022
Two stories in one book. The Holiday Serenade had a poker player, Rhett who is crazy about his good friend's sister, Abbie. This story tells about the ways he tries to win her heart. I thought the better story was The Town Square, this tells about a newspaper man, Arthur who is trying to start his own newspaper in his hometown and Harriet who has come to Dare seeking revenge for the articles Arthur wrote about her father. Read the book to find out if these two can overcome their pasts and find love. Really good book!
April 1, 2019
Two wonderful couples Arthur and Harriet, lovely to read, Harriet was so not what I thought she would be like.
Rhett and Abbie, boy did he have to go through hoops to convince Abbie they were meant to be together.
Rhett and Abbie, boy did he have to go through hoops to convince Abbie they were meant to be together.
May 10, 2014
I won this book in a First-Reads giveaway.
This edition contains two short novels, one set in current times, and the other in the 1960s.
The first, The Holiday Serenade, tells the story of Rhett Butler Blaylock, a professional poker player who travels the world, and Abbie Maven, a single parent who finds it hard to trust a man because of her past. Rhett, convinced that Abbie is the woman for him, attempts to woo her after their previous romance together fizzled. He tries to convince her that he is the right man for her, not an easy task it turns out. Flamboyant Rhett and conservative Abbie act as foils for each other and create an interesting type of tension.
The second, The Town Square, concerns newspaper publisher, Arthur Hale, and his mysterious secretary, Harriet Jenkins. Harriet seeks revenge against Arthur, but a little thing called falling in love prevents her from following through with her plan.
These novels are part of the Dare Valley Series. Set in a small town in Colorado, they are heartwarming stories featuring likeable characters and lots of humor and emotion.
Ava Miles is a wonderful author and I plan on reading her other books.
This edition contains two short novels, one set in current times, and the other in the 1960s.
The first, The Holiday Serenade, tells the story of Rhett Butler Blaylock, a professional poker player who travels the world, and Abbie Maven, a single parent who finds it hard to trust a man because of her past. Rhett, convinced that Abbie is the woman for him, attempts to woo her after their previous romance together fizzled. He tries to convince her that he is the right man for her, not an easy task it turns out. Flamboyant Rhett and conservative Abbie act as foils for each other and create an interesting type of tension.
The second, The Town Square, concerns newspaper publisher, Arthur Hale, and his mysterious secretary, Harriet Jenkins. Harriet seeks revenge against Arthur, but a little thing called falling in love prevents her from following through with her plan.
These novels are part of the Dare Valley Series. Set in a small town in Colorado, they are heartwarming stories featuring likeable characters and lots of humor and emotion.
Ava Miles is a wonderful author and I plan on reading her other books.
Read
June 15, 2015Public declarations of love
Rhett Butler Blaylock had to work so hard to show his lady that he was serious about his love for her that you weren't sure that she would ever accept him. Both of them received a Christmas miracle and it was truly wondrous.
I also enjoyed reading Arthur Hale's love story and his struggles with his love, Harriet.
I recommend both stories to lovers of romance.
Rhett Butler Blaylock had to work so hard to show his lady that he was serious about his love for her that you weren't sure that she would ever accept him. Both of them received a Christmas miracle and it was truly wondrous.
I also enjoyed reading Arthur Hale's love story and his struggles with his love, Harriet.
I recommend both stories to lovers of romance.
May 13, 2015
Love how Ava brings everyone together into a web of families and friends interacting, supporting and encouraging each other to step out and take a chance on love. Wonderful short stories that tie up some loose ends!
April 25, 2014
This book has 2 great novels in it and they are both great. So happy she has put out the printed copy for all those that still read paper books.
Read
March 16, 2016Glad to see how the weddings came together.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews