What do you think?
Rate this book
Lovewell Lumberjacks #1
Wood You Be Mine?
The first time I met the grumpy lumberjack next door, I almost burnt down his cabin.
The second time, I was throwing tampons at a moose (don’t ask).
The third time, I was naked.
And Henri Gagnon is not just my neighbor and landlord, but a pain in my optimistic, plus sized ass. He’s got a protective streak under his grumpy exterior and he’s convinced I won’t make it through the Maine winter.
I’m going to show him and the rest of this small town that they’re wrong. I have one year to prove myself as the new elementary school principal or I’ll be getting the ax. So I just don’t have time to pine away for the grumpy lumberjack next door, no matter how good he looks chopping wood in his suspenders or the way he growls when he calls me buttercup.
But soon I’m falling headfirst down a hill, and into a full blown crush when he carries me home. He’s distracted trying to save his family’s lumber business, and I’ve got a school to run, and this small town is not as sleepy as it seems. But despite our differences, the heat between us makes it hard to stay away.
Could we actually be right for each other? What happens if I ask him if he Wood Be Mine?
Author’s Note: Wood You Be Mine? is a standalone, full length, small town romance featuring a grumpy lumberjack hero with a heart of gold and a plus sized, sunshine school principal trying to survive in the woods of northern Maine. If you enjoy flirty banter, ax throwing, wood chopping, and slow dancing, come meet the Lovewell Lumberjacks.
Welcome to Lovewell Maine, where the moose outnumber the people and you can't swing an ax without hitting a hot, grumpy lumberjack. Filled with humor, heart and heat, the Lovewell Lumberjack Series will melt Kindles in 2023.
The second time, I was throwing tampons at a moose (don’t ask).
The third time, I was naked.
And Henri Gagnon is not just my neighbor and landlord, but a pain in my optimistic, plus sized ass. He’s got a protective streak under his grumpy exterior and he’s convinced I won’t make it through the Maine winter.
I’m going to show him and the rest of this small town that they’re wrong. I have one year to prove myself as the new elementary school principal or I’ll be getting the ax. So I just don’t have time to pine away for the grumpy lumberjack next door, no matter how good he looks chopping wood in his suspenders or the way he growls when he calls me buttercup.
But soon I’m falling headfirst down a hill, and into a full blown crush when he carries me home. He’s distracted trying to save his family’s lumber business, and I’ve got a school to run, and this small town is not as sleepy as it seems. But despite our differences, the heat between us makes it hard to stay away.
Could we actually be right for each other? What happens if I ask him if he Wood Be Mine?
Author’s Note: Wood You Be Mine? is a standalone, full length, small town romance featuring a grumpy lumberjack hero with a heart of gold and a plus sized, sunshine school principal trying to survive in the woods of northern Maine. If you enjoy flirty banter, ax throwing, wood chopping, and slow dancing, come meet the Lovewell Lumberjacks.
Welcome to Lovewell Maine, where the moose outnumber the people and you can't swing an ax without hitting a hot, grumpy lumberjack. Filled with humor, heart and heat, the Lovewell Lumberjack Series will melt Kindles in 2023.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2024
2958 people are currently reading
4458 people want to read
About the author
Daphne Elliot
27 books1,229 followersIn High School, Daphne Elliot was voted “most likely to become a romance novelist.” After spending the last decade as a corporate lawyer, she has finally embraced her destiny. Her small town steamy novels are filled with flirty banter, sexy hijinks, and lots and lots of heart.
Daphne is a coffee-drinking, hot-sauce loving introvert who spends all her free time in her garden. She lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, two kids, two dogs, twelve backyard chickens and a hive of Italian honeybees.
VISIT MY AMAZON PAGE:
https://www.amazon.com/Daphne-Elliot/...
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/daphneellio...
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/DaphneElliot...
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER:
http://daphneelliot.com/join-newsletter/
Daphne is a coffee-drinking, hot-sauce loving introvert who spends all her free time in her garden. She lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, two kids, two dogs, twelve backyard chickens and a hive of Italian honeybees.
VISIT MY AMAZON PAGE:
https://www.amazon.com/Daphne-Elliot/...
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/daphneellio...
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/DaphneElliot...
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER:
http://daphneelliot.com/join-newsletter/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews
May 11, 2023
the reasons i dnf'd this book;;; 👹
1-everyone in the small town hates her and the coffeeshop owner flat out rude to a paying customer and doesn't serve the right order just because she's from away ? 😒
2-her landlord(mmc) barges in her home while she's dancing naked in her living room which isn't a bad thing but adds to her many quirks and when she tells him to leave he says it's his house? 😡
3-i don't like the mentions of pop culture things like tiktok, wordle or taylor swift (even though she's loml) 😩
4- there are so many subplots? mmc's father's "suspicious death", two orphan kids, unnecessary rivalry between two lumber companies and their families, drug smuggling from canada???? i thought i was reading a cute small town story 🤔
5- heroine is a damsel in distress plus she keeps saying "new me would do this, old me wouldn't do that"
6-his caveman act, it's only cute when a barbarian type of alien does it AND the condescending way he speaks to the heroine 👿 oh no she's so stupid because doesn't know how to chop trees 😐😐😐
things i liked;;
she was positive with her body and there's two dogs named after Bronte characters 🐕🦮
i skipped to the ending because reviews said it's end with a cliffhanger? a standalone romance book ends with a cliffhanger? and it's true there's no epilogue(you have to sign her newsletter for it) and i guess it's hfn plus the drama with his dad continues 🤷🏼♀️
1-everyone in the small town hates her and the coffeeshop owner flat out rude to a paying customer and doesn't serve the right order just because she's from away ? 😒
2-her landlord(mmc) barges in her home while she's dancing naked in her living room which isn't a bad thing but adds to her many quirks and when she tells him to leave he says it's his house? 😡
3-i don't like the mentions of pop culture things like tiktok, wordle or taylor swift (even though she's loml) 😩
4- there are so many subplots? mmc's father's "suspicious death", two orphan kids, unnecessary rivalry between two lumber companies and their families, drug smuggling from canada???? i thought i was reading a cute small town story 🤔
5- heroine is a damsel in distress plus she keeps saying "new me would do this, old me wouldn't do that"
6-his caveman act, it's only cute when a barbarian type of alien does it AND the condescending way he speaks to the heroine 👿 oh no she's so stupid because doesn't know how to chop trees 😐😐😐
things i liked;;
she was positive with her body and there's two dogs named after Bronte characters 🐕🦮
i skipped to the ending because reviews said it's end with a cliffhanger? a standalone romance book ends with a cliffhanger? and it's true there's no epilogue(you have to sign her newsletter for it) and i guess it's hfn plus the drama with his dad continues 🤷🏼♀️
December 15, 2025
A grumpy lumberjack who is really a big softie inside ~ yes, please! And you can't go wrong with 2 adorable dogs and a moose named, Clyde!
What to expect:
Alice & Henri
~ dual 1st person POV
~ small town Maine setting
~ starting over
~ heartwarming ending!
~ some steamage
Narration notes:
Both perfectly fine in their regular voice, but oh man their opposite sex voice needs some work.
What to expect:
Alice & Henri
~ dual 1st person POV
~ small town Maine setting
~ starting over
~ heartwarming ending!
~ some steamage
Narration notes:
Both perfectly fine in their regular voice, but oh man their opposite sex voice needs some work.
September 12, 2025
This is a well-written, entertaining contemporary romance novel. It has a likable female protagonist, a thoughtful and caring male protagonist, adorable children, supportive family, a beautiful setting with small town charm, wit, humor, and a steamy, heartwarming romance with a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators, Lucy Rivers and Stephen Borne, do an excellent job voicing the characters. I am looking forward to reading the next entries in this series with great anticipation.
February 18, 2023
4.5 “caveman energy” stars!
“You’re just walking behind me like a flannel-clad bodyguard. What are you even doing?” “Honestly? I’m staring at your ass.”
