The River House

Swift River Valley #8

by Carla Neggers

The River House by Carla Neggers will be available Mar 27, 2018. Preorder your copy today!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Second Chance Romance

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 27, 2018

About the author

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sharpe & Donovan series featuring Boston-based FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan, and the popular Swift River Valley series set in the small, fictional New England town of Knights Bridge. With many bestsellers to her credit, Carla loves to write now as much as she did when she climbed a tree at age eleven with a pad and pen and spun stories perched on her favorite branch.

A native New Englander, Carla and her husband divide their time between their hilltop home in Vermont, a sofa bed at their kids' places in Boston and various inns, hotels and hideaways on their travels, frequently to Ireland.

Find out more and sign up for Carla's newsletter at CarlaNeggers.com.

Reviews

[Christina T · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMGoodness! I normally love a good small town romance. Unfortunately, I just couldn't like this one.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: I normally like to start my book reviews with the good I found in the books I read. Unfortunately, I really don't have anything good about my experience regarding this book.

What I didn't like about this book was the first 25% of the book was a recap of who each of the enormous cast of characters. Their background. Who they are married to. Their happiness or problems they may have had. So and so separated for a short time (I learned this tidbit twice). Even after Felicity and Gabe came together in the present we spent an even greater amount of time recapping their past. They used to go to the swimming hole. They used to hang out on the campsite sitting by the fire. They used to be best friends. Now you'd think they would have had a falling out over something significant but what it actually was about was Gabe giving Felicity unwanted advice about her career choice. Yep. That's it. He didn't cheat on her. She didn't use him to make a boyfriend jealous or do something super bad to make him hate her. Also, this was actually only 3 years ago so it makes it hard to believe they have grown up so much at this time.

The conversations between Gabe and Felicity are boring and pretty much just rehashing their past. As a matter of fact all the dialogue in this book is boring. There was a woman thrown into the story to add as potential conflict but that was only half realized and just weird.

One last thing...all the women in this story are purportedly strong and independent women. Yet all the men are the high powered educated millionaires. In one case one man is a multi-billionaire. Gabe just sold his start up company. I still have no idea what he does but he's a millionaire and his official title is (actually unofficial as this is my take on him) is start up company entrepreneurial. So, the women...one is a party planner, one is a caterer, one is children's author, one is an innkeeper, one is an ex-librarian, and one is the current librarian. None of these are shabby careers by any means but I find it grating the men in this book are all high powered ultra-rich CEOs. Why aren't any of the women architects or owners of the security firms?

In a Nutshell: I really thought this book was tedious. I couldn't wait for it to end. I'm sad this was my take on it because I really wanted to like it. I just couldn't.

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I really liked this second chance romance. I call it that because Greg and Felicity got a second chance at friendship and figuring out their feelings.

Greg was a hard working guy. Him and his brother were brought up by loving parents who were a little flaky so they vowed to not be that way. When Greg could he struck out on his own. He is successful and driven but also kind and caring. He is back in Swift River Valley for a weekend conference that he is talking at. He is also contemplating his life and what is next for him. He just sold his startup company and is at a crossroads. Never did staying in Swift River Valley truly cross his mind. So when he does go home for this talk, he sees so many changes. So many people from other areas come and mover there and be successful and happy. They are thriving. He also has a chance to see Felicity again. Felicity his best friend through childhood who drifted away from him when he was blunt with her. That is his flaw he is honest and blunt.

Felicity is now a successful party planner and in charge of the weekend Greg is speaking at. She didn’t think she would ever see him back in Swift River Valley and she still held some anger at him for his words to her when she last saw him. I think that anger is more because he was right and she didn’t like it. She felt like he was criticizing her and not being there for her. But it was those words that kickstarted her life into the career she is oding and loves. So when he shows at her doorstep to stay, she isn’t exactly happy. They don’t get off to a great start. She is very defensive towards him. It doesn’t endear me to her right away. I mean she doesn’t exactly be kind to him but she isn’t completely rude either. She is reluctant to him. She has these preconceived notions based on his lifestyle now that I loved watching him shatter.

