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Farmers' Market Story #2
All I Am
Everything she is. Everything he's not…
Recovering from his time in Afghanistan, Wes Stone prefers the company of his dogs and himself. People, especially of the female variety, are…difficult. He appreciates that Cara Pruitt doesn't treat him like an invalid, but hiring the party girl of New Benton to help out with his dog treat business is probably a mistake. And when her brightness and unexpected vulnerability somehow slip through his defenses, suddenly something terrifying is ignited inside him. Something thrilling. Something that could make Wes whole again…or consume him completely.
Recovering from his time in Afghanistan, Wes Stone prefers the company of his dogs and himself. People, especially of the female variety, are…difficult. He appreciates that Cara Pruitt doesn't treat him like an invalid, but hiring the party girl of New Benton to help out with his dog treat business is probably a mistake. And when her brightness and unexpected vulnerability somehow slip through his defenses, suddenly something terrifying is ignited inside him. Something thrilling. Something that could make Wes whole again…or consume him completely.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Helm
315 books498 followersNicole Helm is the national bestselling author of fast-paced romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and down-to-earth contemporary romance. Her Intrigues routinely land on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list, and she’s received starred PW reviews for her contemporary romances. She’s written over 75 books, known for their emotional depth and happily ever afters.
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 26, 2016
I found this book...arduous...to read.
I can see why so many people liked it. It has a certain charm. It's set in a small farming town and there's a community that exists there. It's always an interesting twist when the female MC is the experienced one, the sexually active and adventurous one, the teacher and the male MC is the virgin, the inexperienced one, the student.
I think I could've found Cara sassy and likeable. I hoped to find Wes redeemably damaged and sexy. I just...didn't.
I think the real struggle for me was that probably 80% of the book was stuck in the heads of these characters. Dialogue, rare. Action, sporadic. Just a lot of head space, inner monologue'ing...and SO MUCH THINKING. And if I was really enjoying my time up in their noggins, maybe it wouldn't have felt so draining. But, I kinda didn't even *like* either of them...so that made it that much tougher.
So, maybe it's just me. But yeah, this one bored me, irritated me, and left me feeling unsatisfied and possibly like I'd wasted my precious reading time. Not good.
February 4, 2016
A very well done awkward, recluse, bearded, flannel wearing hero. Adored him.
I liked the heroine too - might not have loved the last 20%ish of the book - but still def recommend.
Review coming
I liked the heroine too - might not have loved the last 20%ish of the book - but still def recommend.
Review coming
August 29, 2016
This review is also posted at Happy Heart Reads : http://www.happyheartreads.com/2016/0...
I had previously read All I Have, the first story in this series starring Mia and Dell who meet at a farmer’s market (an equally delightful romance in which strapping handsome Dell is known as the naked farmer for manning his booth without a shirt, to the delight of the female patrons). I’d been anxiously awaiting Mia’s sister Cara’s story, and for a while there it was up in the air when or whether it would even be released due to some changes made at the publishing level. Therefore I was very pleased when I found out that the story was finally being published. Though each can be read as a standalone, we meet Cara in All I Have as Mia’s party loving sister, a woman who helps Mia transform herself and bloom in self confidence as she competes with Dell at the market though they ultimately fall in love (yes, it’s a happy heart read too!). What we didn’t know then (and that we quickly discover in this story) is that Cara’s easygoing nature covers up a lot of insecurities. She hangs out with the same crowd of friends even though her relationships with them are not really that friendly anymore. She wants to take her pie baking skills to a new level, but when the opportunity to market those skills comes along she’s afraid of failure. When she meets Wes, a scarred and quiet war veteran who makes organic dog treats to sell at a booth at the local farmer’s market (where she helps out her sister), she’s drawn to him despite his clear ‘keep away’ vibe. When she discovers that he needs an assistant, she volunteers for the job – a few days a week to help him deal with the business end of the company. But along the way, they become friends and then, more. But these two people are used to hiding their true feelings. Will their new connection be enough to change things for them, for the better?
I really enjoyed this story! After months of reading alpha heroes, it was a relief to read about a man who isn’t self assured, who doesn’t rule the world with his cocky attitude, who is a much more realistic male in my opinion. Now granted, he’s on the opposite end of the spectrum, having suffered through anxiety issues as a child (due to his family circumstances) that were made worse by bullying. And then, when he finally found his fit in the army, to be injured on a mission that took away his future dreams of opening a veterinary practice was just another blow in a series of disasters. He’s definitely not living the high life. Day to day, a solitary lonely existence is what he has, with his dogs and a few other animals (a bit of a menagerie to take the place of his not-to-be vet practice) on his farm outside of town. Dealing with the public (and women in particular) is not his forte.
Along comes Cara, with her bright eyes, and great ideas, and warm personality. She’s the kind of woman Wes would want – if he thought he could ever merit her attention. When he does realize that her interest in him might be more than pity (which is what he’s used to), it’s a struggle for him to capitalize on this, and much of his point of view is self deprecating, though he has the desire to change these feelings. There were lots of humorous moments in the story even as you feel a lot of empathy for Wes and the position he is in. At the same time though, he doesn’t come across as whiny, or a complainer. He’s got trouble communicating with everyone, not just women. Yet with Cara he finds himself finally able to speak honestly and bluntly about the things that bother him once he realizes that he’s got nothing to lose. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? She might not work for him anymore, and they’d go back to being acquaintances and his life would be just like it was before she was in it. But by opening up to Cara and letting her in, he unwittingly invites her to do the same.
Cara might look like she’s got everything going for her on the surface, but that’s all it is. Inside, she has a serious lack of self esteem, and a self confidence that is false bravado at best. Her motto seems to be ‘why attempt something if I’m going to fail at it’? Her sister Mia wants her to give herself more of a chance, but Cara is afraid. Then she meets Wes, who has more right than anyone to be pissed off with his circumstances. Compared with what he lives with on a daily basis, her life is pretty much perfect. But Wes surprises her by taking her issues as seriously as she takes his, by encouraging her to find ways to deal with the things that make her anxious, and by accepting her as she is. Their slow evolution from friendship to sex is accompanied by heartfelt emotion. The sex scenes themselves are a combination of awkward and sexy and sweet, but for that, they feel very realistic. I loved seeing Wes come out of his shell. What was interesting was that the more confident Wes gets , the more Cara feels that she is losing the control she once had, no longer being able to hide behind her false cheerful nature. When things come to a head (and they do more than once) the realization they both have, that they can go back to the way things were or they can take a chance on each other, is sweet and satisfying.
A review of this novel wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the dogs, as Wes has four of them and they play an integral part in the story. Phantom, a German shepherd, is a trained therapy dog, and also retired military like Wes, with his own injuries (a limp and missing part of his tail). Throughout the story, he’s very aware of Wes and Cara’s feelings and when negative emotions would roll off them, Phantom would be there to nudge them and get their attention, to draw out some of those emotions and offer comfort. I’d never heard of therapy dogs before so I really enjoyed learning about them. One of Wes’s other dogs, Sweetness, takes a liking to Cara from their first meeting and Wes lends her to Cara who lives alone, something that Wes does to help people decide if they would like to get a dog permanently. It’s not long though before Sweetness ends up belonging to Cara. She was a really cute, interactive dog that definitely added her namesake to the story.
Family dynamics are key to how Cara and Wes respond to each other. Wes has an uneasy relationship with his mother who raised him single handedly under poor circumstances but went on to marry and have children with her new husband, leaving Wes to feel like an outsider especially when he returned home as damaged goods. Cara’s sister Mia, whom Cara helped break out of her shell, now wants to return the favour and help Cara find something to make her happy, an uncomfortable feeling for Cara who has always felt like she had everything under control. Her relationship with her mother is also fractious, as she’s always taken to heart her mother’s admonitions of how her choices would get her into trouble. They both come to realize that they bear responsibility for the relationships they have with their families. I really liked how the story played out, and even though it’s not an action packed thriller, I found myself unable to put it down, wanting to get to that happy ending! It was worth the wait.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
I had previously read All I Have, the first story in this series starring Mia and Dell who meet at a farmer’s market (an equally delightful romance in which strapping handsome Dell is known as the naked farmer for manning his booth without a shirt, to the delight of the female patrons). I’d been anxiously awaiting Mia’s sister Cara’s story, and for a while there it was up in the air when or whether it would even be released due to some changes made at the publishing level. Therefore I was very pleased when I found out that the story was finally being published. Though each can be read as a standalone, we meet Cara in All I Have as Mia’s party loving sister, a woman who helps Mia transform herself and bloom in self confidence as she competes with Dell at the market though they ultimately fall in love (yes, it’s a happy heart read too!). What we didn’t know then (and that we quickly discover in this story) is that Cara’s easygoing nature covers up a lot of insecurities. She hangs out with the same crowd of friends even though her relationships with them are not really that friendly anymore. She wants to take her pie baking skills to a new level, but when the opportunity to market those skills comes along she’s afraid of failure. When she meets Wes, a scarred and quiet war veteran who makes organic dog treats to sell at a booth at the local farmer’s market (where she helps out her sister), she’s drawn to him despite his clear ‘keep away’ vibe. When she discovers that he needs an assistant, she volunteers for the job – a few days a week to help him deal with the business end of the company. But along the way, they become friends and then, more. But these two people are used to hiding their true feelings. Will their new connection be enough to change things for them, for the better?
I really enjoyed this story! After months of reading alpha heroes, it was a relief to read about a man who isn’t self assured, who doesn’t rule the world with his cocky attitude, who is a much more realistic male in my opinion. Now granted, he’s on the opposite end of the spectrum, having suffered through anxiety issues as a child (due to his family circumstances) that were made worse by bullying. And then, when he finally found his fit in the army, to be injured on a mission that took away his future dreams of opening a veterinary practice was just another blow in a series of disasters. He’s definitely not living the high life. Day to day, a solitary lonely existence is what he has, with his dogs and a few other animals (a bit of a menagerie to take the place of his not-to-be vet practice) on his farm outside of town. Dealing with the public (and women in particular) is not his forte.
Along comes Cara, with her bright eyes, and great ideas, and warm personality. She’s the kind of woman Wes would want – if he thought he could ever merit her attention. When he does realize that her interest in him might be more than pity (which is what he’s used to), it’s a struggle for him to capitalize on this, and much of his point of view is self deprecating, though he has the desire to change these feelings. There were lots of humorous moments in the story even as you feel a lot of empathy for Wes and the position he is in. At the same time though, he doesn’t come across as whiny, or a complainer. He’s got trouble communicating with everyone, not just women. Yet with Cara he finds himself finally able to speak honestly and bluntly about the things that bother him once he realizes that he’s got nothing to lose. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? She might not work for him anymore, and they’d go back to being acquaintances and his life would be just like it was before she was in it. But by opening up to Cara and letting her in, he unwittingly invites her to do the same.
Cara might look like she’s got everything going for her on the surface, but that’s all it is. Inside, she has a serious lack of self esteem, and a self confidence that is false bravado at best. Her motto seems to be ‘why attempt something if I’m going to fail at it’? Her sister Mia wants her to give herself more of a chance, but Cara is afraid. Then she meets Wes, who has more right than anyone to be pissed off with his circumstances. Compared with what he lives with on a daily basis, her life is pretty much perfect. But Wes surprises her by taking her issues as seriously as she takes his, by encouraging her to find ways to deal with the things that make her anxious, and by accepting her as she is. Their slow evolution from friendship to sex is accompanied by heartfelt emotion. The sex scenes themselves are a combination of awkward and sexy and sweet, but for that, they feel very realistic. I loved seeing Wes come out of his shell. What was interesting was that the more confident Wes gets , the more Cara feels that she is losing the control she once had, no longer being able to hide behind her false cheerful nature. When things come to a head (and they do more than once) the realization they both have, that they can go back to the way things were or they can take a chance on each other, is sweet and satisfying.
A review of this novel wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the dogs, as Wes has four of them and they play an integral part in the story. Phantom, a German shepherd, is a trained therapy dog, and also retired military like Wes, with his own injuries (a limp and missing part of his tail). Throughout the story, he’s very aware of Wes and Cara’s feelings and when negative emotions would roll off them, Phantom would be there to nudge them and get their attention, to draw out some of those emotions and offer comfort. I’d never heard of therapy dogs before so I really enjoyed learning about them. One of Wes’s other dogs, Sweetness, takes a liking to Cara from their first meeting and Wes lends her to Cara who lives alone, something that Wes does to help people decide if they would like to get a dog permanently. It’s not long though before Sweetness ends up belonging to Cara. She was a really cute, interactive dog that definitely added her namesake to the story.
Family dynamics are key to how Cara and Wes respond to each other. Wes has an uneasy relationship with his mother who raised him single handedly under poor circumstances but went on to marry and have children with her new husband, leaving Wes to feel like an outsider especially when he returned home as damaged goods. Cara’s sister Mia, whom Cara helped break out of her shell, now wants to return the favour and help Cara find something to make her happy, an uncomfortable feeling for Cara who has always felt like she had everything under control. Her relationship with her mother is also fractious, as she’s always taken to heart her mother’s admonitions of how her choices would get her into trouble. They both come to realize that they bear responsibility for the relationships they have with their families. I really liked how the story played out, and even though it’s not an action packed thriller, I found myself unable to put it down, wanting to get to that happy ending! It was worth the wait.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
March 25, 2017
This one was as deep as the author's first book in the series and featured two deeply broken individuals who had their own coping mechanisms they used to escape their reality. I really loved it.
January 31, 2016
This is an unlikely romance between the reclusive Wes Stone, army veteran, injured, reclusive and *cough* Inexperienced and party girl Cara Pruitt, sister of the heroine in Helms previous Farmer's Market Story.
Cara is, shall we say, a little easy. She has self esteem issues stemming from her childhood and considers herself a failure in just about everything. Except sex. She's good at that, even if she gets hurt because her "friends" use and abuse her.
The chance of a job helping Wes with his fledgling dog treat business and "other issues" is a turning point. For Wes, it's a breath of fresh air as Cara tidies up his office and offers an easy, non-stressful relationship. Something he's never had with a girl.
The nice thing about this story is that both characters were challenged and grew because of the relationship. They really did work well together and even if they didn't end up together, (don't worry, this is a romance novel) their lives would be better for knowing each other.
Overall I enjoyed the story of two apparent opposites finding they had a lot of common ground. Cara occasionally annoyed me and I felt her epiphany was a little sudden but the ending was very satisfying.
Cara is, shall we say, a little easy. She has self esteem issues stemming from her childhood and considers herself a failure in just about everything. Except sex. She's good at that, even if she gets hurt because her "friends" use and abuse her.
The chance of a job helping Wes with his fledgling dog treat business and "other issues" is a turning point. For Wes, it's a breath of fresh air as Cara tidies up his office and offers an easy, non-stressful relationship. Something he's never had with a girl.
The nice thing about this story is that both characters were challenged and grew because of the relationship. They really did work well together and even if they didn't end up together, (don't worry, this is a romance novel) their lives would be better for knowing each other.
Overall I enjoyed the story of two apparent opposites finding they had a lot of common ground. Cara occasionally annoyed me and I felt her epiphany was a little sudden but the ending was very satisfying.
February 11, 2016
Stuff I loved about this book: The hero made this whole book. He is reclusive, awkward, horribly shy, and traumatized from war injuries. Watching him get his HEA is everything.
The dog biscuit/pie baking/farmers market angle is adorable.
Stuff I didn't love...
I didn't love the whole "town slut" thing with Cara. And her self-doubt went on too long. In fact, there was too much deep POV for both characters--that's not my favorite thing. However, I really loved how the author turned the heroine's doubts and weakness around, how she became a hero in her actions toward Wes, and how she finally found her own self-worth.
The ending was way too abrupt. UGH! Needed more. A lot more.
There are a lot of golden nuggets in here, and I'm going to read the first book in the series now. Overall, I would recommend.
Grade: B
The dog biscuit/pie baking/farmers market angle is adorable.
Stuff I didn't love...
I didn't love the whole "town slut" thing with Cara. And her self-doubt went on too long. In fact, there was too much deep POV for both characters--that's not my favorite thing. However, I really loved how the author turned the heroine's doubts and weakness around, how she became a hero in her actions toward Wes, and how she finally found her own self-worth.