This was the perfect lumberjack romance! The banter. The humor. The sexy scenes. The vulnerability of the heroine with her insecurities—all of it. Some other heart tugging moments that you’ll just have to read and see for yourself.
“You’re just walking behind me like a flannel-clad bodyguard. What are you even doing?” “Honestly? I’m staring at your ass.”
This was the perfect lumberjack romance! The banter. The humor. The sexy scenes. The vulnerability of the heroine with her insecurities—all of it. Some other heart tugging moments that you’ll just have to read and see for yourself.
April 25, 2023
this was sooo cute and fluffy
alice left her coastal small town to move to the woods of maine and take over a failing school as principal. her start in a new town gets off to a rocky start when the first three times she meets her grumpy but very hot lumberjack landlord are very embarrassing. but he’s into it. we love that.
cute, fluffy, a little spicy, a little caveman/lumberjack action, i read this so fast because it was very cute.
i love that’s she’s a curvy heroine and he is obsessed with her. i also love that there’s a little suspense subplot that was introduced in this book and i imagine will get resolved in the rest of the series. there’s also a very, very cute subplot with some foster kids in her school and this was like a spicy hallmark movie.
alice left her coastal small town to move to the woods of maine and take over a failing school as principal. her start in a new town gets off to a rocky start when the first three times she meets her grumpy but very hot lumberjack landlord are very embarrassing. but he’s into it. we love that.
cute, fluffy, a little spicy, a little caveman/lumberjack action, i read this so fast because it was very cute.
i love that’s she’s a curvy heroine and he is obsessed with her. i also love that there’s a little suspense subplot that was introduced in this book and i imagine will get resolved in the rest of the series. there’s also a very, very cute subplot with some foster kids in her school and this was like a spicy hallmark movie.
February 15, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
I saw this on Instagram and I do love mountain men sooo I read it its a cute story to enjoy!
Alice is new to this small town who has alittle trust issues with strangers moving into town and Alice is the new principal so it takes awhile for them to trust her.
But she's also having some vibes with her Landlord Henri a big growly Mountain Man who is smitten but he's busy with the bussiness.
These two have amazing funny moments together from him watching her toss tampons at a moose to them hiking and him carrying her. They connected so well it was insta but still kinda slow. We also get to see Alice be a amazing woman to the kids at the school making sure they were fed, safe and listened to.
My only meh was the ending I felt like it wasn't finished we had so many unanswered questions about Henri's dad accent, them as a couple felt off near the end and we had two downloads a Epilogue to read 2 years later what happened between them. Which I don't get?!
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins or manwhores
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Pinning
Praise kink
Child neglect and abuse
Death of a parent off page
Safe sex/no condom
Hea/HFN
I saw this on Instagram and I do love mountain men sooo I read it its a cute story to enjoy!
Alice is new to this small town who has alittle trust issues with strangers moving into town and Alice is the new principal so it takes awhile for them to trust her.
But she's also having some vibes with her Landlord Henri a big growly Mountain Man who is smitten but he's busy with the bussiness.
These two have amazing funny moments together from him watching her toss tampons at a moose to them hiking and him carrying her. They connected so well it was insta but still kinda slow. We also get to see Alice be a amazing woman to the kids at the school making sure they were fed, safe and listened to.
My only meh was the ending I felt like it wasn't finished we had so many unanswered questions about Henri's dad accent, them as a couple felt off near the end and we had two downloads a Epilogue to read 2 years later what happened between them. Which I don't get?!
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, tiny drama, sexy times, no virgins or manwhores
Recommend-maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶
Slowinsta
Pinning
Praise kink
Child neglect and abuse
Death of a parent off page
Safe sex/no condom
Hea/HFN
February 23, 2023
Delightful sexy lumbersnack romance
Gotta love a grumpy/sunshine trope. Make the hero a marshmallow for the sassy, smart heroine and I’m sold.
First in series is starting out with a definite bang. This couple will seize your heartstrings and I am anxious to have more.
Enjoyable storytelling with delightful characters. Worth the time to venture to Lovewell.