Watching them rediscover who the other is was fun. Especially as we saw Greg remember his past and begin to rediscover his town and its people. He also saw how generous and good at her job Felicity is. He got her to open up to him but also let her guard down and begin to let go of her anger.

While they are getting to know one another again and become friends but also see they have feelings, someone in Greg’s life shows up and creeps them out. I am not quite sure why this was in the story and to me wasn’t really needed but it did add a interesting aspect and did also get Greg to get more introspective. So did his grandfather who was a hoot. I loved how he was very blunt with Greg and didn’t let him hide or run. He gave him words of wisdom and things to think about.

The romance aspect wasn’t an instant love but one where Greg and Felicity first had to let go of the hurt and anger in the past and rediscover their friendship. Their feelings were always there just needed to stop being denied. It was Greg who did this first even if it did confuse him. He was at a crossroads and trying to figure out where he would land. It was his time with felcity and the people of Swift River Valley who helped him gain perspective. But mainly his love for Felicity did. She helped him see he could have all that he wanted and that she was a part of him he didn’t want to let go. He loved and respected her and she him as well it just took her a little longer to let him in and come to terms with things.

A sweet and intimate romance where we see the characters rediscover themselves and their friendship before letting their love shine through. A story that was tender and entertaining and the characters have you fall in love with them and their town.

[Bea]

DNF at 20% Too much back story, now the hero is being an ass, and the story just isn't grabbing me.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

Knights Bridge Massachusetts is not just a nice place to visit, it also seems like a really nice place to live – except for those New England winters.

In this story, for both Felicity MacGregor and Gabe Flanagan, it is also home in the Robert Frost sense, the one about “home is the place that when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

Felicity went back about three years before the story begins, opened up her own events planning business, and has been finally getting her life on track after a decade of doing what she was expected to do instead of what she wanted to do. Where she failed, repeatedly and over and over again, as the financial analyst her family expected her to be, she’s independent and successful in the career she found by accident.

Gabe Flanagan, on the other hand, has been a successful entrepreneur from the day he dropped out of college, or so it seems. He’s just sold his latest venture for “gazillions” of dollars, as Felicity put it, and he’s at loose ends.

Just in time to come home to Knights Bridge to speak at his brother’s one-day boot camp for budding entrepreneurs.

And to see if he can finally mend fences with the woman who used to be his best friend, Felicity.

They grew up together. They’ve been friends since nursery school. And once, just before they went their separate ways for college – they were lovers. They remained besties even through their first jobs, his ups and down with various start-ups and all her downs as she struggled through one financial analyst job after another.

Their breakup came when Gabe’s very tough love shoved at Felicity’s need for comfort and a place to land. She was broke again, having been fired from yet another position, and couch-surfing at Gabe’s apartment. He was in the midst of what turned out to be his first big success. And in his very blunt and possibly tactless fashion, he told Felicity the bald truth that she had been avoiding for a decade – that whatever she was meant to be and do, it was clear that being a financial analyst made her utterly miserable to the point of failure, and that she needed to get her act together – at something else.

He was right. His delivery sucked, but he was right. And she was gone.

Now she’s living in Knights Bridge, the proud owner of the house that Gabe and his brother built on the site of their grandfather’s old campgrounds. The site where Felicity and Gabe’s friendship morphed into something more, for that one night. The place where Gabe was Felicity’s first lover.

They say you never forget your first. Felicity certainly can’t forget Gabe – he’s wrapped into all her memories of her childhood and adolescence in Knights Bridge. But when he comes back to town, the question is whether she ever got over him – and whether she ever wants to.

Escape Rating B: It feels like The River House is more of a women’s fiction story than a romance. While the relationship between Felicity and Gabe is front and center throughout the book, most of that story is about them rebuilding their solid and life-sustaining friendship. There is sexual tension under the surface, but for most of the story it feels like the focus is on whether they can be besties again, rather than either of them actively looking for more.

