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Ordinary is Perfect
Army veteran Catherine Daye long ago accepted her passable looks, mediocre talent, and average intelligence. In fact, she bought a rundown farm on seventy acres to retreat from the world and live out her simple, ordinary life. Atlanta marketing superstar Autumn Swan’s world is anything but simple. Constantly plugged in to what’s trending on social media, it’s her job to keep her clients ahead of the competition. When her favorite cousin dies suddenly, she finds herself the owner of a modest country home, guardian to a sullen, tomboyish ten-year-old, and neighbor to an intriguing woman who isn’t as ordinary as she appears.
7 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 15, 2019
80 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
D. Jackson Leigh
25 books212 followersD. Jackson Leigh grew up barefoot and happy, swimming in farm ponds and riding rude ponies in rural south Georgia. Her love of reading was nurtured early on by her grandmother, an English teacher who patiently taught her to work New York Times crossword puzzles in the daily paper, and by her mother who stretched the slim family budget to bring home grocery store copies of Trixie Belden mysteries and Bobbsey Twins adventures that Jackson would sit up all night reading.
It was her passion for writing led her quite accidentally to a career in journalism and, ultimately, North Carolina where she lives with her small pack of three terror, uh, terriers.
It was her passion for writing led her quite accidentally to a career in journalism and, ultimately, North Carolina where she lives with her small pack of three terror, uh, terriers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 2, 2019
This was a good book by Leigh. In fact I liked it much better than her last one. There were a few bumps that stopped me from rating this more than 4 stars, but it still was an enjoyable read.
The main storyline is about a family member dying and the main character suddenly becoming the guardian of a 12 year-old child. This is a storyline that has been done before. What is nice about this particular storyline is there was a twist to the guardianship that made the story more unusual. I won’t mention what it is as I don’t want to spoil anything, but the twist made the storyline more interesting and different than what we have normally read.
Besides dealing with death and becoming a parent, this book also is about someone living with PTSD. One of the mains used to be in the military. I guess you could put this book in the family drama-romance category. Anyway, it all worked and I found the book to be well written. I read it in one sitting not wanting to put it down.
There were a few bumps. As MJS wrote in her review the math on one of the main characters age and her not knowing the child existed before hand doesn’t really add up. Her character should have been older than the 25 Leigh made her out to be. This didn’t really bother me too much, but it does seem like a mistake. My other issue was the ending. It felt too rushed. It’s not a bad ending, but I really wanted more. I feel like there are a few small unanswered questions.
On the good side the romance is enjoyable. It is slow-burn, which I prefer, but it builds at a nice pace. The characters have decent chemistry and the sex scenes were good too.
If you are a Leigh fan or are looking for a good family drama-romance, don’t hesitate on this one. I thought this was well worth the read.
An ARC was given to me by BSB for a honest review.
The main storyline is about a family member dying and the main character suddenly becoming the guardian of a 12 year-old child. This is a storyline that has been done before. What is nice about this particular storyline is there was a twist to the guardianship that made the story more unusual. I won’t mention what it is as I don’t want to spoil anything, but the twist made the storyline more interesting and different than what we have normally read.
Besides dealing with death and becoming a parent, this book also is about someone living with PTSD. One of the mains used to be in the military. I guess you could put this book in the family drama-romance category. Anyway, it all worked and I found the book to be well written. I read it in one sitting not wanting to put it down.
There were a few bumps. As MJS wrote in her review the math on one of the main characters age and her not knowing the child existed before hand doesn’t really add up. Her character should have been older than the 25 Leigh made her out to be. This didn’t really bother me too much, but it does seem like a mistake. My other issue was the ending. It felt too rushed. It’s not a bad ending, but I really wanted more. I feel like there are a few small unanswered questions.
On the good side the romance is enjoyable. It is slow-burn, which I prefer, but it builds at a nice pace. The characters have decent chemistry and the sex scenes were good too.
If you are a Leigh fan or are looking for a good family drama-romance, don’t hesitate on this one. I thought this was well worth the read.
An ARC was given to me by BSB for a honest review.
April 2, 2019
'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'
**'When you as avid readers read something really moving, try to figure out how the writer is accomplishing it..All good writing comes out of aloneness..'
'ORDINARY IS PERFECT' is a heartfelt,emotional,wildly unpredictable,enjoyable and realistic story that gives few readers a close look at what's it like to be around someone grappling with PTSD and the struggles to navigate the journey from entrepreneur to a young co-guardian of a teenager with her own issues. The storyline is very intense at times mostly when both leading characters (Catherine & Autumn) had any kind of interaction and is also powerfully depicted on many topics especially 'connection' which will find readers engaged all the way to the ending. Recovery is not a pleasant process when it comes to Catherine having one of her trigger or flashback and this book did capture all the ups & downs and every backstory that dealt with past family dysfunction.
Certain characters in this storyline did experience moments of introspection that will incline few readers to either be reflective upon themselves or not -- plus the variety of personalities and situations provided accordingly may mimic the wide range of struggles these same characters encounter when facing any problems.
I had great appreciation on the candor and honesty in this insightful story as written by Ms.Leigh because i think she understood that of which she writes -- the pressure of submerged emotion & raw feelings,the joy,the grief,the steamy chemistry,the depth,the Love of self,the friendships and most of all the incredible supporting characters.
**'When you as avid readers read something really moving, try to figure out how the writer is accomplishing it..All good writing comes out of aloneness..'
'ORDINARY IS PERFECT' is a heartfelt,emotional,wildly unpredictable,enjoyable and realistic story that gives few readers a close look at what's it like to be around someone grappling with PTSD and the struggles to navigate the journey from entrepreneur to a young co-guardian of a teenager with her own issues. The storyline is very intense at times mostly when both leading characters (Catherine & Autumn) had any kind of interaction and is also powerfully depicted on many topics especially 'connection' which will find readers engaged all the way to the ending. Recovery is not a pleasant process when it comes to Catherine having one of her trigger or flashback and this book did capture all the ups & downs and every backstory that dealt with past family dysfunction.
Certain characters in this storyline did experience moments of introspection that will incline few readers to either be reflective upon themselves or not -- plus the variety of personalities and situations provided accordingly may mimic the wide range of struggles these same characters encounter when facing any problems.
I had great appreciation on the candor and honesty in this insightful story as written by Ms.Leigh because i think she understood that of which she writes -- the pressure of submerged emotion & raw feelings,the joy,the grief,the steamy chemistry,the depth,the Love of self,the friendships and most of all the incredible supporting characters.
December 18, 2018
Autumn Swan’s media marketing business is taking off in a big way and she’s making plans to expand it. When her cousin Becki dies suddenly Autumn returns to the farm where she spent the best summers of her life. Becki was her best friend but she hasn’t seen her since her grandmother died so arriving at the farm to discover she has a 10-year-old daughter is as much a shock as her death. Catherine Daye is a veteran suffering from PTSD and Becki’s neighbour. She’s also very close to Gabriella, Autumn’s niece.
There are quite a few surprises in this story which made it quite appealing. Autumn is portrayed as a typical city slicker in that she likes shopping, designer clothing and femme women. She is also driven to succeed in her business. She’s not uncomfortable in a rural setting but what surprised me was her heartbreak at losing her cousin and not having cleared the air before she died. Her determination to be a good parent was something I didn’t expect.
Catherine is described as plain, with brown hair and brown eyes. It was a nice change not to have the main characters portrayed as beautiful, sexy, toned, gorgeous women. But by the same token, it bothered me that there wasn’t enough of an acknowledgement that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that actions and deeds colour how we see people.
The romance is slow-burn and I wish they had spent more time in dedicated dialogue getting to know each other. This is another book where I felt that the main characters spent more time apart and thinking about each other than having on-page communication. It is a good romance nonetheless.
I enjoyed the story line and it was done with significant enough difference to stand out from rest using the theme of city-slicker-inheriting-a-house-(and child)-in-the-country.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
There are quite a few surprises in this story which made it quite appealing. Autumn is portrayed as a typical city slicker in that she likes shopping, designer clothing and femme women. She is also driven to succeed in her business. She’s not uncomfortable in a rural setting but what surprised me was her heartbreak at losing her cousin and not having cleared the air before she died. Her determination to be a good parent was something I didn’t expect.
Catherine is described as plain, with brown hair and brown eyes. It was a nice change not to have the main characters portrayed as beautiful, sexy, toned, gorgeous women. But by the same token, it bothered me that there wasn’t enough of an acknowledgement that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that actions and deeds colour how we see people.
The romance is slow-burn and I wish they had spent more time in dedicated dialogue getting to know each other. This is another book where I felt that the main characters spent more time apart and thinking about each other than having on-page communication. It is a good romance nonetheless.
I enjoyed the story line and it was done with significant enough difference to stand out from rest using the theme of city-slicker-inheriting-a-house-(and child)-in-the-country.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
March 31, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ordinary gets mentioned a lot in this book, and I seem to be in the minority, because that’s exactly what I thought this was. I couldn’t warm to Autumn, who was self-centred for the majority of the book. She puts what she wants ahead of her best-friend and then the child entrusted into her care (seriously, who leaves a grieving child that they’re responsible for for a whole month a week after her mother dies?). When she’s in the city, she leaves Cat to do all the work with Gabe and when she’s in the country, leaves her workers to carry her business.
I also couldn’t work out Autumn’s backstory. She’s supposed to be 25, she’s estranged from her folks but is said to have started college early even though they didn’t know where she was at first, how did she start college early without their permission? And her estrangement from her grandmother and cousin made even less sense (especially the reason for it, and the fact that they knew where she was but didn’t bother to get in touch). Strange for people who professed to love her so much. Gabe’s 12, which means Autumn hasn’t seen Becki in at least 13 years, since Autumn didn’t know Gabe existed. That would make her 12 the last time they saw each other, yet they’re constantly refered to as ‘being as close as sisters’. I certainly wouldn’t leave my kid to someone I last saw when she was 12. And how old was Autumn when she left her parents then? Honestly, it made no sense.
Cat was a much better character, far from ordinary in my opinion and also way to good for Autumn, and I would have liked more time spent on her issues. Gabe was written far too mature for a 11-12 year old. More like 15-16. All of the other characters were very superficially written, especially Autumn’s parents. The requisite drama with the whole ‘secret’ storyline was unnecessary and resolved in a rush at the end.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
Ordinary gets mentioned a lot in this book, and I seem to be in the minority, because that’s exactly what I thought this was. I couldn’t warm to Autumn, who was self-centred for the majority of the book. She puts what she wants ahead of her best-friend and then the child entrusted into her care (seriously, who leaves a grieving child that they’re responsible for for a whole month a week after her mother dies?). When she’s in the city, she leaves Cat to do all the work with Gabe and when she’s in the country, leaves her workers to carry her business.
I also couldn’t work out Autumn’s backstory. She’s supposed to be 25, she’s estranged from her folks but is said to have started college early even though they didn’t know where she was at first, how did she start college early without their permission? And her estrangement from her grandmother and cousin made even less sense (especially the reason for it, and the fact that they knew where she was but didn’t bother to get in touch). Strange for people who professed to love her so much. Gabe’s 12, which means Autumn hasn’t seen Becki in at least 13 years, since Autumn didn’t know Gabe existed. That would make her 12 the last time they saw each other, yet they’re constantly refered to as ‘being as close as sisters’. I certainly wouldn’t leave my kid to someone I last saw when she was 12. And how old was Autumn when she left her parents then? Honestly, it made no sense.
Cat was a much better character, far from ordinary in my opinion and also way to good for Autumn, and I would have liked more time spent on her issues. Gabe was written far too mature for a 11-12 year old. More like 15-16. All of the other characters were very superficially written, especially Autumn’s parents. The requisite drama with the whole ‘secret’ storyline was unnecessary and resolved in a rush at the end.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.
April 12, 2019
4 Stars for this nice albeit predictable romance. When it is as well written as this one, that is not a bad thing.
It has 3 - no 4 main characters.
Catherine, a thirty-five year old army vet who suffers from PTSD. She considers herself ordinary and average. But she is extraordinarily kind and generous. Autumn, at twenty-five is businesswoman, a CEO and owner of a small media marketing company that is on the brink of great success. She loves shopping, living in the city and femme women.
Autumn's cousin, Becki died leaving her house and property in the country (previously their Grandmother's) to Autumn and joint custody of her 11 year old daughter, Gabriella (Gabe) with their neighbor, Catherine. The bulk of her estate going in a trust for Gabe. Autumn spent every summer at her grandmother's house with Becki until Autumn graduated early and left for college. That was the last time she saw Becki. Gabe, although genius level intelligence is still an 11 year old. She is of course devastated by her mother's death and leans on Catherine for support, having never met Autumn. Then there is Elvis. The dog. Elvis is the fourth main character. A stray that adopted Catherine, is a natural service dog, magically going to where and to whom he is needed, whether helping Catherine during her PTSD attacks or support for Gabe and later Autumn.
Ordinary is Perfect is a "perfect" title for this book. The book is ordinary in the sense that it is a predictable slow burn romance. Which was fine for me. Only two things bothered me - unless I missed it, except during the reading of the will, Gabe didn't push back much spending the school year with Autumn in the city. However, later she thrived at the school for gifted kids. And second, the book was about the slow burn romance but after it was acknowledged it ends quickly with a short epilogue. I guess it was wrapped up well, I just wanted a bit more.
It has 3 - no 4 main characters.
Catherine, a thirty-five year old army vet who suffers from PTSD. She considers herself ordinary and average. But she is extraordinarily kind and generous. Autumn, at twenty-five is businesswoman, a CEO and owner of a small media marketing company that is on the brink of great success. She loves shopping, living in the city and femme women.
Autumn's cousin, Becki died leaving her house and property in the country (previously their Grandmother's) to Autumn and joint custody of her 11 year old daughter, Gabriella (Gabe) with their neighbor, Catherine. The bulk of her estate going in a trust for Gabe. Autumn spent every summer at her grandmother's house with Becki until Autumn graduated early and left for college. That was the last time she saw Becki. Gabe, although genius level intelligence is still an 11 year old. She is of course devastated by her mother's death and leans on Catherine for support, having never met Autumn. Then there is Elvis. The dog. Elvis is the fourth main character. A stray that adopted Catherine, is a natural service dog, magically going to where and to whom he is needed, whether helping Catherine during her PTSD attacks or support for Gabe and later Autumn.
Ordinary is Perfect is a "perfect" title for this book. The book is ordinary in the sense that it is a predictable slow burn romance. Which was fine for me. Only two things bothered me - unless I missed it, except during the reading of the will, Gabe didn't push back much spending the school year with Autumn in the city. However, later she thrived at the school for gifted kids. And second, the book was about the slow burn romance but after it was acknowledged it ends quickly with a short epilogue. I guess it was wrapped up well, I just wanted a bit more.
May 10, 2021
I enjoyed this overall. I thought the romance was sweet and the story was heartfelt.
I had some issues with the timeline. There was no way Autumn was only 25 while Gabe was almost 12 and Autumn didn't know about Gabe's existence. The math didn't add up and I found myself going back to reread certain passages again just to make sure I wasn't losing my mind.
The storyline with Autumn's parents and her father coming back really ended up pissing me off and I really just wish it had never been mentioned. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me and didn't add anything to what was happening.
Catherine stole the show for me here. I loved her character and felt badly for her situation. I thought she was anything but ordinary and it made me so sad that she couldn't see it. There were times I thought she was maybe a little too good for Autumn but I was happy in the end and that's all that matters.
I had some issues with the timeline. There was no way Autumn was only 25 while Gabe was almost 12 and Autumn didn't know about Gabe's existence. The math didn't add up and I found myself going back to reread certain passages again just to make sure I wasn't losing my mind.
The storyline with Autumn's parents and her father coming back really ended up pissing me off and I really just wish it had never been mentioned. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me and didn't add anything to what was happening.
Catherine stole the show for me here. I loved her character and felt badly for her situation. I thought she was anything but ordinary and it made me so sad that she couldn't see it. There were times I thought she was maybe a little too good for Autumn but I was happy in the end and that's all that matters.
December 16, 2018
This was such a wonderful and heartwarming story. I choked up at times and felt uplifted in others.
There is a kid that is Central to the plot but not one of those annoying baby talk and whiny kind. Gabe was an 'old soul' with some spunky attitude.
A tragic loss in Gabes's life forces Autumn, a selfish young entrepreneur, and Catherine, an ordinary butch that suffers from PTSD, to come together in a co-parenting situation.
It's a tough circumstance and everyone seems to go together like oil and vinegar.
I really loved going on the journey with these people as they tried to make things work. Grow to learn about each other. Become more important pieces thier lives. Seeing if they can overcome the dark past to forge a brighter future.
Nothing to critique. Recommend.
I recieved an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley for an honest review.
There is a kid that is Central to the plot but not one of those annoying baby talk and whiny kind. Gabe was an 'old soul' with some spunky attitude.
A tragic loss in Gabes's life forces Autumn, a selfish young entrepreneur, and Catherine, an ordinary butch that suffers from PTSD, to come together in a co-parenting situation.
It's a tough circumstance and everyone seems to go together like oil and vinegar.
I really loved going on the journey with these people as they tried to make things work. Grow to learn about each other. Become more important pieces thier lives. Seeing if they can overcome the dark past to forge a brighter future.
Nothing to critique. Recommend.
I recieved an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley for an honest review.
February 14, 2019
🏳️🌈👭📚👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
I received an ARC from BSB (via Netgalley) in exchange of an honest review, so … Here it is !!!
First of all … I’d like to say that I love the cover, it matches well a big part of the content of the book …
OK … so , now, what to say about « Ordinary is perfect » ??
It’s a nice reading, really … I loved the countryside of the story (I grew up on a farm maybe I’m biased but I don’t care… LOL ) , « Elvis » the clever self-educated therapy dog and a couple of other things …
This novel is a definitely a pleasant, easy (and quick) reading .. a good book, really, with some very touching moments and a very promising story at the beginning but it becomes just « ordinary » in the end … It’s a shame. Sincerely, I think it could have been an amazing work … if (from my POV) :
° the novel were a little bit more balanced. I mean by that that 1st half of the novel happens in a 1 week time frame and the other half in the space of 6 or 7 months … And when it comes to the epilogue, we don’t even know since how long the characters live together.
° the characters backgrounds were more developed ‘cause some questions are still unanswered… . OK, around the end , we learn a bit more about Autumn childhood, why it happened but it would have been interesting to know how she dealt with those new information, to follow her journey to come to terms with over a decade and a half of anger … About Catherine, it would have been great to know why she doesn’t get along with her rich family … About Gabe, knowing a bit more about her origins would have been interesting since she’s a bi-racial kid (how Becki become involved with a guy from elsewhere in the first place) … . It would have been great to see how the 3 of them evolved (and how long) to become the real and united family they are in the end, how they came to terms together with all the issues (including Cat’s PTSD) after the « marijuana fiasco » and end by living all together in the country.
° the time line and and some facts were a little bit more clear when it comes to Cat & Becki’s story … Seems there are some blurred things, the moment they met, when Cat became Becki’s anchor (If I have a good memory, Cat said Autumn she didn’t live there when Mama Swan died, so .. how could she have been Becki’s anchor in this difficult moment ?? )…
° the romance were more developed. OK there’s an attraction between Cat and Autumn but as a reader I would have appreciate witnessing a bit more of the buildind of this romance. ‘cause, right now, we can’t really say how the 2 lovebirds become a couple. OK, the were designated to co-parent a kid by someone they both loved but there’s not a lot of details about their actions neither about that part (discussions, arguments, etc ..), nor about their mutual seduction, their intimate conversations …
° the secondary characters who were very present in the 1st half of the novel (and seem to have vanished almost completely in the second half) would have stayed and helped the little family …
Even if I find a bit frustrating the fact of not having a more developed story to make this novel the gem it deserves to be, since « Ordinary is perfect » is the 1st book by D. Jackson Leigh I’ve read… I think I’ll give a try to a few other pieces of her work ‘cause I like I like her writing style and her touches of humor & I’ll let you, guys and gals, grab your copy and make your own opinion about all this.
Enjoy (or not) your reading !!!
🏳️🌈👭📚👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
I received an ARC from BSB (via Netgalley) in exchange of an honest review, so … Here it is !!!
First of all … I’d like to say that I love the cover, it matches well a big part of the content of the book …
OK … so , now, what to say about « Ordinary is perfect » ??
It’s a nice reading, really … I loved the countryside of the story (I grew up on a farm maybe I’m biased but I don’t care… LOL ) , « Elvis » the clever self-educated therapy dog and a couple of other things …
This novel is a definitely a pleasant, easy (and quick) reading .. a good book, really, with some very touching moments and a very promising story at the beginning but it becomes just « ordinary » in the end … It’s a shame. Sincerely, I think it could have been an amazing work … if (from my POV) :
° the novel were a little bit more balanced. I mean by that that 1st half of the novel happens in a 1 week time frame and the other half in the space of 6 or 7 months … And when it comes to the epilogue, we don’t even know since how long the characters live together.
° the characters backgrounds were more developed ‘cause some questions are still unanswered… . OK, around the end , we learn a bit more about Autumn childhood, why it happened but it would have been interesting to know how she dealt with those new information, to follow her journey to come to terms with over a decade and a half of anger … About Catherine, it would have been great to know why she doesn’t get along with her rich family … About Gabe, knowing a bit more about her origins would have been interesting since she’s a bi-racial kid (how Becki become involved with a guy from elsewhere in the first place) … . It would have been great to see how the 3 of them evolved (and how long) to become the real and united family they are in the end, how they came to terms together with all the issues (including Cat’s PTSD) after the « marijuana fiasco » and end by living all together in the country.
° the time line and and some facts were a little bit more clear when it comes to Cat & Becki’s story … Seems there are some blurred things, the moment they met, when Cat became Becki’s anchor (If I have a good memory, Cat said Autumn she didn’t live there when Mama Swan died, so .. how could she have been Becki’s anchor in this difficult moment ?? )…
° the romance were more developed. OK there’s an attraction between Cat and Autumn but as a reader I would have appreciate witnessing a bit more of the buildind of this romance. ‘cause, right now, we can’t really say how the 2 lovebirds become a couple. OK, the were designated to co-parent a kid by someone they both loved but there’s not a lot of details about their actions neither about that part (discussions, arguments, etc ..), nor about their mutual seduction, their intimate conversations …
° the secondary characters who were very present in the 1st half of the novel (and seem to have vanished almost completely in the second half) would have stayed and helped the little family …
Even if I find a bit frustrating the fact of not having a more developed story to make this novel the gem it deserves to be, since « Ordinary is perfect » is the 1st book by D. Jackson Leigh I’ve read… I think I’ll give a try to a few other pieces of her work ‘cause I like I like her writing style and her touches of humor & I’ll let you, guys and gals, grab your copy and make your own opinion about all this.
Enjoy (or not) your reading !!!
🏳️🌈👭📚👩❤️👩🏳️🌈
January 26, 2019
This was a very well written book. The story was promising at the beginning but at the end it was... ordinary.
December 17, 2018
Ordinary is Perfect by D. Jackson Leigh is a lovely slow-burn contemporary romance about two characters who appear to be opposites, but we all know how opposites attract. Our two main characters, Catherine Daye and Autumn Swan, are brought together because of the death of a friend and cousin and agree to be co-guardians to a feisty young girl named Gabe. Both women have demons in their past that affect them, but try to put them aside to be a family of sorts for Gabe. We all know how demons are though. They simply will not be silent, and this causes a great deal of the conflict in the story.
I applaud the author’s creation of these characters with all their flaws as well as their humanity. I actually disliked Autumn for a while as I kept being irritated by her apparent selfish, self-centered outlook on life. Once I understood where this was coming from (those pesky demons), I began to relate to her better. I loved both Catherine and Gabe’s characters, but I must admit my favorite character was Elvis the dog. The story was sweet, the romance was quite steamy at times, and there is just the right amount of angst for this tale.
I did feel there were some missing elements to the story that would have made it even better. I would have liked to have seen more about Catherine’s past in the army, especially what gave her the PTSD that she suffers from. We get glimpses of the trauma instead of a more fleshed out explanation. I also think Autumn needed more face time with her parents than we witnessed in the story. Finally, I wish the ending had been longer. It felt very abrupt to me, I wanted more.
I did enjoy Ordinary is Perfect and can recommend it to all who love a good contemporary romance.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
I applaud the author’s creation of these characters with all their flaws as well as their humanity. I actually disliked Autumn for a while as I kept being irritated by her apparent selfish, self-centered outlook on life. Once I understood where this was coming from (those pesky demons), I began to relate to her better. I loved both Catherine and Gabe’s characters, but I must admit my favorite character was Elvis the dog. The story was sweet, the romance was quite steamy at times, and there is just the right amount of angst for this tale.
I did feel there were some missing elements to the story that would have made it even better. I would have liked to have seen more about Catherine’s past in the army, especially what gave her the PTSD that she suffers from. We get glimpses of the trauma instead of a more fleshed out explanation. I also think Autumn needed more face time with her parents than we witnessed in the story. Finally, I wish the ending had been longer. It felt very abrupt to me, I wanted more.
I did enjoy Ordinary is Perfect and can recommend it to all who love a good contemporary romance.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
March 19, 2019
Let’s see if I remember this one so long after reading it . . .
A mother has died, and her next-door-neighbor takes in the mother’s teenage daughter –at least until ‘what to do with ten-year-old [insert name here; Gordie? Bah, I can’t recall]’ is solved. This neighbor is a very butch looking woman (seriously, it matters in this book) who is a military veteran – the kind who seemed to thrive, until she didn’t (her team died, she blames herself, she has PTSD, she was honorably discharged, she has massive issues which appear to be helped by living in a rural area and having a helper dog) named Catherine Daye.
Somewhat out of the blue for many reasons, a relative swings in to help . . . take care of the property distribution. Autumn Swan has a thriving business ‘in the city’ and the business is currently ‘exploding’ ‘expansively’ when she gets word that her cousin died and left her something in her will. Sooo, somewhat reluctantly, Autumn heads over to rural-USA to find out what’s going on. What this ‘something’ might be.
That ‘something?’ A ten-year old daughter that Autumn never knew existed, named after the mother’s brother (who Autumn also didn’t know was dead – getting the picture yet that Autumn was a great relative, eh? Well, cousins can be distant or close . . . until you read the backstory and realize that Autumn and the mother (and the grandmother whose house cousin and cousin daughter lived in) were great friends – best friends, no one has ever come close to replacing her in her life but . . . . her parents smoked weed and she wasn’t going to have anything to do with that so she split from her family (okay, there’s more to the story than that, but that’s the way it read to me – a young woman didn’t like how ‘white trash-y’ and ‘lazy’ her family was so left them (), also they were dirty, seemed distant, and there might have been something about a bad coming out though I can’t remember, now, if that coming out part was part of the story or not).
Technically the will didn’t leave the girl to Autumn – it left the guardianship of the young girl to Autumn and Cat. Plus a life-interest in the family home; plus-some money.
Autumn and Cat grow close, though Autumn is reluctant because . . . Cat is sooo Butch!!! And Cat is reluctant because . . . she has low-self-esteem and knows she’s barely hanging onto sanity. Stuff happens. Some ‘obvious’ clues are dropped about the complications that arise, angst and pettiness tear at the relationship and . . . um . . . there are also some cute scenes with a super-intelligent dog.
Rating: 4 stars
March 19 2019
A mother has died, and her next-door-neighbor takes in the mother’s teenage daughter –at least until ‘what to do with ten-year-old [insert name here; Gordie? Bah, I can’t recall]’ is solved. This neighbor is a very butch looking woman (seriously, it matters in this book) who is a military veteran – the kind who seemed to thrive, until she didn’t (her team died, she blames herself, she has PTSD, she was honorably discharged, she has massive issues which appear to be helped by living in a rural area and having a helper dog) named Catherine Daye.
Somewhat out of the blue for many reasons, a relative swings in to help . . . take care of the property distribution. Autumn Swan has a thriving business ‘in the city’ and the business is currently ‘exploding’ ‘expansively’ when she gets word that her cousin died and left her something in her will. Sooo, somewhat reluctantly, Autumn heads over to rural-USA to find out what’s going on. What this ‘something’ might be.
That ‘something?’ A ten-year old daughter that Autumn never knew existed, named after the mother’s brother (who Autumn also didn’t know was dead – getting the picture yet that Autumn was a great relative, eh? Well, cousins can be distant or close . . . until you read the backstory and realize that Autumn and the mother (and the grandmother whose house cousin and cousin daughter lived in) were great friends – best friends, no one has ever come close to replacing her in her life but . . . . her parents smoked weed and she wasn’t going to have anything to do with that so she split from her family (okay, there’s more to the story than that, but that’s the way it read to me – a young woman didn’t like how ‘white trash-y’ and ‘lazy’ her family was so left them (), also they were dirty, seemed distant, and there might have been something about a bad coming out though I can’t remember, now, if that coming out part was part of the story or not).
Technically the will didn’t leave the girl to Autumn – it left the guardianship of the young girl to Autumn and Cat. Plus a life-interest in the family home; plus-some money.
Autumn and Cat grow close, though Autumn is reluctant because . . . Cat is sooo Butch!!! And Cat is reluctant because . . . she has low-self-esteem and knows she’s barely hanging onto sanity. Stuff happens. Some ‘obvious’ clues are dropped about the complications that arise, angst and pettiness tear at the relationship and . . . um . . . there are also some cute scenes with a super-intelligent dog.
Rating: 4 stars
March 19 2019
March 14, 2019
1.5 stars.
The book spends a lot of time establishing that they're not each other's type and they don't actually like each other but they fall in bed for some reason anyway. Which went completely contrary to what book told me. I wish the author spent more time describing what they actually like about each other rather than why they're not each other's type.
The child character was there only to push the plot forward, to get the mains together or push them apart, she didn't feel like a fully realized human being like in Wish Upon a Star for example.
The main conflict was incredibly forced and the lecture/infomercial on weed was also outstandingly out of place. The book generally tends to go on small, meaningless secondary plot point detours on occasion, and the ending felt almost random with how the main conflict was forced and then even more weirdly resolved with a secondary character that appears only at the very end of the book. It was straight outta left field and unnecessary.
Nothing clicked for me in this book. In many ways, this read like a worse version of A Wish Upon a Star which is another butchxfemme with a child at the center of the story book. Except, it's well written.
The book spends a lot of time establishing that they're not each other's type and they don't actually like each other but they fall in bed for some reason anyway. Which went completely contrary to what book told me. I wish the author spent more time describing what they actually like about each other rather than why they're not each other's type.
The child character was there only to push the plot forward, to get the mains together or push them apart, she didn't feel like a fully realized human being like in Wish Upon a Star for example.
The main conflict was incredibly forced and the lecture/infomercial on weed was also outstandingly out of place. The book generally tends to go on small, meaningless secondary plot point detours on occasion, and the ending felt almost random with how the main conflict was forced and then even more weirdly resolved with a secondary character that appears only at the very end of the book. It was straight outta left field and unnecessary.
Nothing clicked for me in this book. In many ways, this read like a worse version of A Wish Upon a Star which is another butchxfemme with a child at the center of the story book. Except, it's well written.
January 28, 2019
Loved it!
Autumn struggles with issues from her past. She is successful in her professional life but on a personal level, not so much. Cat has her own demons which she has to conquer. She things of herself as damaged goods. A sudden death left them to share responsibility for a little girl. As their relationship grows into something more, they both has to face ups and downs before they realize that they can be more than co-guardian. I loved how it played out. I liked the characters and especially Elvis. He is my little hero. Highly recommended.
Autumn struggles with issues from her past. She is successful in her professional life but on a personal level, not so much. Cat has her own demons which she has to conquer. She things of herself as damaged goods. A sudden death left them to share responsibility for a little girl. As their relationship grows into something more, they both has to face ups and downs before they realize that they can be more than co-guardian. I loved how it played out. I liked the characters and especially Elvis. He is my little hero. Highly recommended.
July 16, 2024
Really enjoyed this one - intelligent and full of reasoned discussions from both sides. Perhaps a slow beginning but really revved up. Highly recommended.
One of my favs.
One of my favs.
April 15, 2019
This was a lovely story. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end.
Catherine is the next door neighbour and a close friend to Becki and her daughter, Gabe. When Becki dies unexpectedly, Catherine is forced into a co-parenting situation with Becki’s close cousin, Autumn. Catherine and Becki are polar opposites, from different backgrounds and different childhoods. Catherine is ex-Army hiding out in the country while trying to cope with her PTSD and Autumn is a hot shot city slicker who is taking the social media world by storm and doesn’t have plans to slow down. But they both loved Becki dearly so they have to make this work for Gabe.
The story is read from both Autumn and Catherine points of view. The pace was perfect and with very little angst, it made it the perfect light read that I know will sit on many of your re-read book shelves.
In the beginning I couldn’t see Autumn and Catherine being anything but together and madly in love. They were perfect for each other (even though they clearly didn’t agree) but with the tragedy of Becki and the reality of becoming parents to a teenager meant any idea of a relationship was on the back burner no matter how attached to one another they were. It was actually quite endearing how much they both looked after each other (including Gabe) and made me connect with them on a greater level. Gabe had lost her mother but gained two in the most beautiful of ways.
The chemistry between Catherine and Autumn was intense. Even when they were just fantasising or day dreaming about each other, there was a thrum of heat and passion; it was almost tangible. The sex scenes on top of that were explosive and sexy as hell with the undercurrent of tenderness and love. It was really beautiful to watch the love (and lust) between them unfold.
I would have liked more of an epilogue, maybe further in the future and with more displays of how life was going to work in their little family unit. I’d also love a follow up when Gabe is older and looking for love… Maybe with Angel? Gabe is future swoon material.
This was a great book to get lost in and I look forward to re-reading it again soon.
4 stars
Catherine is the next door neighbour and a close friend to Becki and her daughter, Gabe. When Becki dies unexpectedly, Catherine is forced into a co-parenting situation with Becki’s close cousin, Autumn. Catherine and Becki are polar opposites, from different backgrounds and different childhoods. Catherine is ex-Army hiding out in the country while trying to cope with her PTSD and Autumn is a hot shot city slicker who is taking the social media world by storm and doesn’t have plans to slow down. But they both loved Becki dearly so they have to make this work for Gabe.
The story is read from both Autumn and Catherine points of view. The pace was perfect and with very little angst, it made it the perfect light read that I know will sit on many of your re-read book shelves.
In the beginning I couldn’t see Autumn and Catherine being anything but together and madly in love. They were perfect for each other (even though they clearly didn’t agree) but with the tragedy of Becki and the reality of becoming parents to a teenager meant any idea of a relationship was on the back burner no matter how attached to one another they were. It was actually quite endearing how much they both looked after each other (including Gabe) and made me connect with them on a greater level. Gabe had lost her mother but gained two in the most beautiful of ways.
The chemistry between Catherine and Autumn was intense. Even when they were just fantasising or day dreaming about each other, there was a thrum of heat and passion; it was almost tangible. The sex scenes on top of that were explosive and sexy as hell with the undercurrent of tenderness and love. It was really beautiful to watch the love (and lust) between them unfold.
I would have liked more of an epilogue, maybe further in the future and with more displays of how life was going to work in their little family unit. I’d also love a follow up when Gabe is older and looking for love… Maybe with Angel? Gabe is future swoon material.
This was a great book to get lost in and I look forward to re-reading it again soon.
4 stars
January 11, 2019
For the first 75% of the book I was thinking this would be a solid four stars. After the dreaded conflict towards the end I had to lower my rating.
I liked both of the leads and I'm glad that they worked together from the start when it came to Gabe. I was worried that this was going to start with them both hating each other. The chemistry between the two was well written.
I think that there could have been other conflicts instead of the crop related one. Maybe Cat or Gabe weren't cool with Gabe moving to Atlanta? Cat seemed to have no issue with Autumn unilaterally deciding to have Gabe switch schools. It seemed like a better conflict could have been found. Autumn totally flying off the handle when she found Cat's medicine seemed extreme. The police situation seemed unnecessary. It was all wrapped up really quickly, also.
Overall the book was ok, it's probably worth a read.
(A copy of the book was provided by BSB through netgalley for an honest review.)
I liked both of the leads and I'm glad that they worked together from the start when it came to Gabe. I was worried that this was going to start with them both hating each other. The chemistry between the two was well written.
I think that there could have been other conflicts instead of the crop related one. Maybe Cat or Gabe weren't cool with Gabe moving to Atlanta? Cat seemed to have no issue with Autumn unilaterally deciding to have Gabe switch schools. It seemed like a better conflict could have been found. Autumn totally flying off the handle when she found Cat's medicine seemed extreme. The police situation seemed unnecessary. It was all wrapped up really quickly, also.
Overall the book was ok, it's probably worth a read.
(A copy of the book was provided by BSB through netgalley for an honest review.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2019
3.5 stars. Sweet story and an enjoyable read.
But I would have preferred there was more. And the end felt too rushed for me.
But I would have preferred there was more. And the end felt too rushed for me.
January 31, 2019
This was pretty good. Predictable, but good chemistry between the MCs. The kid actually added a nice element.
It's not quite insta love...but almost. Mostly because we aren't let in on the couple growing closer...which I feel could have added a great deal to the dynamic.
All in all, this is a solid read and I think most readers will enjoy it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It's not quite insta love...but almost. Mostly because we aren't let in on the couple growing closer...which I feel could have added a great deal to the dynamic.
All in all, this is a solid read and I think most readers will enjoy it.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2018
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Catherine is an Army Veteran. Autumn is a social media-marketing entrepreneur. Catherine has lived next door to Autumn’s cousin Becki for several years and grown fond of Becki’s daughter Gabriella (Gabe).
Becki suddenly dies from a brain tumour and Autumn & Catherine are suddenly the co-parents to Gabe. When they pair first meet at the farm, there is an immediate attraction. I enjoyed the story line but it was the characters that kept me turning the pages wanting more. I loved Catherine from the beginning, with Autumn it took me a little longer for her to grow on me but by the end of the book I loved both main characters. I have to say though that even though I am not a lover of kids it was Gabe that was my favourite character from them all. I also liked Elvis (the dog).
