Mr. Write

Sweetwater #1

by Lisa Clark O'Neill

They say you can’t go home again…
When Tucker Pettigrew returns to Sweetwater, South Carolina after a thirty year absence, he knows that his reappearance will stir the town pot. The sole grandson of the most powerful man in town, Tucker wants to understand why his recently deceased mother fled Sweetwater all those years ago with little more than the clothes on their backs. What he discovers will rock not only his own foundation, but that of the town itself.
Sarah Barnwell is a woman with her own ghosts to face, and they’re there to greet her on her first night back in town. The bully who made her already rocky childhood a kind of living hell is all grown up now, but he still has Sarah in his sites.
At first antagonistic, Sarah and Tucker eventually realize that a shared property line isn’t all they have in common. And that roots, whether the plant be beautiful or deadly, run deeper than you think.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, Amazon

ebook

First published May 5, 2014

About the author

One fine day in the not-too-distant past, Lisa Clark O’Neill left Wittenberg University with a BA in English, which she promptly neglected. After working as an interior designer, decorative artist, and Montessori art teacher (there may have been a BA in art as well,) she finally settled into the role of mother to two very fine children. However, two years of doing the stay-at-home-mom brain cell melt drove her to pull out a pen and one of her old college notebooks. That turned into six manuscripts. Lisa spent subsequent years avoiding housework by burying her nose in just about every romance novel she could get her hands on, after completely falling in love with the genre. Her own work falls into the romantic suspense sub-genre, with strong comedic undertones. Two of Lisa's recent novels, Circumstantial Evidence and Malice, were chosen as Best Reads of 2015.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Barnwell has returned to Sweetwater, South Carolina following a ten-year hiatus in Charleston. She’s opening a bookstore in the former home of her best friend’s aunt’s home. She’s excited about partnering with her friend, Allison (Allie) Hawbaker who’s had her own tough year but a little nervous about coming back to a place where she had so much heartache. What starts out as an exciting venture soon becomes a challenge when the owner of the house next door returns after a 30-year absence. Tucker Pettigrew is the grandson of the town’s most powerful businessman and he’s prickly, rude and makes no apologies for his bad disposition. Things start off rocky but these two are even more annoyed by their odd attraction to each other.

This story has some of the most clever banter and dialogue I’ve ever read! We figure out pretty quickly that Sarah is smart and witty but Tucker is an enigma for quite some time until the two have deeper interactions. I wasn’t even certain if I was going to like him. But when these two butt heads intellectually, things just get good. I loved their interactions and it’s been a long time since I highlighted so many passages.

There’s a lot more to the story, including some serious and dangerous elements as a childhood bully has become an ugly menace as an adult with his eye on Sarah. The underlying tension was always there and I kept waiting for the next threat to materialize. It wasn’t predictable, which made it that much more suspenseful. There are also a host of well developed secondary characters that add so much flavor to the story. It’s also highly atmospheric, the setting being a critical part of the storyline. I really enjoyed this on every level and am already invested in the outcomes of other characters. O’Neill is one of my auto-buy authors and I just regret it took so long for me to get to this series.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: 4 "Red - Bless Your Little Heart" stars!

Triggers:
Cheating: No
Love triangle: No
Sex with om/ow: No
Intimate pasts: I really don't know when the last time either character has had sex. Both have dated in the past and definitely have had sex, but it's not really talked about.
OW/OM drama: There is a scene that the heroine gets the wrong idea about. This town slut - so to speak - was over at the hero's house and she gets the impression that he fell for her hook, line and sinker and probably ended up having sex with her because what they had was casual. That is not the case and the hero p pretty much thinks it's hilarious, but I love what he tells her. He tells her "Not to say I've been a choir boy, but my mom taught me that if you don't respect a woman enough to be monogamous, you've got no business having sex with her in the first place."

HEA: Yes, but of course, I wanted more

My review:

Let me just say that this book IS a romantic suspense, but it is light on the suspense.

Both Sarah and Tucker have troubled pasts. I loved how they met and how at first Tucker was a little rough around the edges. Both were attracted to each other pretty much right away. I loved their banter and I loved their sexy/sweet times. Tucker really showed that he could be a real softy when he wanted to be for Sarah.

