Falling for Lucy

Falling #4

by Heather B. Moore, Xe Sands (Narrator)

The perfect relationship sometimes means letting things get a little messy.

Lucy Morley’s older sister is perfect, and her younger brother is nearly there, too. Yet Lucy can’t even hold down a job, let alone stick with something like college. She drops out and floats from job to job. After yet another disastrous firing, she lands an interview at a bookstore—her dream job—and it doesn’t hurt that her new boss, Adam Parks, is pretty much her dream man. But if Lucy is good at one thing, it’s guarding her personal life and more importantly her heart. Adam has other plans in mind, though, and they include finding a way into Lucy’s heart.

FALLING SERIES:
Falling for Sydney
Falling for Maria
Falling for June
Falling for Lucy

PINE VALLEY SERIES:
Worth the Risk
Where I Belong
Say You Love Me
Waiting for You
Finding Us
Until We Kissed

ALISO CREEK SERIES:
Picture Perfect
Third Time’s the Charm
The Daisy Chain
Lost then Found
One Chance

TANGERINE STREET ROMANCE SERIES:
The Fortune Café
The Boardwalk Antiques Shop
The Mariposa Hotel

THE NEWPORT LADIES BOOK CLUB SERIES:
Athena
Ruby’s Secret
Tying the Knot

HISTORICAL ROMANCE:
Love is Come
An Ocean Away
A Fortunate Exile
A Season in London
Mail Order Bride
Heart of the Ocean
Power of the Matchmaker
Twelve Months
The Duke's Brother

TIMELESS ROMANCE ANTHOLOGIES:
Winter Collection
Spring Vacation Collection
Summer Wedding Collection
California Dreamin’ Collection
Valentine’s Day Collection
And more…!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Heather B. Moore is a USA today bestselling author who writes sweet & wholesome romance. Under H.B. Moore she writes historicals & thrillers. Under Jane Redd, she writes Young Adult. There are more than 9,000 5-star reviews for Heather's books on Goodreads!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Novella

2 pages, Audible Audio

Published February 7, 2019

About the author

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.

Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.

Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com

Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.

Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Reviews

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novella as part of With A Kiss: A Sweet Romance Anthology.

Can you relate to having a sibling who's perfect? If so, then you'll be able to relate to Lucy, who's older sister Sydney is "perfect". Lucy can't seem to find her place in this world. She's dropped out of college--college isn't for everyone-- and has recently been fired from her latest job, but it looks like things are about to change for Lucy. She gets a job at a bookstore, which is basically her dream job because she LOVES to read. Then she meets her boss, Adam.

I loved this story because Lucy is just trying to find where she fits in. It's evident she's found her place in this independently owned bookstore as she starts suggesting small changes to bring in customers and Adam agrees with her. I love the scene of the store's first storytime, where she wears a costume and how she interacts with the kids. Of course Adam fell in love with her.

What's in this book not to like? Adorable main female character, handsome main male character, clean yet swoony moments, AND it takes place in a bookstore!! Heather B. Moore has done it again.

[Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is one of my favorites for clean contemporary romance. I can always count on her to strike a balance with humor, emotion, and romantic chemistry- without getting too dark or too fluffy. I liked Lucy and her enthusiasm, even though she feels inferior to her siblings. She has a healthy self-acceptance and seems to be searching for her role and purpose. She finally finds a good fit working at cozy bookshop, and I enjoyed the sense of family there (even when it was at times dysfunctional, courtesy of Adam's sister). Adam is a decent guy, and I appreciated that his attraction to Lucy never crossed the creepy boss line, but remained appropriate while friendly. A super cute story that ended too quickly for me!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

Those of you who have read this author's previous works will know that she has a "Falling" trilogy. 3 friends all have their own story that the title is "Falling for..." Lucy happens to be the sister of one of the friends in that trilogy, Sydney. It was fun to have a little scene with Sydney in this novella and see some of the family dynamics for both of these sisters' stories.

I really liked Lucy. She's the sister/child/person who doesn't quite do everything as expected. She's tried but she's just not happy and not quite sure what she wants to do/be. She's tried so many different things that she feels like a failure. My favorite thing about Lucy...she's a book-aholic like me! Great group of characters who were just happy and content with their lives and doing their best to make the most of their lives. Many sweet moments between Lucy and her new boss, Adam. And for all you other book-aholics, this story takes place in a bookstore! How fun is that? A book about books. And friendship. And some romance. Ok, maybe a little more than "some" romance. Let's just say there were some sweet and swoony moments in this "falling" novella.

Content: Clean. Some kissing but nothing further.

Happy Reading!!!