Not that more doesn’t eventually find them.

Because they were besties for over two decades, they have a lot of backstory together. And Gabe’s return to Knights Bridge brings up all the events since he left. That means there’s a lot of the past that gets uncovered and turned over. While longtime readers of the series may find the backstory repetitive, for those of us who have read few (one in my case) or none of the previous entries will probably see the backstory as a way of catching up to the cast of characters – which is fairly large and very interconnected.

I really liked the people of Knights Bridge and felt a great deal of empathy for both Felicity and Gabe. Like Gabe, I have also been accused, and rightly so, of being much too blunt. Like Felicity, my dad didn’t figure out what he wanted to do when he grew up until he was also about 30, and fell into the job that became his career with a similar lack of planning. I understood where they both were coming from.

This was the kind of story I happened to be looking for when I picked it up, and I fell right into it.

As much as I enjoyed the setting and the characters, there was one person in the mix whose involvement pushed the book down to a B, and that’s the intrusion of Nadia. She starts by trying to inveigle her way into the entrepreneur boot camp and never lets up until the very end. She comes off as “crazy stalker ex”, but she is not Gabe’s ex. Instead, she’s a former colleague and the ex of the douchebag who bought Gabe’s company for those gazillions of dollars and then left her without a job as well as a husband – not that he was any great loss.

But Nadia becomes a constant, niggling annoyance throughout the entire story. Her lies, her constant interference and her continued unwanted intrusions and overall shadowy presence cast a pall over a whole lot of the events. It feels as if she is being built up to be a villain – and then her plot line kind of fizzles. I’m not sure what she brought to the table and I wish she weren’t there at all. She’s a Chekhov’s gun that misfires with a whimper.

However, I really enjoyed the rest of the story and will happily look for an excuse to go back to Knights Bridge at some point, especially if I get to jonesing for something in the author’s romantic suspense series, Sharpe & Donovan.

[Stiina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but translation has sooooooooo many mistakes. So I give three, not four stars.
Hea raamat, aga tõlkimisvigu on meeletult. See võttis ühe tähe maha.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a massive let-down for me. It felt much more like a recap of the previous books in the series and history of the town it was set in, and perhaps a set-up for the next book in the series, than a story of the couple it was purported to tell. Sure, those things were recounted through Felicity and Gabe, but the couple was definitely not the focus of the novel.

The River House is book eight of Carla Neggers’ Swift River Valley series, a fact I was not aware of before I started reading. I think I may have appreciated the story more had I read the previous novels, but since this story rehashed so much of the dynamics of the other couples and families, I’m not sure it was necessary. The River House is written in third-person limited perspective and alternatively followed Felicity and Gabe’s thoughts.

Generally, I would start the body of my review with what I loved about a story, but after reading this entire book, I can’t find anything I loved. And let me tell you, I HATE that. To not find any redeeming qualities about a book I spent my time reading. I felt like I was waiting the entire time for something to happen and nothing substantial ever did. Even the climax – or at least I think it was meant to be the climax – was lackluster. I didn’t feel the couple’s chemistry, nor did I understand why they were so reticent to explore their supposed connection for the entirety of the book. I am unsure as to why the author felt all the details about the other couples, the inter-family dynamics, the town history, and a million other throw away pieces of information were relevant to telling the story of Gabe and Felicity. There was a ton of build-up behind the intended antagonist, but the potential was completely unrealized. Honestly, this is one book I wish I would have DNF’d, to save myself and the author the heartbreak.

Beyond all of that, the writing style was bizarre and stilted. Granted, I did read an early copy, which was clearly lacking in formatting, but the transitions were strange. For a good portion of the first half of the book the narration would switch characters at chapter breaks, then suddenly the switches were happening throughout each chapter with no warning, so I’d have to go back and get my bearings as to whose thoughts I was experiencing. The timeline was also somewhat amorphous, particularly in the beginning. Just when I was sure, I had a handle on what day it was there would be mention of an event we had a concrete timeframe of and it would be completely different than what I was thinking. It was very hard to follow.

