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Tapping into Love
Lucy Parsons wants absolutely nothing to do with the Westmoore family or the maple syrup they produce. When Sierra Westmoore blows back into town after her father’s death and tries to rent a room at Lucy’s family’s bed-and-breakfast, The Maple Inn, Lucy kicks her out on the spot. It doesn’t matter that Sierra hasn’t set foot in Maple Run in fifteen years—the Westmoores are not allowed.
But small towns don’t leave a lot of room to hide, and Sierra and her brother, Drake, have set their sights on improving the town’s opinion of them now that their father is gone.
Lucy doesn’t believe any Westmoore could have good intentions, and although she may have to play nice with Sierra, it doesn’t mean she’s going to like it.
But small towns don’t leave a lot of room to hide, and Sierra and her brother, Drake, have set their sights on improving the town’s opinion of them now that their father is gone.
Lucy doesn’t believe any Westmoore could have good intentions, and although she may have to play nice with Sierra, it doesn’t mean she’s going to like it.
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2019
216 people are currently reading
1081 people want to read
About the author
Monica McCallan
17 books1,461 followersMonica McCallan was an enthusiastic fan of romance novels before she began writing them.
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
Writing is her passion project, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, working at a startup which gives her lots of great inspiration for the settings and storylines of her contemporary romance novels.
She lives with her partner and two tiny dogs, cannot parallel park to save her life, enjoys playing pool a few times a week, and has enjoyed every second of the craft beer explosion these last few years.
Join her mailing list here: http://bit.ly/MonicaMcCallanLesfic
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 173 reviews
July 22, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
Very quick read! It says 204 pages on kindle but it didn’t feel like it.
I didn’t know if I wanted to round up or down for this one because Lucy wasn’t my favorite. But, the ending was cute so I rounded up :)
Very quick read! It says 204 pages on kindle but it didn’t feel like it.
I didn’t know if I wanted to round up or down for this one because Lucy wasn’t my favorite. But, the ending was cute so I rounded up :)
November 14, 2019
Outstanding!
For Lucy, the Westmoore are her sworn enemy for life. An unexpected encounter with a Westmoore family member makes all feelings running high. Lucy, a very headstrong beauty, fights to resist the temptations but fails miserably. Tapping into Love is a beautiful constructed love story, well-paced and with charismatic characters you'll love. It is written with humor and in a very descriptive way. I could almost taste the sweet maple syrup, the pancakes and see the maple trees with their fall colors. The banter and the dialogues were excellent. The author’s writing pulls you immediately into the story. Definitely worth to re-read!
For Lucy, the Westmoore are her sworn enemy for life. An unexpected encounter with a Westmoore family member makes all feelings running high. Lucy, a very headstrong beauty, fights to resist the temptations but fails miserably. Tapping into Love is a beautiful constructed love story, well-paced and with charismatic characters you'll love. It is written with humor and in a very descriptive way. I could almost taste the sweet maple syrup, the pancakes and see the maple trees with their fall colors. The banter and the dialogues were excellent. The author’s writing pulls you immediately into the story. Definitely worth to re-read!
June 8, 2022
Sweet but too short.
September 13, 2022
ETA, audiobook re-read:
Bumping up another star with the audiobook performance of Lori Prince. Loved her voice for Sierra, and she brought the story to life wonderfully. Still wish it had been a little longer and not skimmed over the time jumps near the end quite as much, because I really enjoyed these characters and would have love to have had more of them. Not my fav by this author, but a really lovely solid one nonetheless. I can see myself re listening if the urge pops up.
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This was sweet. Kinda a short and quick story. I liked all of the characters, and the setting was cute, it just felt a little like everything wrapped up and time jumped around a bit too quickly for my personal preference. It made it feel like they were just suddenly in love without getting to see a lot of it which was a bummer, because i liked their dynamic. This is a short and sweet read though!
Bumping up another star with the audiobook performance of Lori Prince. Loved her voice for Sierra, and she brought the story to life wonderfully. Still wish it had been a little longer and not skimmed over the time jumps near the end quite as much, because I really enjoyed these characters and would have love to have had more of them. Not my fav by this author, but a really lovely solid one nonetheless. I can see myself re listening if the urge pops up.
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This was sweet. Kinda a short and quick story. I liked all of the characters, and the setting was cute, it just felt a little like everything wrapped up and time jumped around a bit too quickly for my personal preference. It made it feel like they were just suddenly in love without getting to see a lot of it which was a bummer, because i liked their dynamic. This is a short and sweet read though!