The ending was way too abrupt. UGH! Needed more. A lot more.
There are a lot of golden nuggets in here, and I'm going to read the first book in the series now. Overall, I would recommend.
Grade: B
February 21, 2017
I loved this book a lot. Some of that was because it was just my favourite kind of dynamic - wounded, virgin, decent hero, and sexually experienced and kind (if a little broken herself) woman. But that's not to take away from Helm's skilled writing. She crafted two likeable characters, and I really enjoyed their journey.
Wes is a loner - a hermit, even. He hates people, and his gruff and grumpy demeanour keeps them away. It works out well for everyone, until Cara bursts into his life and starts turning everything around. But she's got her own issues to deal with.
I don't think this book will work for everyone. We spend a lot of time in the characters' heads dealing with their issues. I didn't mind it because I liked them so much, but I could see it being frustrating for some reasons.
I also wasn't entirely convinced by Wes's reasoning for keeping Cara away from his mother. It felt a little like the author was trying to force a 'black moment' for her characters.
All in all, though, I really loved this book. It's everything I could have wanted from one of my favourite dynamics! I definitely found it a lot more enjoyable to read than All I Have by far. Mostly because the characters were more my thing, but also because we didn't have to deal with such awful secondary characters (unless you count Cara's "friends"). I did get very emotionally invested in Wes and Cara's story, and did cry a bit at the end. A great book!
Wes is a loner - a hermit, even. He hates people, and his gruff and grumpy demeanour keeps them away. It works out well for everyone, until Cara bursts into his life and starts turning everything around. But she's got her own issues to deal with.
I don't think this book will work for everyone. We spend a lot of time in the characters' heads dealing with their issues. I didn't mind it because I liked them so much, but I could see it being frustrating for some reasons.
I also wasn't entirely convinced by Wes's reasoning for keeping Cara away from his mother. It felt a little like the author was trying to force a 'black moment' for her characters.
All in all, though, I really loved this book. It's everything I could have wanted from one of my favourite dynamics! I definitely found it a lot more enjoyable to read than All I Have by far. Mostly because the characters were more my thing, but also because we didn't have to deal with such awful secondary characters (unless you count Cara's "friends"). I did get very emotionally invested in Wes and Cara's story, and did cry a bit at the end. A great book!
August 3, 2016
I liked this one. The 20-something heroine lacks direction and has a "reputation." The hero is a wounded vet who is fed up with pity and is living like a hermit. She convinces him to give her a job and voila! I loved the socially awkward hero and I'm a sucker for heroines with "bad" reputations. Part of a series but it never felt bogged down. The ending is a bit stretched out, but the hero's declaration of love at the end was very nice. Solid.
November 13, 2016
So, this made me cry this morning, which may have been the book or it may have been the past week. It's hard to know. But I really liked this, even if it was a "hard" romance to read. Cara and Wes are both pretty damaged people and watching them find ways through that in this book was very powerful. Props for ending the book without an engagement or marriage too, because that would have been patently ridiculous. Really, really liked this.
March 19, 2016
I definitely liked the first half more than the second half of the book,.
The story starts with the vivacious but rather directionless 25 year old Cara, agreeing to work part-time for Wes, a wounded war veteran, an almost-hermit and a virgin. I found Wes to be a very likeable hero. His embarrassment, panic and intense anxiety about his virginity was funny, as well as very touching. The growing attraction between the two was nicely handled.
Half way through , when -
However overall, a very enjoyable read
The story starts with the vivacious but rather directionless 25 year old Cara, agreeing to work part-time for Wes, a wounded war veteran, an almost-hermit and a virgin. I found Wes to be a very likeable hero. His embarrassment, panic and intense anxiety about his virginity was funny, as well as very touching. The growing attraction between the two was nicely handled.
Half way through , when -
However overall, a very enjoyable read
March 1, 2016
I adored this book. I did feel at times that we were stuck in a repeated cycle of the same argument — but I'm married, and maybe, hate to say it, that's what being a relationship is like: stuck together, hoping your problems are at least compatible with each other.