This is the first and will be the last, book I’ve read by Carla Neggers. I didn’t care for her writing style, and the book left me completely unsatisfied in relation to the characters and story arc.

[Janga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is the eighth book in Neggers’s Swift River Valley series. I have found it to be an uneven series, with some books fully engaging reads and others barely sustaining my interest. Unfortunately, The River House falls into the second category. Gabe and Felicity are likable characters, and reunion stories are my favorite. I wanted to like this book, but I had two major problems with it. First, too much of the story is recapping earlier books. Since I’ve read the other seven books, all the repetition quickly became irritating, Second, there is a stalker sub-plot that seems irrelevant and eventually fizzles out. It is difficult to believe that Neggers, who has written some excellent romantic suspense novels, could produce so inept a suspense thread.

The River House is not a throw-it-against-the-wall book, but I did find it disappointing. If you are a fan of the series, you may find updates on couples from earlier books reward enough for reading this one. Otherwise, I suggest skipping it and reading the first two books in the series.

See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2018/04...

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Felicity and enjoyed visiting her life and watching her and Gabe reunite. I did NOT like Nadia and will admit (though it makes me feel a little small) that I was hoping for more or less from her involvement--more punishment or less drama maybe. I don't know. I didn't like her being there, messing things up and I didn't really understand what she was after--though I guess that's why Russ kept saying you can't know how people will act/respond when faced with large emotional upheavals. I've read all the previous Swift River books so it was nice to see familiar faces and to see how Felicity interacted with them and fit into the overall scheme of Knights Bridge. I like that it is a small town and Neggers uses the town but doesn't restrict herself to it (people come to visit but don't always stay, some people start there but leave, while others come from outside and find a place in the fold). She frequently has characters visiting nearby Boston, but we also see them visit or speak with California, England, and Scotland. It allows the books to have a small town feel without being too repetitive or claustrophobic. As always, I love the pacing of Neggers' books--she doesn't rush through, but rather eases you through days and weeks of a budding romance.

[Triinu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minu arvamuse leiab blogist https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...

[Jonel]

E

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 STARS!

Going home again! With a return to the Swift River Valley series, we're given Felicity & Gabe's story. Former best friends on the outs for a few years are reunited in their hometown filled with childhood memories together. They set out to overcome their issues, reconnect with the place they grew up and learn how to transition it all into a relationship together. The story line had good bones, but there was a lot of filler in there that was just distracting. Too many characters mentioned that didn't play a part in this particular story. Overall, an okay read.

Felicity MacGregor has finally returned home to Knights Bridge, Massachusetts and bought the house of her dreams. Being there brings back a lot of memories of growing up in the area and spending time there with her best friend Gabe. She hasn't talked to him since they had a falling out three years ago, but that doesn't stop the memories from flooding back.

Gabriel Flanagan is passing through town for some family events and uses the opportunity to see Felicity again. She's still holding three years ago against him, but in his eyes, he's happy to see that she's doing something she loves now. Can they pick of the pieces of their friendship and admit they always had more feeling than that towards each other anyway?

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felicity MacGregor came from a family of bankers and accountants and always thought she should carry on. Her heart was not in this type of work and she was always getting fired. Gabriel Flanagan, her close friend since childhood, told her to find another line of work. He was outspoken and honest with her but she resented it. It has been three years since they have seen each other and he is due to return to Knights Bridge for a conference. She is uncertain how to react. Gabe is successful and has recently sold his company and plans to stick around for a while. He realizes he was searching for something in his travels that was always waiting for him at home. He has never stopped loving Felicity and hopes to rekindle their relationship.