I have only read a couple of this authors work but now I want more. I would definitely recommend giving this one a read.
Catherine is an Army Veteran. Autumn is a social media-marketing entrepreneur. Catherine has lived next door to Autumn’s cousin Becki for several years and grown fond of Becki’s daughter Gabriella (Gabe).
Becki suddenly dies from a brain tumour and Autumn & Catherine are suddenly the co-parents to Gabe. When they pair first meet at the farm, there is an immediate attraction. I enjoyed the story line but it was the characters that kept me turning the pages wanting more. I loved Catherine from the beginning, with Autumn it took me a little longer for her to grow on me but by the end of the book I loved both main characters. I have to say though that even though I am not a lover of kids it was Gabe that was my favourite character from them all. I also liked Elvis (the dog).
I have only read a couple of this authors work but now I want more. I would definitely recommend giving this one a read.
February 8, 2019
I finished it late last night or really early this morning, I was really into it. The characters were stereotypical lesbians, the kind you find in old fanfiction, or so I thought, but then you get glimpses of character traits that challenge that, and that’s when I knew I was hooked, because it was a enjoyable easy read, just how I like them, but different enough to want to know more and really pay attention to the plot.
The thing is, a couple of hours ago I was seriously consider giving the book 3 stars, because the ending felt weird to me. I still can’t reconcile the MCs perceived personality (what I tough she was like at least) and the super weird freak out and ah ok I’m over it later, AAAND that plot twist (? I’m not sure how to call it) although it was “announced” at the first part of the book, it felt rushed, so maybe that’s why the freak out felt weird to me (I can’t find a compromise between explaining something and giving spoilers, so this is me trying, I’m sorry if I don’t make sense).
BUT after some sleep I came to the conclusion that even if the ending wasn’t satisfactory to me, the book deserved better than a 3 stars rating.
The thing is, a couple of hours ago I was seriously consider giving the book 3 stars, because the ending felt weird to me. I still can’t reconcile the MCs perceived personality (what I tough she was like at least) and the super weird freak out and ah ok I’m over it later, AAAND that plot twist (? I’m not sure how to call it) although it was “announced” at the first part of the book, it felt rushed, so maybe that’s why the freak out felt weird to me (I can’t find a compromise between explaining something and giving spoilers, so this is me trying, I’m sorry if I don’t make sense).
BUT after some sleep I came to the conclusion that even if the ending wasn’t satisfactory to me, the book deserved better than a 3 stars rating.
January 18, 2019
This is my first D. Jackson Leigh book. The story kind of dragged long. It’s not really boring but not compelling as well. Overall it’s an okay read.
February 8, 2019
Catherine (Cat) is an Army Veteran who is now living a peaceful life on a farm as she deals with her PTSD. When her next door neighbour suddenly passes away, she's left as the co-guardian to 12 year old Gabe. Autumn is a young marketing and social media wiz with a rapidly expansing business. She's called back rural Georgia to become guardian to the niece she's never met. The two women navigate their new life that is suddenly turned upside down, helping each other and Gabe through their grief and finding a new path. Somewhere along the way, attraction surfaces, and love isn't far behind.
I really enjoyed reading this book - I always like Leigh's style of writing. It's a breeze to read and I never fail to connect with the characters. The leading ladies in this story were unique and really realistic characters that you could connect with and their relationship. I loved how they each had their strength, independence and intelligence their own right. I loved the slow burn nature of their relationship and the chemistry was really great.
Gabe was awesome as well - she was so strong! I loved the little community of characters described, this book dealt with some heavy stuff, but the sense of community bolstered the reader and gave it this warm welcoming feeling that set the tone on the romance. This was definitely a character and family driven romance - which is one of my favourite types to read.
Looking forward to the next one by Leigh!
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading this book - I always like Leigh's style of writing. It's a breeze to read and I never fail to connect with the characters. The leading ladies in this story were unique and really realistic characters that you could connect with and their relationship. I loved how they each had their strength, independence and intelligence their own right. I loved the slow burn nature of their relationship and the chemistry was really great.
Gabe was awesome as well - she was so strong! I loved the little community of characters described, this book dealt with some heavy stuff, but the sense of community bolstered the reader and gave it this warm welcoming feeling that set the tone on the romance. This was definitely a character and family driven romance - which is one of my favourite types to read.
Looking forward to the next one by Leigh!
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2019
A relationship can come along when you least expect with a person that was not on your radar. Because we all know, there is more to a person than looks. There is quite a bit going on in this read. Army veteran Catherine Daye is ordinary looking as stated by her and struggling with nightmares. Autumn Swan is proving herself to be a marketing "rockstar". Both characters have "issues". In my opinion, there are topics and types of characters that are atypical in lesfic which makes this read unique as well as interesting. Autumn is a business woman that likes shopping, designer clothing, and femme women. Catherine is a butch woman that likes to stay in the background and impact the lives of others through various outreach projects. The underlining thread that tickles the reader throughout had me guessing as various clues were presented. The ending was quick and left me wanting more detail but it is what it is.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
February 3, 2019
I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. The inconsistencies mentioned in other reviews were distracting for me. That said the book was well written and the premise somewhat unusual, though I think the reason for her parents’ treatment of Autumn was a bit far fetched for me. 3.8 stars
March 16, 2020
I liked the dynamic between Autumn, Cat, and Gabe as they figure out their new normal and how their family unit will operate, especially given how different Autumn and Cat are. All three of the characters are believable and relatable, and I enjoyed seeing them all change and grow so they can fit together.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/ordi...
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/ordi...
August 19, 2020
3.5 stars. I find it difficult to rate this book. There is romance, lots of family drama, a nice setting and some angst. There were parts that I enjoyed a lot, but there were also some things that annoyed me.
Autumn is a city girl who finds out that her cousin Becki died and she got custody over her daughter Gabriella (Gabe). Back at Becki’s farm she meets Gabe and the neighbor Cat to who Becki and Gabe were very close to. So, let’s start with the things that I liked, I loved Cat and her backstory. She’s such a gentle and strong person (and perhaps way too good for Autumn), which shows in her connection with Elvis, her absolutely wonderful (therapy) dog, and Gabe. She’s ex-military and struggles with PTSD, so clearly her life isn't easy, but still she cares about everybody in the community around her and tries to make the world a better place for them.
On the other hand, we have Autumn and here comes my annoyance. It took such a long time to warm up to her (and honestly, I think I never completely warmed up to her). I found her so shallow, prejudiced and egotistical. All the choices she made appeared to be made with her own convenience and wishes in mind. Yes, she has some history that might explain some of this behavior, but to me it does not excuse it. Her behavior did become a bit better during the story, but it’s just hard to root for a couple if you don’t really like one of the characters. The story kept my interest though and I did enjoy the romance between her and Cat, although I think this was mainly because of Cat.
There was one more thing that I struggled with, which had a major impact on the story’s ending. I can’t say much about it without giving spoilers, so I’ll put a spoiler on it.
That said, I liked that most of the book was set at a farm in a small village and I enjoyed the writing style, the pace, the family drama and the romance in this book, but it could have been better to me if I’d liked Autumn better.
Autumn is a city girl who finds out that her cousin Becki died and she got custody over her daughter Gabriella (Gabe). Back at Becki’s farm she meets Gabe and the neighbor Cat to who Becki and Gabe were very close to. So, let’s start with the things that I liked, I loved Cat and her backstory. She’s such a gentle and strong person (and perhaps way too good for Autumn), which shows in her connection with Elvis, her absolutely wonderful (therapy) dog, and Gabe. She’s ex-military and struggles with PTSD, so clearly her life isn't easy, but still she cares about everybody in the community around her and tries to make the world a better place for them.
On the other hand, we have Autumn and here comes my annoyance. It took such a long time to warm up to her (and honestly, I think I never completely warmed up to her). I found her so shallow, prejudiced and egotistical. All the choices she made appeared to be made with her own convenience and wishes in mind. Yes, she has some history that might explain some of this behavior, but to me it does not excuse it. Her behavior did become a bit better during the story, but it’s just hard to root for a couple if you don’t really like one of the characters. The story kept my interest though and I did enjoy the romance between her and Cat, although I think this was mainly because of Cat.
There was one more thing that I struggled with, which had a major impact on the story’s ending. I can’t say much about it without giving spoilers, so I’ll put a spoiler on it.
That said, I liked that most of the book was set at a farm in a small village and I enjoyed the writing style, the pace, the family drama and the romance in this book, but it could have been better to me if I’d liked Autumn better.
December 14, 2018
I ARC received via NetGalley and in exchange for an honest review.
This was a great read.
Catherine is a army vet who lives on a farm who became friends with her neighbors Becki and her daughter Gabe.
One morning her dog Elvis which we learn wasn't hers but stayed was scrapping at the door to get her attention and when she get a call from Gabe that something happen to her mother she runs next door to find out Becki died of aneurysm.
In comes her cousin Autumn who started a digital marketing business that become huge hit and with the help of her friend Jay who is a hoot they hire Rachel who become a good business partner and friend ,because when she was younger she didn't have a lot because her parents was to much into their selves but as we find out their was a reason and even though she didn't know they help her in secret.
When she found out her cousin died and she angry that she loss so much time with her because she thought Becki and their Grandma would turn on her because she was a gay when she return to her grandmother house she learns that Becki has a daughter that have been left in her care and that she has to co -parent with Catherine as they get to know each other a romance develop between them.
I love plot of this book but I wish it was longer and we really got into PSTD and romance that develop between them was flesh out more.
This was a great read.
Catherine is a army vet who lives on a farm who became friends with her neighbors Becki and her daughter Gabe.
One morning her dog Elvis which we learn wasn't hers but stayed was scrapping at the door to get her attention and when she get a call from Gabe that something happen to her mother she runs next door to find out Becki died of aneurysm.
In comes her cousin Autumn who started a digital marketing business that become huge hit and with the help of her friend Jay who is a hoot they hire Rachel who become a good business partner and friend ,because when she was younger she didn't have a lot because her parents was to much into their selves but as we find out their was a reason and even though she didn't know they help her in secret.
When she found out her cousin died and she angry that she loss so much time with her because she thought Becki and their Grandma would turn on her because she was a gay when she return to her grandmother house she learns that Becki has a daughter that have been left in her care and that she has to co -parent with Catherine as they get to know each other a romance develop between them.
I love plot of this book but I wish it was longer and we really got into PSTD and romance that develop between them was flesh out more.
January 11, 2019
3.5 Stars. I enjoyed this book, but it had some flaws which prevents my score being higher. This book is about Catherine, an ex-soldier who suffers from PTSD and retreats to a farm to live a simple life and Autumn, a city girl with a new business who comes back to the small town after her cousin dies. Her cousin has a daughter named Gabe who Catherine and Autumn are put in charge of taking care of in her cousin's will. Catherine was Autumn's cousin's neighbor and had helped her and grew close with Gabe before she died. Catherine and Autumn are opposites, Catherine likes the quiet, farm life and Autumn likes the city life. They learn to get along and take care of Gabe together, as well as get to know each other better. They start to have feelings for each other but Catherine especially denies them as she is afraid as she lost a lot of people in the military, she doesn't want to get attached to anyone again. Autumn at first thinks Catherine is just s simple, butch woman from a small town, but Catherine proves her wrong.
I enjoyed this book as it had a tension between the two characters and it is well written. I enjoyed seeing how their relationship evolved and progressed. The only thing I didn't like, which was a flaw in my opinion, was the end. The drama towards the end of book I didn't enjoy. It seemed like Autumn overreacted, and it didn't end that well. I wish it continued a little bit longer after the ending. I would recommend this book, it was still a good book. I had not read a book by this author before and I enjoyed it. I might read more novels by D. Jackson Leigh.
I enjoyed this book as it had a tension between the two characters and it is well written. I enjoyed seeing how their relationship evolved and progressed. The only thing I didn't like, which was a flaw in my opinion, was the end. The drama towards the end of book I didn't enjoy. It seemed like Autumn overreacted, and it didn't end that well. I wish it continued a little bit longer after the ending. I would recommend this book, it was still a good book. I had not read a book by this author before and I enjoyed it. I might read more novels by D. Jackson Leigh.
April 4, 2019
I should preface this by saying I'm not a huge fan of contemporary romance, no matter what the orientation, but I feel indirectly responsible for a bunch being added to the library collection, so I'm reading them. And I definitely don't regret this one. There are several tropes I don't normally like that the book did really well (precocious child, semi-magical pet) and made me actually enjoy it. I'm also a sucker for hurt-comfort, and this story had some of that going on. I don't do "star.decimal" ratings, but if I did, this one would be a rounded up 3.5 because the big angst before the final resolution seemed a bit contrived and the solution to that angst was even worse, but all in all, I really enjoyed this book and fell in love with the leads myself, which is the most important thing for me when I do read romance.
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