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The Love Barn #1

Give Me Back My Man

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Scarlett Lively lives for love. Helping her cousins establish their historic barn as a wedding venue and designing magical ceremonies has finally given her life purpose. But her heart is still off-limits. At least until she falls for the dreamiest man she's ever seen. The chemistry is off the charts and his toe-curling kisses leave her wanting more. There's just one problem. He's a client.

Jilted groom Cole Odell moved his whole life to the small, Texas town of Ransom for a bride who left him high and dry. He's used to being alone and history has taught him small towns aren't kind to men with sordid pasts. All he wants is to get by quietly until he can move on from this chapter, but Scarlett stirs a desire in him he can't ignore. He wants to keep her smiling and the bad memories at bay, but he knows he's not the man for her. Even if he wants to be.

Two people afraid to open up find solace in each other's arms. If they have the courage to make the leap, they might just find the future they've both been searching for.

The Love Barn:
1) Give Me Back My Man
2) Summer of Love
3) Party Out of Bounds

Texas SWAT:
1) Fighting Redemption
2) Stolen Redemption
3) Reckless Redemption (coming soon)

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2018

255 people are currently reading
212 people want to read

About the author

Sidney Bristol

122 books957 followers
It can never be said that NYT & USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol has had a ‘normal’ life. She is a recovering roller derby queen, former missionary, and tattoo addict. She grew up in a motor-home on the US highways (with an occasional jaunt into Canada and Mexico), traveling the rodeo circuit with her parents. Sidney has lived abroad in both Russia and Thailand, working with children and teenagers. She now lives in Texas where she splits her time between a job she loves, writing, reading and fostering cats.

Sidney is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.

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5 stars
91 (34%)
4 stars
96 (35%)
3 stars
57 (21%)
2 stars
14 (5%)
1 star
9 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,009 reviews33 followers
October 11, 2018
ARC REVIEW

The Love Barn #1 A great fall romance. I am so glad Sidney Bristol decided to do this spin-off. When I read about Scarlett and the Love Barn in Stolen Redemption I knew I wanted more and this delivers. I look forward to Garth and Benji's books. It maybe a spin-off but you can pick this up and read it just fine without having read the other series. The book has some great comedy elements in it like the pig issue or Cole trying to figure out they how and most definitely the why of a high school homecoming mum and even the fact that I have Love Shack stuck in my head, thank you very much. It's not all fun and games the emotional conflict between Scarlett and Cole, the sexual chemistry and the connection they feel it really brings out the best in them and at the same time all of Scarlett's worries comes forefront in her mind.

Cole's broken engagement is too recent he shouldn't be feeling this way about another woman so soon but what isn't there to love about Scarlett, she's perfect for him. Scarlett has a plan and falling in love with Cole ruins that plan. Her past relationship really screwed with her head and now she's doubting everything even her own feelings, and when the ex-fiancee shows up it all hits the fan and Cole really mucks it all up and now he's willing to move heaven and earth to get Scarlett back. Overall, this was a very enjoyable read. I love Sidney Bristol's writing and she really brings Ransom Texas to life with their go big or go home small town dynamic and the L.O. L.s are fantastic, love those meddling busy bodies.

description
1,672 reviews43 followers
May 16, 2020
This was my first book by author Sydney Bristol. If this is an example of what she's capable of it won't be my last. If nothing else I'll definitely read the rest of the Love Barn series. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because of the poor editing. There were just too many annoying typos.
I really enjoy it when a contemporary romance doesn't have so outlandish reason for the couple to overcome to get to their HEA. In this story we have Scarlett, a young woman who has learned that she falls in love and gives her heart to readily. After her last relationship proves to have built upon lies she has a plan to get her life together before giving love another chance. But she hadn't counted on meeting Cole Odell, a man whose mere presence sets her body on fire. Cole has overcome a tough childhood to make something of his life but his background leaves him feeling unworthy of love. He falls into an easy relationship with A.K. and agrees to marry her. He agrees to move to her hometown of Ransom Texas and establish a life with her. Only to discover when he arrives that she's left him. He only plans to remain in Ransom until he can sort out his life and move on. Then he meets Scarlett. He's drawn to her like iron to a magnet. But he's just had his engagement to another woman broken. He can't get involved with someone else so soon and Scarlett has no interest in being a rebound love or getting involved with a man who doesn't know what he wants. Still neither can resist the pull they feel for each other. Their road to HEA isn't smooth. Scarlett's history causes her mind to create problems where there aren't any. Then when Cole's former fiancée finally returns to Ransom he handles his reaction to her poorly creating a crevice between he and Scarlett to overcome. Fortunately he has the help of nearly everyone in Ransom to help hi win Scarlett back. The small town vibe was great with the LOLs and Scarlett's group of close knit friends. The issues with her cousins added some tension. The sex was hot. The epilogue left me wanting to read what happens with Scarlett's cousins and Cole's sisters. Really good story.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Connor.
1,466 reviews41 followers
October 15, 2018
This book was a departure from Sidney Bristol’s usual edge-of-your-seat romantic adventures, more of a purely contemporary romance. I liked it. It was another visit to Ransom Texas to spend time with some familiar characters in a place that feels like home. The tension in the plot was simply the type of tension you'd expect from any romance, and perhaps because I am so accustomed to the usual drama Ms. Bristol injects into her stories (mafia, gangs, psycho-killers, drug dealers, and so on), I found this refreshing.

There was no real villain in this book. Even AK, who seems like she could be villainous, is actually just a misguided and damaged person. Cole, who could have been a real mess based on his upbringing, was pretty great. Scarlet, orphaned when quite young, damaged by an abusive ex-, and an eternal optimist/romantic, was extremely likable.

It was inevitable that there would be some angst, but the cause of it surprised me. The solution was not a complete surprise, but it was fun anyway. Overall, it was a fun story with relatable characters, and I recommend it.
Profile Image for Heather.
749 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2020
This was a cute hometown story with good characters. This the first in a series, but I believe can be read as a standalone. This was Scarlett and Cole’s story.

Scarlett has had a rough romantic past, but still believes in love. She runs a wedding venue with her brothers. She has implemented a dating hiatus for herself, but as soon as she meets Cole she isn’t sure she can keep her goal.

Cole left his life and moved to this small town because of his fiancé. Once they got here there, she called off the wedding and now he is stuck with a new job, strange town and the cost of a wedding that isn’t going to happen. He comes across Scarlett by chance and their relationship blooms from there.

This is a nice story of finding true love. There was a bit too much back and forth for my taste. I enjoy a little he loves me he loves me not, but this went on too long for me. Plus there really needs to be a redo on the proofread. Too many errors. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars.
Profile Image for Jennie Fortna.
2,546 reviews29 followers
October 30, 2018
ARC for honest review with no compensation 4.5 stars

Give Me Back My Man is book 1 in the Love Barn series by Sidney Bristol. Looking forward to reading about Scarlett’s brothers!!

Scarlett runs the Love Barn which is a wedding venue and meets Cole while she is trying to get a pig out of her garden. He has come to the Love Barn to see if he might recoup his money back after he is jilted right before the wedding...hearing someone yelling he runs to the rescue and ends up pushing Scarlett in the mud along with himself but not capturing the pig!

Instant attraction, laughter, jilted groom, pig on the loose, family that’s cursed, a guarded heart, second chances are just some of the things happening in this book. Once you start reading it’s hard to put down because you want to know what will happen next to these two!!!
Profile Image for Julia Gerard.
694 reviews9 followers
October 18, 2018
Love the Love Barn! Scarlet meets Cole pig wrestling, not really, but the did meet wrestling a pig out of the garden! And an instant attraction is there! But Cole is a jilted groom who want is money back, and move on from the runaway bride who took his dog! Scarlet can't entertain crossing the line with a customer even the Hot Cole. There's the family curse and all, plus an overbearing cousin! The LOL ladies see things differently though! I found this story to be sweet, endearing, and steamy can't forget steamy! And nice start to a new series!
2,042 reviews3 followers
November 2, 2018
Unlike the other books that I've read from this author, there is no great action to this story. No-one is in trouble & needing help. Rather, this is just a sweet, small town romance that is utterly charming. There is lots of fun, snappy dialogue, quirkiness & love. There are even cameos from characters from the Texas SWAT series. Great read
Profile Image for Paige Norman.
610 reviews3 followers
February 8, 2021
Loved the pig! Great conflict resolution between the two main characters, with a lot of family conflict resolution too! Scarlett and Cole are great together and I love how they worked at their relationship and through their challenges. Plus lots of fun with town biddies, interfering relatives, a weird ex and reunited family too. Plus the groveling was great :)
Profile Image for Cynthia.
3,201 reviews101 followers
September 13, 2020
Love Lost, Then Found.

Cole moved to Ransom to start his new job after his ex girlfriend left him. Took his dog and car. It was her hometown. But he meets Scarlett the woman who is working on their wedding. They start off as friends, but there is so much more.
Profile Image for Linda Rea.
2,190 reviews15 followers
September 13, 2020
This story was so sweet and a little sad but I was happy with the ending. Scarlett and her cousins run the wedding venue in town and when Cole shows up to cancel his her heart is being pulled right toward him. Scarlett has always been a romantic but it never works out for her but maybe this might?
Profile Image for Suanne.
Author 10 books1,011 followers
Read
November 5, 2022
Cute story but lots and lots of problems with the mechanics of writing (spelling, punctuation, confusion with possessives, confusion with homophones, etc) that I nearly threw the book across the room multiple times.
157 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2024
Story good. Editing crapola

When the editing stops you in your tracks and you have to backtrack to decipher what the author meant, it detracts from the flow. The characters are fun. The editing is crap.
Profile Image for RomanceIsMyJam.
516 reviews
April 25, 2024
I DNF’d at 11%. I just can’t get into a book that is going to be back and forth angsty blah. This story barely drew me in at the beginning and it just isn’t keeping me around. This is good for someone, but it’s going to be a pass from me.
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,012 reviews
May 17, 2020
This story was annoying. It needs a rewrite so many errors. They met there was chemistry but they kept fighting it as these stories go and finally a happy ending but could have been a lot better
Profile Image for Suanne Anderson.
5 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2020
Story is cute, but needs a better proofreader. Missing & wrong words threw me right out of the story.
Profile Image for Evelyn.
361 reviews
June 28, 2020
Read as part of Hometown Hope free box set - "There's No Place Like Home"
Profile Image for Linda.
1,174 reviews26 followers
September 16, 2020
Great story with great characters. You got drawn in right away and could just feel what was going to happen...and it did! They earned their HEA.
Profile Image for Amy.
291 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2020
Story is ok, but would have been better if it had been proofed. Some of the mistakes are awkward.
411 reviews
January 31, 2021
Great read

Great characters strong resilient small town family help and protect each other. Love at first site but was it just a rebound
relationship or true love.
163 reviews
October 7, 2020
Good But

What ruined this book for me was the editing. How difficult can it be to correct spelling and sentence structure? I also found some of this book for me to be very graphic. Sex is great but too much detail spoils a book. I feel that this is the only book I will read by this Author.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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