I didn't care for the character of Felicity too much. She gets her feathers ruffled over minor things. Even though she knew what Gabe told her was the truth, she refused to accept it.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming back to Swift River series of stories was like coming home--to familiar characters and to a setting with all manner of opportunities for two more wonderful characters to explore contemporary issues. In this case, we get to know Felicity MacGregor. While she may have started out trying to be a financial analyst, her heart wasn't in those numbers and spreadsheets. Instead, she seems to have found her occupational stride organizing special events: imagine a dress-up reading of a Jane Austen novel at an assisted living facility, a party following a gathering of venture capitalists who share with entrepreneurial wannabes and you get the idea.

Felicity has come back to Knights Bridge and settled into her new professional role, seemingly happy with the life she has chosen. Then the little boy all grown up, Gabriel Flanagan, and with whom she lost her virginity also returns. He's one of those successful entrepreneurs. He has no intention of staying in Knights Bridge, but he's between projects, having just sold a company and unsure what to do next. Even his Boston condo seems to have kicked him out when he decides it needs some renovation before he sells it, IF he sells it.

In Knights Bridge, Gabe needs a place to stay and he's reluctantly taken in by Felicity, who just happens to have bought from Gabe's older brother the house he'd helped to plan on property owned by their late grandfather. More important than that potential entanglement is how Gabe and Felicity feel about each other now. She isn't sure she wants him close, but can't help herself from loving recapturing what she'd had before: a friend who, however, briefly, became her lover.

Gabe wants to explore what they had when they were younger, but he doesn't imagine himself staying in Knights Bridge, which means he's playing with emotional fire if the attraction he feels is rekindled into the flames to current desire. And, as these two endearing characters begin to learn about each other, a woman enters the picture who represents what? A past love of Gabe's? No. A jealous person who poses a danger to Felicity? Not really. In fact, I had some difficulty understanding why she is included in the story.

But aside from that misplaced (in my mind) woman from Gabe's past life, this tale of rekindled love at home where it all began is perfect for a blustery almost-spring day.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like a good slow burn? Ex-friends to lovers? Ex-lovers getting a second chance? This book is all those things in one, with the added benefit of a small town. This is such a well written story. You are drawn to both characters, really ALL of the characters. I have never read a book by this author before so I would never know if this was a book in a series or not, but honestly that didn’t matter. You will enjoy the book no matter.

Gabe always knew he wanted to leave town and never really return and yet here he is a speaker at an event that is being planned by none other then Felicity, said girl. I love the history they have and the stories we hear about them.

Them finally in the same room, makes it even better. I love their new memories and watching them try to navigate feelings and not sure how the other one feels. It is a really slow burn of a story and I would not want it any other way. The build up to them together is so so so famtastic.

[Shannon Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by Carla Neggers, and it definitely won’t be the last.

It was a sweet, yet sexy read. Gabe and Felicity have chemistry in spades, even with a bit of a conflicted past between the two of them. I love that their relationship had time to build back up, instead of jumping in to the sack immediately. I enjoyed reading about the secondary characters, and this book had the perfect amount of drama to have me flipping through the pages to see how it was all going to end.

A great read that I would definitely recommend!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Carla Neggars that I had the pleasure of reading. Thus absolutely a great read and I will recommend Carla as an author to my friends and family.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not being able to hack it as a financial analyst, Felicity McGregor has never been happier than in her new career as a party-planner, especially in her hometown of Knights Bridge. However, when she learns that her childhood friend Gabe Flanagan is returning home, she knows her life might never be the same. Will Gabe be able to win Felicity's heart, or will they lose their second chance at happy ever after?

Luckily, these stories can be read as a stand-alone because this is the first book I've read by Ms. Neggers and I've got to say that it was a read I absolutely loved. Right from the beginning, this story captured my attention, as the heroine is popular and good at her job, which is proven by how many people want her services as a party-planner. However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine came face-to-face for the first time that had me totally hooked, as they have a complicated past.