October 21, 2021
All I needed to read in this blurb was maply syrup, it's my absolute favourite and a good one is so hard to come by in my neck of the woods.
I'm discovering that many indie authors write either these comfortable books or completely heart wrenching books. There is really no other way to describe it. Reading McCallan's book is like wrapping myself in a nice warm blanket on a dreary day, snuggling up on the couch with a warm drink, it's so comfortable.
This is your not so typical enemies to lovers romance, as one side of the pairing doesn't even know why they are enemies. I liked the unflappable approach the author took with Sierra, she seems so tough, she had to be, but she is just a lost sweetheart. Lucy on the other hand is everyone's favourite person but actually a hard-ass and a bit of a grump, but if you are on her good side she is lovely.
I liked the pairing, how they got together, the parallels with the typical Hallmark holiday movie they were watching, it's fun. I do have to deduct some points for the "big drama" moment happening at 85%. This is just a crime. It took them long enough to get together, forcing them apart and getting them back together in the last 15% is just a waste in my opinion.
Overall I did enjoy it and I do like the characters, most of the time they did communicate and that's always refreshing in lesfic. Of course this book has left me craving maple syrup and has me wishing I could tour a maple syrup company. I'll just have fix my cravings with chocolates or something, oh the horror...
I'm discovering that many indie authors write either these comfortable books or completely heart wrenching books. There is really no other way to describe it. Reading McCallan's book is like wrapping myself in a nice warm blanket on a dreary day, snuggling up on the couch with a warm drink, it's so comfortable.
This is your not so typical enemies to lovers romance, as one side of the pairing doesn't even know why they are enemies. I liked the unflappable approach the author took with Sierra, she seems so tough, she had to be, but she is just a lost sweetheart. Lucy on the other hand is everyone's favourite person but actually a hard-ass and a bit of a grump, but if you are on her good side she is lovely.
I liked the pairing, how they got together, the parallels with the typical Hallmark holiday movie they were watching, it's fun. I do have to deduct some points for the "big drama" moment happening at 85%. This is just a crime. It took them long enough to get together, forcing them apart and getting them back together in the last 15% is just a waste in my opinion.
Overall I did enjoy it and I do like the characters, most of the time they did communicate and that's always refreshing in lesfic. Of course this book has left me craving maple syrup and has me wishing I could tour a maple syrup company. I'll just have fix my cravings with chocolates or something, oh the horror...
March 29, 2023
My positive intentions paid off! 🙌 This was soooo much better than Back to the Start. Short, super sweet (I'm so punny), and satisfactorily steamy 🔥
It was a bumpy start for me with this one - Lucy really pissed me off for a while there; I mean, as soon as she heard that Sierra hadn't been back in town for 15 years, it was utterly ridiculous for her to keep holding a grudge against her for her father's sins, but I digress...Aside from that, I enjoyed it a lot. Great chemistry, lots of gooey heart-melty bits, and a bit of angst so it didn't get boring.
Enemies to lovers with lots of no-strings, spicy adult fun, all wrapped in a sweet return to hometown story...with a really sappy (😂) happy ending? This one is perfect if you're in the mood for a light, heartwarming, but still steamy read. And for my fellow audiophiles, Lori Prince does a great job with the narration; I'd absolutely recommend the audio version.
It was a bumpy start for me with this one - Lucy really pissed me off for a while there; I mean, as soon as she heard that Sierra hadn't been back in town for 15 years, it was utterly ridiculous for her to keep holding a grudge against her for her father's sins, but I digress...Aside from that, I enjoyed it a lot. Great chemistry, lots of gooey heart-melty bits, and a bit of angst so it didn't get boring.
Enemies to lovers with lots of no-strings, spicy adult fun, all wrapped in a sweet return to hometown story...with a really sappy (😂) happy ending? This one is perfect if you're in the mood for a light, heartwarming, but still steamy read. And for my fellow audiophiles, Lori Prince does a great job with the narration; I'd absolutely recommend the audio version.
October 15, 2023
After I came back from a trip in Canada, autumn was there, so it was the perfect occasion to listen to Tapping into love. I am always a bit frustrated with novellas/short novels because I Iike to savor slow characters and plot development, but McCallan managed to make me invested in the story very quickly. Lucy is passionate, sometimes infuriating and totally unfair to Sierra, and it was nice to see her realize how wrong she was and found love with the last person she was expecting to find it with. Sierra is just very endearing I just wanted to hug her. Okay the voice Lori Prince gave her might have participated in giving the heart eyes.
I took this book like a Hallmark movie and I found in it what I love in these movies : a lovely small town and settings, endearing side characters (even if I found Chloe talked more like a 7yo than a 4 yo), gorgeous characters that shift from misplaced hate to love, a character that gives up way to fast a life she spent years building for love, family and true happiness.
A really sweet cosy read, perfect for the season.
I took this book like a Hallmark movie and I found in it what I love in these movies : a lovely small town and settings, endearing side characters (even if I found Chloe talked more like a 7yo than a 4 yo), gorgeous characters that shift from misplaced hate to love, a character that gives up way to fast a life she spent years building for love, family and true happiness.
A really sweet cosy read, perfect for the season.
March 4, 2022
Enjoyable - bit formalised but hey, keeps me going and I love the MCs and their off shoots, even if Lucy does annoy. Read it. Clearly preferred it 2nd time round. Recommended.
September 11, 2024
3.5
A heartwarming, feel-good romance that feels straight out of a Hallmark movie. This book is a quick, enjoyable read filled with charming characters and a comforting, familiar storyline. While it leans a little too heavily into classic romance clichés, it’s the perfect choice if you're looking for something sweet and uplifting.
A heartwarming, feel-good romance that feels straight out of a Hallmark movie. This book is a quick, enjoyable read filled with charming characters and a comforting, familiar storyline. While it leans a little too heavily into classic romance clichés, it’s the perfect choice if you're looking for something sweet and uplifting.
December 18, 2024
Monica McCallum is magical. This was literally a Hallmark fall movie in lesbian book form.
Lucy hates Sierra because of Sierra’s dad and the way he did business. Sierra hates Sierra’s dad because he was an asshole. Lucy is the master of holding a grudge, which sets the story in motion. It’s Maine, there’s maple syrup, there’s fall festivals, there’s a precocious kid, there’s lesbians. What’s not to love?
It’s a bit of a slow burn and there’s the 3rd act black hole of doom. It’s got some angst but not enough to make me mad. I’m pretty easy to get mad about angst in my romance books.
Lucy hates Sierra because of Sierra’s dad and the way he did business. Sierra hates Sierra’s dad because he was an asshole. Lucy is the master of holding a grudge, which sets the story in motion. It’s Maine, there’s maple syrup, there’s fall festivals, there’s a precocious kid, there’s lesbians. What’s not to love?
It’s a bit of a slow burn and there’s the 3rd act black hole of doom. It’s got some angst but not enough to make me mad. I’m pretty easy to get mad about angst in my romance books.
April 27, 2020
A simple yet emotional romance with just a bit of drama, ultimately a delightful read.
August 6, 2020
Monica McCallan is becoming one of my go-to authors when I want some light reading. I always find her books to be fun, and this one's no exception! Due to it having only eight chapters, I thought it was a bit rushed, but I kind of expected that already when I saw the ToC. I think I only had an issue with the pacing because I was enjoying the story so much that I wanted more time with the MCs. The supporting characters were all loveable too, so that was a huge plus! I absolutely loved it when Hannah (the bff) teases Lucy :))
There were some stuff in the story that could have benefited from more elaboration, like (1) the unlikely quick getting back into closeness of the two siblings, Drake and Sierra, after 15 years apart (it just seemed like no time has passed between them), (2) the jump from hate (at least from Lucy's side) to insta-love or insta-let's-do-it (lol), (3) the first sex scene that went from 0 to 100 at record speed, etc. Although I must admit, I somewhat appreciate that there were almost no filler scenes, especially during the times when the MCs were far apart. Those tend to bore me if they don't add much value to the story.
I would normally give this a 4 out of 5 stars based on my criteria for book ratings. But since I enjoyed it so damn much, I'm bumping it up to 5 stars, regardless of its shortcomings :)
There were some stuff in the story that could have benefited from more elaboration, like (1) the unlikely quick getting back into closeness of the two siblings, Drake and Sierra, after 15 years apart (it just seemed like no time has passed between them), (2) the jump from hate (at least from Lucy's side) to insta-love or insta-let's-do-it (lol), (3) the first sex scene that went from 0 to 100 at record speed, etc. Although I must admit, I somewhat appreciate that there were almost no filler scenes, especially during the times when the MCs were far apart. Those tend to bore me if they don't add much value to the story.
