Love Proof

Deerbourne Inn (multi-author series)

by Luanna Stewart

Unemployed photojournalist Raynor Elliot stops at a bakery near the famous Deerbourne Inn. Not only is he surprised by a job offer at a regional magazine, he recognizes the bakery's owner. Once an awkward high school kid, she now possesses fabulous curves and an irreverent sense of humor. The cozy bakery, with its delicious smells of sugar, vanilla, and spice, has more to offer than tasty cookies.

Fiona MacLeod has been plagued for years by the need to make amends for telling The Big Lie. When the victim of the lie strolls into her bakery with his icy blue stare and killer charm, she feels like she's standing too close to a hot oven.

Between running her bakery and frosting cupcakes for the Mad River Garden Party, she's pretty sure she's falling in love with this infuriating, sexy man. Can Fiona dredge up the courage to confess, face the consequences, and hope for forgiveness?

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2019

About the author

Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing contemporary romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her characters, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband and five hens.

Reviews

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

High school is a really hard time in a lot of peoples lives. The emotional roller coaster can cause all kind of havoc in a teen’s life. Friends can quickly become enemies but don’t blink because they can be friends again in a blink of an eye. Not the case for this trio of friends.

In this case, Fiona and Ashley have been friends forever or rather since they were eight. There freshman and sophomore year they crushed over and drooled over Raynor. But come their junior year Ashley did the unthinkable behind Fiona’s back and she called Ray and talked to him. He asked her out and she said yes. She had to watch and try to feel and be happy for them both.

But secretly she was dying inside. At night she would take her dog for a walk past his house in hopes of getting a glimpse of him. Every day though she was crying herself to sleep. Then, after months and months of watching them now in their senior year.

Ray was going to be a nice guy and take the little sister of a friend that had almost died with him and Ashley. It was a sweet thing to do. But Ashley was bellyaching how she couldn’t believe he was doing it. That is when the lie happened. She couldn’t take it back.

The lie became bigger than life. It was one where Ashley was not the same. She couldn’t have her mad and then having everyone hating her. She just kept quiet and when graduation came left for her aunt’s early to ready for college. Changed her look from goth to look like her true self. Then tried her hardest to become a better person.

Now, Ray moved around becoming a photojournalist. Traveling all over the world. Unearthing lying, cheating, and criminal activity. Been in several failed relationships of his own making. That has made him move way to fast and become clingy.

I enjoyed this quick read. It was an easy laid back read as were the characters. They were loveable broken-in friends. I give this: 4 stars. Provided by netgalley.com.

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[Penny Leidecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading my first book by Luanna Stewart. I didn’t know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised by this story about Raynor and Fiona. Image Fiona’s surprise when Ray shows up in her bakery, Love Sprinkles. He’s just ended a job and is passing through town. They are from the same hometown in Nova Scotia and went to school together. Ray was Ashley’s boyfriend, Fiona’s best friend, until someone spread a lie that Ray cheated on Ashley. He leaves town right after graduation. Ray is now a photojournalist and is looking a new job. One of Fiona’s customers tells Ray about a possible job and he gets it. It looks like he will be staying in Willow Springs, Vermont. I won’t leave any spoilers, but I will say there was a surprise I didn’t expect.

[Jean Grant]

Fiona is a bakery shop owner (oh, so many sweets in this one!). In comes Raynor, her former high school classmate/crush/and oh, yeah, she did something awful back in the day that tarnished his rep. And he doesn’t know SHE Is the one behind it all. The sweetness piles up when these two get closer while he is in town. Then he garners a new job as a photojournalist and decides to stay in Willow Springs permanently, and has to highlight her bakery. Engaging, great voice, and kept me turning the pages. Delicious baked goods (and sexy scenes) made me want to go home and bake something!

[Delsora Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty dialogue combined with the chemistry of unrequited love, past regrets, and a secret make this a romping story of second chances. Add in the sensuality and angst of new love (or rather renewed puppy love), and the lure of luscious baked goods, against the back-drop of a small Vermont town, and you can’t help but have a fast-paced, appetite-pleasing, fun book. WARNING: Do not read when HUNGRY! Yummy baked goods mentioned often.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Proof (Deerbourne Inn) was a sweet & entertaining read. I thought the author created unique but very realistic characters & the location was so quaint.

I am a sucker for second chance romances & this book delivered an amazing HEA. I look forward to more books in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Sandy N · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a massive fan of Luanna Stewart Historical books and I wanted to try her Contemporary offering. This was an easy, sweet read. Big thump up.
I've received an ARC of this book and the opinions expressed here are all mine.

[Jacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Deerbourne Inn
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.