Gotta love a grumpy/sunshine trope. Make the hero a marshmallow for the sassy, smart heroine and I’m sold.
First in series is starting out with a definite bang. This couple will seize your heartstrings and I am anxious to have more.
Enjoyable storytelling with delightful characters. Worth the time to venture to Lovewell.
February 2, 2023
So apparently I like grumpy lumberjacks now? I didn’t know that was a thing for me but I read ONE book and now I’m looking for flannel and asking the hubby to grow a beard. Lol!
Okay, let’s talk about these characters, sis. Alice is fantastic. Is she completely confident and a ball buster? Nope. She is determined to start over after finding herself in a rut and does so with sheer force of will and a sunshiny attitude that never seems fake or manipulative.
Then there’s Henri. (Taking a deep breath before we continue in honor of all the swooning you can anticipate). He is a bit detached and uber responsible and a family man shouldering a legacy that leaves him a bit overworked and stressed out. Nothing a hit of sunshine can’t fix.
These two are amazing together. It’s not instalove and there’s no miscommunication trope to make me throw my kindle out a window. It’s a LEGIT, REAL ADULT RELATIONSHIP (mind blown) complete with some spicy sex and realistic complications. Throw in the town of Lovewell and its band of lovable and interesting characters, two sets of fantastic siblings, some adorable kids and a couple of dogs…what else are you looking for? Okay, no one is morally gray. No one is unalived and no one has pointy ears. But ya know what we do have in this book? Humor, heart, SPICE (phew) and a thoroughly enjoyable, romantic read that steals your heart.
And y’all…it’s book 1 of 4 so there’s more to come!
❤️❤️❤️
Okay, let’s talk about these characters, sis. Alice is fantastic. Is she completely confident and a ball buster? Nope. She is determined to start over after finding herself in a rut and does so with sheer force of will and a sunshiny attitude that never seems fake or manipulative.
Then there’s Henri. (Taking a deep breath before we continue in honor of all the swooning you can anticipate). He is a bit detached and uber responsible and a family man shouldering a legacy that leaves him a bit overworked and stressed out. Nothing a hit of sunshine can’t fix.
These two are amazing together. It’s not instalove and there’s no miscommunication trope to make me throw my kindle out a window. It’s a LEGIT, REAL ADULT RELATIONSHIP (mind blown) complete with some spicy sex and realistic complications. Throw in the town of Lovewell and its band of lovable and interesting characters, two sets of fantastic siblings, some adorable kids and a couple of dogs…what else are you looking for? Okay, no one is morally gray. No one is unalived and no one has pointy ears. But ya know what we do have in this book? Humor, heart, SPICE (phew) and a thoroughly enjoyable, romantic read that steals your heart.
And y’all…it’s book 1 of 4 so there’s more to come!
❤️❤️❤️
February 26, 2023
(3.75★)
“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞?"
"𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧."
Wood You Be Mine by Daphne Elliot is a small town romance that follows grumpy lumberjack Henri Gagnon and elementary school principal Alice Watson.
This novel immediately had me dying and falling in love with Alice because of her incredible sense of humor, especially considering how frequently she found herself in absurd circumstances that her next-door neighbor would find her in. Also, I enjoyed each of the MCs' nicknames for one another since they perfectly captured their bond and vibes.
As for the "ending," it didn't feel like the "perfect" conclusion for Henri and Alice. It was made worse by the lack of an epilogue, which completely took away from the book's enjoyment. But, if the book had a "nice" ending and a "few years later" epilogue, I would have given it 4 stars without a doubt.
Overall, the "ending" did not do Henri and Alice justice, and they deserved better given how cute and ideal they were for one another.
*Thank you to Chaos & Cliterature, and to the author Daphne Elliot, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*
“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞?"
"𝐌𝐲 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧."
Wood You Be Mine by Daphne Elliot is a small town romance that follows grumpy lumberjack Henri Gagnon and elementary school principal Alice Watson.
This novel immediately had me dying and falling in love with Alice because of her incredible sense of humor, especially considering how frequently she found herself in absurd circumstances that her next-door neighbor would find her in. Also, I enjoyed each of the MCs' nicknames for one another since they perfectly captured their bond and vibes.