I would normally give this a 4 out of 5 stars based on my criteria for book ratings. But since I enjoyed it so damn much, I'm bumping it up to 5 stars, regardless of its shortcomings :)
June 17, 2024
This was a good short sapphic read, exactly what I needed this weekend.
What I liked;
-Sapphics over 30
-Sapphics who acknowledge and deal with their problems
-Small town that’s not too cheesy and unrealistic
-Fall vibes/ potential Christmas read opportunities
Warning: does contain a third act breakup (😭)
What I liked;
-Sapphics over 30
-Sapphics who acknowledge and deal with their problems
-Small town that’s not too cheesy and unrealistic
-Fall vibes/ potential Christmas read opportunities
Warning: does contain a third act breakup (😭)
February 23, 2020
Standard enemies to lovers romance trope--though here the "enemies" is one-sided. Lucy Parsons, local B&B owner, despises the head of the town's maple syrup producing family and extends that hatred to all members of that family. Justification for this hatred doesn't even really get explained until far too late in the book, literally the final chapters. So when Sierra Westmoore, the excommunicated daughter of this syrup family, returns after a 15-year absence the extreme ire and venom she receives from Lucy feels wholly irrational. Their interactions go beyond any kind of flirty banter; Lucy is downright nasty and feels principled treating a woman who has nothing to do with any of the past history between the families like utter garbage.
Needless to say, once the romance portion of this book picks up, I was far from wanting these two together. The relationship felt utterly toxic and more like hate-sex. Maybe this story could have been a bit better had the author eased up on the meanness and made the relationship a bit more playful. The enemies trope doesn't work for me when one of those "enemies" has absolutely no idea why the other hates them, nor any involvement with the reasons behind it.
This would have been a one-starer for me, but maple syrup always puts me in a good mood, so it eked by with another star just for that.
Needless to say, once the romance portion of this book picks up, I was far from wanting these two together. The relationship felt utterly toxic and more like hate-sex. Maybe this story could have been a bit better had the author eased up on the meanness and made the relationship a bit more playful. The enemies trope doesn't work for me when one of those "enemies" has absolutely no idea why the other hates them, nor any involvement with the reasons behind it.
This would have been a one-starer for me, but maple syrup always puts me in a good mood, so it eked by with another star just for that.
September 28, 2021
8/10
very happy I found a new good author
hope all the other books are as good or better
rtc
very happy I found a new good author
hope all the other books are as good or better
rtc
August 16, 2022
3.5⭐️
August 9, 2022
I want to date Sierra and punch Lucy. Sorry, I know, no violence, my bad.
For me Lucy was so childish, yes, I know that Sierra’s dad was a pain in the.. But still, I consider she could be more mature. What saved it for me was that at the end of the book she basically acknowledged that by saying “..she was in love, not mature.”
This is a short-nice story about life surprising you during a cold winter.
P.S.: loved the banter. #TeamSierra
For me Lucy was so childish, yes, I know that Sierra’s dad was a pain in the.. But still, I consider she could be more mature. What saved it for me was that at the end of the book she basically acknowledged that by saying “..she was in love, not mature.”
This is a short-nice story about life surprising you during a cold winter.
P.S.: loved the banter. #TeamSierra
September 30, 2020
Like a cuddle!
Sierra returns to her hometown to attend her father’s funeral only to run straight into Lucy, who is less than thrilled to have her back. When Sierra is reunited with her brother and learns why Lucy is so against their family, she makes the decision to help her brother with the family business and to restore the family’s reputation with the town but Lucy is sceptical that they have changed. The more time Lucy spends in Sierra’s presence the less she can deny her dislike of the woman she finds herself attracted to, and luckily, Sierra is feeling something of an attraction to Lucy too.
This was such a heart-warming little story, laced with some rivalry for all the drama needed. It was a one-sided, on Lucy’s part, enemies to lovers that just melted me from the very first chapter. There were so many cute moments and so many intense moments between Sierra and Lucy that I couldn’t help but fall in love with them. What made the story though was that sense of family. Sierra and her brother were so welcoming and warm, and yet with Lucy giving them the cold shoulder, it was adorable how they eventually ended up very much a part of Lucy’s life and it was all beyond her control.
There was so much emotion poured into this story. I could identify with how all the characters were feeling, not just Lucy and Sierra, but their families and friends. It was the morals behind this story that were commendable as well. People aren’t their parents and Monica portrayed this misconception beautifully, using Lucy’s experience of the past to fuel how she was behaving towards Sierra until she realised Sierra was someone she liked when she let go of those demons.
Such a beautiful story that made me smile and feel all warm and cosy! It was definitely a read to put me in an Autumnal mood, ready for the change of season. I highly recommend this sweet story for any lover of romance.
Sierra returns to her hometown to attend her father’s funeral only to run straight into Lucy, who is less than thrilled to have her back. When Sierra is reunited with her brother and learns why Lucy is so against their family, she makes the decision to help her brother with the family business and to restore the family’s reputation with the town but Lucy is sceptical that they have changed. The more time Lucy spends in Sierra’s presence the less she can deny her dislike of the woman she finds herself attracted to, and luckily, Sierra is feeling something of an attraction to Lucy too.
This was such a heart-warming little story, laced with some rivalry for all the drama needed. It was a one-sided, on Lucy’s part, enemies to lovers that just melted me from the very first chapter. There were so many cute moments and so many intense moments between Sierra and Lucy that I couldn’t help but fall in love with them. What made the story though was that sense of family. Sierra and her brother were so welcoming and warm, and yet with Lucy giving them the cold shoulder, it was adorable how they eventually ended up very much a part of Lucy’s life and it was all beyond her control.
There was so much emotion poured into this story. I could identify with how all the characters were feeling, not just Lucy and Sierra, but their families and friends. It was the morals behind this story that were commendable as well. People aren’t their parents and Monica portrayed this misconception beautifully, using Lucy’s experience of the past to fuel how she was behaving towards Sierra until she realised Sierra was someone she liked when she let go of those demons.
Such a beautiful story that made me smile and feel all warm and cosy! It was definitely a read to put me in an Autumnal mood, ready for the change of season. I highly recommend this sweet story for any lover of romance.
January 11, 2020
Really enjoyed the banter and the chemistry between the characters of this story that's a modern take on the Hatfields and McCoys, set in a small town in Maine. I really dug the two protagonists, especially Lucy, who was prickly and closed off and not always likable and am always a sucker for enemies->lovers trope, so it was juicy to watch Lucy soften toward Sierra Westmoore, whose asshole father did some dirty to Lucy and her family in the past, resulting in the entire town shunning the Westmoores. Added to that, it's up to Sierra and her brother Drake to now rehabilitate their family image. All good, fun stuff that makes for an entertaining premise.
That being said, it seemed like this book was more of a sketch or a draft away from being really complete. There were elements of this story that felt really hazy to me. For instance, it gave me pause that Lucy didn't seem to have a problem with Drake, Sierra's brother. And the fact that Sierra was estranged from her brother for a good 15 years felt off, given how quickly they fell back into closeness. The rehabilitation process also felt too easy. Basically, it felt like the book set up a strong basis for the conflict, but then didn't really make the conflict, well, enough of a conflict.
ANYWAY, even so, the dialogue was clever and moved at a good clip. Overall a fine read that could have used a touch more development.
That being said, it seemed like this book was more of a sketch or a draft away from being really complete. There were elements of this story that felt really hazy to me. For instance, it gave me pause that Lucy didn't seem to have a problem with Drake, Sierra's brother. And the fact that Sierra was estranged from her brother for a good 15 years felt off, given how quickly they fell back into closeness. The rehabilitation process also felt too easy. Basically, it felt like the book set up a strong basis for the conflict, but then didn't really make the conflict, well, enough of a conflict.
ANYWAY, even so, the dialogue was clever and moved at a good clip. Overall a fine read that could have used a touch more development.
May 7, 2021
It was pretty good, but Lucy got on my nerves most of the time...
June 11, 2021
Enjoyable but nothing special.
March 28, 2025
This is how you do enemies to lovers in a contemporary setting!
Lucy really starts of as a petty bitch. She can be quite bitter and callous.
I kinda routed for them to come to an understanding, but I kinda didn’t route for Lucy to get her happy ending right from the beginning. Her having conflicted feelings were understandable for how Sierra’s father had treated her family, but how she constantly tried to call out Sierra (even though there was nothing to call out) and/or hurt her was a bit much. But Lucy does learn that her little “clever” quibs could easily hurt someone and is a little more careful with other people’s feelings.
Her mother and best friends are absolute sweethearts though!
I loved Hanna’s side-plot with her grief and her own romance. And her little old-souled daughter Chloe!
Though, the half of the book was the better part, in my opinion. The second half was a little weirdly paced only jumping from holiday to holiday. It moved rather quickly then, shoving in an unnecessary third-act-break-up (suddenly I understand what booktubers are always talking about here!) and generally that second half could have used some more fleshing out. The book could have used some more
But: it was a super cute romance and I enjoyed my way throughout it!