I would say that overall this was a pretty sweet read. I am interested in Mason's book but also, Will's book as well.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, my thanks to Glory for the tip. If not for her, I would never try a book with only one review)))

As for the story, it was pretty good. Fresh and funny and romantic with just a little bit of thrill and mystery. It have some vibe of truth (or so it seems to the girl from another side the globe who never been in USA - small town or big sity). All characters appeared very real. And may be the main ones wasn't perfect but they certainly was likable.

[Bonnie-Anne Carmichael (Love Triangles Are Fucking Stupid.) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy hell. This book was absolutely PERFECT.

I can't really think of the right words right now to explain just how amazing it was.

It was so well written that I never wanted it to finish. The storyline was so well paced, and the set up of the small town was just done beautifully. It made me wish I could live there. I loved characters, and I hated characters. It made me laugh, swoon and tugged on my heart strings.

I need the second one in my life like right now!

[Janeiowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first novel by Lisa Clark O'Neill,but it will certainly not be my last. This author has drawn wonderful three-dimensional characters in a fascinating plot.

[Rowan]

Fan-freakin-tastic!

Discovering a new author that drags you in until the world steps back, gets you all worked up and worried over fictional characters and then deprives you of sleep is a real treasure. I should preface this statement by saying that I have only discovered the romance genre within the last 7 years and before that treated all romance as if it was a flea infested stray peeing on my carpet. I have since learned the error of my ways and have dove in head first. This book is a wonderful example of why I am enjoying myself emensely.

Mr. Write is an exceptional romantic suspense tale that mixes the perfect amount of Deep South sizzling sex with a fantastic mystery and an underlying sinister plot. I won't give anything away but I really enjoyed the complex characters, the small town rumor mill running ammock, the deep felt remnants of tragedy and a pair of protagonists that snap and snarl at each other in hilarious ways... Well at least until the snarling turns into something else. They are flawed, insecure and incredibly entertaining. I couldn't put it down and Lisa Clark O'Neill has become an all time favorite author. 5 brilliant stars!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time, alive with atmosphere and banter, and a host of characters I want to spend more time around. Sarah is a wonderful character, strong, clever, and sexy. Tucker may be my dream boyfriend, and it’s all the better than he’s not rich or ridiculously handsome or perfect. Each are vulnerable in very real, appealing ways. The suspense aspect was definitely a side story to the rich history of the town and evolution of relationships, but I didn’t mind. Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Natasha Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book on my TBR for awhile so when it was a daily deal on Amazon I scooped it up. And read it immediately! I am a big fan of the Southern Comfort series by this author and I think that actually made it harder to read this book. I am so attached to those characters that it took me a bit longer to get engrossed with these characters. But once I did I was hooked!

This is the story of Tucker and Sarah, who both return to their hometown of Sweetwater after long absences and for very different reasons. Their paths cross quickly and though at first they annoy the crap out of each other, a friendship, and then relationship begin to build. Like Lisa's other stories this one will be part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Also like her other books there is great dialogue, lots of heat, and some mystery and suspense. And some laugh out loud moments thrown in - Useless the cat anyone?
Plus we meet lots of secondary characters with their own stories to tell - and I can't wait! In the end the ONLY reason I have this one 4.75 stars :) instead if 5 is that I feel the need to leave room in case the next book is better!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! We all seem to be attached to the small town stories which make you feel like you "know" the people and this book does that. It is EXCEPTIONAL! Once again, Lisa Clark O'Neill, well known for her "Southern Comfort Series", has nailed it. Great setting and wonderful cast of characters, including best friends, siblings, old rivals, family and assorted people you love and some you love to hate. It's a great story about returning home, old ghosts trailing along, and not being sure what you will find there. It might be something unexpected. (Love?) It's heartwarming, very tense at times and sometimes downright hilarious.
And always, there is that air of mystery in the background. While a tall determined redhead and good-looking cranky writer (some hot scenes there y'all) are at the forefront, there are so many other scenarios going on in the background that it just pulls you right through the book and before you know it, you've read the entire thing. Darn!! Well, guess we just have to wait for the next one. Very well done. I loved it!

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I thought it was a pretty good story, I have to say I was quite disappointed with the protagonists. I just didn’t feel the connection or attraction between Sarah and Tucker. There was nothing special about either one of them. They were somewhat boring. Tucker was a little odd. Definitely not alpha. I found him to be quite irritable, annoying, and just plain rude. While not a fan of either protagonist, I was enamored with the secondary characters, all of whom kept me engaged in the story. I absolutely loved Tucker’s best friend, Mason. Talk about a charming, witty, and sexy male specimen. I also liked the Hawbaker brothers. One more thing, I don’t know how the author came up with the name, but calling the fat cat “Useless” was just hilarious. I loved it. I may have to borrow it one day.