As for the dialogue, I loved the main characters back stories and how the hero and heroine begin to repair their friendship. No way is the hero going to allow Felicity to avoid him, especially since he has the perfect way to make sure she can't. Moreover, the heroine is hard-working, kind and I liked how she had fun with the hero. I also liked how Felicity handled everything she goes through with a woman determined to drive her insane. What does the woman want? Is she out to get Gabe in a bad way? Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine is the close friendships she shares with a few of the secondary characters and how they're all determined to look out for her and give her sound advice. While the hero, he's done very well for himself and I liked that he's taking some downtime to decide what his next business venture will be. I also liked how determined the hero was to reconnect with the heroine. Will the things these two do together around town remind the pair how good their past relationship was and make them think that it could be that way again if they're willing to try?

Overall, Ms. Neggers has delivered a really good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was intense and the ending had me loving what the hero does to show the heroine how much he cares, especially when combined with the question he has for her. I would recommend The River House by Carla Neggers, if you enjoy small town romances, second chance romances, or books by authors Susan Mallery, Brenda Novak, Emily March and Sheila Roberts.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felicity MacGregor has returned to her hometown of Knights Bridge Massachusetts and established her own business as an event planner. She failed at a career in finance; despite her family’s history in banking, it just didn’t interest her. She had been in debt, fired several times, and needed to start over.

She is hired to make the arrangements for an entrepreneurial boot camp at a friend’s inn and conference center. This new project will be a feather in Felicity’s cap as well as the extension of business for her friends. Her estranged friend (since nursery school) business start-up genius Gabriel Flanagan is coming home to be one of the speakers. One of Gabe’s life goals was to leave Knights Bridge, never to return.

Felicity and Gabe split up after, homeless and sleeping on Gabe’s couch, Gabe gave her a rather brusque assessment of her life and career choices. She stormed out and they haven’t spoken in three years. The boot camp pushes them together to resolve their differences and to reestablish their friendship and maybe romance.

There is a bit of stalker suspense to add to the growing romance. All the characters are solid, likeable people. Readers of the series will catch up with the characters from earlier books. The western Mass touches are nice for those of us from the area. Recommended.

Readalikes:
Kat Martin’s Raines of Wind Canyon series; Lori Foster’s Visitation series; Robyn Carr’s Virgin River and Thunder Point novels; Sharon Sala’s Blessings Georgia series; Donna Kauffman – Bluestone & Vine; Rochelle Alers – Sanctuary Cover; Amy Lillard – Loving a Lawman; Donna Alward – Summer on Lovers’ Island; Barbara Longley – The Twisted Road to You; Linda Lael Miller – Christmas in Mustang Creek; Mariah Stewart – Coming Home.

Pace: Fast
Characters: Well-developed
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Upbeat; Mild suspense; Mildly sensuous
Frame: Western Massachusetts (Knights Bridge, fictional town near Quabbin); contemporary

[KFForever · Rating 3 out of 5]

kfforever

Reviewed by Emma-Louise on behalf of KFF

Gabe and Felicity have known each other most of their lives, they grew up together in a small New England town of Knights Bridge. Both left and took their own directions in their chosen professions, and to find their own paths to happiness. Felicity wants to prove her worth.

Gabe returns to town for an event organised by his brother and the rest of the book revolves around Felicity and Gabe reacquainting themselves and growing closer. There are plenty of trips down memory lane from both characters, some funny and some sad and heartbreaking.

This book is part of a series and even though it can be read as a standalone, I had an issue with the amount of detailed information that was shared in this book. Each couple from previous books is mentioned as well as how they met.

The relationship between Gabe and Felicity was initially frosty and awkward, they hadn't spoken for several years and before that they had been the best of friends. Slowly from there it moves on and steadily wanders along until the closing chapter. This book is a slow burn romance, and I do mean slow burn.

I did enjoy the characters uniqueness and their ideologies and personalities. Several of the secondary characters were very intriguing to me and I wanted to know more about them.
I relished the feel of a small town, which is one of my favourite kinds of places to read about.
Felicity was a driven person who readily admitted her failures even though they were at times embarrassing to her. She grew and developed realistically within this book.

As quirky as it was, I really liked the fact that the author added a recipe used in the story at the back of the book. The previous releases do not have to be read to enjoy this read, but for some it may help to expand their enjoyment.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a part of the Swift River Valley series, and you don't have to read any of the previous books to enjoy and follow this story. If you are looking for a hot, steamy romance; this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a story about family, childhood friendships, small town life, and the possibility of rekindling a relationship; then this is a book you might want to read.

Felicity and Gabe have known each other since kindergarten but have only been friends until one night a few years ago when the possibility of a romantic relationship was started. Gabe is the type of guy that can be very blunt, hurting a person's feelings deeply in the process, without intending to. He and Felicity have a falling out and part ways for a number of years.

What is quite interesting is that we learn absolutely nothing about any of Gabe's or Felicity's past relationships that might have occurred in the years they were apart. In this story the incident that caused them to part ways is retold over and over again; each time with a little more detail and information added.

An interesting part of the story begins when Nadia Ainsworth shows up and starts to cause trouble. Felicity displays an amazing amount of calm and patience while this part of the story takes place.

There is a lot of talk about food and food preparation in this book. I sure wish the brownie recipe was included! A recipe for Blueberry Cobbler is included though.

This is a story that will allow you to escape your life for the moment and enjoy life in an irresistible small town for a while. A very pleasant read!

Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and Goodreads for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads giveaway.

"The River House" centres around Felicity MacGregor, a financial analyst turned party planner and Gabe Flanagan, entrepreneur and Felicity's ex-best friend. When Felicity is asked to plan an after party for an event, she is happy to do so- until she funds out that Gabe will be one of the speakers of the event. Her best friend growing up and one-time love interest, Felicity and Gabe had a falling out three years ago, and haven't seen each other yet. When Gabe decides its time for Felicity to return a favour and stays with her in his grandfather's old house, the two find themselves rekindling their friendship but also wanting more.

While this book had a nice Massachusetts small town setting, it unfortunately fell flat for me. There is tons of backstory, which I usually enjoy; however, this book has more backstory than actual events propelling it forwards. It takes almost 90 pages for the two main characters to even have their first present-day encounter, which I found taxing. Moreover, when the two do meet, there is so little chemistry between them that I found myself skimming through some of their interactions.

This book is actually the eighth in the Swift River Valley series, and many of the characters from the previous books make appearances as secondary characters. For anyone who hasn't read the previous books (such as myself) this book is fine as a standalone, but I would imagine that those who have read other books in the series may feel more invested.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. These love stories are quaint. On to the next....

Felicity MacGregor loves organizing social events for others, but her own personal life is a different story. After a brief but failed attempt at a career as a financial analyst, she returned to Knights Bridge, where she enjoys running a thriving party-planning business.

Then Felicity’s life gets a shake-up when her childhood friend Gabriel Flanagan returns unexpectedly to their tiny hometown. Now a high-flying businessman, Gabe always vowed to get out of Knights Bridge, but he is back for the local entrepreneurial boot camp Felicity’s been hired to organize. Together again, they’ll finally have to face each other—and their complicated past.

Gabe and Felicity soon realize their reunion is stirring up long-buried emotions. While Gabe has big plans for his future, Felicity is discovering that hers doesn’t depend on fate—she must choose what’s right for her. But if they can find a bridge between their diverging paths, they may just discover that their enduring connection is what matters most.

[Amber - TBR Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these small town romances! I haven't read the others in this series, but I didn't need to. Each story is a standalone, just revolving around the same town/families and recurring characters - which I love!!

As I was reading this story, I could picture the town, the inhabitants and Felicity's feelings over Gabe coming back, albeit briefly. And just feeling for Felicity as she's trying to keep her event planning going while not being affected (or showing it) by Gabe's unplanned returned. And I was cheering for her in every situation where she wasn't letting Gabe get the best of her.

I will definitely go back and read this series, at least from the beginning. I normally hate reading a series in the middle but I was fine reading this one. But I still need to go back and read books 1-7.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up a town or two over from the town this book is based on so this definitely gets extra points for location. I appreciate how the author educates the reader about how Boston stole four towns and now steals our water! Also, gross though it is, I loved that the characters were always checking for ticks - very true to life around here and not something I've ever seen in a romance even though I've often thought about it when reading about all those hikes and walks characters take. That said, the romance in this was boorring. While I like books where the conflict is external to the relationship, this just didn't really grab me other than the location. And this small town romance suffers from the common small town romance book problem of it being SO white and SO straight. It's not like that even in rural New England.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felicity MacGregor really enjoys her life. She's an event planner and, while there's not a ton of work for her in Knights Bridge, there's more than enough work in the surrounding areas. Enough that she's gotten herself out of the mountain of debt she was in three years ago plus be able to buy a house. She does have a slight hitch in her stride when she hears that Gabriel Flanagan is going to be back in town to help out with a business bootcamp that she's putting on. Gabe, the man that was her best friend for ears until he bluntly told her that she wasn't living her best life.
Gabe's not sorry he did it. He feels like he did what was best for Felicity and he feels hurt by the way she lashed out when she left after crashing on his couch for a week. So he decides that he's going to sleep on her couch, and maybe even deepen their relationship.
This wasn't one of Neggers' better stories. I never really got that Felicity and Gabe should be more than friends. They lashed out at each other, acted like children, then somehow, we're supposed to believe they're in love. And, just to create some more angst, there's a potential female stalker after Gabe. Just, ew. It wasn't horrible so I rounded up from two and a half stars.

[Naomi Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review - Naomi / Scandalous Book Blog***
I loved this story it was fun, sweet and really raw.
Gabe and Felicity were perfect for one another.
Felicity McGregor has her own company in her hometown as an events planner and she couldnt be happier
However, when she finds out Gabe Flanagan is coming home, she knows that the road ahead may be a rocky one.
With history between them can they find their HEA or will they become each others regret?
This book was a slow burn which made it all the more believable.
With drama and chemistry I was hooked from beginning to end!
The author done a fantastic job with this story, the characters were well developed and the secondary characters helped add depth.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not my favorite book in this series. I just did not care for either of the main characters, especially Felicity. And, there was the obligatory (but very unnecessary and offensive) sex scene. I wish the author wouldn't include those. Fortunately, she chose to do it terms of Felicity remembering it in her mind rather than as it was happening. It made it less explicit. And, the side story of Gabe's ex-colleague was just strange.

The setting of Knights Bridge remains charming and the ideas of starting B&Bs and other businesses always appeals to me. However, the repetitive theme of woman after woman, all from Knights Bridge, ending up marrying multi-millionaires is a little far-fetched.

[Cora Hannold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance and a fabulous read.

You can't help but fall in love with the characters in this book. They are very well written.

I loved everything about Gabe and Felicity's story. I hope that Carla will write a little more about them in a future book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story about the property the River House is on. It was very touching.

I read this book for a book group meeting and don't generally read books out of order in a series. This book is perfectly fine as a stand alone. I look forward to getting the first seven and reading them. I am also looking forward to future books in this series.

[Debra Jo Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by Carla Neggers. I am not a huge romance fan, I mean I enjoy the sweet cozy romances. This novel just felt like it went on forever with not much direction. I just feel like nothing really happened. It took way too long to reach a very predictable end. There was potential to take a thrilling twist but that added storyline added nothing what so ever to the plot. There were way too many characters in the story with very little character development.

I read this book for an online book club and so many people loved it. Sorry, it just completely missed the make for me on so many levels. I only finished the book because it was for a book club.

[Jennifer Guindon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall, but I felt like the ending was rushed. The whole story revolved around Felicity and Gabe, but the author kept throwing plugs in for all of the other characters, like they wanted me to be interested enough to read the other books in the series. However, this had the opposite effect for me.

I felt like the Nadia character was supposed to add suspense to the plot, but the premise was flimsy at best. I kept waiting for it to get better but was disappointed with the flat falls after multiple buildups.

The middle of the book was definitely my favorite, and I did find the book hard to put down at that juncture, but the beginning and end dragged for me.