By the way: It took me way to long to get the pun in the title. You know: the town where Maple syrup gets made, by tapping into maple trees? Like Tapping into Love? Yeah, that took me way to long. (Probably until the: you can tap that!-joke)
Also: The narrator of the audiobook Lori Prince does a fantastic job bringing the characters to life so I can really recommend that one!
Lucy really starts of as a petty bitch. She can be quite bitter and callous.
I kinda routed for them to come to an understanding, but I kinda didn’t route for Lucy to get her happy ending right from the beginning. Her having conflicted feelings were understandable for how Sierra’s father had treated her family, but how she constantly tried to call out Sierra (even though there was nothing to call out) and/or hurt her was a bit much. But Lucy does learn that her little “clever” quibs could easily hurt someone and is a little more careful with other people’s feelings.
Her mother and best friends are absolute sweethearts though!
I loved Hanna’s side-plot with her grief and her own romance. And her little old-souled daughter Chloe!
Though, the half of the book was the better part, in my opinion. The second half was a little weirdly paced only jumping from holiday to holiday. It moved rather quickly then, shoving in an unnecessary third-act-break-up (suddenly I understand what booktubers are always talking about here!) and generally that second half could have used some more fleshing out. The book could have used some more
But: it was a super cute romance and I enjoyed my way throughout it!
By the way: It took me way to long to get the pun in the title. You know: the town where Maple syrup gets made, by tapping into maple trees? Like Tapping into Love? Yeah, that took me way to long. (Probably until the: you can tap that!-joke)
Also: The narrator of the audiobook Lori Prince does a fantastic job bringing the characters to life so I can really recommend that one!
Read
September 30, 2024Tapping Into Love is an Adult Holiday Romance.
{When Sierra returns home for the first time in fifteen years, she doesn’t realize the harm her late father has caused their small town. The worst of which being to Lucy’s family, but will old hurts stand in the way as new feelings develop?}
This romance won’t be for everyone because Lucy isn’t the most likable character. She’s holding a grudge that comes from a place of deep pain, but it has her acting super petty and she’s said some vile things that there’s no excuse for. Now while I’m not defending that (and I’m glad she owns up to her shortcomings and apologizes) I still enjoyed this romance.
I really liked Sierra’s character. Honestly, I feel like she let Lucy off the hook a little too easily in the third act break up. And I think the story would have benefited from the audience seeing more of how cruel Sierra’s dad was to Lucy’s family earlier in the story. I knew it was bad, but hearing details in the end felt a little too late (for me) to fully sympathize with Lucy.
Overall, this is a fun holiday romance that gives off so much small town feels.
{When Sierra returns home for the first time in fifteen years, she doesn’t realize the harm her late father has caused their small town. The worst of which being to Lucy’s family, but will old hurts stand in the way as new feelings develop?}
This romance won’t be for everyone because Lucy isn’t the most likable character. She’s holding a grudge that comes from a place of deep pain, but it has her acting super petty and she’s said some vile things that there’s no excuse for. Now while I’m not defending that (and I’m glad she owns up to her shortcomings and apologizes) I still enjoyed this romance.
I really liked Sierra’s character. Honestly, I feel like she let Lucy off the hook a little too easily in the third act break up. And I think the story would have benefited from the audience seeing more of how cruel Sierra’s dad was to Lucy’s family earlier in the story. I knew it was bad, but hearing details in the end felt a little too late (for me) to fully sympathize with Lucy.
Overall, this is a fun holiday romance that gives off so much small town feels.
November 10, 2021
Nice and easy holiday (Thanksgiving and Christmas happen) romance. Sierra Westmoore returns to her small town of Maple Run to attend her fathers funeral. They've been estranged for 15 years. She's been on the partner track at a law firm in Boston but now is the time to reconnect with her brother who stayed in town to help run their maple syrup farm. Lucy Parsons wants nothing to do with the Westmoore family. Sierra's father tried many ways to run her and her mothers Inn out of business. This isn't enemies to lovers because Sierra was unaware of her dads antics but its going to take some work to mend fences. I enjoyed the small town setting, Sierra's reconnecting with her brother and the inclusions of a new relationship for him as well. I read in one evening and couldn't go to sleep till I was done
November 1, 2025
this was genuinely so sweet and perfect for the cozy season, lucy was a bitch at first and wildly immature but she eventually figured it out, and owned up to her mistakes and how awful she was being. i loved sierra from the start, so sweet and guarded and gentle but the confidence in her was so attractive. i loved the side characters as well, they brought the book to life which is so hard to achieve with a short book🥹🍁
December 28, 2019
"An enemy to lovers trope that you will fall in love with!"
Check out Rach's review of Tapping Into Love by Monica McCallan (4.5 stars)
https://lesreveur.com/2019/12/28/tapp...
Check out Rach's review of Tapping Into Love by Monica McCallan (4.5 stars)
https://lesreveur.com/2019/12/28/tapp...
January 10, 2022
I loved the bickering that took place in the first part of the book between the two mains. Made me laugh right out loud on several occasions when I wasn't repulsed by the one character that was so rude.
Pros: Loved the story; almost no errors (typos) were found to interrupt the flow of the story.
Cons: Overused phrasing: someone was continually "stand(ing) up straight" or "stood up to her full height". Good editing is needed to edit out most of that.
Pros: Loved the story; almost no errors (typos) were found to interrupt the flow of the story.
Cons: Overused phrasing: someone was continually "stand(ing) up straight" or "stood up to her full height". Good editing is needed to edit out most of that.
January 1, 2020
This was a charming romance set in a small New England town during its most glorious months-fall and winter. New England towns are known to be rich in personality and inhabited by tight communities. Maple run was no different and appeared idyllic in every way. It offered the perfect setting for this enemies to lovers tale.
I love a good enemies to lovers story, and this one had all the ingredients for a good romance: one long standing feud between two small town families, the death of a despised patriarchal figure, the return of the wastrel daughter of a wealthy family, and the deep seeded anger of one beloved, hard working and spirited woman. However, the pièce de résistance focused on the hostility and discord between the two female leads. This match-up was quite compelling and hot.
The main characters, though at odds with one another, were likable and intriguing in their own right. I found myself particularly drawn to Sierra. Her backstory was a bit heartbreaking. She seemed to have overcome many of the hardships that life had thrown her with more optimism and buoyancy than one would expect given her situation. Though she technically entered the story as an outsider, I believe she embodied a girl next door quality that was so appealing. I easily liked her, despite the atrocities her family committed. Because Sierra was portrayed this way, she avoided being labeled an antagonist. She breathed life into a intriguing plot.
McCallan’s other protagonist, however, was infuriating at times. Lucy’s stubbornness and refusal to let go of past grievances limited her and inflicted unnecessary pain, not only to herself, but others. Nonetheless, this was part of her story arc and completely necessary. She had to grow the most for this contentious rivalry to cease, and for her to see that Sierra was truly a kind and loving person. Perhaps Lucy was too insulated by the town and too consumed by her own hate to see that Sierra’s nefarious father made Sierra suffer just as much heartache as she had. Nonetheless, it clouded her emotions and perceptions, ultimately increasing the tension between her and Sierra, and facilitating good storytelling.
I really liked this book. The descriptions of scenic Maine in the fall, of grand old maple trees, of thick sugary syrup…it made me want to book a trip to New England! The leading ladies were engaging. The dialogue was refreshingly witty and crisp. The plot was compelling. I only wished that McCallan would have revealed to her readers sooner all the atrocities Sierra’s father committed against Lucy’s family. Lucy fostered such deep seeded hatred towards the Westmoores, and I sometimes felt she was too unreasonable and too unyielding. In light of the fact that her best friend and her mother began to accept Sierra, it seemed that Lucy was unnecessarily stubborn and close minded. However, it all made sense to me once Sierra was told just what her father had done to the Parsons. This explanation came near of the end of the book-and was well plotted in regards to Sierra-but since this was told in third person, I wonder if readers couldn’t have been privy to these odious acts sooner. I know I would have been more compassionate towards Lucy if I had known sooner.
In closing, I would definitely recommend this book to any lesfic romance reader that loves a good enemies to lovers story. Though the premise of this story seems heavy, it really isn’t. It ultimately is a good natured romance at its core. There are plenty of light-hearted moments and wonderful characters to enjoy. It is a solid romance and a good read.
I love a good enemies to lovers story, and this one had all the ingredients for a good romance: one long standing feud between two small town families, the death of a despised patriarchal figure, the return of the wastrel daughter of a wealthy family, and the deep seeded anger of one beloved, hard working and spirited woman. However, the pièce de résistance focused on the hostility and discord between the two female leads. This match-up was quite compelling and hot.
The main characters, though at odds with one another, were likable and intriguing in their own right. I found myself particularly drawn to Sierra. Her backstory was a bit heartbreaking. She seemed to have overcome many of the hardships that life had thrown her with more optimism and buoyancy than one would expect given her situation. Though she technically entered the story as an outsider, I believe she embodied a girl next door quality that was so appealing. I easily liked her, despite the atrocities her family committed. Because Sierra was portrayed this way, she avoided being labeled an antagonist. She breathed life into a intriguing plot.
McCallan’s other protagonist, however, was infuriating at times. Lucy’s stubbornness and refusal to let go of past grievances limited her and inflicted unnecessary pain, not only to herself, but others. Nonetheless, this was part of her story arc and completely necessary. She had to grow the most for this contentious rivalry to cease, and for her to see that Sierra was truly a kind and loving person. Perhaps Lucy was too insulated by the town and too consumed by her own hate to see that Sierra’s nefarious father made Sierra suffer just as much heartache as she had. Nonetheless, it clouded her emotions and perceptions, ultimately increasing the tension between her and Sierra, and facilitating good storytelling.
I really liked this book. The descriptions of scenic Maine in the fall, of grand old maple trees, of thick sugary syrup…it made me want to book a trip to New England! The leading ladies were engaging. The dialogue was refreshingly witty and crisp. The plot was compelling. I only wished that McCallan would have revealed to her readers sooner all the atrocities Sierra’s father committed against Lucy’s family. Lucy fostered such deep seeded hatred towards the Westmoores, and I sometimes felt she was too unreasonable and too unyielding. In light of the fact that her best friend and her mother began to accept Sierra, it seemed that Lucy was unnecessarily stubborn and close minded. However, it all made sense to me once Sierra was told just what her father had done to the Parsons. This explanation came near of the end of the book-and was well plotted in regards to Sierra-but since this was told in third person, I wonder if readers couldn’t have been privy to these odious acts sooner. I know I would have been more compassionate towards Lucy if I had known sooner.
In closing, I would definitely recommend this book to any lesfic romance reader that loves a good enemies to lovers story. Though the premise of this story seems heavy, it really isn’t. It ultimately is a good natured romance at its core. There are plenty of light-hearted moments and wonderful characters to enjoy. It is a solid romance and a good read.
December 17, 2019
Not quite enemies-to-lovers as the loathing is one sided but still, it was quite fun to watch the inevitable happen. Lucy was super mean to Sierra for the first part of the book and I didn’t always understand where it was coming from. Just because Sierra’s dad was a tyrant, it doesn't mean she is too. However, it’s worth hanging in there to see Lucy screw up, own it, and then make it better. Plus, they get snowed in! You know what that means. This would be a great choice if you want to read a romance set during the holidays but not about them, as both Thanksgiving and Christmas happen.
I loved watching Sierra reconnect with her brother and subsequently with the town. The side characters are great, even Lucy’s best friend’s young daughter. (I’m generally not keen on kids in my romance.) I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. Also, I need to buy good maple syrup. This book left me inspired on that front.
CW: past death of parents (including breast cancer), past homophobia, heroine disowned by father when she came out, past death of spouse for side character
I loved watching Sierra reconnect with her brother and subsequently with the town. The side characters are great, even Lucy’s best friend’s young daughter. (I’m generally not keen on kids in my romance.) I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. Also, I need to buy good maple syrup. This book left me inspired on that front.
CW: past death of parents (including breast cancer), past homophobia, heroine disowned by father when she came out, past death of spouse for side character
February 2, 2021
The sins of the father…
Sierra Westmoore returns to her hometown, Maple Run, after fifteen years only to be immediately thrown out of Maple Inn, a B&B where she as a reservation. The family owned Maple Inn is run by Lucy Parsons who has no love lost for the Westmoores because of history between the two fathers. Clueless about what her frankly awful father had done during her absence, the totally lovely Sierra nevertheless is recipient of a lot of negativity, dislike and hate from the town sweetheart Lucy.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
Sierra Westmoore returns to her hometown, Maple Run, after fifteen years only to be immediately thrown out of Maple Inn, a B&B where she as a reservation. The family owned Maple Inn is run by Lucy Parsons who has no love lost for the Westmoores because of history between the two fathers. Clueless about what her frankly awful father had done during her absence, the totally lovely Sierra nevertheless is recipient of a lot of negativity, dislike and hate from the town sweetheart Lucy.
Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...
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