Clumsy in Love

Green Valley Falls #1

by Jamie Arras

She’s sworn off men. He’s too busy for love. But fate always gets the last laugh.

Left at the altar and on a honeymoon for one, park ranger Holly Bennett goes to NYC and accidentally witnesses a murder. Picking up the pieces of her failed engagement will be embarrassing enough. Now she’s supposed to do it with a grouchy city slicker glued to her hip? Hard pass.

Big-city cop Cole Robinson is tasked with keeping Holly safe and must follow her to her small hometown to do it. If Green Valley Falls is a round hole, Cole is a square peg, and he finds himself quickly and thoroughly out of his element.

Stuck together against their will, Holly and Cole are forced to navigate uncharted territory—both emotionally and physically. The rough and tumble wilderness pushes them together, but their seemingly insurmountable differences threaten to keep them apart.

Neither are looking for love. But will it hunt them down and find them anyway?

This closed-door, fish-out-of-water, small-town, romantic comedy drops a big-city cop in the middle of the New Hampshire wilderness, where he must protect a beautiful but clumsy park ranger from a murderer.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Ebooks

Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

About the author

Jamie recently relocated to the beautiful state of Tennessee, where she lives with her husband of 25+ years and their dog, Bella. Their wonderful, brilliant children are all grown up and out of the nest. Jamie now spends her days traveling, gardening, writing, and taking long walks in the park. She loves chocolate, dogs, and sitting on the back porch with a good book.

Reviews

[Sarah Legg · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read

Not my normal smut or mystery/thriller - but was SO pleasantly surprised! Fast moving, good storyline and easy reading- couldn’t put it down! Loved the characters and writing was top notch! Will definitely pick up more books by this author 😊

[erica a · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a cute, easy read and a fun start to the Green Valley Falls series.

Holly, is a not only a park ranger from small town New Hampshire but also a jilted bride that starts the story with her being left at the altar. Cole, is a NYC cop trying to climb the detective ladder. They’re total opposites. She’s small-town cozy, he’s big-city edge.

Their worlds collide when Holly gets lost in Central Park at night and witnesses a gang leader kill an undercover cop. She gasps, the guy hears, and suddenly she’s being chased through the park. Enter Cole, who has to protect her, which conveniently includes him following her back home as protection because the killer is aware of her and who she is now. (you really do need to suspend some belief for this story)

The writing is simple, the pacing is alright, and while it gets a little corny at the end, I still enjoyed it.
Perfect if you want a light romance with some chaos and a touch of suspense. It was like reading a Hallmark movie.

[Tracey Rommel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly was supposed to get married but her fiancé left her at the alter. She swore off men and her friends convinced her to go on her honeymoon. Holly decided why not and flew to NYC where she’s always wanted to go. But, luck was not on her side. While in Central Park her phone went dead and she got lost. But, that wasn’t her only problem she witnessed a mob man to shoot a cop. The man heard her and chased her. Luckily, she was able to climb a tree and they couldn’t find her. She slept in the tree until the policeman, Cole who is grumpy and now has to protect Holly who is the only witness to the murder.

Holly is works in a national park so Cole must go to the small town that Holly lives in to protect her. What happens when you spend 24 hours a day together. Will Holly and Cole admit their true feelings for each other.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book 1 of the Green Valley Falls series. This book is focused on Cole and Holly. Holly is from small town New Hampshire and Cole is a cop trying to become a Detective on NYC. Talk about being complete opposites!

This was a really cute story but I felt like Holly took everything in stride A BIT too easily. I mean - first getting left at the alter, then the fight in the bar, then she witnessed a murder, then she had a bodyguard, then another murder, then, then, then. I mean jeez! I would have been a mess. However, these two really were a cute couple and Cole’s family was too funny.

I’m guessing that the other books in the series are about Holly’s friends since there are 6 of them total.

[Kerry Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay very cute book! I loved the twist at the end on Big City vs Small Town couple! They always move to the small town so I was so surprised when they moved to the city! I love books with strong female friendships and I need a book that has both main characters who have people in their lives, so they aren’t one dimensional. This book fleshed out the lives well, though does Cole have friends that aren’t his sisters? Unclear. But yeah very cute, really liked ….. one complaint - a donkey and a mule are not the same. A donkey is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse. They were used interchangeably when they are not the same.

