“You could’ve kissed me. And I would’ve kissed you back. Soft. Slow. Like the world was holding its breath just for us.”
Sweet and heartwarming, Love Grows Wild is a breath of fresh country air. After a failed relationship and writer's block, Wren Jensen moved back to her hometown in Colton Valley with her 4 year old son. When she bought the farmhouse on the riverfront that her neighbor, Hunter McRae, had his eye on, they were instantly at odds. The tension between them ran deep, both with a lifetime of stories that drove their actions. Hunter liked to control everything in his life, but what would happen if his heart took over and that was the one thing he couldn't control?
Wren and Hunter had an undeniable connection yet neither of them was looking for a relationship. I loved how Hunter showed up for Wren, fighting for her, rescuing her, being there for her without being asked. Hunter became Wren's inspiration for writing again while they surrendered to the attraction simmering between them, lines blurring into something messy and complicated, something possibly real.
I loved Hunter, the classic grumpy farmer who kept others at a distance but who loved fiercely and had a heart of gold. My heart broke upon learning why the land was so important to him, the feelings he kept hidden inside under a veil of solitude as they weighed heavy on his soul. He was exactly the kind of man every woman should have by her side, one who loves her unconditionally, wanting her, desiring her, all of her, including her imperfections.
Wren was the strong, independent firestorm Hunter needed to challenge everything he thought he knew about himself. I loved her resilience and her strength, her love for her son, a wide-eyed little boy filled with love and curiosity. She consumed Hunter's thoughts, their connection raw, vulnerable and charged with emotions but they both had mile-high walls around their hearts holding them back. I was completely immersed in their story, in the hope and heartbreak, in the unspoken words, in the secrets and unfulfilled promises. I felt like I was sitting on my porch swing in Colton Valley, glass of wine in hand, watching it all unfold.
Love Grows Wild is for anyone who has been told they're too complicated, too messy, simply too much. It's about dreams and possibilities, fears and insecurities, trust and healing, never settling for less than you deserve, loving someone and being loved in return. I loved how this novel reflected on Winter's real-life story and I can honestly say it's one of my favorites that she's written.
“You’re mine,” I tell her, my hands cradling her face. “I’ve been trying to tell you that from the start.”
✨️Small-Town Romance
✨️Grumpy / Sunshine
✨️Single Mom
✨️City Girl x Country Boy
4.5⭐️
*Special thanks to author Winter Renshaw, Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC!