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Dare Valley #1-3

Small Towns, Fairy Tales, and Nora Roberts Land

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Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00N1Z1JY2

Ava Miles presents a heartwarming collection of the first three novels in her bestselling Dare Valley series about love, second chances, family, and suspense beginning with the #1 International Bestseller Nora Roberts gave her blessing to.

Book 1: Nora Roberts Land

A journalist returns to her hometown to debunk the Nora Roberts novels her ex-husband blamed for their divorce only to discover happy endings exist.

Book 2: French Roast

A small town girl mixes business and pleasure with her childhood BFF until his own Mrs. Robinson returns, making her question their friendship and newfound love.

Book 3: The Grand Opening

A cynical single-mom cop discovers she can't bluff her way out of love when a mysterious poker-playing hotel magnate shows her it's worth the gamble.

1191 pages, ebook

Published August 25, 2014

98 people are currently reading
260 people want to read

About the author

Ava Miles

101 books1,143 followers
Millions of readers have discovered International Bestselling Author Ava Miles and her powerful fiction and non-fiction books about love, happiness, and transformation. Her novels have received praise and accolades from USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and People Magazine in addition to being chosen as Best Books of the Year and Top Editor’s picks. Translated into multiple languages, Ava’s strongest praise comes directly from her readers, who call her books and characters unforgettable.

Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.

After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.

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5 stars
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21 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Heather.
113 reviews
September 11, 2019
I wasn't very hopeful when I started this book that I would stay with it but I'm glad I did. It.was fun to read and that's why the slightly higher rating. There are times we all want to be in ”Nora Roberts Land”
Profile Image for Eileen Dandashi.
542 reviews17 followers
November 4, 2014
Ava Miles writes books that speak to the soul and the heart while being extremely entertaining with an unforgettably suspenseful romance. I've read three of her books thus far, not from this series, and she has never let me down. Her books always end with the happy ever after ending, leaving you with the satisfaction found in living in small towns. I've attached here my review of book 1 of this 3-book set. I highly recommend her writing style, her stories and the she-made-be-feel-good feeling.

About the Story: Meredith Hale is running, from herself and from her ex. She hasn’t been able to move beyond the divorce, although she was strong enough to accomplish getting it. She needs a change of scene so decides to couple her need with lending a hand to family living in Dare Valley. Her dad and grandpa own a newspaper in there and her dad has recently suffered a heart attack. Meredith has been in New York for several years and has proved to herself and her family that she’s has the family talent when it comes to journalism.

Now her ex is threatening her, although in this story, she is the last to know. She promised her New York boss an unusual and unique article on looking for and finding, or not, the perfect man such as the ones found in Nora Roberts’s novels. And Meredith, buried deep within her heart, wanted to find her small-town Nora Roberts hero. What better way than in Dare Valley, helping her dad and grandpa and herself? Her secret weapon is her La Perla bustier lingerie, purchased with money she got from the divorce, AND her alter ego who constantly gives her advice, who she names Divorcée Woman. Could happy endings be possible? Well, she was willing to find out.

Tanner McBride has also found his way to Dare Valley, but not for altruistic reasons. He’d recently returned from Afghanistan as a war correspondent, contacting a major newspaper which just happens to be the newspaper owned by none other than Meredith’s ex. But before he could work for him in the capacity he wanted to, his boss wanted him to ‘prove’ himself in Dare Valley. It all came with a nice little package of blackmail. His boss was paranoid that whatever Meredith was going to write would hurt his chances in his run for Senator. Tanner’s mission was to make Meredith fall in love with him and then break it off, so she wouldn't have the story she was planning on writing. Even though Tanner disliked this assignment handed him, he had no choice, no choice at all. And no choice in how he and Meredith connected, sparks and all.

My Thoughts: I don’t normally read many contemporary romance, but I make exception for a few authors. Ava Miles happens to be one of them. This is the third book I’ve read of hers, however not in the same series. In each case, they have been warm, real, sweet romances that seize my heart.

This particular story revolves around the love of family, both of Meredith and Tanner’s. With that love, comes need to protect even when one has to lie or tell half-truths. The story also shows that once you’re found out, it just may hurt more than if the truth had been spoken. Both Meredith and Tanner had difficulty telling untruths and I commiserated with both, knowing they had little choice. Both of them despised themselves in part because of it, yet felt truth would hurt more.

This story has secondary stories other than the main ones, which gives it quite a bit of depth and interest where friendship, love and honor all are part of it. Many suspenseful moments await you, laced with fear, sometimes passion and other times humor involving more villains lurking to strike.

A heart-warming, entertaining story, yet with an edge of suspense and mystery of a woman who falls in love with the wrong man, or so she thinks. Should she trust her heart or her logic? Her predicament leads her where her brain dare not go--with pitfalls of heartache along the way.

Ava Miles will soften your heart and take you to a world where the valor of people is more important than material possessions. I haven’t read many of Nora Roberts’ books, but after so many allusions to them, I’m ready to delve back into Nora Roberts. Thank you Ava Miles for such a sweet, powerful read. As a contemporary romance author, I highly recommend her work.
133 reviews
July 3, 2015
These were three love stories. Each story had two people who had a hard time coming to know their love for eachother.They all had faults and strengths. Each was interesting and sweet. I loved them all. Great stories. I don't think I have a favorite couple, though Mac and Peggy made me LOL because THEY ARE BOTH SO STUBBORN!!!!!! Each couple had stubbornness but Mac and Peggy were the most stubborn. I loved the stories, how each came to love and how they finally opened up. Great bumps and winding roads to beautiful relationships. Great writing. Beautiful books!
573 reviews5 followers
August 22, 2015
Sure takes the Dare Valley women a long time to trust a man

I do like these books, but I wish the women were more trusting of the men who fall in love with them. It becomes frustrating to read.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
342 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2016
Love these romances

Each couples love story is so good. I love how strong the women in the stories are. And how important the focus on family first is so inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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