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Catalina Cove #1
Love in Catalina Cove
In her brand-new series, Brenda Jackson welcomes you to Catalina Cove, where even the biggest heartbreaks can be healed…
In the wake of a devastating teen pregnancy that left her childless and heartbroken, Vashti Alcindor left Catalina Cove, Louisiana, with no plans to return. Now, over a decade later, Vashti reluctantly finds herself back in her hometown after inheriting her aunt’s B and B. Her homecoming gets off to a rocky start when the new sheriff, Sawyer Grisham, pulls her over for speeding, and things go downhill from there.
The B and B, a place she’d always found refuge in when it seemed like the whole world was against her, has fallen into disrepair. When a surprising benefactor encourages Vashti to reopen the B and B, Vashti embraces a fresh start, and soon old hurts begin to fade as she makes new memories with the town—and its handsome sheriff…
But some pasts are too big to escape, and when a bombshell of a secret changes everything she thought was true, Vashti is left reeling. With Sawyer and his teenage daughter determined to see her through the storm, though, she’s learning family isn’t always a matter of blood—sometimes it’s a matter of heart.
Don’t miss The House on Blueberry Lane, the next book in The Catalina Cove series by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson!
The Catalina Cove series
Book 1: Love in Catalina Cove
Book 2: Forget Me Not
Book 3: Finding Home Again
Book 4: Follow Your Heart
Book 5: One Christmas Wish
Book 6: The House on Blueberry Lane
In the wake of a devastating teen pregnancy that left her childless and heartbroken, Vashti Alcindor left Catalina Cove, Louisiana, with no plans to return. Now, over a decade later, Vashti reluctantly finds herself back in her hometown after inheriting her aunt’s B and B. Her homecoming gets off to a rocky start when the new sheriff, Sawyer Grisham, pulls her over for speeding, and things go downhill from there.
The B and B, a place she’d always found refuge in when it seemed like the whole world was against her, has fallen into disrepair. When a surprising benefactor encourages Vashti to reopen the B and B, Vashti embraces a fresh start, and soon old hurts begin to fade as she makes new memories with the town—and its handsome sheriff…
But some pasts are too big to escape, and when a bombshell of a secret changes everything she thought was true, Vashti is left reeling. With Sawyer and his teenage daughter determined to see her through the storm, though, she’s learning family isn’t always a matter of blood—sometimes it’s a matter of heart.
Don’t miss The House on Blueberry Lane, the next book in The Catalina Cove series by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson!
The Catalina Cove series
Book 1: Love in Catalina Cove
Book 2: Forget Me Not
Book 3: Finding Home Again
Book 4: Follow Your Heart
Book 5: One Christmas Wish
Book 6: The House on Blueberry Lane
422 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2018
923 people are currently reading
3266 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Jackson
901 books3,618 followersIn 1994, Brenda Jackson’s first novel, Tonight and Forever, was released. Since then she has had more than 100 novels and novellas published (the first African-American author to accomplish such a feat) and has over 3 million books in print.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.
In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.
In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.
Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.
In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.
In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.
Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
October 30, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
Scott isn’t the only guy I’ve loved that let me down. Therefore I can’t be one and done. I’m two and through.
Ms. Gertie would also butt heads all the time with Sheriff Phillips, all generations of them, and was quick to remind them that she delivered them into the world and would have given them an extra whack on their rear end if she’d known they would grow up to be power-grabbing men.
My Review:
Oh what a tangled web vile and duplicitous snobs can weave just to save face. I enjoyed this cleverly knotted and intriguing tale, it progressed slowly yet I enjoyed every little twist and turn. The ending may seem far-fetched unless you understand the social influence and structure of small-town living, then it becomes all too plausible. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, deliciously spiced, and pricked my curiosity. I am itching to uncover more about the secondary characters Ms. Jackson was taunting me with – she is such a clever tease! I was enamored with her large and varied cast and am primed for return trips.
Scott isn’t the only guy I’ve loved that let me down. Therefore I can’t be one and done. I’m two and through.
Ms. Gertie would also butt heads all the time with Sheriff Phillips, all generations of them, and was quick to remind them that she delivered them into the world and would have given them an extra whack on their rear end if she’d known they would grow up to be power-grabbing men.
My Review:
Oh what a tangled web vile and duplicitous snobs can weave just to save face. I enjoyed this cleverly knotted and intriguing tale, it progressed slowly yet I enjoyed every little twist and turn. The ending may seem far-fetched unless you understand the social influence and structure of small-town living, then it becomes all too plausible. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, deliciously spiced, and pricked my curiosity. I am itching to uncover more about the secondary characters Ms. Jackson was taunting me with – she is such a clever tease! I was enamored with her large and varied cast and am primed for return trips.
July 13, 2018
4.5 stars- Look my review of 'Love in Catalina Cove', by Brenda Jackson, on the Harlequin Junkies website in the near future. To find more book reviews, visit www.harlequinjunkies.com
June 27, 2020
So I'm stopping at the midway point. There are two problems with this romance. Either one in a story will cause me some friction, but it turns out that the two together are killer. The first is that the attraction between Vashti and Sawyer is all about "chemistry". They can't keep their eyes off each other and get the zings every time they touch. It was lust at first sight and isn't getting any better. At halfway, they're getting ready to set ground rules for a sex thing and I'm tired of the excuses already.
The second is what's killing me, though, and that's that both are entirely negatively motivated*. Which is bad enough but they're also the kind of silly thing that only really works in romance novels. Vashti is all "I've been in love twice and got hurt so two and through baby!" Which only works if you believe all men are the same and she clearly does not believe this in any consistent way. And Sawyer is all "I had the love of my life and she died plus my sixteen year-old needs me so bachelor life 4evah!" This in the teeth of people pointing out that he's two years away from being alone anyway and he's even thinking that he's setting a pretty poor example of relationship building for his daughter. So you have mysterious internal attractions countered by unreasonable internal resistances. Times two.
It's too bad because I like the setting, the characters are otherwise very interesting, and there's a hint of whackadoodle drama heading their way that looks interesting in a soapy way that I can probably get with. Indeed, I almost want to stick around just for the whackadoodle heading down the pike. But then I think about all the friction of dealing with the romance and then get overwhelmed with the mehs...
I'm adding a second star for the interesting characters and fantastic sense of setting. I wish the romance had been better-grounded.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
The second is what's killing me, though, and that's that both are entirely negatively motivated*. Which is bad enough but they're also the kind of silly thing that only really works in romance novels. Vashti is all "I've been in love twice and got hurt so two and through baby!" Which only works if you believe all men are the same and she clearly does not believe this in any consistent way. And Sawyer is all "I had the love of my life and she died plus my sixteen year-old needs me so bachelor life 4evah!" This in the teeth of people pointing out that he's two years away from being alone anyway and he's even thinking that he's setting a pretty poor example of relationship building for his daughter. So you have mysterious internal attractions countered by unreasonable internal resistances. Times two.
It's too bad because I like the setting, the characters are otherwise very interesting, and there's a hint of whackadoodle drama heading their way that looks interesting in a soapy way that I can probably get with. Indeed, I almost want to stick around just for the whackadoodle heading down the pike. But then I think about all the friction of dealing with the romance and then get overwhelmed with the mehs...
I'm adding a second star for the interesting characters and fantastic sense of setting. I wish the romance had been better-grounded.
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back (or, if that link doesn't work, here's a cache of the original) and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
November 1, 2018
OUT NOW!
Vashti’s life has been a rocky one. At sixteen she got pregnant but she never admitted who the father was, which was enough for the little town of Catalina Cove to be against her. To protect her, her parents took her to a home for unwed mothers and left her there alone until the baby was born. Only to die a few hours after being delivered. Later on in life, Vashti got married to Scott only to be cheated on. Now, at the age of thirty-two, with her divorce finalized, she’s inheriting her aunt’s B&B in Catalina Cove. After being so mistreated in that town, there’s no way she’s coming back there, so selling the B&B seems to be the only way to go.
But she can’t because the town doesn’t want her too. With that, she has no other way than to come back to Catalina Cove and reopen the B&B. Back in her hometown, she finds herself drawn to Sawyer, the Sherriff, in inexplicable ways.
Full review available at Under the Pages.
Vashti’s life has been a rocky one. At sixteen she got pregnant but she never admitted who the father was, which was enough for the little town of Catalina Cove to be against her. To protect her, her parents took her to a home for unwed mothers and left her there alone until the baby was born. Only to die a few hours after being delivered. Later on in life, Vashti got married to Scott only to be cheated on. Now, at the age of thirty-two, with her divorce finalized, she’s inheriting her aunt’s B&B in Catalina Cove. After being so mistreated in that town, there’s no way she’s coming back there, so selling the B&B seems to be the only way to go.
But she can’t because the town doesn’t want her too. With that, she has no other way than to come back to Catalina Cove and reopen the B&B. Back in her hometown, she finds herself drawn to Sawyer, the Sherriff, in inexplicable ways.
Full review available at Under the Pages.
September 2, 2020
this is one of those books that have many twists and turns, some you see coming, some not, and you cannot stop reading...
great writing, likable characters, and far fetched plotline
3,5 stars
great writing, likable characters, and far fetched plotline
3,5 stars
September 12, 2018
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Ever read a book just because of its cover? That was the case for me when I came across Love in Catalina Cove while browsing through Netgalley. I kept coming across the book and the cover whore in me kept screaming to request it, so I finally did just that. I just hoped that I wouldn't be let down by taking a chance on this new-to-me author.
Vashti Alcindor vowed never to return to the small town of Catalina Cove after loss and humiliation ruined her life. But years later, Vashti is brought back to the seaside town when she inherits her late aunt's bed and breakfast and must decide what she wants to do with it. Unable to walk away from the place she once called home, Vashti decides to stay a while and hopes to restore her aunt's bed and breakfast back to its glory days. It also helps that the new sheriff in town is easy on the eyes and Vashti finds herself drawn to the man of few words. But when a revelation about Vashti's past comes to light, her world is turned upside down and she'll have to face her past head on if she wants to uncover the truth.
I didn't have a clue of what I was getting myself into when I started this book. I didn't read the blurb beforehand and I've never read any of Brenda Jackson's works before so I was literally going into this series completely blind. Love in Catalina Cove started out in your typical small town romance fashion and I was totally loving it. I was getting to know our main characters and learning about all the secrets of the people of Catalina Cove and I was living for the scandalous gossip. But then Brenda Jackson decided to turn things up and lawwd, I was not expecting this story to take the direction that it did! Yo gurl was shook. It was plot twist after plot twist and even our plot twists had plot twists. Now, sometimes a story with so many plot twists can come off as being too over dramatic, but that was not the case for this book. Everything had a great flow and I loved how the story came full circle by the end. I would have never expected a story like this to have an ending like that and I gotta applaud Brenda for pulling off all these twists off!
Vashti is one of my favorite characters in this book. Her story, her past, her struggles all broke my heart and I was just hoping that somehow she would be able to find real, true happiness by the end. I honestly wanted to fight everyone who turned on her because she was a child herself when she lost her own baby and she didn't deserve the treatment she got. She's definitely a character with a great amount of strength because she went through hell and back and there were many times that I thought she would break down while reading this book. But she kept on fighting and searching for the truth and all that pain and suffering was worth it by the end because what she got was something rarely few people ever get: a second chance.
There is a romance between Vashti and Sheriff Sawyer Grisham and it's kind of a slow burn at first but things heat up once these two work through some of their issues. Vashti and Sawyer's relationship was also put to the test in this book and I was seriously on edge because I hardcore shipped them together and I was not going to stand for any sinking ships. As for Sawyer, he too has his own past with a few secrets but I don't want to give any of that away since it does tie into some of the twists for this story.
Love in Catalina Cove was a thrilling read that kept me at the edge of my seat and I highly recommend it to those who love their romances with a dash of suspense! I eagerly await for the next installment in this series and this time I'll be prepared for all the plot twists because I know Brenda Jackson is gonna be serving up some craziness in the next one.
Ever read a book just because of its cover? That was the case for me when I came across Love in Catalina Cove while browsing through Netgalley. I kept coming across the book and the cover whore in me kept screaming to request it, so I finally did just that. I just hoped that I wouldn't be let down by taking a chance on this new-to-me author.
Vashti Alcindor vowed never to return to the small town of Catalina Cove after loss and humiliation ruined her life. But years later, Vashti is brought back to the seaside town when she inherits her late aunt's bed and breakfast and must decide what she wants to do with it. Unable to walk away from the place she once called home, Vashti decides to stay a while and hopes to restore her aunt's bed and breakfast back to its glory days. It also helps that the new sheriff in town is easy on the eyes and Vashti finds herself drawn to the man of few words. But when a revelation about Vashti's past comes to light, her world is turned upside down and she'll have to face her past head on if she wants to uncover the truth.
I didn't have a clue of what I was getting myself into when I started this book. I didn't read the blurb beforehand and I've never read any of Brenda Jackson's works before so I was literally going into this series completely blind. Love in Catalina Cove started out in your typical small town romance fashion and I was totally loving it. I was getting to know our main characters and learning about all the secrets of the people of Catalina Cove and I was living for the scandalous gossip. But then Brenda Jackson decided to turn things up and lawwd, I was not expecting this story to take the direction that it did! Yo gurl was shook. It was plot twist after plot twist and even our plot twists had plot twists. Now, sometimes a story with so many plot twists can come off as being too over dramatic, but that was not the case for this book. Everything had a great flow and I loved how the story came full circle by the end. I would have never expected a story like this to have an ending like that and I gotta applaud Brenda for pulling off all these twists off!
Vashti is one of my favorite characters in this book. Her story, her past, her struggles all broke my heart and I was just hoping that somehow she would be able to find real, true happiness by the end. I honestly wanted to fight everyone who turned on her because she was a child herself when she lost her own baby and she didn't deserve the treatment she got. She's definitely a character with a great amount of strength because she went through hell and back and there were many times that I thought she would break down while reading this book. But she kept on fighting and searching for the truth and all that pain and suffering was worth it by the end because what she got was something rarely few people ever get: a second chance.
There is a romance between Vashti and Sheriff Sawyer Grisham and it's kind of a slow burn at first but things heat up once these two work through some of their issues. Vashti and Sawyer's relationship was also put to the test in this book and I was seriously on edge because I hardcore shipped them together and I was not going to stand for any sinking ships. As for Sawyer, he too has his own past with a few secrets but I don't want to give any of that away since it does tie into some of the twists for this story.
Love in Catalina Cove was a thrilling read that kept me at the edge of my seat and I highly recommend it to those who love their romances with a dash of suspense! I eagerly await for the next installment in this series and this time I'll be prepared for all the plot twists because I know Brenda Jackson is gonna be serving up some craziness in the next one.
August 16, 2020
Vashti’s aunt passes away and leaves her the B and B. This requires Vashti returning to a place that she escaped long ago. Her arrival in town is met by the town’s new and hot Sheriff Sawyer along with a few other twists and turns. To her surprise the townsfolk want her, but the surprises and deep-rooted pain are making it hard to stay.
Brenda Jackson is a wonderful storyteller. She weaves an intricate web between her characters that is easy to follow and intriguing.
Jackson reminded her readers how honesty is truly the best policy. I was impressed with the absurdity, yet the realness of the dilemmas. Sadly, people do strange and awful things to save face.
In the end, Vashti got her well deserved happy ending.
Brenda Jackson is a wonderful storyteller. She weaves an intricate web between her characters that is easy to follow and intriguing.
Jackson reminded her readers how honesty is truly the best policy. I was impressed with the absurdity, yet the realness of the dilemmas. Sadly, people do strange and awful things to save face.
In the end, Vashti got her well deserved happy ending.
October 29, 2018
Dramatic, romantic, and uplifting!
Love in Catalina Cove is an engaging, lighthearted read that takes us to coastal Louisiana and into the life of Vashti Alcindor as she meanders through all sorts of highs and lows, including a recent divorce, being laid off, reopening her aunt's B&B, a blossoming courtship, and returning to the hometown that shunned her following a teen pregnancy.
The writing is smooth and effortless. The characters are strong, confident, and dependable. And the plot, although a little slow to start, is a heartwarming tale with a sliver of mystery that's full of tricky situations, tender moments, self-discovery, friendship, family, community, acceptance, revelations, happiness, slow-burning romance, and scrumptious blueberry delights.
Overall, Love in Catalina Cove is a passionate, heartfelt start to this new series by Jackson that has a large, intriguing cast of characters that I look forward to reading more about in Forget Me Not (Catalina Cove #2) due to be published in Spring 2019.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Love in Catalina Cove is an engaging, lighthearted read that takes us to coastal Louisiana and into the life of Vashti Alcindor as she meanders through all sorts of highs and lows, including a recent divorce, being laid off, reopening her aunt's B&B, a blossoming courtship, and returning to the hometown that shunned her following a teen pregnancy.
The writing is smooth and effortless. The characters are strong, confident, and dependable. And the plot, although a little slow to start, is a heartwarming tale with a sliver of mystery that's full of tricky situations, tender moments, self-discovery, friendship, family, community, acceptance, revelations, happiness, slow-burning romance, and scrumptious blueberry delights.
Overall, Love in Catalina Cove is a passionate, heartfelt start to this new series by Jackson that has a large, intriguing cast of characters that I look forward to reading more about in Forget Me Not (Catalina Cove #2) due to be published in Spring 2019.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2018
I know I am going to be in the minority when I say Love in Catalina Cove was just an OK read for me.. I wanted to love it, but I just didn't. I did like the setting and most of the characters. The little town of Catalina Cove sounds like it is a place I'd love to visit. I also liked the two main characters, Vashti and Sawyer. I felt bad for Vashti for what happened to her. I also liked Sawyer's relationship with his daughter Jade. Their relationship was really neat and fun to read.
What I didn't care for so much was the story or the romance. I felt no connection between Vashti and Sawyer. I think it was supposed to be a slow burn, but it was just too slow for me. The story, once we get to the secret surrounding Vashti. was really unbelievable. I can suspend disbelief sometimes, but I just couldn't in this one. There were way to many coincidences. There was one big one that I just couldn't believe would happen. It really lessened my enjoyment of the book. The overall book isn't badly written and I think fans of this author will try it out. It is the first in the series, so maybe the other books will be more enjoyable for me.
What I didn't care for so much was the story or the romance. I felt no connection between Vashti and Sawyer. I think it was supposed to be a slow burn, but it was just too slow for me. The story, once we get to the secret surrounding Vashti. was really unbelievable. I can suspend disbelief sometimes, but I just couldn't in this one. There were way to many coincidences. There was one big one that I just couldn't believe would happen. It really lessened my enjoyment of the book. The overall book isn't badly written and I think fans of this author will try it out. It is the first in the series, so maybe the other books will be more enjoyable for me.
April 29, 2023
Brenda Jackson has written an astounding novel right here! This book is Deeply touching and it addresses very sensitive topics that remain secrets in families today. Vashti has to face her past to decide whether to stay in her hometown, Catalina Cove, Louisiana. She has inherited her Aunt's Bed and Breakfast, "Shelby By the Sea" along with so much more family secrets and heartbreak. Yet, the love and memories for her Aunt Shelby keep the B and B filled with that warming Spirit that lingers there. It is THERE, that Vashti will initially find her comfort to weather her storms, at...
"Shelby By the Sea."
A very Inspirational book to be shared! I try my best not to read many romance novels because I actually prefer Christian fiction instead. However, I am a reader that does enjoy Inspirational ANYTHING. And, this book really took me by surprise with the twist to the story line. I was very pleased that I decided to begin this book series and would recommend this Book #1 anytime.
* Happy Reading to All! * A Wonderful Read!!
"Shelby By the Sea."
A very Inspirational book to be shared! I try my best not to read many romance novels because I actually prefer Christian fiction instead. However, I am a reader that does enjoy Inspirational ANYTHING. And, this book really took me by surprise with the twist to the story line. I was very pleased that I decided to begin this book series and would recommend this Book #1 anytime.
* Happy Reading to All! * A Wonderful Read!!
October 29, 2018
It took a little bit to get into this story because there were a few extra characters that have a start within this story. However, once the story focused completely around Vashti and Sawyer the pace and intrigue really drew me into this smoking hot connection. Sawyer pulls Vashti over when she is reluctantly returning to Catalina Cove to take care of some family business. Vashti has been burned by men and the town before so she had no interest in any man that lives in her small town after they treated her badly as a teenager. There are loads of secrets revealed and as well as things left unanswered. This has me chomping at the bit for it to be next year already when the next book in this series of standalones is set to be released.
This specific video review will be included in the October 2018 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Rom Book Talk.
This specific video review will be included in the October 2018 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Rom Book Talk.
November 6, 2018
Guest Review by mom, romance fanatic, and (someday) published author Summer Raines!
This is a hard review for me to write because I find myself very conflicted. I was excited to get this book, a “bombshell of a secret” sounded exciting. I also have a soft spot for Louisiana, so that was a bonus. I even teared up a little in a few spots. But I was mostly bored. My conundrum is that even though this book didn’t really do it for me, I could see that a lot of people WOULD enjoy it.
Vashti has a checkered past that she holds against herself more than anybody else really does. When she’s forced to return to her hometown almost two decades after scandal, she’s well educated and has made something of herself. She’s inherited her aunt’s B & B which has fallen into disrepair, but Vashti has the training and knowledge to save it.
Sawyer and his teenage daughter have been touched by tragedy, but they admire Vashti and stand by her side when everything starts going sideways. They teach her that family isn’t always a blood relation, sometimes it’s just about love.
Here’s what bothered me:
The secrets and mystery seemed to reveal themselves very early on. In the middle of chapter eight I had a LOT figured out already. If you’re one of those people who can watch a detective show and say, “He did it!” in the first 20% of the story, you’ll see everything coming a mile away in this book. True story- I slammed the cover shut on my Kindle and said, “Oh my God. I know what’s going to happen.” That’s no fun. I want to be shocked.
Sequel Bait. There was enough backstory and explanation on characters, I started envisioning what would happen down the line to the rest of the townspeople.
Extra Words. I’m sorry. I see this a lot, so I know it’s a popular writing style but I can’t stand it. If you allow me to witness a scene between two characters, I don’t want a blow-by-blow every time they tell someone else what happened. I’d much rather you cut the extra stuff and give me a shorter book. Have you ever witnessed something, and so many people ask you to retell the story that you begin to bore yourself? That’s how I feel when every detail and spoken word is recounted to every other character.
Sexy Times. I liked the sex part of the sex scenes. However, I had a hard time believing people would think certain phrases when checking each other out. I know we’re all unique… but some of it left me confused, rolling my eyes, or ranting. I try to make sure I never put spoilers in my reviews, so I’ll word this carefully- Sawyer does something after a bout of lovemaking (I think it’s their second time) that would frighten most women. When you see a man do this in movies and TV, the girl is always freaking out, telling all her friends, and looking over her shoulder because she’s scared she’s now being stalked (and she usually is). But hey, we’re all different so maybe some women would think it’s hot. To each their own.
The “love” started happening too fast. Vashti and Sawyer have been through some crap storms before meeting each other. Understandably, they aren’t ready to have a deep relationship in their life. They just want to explore the sexual chemistry between them. But when they decide it’s best to take a break from seeing each other, both of them start thinking that it’s not just sex, it’s feelings floating close to their heart that draws them to one another. Ummm, they’ve spent a few hours together a few times and had brain melting sex. I think the “feelings” are an excuse, in the moment, to get another great lay. I can’t say I blame them, but it’s lust not love at that point.
I’m rating this particular book 2 stars because I think it could’ve been saved with a short stint in rehab. There were some great elements and characters, but the falling in love should take longer if it’s going to bust the romance stigma.
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from NetGalley, free of charge.
And don't forget to follow the Romance Rehab blog for more rants, raves, and other fun romance-y stuff: http://www.romancerehab.com/
This is a hard review for me to write because I find myself very conflicted. I was excited to get this book, a “bombshell of a secret” sounded exciting. I also have a soft spot for Louisiana, so that was a bonus. I even teared up a little in a few spots. But I was mostly bored. My conundrum is that even though this book didn’t really do it for me, I could see that a lot of people WOULD enjoy it.
Vashti has a checkered past that she holds against herself more than anybody else really does. When she’s forced to return to her hometown almost two decades after scandal, she’s well educated and has made something of herself. She’s inherited her aunt’s B & B which has fallen into disrepair, but Vashti has the training and knowledge to save it.
Sawyer and his teenage daughter have been touched by tragedy, but they admire Vashti and stand by her side when everything starts going sideways. They teach her that family isn’t always a blood relation, sometimes it’s just about love.
Here’s what bothered me:
The secrets and mystery seemed to reveal themselves very early on. In the middle of chapter eight I had a LOT figured out already. If you’re one of those people who can watch a detective show and say, “He did it!” in the first 20% of the story, you’ll see everything coming a mile away in this book. True story- I slammed the cover shut on my Kindle and said, “Oh my God. I know what’s going to happen.” That’s no fun. I want to be shocked.
Sequel Bait. There was enough backstory and explanation on characters, I started envisioning what would happen down the line to the rest of the townspeople.
Extra Words. I’m sorry. I see this a lot, so I know it’s a popular writing style but I can’t stand it. If you allow me to witness a scene between two characters, I don’t want a blow-by-blow every time they tell someone else what happened. I’d much rather you cut the extra stuff and give me a shorter book. Have you ever witnessed something, and so many people ask you to retell the story that you begin to bore yourself? That’s how I feel when every detail and spoken word is recounted to every other character.
Sexy Times. I liked the sex part of the sex scenes. However, I had a hard time believing people would think certain phrases when checking each other out. I know we’re all unique… but some of it left me confused, rolling my eyes, or ranting. I try to make sure I never put spoilers in my reviews, so I’ll word this carefully- Sawyer does something after a bout of lovemaking (I think it’s their second time) that would frighten most women. When you see a man do this in movies and TV, the girl is always freaking out, telling all her friends, and looking over her shoulder because she’s scared she’s now being stalked (and she usually is). But hey, we’re all different so maybe some women would think it’s hot. To each their own.
The “love” started happening too fast. Vashti and Sawyer have been through some crap storms before meeting each other. Understandably, they aren’t ready to have a deep relationship in their life. They just want to explore the sexual chemistry between them. But when they decide it’s best to take a break from seeing each other, both of them start thinking that it’s not just sex, it’s feelings floating close to their heart that draws them to one another. Ummm, they’ve spent a few hours together a few times and had brain melting sex. I think the “feelings” are an excuse, in the moment, to get another great lay. I can’t say I blame them, but it’s lust not love at that point.
I’m rating this particular book 2 stars because I think it could’ve been saved with a short stint in rehab. There were some great elements and characters, but the falling in love should take longer if it’s going to bust the romance stigma.
Full disclosure: We received an ARC from NetGalley, free of charge.
And don't forget to follow the Romance Rehab blog for more rants, raves, and other fun romance-y stuff: http://www.romancerehab.com/
May 10, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. This is the first book in the Catalina Cove series by Brenda Jackson. I am going to be doing a binge listen to this series as the fourth book in this series just came out and I want to read/listen to them in order. Catalina Cove is a small community by the Gulf of Mexico not too far from New Orleans. It is a community that wants to keep its small town coziness and doesn't want large scale businesses or resorts to spoil that. This is bad news for Vashti Alcindor, who is hoping for a quick sale of the B & B she inherited from her aunt, as she has no desire to move back to the Cove. When the sale to a developer is blocked by the town council, she is made an offer she can't refuse from one of the town's businessmen to come back, renovate and run the B & B herself.
I enjoyed this story a lot, but be warned, there are some sexually explicit scenes that I did fast forward through. Vashti left Catalina Cove after teen pregnancy left her childless and heartbroken. She returns with trepidation and secrets. Meeting Sawyer Grisham on the way into town, when he stops her and gives her a speeding ticket, she feels something for him that she is not sure of. I liked the characters in this story. The residents of Catalina Cove are small town and are in each other's business, but they welcome Vashti back. Both Vashti and Sawyer have some baggage that they need to get over if they want to move forward with a relationship. I really liked Sawyer's daughter as well, she brings that fresh teenager outlook on life. There are a lot of twists in this story and secrets from the past that come to light to force Vashti and Sawyer to make decisions. This is a story of secrets, of snobbery and class status, of friendship, love and acceptance. This is a second chance for Vashti, that I was very happy with, but I did figure it out part way through the story. Overall, a good story that I enjoyed.
I enjoyed this story a lot, but be warned, there are some sexually explicit scenes that I did fast forward through. Vashti left Catalina Cove after teen pregnancy left her childless and heartbroken. She returns with trepidation and secrets. Meeting Sawyer Grisham on the way into town, when he stops her and gives her a speeding ticket, she feels something for him that she is not sure of. I liked the characters in this story. The residents of Catalina Cove are small town and are in each other's business, but they welcome Vashti back. Both Vashti and Sawyer have some baggage that they need to get over if they want to move forward with a relationship. I really liked Sawyer's daughter as well, she brings that fresh teenager outlook on life. There are a lot of twists in this story and secrets from the past that come to light to force Vashti and Sawyer to make decisions. This is a story of secrets, of snobbery and class status, of friendship, love and acceptance. This is a second chance for Vashti, that I was very happy with, but I did figure it out part way through the story. Overall, a good story that I enjoyed.
September 25, 2018
4.5 stars. Maybe 4?
This book made me cry, it made me swoon, and it made me go 'Oh no they didn't!'
I missed sleep and half paid attention while at work trying to finish this puppy. It was a bit of a slow start until you start piecing bits and clues together and they you just get swept into the romance and into the mystery.
It's very old-school soap opera with all of the family drama, but it was fun to guess 'who dun it' so to speak. (Though after mid book or so, everything was a bit predictable, which is where the maybe 4, maybe 4.5 comes in.)
Only complaint was in formatting of the ARC; some words and paragraphs were warped and capitalized in the middle of the word, or had random spaces breaking up the word no matter what size I made the font or how many times I deleted and re-downloaded.
This book made me cry, it made me swoon, and it made me go 'Oh no they didn't!'
I missed sleep and half paid attention while at work trying to finish this puppy. It was a bit of a slow start until you start piecing bits and clues together and they you just get swept into the romance and into the mystery.
It's very old-school soap opera with all of the family drama, but it was fun to guess 'who dun it' so to speak. (Though after mid book or so, everything was a bit predictable, which is where the maybe 4, maybe 4.5 comes in.)
Only complaint was in formatting of the ARC; some words and paragraphs were warped and capitalized in the middle of the word, or had random spaces breaking up the word no matter what size I made the font or how many times I deleted and re-downloaded.
April 25, 2024
I picked up this book from a recommendation from Youtube and found a deal that the book for free through Kindle. Usually, I take my time to read e-books that I have on my TBR. This time the cover book called, and I happy it happened.
This story builds layer upon layer. Vashti & Sawyer's story is an interesting one. Sawyer and Vashti have quite the connection right from the beginning. I understood both of their reasons for now wanting to get involved and knew it was inevitable that they would.
Brenda Jackson takes us on a journey of family, betrayal, classism, and small-town gossip that alters the lives of so many in Catalina Cove.
Take the journey into this story of love, deceit, betrayal, forgiveness, secrets, and scandal. You will be amazed, appalled, and awed.
I found a new author, Brenda Jackson, that I look forward to reading everything that she has written, writes, and will write.
This story builds layer upon layer. Vashti & Sawyer's story is an interesting one. Sawyer and Vashti have quite the connection right from the beginning. I understood both of their reasons for now wanting to get involved and knew it was inevitable that they would.
Brenda Jackson takes us on a journey of family, betrayal, classism, and small-town gossip that alters the lives of so many in Catalina Cove.
Take the journey into this story of love, deceit, betrayal, forgiveness, secrets, and scandal. You will be amazed, appalled, and awed.
I found a new author, Brenda Jackson, that I look forward to reading everything that she has written, writes, and will write.
March 14, 2019
I want to know why Bryce has iced out Kaegan. Did I miss something? I really enjoyed this one and can't wait for the second in the series, "Forget Me Not". I've had a couple of misses with Ms. Jackson in the recent past, but "Love in Catalina Cove" is a definite winner that I'd highly recommend.
Review to come
Review to come
August 29, 2020
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book, but there were a few things that bothered me. This book is about a girl named Vashti and a guy named Sawyer. Vashti has to go back to her hometown of Catalina Cove to deal with her deceased aunt's inn. She has a very negative past with the place and the people there so she wants to get in and get out ASAP. On her way there, she gets pulled over for going 5 OVER (what a hardass) by Sawyer. Theres an instant attraction and chemistry between the two and that is the basis for our love story. Neither of them want relationships. He has a 16 year old daughter that he wants to protect and his dead wife was the love of his life. She was burned once by a guy in high school and then again by her recent boyfriend so she is "two and through". So of course when they decide to take things to a physical level they make rules. I hate that trope a lot. Because of course the undeniable chemistry is going to win over all their rules and yada yada. I loved all the secrets and things that were thrown at us in the 2nd half of the book, but you really had to suspend your disbelief to think some of them could actually happen. My last complaint is just that the sex got a little too graphic for me, but it wasn't overwhelming so its not a huge issue. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, there were just a few things that kept me from giving it five stars.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Vashti got pregnant at 16 and everyone in the town shunned her, most of all her own parents. They sent her off to a special home for pregnant teens where she finished out her pregnancy then gave birth to a boy that died shortly after birth-- or so thats what she was told. BUT , while she's in Catalina Cove she talks to the town midwife (who is now in a nursing home suffering from dementia) and finds out the truth. She had wanted to take care of Vashti during her pregnancy but her parents said they wanted to give the baby up for adoption after birth and lie and tell her it died and the midwife wouldn't go along with it. However, the home would. So her child is not actually dead and in a parallel story line we find out that SHE is having potentially fatal kidney issues and needs a donor, thus needs to find her birth parents. The father (who was also a teenager) died shortly after the child so he's not around, but his dad is still an uber conservative leader in Catalina Cove. When it all comes out, he treats Vashti like a daughter and is much kinder than anyone thought possible. BUT an additional twist comes out when Vashti goes to see her daughter. She is an identical twin to Sawyers daughter!! Sawyer's beloved dead wife lied. She lost the baby at 5 months pregnant while he was deployed so he adopted one of Vashti's twins and said it was their own. I know that Vashti was a person of color (though her exact race is not stated) and I don't think Sawyer was, so I guess we are to presume his wife was as well? Otherwise I would think it would be pretty obvious. Long story short, the girls are reunited with everyone, but its done respectfully and Sawyer and Vashti end up together.
I really liked the female friendship in this book and thought it was well done. Overall, I did really enjoy this story- there were just some major flaws for me.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
Vashti got pregnant at 16 and everyone in the town shunned her, most of all her own parents. They sent her off to a special home for pregnant teens where she finished out her pregnancy then gave birth to a boy that died shortly after birth-- or so thats what she was told. BUT , while she's in Catalina Cove she talks to the town midwife (who is now in a nursing home suffering from dementia) and finds out the truth. She had wanted to take care of Vashti during her pregnancy but her parents said they wanted to give the baby up for adoption after birth and lie and tell her it died and the midwife wouldn't go along with it. However, the home would. So her child is not actually dead and in a parallel story line we find out that SHE is having potentially fatal kidney issues and needs a donor, thus needs to find her birth parents. The father (who was also a teenager) died shortly after the child so he's not around, but his dad is still an uber conservative leader in Catalina Cove. When it all comes out, he treats Vashti like a daughter and is much kinder than anyone thought possible. BUT an additional twist comes out when Vashti goes to see her daughter. She is an identical twin to Sawyers daughter!! Sawyer's beloved dead wife lied. She lost the baby at 5 months pregnant while he was deployed so he adopted one of Vashti's twins and said it was their own. I know that Vashti was a person of color (though her exact race is not stated) and I don't think Sawyer was, so I guess we are to presume his wife was as well? Otherwise I would think it would be pretty obvious. Long story short, the girls are reunited with everyone, but its done respectfully and Sawyer and Vashti end up together.
I really liked the female friendship in this book and thought it was well done. Overall, I did really enjoy this story- there were just some major flaws for me.
October 22, 2018
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely mine.
I honestly did not know what to expect going in, but I'm a huge fan of a couple of the author's other series and I don't think you can go wrong with Brenda Jackson. I'll say other than having cursing a storm at the end of the book, it was actually very enjoyable to read, with very little angst and a lot of drama, which was quite appropriate given the subject matter.
Vashti Alcindor planned to never return to Catalina Cove with good reason, but the issues surrounding her inheritance of her aunt's B&B mean she has to break that promise to herself but the potential reward at the end is too good to pass up. Getting a speeding ticket was certainly not in the plan but how else could she have met the town's sexy new sheriff?
Sawyer Grisham gave up a flourishing career in the city for chance to bring his daughter up in a small town where they could heal after losing his wife to cancer and he is certain he would never care for another woman like he did his wife, but fate has a way of throwing a wrench in plans.
With Vashti determined that she was done with men for good and Sawyer wanting to explore his feelings for her, it seemed they were at an impasse. Fate again steps in when Vashti discovers that her parents lied to her twenty years ago and her past and her future are tied to Catalina Cove, in more ways than one.
I enjoyed the slow pace of the story and the fact that the author did not just limit us readers to Vashti and Sawyer's lives, but gave us insights into the lives of the secondary characters, along with creating an extended family of people brought together by fate for good. While Vashti had expected a huge sum of money, what she got was infinitely more valuable.
About the cursing at the end? I'm not a fan of keeping toxic people in my life and it rubbed me the wrong way that Vashti sought to make up with her parents after the decades of massive lies and deceit from them, and even when they had a chance to some clean and own up, they refused to take it. Besides that, this was a really great start to this series and I'm really looking forward to the next book.
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I honestly did not know what to expect going in, but I'm a huge fan of a couple of the author's other series and I don't think you can go wrong with Brenda Jackson. I'll say other than having cursing a storm at the end of the book, it was actually very enjoyable to read, with very little angst and a lot of drama, which was quite appropriate given the subject matter.
Vashti Alcindor planned to never return to Catalina Cove with good reason, but the issues surrounding her inheritance of her aunt's B&B mean she has to break that promise to herself but the potential reward at the end is too good to pass up. Getting a speeding ticket was certainly not in the plan but how else could she have met the town's sexy new sheriff?
Sawyer Grisham gave up a flourishing career in the city for chance to bring his daughter up in a small town where they could heal after losing his wife to cancer and he is certain he would never care for another woman like he did his wife, but fate has a way of throwing a wrench in plans.
With Vashti determined that she was done with men for good and Sawyer wanting to explore his feelings for her, it seemed they were at an impasse. Fate again steps in when Vashti discovers that her parents lied to her twenty years ago and her past and her future are tied to Catalina Cove, in more ways than one.
I enjoyed the slow pace of the story and the fact that the author did not just limit us readers to Vashti and Sawyer's lives, but gave us insights into the lives of the secondary characters, along with creating an extended family of people brought together by fate for good. While Vashti had expected a huge sum of money, what she got was infinitely more valuable.
About the cursing at the end? I'm not a fan of keeping toxic people in my life and it rubbed me the wrong way that Vashti sought to make up with her parents after the decades of massive lies and deceit from them, and even when they had a chance to some clean and own up, they refused to take it. Besides that, this was a really great start to this series and I'm really looking forward to the next book.
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February 11, 2021
Wow! Ms. Jackson outdid herself with this one. Sheesh. The twists and turns I was not expecting. Great mystery, great romance. I recommend this to any and all suspense and romance readers.
August 6, 2020
So many plot twists and revelations!! My mind was blown!
I think I found a new auto buy author!
Summer Fling Romance Readathon Prompt: Author of Color
I think I found a new auto buy author!
Summer Fling Romance Readathon Prompt: Author of Color
June 24, 2019
An inheritance from her beloved Aunt brings Vashti home to the small town that once shamed her over a teen pregnancy. Vashti doesn’t intend to stay for long, but circumstances conspire to keep her there which might not be as miserable a scenario as she thought with an attractive new sheriff in town and with someone else who may be able to shed light on a loss Vashti suffered long ago.
While Vashti and Sawyer are undoubtedly attracted to one another, their attraction was conveyed in such a heavy handed way, constantly ogling one another, assessing each other physically, which I’m sure many readers are perfectly fine with, it’s just not my thing, I don’t mind some overt physical awareness but I do long for some subtlety mixed in here and there.
I also found it just plain weird how strongly Sawyer chastised his daughter for not following a recipe, like attempting to do her own thing was against the law or something. If cooking is the worst thing your teenager experiments with, maybe you shouldn’t complain or you know, rip into her for something that ridiculous, his overreaction and further harping on it later, was just so strange and unappealing (as was the souvenir he keeps from a night with Vashti).
My issues with the romance were definitely personal preferences, but my issues with the book overall were about execution, so much stilted formal dialogue that sounded unnatural, and so much information repeated, recapping things the reader already knows, it felt like filler rather than digging into the meat of the story. Adding to that frustration, the part of the story that had the juiciest potential, the mystery surrounding Vashti’s pregnancy, took far too many convoluted turns reliant on coincidence.
The way this was written reminded me so much of Danielle Steel’s more recent work, where I’m left shaking my head, wondering how a narrative this repetitive could have slipped past an editor. Was the author rushed to meet a deadline? If you’re an automatic bestseller does an editor back off and assume they’re no longer needed?
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work out all that well for me. I am open to trying something else by this author somewhere down the road though, since so many other readers do enjoy her work and perhaps this one just wasn’t representative of her best.
While Vashti and Sawyer are undoubtedly attracted to one another, their attraction was conveyed in such a heavy handed way, constantly ogling one another, assessing each other physically, which I’m sure many readers are perfectly fine with, it’s just not my thing, I don’t mind some overt physical awareness but I do long for some subtlety mixed in here and there.
I also found it just plain weird how strongly Sawyer chastised his daughter for not following a recipe, like attempting to do her own thing was against the law or something. If cooking is the worst thing your teenager experiments with, maybe you shouldn’t complain or you know, rip into her for something that ridiculous, his overreaction and further harping on it later, was just so strange and unappealing (as was the souvenir he keeps from a night with Vashti).
My issues with the romance were definitely personal preferences, but my issues with the book overall were about execution, so much stilted formal dialogue that sounded unnatural, and so much information repeated, recapping things the reader already knows, it felt like filler rather than digging into the meat of the story. Adding to that frustration, the part of the story that had the juiciest potential, the mystery surrounding Vashti’s pregnancy, took far too many convoluted turns reliant on coincidence.
The way this was written reminded me so much of Danielle Steel’s more recent work, where I’m left shaking my head, wondering how a narrative this repetitive could have slipped past an editor. Was the author rushed to meet a deadline? If you’re an automatic bestseller does an editor back off and assume they’re no longer needed?
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work out all that well for me. I am open to trying something else by this author somewhere down the road though, since so many other readers do enjoy her work and perhaps this one just wasn’t representative of her best.
November 3, 2018
“Because I was told that anger, bitterness, and animosity are too much baggage for anyone to carry around. At some point you have to let it go. Otherwise it will destroy you.”
This book had a slow build to a far-fetched climax. Overall, it was an ok book that didn’t have me rushing to my kindle whenever I had a free moment. 3 stars
This book had a slow build to a far-fetched climax. Overall, it was an ok book that didn’t have me rushing to my kindle whenever I had a free moment. 3 stars
June 27, 2020
So, wow, I cannot say I was expecting what happened in this book. I can ride with a lot of soap opera elements (I was born and raised on soaps) but I have to be expecting them, and maybe I should have been considering the second book was an amnesia book, but I was not. I am just going to do a brief breakdown so you can see what I mean.
That's a lot, right? And it was just a bad reader to book match for the present moment. I can see myself having enjoyed this much more at another time, but this is the time I read it, and that's why it was only okay for me.
That's a lot, right? And it was just a bad reader to book match for the present moment. I can see myself having enjoyed this much more at another time, but this is the time I read it, and that's why it was only okay for me.
October 15, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from TLC Booktours in exchange for an honest review. After reading quite a few thrillers recently this book was a lovely change of pace. This was a love story set in Catalina Cove, Louisiana. Vashti has returned to her hometown for the first time since leaving as soon as she finished high school. She has returned fourteen years later only to sell her aunt’s inn after her death. Vashti doesn’t have fond memories of her home town after encountering scrutiny and scorn because of her teenage pregnancy. Upon her return she very quickly meets Sawyer, the sheriff in town, and they immediately have a connection. This is a love story with some mystery and twists involved. Most of the twists you see coming but this is still a very enjoyable read. The writing describing the town, the inn, and the beach transports you there. The characters are well written and interesting. There is going to be a sequel following other characters in Catalina Cove and I’ll be eagerly looking forward to that.
December 17, 2020
Pretty Good!!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Fairly standard Brenda Jackson fare, until around mid-book when it started heat up. There are some REALLY GOOD twists and turns that'll throw you for a loop, but they really add some substance to the story. Bravo Mrs. Jackson!!
Buy it, read it and enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥
Fairly standard Brenda Jackson fare, until around mid-book when it started heat up. There are some REALLY GOOD twists and turns that'll throw you for a loop, but they really add some substance to the story. Bravo Mrs. Jackson!!
Buy it, read it and enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥
October 11, 2024
Steamy hallmark in a book!
A bit too circly and too big of emotions that switch on a dime for me. A little cheesy and too many repeating “she needed to be held in his arms” like girl how did you live life before if you can’t function as an independent person now 😬also, this libido can’t be realistic 😂
I did love the father/daughter relationship and work ethics of the characters! There were some good surprises.
A bit too circly and too big of emotions that switch on a dime for me. A little cheesy and too many repeating “she needed to be held in his arms” like girl how did you live life before if you can’t function as an independent person now 😬also, this libido can’t be realistic 😂
I did love the father/daughter relationship and work ethics of the characters! There were some good surprises.
September 21, 2019
Wow is all i can say about this read...loved it
January 2, 2019
This book was incredibly flat, and it was hard to read. I kept wanting to skip a whole bunch of pages, but was afraid I’d miss the paragraph where the pace picked up.
The two leads had no chemistry, matter of fact, they reminded me of teenagers. His personality was particularly boring, at complete odds with his description.
The conversations reminded me of two kids on the phone when it’s to to go, ‘you hang up, no you hang up’
This was bad y’all, really really bad.
The two leads had no chemistry, matter of fact, they reminded me of teenagers. His personality was particularly boring, at complete odds with his description.
The conversations reminded me of two kids on the phone when it’s to to go, ‘you hang up, no you hang up’
This was bad y’all, really really bad.
April 26, 2021
I LOVED this book!!! It was so good. I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
July 11, 2020
Ahh this was so cute I loved it and I was so shocked. I can’t say anything cause then I’ll ruin the book but I definitely recommend this.
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