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Haven Bay #2
Choosing Home
Jolie
I’ve always had a hard time finding my place. After leaving home at 18 and driving across country, I’ve been wandering ever since. Until I found my place in the quirky, small town of Haven Bay.
Now I have a thriving yoga studio, friends who love me and a place to call home. The only downside? The pain in the ass police captain whose mission in life is to ruin my fun.
When my best friend asks me for some wedding prep help, I do what any good maid of honor would bury my prized Mustang in a snowdrift on the side of the road.
How could it get any worse?
Luke
Jolie St. James is trouble with a capital T. Since the moment she sped into my town in her baby blue Mustang five years ago, she’s been a thorn in my side.
From her inappropriate yoga classes to her reckless decision making, she’s one bad choice away from a jail cell.
She’s also the only woman to spark my interest in…well, too long.
What starts out as a favor for my brother’s future wife turns into a weekend I’ll never forget with the one woman I refuse to give into my desire for.
I’ve always had a hard time finding my place. After leaving home at 18 and driving across country, I’ve been wandering ever since. Until I found my place in the quirky, small town of Haven Bay.
Now I have a thriving yoga studio, friends who love me and a place to call home. The only downside? The pain in the ass police captain whose mission in life is to ruin my fun.
When my best friend asks me for some wedding prep help, I do what any good maid of honor would bury my prized Mustang in a snowdrift on the side of the road.
How could it get any worse?
Luke
Jolie St. James is trouble with a capital T. Since the moment she sped into my town in her baby blue Mustang five years ago, she’s been a thorn in my side.
From her inappropriate yoga classes to her reckless decision making, she’s one bad choice away from a jail cell.
She’s also the only woman to spark my interest in…well, too long.
What starts out as a favor for my brother’s future wife turns into a weekend I’ll never forget with the one woman I refuse to give into my desire for.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2025
5 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
March 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! If you like Canadian small town, enemies to lovers, forced proximity and found family this is for you! I loved seeing the relationship between Luke and Jolie grow. Definitely recommend
March 29, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love a low burn, grumpy, small town, Gilmore Girl vibe book and this hit all the marks! I loved the personality and resilience of Jolie as well as the attention paid to those living with mental health issues. This book was easy to read, great character development and a great story.
April 2, 2025
You had me at Canadian, small-town romance written by a Canadian!
This book scratched an itch for me. It was laugh-out-loud funny. It had spice that would likely make your toes curl (in a fun way).
The story is written from the perspective of Jolie St. James, our FMC whose middle name is after the God of Chaos. She says what she means and is a ride-or-die, loyal person with a competitive streak.
Our MMC, Luke Brady, is our other point of view - he harnesses a grumpy trope with a soft interior. Luke’s desire to protect others fuels his every choice.
We have spontaneous and impulsive meets planned out and rule-abiding!
Staying true to yourself but learning when to change for the better is a delightful choice that both main characters must learn to face.
The mental health representation (anxiety-focused), in an understanding and accepting way between the two main characters.
And the ending - is just purely delightful in my mind!
Thank you to the author for selecting me for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) and for being on your street team of Coming Home by Katie Beck.
This book scratched an itch for me. It was laugh-out-loud funny. It had spice that would likely make your toes curl (in a fun way).
The story is written from the perspective of Jolie St. James, our FMC whose middle name is after the God of Chaos. She says what she means and is a ride-or-die, loyal person with a competitive streak.
Our MMC, Luke Brady, is our other point of view - he harnesses a grumpy trope with a soft interior. Luke’s desire to protect others fuels his every choice.
We have spontaneous and impulsive meets planned out and rule-abiding!
Staying true to yourself but learning when to change for the better is a delightful choice that both main characters must learn to face.
The mental health representation (anxiety-focused), in an understanding and accepting way between the two main characters.
And the ending - is just purely delightful in my mind!
Thank you to the author for selecting me for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) and for being on your street team of Coming Home by Katie Beck.
March 27, 2025
Haven Bay—a small-town romance with all the charm, chaos, and 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 I could ask for 👏🏻
Did I love that this was set in a small town?! 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲. There’s something special about reading a book that makes you dream of home, making it 𝘴𝘰 easy to picture the town and its cozy, familiar vibes.
The story follows Jolie and Luke—Jolie, a 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙮 yoga studio owner who tackles life’s chaos with humor and authenticity. She’s a no BS kinda lady and instantly a favorite in my book. And Luke, Haven Bay’s 𝘯𝘰-𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 chief of police who Jolie drives 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 nuts—at first 😉
Their worlds collide through family drama, intertwined friend groups, and personalities 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 to be ignored—whether they like it or not.
This book delivers on the 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 romance tropes: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and just the right amount of spice (so refreshing to leave something to the imagination 🤭) But beyond that? There’s humor, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 character growth, and a level of vulnerability (especially with the characters dealing with relatable issues) that makes it all hit even harder.
This was 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 a fun, heartwarming read. 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 is the second book in the Haven Bay series—but can be read as a standalone. If you want to read the first book, grab 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 while you’re at it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Did I love that this was set in a small town?! 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲. There’s something special about reading a book that makes you dream of home, making it 𝘴𝘰 easy to picture the town and its cozy, familiar vibes.
The story follows Jolie and Luke—Jolie, a 𝙛𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙮 yoga studio owner who tackles life’s chaos with humor and authenticity. She’s a no BS kinda lady and instantly a favorite in my book. And Luke, Haven Bay’s 𝘯𝘰-𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 chief of police who Jolie drives 𝘢𝘣𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 nuts—at first 😉
Their worlds collide through family drama, intertwined friend groups, and personalities 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 to be ignored—whether they like it or not.
This book delivers on the 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 romance tropes: forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and just the right amount of spice (so refreshing to leave something to the imagination 🤭) But beyond that? There’s humor, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 character growth, and a level of vulnerability (especially with the characters dealing with relatable issues) that makes it all hit even harder.
This was 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 a fun, heartwarming read. 𝑪𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 is the second book in the Haven Bay series—but can be read as a standalone. If you want to read the first book, grab 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 while you’re at it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
April 11, 2025
"For the family we choose, the friends who become home, and the love that makes it all worth it.”
Jolie has always had a hard time finding a place that feels like home, but found her place in a quirky small town named Haven Bay she has became a Yoga instructor and owns her own studio with friends who love her! The only problem is the pain in the ass police captain who always ruins the fun.
Luke is the police captain of Haven Bay & is the brother of Jolie's best friend's future husband. He is your typical broody, moody, fun ruining police captain.
This book is a Canadian romance which is so cute in my opinion! Jolie St. James is a the type of woman who won't take any crap from anyone, loyal to her friends, the one who says anything on her mind, ride-or-die & competitive the best type of friend to have and can always count on! When her best friend asks her to meet up at the wedding venue to taste food with her, Jolie says yes! Then Jolie and her beloved mustang ends up in a snow drift from the current snow storm on her way to the venue. Luke ends up getting informed that Jolie is stuck and now has to rescue her and they both end up stuck at the wedding venue for a couple of days. Will their hatred for each other make the entire staff scared or will their hatred start to falter...
I highly enjoyed reading Choosing home, it was such a fun read.
I love that some people from the start of the book came back towards the end of the book even though I hated the reasons. I loved the newspaper clippings included in the book, that made it so realistic and is such a unique thing! I loved the banter, the slow growing of friendships & relationships. I love trust that Luke made Jolie feel especially with the piece of information of her brother! I loved that Jolie recognized Luke having anxiety as well. I was in awe when Jolie realized "that stupid bitch T" was a scared little girl in her head that needed comfort.