As for the "ending," it didn't feel like the "perfect" conclusion for Henri and Alice. It was made worse by the lack of an epilogue, which completely took away from the book's enjoyment. But, if the book had a "nice" ending and a "few years later" epilogue, I would have given it 4 stars without a doubt.
Overall, the "ending" did not do Henri and Alice justice, and they deserved better given how cute and ideal they were for one another.
*Thank you to Chaos & Cliterature, and to the author Daphne Elliot, for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.*
December 13, 2023
4.5/5
I love a grumpy hero but after reading this I found out that I really love a grumpy lumberjack hero. Henri was 🥵 and while he gives caveman vibes 24/7, deep down he’s a squishy little cinnamon roll. At least for the people he loves 😉 Alice was also everything I want in a heroine and more. She’s tender hearted and so kind but there’s an inner badass inside her and moving to a new town is allowing her the opportunity to find her inner sassiness. I really appreciated that their relationship was mature and felt so real, they communicated and didn’t let silly miscommunications come between them and I was so here for it. Lovewell was such an interesting town and the residents were anything but welcoming to Alice and I’m dying to find out more in the next books. There was also a small mystery that wasn’t quite solved so onto book two for me asap. If you like small town romance, large families, messy and realistic problems and spicy scenes this one was fantastic.
I love a grumpy hero but after reading this I found out that I really love a grumpy lumberjack hero. Henri was 🥵 and while he gives caveman vibes 24/7, deep down he’s a squishy little cinnamon roll. At least for the people he loves 😉 Alice was also everything I want in a heroine and more. She’s tender hearted and so kind but there’s an inner badass inside her and moving to a new town is allowing her the opportunity to find her inner sassiness. I really appreciated that their relationship was mature and felt so real, they communicated and didn’t let silly miscommunications come between them and I was so here for it. Lovewell was such an interesting town and the residents were anything but welcoming to Alice and I’m dying to find out more in the next books. There was also a small mystery that wasn’t quite solved so onto book two for me asap. If you like small town romance, large families, messy and realistic problems and spicy scenes this one was fantastic.
September 29, 2023
This looked like a fun thing but ended up being boring and annoying imo
September 11, 2025
Breaking Past Fears
Newly minted Principal Alice (buttercup) Watson is in way over her head. Not just with Lovewell, Maine, but also with her landlord, Henri Gagnon (Brawny). The two of them are comical and bursting with chemistry. I like how this casual situationship snowballs in short order.
As much as I didn’t want to get involved, my protective instincts were already kicking in. I’d have to keep a close eye on my distracting new tenant.
-- Henri Gagnon
A lot of this is definitely romcom, but some tough issues are tackled. The most notable is foster care and the mistreatment of foster kids Marigold (Goldie) and Tucker Fournier. As I once was one, I know that not all are like this. At the same time, I also know that some are exactly like this or worse. Their journey starts out as utterly heartbreaking. I love where it leads.
This ends with a bit of a suspenseful cliffhanger. The book has an HFN for Alice and Henri, but another storyline continues. There is a bonus epilogue that you should absolutely read to get the HEA that is deserved. There aren't any spoilers for what's to come, just confirmation that the suspenseful part does have a conclusion.
I read along with the audio book. The narrators, Stephen Borne and Lucy Rivers, are fun to listen to. Of course, I really wish this was done in duet, but I usually want that and don't get it often enough. 🎧💚🎧
Story: 4 stars
Narration: 3.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x
September 2, 2025
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
First, there were too many sub-plots going on in this book. Second, even with so much going on it somehow still managed to be very bland in my opinion. The grump wasn't grumping and the sunshine just went dull. Again, my opinion. But for me, it fell flat in a lot of areas and the ending didn't leave me wanting more. Honestly the ending itself felt rushed and like it came out of nowhere. It left us with some unanswered questions but nothing that makes me want to come back to this series to see what happened unfortunately.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
First, there were too many sub-plots going on in this book. Second, even with so much going on it somehow still managed to be very bland in my opinion. The grump wasn't grumping and the sunshine just went dull. Again, my opinion. But for me, it fell flat in a lot of areas and the ending didn't leave me wanting more. Honestly the ending itself felt rushed and like it came out of nowhere. It left us with some unanswered questions but nothing that makes me want to come back to this series to see what happened unfortunately.