[Conna N Condon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is much better than the purchase preview led me to believe. He’s a New York City Cop trying to catch the bad guy. She is a New England forest ranger jilted bride. She gets lost at night in Central Park and witnesses his criminal kill an undercover boss. He hear’s her gasp and chases her. She evades him. Next morning the cop has to start protecting her, including following her home under pretense of new romance. It is a fun (kinda thriller) big city cop to small town ranger romance. I enjoyed the fantasy.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a freebie on Amazon. First in a series about 6 friends who are from a small town in New Hampshire.

This was an ok read. It's got some romantic suspense. The heroine witnesses the murder of a cop & now the murderer ( the leader of a vicious gang in NYC) is after her. A regular beat cop is assigned to keep her safe. Not very realistic.
So, it's pleasant enough, but you have to suspend some disbelief. It's a clean romance also.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holly is clumsy and very unlucky. “She’s pretty smart,” Faith added. “But has a tendency to be outwitted by a spoon.” “Cups and glasses are also vexing,” After being left at the altar, she goes on her honeymoon alone to NYC, witnesses a murder and brings home a NYC officer Cole to keep her safe until trial.

Fish out of water, forced proximity, clean romance with a great Tennessee setting, a team of girlfriends who have her back and all the tingles.

[M Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. Being a small town person myself I could 100% relate to the way Holly interpreted The Big Apple. Cole's Fish out of Water experience was fun for me. He did not seem as thrilled. Lots of action,some drama, a little angst, some friends that are family. Yeah this story had it all right down to the HEA. Time to read the next in the series.

[Margie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you start this book you meet Holly who is a disaster waiting to happen. She gets lost, witnesses a crime and climbs a tree. Enter Cole, a wanna be detective who sees Holly and “catches” her as she gets out of the tree. Just the start of crazy antics that have you laughing and being a part of an amazing story.

[Gail smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book

She had away of getting into trouble, but seeing a murder of cop was bad. Then he stepped into look after her well he tried but between bears and snake he did well not to fall victim himself. But alls well that ends well.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. W little bit unbelievable with the flying back and forth and kind of anticlimactic when it came to the suspense part. You get your resolution in a text? But the romance was sweet.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

CLUMSY IN LOVE is a great rom-com! I enjoyed every minute reading it. It’s cute, snarky, and romantic with crime drama and the loyal love of best friends underpinning everything. Holly, the clumsy park ranger, and Cole, the hottie cop, are wonderful fun on the way to their happy ever after!

[Kara Papa Piekos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short book but took me awhile to read. As someone from NH, the fact that the author portrays a seacoast town as the boondocks is hilarious to me. Portsmouth is actually very nice and bustling. No mountains LOL.

[Ama · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good plot, nice characters, but it lacks substance. Loads happen but it’s like my aunt is telling me a story, overlooking all the juicy details. Book reads more like a description of what happens. I almost DN at 85% but I pushed through.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great first book of a new series!! I loved the park ranger and big city police officer dynamic. I couldn’t put it down and am so excited to read the rest of the series!

[Mickie Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun story

Characters were so relatable. Felt like you were part of the story. Lots of fun dialogue. Nice to read about another woman who always drops food on herself.

[AmandaJR · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun read

This book was a fun and quick read. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. I am looking forward to the next book.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great New Series

Wonderful story, relatable characters, meet cute, friends, small town, fun banter and happily ever after. Can't wait for book two!

[Rick Molitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic comedy

This was a wonderful story. It was intense at times and hilarious at other times. The characters were interesting, and the story flowed well. A good read.

[Amanda Chaffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and fun read!! Funny and realistic. Very relatable characters and events. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

[Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little romance book.

[JUNE CAREY · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story . I could not put the book down it was funny and I want to see what happens next loved her work first time I read anything of hers.

[Kelli Sharp Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute

A great little romantic comedy. Definitely, worth a read. Friendship, family & love. It is Like a hallmark good movie.

[Angela Robertson · Rating 1 out of 5]

cute idea but so boring

I loved the storyline but there was zero chemistry written between the two main characters. But I will say 5ere was no proof reading errors so that’s a plus

[Nadine Landrebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Holly sounds so like me, apart from the being tall part, shes just as clumsy and dizzy and falls hard for people that are good to her. Cant wait to read the rest of the series

[Amanda Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was cute. It felt like it was a fairly new author as there were moments that the writing pulled me out of the story for a moment. But overall I enjoyed it. :)

[Tiffany C · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute! ending felt unsatisfying

[Barbara Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Laurie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really had to suspend reality for this one.