Jolie has always had a hard time finding a place that feels like home, but found her place in a quirky small town named Haven Bay she has became a Yoga instructor and owns her own studio with friends who love her! The only problem is the pain in the ass police captain who always ruins the fun.
Luke is the police captain of Haven Bay & is the brother of Jolie's best friend's future husband. He is your typical broody, moody, fun ruining police captain.
This book is a Canadian romance which is so cute in my opinion! Jolie St. James is a the type of woman who won't take any crap from anyone, loyal to her friends, the one who says anything on her mind, ride-or-die & competitive the best type of friend to have and can always count on! When her best friend asks her to meet up at the wedding venue to taste food with her, Jolie says yes! Then Jolie and her beloved mustang ends up in a snow drift from the current snow storm on her way to the venue. Luke ends up getting informed that Jolie is stuck and now has to rescue her and they both end up stuck at the wedding venue for a couple of days. Will their hatred for each other make the entire staff scared or will their hatred start to falter...
I highly enjoyed reading Choosing home, it was such a fun read.
I love that some people from the start of the book came back towards the end of the book even though I hated the reasons. I loved the newspaper clippings included in the book, that made it so realistic and is such a unique thing! I loved the banter, the slow growing of friendships & relationships. I love trust that Luke made Jolie feel especially with the piece of information of her brother! I loved that Jolie recognized Luke having anxiety as well. I was in awe when Jolie realized "that stupid bitch T" was a scared little girl in her head that needed comfort.
March 27, 2025
I was beyond excited to be chosen by the author to be given an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book! I was told that it could be read as a stand alone, but it is book number two in the Haven Bay series. I decided to read Coming Home (book 1) first, and I’m glad I did.
However, to stick to this specific book - I loved it! I have a soft spot for small town romance novels, and especially love an enemies to lovers trope, so Choosing Home was right up my alley. I think the “enemies” aspect of Luke and Jolie’s relationship could have been a tad shorter, but not a huge issue.
If you have read and loved anything by Lena Hendrix, Lucy Score, or Elsie Silver, then Katie Beck is your girl! I get so sad when I finish a series where I have really gotten to know the characters and feel connected to them, so I’m excited to have Katie Beck’s books to look forward to now. I can’t wait for Rhett’s story! :)
I really love how the characters from one book to another not only cross over, but are still a huge part of the storyline from book to book. In some other series I’ve read, past characters are mentioned a few times, which is fun, but the characters from Coming Home still have a big role in Choosing Home.
The book is entertaining, funny (love all the one-liners, and witty metaphors), spicy, and even has a little bit of suspense. What more could you want?
However, to stick to this specific book - I loved it! I have a soft spot for small town romance novels, and especially love an enemies to lovers trope, so Choosing Home was right up my alley. I think the “enemies” aspect of Luke and Jolie’s relationship could have been a tad shorter, but not a huge issue.
If you have read and loved anything by Lena Hendrix, Lucy Score, or Elsie Silver, then Katie Beck is your girl! I get so sad when I finish a series where I have really gotten to know the characters and feel connected to them, so I’m excited to have Katie Beck’s books to look forward to now. I can’t wait for Rhett’s story! :)
I really love how the characters from one book to another not only cross over, but are still a huge part of the storyline from book to book. In some other series I’ve read, past characters are mentioned a few times, which is fun, but the characters from Coming Home still have a big role in Choosing Home.
The book is entertaining, funny (love all the one-liners, and witty metaphors), spicy, and even has a little bit of suspense. What more could you want?
March 29, 2025
I am grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second book in the Haven Bay series, and I was excited to return to small-town Alberta! I love reading books set in Canada and seeing places I know and have been to mentioned. While this can certainly be read as a stand-alone book, there are references to characters from the first book, Coming Home.
It took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once I did, I was hooked! Jolie and Luke are complete opposites, but the chemistry between them is palpable and you will find yourself rooting for these two to figure out their feelings from the start. The story is told through a dual POV, giving both main characters a voice throughout.
I loved Jolie’s spunky independence, but also appreciated the reality of her struggle with anxiety. She is the exact opposite of the town’s gruff police chief, Luke, who has a need for control and order. Both are loved by their community and each play an important role amongst their friends and family.
Filled with entertaining banter, forced proximity, a classic enemies to lovers trope, and some spice (a bit more too open-door for me), watching these two finally see what’s right in front of them is nothing short of enjoyable! Anyone who loves romance will enjoy this book (and series), and I look forward to returning to this small town in Beck’s future books!
This is the second book in the Haven Bay series, and I was excited to return to small-town Alberta! I love reading books set in Canada and seeing places I know and have been to mentioned. While this can certainly be read as a stand-alone book, there are references to characters from the first book, Coming Home.
It took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once I did, I was hooked! Jolie and Luke are complete opposites, but the chemistry between them is palpable and you will find yourself rooting for these two to figure out their feelings from the start. The story is told through a dual POV, giving both main characters a voice throughout.
I loved Jolie’s spunky independence, but also appreciated the reality of her struggle with anxiety. She is the exact opposite of the town’s gruff police chief, Luke, who has a need for control and order. Both are loved by their community and each play an important role amongst their friends and family.
Filled with entertaining banter, forced proximity, a classic enemies to lovers trope, and some spice (a bit more too open-door for me), watching these two finally see what’s right in front of them is nothing short of enjoyable! Anyone who loves romance will enjoy this book (and series), and I look forward to returning to this small town in Beck’s future books!
March 27, 2025
Thank-you Katie for allowing me to be apart of the ARC group of readers!!
Katie first off I just want to say I seen a growth between book 1 and 2 and I am so glad I trusted my instincts to reading book 1 before this book.
You have truly built the cutest little small town in Canada that made me a bigger town/city girl envy people who get to live in a small town like that. It gave Canadian Gilmore girls small town vibes lol
I have to say I didn’t expect to like Luke and Jolie’s story that much more than Matt and Avery. Although .. the enemies to lovers vibe PLUS one bedroom and single bed in one book!? Also that one bedroom single bed for multiple nights … hellloooo lol
This was like Grumpy x Grumpy to Sunshine x Sunshine
Both had mental health issues which I felt was well represented that even anxiety is different for each person. I could see myself in aspects of both Luke and Jolie.
The spice was spice’n and the overall story was nice. Maybe some small things I’d change but overall really cute book.
For a series that can technically be read as standalones I feel like I know the side characters even before their books. Sometimes in series you don’t know what you are going to get but Katie builds that up from book 1 and even more so in book 2. By the end of the book I was excited for book 3.
Katie first off I just want to say I seen a growth between book 1 and 2 and I am so glad I trusted my instincts to reading book 1 before this book.
You have truly built the cutest little small town in Canada that made me a bigger town/city girl envy people who get to live in a small town like that. It gave Canadian Gilmore girls small town vibes lol
I have to say I didn’t expect to like Luke and Jolie’s story that much more than Matt and Avery. Although .. the enemies to lovers vibe PLUS one bedroom and single bed in one book!? Also that one bedroom single bed for multiple nights … hellloooo lol
This was like Grumpy x Grumpy to Sunshine x Sunshine
Both had mental health issues which I felt was well represented that even anxiety is different for each person. I could see myself in aspects of both Luke and Jolie.
The spice was spice’n and the overall story was nice. Maybe some small things I’d change but overall really cute book.
For a series that can technically be read as standalones I feel like I know the side characters even before their books. Sometimes in series you don’t know what you are going to get but Katie builds that up from book 1 and even more so in book 2. By the end of the book I was excited for book 3.
March 22, 2025
Katie has taken us back to the town of Haven Bay and I could not have loved it more! I am honoured to have received an ARC for this story, and diving into a character as a vibrant as Jolie was a true joy; Jolie is relatable to so many other women in her age group that reading her story just makes you feel a little bit more seen and a little bit more understood. I loved the dual point of view and the enemy needs to lovers trope, which is usually not my go-to, but the banter between Jolie and Luke is nothing short of a delight. We see Luke grow so much throughout the story, and seeing him open up to those around him makes this love story all the more tender. I loved that we got to see characters we fell in love with in her first book, Coming Home, and I would hazard to say that we are going to be visiting Haven Bay again in the future, and I cannot wait. Her writing is fun, warm, tender, and hilarious. If you are looking for something that’s funny, easy to read, a little spicy and with a plot that you will really enjoy, I highly recommend this book.
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Mental Health Rep
- Canadian Author
- Enemies to Lovers
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Mental Health Rep
- Canadian Author
March 24, 2025
Grateful to Katie for the ARC opportunity to dive into the small town of Haven Bay and the intertwined lives of Jolie and Luke. Did I love that this book was set in a small Alberta town and written by a Canadian author? Absolutely!! It's nice to read books that feel closer to home, while allowing me to picture what the town might look like compared to places I've stayed or lived in Canada.
The story follows Jolie and Luke - Jolie is a yoga studio owner and fiery character who faces life's ups & downs with authenticity and humour. Luke is the chief of police of Haven Bay and Jolie drives him nuts. At first, that is. ;) They each deal with family dynamics, intertwined friend groups, and strong personalities, which helps to pull them together even though they fight it.
This book has the popular romance tropes: Forced proximity, Enemies to lovers, and Spice. Plus, it also has humour, character growth, and vulnerability all in one. As a reader who is somewhat new to romance books, I found this quite enjoyable and heartwarming. I look forward to checking out Coming Home soon as well!
The story follows Jolie and Luke - Jolie is a yoga studio owner and fiery character who faces life's ups & downs with authenticity and humour. Luke is the chief of police of Haven Bay and Jolie drives him nuts. At first, that is. ;) They each deal with family dynamics, intertwined friend groups, and strong personalities, which helps to pull them together even though they fight it.
This book has the popular romance tropes: Forced proximity, Enemies to lovers, and Spice. Plus, it also has humour, character growth, and vulnerability all in one. As a reader who is somewhat new to romance books, I found this quite enjoyable and heartwarming. I look forward to checking out Coming Home soon as well!
April 12, 2025
Captivating read — I read it in two sittings 😜 If you love…
💖 enemies to lovers
💖 small town romance
💖 a fierce FMC
💖 chief of police MMC
💖 snowed in (plus only one bed 😏)
💖 small town romance
💖 ‘dear annie’ anonymous newspaper column
Sprinkle in the spice and suspense and you’ve got a book that had me absolutely hooked! Loved the chemistry between Luke and Jolie, and I loved their friends and how they all interacted together. Funny and daring and emotional…can’t wait for Rhett’s book!
💖 enemies to lovers
💖 small town romance
💖 a fierce FMC
💖 chief of police MMC
💖 snowed in (plus only one bed 😏)
💖 small town romance
💖 ‘dear annie’ anonymous newspaper column
Sprinkle in the spice and suspense and you’ve got a book that had me absolutely hooked! Loved the chemistry between Luke and Jolie, and I loved their friends and how they all interacted together. Funny and daring and emotional…can’t wait for Rhett’s book!
March 13, 2025
I am very grateful to Katie for giving me the opportunity to receive an ARC for an honest review. I was in need of a genre switch after reading fantasy for the past few months and I received this at the perfect time. I was able to read this in one day and find that this is a perfect book to cozy up with on a rainy day. I can't wait to read more of her work.
Jolie is a feisty spirited character who follows her heart. This results on her settling in the small town of Haven Bay. The only downside to living in a small town is her constant run in with the police chief. She opened up her own business, a yoga studio with an interesting twist, and finds herself content with life. She begins to have lustful thoughts about the police chief, but will it lead to more?
Luke is the police chief of Haven Bay and Matt's brother. Matt is engaged to Avery, one of Jolie's best friends. Jolie is a constant thorn in his side, but Luke cannot seem to escape her due to them running in the same circle. Luke is frustrated and conflicted by his feelings for Jolie. She's feisty and has no problem getting herself into trouble. Will he act on these feelings?
The second installment in the Haven Bay series can be read as a stand-alone. There are mentions of the couple from the previous book due to the relationships between the characters.
Jolie is a feisty spirited character who follows her heart. This results on her settling in the small town of Haven Bay. The only downside to living in a small town is her constant run in with the police chief. She opened up her own business, a yoga studio with an interesting twist, and finds herself content with life. She begins to have lustful thoughts about the police chief, but will it lead to more?
Luke is the police chief of Haven Bay and Matt's brother. Matt is engaged to Avery, one of Jolie's best friends. Jolie is a constant thorn in his side, but Luke cannot seem to escape her due to them running in the same circle. Luke is frustrated and conflicted by his feelings for Jolie. She's feisty and has no problem getting herself into trouble. Will he act on these feelings?
The second installment in the Haven Bay series can be read as a stand-alone. There are mentions of the couple from the previous book due to the relationships between the characters.
March 15, 2025
Publication Date April 11th, 2025
I'm so glad I read Coming Home before this because while yes, this can be read as a standalone, it felt like we were jumping right back into Haven Bay without missing a beat. I appreciated how local this felt as I've lived in almost all the cities mentioned in this, so it felt extra relatable to me. Jolie and Luke's story did not disappoint the slow burn, the conflict, the give and go, the protectivenes..... I was here for all of it! It was also refreshing to see a MC struggle with anxiety but not allow themselves to be defined by it with talks of therapy, coping mechanisms and medications, its not something you read much about.
By the end, I was cheering, finding out not only who the next story is going to be about but also to see a fun spin-off coming too! Sign me up for all of it🙋♀️ I can't get enough of these characters and this town! If you want a cozy small town romance, this series is it!
Huge thank you to the author for this ARC and the chance to have a sneak peek!
I'm so glad I read Coming Home before this because while yes, this can be read as a standalone, it felt like we were jumping right back into Haven Bay without missing a beat. I appreciated how local this felt as I've lived in almost all the cities mentioned in this, so it felt extra relatable to me. Jolie and Luke's story did not disappoint the slow burn, the conflict, the give and go, the protectivenes..... I was here for all of it! It was also refreshing to see a MC struggle with anxiety but not allow themselves to be defined by it with talks of therapy, coping mechanisms and medications, its not something you read much about.
By the end, I was cheering, finding out not only who the next story is going to be about but also to see a fun spin-off coming too! Sign me up for all of it🙋♀️ I can't get enough of these characters and this town! If you want a cozy small town romance, this series is it!
Huge thank you to the author for this ARC and the chance to have a sneak peek!
March 15, 2025
I want to start by saying thank you to Katie for allowing me the chance to review this arc, it was an absolute pleasure! "Choosing Home" delivers a charming tale set in the quaint town of Haven Bay, where we meet Jolie, a free spirit navigating life and love. Her journey from wanderer to finding a sense of belonging is heartwarming, filled with quirky moments and the kind of friendships we all crave. The dynamic between Jolie and the town's police captain, Luke, adds an intriguing tension that keeps things interesting.
The lighthearted antics, especially the wedding prep fiasco with the Mustang, exemplify Katie Beck's knack for capturing the chaos of small-town life. While the character development and romantic tension could have been explored a bit deeper, the overall vibe of the story is enjoyable and leaves you reflecting on the importance of finding a place to call home. Perfect for a cozy afternoon read!
The lighthearted antics, especially the wedding prep fiasco with the Mustang, exemplify Katie Beck's knack for capturing the chaos of small-town life. While the character development and romantic tension could have been explored a bit deeper, the overall vibe of the story is enjoyable and leaves you reflecting on the importance of finding a place to call home. Perfect for a cozy afternoon read!
April 17, 2025
Spice: 3
Tropes:
found family
one bed
forced proximity
enemies to lovers
grumpy x sunshine
small town romance
Dual POV
I absolutely love Katie Beck and her books! First, she made me fall in love with Coming Home- Avery and Matt. NOW she goes and throws Jolie and Luke at me in Choosing Home and I cannot! Choosing Home was everything- the amount of times I either laughed out loud, giggled, or smirked... yeah I lost count lol.
While this book could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you do read book 1- not only because the story was amazing, but this one picks up a few months after book 1 ends. Our amazing FMC this time around is Jolie, the hilarious local yoga instructor, and Avery's best friend. I have never tried yoga, but Jolie's rage yoga.... I 100% would attend that class. Jolie is busy running her studio, helping Avery plan her wedding, pissing off Police Chief Luke, and writing for the paper's Dear Annie column. When she's not doing these things, she's driving around town in her Grandfather's '67 mustang he left her or showing off her self-defense moves in the town Dive bar. What I love about Jolie is how real her character was written. She has anxiety, family trauma, and she's kicking ass. I truly thought Katie Beck did a fabulous job in the description of Jolie's anxiety and panic attacks. I love that Jolie named her anxiety "Tiffany."
Luke is Matt's older, grumpy brother and the town Police Chief. Jolie is a thorn in his side but I think he's always secretly loved her and that's why she gets under his skin. I wasn't sure about Luke at first, I won't lie. I wondered how was his character going to change or grow and I had a hard figuring out if I'd change my opinion of him. I'm glad I did! Luke may be a protector of not only Jolie, or his family, but the whole town, and that weighed heavily on him. I'm so glad he rescued Jolie from the snowstorm and they were forced to spend 2 nights together. It allowed him to open up and we see the immediately relief come off his shoulders. That was definitely the turning point for me.
As always, I loved seeing the town "Golden Girls" Dottie and Maeve... especially trying pole fitness lol. They always crack me up. I just loved this story so much and that epilogue has me screaming for book 3 already!
Tropes:
found family
one bed
forced proximity
enemies to lovers
grumpy x sunshine
small town romance
Dual POV
I absolutely love Katie Beck and her books! First, she made me fall in love with Coming Home- Avery and Matt. NOW she goes and throws Jolie and Luke at me in Choosing Home and I cannot! Choosing Home was everything- the amount of times I either laughed out loud, giggled, or smirked... yeah I lost count lol.
While this book could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you do read book 1- not only because the story was amazing, but this one picks up a few months after book 1 ends. Our amazing FMC this time around is Jolie, the hilarious local yoga instructor, and Avery's best friend. I have never tried yoga, but Jolie's rage yoga.... I 100% would attend that class. Jolie is busy running her studio, helping Avery plan her wedding, pissing off Police Chief Luke, and writing for the paper's Dear Annie column. When she's not doing these things, she's driving around town in her Grandfather's '67 mustang he left her or showing off her self-defense moves in the town Dive bar. What I love about Jolie is how real her character was written. She has anxiety, family trauma, and she's kicking ass. I truly thought Katie Beck did a fabulous job in the description of Jolie's anxiety and panic attacks. I love that Jolie named her anxiety "Tiffany."
Luke is Matt's older, grumpy brother and the town Police Chief. Jolie is a thorn in his side but I think he's always secretly loved her and that's why she gets under his skin. I wasn't sure about Luke at first, I won't lie. I wondered how was his character going to change or grow and I had a hard figuring out if I'd change my opinion of him. I'm glad I did! Luke may be a protector of not only Jolie, or his family, but the whole town, and that weighed heavily on him. I'm so glad he rescued Jolie from the snowstorm and they were forced to spend 2 nights together. It allowed him to open up and we see the immediately relief come off his shoulders. That was definitely the turning point for me.
As always, I loved seeing the town "Golden Girls" Dottie and Maeve... especially trying pole fitness lol. They always crack me up. I just loved this story so much and that epilogue has me screaming for book 3 already!
April 12, 2025
ARC REVIEW
This book is the second one in the Haven Bay series. It can be read as a standalone, but it's better to read it in order because there are several references to the first book and this one allows us to understand the links afterwards between each characters. In addition, the main characters of the first book have a certain influence on the course of the story in the second volume.
I give this book a 5 stars for these reasons; The author really succeed to created the small Canadian town that is Haven Bay. All the habitants are funny and are unique characters. Coming from a small Canadian town myself, I recognized some people in them and it made me laugh. I liked that Jolie’s anxiety and negative thoughts are represented by Tiffany, the name she gave her anxiety. I should give a name to the one in my head too.😅 Finally, Jolie and Luke are the classic "enemies to lover", the way they hold on to each other and the "spice" (there is a lot🤭) and all the situations that they have to keep secret from their group of friends... Another great reading!
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be part of the ARC reader team.
_________________________
Ce livre est le deuxième de la série Haven Bay. Il peut être lu seul, mais il est préférable de le lire dans l'ordre parce qu'il y a plusieurs références au premier livre et que celui-ci nous permet de bien comprendre les liens par la suite. De plus, les personnages principaux du premier livre ont une certaine influence sur le déroulement de l'histoire dans le second tome.
L'auteure a vraiment réussie à bien créer la petite ville canadienne qu'est Haven Bay. Tous les habitants sont des personnages drôles et uniques. Venant moi aussi d'une petite ville canadienne, j'ai reconnu quelques personnes et ça m'a bien fait rire. J'ai bien aimé que l'anxiété et les pensées négatives de Jolie soit représentées par Tiffany, le nom qu'elle a donné à son anxiété. Je lui donnerais bien un nom moi aussi à celle qui est dans ma tête.😅 Enfin, Jolie et Luke sont le classique "ennemies to-lover", le "spice" (il y en a beaucoup🤭) et toutes les situations qu'ils doivent garder secrètes de leur groupe d'amis... Bref, une autre superbe lecture!
Merci à l'auteure de m'avoir permise de faire partie de l'équipe de lecteurs ARC.
This book is the second one in the Haven Bay series. It can be read as a standalone, but it's better to read it in order because there are several references to the first book and this one allows us to understand the links afterwards between each characters. In addition, the main characters of the first book have a certain influence on the course of the story in the second volume.
I give this book a 5 stars for these reasons; The author really succeed to created the small Canadian town that is Haven Bay. All the habitants are funny and are unique characters. Coming from a small Canadian town myself, I recognized some people in them and it made me laugh. I liked that Jolie’s anxiety and negative thoughts are represented by Tiffany, the name she gave her anxiety. I should give a name to the one in my head too.😅 Finally, Jolie and Luke are the classic "enemies to lover", the way they hold on to each other and the "spice" (there is a lot🤭) and all the situations that they have to keep secret from their group of friends... Another great reading!
Thank you to the author for allowing me to be part of the ARC reader team.
_________________________
Ce livre est le deuxième de la série Haven Bay. Il peut être lu seul, mais il est préférable de le lire dans l'ordre parce qu'il y a plusieurs références au premier livre et que celui-ci nous permet de bien comprendre les liens par la suite. De plus, les personnages principaux du premier livre ont une certaine influence sur le déroulement de l'histoire dans le second tome.
L'auteure a vraiment réussie à bien créer la petite ville canadienne qu'est Haven Bay. Tous les habitants sont des personnages drôles et uniques. Venant moi aussi d'une petite ville canadienne, j'ai reconnu quelques personnes et ça m'a bien fait rire. J'ai bien aimé que l'anxiété et les pensées négatives de Jolie soit représentées par Tiffany, le nom qu'elle a donné à son anxiété. Je lui donnerais bien un nom moi aussi à celle qui est dans ma tête.😅 Enfin, Jolie et Luke sont le classique "ennemies to-lover", le "spice" (il y en a beaucoup🤭) et toutes les situations qu'ils doivent garder secrètes de leur groupe d'amis... Bref, une autre superbe lecture!
Merci à l'auteure de m'avoir permise de faire partie de l'équipe de lecteurs ARC.
Read
April 11, 2025This book was so good! It had heart and explored some deep topics. It is a slow burn. But holy mother of pearl, what an amazing read.
Jolie and Luke live in the same small Alberta town. He is a lifer. She is a newbie. He is a serious Sally who doesn't like her fun approach. She is a drop of sunshine who has no time for his judgment & stifling attitude.
Her best friend is marrying his brother. They are both in the wedding. Tensions rise. And it is super clear that it isn't hate causing the tension. But they are both so influenced by their pasts, fears and thoughts, that it takes them a while to realize what is going on. And even longer to think they could be something together. Bless.
Jolie is a beautiful character. She is sparkly and sassy and feisty and fiercely loyal. She is also a little broken because of people in her life crushing her and she has anxiety. She was extremely relateable for me. Love her.
Luke is a good man who acts like a w@nker towards Jolie. I liked him right away but I also wanted to scream in his face to leave her alone and let her live. But at his core he is a good man who loves his family and his town and he is really soft & sweet once he stops thinking he has to be a judgy meanie.
Their love story is really sweet as they both learn what it means to trust and really love someone and be present in that person's life. That conversation about what love isn't and Luke's mom's painting afternoons? Oof. Beautiful!!
One cauyion - the sparkle dulling, being judged for being private and she needs to be more responsible conversations could be a bit intense if you have this in your history. It was all handled exceptionally well, but still may be overwhelming depending where you are at.
I received this as an ARC and my review is based solely on my thoughts & feelings of the content of the book, not its free-ness
Jolie and Luke live in the same small Alberta town. He is a lifer. She is a newbie. He is a serious Sally who doesn't like her fun approach. She is a drop of sunshine who has no time for his judgment & stifling attitude.
Her best friend is marrying his brother. They are both in the wedding. Tensions rise. And it is super clear that it isn't hate causing the tension. But they are both so influenced by their pasts, fears and thoughts, that it takes them a while to realize what is going on. And even longer to think they could be something together. Bless.
Jolie is a beautiful character. She is sparkly and sassy and feisty and fiercely loyal. She is also a little broken because of people in her life crushing her and she has anxiety. She was extremely relateable for me. Love her.
Luke is a good man who acts like a w@nker towards Jolie. I liked him right away but I also wanted to scream in his face to leave her alone and let her live. But at his core he is a good man who loves his family and his town and he is really soft & sweet once he stops thinking he has to be a judgy meanie.
Their love story is really sweet as they both learn what it means to trust and really love someone and be present in that person's life. That conversation about what love isn't and Luke's mom's painting afternoons? Oof. Beautiful!!
One cauyion - the sparkle dulling, being judged for being private and she needs to be more responsible conversations could be a bit intense if you have this in your history. It was all handled exceptionally well, but still may be overwhelming depending where you are at.
I received this as an ARC and my review is based solely on my thoughts & feelings of the content of the book, not its free-ness
April 12, 2025
Jolie is a fun, loyal and outspoken yoga instructor and business owner in the small Canadian town of Haven Bay. From the second she sped into town and moved in, she's been a thorn in grouchy police chief, Luke's, side. She's unpredictable and impulsive, which drives Luke crazy, even though he's super attracted to her. When they're both invited to be a part of Matt (Luke's brother) and Avery's (Jolie's best friend) wedding, they're thrust into each other's orbit and forced to get along and behave. Meanwhile... turns out they have amazing chemistry too. These two love to hate each other and it leaves the pages sizzling with banter and will they/ won't they moments. When the two are stuck in a hotel room with one bed while a snow storm rages, their true story begins.
This book was really fun! I loved the Canadian references, being Canadian myself, it was a fun peek into some canadiana and made me feel immersed into the story. I really liked Jolie and Luke as main characters, and their friends were lovely too. Can't wait to read their stories in the future. The town itself was a character. I loved how it felt like the town had a personality. Haven Bay and its residents are wild and silly and added some spice to the background story. There was a small mystery happening in the background and I really enjoyed that as well. This whole story was so fun and well done. I really enjoyed it and really recommend reading it. I'm going to go back and read Avery and Matt's story now and look forward to reading the other stories that were hinted about. It felt like I was reading about my friends and it was a great time.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.
This book was really fun! I loved the Canadian references, being Canadian myself, it was a fun peek into some canadiana and made me feel immersed into the story. I really liked Jolie and Luke as main characters, and their friends were lovely too. Can't wait to read their stories in the future. The town itself was a character. I loved how it felt like the town had a personality. Haven Bay and its residents are wild and silly and added some spice to the background story. There was a small mystery happening in the background and I really enjoyed that as well. This whole story was so fun and well done. I really enjoyed it and really recommend reading it. I'm going to go back and read Avery and Matt's story now and look forward to reading the other stories that were hinted about. It felt like I was reading about my friends and it was a great time.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.
April 12, 2025
[ it’s then that I realize just how much Jolie means to me. Because, while I love my town and would do anything to protect it, I would burn the entire thing to ashes if it meant keeping Jolie safe ]
Katie Beck is a new author (Canadian) to me whom I’ve been very excited to support.
Choosing Home is Book #2 in the Haven Bay series, following a close-knit group of friends who live in a very quirky small town. I highly recommend reading Coming Home (Book #1) before reading this one to get the best reading experience.
This book follows a grumpy police chief and a sassy yoga instructor/business owner both of whom fight for control in their lives in their own way. The MMC is one of those guys who have a stick up the *you know what* and the FMC is there to take him down a couple of notches, all while controlling her own narrative, inner thoughts and secrets.
This story is filled with laughs, found family love, mental health representation, spice and some excitement. I can’t count how many times I laughed out loud, or shared my thoughts with friends while reading this story.
I’m really looking forward to following along the Haven Bay crew and reading more from this author.
What to expect:
Canadian Quirky Small Town
Grumpy town cop x Sassy rule bender
Enemies to lovers
One bed/forced proximity
Secret relationship
He falls first
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of Choosing Home and I am providing my honest review. Thank you, Katie Beck, for the opportunity.
Katie Beck is a new author (Canadian) to me whom I’ve been very excited to support.
Choosing Home is Book #2 in the Haven Bay series, following a close-knit group of friends who live in a very quirky small town. I highly recommend reading Coming Home (Book #1) before reading this one to get the best reading experience.
This book follows a grumpy police chief and a sassy yoga instructor/business owner both of whom fight for control in their lives in their own way. The MMC is one of those guys who have a stick up the *you know what* and the FMC is there to take him down a couple of notches, all while controlling her own narrative, inner thoughts and secrets.
This story is filled with laughs, found family love, mental health representation, spice and some excitement. I can’t count how many times I laughed out loud, or shared my thoughts with friends while reading this story.
I’m really looking forward to following along the Haven Bay crew and reading more from this author.
What to expect:
Canadian Quirky Small Town
Grumpy town cop x Sassy rule bender
Enemies to lovers
One bed/forced proximity
Secret relationship
He falls first
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of Choosing Home and I am providing my honest review. Thank you, Katie Beck, for the opportunity.
April 9, 2025
Choosing Home is a heartwarming, character-driven romance that beautifully delivers on all the best tropes—forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, found family, and just the right amount of spice (refreshingly subtle!). Set in small-town Alberta, this second installment in the Haven Bay series is rich with charm, humor, and emotional depth, and while it works perfectly as a standalone, returning readers will enjoy seeing familiar faces from Coming Home!
The story of Luke and Jolie is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Their slow-burn relationship is full of tension, vulnerability, and real growth. Jolie’s resilience, especially in the face of complex family dynamics and mental health challenges, makes her incredibly relatable. Luke’s layers unravel beautifully, revealing a much more nuanced person behind the public image.
Katie’s writing shines in how she brings Haven Bay to life. The setting feels authentic (especially for readers familiar with Canada like myself!), and the characters feel like people you’ve known forever. This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a journey of healing, trust, and choosing to stay when things get hard.
If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls vibes, grumpy/sunshine pairings, well-developed side characters, and stories that make you feel, you’ll love this. It’s an easy, compelling read with strong character development and just the right mix of cozy and emotional. Definitely recommended!
The story of Luke and Jolie is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Their slow-burn relationship is full of tension, vulnerability, and real growth. Jolie’s resilience, especially in the face of complex family dynamics and mental health challenges, makes her incredibly relatable. Luke’s layers unravel beautifully, revealing a much more nuanced person behind the public image.
Katie’s writing shines in how she brings Haven Bay to life. The setting feels authentic (especially for readers familiar with Canada like myself!), and the characters feel like people you’ve known forever. This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a journey of healing, trust, and choosing to stay when things get hard.
If you’re a fan of Gilmore Girls vibes, grumpy/sunshine pairings, well-developed side characters, and stories that make you feel, you’ll love this. It’s an easy, compelling read with strong character development and just the right mix of cozy and emotional. Definitely recommended!
April 17, 2025
📖BOOK REVIEW 📖
3.75⭐️
“If we only get one night? I want all of him “
🏡Small town
🔒Forced proximity
💕Friends/enemies to lovers
🌩️ Grumpy MMC
🗣️Dual POV
🩺 Mental health rep
❤️He falls first
Choosing Home is #2 in the HavenBay Series! But I actually read it as a standalone and had no issues! I have heard there is some cross overs and some more background information! So if you want to make sure to get all of that I do recommend reading in the correct order! Didnt brother me though.
This story follows Jolie our FMC! She’s a wild, witty yoga instructor! She’s super funny and in my opinion a well liked character!
We also have our MMC Luke, who is the police captain. He is a sweetheart ;) He’s definitely grumpy but I find that sexy! His support for Jolie though is what really melts my heart! He definitely finds her a bit much at times but after his rescue mission everything falls right into place! 😉🥹
Katie did such a good job creating the small town atmosphere. With damn nosy neighbours and relatable dilemmas.
This book had me kicking my feet and giggling. It was such a good combination of sarcasm and spice! The amount of trouble our Main characters get into is soooooo goood!! As a fellow Canadian I truly felt connected to this story!
Thank you so much @author.katiebeck for sending me this early! I truly appreciate it, and can hope everyone gets their hands on this gem!
3.75⭐️
“If we only get one night? I want all of him “
🏡Small town
🔒Forced proximity
💕Friends/enemies to lovers
🌩️ Grumpy MMC
🗣️Dual POV
🩺 Mental health rep
❤️He falls first
Choosing Home is #2 in the HavenBay Series! But I actually read it as a standalone and had no issues! I have heard there is some cross overs and some more background information! So if you want to make sure to get all of that I do recommend reading in the correct order! Didnt brother me though.
This story follows Jolie our FMC! She’s a wild, witty yoga instructor! She’s super funny and in my opinion a well liked character!
We also have our MMC Luke, who is the police captain. He is a sweetheart ;) He’s definitely grumpy but I find that sexy! His support for Jolie though is what really melts my heart! He definitely finds her a bit much at times but after his rescue mission everything falls right into place! 😉🥹
Katie did such a good job creating the small town atmosphere. With damn nosy neighbours and relatable dilemmas.
This book had me kicking my feet and giggling. It was such a good combination of sarcasm and spice! The amount of trouble our Main characters get into is soooooo goood!! As a fellow Canadian I truly felt connected to this story!
Thank you so much @author.katiebeck for sending me this early! I truly appreciate it, and can hope everyone gets their hands on this gem!
May 1, 2025
I LOVED LUKE & JOLIE 😭🥹🫶🏼
I really enjoyed this book it was such a good read, I think I related so to some of Jolie’s thoughts and her struggles with anxiety that it allowed me to understand her on a deeper level! I will say that it was hard for me to read her describe Luke as being a man that was JUST like her father because Luke really was just an anxiety riddled teddy bear. Now, it didn’t take away from the story at all I love that she made him prove himself but when reading Luke’s pov as well it left me feeling like I wish she could’ve just seen his thoughts but with all that being said it didn’t take away from the story at all and I still loved Jolie’s character, the sense of humor on her is incredible and the banter between the two of them was had me CACKLING 🤣🥹🫶🏼
Luke was a special one, he was such an A** to Jolie in the beginning but man did he make up for it and it really helped that you could read his pov because while the apologies he gave weren’t always the best you could see that it wasn’t because he didn’t care about her it was honestly just because he didn’t know how to explain himself and would then mumble out an apology! Honestly I loved Luke, it was hard to see how much he anxiety would affect him at times but I did understand it and it will make you love him even more! 🥹❤️ Also LUKE CAN GET IT and I’ll leave it at that! 🤣🤣
Overall this was such a good read and definitely will be a reread for me!
I really enjoyed this book it was such a good read, I think I related so to some of Jolie’s thoughts and her struggles with anxiety that it allowed me to understand her on a deeper level! I will say that it was hard for me to read her describe Luke as being a man that was JUST like her father because Luke really was just an anxiety riddled teddy bear. Now, it didn’t take away from the story at all I love that she made him prove himself but when reading Luke’s pov as well it left me feeling like I wish she could’ve just seen his thoughts but with all that being said it didn’t take away from the story at all and I still loved Jolie’s character, the sense of humor on her is incredible and the banter between the two of them was had me CACKLING 🤣🥹🫶🏼
Luke was a special one, he was such an A** to Jolie in the beginning but man did he make up for it and it really helped that you could read his pov because while the apologies he gave weren’t always the best you could see that it wasn’t because he didn’t care about her it was honestly just because he didn’t know how to explain himself and would then mumble out an apology! Honestly I loved Luke, it was hard to see how much he anxiety would affect him at times but I did understand it and it will make you love him even more! 🥹❤️ Also LUKE CAN GET IT and I’ll leave it at that! 🤣🤣
Overall this was such a good read and definitely will be a reread for me!
April 5, 2025
The way I laughed out loud at both Jolie & Luke’s inner monologue. These two are polar opposites and that’s why it worked.
They have always been a pain in each other’s side until they really get to know one another. Forced to spend a weekend together makes them realize they have more in common than they think. Could whatever is going on between them work?
Jolies biggest fear is having someone dim her light and not letting her be herself tends to push her away from men. Luke likes to plan and have order in his life he shouldn’t want some like her. The way they were able to slowly give pieces of themselves to each other and realize that they could have the best of both worlds was amazing. They both have had some rough patches on their past and it was good to get a glimpse into that. It really showed why they are the way they are.
**side note I don’t often hate characters but I hate Jolie’s dad. What an awful man to tear down his daughter like that.
This story really takes you on a journey. That’s what I love about the stories Katie writes. She transports you to this place and the characters she writes are so relatable. It also just made you want to route for them. I will keep coming back to Haven Bay time and time again.
-slow burn
-forced proximity
-found family
-small town romance
-he calls her Sweetheart
-she calls him Chief
They have always been a pain in each other’s side until they really get to know one another. Forced to spend a weekend together makes them realize they have more in common than they think. Could whatever is going on between them work?
Jolies biggest fear is having someone dim her light and not letting her be herself tends to push her away from men. Luke likes to plan and have order in his life he shouldn’t want some like her. The way they were able to slowly give pieces of themselves to each other and realize that they could have the best of both worlds was amazing. They both have had some rough patches on their past and it was good to get a glimpse into that. It really showed why they are the way they are.
**side note I don’t often hate characters but I hate Jolie’s dad. What an awful man to tear down his daughter like that.
This story really takes you on a journey. That’s what I love about the stories Katie writes. She transports you to this place and the characters she writes are so relatable. It also just made you want to route for them. I will keep coming back to Haven Bay time and time again.
-slow burn
-forced proximity
-found family
-small town romance
-he calls her Sweetheart
-she calls him Chief
April 10, 2025
Choosing Home by Katie Beck | 5⭐️ 3🌶️
Welcome back to Haven Bay! I honestly love this series! From the cute small town mountain vibes to the incredible cast of secondary characters, I can’t get enough.
Two opposites. One snowstorm. And enough tension to melt all the snow in Haven Bay. Jolie’s finally found her place — quirky town, close circle of friends, and a yoga studio she loves. The only problem? A grumpy police captain who seems way too invested in her life choices. Throw in a wedding request gone sideways and a forced weekend together? Let’s just say… things get real interesting, real fast.
I adored Jolie and Luke. I wasn’t sure anyone could top Matt & Avery from book one, but these two? LOVE! Jolie is bold, impulsive, layered, and so real in her struggles. And Luke? A grump of the highest order. There were moments I wanted to shake him, but his slow unraveling? Delicious. The man had no chance.
Katie once again gives us laugh-out-loud side characters (Maeve & Dottie OWN me), and now we have Miss Cleo, who stole the show for me. And the spice? I’ll just say… that mirror scene had no business being that good.
One of my fave parts of this series is Katie’s writing 🙌🏾 She brings Haven Bay to life with so much heart and detail that I kept forgetting it’s not a real place. That epilogue? It made me tear up and laugh out loud. Perfection.
If you’re a fan of snowed in level of forced proximity, incredible banter and hilarious little old ladies — read this series!
IG: @melissareadseverything
Welcome back to Haven Bay! I honestly love this series! From the cute small town mountain vibes to the incredible cast of secondary characters, I can’t get enough.
Two opposites. One snowstorm. And enough tension to melt all the snow in Haven Bay. Jolie’s finally found her place — quirky town, close circle of friends, and a yoga studio she loves. The only problem? A grumpy police captain who seems way too invested in her life choices. Throw in a wedding request gone sideways and a forced weekend together? Let’s just say… things get real interesting, real fast.
I adored Jolie and Luke. I wasn’t sure anyone could top Matt & Avery from book one, but these two? LOVE! Jolie is bold, impulsive, layered, and so real in her struggles. And Luke? A grump of the highest order. There were moments I wanted to shake him, but his slow unraveling? Delicious. The man had no chance.
Katie once again gives us laugh-out-loud side characters (Maeve & Dottie OWN me), and now we have Miss Cleo, who stole the show for me. And the spice? I’ll just say… that mirror scene had no business being that good.
One of my fave parts of this series is Katie’s writing 🙌🏾 She brings Haven Bay to life with so much heart and detail that I kept forgetting it’s not a real place. That epilogue? It made me tear up and laugh out loud. Perfection.
If you’re a fan of snowed in level of forced proximity, incredible banter and hilarious little old ladies — read this series!
IG: @melissareadseverything
April 10, 2025
4.5/5⭐️
I received a review copy and these are my thoughts:
It was a pleasure to be able to go back to Haven Bay for book 2.
I loved Jolie and Luke! Their story had great flow and Beck delivers a deliciously slow, slow burn romance between an energetic and unapologetic yoga teacher and a grumpy small town police chief. They were a wild fire waiting to happen! Their chemistry was there from the very beginning, hidden beneath the bickering and easy banter.
Both Jolie and Luke struggled with insecurities they kept buried deep and hidden behind either a smile (Jolie) or a scowl (Luke). Luke definitely fell the fastest and probably the hardest. For such a stoic man, he was a goner for Jolie. I liked how they gradually let each other in and found emotional healing together.
The found family aspect to both books was so heartwarming. I very much enjoyed seeing Jolie’s friendship with Avery and Brenna develop further and how the characters (and towns people) were always willing and ready to help each other out.
The small town shenanigans are some of my favourite parts of this series. Maeve and Dottie (the naughty octogenarian neighbours) have not lost their touch.
Special mention to Cleo for melting Luke’s heart.
There were so many memorable scenes but to point them all out would spoil the story.
CHOOSING HOME is the second book in this small town romance series and can be read as a standalone but for the full experience, read in order.
[Spice: 3/5 🌶️]
I received a review copy and these are my thoughts:
It was a pleasure to be able to go back to Haven Bay for book 2.
I loved Jolie and Luke! Their story had great flow and Beck delivers a deliciously slow, slow burn romance between an energetic and unapologetic yoga teacher and a grumpy small town police chief. They were a wild fire waiting to happen! Their chemistry was there from the very beginning, hidden beneath the bickering and easy banter.
Both Jolie and Luke struggled with insecurities they kept buried deep and hidden behind either a smile (Jolie) or a scowl (Luke). Luke definitely fell the fastest and probably the hardest. For such a stoic man, he was a goner for Jolie. I liked how they gradually let each other in and found emotional healing together.
The found family aspect to both books was so heartwarming. I very much enjoyed seeing Jolie’s friendship with Avery and Brenna develop further and how the characters (and towns people) were always willing and ready to help each other out.
The small town shenanigans are some of my favourite parts of this series. Maeve and Dottie (the naughty octogenarian neighbours) have not lost their touch.
Special mention to Cleo for melting Luke’s heart.
There were so many memorable scenes but to point them all out would spoil the story.
CHOOSING HOME is the second book in this small town romance series and can be read as a standalone but for the full experience, read in order.
[Spice: 3/5 🌶️]
April 20, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️
Jolie is probably one of my favourite FMC ever! She is so funny, she had me laughing constantly! The things she says 😂 and I loved that she kicked the crap out of that loser in the bar in the first few chapters. Her character will live rent free in my head for a long time. Luke was so grumpy, always absorbed in his work and giving Kolie sh*t about her loud yoga classes and drinks in the park 😅 These two complimented each other so well. There was no denying their chemistry from the start. The tension between these two is soooooo good! I also really loved the growth of Jolie over the course of the book, just when you thought she couldn’t get anymore amazing she does something else. Who knew Luke would turn out to be actually deep and caring under all the grump. His protective nature throughout the book was so sweet. The Dear Annie column was such a nice added touch through the book I loved reading those as well and they fit Jolie’s character perfectly.
Dottie and Maeve are a whole vibe, these two old ladies will have you laughing hysterically.
Lastly, we have a mirror scene and it is HOT 🥵 IYKYK. If you don’t read this then sorry your missing out 😂
Thank you so much to @author.katiebeck for allowing me to be a part of your team and review this ARC. I had such a fun time!
🌶️ 🌶️
Jolie is probably one of my favourite FMC ever! She is so funny, she had me laughing constantly! The things she says 😂 and I loved that she kicked the crap out of that loser in the bar in the first few chapters. Her character will live rent free in my head for a long time. Luke was so grumpy, always absorbed in his work and giving Kolie sh*t about her loud yoga classes and drinks in the park 😅 These two complimented each other so well. There was no denying their chemistry from the start. The tension between these two is soooooo good! I also really loved the growth of Jolie over the course of the book, just when you thought she couldn’t get anymore amazing she does something else. Who knew Luke would turn out to be actually deep and caring under all the grump. His protective nature throughout the book was so sweet. The Dear Annie column was such a nice added touch through the book I loved reading those as well and they fit Jolie’s character perfectly.
Dottie and Maeve are a whole vibe, these two old ladies will have you laughing hysterically.
Lastly, we have a mirror scene and it is HOT 🥵 IYKYK. If you don’t read this then sorry your missing out 😂
Thank you so much to @author.katiebeck for allowing me to be a part of your team and review this ARC. I had such a fun time!
April 9, 2025
This Canadian small-town romance by a Canadian author completely won me over! It’s funny, spicy, and full of heart. Told from the perspectives of Jolie, a no-filter, fiercely loyal woman with a competitive streak, and Luke, a grumpy yet soft-hearted guy who’s driven by a deep desire to protect others, their chemistry is undeniable.
Their evolving relationship is both heartfelt and satisfying. The spice level is just right: steamy enough to make your toes curl, but still playful and fun. It adds a perfect layer of intensity to their connection without ever feeling over the top.
The mental health representation, particularly focusing on anxiety, was thoughtful and respectful, adding depth and authenticity to the characters. The ending was pure joy!
A big thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of Coming Home by Katie Beck. I thoroughly enjoyed this low-burn, grumpy, small-town romance with a Gilmore Girls vibe. Jolie’s resilience and the book’s sensitive approach to mental health made it stand out.
The book was an easy, enjoyable read with well-developed characters and a captivating storyline. If you enjoy small-town romances, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and found family themes, this book is a must-read. I highly recommend it!
Their evolving relationship is both heartfelt and satisfying. The spice level is just right: steamy enough to make your toes curl, but still playful and fun. It adds a perfect layer of intensity to their connection without ever feeling over the top.
The mental health representation, particularly focusing on anxiety, was thoughtful and respectful, adding depth and authenticity to the characters. The ending was pure joy!
A big thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of Coming Home by Katie Beck. I thoroughly enjoyed this low-burn, grumpy, small-town romance with a Gilmore Girls vibe. Jolie’s resilience and the book’s sensitive approach to mental health made it stand out.
The book was an easy, enjoyable read with well-developed characters and a captivating storyline. If you enjoy small-town romances, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and found family themes, this book is a must-read. I highly recommend it!
April 14, 2025
Katie Beck does it again with Choosing Home. A laugh-out-loud, slow-burn, small-town romance that perfectly blends sass, steam, and heart.
Jolie is a free spirit with a chaotic streak and a heart of gold. After years of drifting, she’s finally found her place in Haven Bay with a yoga studio, good friends, and a sense of belonging. Enter Luke, the grumpy, by-the-book police cheif who’s made it his mission to keep her in line (and secretly can't stop thinking about her). Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic is full of delicious tension, hilarious banter, and surprising vulnerability that kept me hooked.
The dual POV works beautifully, offering insight into both Jolie’s wild charm and Luke’s hidden softness. I loved seeing their weekend together unravel all the walls they’ve built over the years. Their chemistry? Off the charts. But what makes this story shine is its heart, how it explores finding home not just in a place, but in a person who sees and accepts all of you.
Perfect for fans of small-town romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and strong female leads who don’t play by the rules.
Jolie is a free spirit with a chaotic streak and a heart of gold. After years of drifting, she’s finally found her place in Haven Bay with a yoga studio, good friends, and a sense of belonging. Enter Luke, the grumpy, by-the-book police cheif who’s made it his mission to keep her in line (and secretly can't stop thinking about her). Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic is full of delicious tension, hilarious banter, and surprising vulnerability that kept me hooked.
The dual POV works beautifully, offering insight into both Jolie’s wild charm and Luke’s hidden softness. I loved seeing their weekend together unravel all the walls they’ve built over the years. Their chemistry? Off the charts. But what makes this story shine is its heart, how it explores finding home not just in a place, but in a person who sees and accepts all of you.
Perfect for fans of small-town romance, grumpy/sunshine dynamics, and strong female leads who don’t play by the rules.
April 4, 2025
4⭐️ 2🌶️
If you love Canadian small town romances with a bit of a Gilmore girls vibes and enemies to lovers trope, this one's for you!🥰 this book is based in small town, Alberta! Which happens to be where I'm from!
I absolutely love each of the characters and and how each of them have their own unique spunk to them 😏🥰😂 they definitely started off as enemies to lovers, but overtime they connected and would be there for each other. They both suffer with mental health issues and now have found amazing support🫶 this book is also extremely entertaining and filled with lots of banter which truly had me laughing so hard at certain times and there was definitely some spice😏❤️
I truly enjoyed every second of this book and honestly cannot wait for the rest of the series and I'd like to mention this can be read as a standalone.
I am grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my review🫶❤️
If you love Canadian small town romances with a bit of a Gilmore girls vibes and enemies to lovers trope, this one's for you!🥰 this book is based in small town, Alberta! Which happens to be where I'm from!
I absolutely love each of the characters and and how each of them have their own unique spunk to them 😏🥰😂 they definitely started off as enemies to lovers, but overtime they connected and would be there for each other. They both suffer with mental health issues and now have found amazing support🫶 this book is also extremely entertaining and filled with lots of banter which truly had me laughing so hard at certain times and there was definitely some spice😏❤️
I truly enjoyed every second of this book and honestly cannot wait for the rest of the series and I'd like to mention this can be read as a standalone.
I am grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my review🫶❤️
April 13, 2025
Happy Release Day to @author.katiebeck 💕
This is book 2 in the series and it can be read as a standalone (I do highly recommend book 1: Coming Home).
Fierce yoga instructor, Jolie has a secret job, which is causing some rather sticky events across Haven Bay. However, after receiving a threatening email, Jolie continues to help the residents of Haven Bay. Chief of police, Luke finds Jolie a bit much: she seems to be a pain in his butt but, after coming to her rescue during a storm, the two find out they have much more common then they thought.
I really enjoyed this book. I found Jolie to be funny but I also found her situation with her parents really emotional. I love her brother-I am begging that the author writes his story 🤣
I found Luke to be absolutely delicious. The way he says: “sweetheart” made my ovaries explode.
He was just soooo grumpy but the way he opened up to Jolie and supported her was just so darn cute.
There was a little suspense going on which I thought was intriguing and worked really well.
I cannot wait for book 3 💕
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
This is book 2 in the series and it can be read as a standalone (I do highly recommend book 1: Coming Home).
Fierce yoga instructor, Jolie has a secret job, which is causing some rather sticky events across Haven Bay. However, after receiving a threatening email, Jolie continues to help the residents of Haven Bay. Chief of police, Luke finds Jolie a bit much: she seems to be a pain in his butt but, after coming to her rescue during a storm, the two find out they have much more common then they thought.
I really enjoyed this book. I found Jolie to be funny but I also found her situation with her parents really emotional. I love her brother-I am begging that the author writes his story 🤣
I found Luke to be absolutely delicious. The way he says: “sweetheart” made my ovaries explode.
He was just soooo grumpy but the way he opened up to Jolie and supported her was just so darn cute.
There was a little suspense going on which I thought was intriguing and worked really well.
I cannot wait for book 3 💕
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
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