A heartwarming small-town romance novella full of humor, family, and second chances.
Joey Finch’s life has fallen apart. Her fiancé just broke off their engagement, and her beloved Boston coffee shop closed after struggling through COVID. Out of options, she heads back home to Prairie Creek, a charming Midwestern town she once couldn’t wait to leave. But there’s one problem—no one knows why she’s back. In the midst of financial struggles, a strained relationship with her father, and small-town gossip, Joey has to figure out her next move.
Between baking in the farmhouse kitchen, reconnecting with her childhood best friend Jessie, and dealing with a grumpy rooster named Carl, she starts to fall in love with the small-town life she once left behind. Then there’s Matt, her high school sweetheart, who never stopped thinking about her.
When a big job opportunity and a surprising newspaper ad land in her lap, Joey faces a rebuild the life she worked so hard for in Boston, or stay and replant her roots in Prairie Creek.
Perfect for fans of feel-good romance, clean and wholesome love stories, and books like Virgin River and Things We Never Got Over.
First Book of 2025 Completed 🤍 What better way to start 2025 with a new release by a local author!?
“Firefly Landing is a beautifully written Novella (first in a trilogy) by Lauren Noard following Joey Finch and her small midwestern hometown, Prairie Creek. Joey had left her hometown after school to chase her dreams in Boston, but after a broken off engagement, and closure of her coffee shop she’s returning home. Over the course of her visit home, she must navigate strained relationships, fend off the town gossips and figure out what her future entails.”
While I’m not normally a Novella reader (guilty), this book captivated me and I completed it in one sitting. This book was beautifully written and is truly just the beginning of Joey’s journey.
The small town vibes were oozing from this Novella - country roads, corn fields, Casey’s, Ranch loving, “Worlds Greatest Fair”, etc. While I may be slightly biased, Prairie Creek sure does sound like home ❤️
Highly Recommend for a someone looking for a quick and easy read, small town vibes, hallmark vibes book!
I download samples on my Kindle and keep reading on KU or purchase when the story draws me in. This one did and I kept reading until the end. Ms. Noard is a talented writer and storyteller - the scenes moved seamlessly and characters were delicately unfolded and fleshed out. I am a fan of this fellow Illinois writer and look forward to following Joey as she opens her next bakery.
I'd ask for the peanut butter and banana strudel recipe, but it sounds above my baking skills.
Quick easy/read novella. Small town cozy vibes. Sweet, clean and wholesome! Would be great as a palette cleanser! The story follows Joey and her struggles as a small business owner during the Covid 19 pandemic and the reality that many small businesses faced when they had to close their doors. Joey goes back “home” to see her parents and clue them in on what’s been going on in her life. I loved the little battle she has at her parents with Carl the rooster!
This was such an enjoyable, stress relieving, cozy read. Living in a rural small town area myself, I really enjoyed the spot on depiction of Midwest small town life. This story made me smile, giggle, & reflect on my own life. I found the characters lovable & enjoyed reading about the FMC’s return to her hometown & her contemplation of what she wants her life to look like now at this point in her life. This is the perfect cozy, feel good read.
This was a cute little novella but it fell flat for me. I wanted to love the little widwest vibes — Casey’s & Dollar General— but it was overplayed. The story really didn’t go anywhere and then it just ended. Definitely a struggle with novellas to go deep enough in a short time, but this one missed the mark for me.
I absolutely LOVED this Novella. It was such a quick read. I loved everything about it and find myself wanting to know more about the town and all the people in it. Can't wait for more installments!!!
This is a cute, quick read. The book is literally every small town in the Midwest, which it says going in. I read it in just over 2 hours. It is a good book, not much to think about, just a cute, easy read.
This is the first book I have read in a while, but I am so glad that I read it! It is such a great book and I love the references to the small town I live in! I can’t wait for the second book!