The ending of the book felt a bit pat (but of course, it is a romance and a short one at that!). And I could have wished for the relationship between Cara & her mother, and Cara and her sisters, to be more developed (or, more visible on the page in action, and not mediated thru Cara's sense of herself). But these small thoughts aside, I was thoroughly charmed by this book. I liked the ways that Cara was confident — in her looks, in her sexuality — and the things she struggled with. I liked that if she hadn't been a virgin, she wouldn't have been a good partner for Wes. She needed to be good in bed, and confident in that, for this book to succeed.
I liked that Wes helped her realize that her friends were not truly friends at all. And omg, Wes! The hotness of his flannel, bearded virgin-ness. Bossy Wes! I found this sweet, sexy, and true.
The ending of the book felt a bit pat (but of course, it is a romance and a short one at that!). And I could have wished for the relationship between Cara & her mother, and Cara and her sisters, to be more developed (or, more visible on the page in action, and not mediated thru Cara's sense of herself). But these small thoughts aside, I was thoroughly charmed by this book. I liked the ways that Cara was confident — in her looks, in her sexuality — and the things she struggled with. I liked that if she hadn't been a virgin, she wouldn't have been a good partner for Wes. She needed to be good in bed, and confident in that, for this book to succeed.
I liked that Wes helped her realize that her friends were not truly friends at all. And omg, Wes! The hotness of his flannel, bearded virgin-ness. Bossy Wes! I found this sweet, sexy, and true.
February 21, 2017
I loved this book. No, I super loved it.
I can't even....
The book spent a lot of time in the heads of the characters. Which I know doesn't do it for everyone, but it totally did it for me. Bring on the anxious, flannel clad, mess of a man. He was sexy as hell.
It rang all my bells and it will definitely become a re-reader.
I can't even....
The book spent a lot of time in the heads of the characters. Which I know doesn't do it for everyone, but it totally did it for me. Bring on the anxious, flannel clad, mess of a man. He was sexy as hell.
It rang all my bells and it will definitely become a re-reader.
December 16, 2016
i mainly skimmed this one. I didn't find either character appealing, and they both had way too many hangups for me to buy into the HEA
January 29, 2020
I liked this setting and characters, who felt interesting with a lot of potential. What I didn't like was the repetitive, downer inner monologue from both. I would have preferred more plot and less internal defeat. The story could have been richer with outside conflict to drive it. Being a Harlequin category romance, it was formulaic in part, with a rushed HEA. When I skimmed over the repetitive parts, I enjoyed the story.
April 10, 2017
2.5 stars
It has charm but I wish that was enough. I simply didn't care about Cara's issues.
It has charm but I wish that was enough. I simply didn't care about Cara's issues.
August 5, 2019
I really liked the first 35% of the book, both in plotline and the MCs. And then the heroine reacted the way she did to the hero's admission that he was a virgin. He admitted it during a moment of distress/PTSD and her reaction was "YaY! Let me be your first! I'm really good at sex and then you can just get over it!" Imagine if the genders were reversed - do you really think that would be acceptable? I wouldn't and I didn't here. After reading that scene, I had no desire to keep reading and went to read other stuff. When I did get back to reading, I did a lot of skimming. The heroine got whiny and clingy after several bouts of "sex therapy" and yet couldn't get her life together even with help from others around her. I did like the hero throughout the book, I just wished he got a better heroine than the one the author wrote him.
contemporary romance
contemporary romance
April 23, 2018
I made it about half way through this book before it finally dawned on me what bothered me about this book. We'll get to that in a second.
So we've got a hero and heroine in this book who are both emotionally unstable, self-conscious and self-deprecating in their own ways. Ok, I can deal with that, because everyone has their flaws. The fact that they found each other... Okay, I can deal with this as well, because like attract like just as often as opposites attract.
But my biggest beef about this book is about Wes. For someone who is as emotionally unstable and volatile as he is, and for as long as he has been (we are told it stems from childhood) how in the hell did he manage to both pass the psychological portion of his enlistment medical, and THEN pass the psychological exam to become a munitions expert? In a word, he wouldn't have. And second, some times in the book it's said he 'worked with the dogs' in Afghanistan, and then suddenly he was blown up while disarming a IED? Either he's doing one or the other. He wouldn't be doing both. They are two distinct and separate paths in the military. Sure, they would work side-by-side, but never the twain shall meet.
On top of all that, now that I've finished the book, nothing really happened. We just had two characters living in their heads the whole damn time, coming up for sure every now and then to have sex. The running inner monologue of self-pity got real old real fast.
So we've got a hero and heroine in this book who are both emotionally unstable, self-conscious and self-deprecating in their own ways. Ok, I can deal with that, because everyone has their flaws. The fact that they found each other... Okay, I can deal with this as well, because like attract like just as often as opposites attract.
But my biggest beef about this book is about Wes. For someone who is as emotionally unstable and volatile as he is, and for as long as he has been (we are told it stems from childhood) how in the hell did he manage to both pass the psychological portion of his enlistment medical, and THEN pass the psychological exam to become a munitions expert? In a word, he wouldn't have. And second, some times in the book it's said he 'worked with the dogs' in Afghanistan, and then suddenly he was blown up while disarming a IED? Either he's doing one or the other. He wouldn't be doing both. They are two distinct and separate paths in the military. Sure, they would work side-by-side, but never the twain shall meet.
On top of all that, now that I've finished the book, nothing really happened. We just had two characters living in their heads the whole damn time, coming up for sure every now and then to have sex. The running inner monologue of self-pity got real old real fast.
February 7, 2016
A cute romantic and conservative story about two people trying to crawl out of their respective shells. Free-spirited Cara has always assumed that she was a failure, while Wes, an introvert, was content on being a mess after his time in Afghanistan. The way they fumbled and worked through their attraction in the beginning made me swoon, but I didn't like how they made their issues an excuse to retreat from their feelings right after making a huge leap. The first time was understandable, the second was tolerable, but they kept on having the same arguments that I lost my patience. I love the author's light prose, though, especially Wes's POV. I love how Wes dealt with his issues than Cara did on hers. I think I'd still like it without the romance part, because it deals with facing your fears and jumping into opportunities to discover more about yourself. Here are my favorite lines:
"You have an obstacle, you find a way to circumnavigate it. Difuse it."
"You need to find something you want. Something to work for."
"Regardless of if the circumstances are easy or tragic, figuring out who you are sucks."
"You have an obstacle, you find a way to circumnavigate it. Difuse it."
"You need to find something you want. Something to work for."
"Regardless of if the circumstances are easy or tragic, figuring out who you are sucks."
April 22, 2018
*SBTB Best Picture Challenge - The Hurt Locker: Read a romance with a soldier.*
This one was just super duper sweet. I often find contemporary romances that deal with real life problems a little tedious (I read romance for the fantasy; I don't want to read about paying the bills), but this one was really engaging. I could understand both the characters' perspectives and it was great to see them change through the support they gave each other. But where was the epilogue?!
This one was just super duper sweet. I often find contemporary romances that deal with real life problems a little tedious (I read romance for the fantasy; I don't want to read about paying the bills), but this one was really engaging. I could understand both the characters' perspectives and it was great to see them change through the support they gave each other. But where was the epilogue?!
Want to read
August 30, 2017**My copy of this book is found here: Harlequin Superromance February 2016 Box Set: A Perfect Compromise\All I Am\Kayla's Cowboy\Strength Under Fire.
October 31, 2016
Seriously, this was one of my favorite reads of the year. I'm a fool for a damaged hero, but upping the ante by making him a virgin, too? That's my catnip. This was my first time reading a Harlequin, but it won't be my last and it is definitely not the last I'll read from this author.
January 2, 2018
Battling expectations and hoping to find love
3.5 stars
Cara helps her sister manage the family farm and helps out every Saturday at the farmers market. But, with her sister newly engaged to another farmer, she’s not feeling as needed and it’s an uncomfortable feeling. However, she runs into Wes on a Saturday and she thinks he might offer a pleasant distraction...if only she could figure out what’s going on in his head.
Wes doesn’t trust people. He much rather hang out with his dogs but as his job now entails going to farmers markets and selling his dog treats, people are inevitable. When he sees Cara (whom he remembers from when they were in school), he’s attracted to her color and brightness but he’s not in a place for any kind of social interaction. He’s still recovering from an accident he sustained while in the army and he’s usually awkward around women.