April 16, 2025
Sweet rural Maine romance between a logger and a school principal
Source: Hoopla audio via public library
Source: Hoopla audio via public library
March 13, 2023
Elliott takes what could have been (and what has been) a perfectly cute romance and turns it into a cliched, terribly written, boring story. I gave up twice but the second time I skipped to their first intimate encounter and skimmed through that bored out of my mind. Then read a bit of them together afterwards and all I could do was roll my eyes. Cheese and crackers dumb. I finally ended this waste of time.
March 8, 2023
dnf at 59%
Interesting plot with a lot of potential, but I got bored and couldn’t keep going. :(
Interesting plot with a lot of potential, but I got bored and couldn’t keep going. :(
February 19, 2023
A solid start to a new series from this new to me author. She hooked me with her blurb on Instagram and I instantly knew I just had to read this title! School principal Alice and lumberjack/lumbersnack Henri (now there’s a tree I’d like to climb!) are certainly a couple worth rooting for, and their meet cute(s) are adorable. I loved the dual POV, especially as their attraction builds through the early days of their palpable tension and inevitable passion.
The author branches out into several compelling subplots that demonstrate and test the depth of her characters and their respective worlds. Especially endearing is the storyline with Tucker and Goldie, two neglected children that Alice takes lovingly under wing, although I also enjoyed getting to know Henri’s extended family circle.
FYI: The author intended to save Alice and Henri’s HEA for another book, so just be forewarned that she purposefully leaves readers hanging for the swoonworthy conclusion.
The author branches out into several compelling subplots that demonstrate and test the depth of her characters and their respective worlds. Especially endearing is the storyline with Tucker and Goldie, two neglected children that Alice takes lovingly under wing, although I also enjoyed getting to know Henri’s extended family circle.
FYI: The author intended to save Alice and Henri’s HEA for another book, so just be forewarned that she purposefully leaves readers hanging for the swoonworthy conclusion.
April 17, 2023
Loved it!!
Great characters, wonderful humour, super hot…what a great start to a new series and a nice amount of suspense to keep the reader guessing!
Looking forward to my next visit already!
Great characters, wonderful humour, super hot…what a great start to a new series and a nice amount of suspense to keep the reader guessing!
Looking forward to my next visit already!
dont-want-to-read
May 11, 2023See bukets review. Nope! Not for me.
June 19, 2025
I love a lumberjack romance, and really appreciated the complexity of the storyline. It's clear that the Author has set the stage for the drama that will unfold across the remainder of the series & I'm hooked!!
September 21, 2025
Cute, cheesy, spicy. All good things.
The romance was good, the background plot/drama was good, but what I really cared about was her adopting those kids. I'm a sucker for found family.
The romance was good, the background plot/drama was good, but what I really cared about was her adopting those kids. I'm a sucker for found family.
September 25, 2025
2.5⭐️
😴😴 I already forgot what it was about
😴😴 I already forgot what it was about
Read
June 10, 2024I wood love to have a lumberjack
February 11, 2023
Always love a unique and original storyline. Throw in a great learning experience and it makes an awesome book. Now I need to get the rest of the series.
June 15, 2023
Gaahhh this book, I’ve had it on my TBR for a few months and I’m so glad I started it! I loved the mountain man, Grumpy/Sunshine vibes this one gives! Henri and Alice had good chemistry and banter and had my heartstrings twanging throughout with their storyline and the family they create!
This is a small town romance with loveable characters and an exciting plot. I need to find out about the logging companies mystery, Bring on book 2!
This is a small town romance with loveable characters and an exciting plot. I need to find out about the logging companies mystery, Bring on book 2!