Still a decent read, but nowhere as good as the "Southern Comfort" series. Will I read book 2? Maybe I will, or maybe I won’t. Actually, I just might as Mason will be the main star attraction. Yum! I still can't stop laughing at the name "Useless."

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author. I found her early last year and plowed through her books with glee!! I find myself not only in love with the H/h but also her secondary characters when I read her books, and this one is no different. The taste of a small town rings so true for me in this book, while adding in a little romance and mystery. Ready for the next one!

[G.R. Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

You really can't go wrong with a LCON book. Mr Write is another hit. Funny, suspenseful, and hot, this is one you can't put down. The characters are so real and relatable, the settings and imagery vivid, the dialogue hilarious. I can't wait for the next one!

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read almost all of her books and she is one of my "goto" authors. I enjoyed this first book in her Sweetwater series.

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5; 4 stars; A

This was a fun and touching romantic suspense. Lots of interesting characters.

[✿~Danielle~✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 14/3/19
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tucker Pettigrew
Sarah Barnwell

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Right. This was my first book from O'Neill, it won't be my last. This one isn't your typical romance book in that there are enough things going on that for a while it is difficult to determine which couple this book is ultimately about. After a point (call it 25-33% or so in?) it becomes more clear, and the both the romance and the suspense begin heating up. Overall a great look at small town life with big personalities, and a great romance. One note: Goodreads says this book is 522 pages. It never feels anywhere near that long - it feels like the time flies by as fast as books with half that page count or less.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book that had me on the edge of my seat! I love these characters and feel a part of the book as it unfolds.

[vickie watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book

First time reader of this author, but am definitely hooked now. At first there were so many characters, I thought I wouldn't be able to keep up. LOL. The story really moved along after that.
Really liked Sarah and Tucker's relationship, starting off being enemies a little, but then growing in each other. Very good ending.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Mr. Write is a must for fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Jennifer Crusie. Light, bright and sizzlin' hot. The witty repartee, the great cast of characters, and a quirky romance reminds me of each, at her best.

Sarah Barnwell has recently returned to her hometown of Sweetwater, South Carolina. She and her childhood friend, Allie Hawbaker, are partners in The Dust Jacket, a funky new bookstore. Sarah knows she has to lay some ghosts and come to terms with Sweetwater and her past as the daughter of the town drunk. Spunky and resilient, she is ready for the challenge. What she hadn't anticipated is the spectre of an old enemy, an old crime, and the totally new issue of her annoying neighbor: Tucker Pettigrew.

Tucker, scion of the local version of Mr. Potter from It's A Wonderful Life, has recently returned to Sweetwater as well. He is battling grief, the local women, and a growing attraction to the redhead next door. As a writer, he and the bookstore owner should see eye to eye. But these two have mysteries to solve, misunderstandings to overcome, and danger to face before they can find their version of harmony.


They are assisted in these endeavors by a likable cast of characters: Mason, the hunky British actor who is Tucker's best friend; Alllie: Sarah's best friend and the wounded daughter of a prominent Sweetwater family; assorted family members and friends; and a cat that deserves a book of his own.(Side note: one of the charms of the book are the myriad ways Ms. O'Neill uses to describe the cat's obesity...you could make a drinking game out of them,)

The fun in the book comes from the snappy dialogue ...particularly between the romantic leads (although Mason, and Allie's brothers have some pretty good lines). The Southern Gothic charm of the town is a splendid setting for a series. (and that is the good news...a series this is). I hate saying good bye to characters I've grown fond of, and I do a little happy dance when I find a new series to dive into (The next book is Admit One).

Ms. Neill's writing is fast, funny, and smart. A typical passage:

" Of course, equally plausible, they could care less about him, and had merely been drawn to the spectacle that was Mason Armitage.
Tucker sighed.
Mason had insisted that no one in this little backwater would possible recognize a British thespian were one to bite the local citizenry on its collective ass, so Tucker had allowed him to tag along. But now here he was, stupidly giving Mason the opportunity to take his shirt off in a semi-public forum.
Mason - poor, beleaguered creature of beauty that he was - was used to people running into walls when they got their first look at him. He probably hadn't even noticed that there were now three individuals next door, staring.
Well, two of them were still staring. One of them was walking this way."


There is an inherent sweetness to the book that I find refreshing. The characters may be wounded, but they are not jaded. All in all, this is the perfect book for the days when you need a little sunshine, a little fun, and a lot of romance.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a little be ashamed to say that I got this book on a free promotion. I sort of know the author and wanted to be supportive, but this generally isn't my regular genre, so I put off reading it for a while. That said, I also don't usually give 5 star ratings; I feel like a book has to be very special to earn all five stars, so I like to be very conservative. However, this book was fantastic. Lisa's writing had me hooked from the beginning, it is full of beautiful metaphors, lovely descriptions, and sex scenes that are well constructed to make you believe what is happening without the sometimes ridiculous descriptions that can pop up in intimate scenes.
I genuinely cared about the characters and I am really looking forward to the story continuing in the next book. I have been so impressed and delighted that I am going to purchase all of Lisa's books right now... then I will just need to space them out to make them last!

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read by this author, but it certainly will not be the last! The characters in this book and the town of Sweetwater were so heartfelt and real that I wanted to curl up on Sarah's hanging bed and listen while she told me the story of what happened when she and Allie decided to open a book store.

Allie's brothers are wonderful, just the type that many women wish they'd had growing up. Sarah's brother Bran was much the same, protective and proud, willing to stand back and watch their sisters try something new, but happy to step in should they need help.
Not only is this book filled with strong women succeeding, there's just enough of the gossipy side of a small town to make it fun and then add in the tension of dealing with a bad boy gone very bad and this book is a page turner. If you like anything about Southern fiction, you should enjoy Mr. Write.

[Sparkymom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I totally loved it! This was my first experience with this author, and I absolutely enjoyed it. I love a good series, but tend to run out of them because I read too fast. I actually grabbed this book because I thought the blurb for the second book in the series seemed interesting but didn't want to read it without reading the first book. I'm so glad I did. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town and was quickly hooked on the characters. I especially adored Tucker. He was all bristly and hard and unapproachable until he found his own personal spitfire who could dish back everything he threw at her. They made a great couple, and their witty snarky back and forth dialog was just too funny. It was a good combination of humor, suspense, and mystery. I can't wait to check out the next book.

[Sharon A Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read!

This was the first book I've read by this author but I am going to look for more of her books now. I really enjoyed the writing style. The characters were fleshed out, the dialogue was crisp, the editing was good and the storyline was enjoyable. I love to find good authors off the beaten path. Highly recommend.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked the story. The only thing that would have made it a 5 star is less wording of inner thoughts. Sometimes it was just too much. Other than txt, the plot was great, writing was great. Liked the multiple povs.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very few authors make me laugh out loud and this story did. Love the witty sarcasm between the characters. A very good story line and not just a hot and heavy sex novel ... Although it does have plenty of that

[Tracye Quinlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. Can't wait to read more by this author...

[Peasel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I jumped into this series after wrapping up the fantastic Dahlonega Trilogy, and if you are a frequent reader of the author's, like I am, you will find that this newest series has a bit of a different feel from what we have seen in the past. No less brilliant, and no less witty, smart, and engaging than the previous books, just different. I found that it focused more on the characters relationships with each other (family, friend, and lover) than the criminal elements the author infuses into her work. But don't worry: the come aspect is still there! I really enjoyed this shift in focus as a change, and will of course be reading the next book on the heels of this one. This new setting and set of characters are likeable, and the blend of romance and suspense kept me reading until the wee hours.

[tabitha bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have the words to tell you what you mean to me.

Wow! Where to start? Sarah moves back home to help her bestie regroup and start a new life. Tucker moves back to a place that was never really his home to try to salvage something after losing his mother. There’s lots of bumps along the way. Lots of thrills, a bad man, and tender moments and amazing, touching stuff. Super read! Enjoy!!!

[Karen L Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book for this writer. Needless to say I proceeded to read everything she has written and eagerly await the next.
Ms. Clark-O'Neill is a recent find for me - I enjoy her writing style and characters. A fun, fast paced read - just the way I like um!

[KathiTheBookNerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning of the book was great, but at a certain point I just lost my focus on the book. I skipped a lot and read the last part again. I don't know. Maybe I'll try it again at some point. For now, it wasn't for me.