Yet, somehow, Cara manages to find a way to become his office manager and while she’s organizing his work life, they both wonder if it could become something more. They both have their insecurities. For Cara, it’s the worry that she’s not responsible or stable enough to be with a man like Wes. For Wes, it’s the concern that his issues would be too much for a woman like Cara to deal with on a daily basis.
This was a heartwarming book full of people battling regrets and false expectations. I truly enjoyed it.
3.5 stars
Cara helps her sister manage the family farm and helps out every Saturday at the farmers market. But, with her sister newly engaged to another farmer, she’s not feeling as needed and it’s an uncomfortable feeling. However, she runs into Wes on a Saturday and she thinks he might offer a pleasant distraction...if only she could figure out what’s going on in his head.
Wes doesn’t trust people. He much rather hang out with his dogs but as his job now entails going to farmers markets and selling his dog treats, people are inevitable. When he sees Cara (whom he remembers from when they were in school), he’s attracted to her color and brightness but he’s not in a place for any kind of social interaction. He’s still recovering from an accident he sustained while in the army and he’s usually awkward around women.
Yet, somehow, Cara manages to find a way to become his office manager and while she’s organizing his work life, they both wonder if it could become something more. They both have their insecurities. For Cara, it’s the worry that she’s not responsible or stable enough to be with a man like Wes. For Wes, it’s the concern that his issues would be too much for a woman like Cara to deal with on a daily basis.
This was a heartwarming book full of people battling regrets and false expectations. I truly enjoyed it.
October 11, 2018
About the book, Recovering from his time in Afghanistan, Wes Stone prefers the company of his dogs and himself. People, especially of the female variety, are…difficult. He appreciates that Cara Pruitt doesn't treat him like an invalid, but hiring the party girl of New Benton to help out with his dog treat business is probably a mistake. And when her brightness and unexpected vulnerability somehow slip through his defenses, suddenly something terrifying is ignited inside him. Something thrilling. Something that could make Wes whole again…or consume him completely.
I absolutely loved this book the characters were great! The setting was brilliant!
I love how this all turn out. I highly recommend this series
I absolutely loved this book the characters were great! The setting was brilliant!
I love how this all turn out. I highly recommend this series
February 25, 2017
I found this highly enjoyable: very sweet with pretty great characters. It made this excellent attempt at nuanced character flaws and believable drama but it struck me as slightly uneven in character development. Wes' anxiety got suddenly better when Cara's doubts got worse and then suddenly it was vice-versa and then it ended. All the changes were too abrupt but it was a really great idea and the characters were unique and memorable so it's worth the read.
February 22, 2017
Nicely plotted, the pace was good. My main complaint with this book was how whiny the characters were. A great deal of time was spent repeating their issues ad nauseum. The author writes in the foreward that the book was originally much shorter and she had to lengthen it by 20K words to fit it into the Harlequin Superromance category. It shows.
March 8, 2017
Loved the dogs, loved how Cara and Wes made each other face the hard things in their lives, liked knowing what was going on with Mia & Dell. The last few chapters are rough, as Cara & Wes are both bull-headed and stubborn, and push each other away and freeze each other out, but it all comes together in the end.
March 20, 2025
Cara is just stupid. Her friends don’t care about her and she doesn’t stick up for herself and acts like a bully in their presence. Wes is always in his own head. The sex scenes were bland, the writing is bland and the author and cara are internal misogynists which isn’t surprising for this time frame. Their love story wasn’t that great, I didn’t feel like they clicked.
March 4, 2017
Why didn't I read this earlier?!?! It was sooooo good and made me all warm and fuzzy, even when the mailman ruined my nice morning by banging on the doorbell and getting it stuck for my neighbor's package.
June 2, 2017
Yeah, just ok. Kind of boring and I really got tired of the MCs insecurities. Was hard to find a real connection with the two when there was nothing but doubts and wishy-washiness going on in their heads.
July 29, 2019
I've seen this recommended a lot as shy reclusive hero meets party girl heroine with a *reputation* which is a dynamic I wholeheartedly enjoy and it sure did deliver. Unfortunately the unnecessary drama near the end was really annoying.
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