February 2, 2023
If this story was any hotter my kindle would catch fire—scorching! There’s Henri, the sexy, grumpy, brawny lumberjack; and, the yin to his yang, the warm, beautiful and charming Alice. Not only is their love story sweet, steamy, and full of heart, I loved how much each of them grew during the course of the book. Alice was insecure, doubting she’d ever fit in and become a successful principal; watching her evolve, finding strength and becoming confident, was a joy to watch. Henri will probably always be grumpy, but it was great fun to see him let Alice into his heart, and to watch him fight for his family! I could never get enough of the Gagnon family and their home in Lovewell, Maine, so I’m ecstatic that this is the first in a series!
July 16, 2023
Excuse me…what just happened?? This just like ended, with zero warning. I though I had at least 10 more chapters to go or something but no, it was just book done. I kinda like that, didn’t need the epically happy ever after but more like a good things are coming but we don’t need to know about it? Idk maybe I get closure by reading more of the series.
March 31, 2023
Unfinished business
What happens? The company, the kids, the FBI, the job since it was a 1 yr contract..... Is this a drag on cliff hanger series
What happens? The company, the kids, the FBI, the job since it was a 1 yr contract..... Is this a drag on cliff hanger series
February 1, 2023
4 stars, 3 spice
Come for the lumbersnack, stay for the small town found family vibes.
Alice takes a job as the principal at a failing school in rural Maine. She’s got to win over the cautious townsfolk, save the school, survive the winter, and avoid falling in love (or lust) with her hot, grumpy, lumberjack landlord. Easy, right?
I could not be any more in love with Alice. After years of sitting on the sidelines because she was made to believe she belonged there, she moved to a new town, started taking risks, and lived fully! It was a delight to watch her overcome her parents fat-shaming and embrace herself. She never lost an ounce of her kindness or warmth despite how she was treated and the interactions with the people in Lovewell were just heartwarming even when the people themselves weren’t the friendliest.
I also love an MMC who is all in from the start and Henri absolutely delivered. He was so baffled when Alice referred to herself as a “hookup” because he always saw her as wife material 🥹🥰 He wasn’t the quickest to make a move, but his actions were always to help or support her.
Then we have the children, Tucker and Goldie. How could you not feel for those poor wee souls?! It was clear from early on how things were going to go down but the road to get there was both tearjerking and beautiful.
The ending is where I was let down though, it was very abrupt. The relationship wasn’t fully resolved and the situation with the kids wasn’t either. Even with the bonus content I felt unsatisfied because the bonus epilogue wasn’t really so much a story as it was just telling you how everything worked out. I still enjoyed it, I just wish we could have been along for the full ride! I would’ve happily read many more chapters just to get the full story.
Also a note about the bonus epilogue: I found it very odd that there was a relationship with Alice’s parents at all. It sounds like it’s all for the children and that literally makes no sense to me since they were horrible to Alice growing up. Speaking as a parent who has cut off an emotionally abusive relative - I would not put my vulnerable children in contact with my abuser/s especially when we never saw them apologise or regret their behaviour at all. Very out of character.
Thanks to the author for the ARC - all opinions are my own and despite some negative comments I did enjoy this and will be reading the next book. 😊
Come for the lumbersnack, stay for the small town found family vibes.
Alice takes a job as the principal at a failing school in rural Maine. She’s got to win over the cautious townsfolk, save the school, survive the winter, and avoid falling in love (or lust) with her hot, grumpy, lumberjack landlord. Easy, right?
I could not be any more in love with Alice. After years of sitting on the sidelines because she was made to believe she belonged there, she moved to a new town, started taking risks, and lived fully! It was a delight to watch her overcome her parents fat-shaming and embrace herself. She never lost an ounce of her kindness or warmth despite how she was treated and the interactions with the people in Lovewell were just heartwarming even when the people themselves weren’t the friendliest.
I also love an MMC who is all in from the start and Henri absolutely delivered. He was so baffled when Alice referred to herself as a “hookup” because he always saw her as wife material 🥹🥰 He wasn’t the quickest to make a move, but his actions were always to help or support her.
Then we have the children, Tucker and Goldie. How could you not feel for those poor wee souls?! It was clear from early on how things were going to go down but the road to get there was both tearjerking and beautiful.
The ending is where I was let down though, it was very abrupt. The relationship wasn’t fully resolved and the situation with the kids wasn’t either. Even with the bonus content I felt unsatisfied because the bonus epilogue wasn’t really so much a story as it was just telling you how everything worked out. I still enjoyed it, I just wish we could have been along for the full ride! I would’ve happily read many more chapters just to get the full story.
Also a note about the bonus epilogue: I found it very odd that there was a relationship with Alice’s parents at all. It sounds like it’s all for the children and that literally makes no sense to me since they were horrible to Alice growing up. Speaking as a parent who has cut off an emotionally abusive relative - I would not put my vulnerable children in contact with my abuser/s especially when we never saw them apologise or regret their behaviour at all. Very out of character.
Thanks to the author for the ARC - all opinions are my own and despite some negative comments I did enjoy this and will be reading the next book. 😊
June 18, 2024
She is turning over a new leaf and moving to Maine to be a school principal. He is her grumpy lumberjack neighbor that is extremely intrigued about her.
Alice Watson grew up in a small snobby town in Massachusetts. Her appearance and reputation was the most important qualities about her according to her family which forced Alice into a small life. But all that changed for Alice when she decided to move to Maine and take some chances. Her new job as the school principal is full of challenges but she is ready for the opportunity. Her landlord and neighbor, Henri, is one of the first people she meets from the small town. His grumpy demeanor doesn't hold her back in the slightest from living her life the biggest, bravest way possible.
Henri Gagnon comes from a long line of loggers. After his father's untimely death, Henry and his siblings all stepped up to take over the complicated family business. A new distraction in Henri's life that he probably can't afford is the sassy, fun woman that just moved in next door. He was not looking to settle down anytime soon but this woman was something special.
Alice and Henri became friends and danced around the attraction they shared for one another. Alice is still adjusting to the unique little town of Lovewell, Maine, and its even more unique residents. Alice is determined to succeed despite all the hurdles she comes up against. Over time she wins the heart of everyone to include her grumpy lumberjack next door.
Dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, open door love scenes.
This one started out slow for me. I had a hard time getting into the story. But once things got more interesting between Henri and Alice, I was all in. There are quite a few stereotypes in this book but I'm not mad at it. Alice has a big heart and a positive way about her that you want her to succeed. Henri and Alice have great chemistry. They make a great team with hints of insta-love after some slow burn. Abrupt HEA and sweet Epilogue.
Alice Watson grew up in a small snobby town in Massachusetts. Her appearance and reputation was the most important qualities about her according to her family which forced Alice into a small life. But all that changed for Alice when she decided to move to Maine and take some chances. Her new job as the school principal is full of challenges but she is ready for the opportunity. Her landlord and neighbor, Henri, is one of the first people she meets from the small town. His grumpy demeanor doesn't hold her back in the slightest from living her life the biggest, bravest way possible.
Henri Gagnon comes from a long line of loggers. After his father's untimely death, Henry and his siblings all stepped up to take over the complicated family business. A new distraction in Henri's life that he probably can't afford is the sassy, fun woman that just moved in next door. He was not looking to settle down anytime soon but this woman was something special.
Alice and Henri became friends and danced around the attraction they shared for one another. Alice is still adjusting to the unique little town of Lovewell, Maine, and its even more unique residents. Alice is determined to succeed despite all the hurdles she comes up against. Over time she wins the heart of everyone to include her grumpy lumberjack next door.
Dual POV, grumpy/sunshine, open door love scenes.
This one started out slow for me. I had a hard time getting into the story. But once things got more interesting between Henri and Alice, I was all in. There are quite a few stereotypes in this book but I'm not mad at it. Alice has a big heart and a positive way about her that you want her to succeed. Henri and Alice have great chemistry. They make a great team with hints of insta-love after some slow burn. Abrupt HEA and sweet Epilogue.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews