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A Love Story #12
Blow
If only one breath could change everything.
Millie Hart has built her career on love. Between the pages of her bestsellers, women find their heroes and pursue the lives of their dreams. But despite millions of happy readers, Millie is hungry for the approval of the literary world, specifically her father. So, despite her agent’s objections, Millie embarks on a new, grittier writing project.
All she needs is four months in Bodega Bay. No meet-cutes, no kissing, just blissful silence.
Drake Branch’s life has been a masterclass in persistence. Ever since the accident, he’s had to tackle hurdles — mental and physical — to stand on his own. But years into a successful glass business with his best friend, Drake is back, save the panic-inducing noise from the metalworks shop next door.
Not a problem. All Drake needs is music — loud music.
Millie and Drake are soon at odds with everything from playlists to pajamas, and it’s going to be one long, hot summer — unless they can learn that some books are more than their covers, one breath can change the shape of everything, and true family often shows up in the most unlikely of places.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 18, 2019
59 people are currently reading
775 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Ewens
15 books191 followersTracy Ewens is the contemporary romance author of fifteen Love Story books.
She lives and writes in Arizona, has a dog named Jack, and takes her tea with almond milk.
Stop by www.tracyewens.com to sign up for updates and news.
She lives and writes in Arizona, has a dog named Jack, and takes her tea with almond milk.
Stop by www.tracyewens.com to sign up for updates and news.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 6, 2019
A sweet romance novel set in a tourist town that is very aware of its romance tropes (because the protagonist is a romance writer.) Millie is there to write Serious Literature instead of romance, but the locals and garden gnomes are not cooperating. .
June 18, 2019
4.25 Stars
Longer review to come. For now…
Millie and Drake both brought their own unique (and sometimes abundant) issues to the table, but I loved them together. This is my first read from Tracy Ewans, but after finishing Blow: A Love Story, I plan on stalking her past releases for more goodness.
Her writing is so down to earth and evocative at the same time and I couldn’t help but get hooked. I thought it felt a little long in a few places, but for the most part, Millie and Drake were so likeable and real that the story continued to hold my interest.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Longer review to come. For now…
Millie and Drake both brought their own unique (and sometimes abundant) issues to the table, but I loved them together. This is my first read from Tracy Ewans, but after finishing Blow: A Love Story, I plan on stalking her past releases for more goodness.
Her writing is so down to earth and evocative at the same time and I couldn’t help but get hooked. I thought it felt a little long in a few places, but for the most part, Millie and Drake were so likeable and real that the story continued to hold my interest.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 10, 2019
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired
Millie Hart writes romance, the happy endings that readers want for themselves, but she knows she can do more. In one last attempt to impress her scholarly father Millie sets out to write the complete opposite of romance, but first she'll need to get somewhere secluded, somewhere moody, somewhere not filled with a lawn of gnomes. Unfortunately, a lawn of gnomes and a cheery cottage is what she's got, so she's going to make the most of it, at least until the hears the 80's music blaring from next door. Drake is all bark no bite, but he needs the music to work and something about his temporary neighbor and her insane pajamas has him growling a bit more often. She refuses to let her neighbor stop her from literary success, but she doesn't plan on their chemistry, their witty banter, the charm of the town, or her brain's natural tendency to write a meet cute into a happily ever after starring herself.
Another instant hint from Tracy Ewens filled with heat and heart! Blow is the realistic love story told from the alternative perspective of Millie and Drake. It's a classic case of small town locals meets big shot out of towner, no one wants to let her in, but Millie seems to be holding the key to Bodega Bay's missing pieces and soon it's just Drake having a hard time opening up. Millie was not my favorite at first, she's all talk and money, but then she opens up and we get to see she's wearing the same armor we all have on, the one we made out of our parent's opinions, our past hurts, our dreams and the struggles we've gone through to get them. Drake is handsome, intimidating, and a bit entitled, but he's got a story behind him too and getting to know it made me fall for him hard. Millie and Drake don't seem to be a pair of puzzle pieces meant to be together, but somehow they fit even if it takes them an entire novel to figure it out. They annoy one another, they bicker, but they understand one another and it makes for such a charming love story.
Like all Tracy Ewens novels, I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with the characters and town that she brings to life on the pages. The A Love Story series consists of several standalone novels that take place in cute northern California towns. They feature relatable characters going through real life situations and finding love along the way. The characters are quirky, the dialogue feels natural, and the writing is just stellar. I am forever a fan of this series and Blow is at the top of that list now.
ARC provided.
Millie Hart writes romance, the happy endings that readers want for themselves, but she knows she can do more. In one last attempt to impress her scholarly father Millie sets out to write the complete opposite of romance, but first she'll need to get somewhere secluded, somewhere moody, somewhere not filled with a lawn of gnomes. Unfortunately, a lawn of gnomes and a cheery cottage is what she's got, so she's going to make the most of it, at least until the hears the 80's music blaring from next door. Drake is all bark no bite, but he needs the music to work and something about his temporary neighbor and her insane pajamas has him growling a bit more often. She refuses to let her neighbor stop her from literary success, but she doesn't plan on their chemistry, their witty banter, the charm of the town, or her brain's natural tendency to write a meet cute into a happily ever after starring herself.
Another instant hint from Tracy Ewens filled with heat and heart! Blow is the realistic love story told from the alternative perspective of Millie and Drake. It's a classic case of small town locals meets big shot out of towner, no one wants to let her in, but Millie seems to be holding the key to Bodega Bay's missing pieces and soon it's just Drake having a hard time opening up. Millie was not my favorite at first, she's all talk and money, but then she opens up and we get to see she's wearing the same armor we all have on, the one we made out of our parent's opinions, our past hurts, our dreams and the struggles we've gone through to get them. Drake is handsome, intimidating, and a bit entitled, but he's got a story behind him too and getting to know it made me fall for him hard. Millie and Drake don't seem to be a pair of puzzle pieces meant to be together, but somehow they fit even if it takes them an entire novel to figure it out. They annoy one another, they bicker, but they understand one another and it makes for such a charming love story.
Like all Tracy Ewens novels, I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with the characters and town that she brings to life on the pages. The A Love Story series consists of several standalone novels that take place in cute northern California towns. They feature relatable characters going through real life situations and finding love along the way. The characters are quirky, the dialogue feels natural, and the writing is just stellar. I am forever a fan of this series and Blow is at the top of that list now.
ARC provided.
June 18, 2019
Millie Hart is a successful romance writer, but her father has never respected her career choices or her work. After a brutal rejection at Christmas where she stood outside his bookshop looking in at him and his friends having a good time while she had her nose pressed up against the window like the little match girl, Millie decides that she will write a ‘serious’ novel, with absolutely no romance. She leaves the city and rents a cottage in Bodega Bay for four months to write seriously.
Drake Branch lives in an Airstream which is parked close to the cottage Millie has rented, he also owns a glass blowing business BP Glass Works with his best friend which is also close to Millie’s cottage. Six years ago he had a serious bike accident in which he lost his left arm. Since the accident he’s rebuilt his life in every way, relearning how to do the most basic tasks, so what if he has a few ‘issues’ that’s his business, if annoying tourists down for the weekend don’t like his loud music that’s just too bad, he can’t bear to hear the noise from the nearby metalworks (reminds him too much of the crash) and the music is the only thing that drowns out the noise.
Millie can’t believe the hot guy can be so rude, the last thing a serious writer needs is to be woken up to Wham at full blast – she needs gloom and despondency not blue skies and upbeat pop music! Try as she might, writing a dark, twisty novel full of trauma and angst just isn’t working for Millie, so she tries distracting herself by getting to know the locals.
Drake might not like Millie but he’s the only one who doesn’t, soon she giving advice to his apprentice on her university entrance essays and giving readings at his aunt’s romance book shop, in a small town everyone knows everyone else and so everywhere he turns he sees Millie or his annoying little sister trying to stir up a romance!
I am a great fan of Tracy Ewens’ novels and this was no exception, she writes engaging characters with real life problems and memorable minor characters. There was angst, but not too much, humour and good plot development. What made this romance stand out was the shout out to so many other great romance writers as Millie and Drake’s aunt compare authors and favourite books – it was fun to see with how many books/authors I was familiar, and to get recommendations for those where I wasn’t.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Drake Branch lives in an Airstream which is parked close to the cottage Millie has rented, he also owns a glass blowing business BP Glass Works with his best friend which is also close to Millie’s cottage. Six years ago he had a serious bike accident in which he lost his left arm. Since the accident he’s rebuilt his life in every way, relearning how to do the most basic tasks, so what if he has a few ‘issues’ that’s his business, if annoying tourists down for the weekend don’t like his loud music that’s just too bad, he can’t bear to hear the noise from the nearby metalworks (reminds him too much of the crash) and the music is the only thing that drowns out the noise.
Millie can’t believe the hot guy can be so rude, the last thing a serious writer needs is to be woken up to Wham at full blast – she needs gloom and despondency not blue skies and upbeat pop music! Try as she might, writing a dark, twisty novel full of trauma and angst just isn’t working for Millie, so she tries distracting herself by getting to know the locals.
Drake might not like Millie but he’s the only one who doesn’t, soon she giving advice to his apprentice on her university entrance essays and giving readings at his aunt’s romance book shop, in a small town everyone knows everyone else and so everywhere he turns he sees Millie or his annoying little sister trying to stir up a romance!
I am a great fan of Tracy Ewens’ novels and this was no exception, she writes engaging characters with real life problems and memorable minor characters. There was angst, but not too much, humour and good plot development. What made this romance stand out was the shout out to so many other great romance writers as Millie and Drake’s aunt compare authors and favourite books – it was fun to see with how many books/authors I was familiar, and to get recommendations for those where I wasn’t.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
June 19, 2019
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I didn't know what to expect when I got approved to read Blow. The cover drew me in and the description drew me in even farther. There's something about people with a dark past being inspired to overcome it. Blow is a beautiful book about two people coming together, despite their past difficulties, and learning to face their fears head on. Told in dual POV, Blow is a slow burn romance novel that will keep you interested the whole way through.
Millie Hart is a spunky romance writer who escapes to Bodega Bay to write a more serious novel to try and gain her father's approval. I instantly loved Millie. She is fun, upbeat, and unapologetically herself. She loves popcorn, reading, and writing romance novels. Aren't you obsessed already? Millie rents a cottage for 4 months in order to get some peace and quiet, away from her normal life, to write a new literary novel. The problem with her plan? Her next door neighbor, Drake, who is facing demons of his own.
Drake survived a life threatening accident and is dealing with the repercussions 6 years later. Drake thinks Millie is another annoying tourist who will be gone in a couple short days, but soon finds out he is mistaken. At first, Drake is portrayed as kind of a prick, but the more you get to know him, you can't help but fall in love with his soft side.
I honestly loved almost everything about this book. The setting was amazing. Bodega Bay is a small tourist town with local traditions that values family and small business. I immediately want to pack my house and move there. From the cottage Millie stayed in, to the restaurants, to the town traditions, you will instantly fall in love with this waterfront town.
Every character introduced in this book was extremely well written. I felt like I knew and loved every single one of them. Family was a big aspect in Blow and I loved how it helped form the story. I loved Drake's sisters and his niece, they really shaped Drake's character and helped you to understand him more. Hey Tracy, you should definitely write a book about Jules and Tyler because I would buy that INSTANTLY. They were a love story BEGGING to be written. Also, Aunt Nikki is my favorite and I want to be her when I grow up.
Here's what kept this from being a 5 star read for me. Sometimes I felt so confused as to what the author was trying to say or portray, like I was missing a piece of the story. Other times, things would happen out of nowhere and I felt confused as to how the characters got to that place. One of those times was when they exchanged "I love you" for the first time. I felt as if these things kept me from being able to fully immerse myself. There was also a lack of commas that constantly made me go back and reread sentences, trying to figure out what the author was trying to say (I know this is an ARC). In addition, the ending wasn't my favorite. It was fairly predictable and for how good this book was, I really felt like the author slacked a little on the conclusion. Endings really make or break a book for me. They can make a bad book amazing or an amazing book bad in a matter of a couple paragraphs. I felt Millie and Drake deserved something more special, however, I'm sure a lot of readers will be satisfied. The sex scenes weren't explicit but you knew they were there which I greatly appreciated.
This book gives me K. Tucker vibes and I will definitely be looking in to other books written by this author. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a deeper romance novel.
Blow: A love story is out now!
I didn't know what to expect when I got approved to read Blow. The cover drew me in and the description drew me in even farther. There's something about people with a dark past being inspired to overcome it. Blow is a beautiful book about two people coming together, despite their past difficulties, and learning to face their fears head on. Told in dual POV, Blow is a slow burn romance novel that will keep you interested the whole way through.
Millie Hart is a spunky romance writer who escapes to Bodega Bay to write a more serious novel to try and gain her father's approval. I instantly loved Millie. She is fun, upbeat, and unapologetically herself. She loves popcorn, reading, and writing romance novels. Aren't you obsessed already? Millie rents a cottage for 4 months in order to get some peace and quiet, away from her normal life, to write a new literary novel. The problem with her plan? Her next door neighbor, Drake, who is facing demons of his own.
Drake survived a life threatening accident and is dealing with the repercussions 6 years later. Drake thinks Millie is another annoying tourist who will be gone in a couple short days, but soon finds out he is mistaken. At first, Drake is portrayed as kind of a prick, but the more you get to know him, you can't help but fall in love with his soft side.
I honestly loved almost everything about this book. The setting was amazing. Bodega Bay is a small tourist town with local traditions that values family and small business. I immediately want to pack my house and move there. From the cottage Millie stayed in, to the restaurants, to the town traditions, you will instantly fall in love with this waterfront town.
Every character introduced in this book was extremely well written. I felt like I knew and loved every single one of them. Family was a big aspect in Blow and I loved how it helped form the story. I loved Drake's sisters and his niece, they really shaped Drake's character and helped you to understand him more. Hey Tracy, you should definitely write a book about Jules and Tyler because I would buy that INSTANTLY. They were a love story BEGGING to be written. Also, Aunt Nikki is my favorite and I want to be her when I grow up.
Here's what kept this from being a 5 star read for me. Sometimes I felt so confused as to what the author was trying to say or portray, like I was missing a piece of the story. Other times, things would happen out of nowhere and I felt confused as to how the characters got to that place. One of those times was when they exchanged "I love you" for the first time. I felt as if these things kept me from being able to fully immerse myself. There was also a lack of commas that constantly made me go back and reread sentences, trying to figure out what the author was trying to say (I know this is an ARC). In addition, the ending wasn't my favorite. It was fairly predictable and for how good this book was, I really felt like the author slacked a little on the conclusion. Endings really make or break a book for me. They can make a bad book amazing or an amazing book bad in a matter of a couple paragraphs. I felt Millie and Drake deserved something more special, however, I'm sure a lot of readers will be satisfied. The sex scenes weren't explicit but you knew they were there which I greatly appreciated.
This book gives me K. Tucker vibes and I will definitely be looking in to other books written by this author. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a deeper romance novel.
Blow: A love story is out now!
April 12, 2025
This book was complete dreck. I know it was a romance, but it was so poorly written and so boring I dreaded reading it. I felt I had to finish it because I bought it thinking that a love story between a glass blower and a writer sounded interesting. The author manages to make these vocations so utterly banal and monotonous. I recommend you steer clear.
September 27, 2019
It was fine (but worst title).
July 1, 2019
”Her stories were not about sadness or the everyday cruel things people did to one another. Instead, they were the pure delight that emerged from the bits of love Millie remembered and still clung to with all her might.”
Blow: A Love Story is bursting with so much warmth that it will just naturally rub off on you. This is the first glimpse of the sun after days of storm and thunder. A perfect dream to be lost in to escape the ugly nightmares and I definitely basked in the happiness that this book radiates.
Blow: A Love Story follows the story of Millie, a NYT bestselling author, as she spends the next four months in a rental house in the small town of Bodega Bay in hopes that she could write her new book in peace. However, it is not peace she found when the next morning she was awaken by the loud blasting of her neighbor’s terrible playlists. Residing next door is the local hero slash glassblower Drake, who happens to be just as broken as Millie was.
Goodness. I’m so bad at writing summaries.
Anyway, I think it’s best that I started this book without any expectations at all. It is a surprise that I actually enjoyed the book and that I found myself invested with the characters. Millie is an unassuming, funny, and wonderful character that I easily fell in love with. Her experiences are very relatable because admit it or not, we all craved for a parent’s validation. Her tragic past of losing her mom and dealing with her restrained relationship with her father accentuated Millie’s resilience. It was also prominent how these chunks of her life shaped her as a person. On the other hand, Drake, who may appear stoic, is actually a softie on the inside. For once, I am so glad that I didn’t have to deal with men rubbing off all that toxic masculinity. Drake’s character honestly tug at my heart. He is very family-oriented, which, we have to admit ladies, is a huge turn-on. Having lost his arm from a traumatic accident, Drake struggles to mend his broken parts by unknowingly patching them up with “Band-aids” instead of actually confronting his fears.
What I loved most about these characters is that their personalities lie beyond surface level and that I empathize with their struggles and ugly experiences. I felt deep in my bones their desperation to move on and leave the moors of their past behind, but never really succeeding because they are constantly being dragged backward by the thing that tethers them to their pasts. Somehow, having found each other led them to confronting their own battles, scared but hopeful.
The romance took its sweet, sweet time to burn, maybe even slow-moving than I would have liked but nevertheless something I certainly enjoyed. It made all the anticipation worth it. I also think this book resonated to a lot of romance authors in terms of the struggles they experience like being shamed and belittled for writing romance, which I think is really stupid. There shouldn’t be inferiority among genres and authors because every single author equally pours their best effort in every book they write, whatever genre that may be.
Now, let’s deal with the reasons that made me tick a star and a half. Firstly, it was a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. As much as I enjoy romance, this isn’t something I would readily pick up any day, or something I would be in a mood to read. You may think, “Now, you’re talking bluff. I thought you enjoyed this?” I enjoyed it truly, but it lacks the feels and the swoon that I constantly look for in a romance book. I was invested, but not invested enough to love it. Second, the writing was amazing, that’s for sure, but many times I find it unnecessarily lengthy that most of the chapters stretched out. Too detailed, too many descriptions. Third, there are scenes that had me grinning like a fool, but some scenes and dialogues are a little too though-out and therefore unlifelike. There are instances where I’d read a dialogue and say, “Yeah, that doesn’t happen in real life” like that one time where Drake’s sisters talk about his sex life with Millie in front of Millie. I cringed over that scene.
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
3.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Tracy Ewens for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blow: A Love Story is bursting with so much warmth that it will just naturally rub off on you. This is the first glimpse of the sun after days of storm and thunder. A perfect dream to be lost in to escape the ugly nightmares and I definitely basked in the happiness that this book radiates.
Blow: A Love Story follows the story of Millie, a NYT bestselling author, as she spends the next four months in a rental house in the small town of Bodega Bay in hopes that she could write her new book in peace. However, it is not peace she found when the next morning she was awaken by the loud blasting of her neighbor’s terrible playlists. Residing next door is the local hero slash glassblower Drake, who happens to be just as broken as Millie was.
Goodness. I’m so bad at writing summaries.
Anyway, I think it’s best that I started this book without any expectations at all. It is a surprise that I actually enjoyed the book and that I found myself invested with the characters. Millie is an unassuming, funny, and wonderful character that I easily fell in love with. Her experiences are very relatable because admit it or not, we all craved for a parent’s validation. Her tragic past of losing her mom and dealing with her restrained relationship with her father accentuated Millie’s resilience. It was also prominent how these chunks of her life shaped her as a person. On the other hand, Drake, who may appear stoic, is actually a softie on the inside. For once, I am so glad that I didn’t have to deal with men rubbing off all that toxic masculinity. Drake’s character honestly tug at my heart. He is very family-oriented, which, we have to admit ladies, is a huge turn-on. Having lost his arm from a traumatic accident, Drake struggles to mend his broken parts by unknowingly patching them up with “Band-aids” instead of actually confronting his fears.
What I loved most about these characters is that their personalities lie beyond surface level and that I empathize with their struggles and ugly experiences. I felt deep in my bones their desperation to move on and leave the moors of their past behind, but never really succeeding because they are constantly being dragged backward by the thing that tethers them to their pasts. Somehow, having found each other led them to confronting their own battles, scared but hopeful.
The romance took its sweet, sweet time to burn, maybe even slow-moving than I would have liked but nevertheless something I certainly enjoyed. It made all the anticipation worth it. I also think this book resonated to a lot of romance authors in terms of the struggles they experience like being shamed and belittled for writing romance, which I think is really stupid. There shouldn’t be inferiority among genres and authors because every single author equally pours their best effort in every book they write, whatever genre that may be.
Now, let’s deal with the reasons that made me tick a star and a half. Firstly, it was a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. As much as I enjoy romance, this isn’t something I would readily pick up any day, or something I would be in a mood to read. You may think, “Now, you’re talking bluff. I thought you enjoyed this?” I enjoyed it truly, but it lacks the feels and the swoon that I constantly look for in a romance book. I was invested, but not invested enough to love it. Second, the writing was amazing, that’s for sure, but many times I find it unnecessarily lengthy that most of the chapters stretched out. Too detailed, too many descriptions. Third, there are scenes that had me grinning like a fool, but some scenes and dialogues are a little too though-out and therefore unlifelike. There are instances where I’d read a dialogue and say, “Yeah, that doesn’t happen in real life” like that one time where Drake’s sisters talk about his sex life with Millie in front of Millie. I cringed over that scene.
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
3.5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Tracy Ewens for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2025
I pepper my reading with books like this for a boost because they usually have good writing and a happily ever after. I have followed this series for a while, not that I remember all the pairings but it jumps from place to place following the families and friends of the newest pair. The background varies vastly from one story to another and it is always immersive and interesting.
I like the author's narrative style. The clever(/cheeky) bit about this book was that the main protagonist is Millie Hart who is a romance author herself. Since she is watching her own story unfold, she sometimes thinks about what the critics and book reviewers would say about her reactions to certain predicaments(keeping her in the position of the heroine), which in turn would overlap at least some of the reviews that actual author would get for the book making it a very self-reliant system! If you are familiar with the author or the series, you would know what to expect but love it all the same when it happens. Millie is trying to break away from her typical story and write something different but she has landed in the best place for her summer, a place which screams happily ever after. The other half of her story is Drake the glassblower who has heavy burdens of his own. Every trope in the possible romance of the two is hashed out in actual conversation which was fun to read because once again it serves dual purposes. There are good family members and a few bad ones, and a whole lot of light-hearted as well as heartfelt interactions between them all. The highlight of a chunk of the book is the respect or the lack thereof given to the genre as a whole and the idea that predictable outcomes do not necessarily mean sub-standard writing. This (as always with the backgrounds provided) adds the extra layer to the tale. I think the next story might be about the finishing industry if the hints provided are leading me the right way
This book is set to release on the 18th of June. I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is completely based on my own reading experience.
I like the author's narrative style. The clever(/cheeky) bit about this book was that the main protagonist is Millie Hart who is a romance author herself. Since she is watching her own story unfold, she sometimes thinks about what the critics and book reviewers would say about her reactions to certain predicaments(keeping her in the position of the heroine), which in turn would overlap at least some of the reviews that actual author would get for the book making it a very self-reliant system! If you are familiar with the author or the series, you would know what to expect but love it all the same when it happens. Millie is trying to break away from her typical story and write something different but she has landed in the best place for her summer, a place which screams happily ever after. The other half of her story is Drake the glassblower who has heavy burdens of his own. Every trope in the possible romance of the two is hashed out in actual conversation which was fun to read because once again it serves dual purposes. There are good family members and a few bad ones, and a whole lot of light-hearted as well as heartfelt interactions between them all. The highlight of a chunk of the book is the respect or the lack thereof given to the genre as a whole and the idea that predictable outcomes do not necessarily mean sub-standard writing. This (as always with the backgrounds provided) adds the extra layer to the tale. I think the next story might be about the finishing industry if the hints provided are leading me the right way
This book is set to release on the 18th of June. I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is completely based on my own reading experience.
August 4, 2023
FREE today (August 4, 2023) on Amazon.
- Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review -
Fiction, reality, romance conventions and tropes intersect in “Blow: A Love Story”, by Tracy Ewens, with a heroine who is an author and a classic wounded hero.
Drake and Millie’s relationship beginning is a pleasure to read. They’re both tortured in different ways, yet the author manages to inject a humorous tone into the story.
I enjoyed following the heroine’s creative process and the tribute she pays to romance authors and readers. The fact that Millie is a tortured character, too, talented yet lacking self-confidence, is also interesting.
Drake is the typical wounded hero, an Iron Man rising from the ashes, who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Due to Millie’s (and the author’s) imagination he can become a bit too fictional sometimes.
There’s a lovely setting – Bodega Bay – and a wonderful cast of supporting characters.
At some point, I found the relationship too rushed and the hero rejecting the heroine by the end of the story felt a bit contrived.
- Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review -
Fiction, reality, romance conventions and tropes intersect in “Blow: A Love Story”, by Tracy Ewens, with a heroine who is an author and a classic wounded hero.
Drake and Millie’s relationship beginning is a pleasure to read. They’re both tortured in different ways, yet the author manages to inject a humorous tone into the story.
I enjoyed following the heroine’s creative process and the tribute she pays to romance authors and readers. The fact that Millie is a tortured character, too, talented yet lacking self-confidence, is also interesting.
Drake is the typical wounded hero, an Iron Man rising from the ashes, who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Due to Millie’s (and the author’s) imagination he can become a bit too fictional sometimes.
There’s a lovely setting – Bodega Bay – and a wonderful cast of supporting characters.
At some point, I found the relationship too rushed and the hero rejecting the heroine by the end of the story felt a bit contrived.
September 25, 2024
This was such an amazing story! This book taught me so much about healing, letting go, and living life for yourself and not for others. It had such a beautiful message to share with readers, and I can't wait for you to read it too. Tracy Ewens has apparently been writing books for a while, and I feel like hitting myself for not finding her sooner. Her writing style flows nicely, her characters have a lot of depth, and she gives background without interrupting the story. It's easy to follow along, meet many new characters and remember each one, and by the end of the book, you want to laugh, cry, and jump in the car to drive to Bodega Bay. Which in my case is a real struggle, because I could actually drive there. It's really not that far.
Millie Hart is an author, famous for her romance novels, and she needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. She decides to take a four-month writing trip to Bodega Bay, not far from her home in San Francisco, to focus on her new book, a more "serious" work that is sure to please her father, who laments her choice of career constantly. Thinking her assistant rented a quiet cottage by the ocean, she arrives to find it not so quiet at all. Because next door is a glassworks shop, and they blast loud music all day long. Marching over there in her pajamas may not have been the best idea, but she just needs some peace and quiet to write! The last person Drake Branch expects to see in his shop is the renter next door. Six years ago, he was in a motorcycle accident and lost his left arm below the elbow, and his resulting PTSD has made life a bit difficult. Hence the music - it drowns out the sound of grinding metal from the other shop next door. He doesn't want to deal with the tourist who claims to have serious work to do, but the more he gets to know her, the more he finds her charming...and tempting. Love may not have been in the cards for either of them, but it may be exactly what they both need.
I loved Millie and Drake so much! Drake was a bit irritating at first, being quite rude to Millie and not wanting to give her a chance. He just wanted to be left alone. But Millie's kindness, charm, and general good-naturedness eventually rubbed off on him. She was determined to get on his good side, and she knew he had one...somewhere. She had a hard time staying mad at him about the loud music, and once she understood the reason behind it, she was determined to make it work for both of them. Millie had a lot of troubles on her own, particularly with her father and his constant demands of her to meet his exacting standards. He never liked that she wrote romance novels, no matter how successful she was, but with her mother gone, she wanted to maintain a relationship with him. It was hard watching her struggle with living up to his expectations, and I loved how supportive Drake was for her when things weren't going well. And when Drake's struggles came to the forefront, Millie was there for him too. They were each other's support systems - they made each other stronger. It was such a wonderful thing to read about.
Now I need to go get all of the other "A Love Story" books. There are so many, people. You're set for a while.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Millie Hart is an author, famous for her romance novels, and she needs to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. She decides to take a four-month writing trip to Bodega Bay, not far from her home in San Francisco, to focus on her new book, a more "serious" work that is sure to please her father, who laments her choice of career constantly. Thinking her assistant rented a quiet cottage by the ocean, she arrives to find it not so quiet at all. Because next door is a glassworks shop, and they blast loud music all day long. Marching over there in her pajamas may not have been the best idea, but she just needs some peace and quiet to write! The last person Drake Branch expects to see in his shop is the renter next door. Six years ago, he was in a motorcycle accident and lost his left arm below the elbow, and his resulting PTSD has made life a bit difficult. Hence the music - it drowns out the sound of grinding metal from the other shop next door. He doesn't want to deal with the tourist who claims to have serious work to do, but the more he gets to know her, the more he finds her charming...and tempting. Love may not have been in the cards for either of them, but it may be exactly what they both need.
I loved Millie and Drake so much! Drake was a bit irritating at first, being quite rude to Millie and not wanting to give her a chance. He just wanted to be left alone. But Millie's kindness, charm, and general good-naturedness eventually rubbed off on him. She was determined to get on his good side, and she knew he had one...somewhere. She had a hard time staying mad at him about the loud music, and once she understood the reason behind it, she was determined to make it work for both of them. Millie had a lot of troubles on her own, particularly with her father and his constant demands of her to meet his exacting standards. He never liked that she wrote romance novels, no matter how successful she was, but with her mother gone, she wanted to maintain a relationship with him. It was hard watching her struggle with living up to his expectations, and I loved how supportive Drake was for her when things weren't going well. And when Drake's struggles came to the forefront, Millie was there for him too. They were each other's support systems - they made each other stronger. It was such a wonderful thing to read about.
Now I need to go get all of the other "A Love Story" books. There are so many, people. You're set for a while.
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
June 13, 2019
Blow: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens Is currently scheduled for release on June 18 2019. While this book is part of a collection of love stories with connected characters, each can stand up well on its own.
Millie Hart has made a career writing happy endings. While her real life is often less than enchanting, at least she has her stories, featuring strong, vibrant women ready for any challenge and men who stand in support of their dreams. Millie makes millions of readers swoon, but despite her agent’s deep objections, her new project is fueled by her intense drive to prove something. All she needs is four months in Bodega Bay. No meet-cutes, no kissing, just blissful silence. Drake Branch is happy to be alive. He’s healed, opened BP Glass Works with his best friend, and appreciates the value of his hometown. It’s been six years since the accident, and Drake has tackled every hurdle—mental and physical—to stand on his own. So, when he lets a struggling metalworks shop move in next door to his studio and the noise triggers old issues, Drake needs to crank the music—as loud as it will go. Millie rents the cottage mere steps from Drake’s studio to write a literary novel she hopes will finally gain her father’s approval and soon learns that away from her laptop, there are men who refuse to be edited out. Despite her neighbor’s insistence that she is an entitled tourist, Millie has been blown off most of her life and she’s not going anywhere this time. It is going to be one long summer unless Millie and Drake can learn that some books are more than their covers, one breath can change the shape of everything, and true family often shows up in unlikely places.
Blow: A Love Story is a love story that delighted me on several levels. I loved that Millie is a romance author and many of my favorite romance books and authors are mentioned outright or referenced in one way or another. That was such a fun element of the story, along with dealing with some of the assumptions and slights that are often aimed at the books, authors, and readers or the romance umbrella. On another level the story deals with characters facing down their demons, both physical and emotional, to allow themselves to love and trust beyond their comfort zone. I loved the slow movement from annoyance, to friends, to more. I loved the small town and family feels that are such an important undercurrent to the story as a whole. Most importantly, all of the characters felt real. They were all complex with their own flaws and great moments working towards a HEA not just for themselves, but for the people that are in their lives. This book brought all the feels, sometimes I was frustrated but other times I had a goofy grin on my face as I read, and other times I was ready to cry for what our couple had each been through to get where they could come together. The read was an engaging rollercoaster and I cannot wait for more from Ewens.
Blow: A Love Story is the third book I have read from this author, and it will certainly not be the last. I still need to go back and read the ones I missed, which I hope to do soon.
Millie Hart has made a career writing happy endings. While her real life is often less than enchanting, at least she has her stories, featuring strong, vibrant women ready for any challenge and men who stand in support of their dreams. Millie makes millions of readers swoon, but despite her agent’s deep objections, her new project is fueled by her intense drive to prove something. All she needs is four months in Bodega Bay. No meet-cutes, no kissing, just blissful silence. Drake Branch is happy to be alive. He’s healed, opened BP Glass Works with his best friend, and appreciates the value of his hometown. It’s been six years since the accident, and Drake has tackled every hurdle—mental and physical—to stand on his own. So, when he lets a struggling metalworks shop move in next door to his studio and the noise triggers old issues, Drake needs to crank the music—as loud as it will go. Millie rents the cottage mere steps from Drake’s studio to write a literary novel she hopes will finally gain her father’s approval and soon learns that away from her laptop, there are men who refuse to be edited out. Despite her neighbor’s insistence that she is an entitled tourist, Millie has been blown off most of her life and she’s not going anywhere this time. It is going to be one long summer unless Millie and Drake can learn that some books are more than their covers, one breath can change the shape of everything, and true family often shows up in unlikely places.
Blow: A Love Story is a love story that delighted me on several levels. I loved that Millie is a romance author and many of my favorite romance books and authors are mentioned outright or referenced in one way or another. That was such a fun element of the story, along with dealing with some of the assumptions and slights that are often aimed at the books, authors, and readers or the romance umbrella. On another level the story deals with characters facing down their demons, both physical and emotional, to allow themselves to love and trust beyond their comfort zone. I loved the slow movement from annoyance, to friends, to more. I loved the small town and family feels that are such an important undercurrent to the story as a whole. Most importantly, all of the characters felt real. They were all complex with their own flaws and great moments working towards a HEA not just for themselves, but for the people that are in their lives. This book brought all the feels, sometimes I was frustrated but other times I had a goofy grin on my face as I read, and other times I was ready to cry for what our couple had each been through to get where they could come together. The read was an engaging rollercoaster and I cannot wait for more from Ewens.
Blow: A Love Story is the third book I have read from this author, and it will certainly not be the last. I still need to go back and read the ones I missed, which I hope to do soon.
June 18, 2019
Millie is just hoping for some time away to write her first, what she calls, serious book--one that her father would respect. She is actually a best selling romance writer, and her father sees such books as trash. What she hopes will be quiet times to inspire her muse turns out to be quite loud because of her next-door neighbor’s penchant for loud music as he runs his glass-blowing business. They butt heads for a while, but as they get to know each other, their attraction grows. They both have inner demons that they wrestle with. Which will triumph, inner demons or love?
As a sometime writer myself, I enjoyed all of the author-ly bits in this book. (I loved the discussion on romance covers!) I am actually quite familiar with this part of coastal California as I lived for ten years north of the story setting in Fort Bragg. Having been a foggybottom in a tourist town, I was a bit put off by the way the author portrayed life in a small coastal village. In our city, we didn't treat tourists like the author has Drake and some of the others treat Millie (and as they refer to having done to other tourists). The book definitely had some formatting issues (words ran together) and errors with grammar and punctuation (comma splices aplenty).
I also thought that Drake just acted so rude for the first part of the book--so selfish and unrelenting--that I almost stopped reading because I couldn't get past his attitude and see him as a potential hero. However, I'm glad I stuck with it, as he does have a stream of revelations as he wrestles with his demons that made him reevaluate himself, making him more interesting and allowing me to stick with the story. As the characters got to know each other, the extent of their personal issues (their backstories and how they were impacting them in the present) became apparent gradually, and this was actually masterfully done by the writer. By the end, I was wholly invested in the characters and cared about what happened to them. Drake’s gift at the end was lovely and heartwarming; while it didn't end the book, it was probably the most satisfying part of the end; the symbolism and the beauty of his words was a delight. There are several heartrending and poignant moments in this book as well as some humor; I like a book that can have both. I thought their first sex scene was perfectly done because it was so true to these characters as they had been developed. The road to romance is rocky for so many reasons, and after being put off by the first part, I was completely pulled into their evolving relationship because of the depth of the characters and the emotional honesty of their portrayal. That is rare to see in a romance book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
As a sometime writer myself, I enjoyed all of the author-ly bits in this book. (I loved the discussion on romance covers!) I am actually quite familiar with this part of coastal California as I lived for ten years north of the story setting in Fort Bragg. Having been a foggybottom in a tourist town, I was a bit put off by the way the author portrayed life in a small coastal village. In our city, we didn't treat tourists like the author has Drake and some of the others treat Millie (and as they refer to having done to other tourists). The book definitely had some formatting issues (words ran together) and errors with grammar and punctuation (comma splices aplenty).
I also thought that Drake just acted so rude for the first part of the book--so selfish and unrelenting--that I almost stopped reading because I couldn't get past his attitude and see him as a potential hero. However, I'm glad I stuck with it, as he does have a stream of revelations as he wrestles with his demons that made him reevaluate himself, making him more interesting and allowing me to stick with the story. As the characters got to know each other, the extent of their personal issues (their backstories and how they were impacting them in the present) became apparent gradually, and this was actually masterfully done by the writer. By the end, I was wholly invested in the characters and cared about what happened to them. Drake’s gift at the end was lovely and heartwarming; while it didn't end the book, it was probably the most satisfying part of the end; the symbolism and the beauty of his words was a delight. There are several heartrending and poignant moments in this book as well as some humor; I like a book that can have both. I thought their first sex scene was perfectly done because it was so true to these characters as they had been developed. The road to romance is rocky for so many reasons, and after being put off by the first part, I was completely pulled into their evolving relationship because of the depth of the characters and the emotional honesty of their portrayal. That is rare to see in a romance book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
June 22, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
This story was adorable! I loved Millie and her passion for writing and telling a good story. She was so well rounded and had some trauma in her past and chose to look on the brightside and write romance books and I admire that courage and mentality.
I also loved Drake complete with all his issues as well as his extended family and coworkers at the glass blowing workshop. All the characters were so well fleshed out, I wanted to hang out with them - take on Charades night with the Branches, read Harry Potter outloud with Bella, hang out in Swept Away with Nicki, and help Hazel with her college essay.
Millie and Drake were so good for each other too and realistic in the fact that they still were working through their traumas and falling in love didn't mean everything was immediately fixed.
The description of glass blowing was incredibly detailed and fascinating (I want to be like Millie and Google it further).
This book was like a warm hug. I highly recommend it.
This story was adorable! I loved Millie and her passion for writing and telling a good story. She was so well rounded and had some trauma in her past and chose to look on the brightside and write romance books and I admire that courage and mentality.
I also loved Drake complete with all his issues as well as his extended family and coworkers at the glass blowing workshop. All the characters were so well fleshed out, I wanted to hang out with them - take on Charades night with the Branches, read Harry Potter outloud with Bella, hang out in Swept Away with Nicki, and help Hazel with her college essay.
Millie and Drake were so good for each other too and realistic in the fact that they still were working through their traumas and falling in love didn't mean everything was immediately fixed.
The description of glass blowing was incredibly detailed and fascinating (I want to be like Millie and Google it further).
This book was like a warm hug. I highly recommend it.
June 12, 2019
The romance writer and the glass blower, Millie and Drake. We met Drake in Tap, Sistine's brother also known as Iron Man, and I knew he'd be special. His relationship with his sisters is loving and comical. His personality is quirky, sarcastic and creative. Millie, the romance writer with something to prove, has unresolved feelings concerning her father. She's feisty, smart and fits into the small town life. Bodega Bay is gorgeous, having only been there once I can appreciate the details described. They started as enemies, the tourist versus the townie, and end as lovers. Their story is separate from the other books but we see Sistine and Cade occasionally. I received an early copy and wrote my review voluntarily.
June 17, 2019
This is a wonderful story with two completely ordinary, normal people full of insecurities, issues and doubts and I loved it. It’s so good to have such normal down to earth characters, a man who is awkward is so fresh compared to most romances. Both characters struggle before they come together and it’s lovely and relatable. A wonderful romance for the realities in life and hardships people face. Highly recommended read.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
June 2, 2019
not to sound to hype and all but I loved loved did I say loved this book!!!! Millie Heart is used to writing romance novels with happy endings, but her life is anything but that her dad does not approve of her books so she is trying to approve of her dad so she goes off to write a more literal story. While she is in a rented cabin she meets Drake and from there the story gets so much better!!!! I would tell everyone that likes romances to read this one.
June 5, 2019
This is a story rich in romance, excitement, turmoil and self-doubt. Two broken people find each other and find in one another the help to mend them both. After a traumatic parting, he reaches out to her in such a tender way you will be reaching for the Kleenex box! Best reunion scene I've read in a very long time! Well done, Tracy Ewens! Can't wait to read the next book.
June 18, 2019
What an amazing read! This was my first foray into the works of Tracy Ewens, and boy am I impressed. Blow has a remarkable storyline; wonderfully developed characters; twists and turns that that keep you flipping those pages. This is a really good book and deserves to be on your TBR list. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and really enjoyed it.) ❤️❤️
June 19, 2019
Our darkest demons always come out to play. Millie and Drake are two damaged characters that are living life in the best way they can but it doesn't mean they're truly living. It's deep, emotional and funny even when you thought the ambiance was too dark.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
June 5, 2019
It’s 1:12 am. I just read it straight through. What an amazing story! So, so good. ❤️ The detail with which this book is written is phenomenal. I felt like I knew the characters. I was very sorry to see it end. Can’t wait for the next story in the series. So. Good.
June 18, 2019
I read an ARC copy of this.
This was a good read. Millie is in town so she can write. Drake is not a big fan of tourists. Yet he is drawn to her anyways. They start spending time together. Of course in the end they are together and happy.
This was a good read. Millie is in town so she can write. Drake is not a big fan of tourists. Yet he is drawn to her anyways. They start spending time together. Of course in the end they are together and happy.
June 12, 2020
What a delightful book! And a different one as well. Considering the lead character, Millie, is a romance author herself. The books is a very enjoyable read, readers won't be disappointed.
June 15, 2019
It was refreshing to see such a normal, nice guy, leading man hero, folks. Drake may have a few serious issues to deal with, but I found it sweet how he had very typical “haven’t dated in awhile so not sure what to say or do” angst. Sure, he had a touch of abrasiveness at first, which is explained, including some knucklehead doubts and insecurities, But the way he felt awkward and blushed at times around Millie, the heroine, seeking the right, cool guy things to say endeared him to me. The author did a good job of adding the element of his prosthetic hand, as well. He was a big strong man with shoulders plenty wide for Millie to lean on but also had his own vulnerabilities that made him seem real.
Millie’s daddy issues definitely kept her in limbo. It seems it took a four month stay in this small town to help her shake that off and move on to a happier place. Her newfound place next to Drake and his circle of friends gave this romance author the type of HEA she always writes about. But it took fighting back against her own doubts, insecurities, and knuckleheadedness before that finally could happen.
The main hurdle I had to overcome here was the very slow pace. It had me eventually skimming over large sections of the story line. I’m not sure if it was the long lulls of not a whole lot happening or too many inward reflections/overly analyzing thoughts and feelings by both main characters. Either way, it caused me to hesitate on how to rate this book. I waffled back and forth between 3 or 4 stars, so I settled on 3.5.
All in all, I enjoyed seeing these too first argue then stumble into love. It felt like they became next door arguing acquaintances, who eventually realized they needed each other to piece their own life back together. They were sweet together, and I’m glad they found their kindred soul mate.
Title: Blow, Series: A Love Story, Author: Tracy Ewens, Pages: 314, stand-alone but part of a series, romance safe, VERY slow paced, a few steamy scenes, relationship angst, both been celibate awhile, romance author heroine, glass craftsman hero, back and forth pushing away. Rating: 3.5 stars.
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley)
Millie’s daddy issues definitely kept her in limbo. It seems it took a four month stay in this small town to help her shake that off and move on to a happier place. Her newfound place next to Drake and his circle of friends gave this romance author the type of HEA she always writes about. But it took fighting back against her own doubts, insecurities, and knuckleheadedness before that finally could happen.
The main hurdle I had to overcome here was the very slow pace. It had me eventually skimming over large sections of the story line. I’m not sure if it was the long lulls of not a whole lot happening or too many inward reflections/overly analyzing thoughts and feelings by both main characters. Either way, it caused me to hesitate on how to rate this book. I waffled back and forth between 3 or 4 stars, so I settled on 3.5.
All in all, I enjoyed seeing these too first argue then stumble into love. It felt like they became next door arguing acquaintances, who eventually realized they needed each other to piece their own life back together. They were sweet together, and I’m glad they found their kindred soul mate.
Title: Blow, Series: A Love Story, Author: Tracy Ewens, Pages: 314, stand-alone but part of a series, romance safe, VERY slow paced, a few steamy scenes, relationship angst, both been celibate awhile, romance author heroine, glass craftsman hero, back and forth pushing away. Rating: 3.5 stars.
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review. There is no affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley)
July 26, 2019
2.2/3 stars as far as romance goes
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! I’m not a big romance reader, but this title sounded pretty good, so I figure I would give it a go. I will try to be neutral in terms of the genera as it is not one I read much in.
As far as romances go, the story was rather predictable. I feel like there’s an outline writers follow: dislike to interest to love to some kind of complication to happily ever after. This title was interesting bc it was a character who is a romance author experiencing her own romance. In that, I appreciated that she pointed out her life was not like fiction. However, outside of those moments when she pointed it out? Her life was totally like a perfect fiction.
As for the characters, they were likable. Drake has a great family and friend network, the prosthesis thing was interesting if a little bit of an odd focus, & I could see people getting hooked and wanting to read some romances for the other characters in here that I see are available. Millie herself is flawed but lovable with her tendency to self-edit as she talks and always thinking of her character gets in her stories as she lives her best life. The characters you’re supposed to hate are quite hate-able, too.
As for the setting, that is charming. The small town feel, tourist town (with its locals disliking tourists, which I could totally see) is easy to picture, and one cannot help but want to visit the shops, including Auntie N’s romance bookstore.
Now, the complication that occurred was short, minor, and seemed rather forced (& also easily bypassed and corrected, although characters seemed to be surprised by it-readers will not be). The struggles the characters are going through individually were fine but didn’t really make me feel empathy. Can you have a character that seems too strong or loeavble for me to believe the “flaw”? That’s kind of what I felt.
Overall, it was cute, & I I didn’t mind it. I also didn’t love it and wasn’t dying to finish it. The sexual situations weren’t overly graphic (again, I’m not a big romance reader and don’t want that), but it left me thinking “meh” in terms of the love overall.
FYI it’s deinfitley an adult novel with sexual situations and profanity, unlike the normal YA I read
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! I’m not a big romance reader, but this title sounded pretty good, so I figure I would give it a go. I will try to be neutral in terms of the genera as it is not one I read much in.
As far as romances go, the story was rather predictable. I feel like there’s an outline writers follow: dislike to interest to love to some kind of complication to happily ever after. This title was interesting bc it was a character who is a romance author experiencing her own romance. In that, I appreciated that she pointed out her life was not like fiction. However, outside of those moments when she pointed it out? Her life was totally like a perfect fiction.
As for the characters, they were likable. Drake has a great family and friend network, the prosthesis thing was interesting if a little bit of an odd focus, & I could see people getting hooked and wanting to read some romances for the other characters in here that I see are available. Millie herself is flawed but lovable with her tendency to self-edit as she talks and always thinking of her character gets in her stories as she lives her best life. The characters you’re supposed to hate are quite hate-able, too.
As for the setting, that is charming. The small town feel, tourist town (with its locals disliking tourists, which I could totally see) is easy to picture, and one cannot help but want to visit the shops, including Auntie N’s romance bookstore.
Now, the complication that occurred was short, minor, and seemed rather forced (& also easily bypassed and corrected, although characters seemed to be surprised by it-readers will not be). The struggles the characters are going through individually were fine but didn’t really make me feel empathy. Can you have a character that seems too strong or loeavble for me to believe the “flaw”? That’s kind of what I felt.
Overall, it was cute, & I I didn’t mind it. I also didn’t love it and wasn’t dying to finish it. The sexual situations weren’t overly graphic (again, I’m not a big romance reader and don’t want that), but it left me thinking “meh” in terms of the love overall.
FYI it’s deinfitley an adult novel with sexual situations and profanity, unlike the normal YA I read
June 15, 2019
Tracy Ewens, ‘Blow’, a love story.
As an ARC reader I received this book for free. And promised an honest review. Here it is. English isn’t my first language. Sorry for errors.
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Author of love stories finds lover.
Main characters:
- Mildred Hartfield (33).
With ‘Milie Hart’as a pseudonym she’s a successful author of romantic books, living in San Francisco. Suffering from a ‘writer’s block’ she rents for a few months a tourist house in Bodega Bay, a quiet coastal town North from Frisco, hoping to finish a new book before the deadline expires.
- Drake Branch.
Millie’s neighbour in Bodega Bay. Born and raised in that small town. Now owner of BP Glass Works, a glass blower’s studio. Former heir of his parent’s shipping firm, Branch Fishing. Three years ago he had a bad bike accident. His left underarm was splintered and now he has a modern metallic prothesis. During his long recovery his sister took his place as manager of Branch Fishing and he started his Glass Works studio because creating magical glass products gives him much more satisfaction in his ‘new’ life as a disabled man.
Millie and Drake meet when an indignant Millie visits his studio complaining about the loud music disturbing the neighbourhood while she tries to write. Drake, playing ‘screw-with-the-tourists’ (favorite habit of Bodega inhabitants), refuses to stop the music he needs for his creativity (so he tells her).
The author, Tracy Ewens, then describes how step by step the dislike between Millie and Drake turns to love. But there are more ‘storylines’: Millie’s difficult relation with her father after her mom’s death, the influence of her well being on the development of the plot for her new book (for me with too many details and too much reciprocity) and the way in which Drake accepts his new prothesis and finds again his self-confidence in his work and his love life.
The result is an original plot, credible characters (sometimes a bit too much worrying), a lot of interesting, funny dialogues and sweet romantic scenes. All in all a pleasure to read.
R.J. Huiszoon.
As an ARC reader I received this book for free. And promised an honest review. Here it is. English isn’t my first language. Sorry for errors.
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Author of love stories finds lover.
Main characters:
- Mildred Hartfield (33).
With ‘Milie Hart’as a pseudonym she’s a successful author of romantic books, living in San Francisco. Suffering from a ‘writer’s block’ she rents for a few months a tourist house in Bodega Bay, a quiet coastal town North from Frisco, hoping to finish a new book before the deadline expires.
- Drake Branch.
Millie’s neighbour in Bodega Bay. Born and raised in that small town. Now owner of BP Glass Works, a glass blower’s studio. Former heir of his parent’s shipping firm, Branch Fishing. Three years ago he had a bad bike accident. His left underarm was splintered and now he has a modern metallic prothesis. During his long recovery his sister took his place as manager of Branch Fishing and he started his Glass Works studio because creating magical glass products gives him much more satisfaction in his ‘new’ life as a disabled man.
Millie and Drake meet when an indignant Millie visits his studio complaining about the loud music disturbing the neighbourhood while she tries to write. Drake, playing ‘screw-with-the-tourists’ (favorite habit of Bodega inhabitants), refuses to stop the music he needs for his creativity (so he tells her).
The author, Tracy Ewens, then describes how step by step the dislike between Millie and Drake turns to love. But there are more ‘storylines’: Millie’s difficult relation with her father after her mom’s death, the influence of her well being on the development of the plot for her new book (for me with too many details and too much reciprocity) and the way in which Drake accepts his new prothesis and finds again his self-confidence in his work and his love life.
The result is an original plot, credible characters (sometimes a bit too much worrying), a lot of interesting, funny dialogues and sweet romantic scenes. All in all a pleasure to read.
R.J. Huiszoon.
July 28, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review :)
This was my first Tracy Ewens book and it will definitely not be my last, I absolutely loved this love story!
Reading a romance book from the perspective of a romance author was refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable.
This book follows Millie a popcorn loving romance writer, who is struggling to gain the respect of her romance book disapproving father and Drake who is trying to get his life back on track after a life-threatening accident where he lost part of his arm. Both characters struggled with issues and helped each other accept their pasts and embrace their futures. Millie rented a colourful cabin with a front lawn full of gnomes for 4 months in the sweet sleepy beach town Bodega Bay to focus on writing a more 'serious' novel to try and impress her father and got much more than she bargained for when she met her surly, grumpy neighbour who blasts music all day. A sweet slow burn romance ensued.
There were amazing side characters in this book, Drakes nosy sister Jules was hilarious and meddling in a lovable way. I would really love a story about Jules and Tyler! Nellie/ Auntie N was such a great, quirky romance book loving character, I need to find a bookshop like Swept Away ASAP.
At times, I did find this book a little hard to follow, it was like I was missing part of the story and some scenes and dialogue felt out of place. I would have to read over the paragraph/page again to see if I could make sense of what was going on, but often I couldn't.
I strongly recommend this book for slow burn romance lovers!
This was my first Tracy Ewens book and it will definitely not be my last, I absolutely loved this love story!
Reading a romance book from the perspective of a romance author was refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable.
This book follows Millie a popcorn loving romance writer, who is struggling to gain the respect of her romance book disapproving father and Drake who is trying to get his life back on track after a life-threatening accident where he lost part of his arm. Both characters struggled with issues and helped each other accept their pasts and embrace their futures. Millie rented a colourful cabin with a front lawn full of gnomes for 4 months in the sweet sleepy beach town Bodega Bay to focus on writing a more 'serious' novel to try and impress her father and got much more than she bargained for when she met her surly, grumpy neighbour who blasts music all day. A sweet slow burn romance ensued.
There were amazing side characters in this book, Drakes nosy sister Jules was hilarious and meddling in a lovable way. I would really love a story about Jules and Tyler! Nellie/ Auntie N was such a great, quirky romance book loving character, I need to find a bookshop like Swept Away ASAP.
At times, I did find this book a little hard to follow, it was like I was missing part of the story and some scenes and dialogue felt out of place. I would have to read over the paragraph/page again to see if I could make sense of what was going on, but often I couldn't.
I strongly recommend this book for slow burn romance lovers!
September 15, 2019
It has taken me a while to realize that I rate romance novels on a completely different scale than everything else. They are so easy to rate with 4-5 stars because they almost always leave me with this feeling of instant happy and fluffiness that I don't get from other genres.
"Blow: A Love Story" easily fits the "instant happy" category! The main character, Millie, is a successful romance writer set on writing a "more serious" novel. She intends to have a 4-month writer's retreat for herself in a rented cabin, away from distractions. Instead of being placed in a bleak cabin that is supposed to set the mood, she is placed in a tourist town and in a cute cabin surrounded by garden gnomes.
It's cute. It's fluffy. It is not ground-breaking in the romance genre, but it is fun. As an established romance writer, Tracy Ewens is aware of the romance tropes. As a character, so is Millie. It makes for a lot of fun conversations between the characters, and a lot of great reasons about why romance is a genre that should be more respected.
I think my favorite takeaway from this book is a father-son conversation that happens towards the end of the book- no spoilers, I promise! The conversation showed a lot about what it means to be a parent and made for a good conversation with my husband and how he raise our own children. It's not something I would have expected out of this book, but I really like the insights that Ewens had and showed through her characters.
I have not read others in the "Love Story" series, but will be keeping an eye on them. This was such a fun one!
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"Blow: A Love Story" easily fits the "instant happy" category! The main character, Millie, is a successful romance writer set on writing a "more serious" novel. She intends to have a 4-month writer's retreat for herself in a rented cabin, away from distractions. Instead of being placed in a bleak cabin that is supposed to set the mood, she is placed in a tourist town and in a cute cabin surrounded by garden gnomes.
It's cute. It's fluffy. It is not ground-breaking in the romance genre, but it is fun. As an established romance writer, Tracy Ewens is aware of the romance tropes. As a character, so is Millie. It makes for a lot of fun conversations between the characters, and a lot of great reasons about why romance is a genre that should be more respected.
I think my favorite takeaway from this book is a father-son conversation that happens towards the end of the book- no spoilers, I promise! The conversation showed a lot about what it means to be a parent and made for a good conversation with my husband and how he raise our own children. It's not something I would have expected out of this book, but I really like the insights that Ewens had and showed through her characters.
I have not read others in the "Love Story" series, but will be keeping an eye on them. This was such a fun one!
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2019
3.75 stars
Big thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Just get a look at this cover! That’s it friends, zoom in and take a nice long gander. She’s a beaut, isn’t she? The heathered tones, the curly red locks, the title... it all beckoned me in from my very first glance. What can I say? I’m a sucker for irresistible cover art!
The synopsis sounded like an absolutely perfect summer read. A coastal town, a feisty author protagonist, a gorgeous yet flawed next door neighbor... recipe for success, right? Right! I absolutely adored Millie Hart, our protagonist. Though her past hurts run deep, she is unabashedly herself. A romance author that has arrived at Bodega Bay to jump start the writing of a new novel. Drake Branch lives in the Airstream next to her rental, a local glass blower (Blow- get it?!?) who lost his arm in a motorcycle accident and struggles with panic and anxiety. The two made for a beautiful coupling and a heartfelt, lovely story of them tackling their demons head on. *sigh* The stuff romance novels are made of <3
My only criticism is the wordiness. I feel like just as complete a story could have been written with a few less words. There were also sentences that seemed poorly structured at times, causing me to pause, go back, and reread the phrase. But eh, big deal!
I will definitely be back for more of this author :)
Big thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Just get a look at this cover! That’s it friends, zoom in and take a nice long gander. She’s a beaut, isn’t she? The heathered tones, the curly red locks, the title... it all beckoned me in from my very first glance. What can I say? I’m a sucker for irresistible cover art!
The synopsis sounded like an absolutely perfect summer read. A coastal town, a feisty author protagonist, a gorgeous yet flawed next door neighbor... recipe for success, right? Right! I absolutely adored Millie Hart, our protagonist. Though her past hurts run deep, she is unabashedly herself. A romance author that has arrived at Bodega Bay to jump start the writing of a new novel. Drake Branch lives in the Airstream next to her rental, a local glass blower (Blow- get it?!?) who lost his arm in a motorcycle accident and struggles with panic and anxiety. The two made for a beautiful coupling and a heartfelt, lovely story of them tackling their demons head on. *sigh* The stuff romance novels are made of <3
My only criticism is the wordiness. I feel like just as complete a story could have been written with a few less words. There were also sentences that seemed poorly structured at times, causing me to pause, go back, and reread the phrase. But eh, big deal!
I will definitely be back for more of this author :)
June 19, 2019
The story of Millie and Drake is one that totally pulled me in. There was just so much interesting information on Millie and how she writes her books and I completely loved that! I felt like one of my favorite authors opened the door to her writing world and let us in to see the process. What a gift that was! And then of course, Millie has her tough background, most especially the father I wanted to shake and ask where his heart was.
Drake, what is there to say about Drake? Damaged from his accident, worried how he'll be accepted by women, sensitive, caring and filled with "issues" he wants to work out and escape from. The caring family he's gathered around him made up of family and very good friends made for such great secondary story lines that I didn't want this story to end.
I never tire of Tracy Ewens' work and often recommend her to others. Blow: A Love Story is no exception. I will definitely be recommending that others pick up this book full of second chances, a quirky little California town and a full complement of love, challenges, traditions and family.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for approving my request for an ARC. My review and the thoughts in it are freely given.
Drake, what is there to say about Drake? Damaged from his accident, worried how he'll be accepted by women, sensitive, caring and filled with "issues" he wants to work out and escape from. The caring family he's gathered around him made up of family and very good friends made for such great secondary story lines that I didn't want this story to end.
I never tire of Tracy Ewens' work and often recommend her to others. Blow: A Love Story is no exception. I will definitely be recommending that others pick up this book full of second chances, a quirky little California town and a full complement of love, challenges, traditions and family.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for approving my request for an ARC. My review and the thoughts in it are freely given.
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