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

FALLING FOR LUCY proves that everyone has a niche in life. It's especially hard for siblings to feel like they have to fit in the same mold as each other and when Lucy doesn't feel like she measures up to hers, she's hard on herself. A part-time job interview at a bookstore changes her life. And not just in the job sense. She clicks with her boss, Adam, and the subtle sparks and the passion for books completely captivated me.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, flirty read. I really wish this one was longer. The characters were so interesting!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy has always felt lesser when compared to her overachieving siblings. She's the one who dropped out of college after two semesters and has changed jobs three times in the last sixth months. When she sees a job advertised at Parks Book Store, she thinks that this might be the perfect job for her.

What reader doesn't identify with a protagonist who also loves books? Lucy is enthusiastic about her reading, kind, innovative, and gets the attention of the young book store owner, Adam, pretty quickly. I loved their interactions together: their transition from co-workers to non-dates to a relationship.

I really enjoyed this story when I read it originally in the With A Kiss Anthology, and I enjoyed it equally the second time around. My only complaint is that I wanted a little more closure at the end, an epilogue or another chapter or two.

Content: clean (some kisses)

[Maria F. Espinoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

These little novellas are so addicting! I enjoyed how sappy & cute they are :)

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute and fun story. It's a clean romance, with an awesome setting (most of it takes place in a bookstore) and good characters. I really like Lucy--she's spunky and direct and fun--and Adam, who is smart and kind. This is a quick read and a great choice for those who like clean, fun, romantic novellas.

I received a copy of the novella from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought Falling for Lucy was a fabulous and quick read by Heather B Moore. I was hooked with Lucy‘s story from the start. Especially, when she is introduced to her new boss, Adam. They made me giggle throughout. Such a cute and delightful read. I give it 5+ stars.

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally read “Falling For Lucy”as part of an anthology. At the time, I received an early copy from the author. These are my own thoughts and opinions: I really enjoyed this short read. It was well-written with enjoyable characters, some of which were from earlier books but this could be read as a stand-alone without any difficulty or confusion. A very swoony, clean read. I highly recommend this one. Great story!

[Mss Sunrise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.7/5

.

This one follows Lucy, Sydney's sister, who is the complete opposite of her perfect sister. She is a bookworm who dropped out of college and can barely keep her time jobs. That is until she is accepted to work part-time at a book store that is owned by Adam Parker. The two build a friendship that grows to something more over time.

.

Thoughts and feelings:

🍁This was a cute, short romance. I finished it in one sitting because of how short and fast-paced it is. It was promising since I started and knew that it takes place at a book store and it includes people who love reading 🙂✌️

🍁It was interesting seeing how different Lucy's character is from her sister's. Even their hobbies and behaviour are quite different. I love them both, obviously, and I love how both of them find their kindred spirits, who happen to be quite the gentlemen. The romance here is sweet and cute. One can't help but root for the two so hard.

🍁I also appreciate the depth of the story, though it needed a bit more time to wrap it up perfectly. The heroine lacks confidence as she's always compared to her perfect siblings. The hero's dad is old, and his sister is addicted to smoking while his mother died of cancer because of smoking. The two face a lot but manage to find their own feet amidst all absurdities.

🍁I am sad that the series is over already, but I can't wait to read more by this author. I listened to all her books as audios, and I loved the narrators. The only book that I felt meh about amidst the 4 is book three. Other than that, all are worth the read.

[Dawn Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy feels like she always comes up short when compared to her sister and brother. They have the college degrees and great job, whereas she moves from job to job. So, following yet another failed job, she goes to interview for her dream job - working in a bookstore. And, when she sees who her boss will be, the job gets even better.

Adam Parks loves his dad, but wants to allow him to retire. So, when the perfect woman shows up to work for him, he's more than thrilled, especially since she's beautiful as well.

What follows is a quick read of only 9 chapters. But, in those 9 chapters, I really felt like I got to know Adam and Lucy. Their family dynamic and personal fears were exposed as well. The ending seemed slightly rushed, but not overly given the shortness of the story.

Within the series, I'd actually place this first since it seems to happen before the events of Falling for Sydney. But, having already read Falling for Sydney, I understood one of the scenes better.

All in all, I spent a pleasant evening reading.

Romance - PG / kissing
Language - PG - mild cursing from one of the characters
My rating - 4 stars

[Anoush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the four in this series, this was my favorite. I think it was well paced and the characters were well matched and it had just enough conflict and growth for a short story.

Lucy has lived in the shadow of her sisters' achievements her whole life and helped along by others' perceptions of her, she feels like she's doomed to failure and aimless in life. She applies for and gets a job in a bookstores and while there meets Adam. Fearing she'll only be compared to her perfect sister and found lacking, or that they'll find out what a colossal failure she's been in her previous jobs, Lucy keeps all personal info to herself.

Adam is the owner of the family bookshop and he lives in the back storage room to make ends meet. He loves his job and his family (mostly) but just doesn't have many options to get out and meet people.

I enjoyed seeing Lucy do something she loved. The book store job was her dream job as a true bibliophile and really shined helping customers. I enjoyed watching Adam learn more about Lucy slowly and I especially enjoyed how her experiences were re-framed when seen through the lens of her new boss and friend.

Yes, I liked this one.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy loves books and hasn’t been able to really find her place in life. She has dropped out of college and has gone through several jobs and financially she can’t make it without a roommate. She does get a job working part time in a bookstore. Adam is the lovely green eyed store owner, just a little older than herself. Lucy has feelings of inadequacy around her family, with a successful sister and brother. Adam has a sister that can’t fully launch herself into happiness as she cycles through marriage after marriage, moving back into their fathers house after each marriage fails. Adam is the “perfect child” for being responsible and taking care of the family owned book store while taking care of his widowed father and his crazy sister. Lucy feels she is the least perfect child for the choices she has made. What do these two have in common? The love of books, among other things.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Falling for Lucy” is a companion to the “Falling” series by Heather Moore. I was excited to read about Lucy, Sydney’s younger sister.

Lucy is, in her opinion, just “normal” and life, love, career, school etc. don’t ever go right for her. She’s not like Sydney, her very successful (in everything), older sister. When she is given the opportunity to take a part-time job at a bookstore, she feels like she has landed the perfect job. She learns that maybe she can be very successful in everything just like her sister.

I really liked this novella. I appreciated Lucy and how down to earth her character was. She showed great personal strength and growth throughout the story. The secondary characters were fun to get to know as well, especially Adam. And I loved the main setting: a bookstore.

[Ballet in AK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling for Lucy by Heather B. Moore
(4 stars)

I love the “Falling for...” series of books that Ms. Moore writes and “Falling for Lucy” was a great addition to the series. (I wish it had been longer than a novella; I wasn’t ready for it to end!)

I loved Lucy’s character; her insecurities and strengths felt authentic. Adam and his family are so realistic-complete with all their issues. It felt so right that these two clicked and was enjoyable watching the slow burn build to something more.

Ms. Moore is one of my favorites and this novella didn’t disappoint (except that I wish it were a full-length novel, did I mention that already?).

*poor, **ok, ***good, ****very good, *****something special

[Jade Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it might be helpful to share the definitions I use for my ratings. To start with, a 3 is a really good rating. It means the story fully met my expectations for an enjoyable romance read and that I’ll happily read it again. A rating above a 3 is beyond my expectations, and a 5 means it affected me on a deeper level. A rating below a 3 means I will avoid reading it again. If it’s a 1, I will absolutely never read it again.

I give Falling for Lucy a 4. Finding it hard to following the footsteps of her perfect sister, Software VP Sydney, Lucy has a tough time finding the right job, until she finds the perfect fit at a privately owned bookstore. Not only is the job right, but she fits well with the owner too.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story!! I am "falling for" this novella! Wonderful characters, an utterly charming setting, and the perfect length, what more can you ask for! I could see so much of myself in Lucy, and I love that she is a bookworm working in a bookstore! That's the dream!

Adam, and his father Mr. Parks, are absolute sweethearts, but Adam's sister is an absolute beast, which gives that much-needed conflict to an otherwise sweet and simple story. One of my favorite scenes in the entire novella involves a confrontation between this toxic woman and Lucy, and really made me love Lucy's character all the more.

This book is comfortable and familiar, leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy, and is the perfect weekend afternoon read, quick and enjoyable!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super fast read. While it's a romance, the relationship is more in the very beginnings and not the long-term building of a romantic relationship like a lot of other rom-com books (there's some humor in this, but I wouldn't really term it a rom-com, just comparing it to other similar contemporary books). It's similar to the other 3 books in the series, which I read a long time ago, but this one is about Sydney's younger sister, while the other 3 focus on a group of friends. I loved the bookstore setting and both Mr. Parks and how they played into the story. There are tons of literary references so book nerds will really love that! Again, a fast read that I read in about an hour.

Content: Clean

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when your siblings are perfect and you can't seem to measure up? Lucy feels this way. Not able to figure out what direction to take in life, she finds herself applying for a part time job at a local bookstore. Adam, the owner is taken with her, but Lucy is very private. Will he find a way into her heart? I love this series. The stories are short and enjoyable. Lucy is a great character, full of ideas and life as she begins her new job. Adam is all business until he's not which is so endearing. Add in his dad and crazy sister and it's a story full of feelings and fun. I love it! With Xe Sands narrating, it's even more enjoyable as she brings all the warmth and feelings alive.

[Lexee Toste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and finding the connection with Lucy to the other girls. I liked these two coming together and it was cute seeing them start dating. Again, this book feels like the introduction to their love story and not the absolute complete story since we get to see the beginning and see things take off well but not set up as a forever and ever just yet. The story was short and quick to listen to and it was fun. I liked watching these two find their niche together. Lucy has felt like the aimless one in her family and things just seem to work when she gets this job at the bookstore and with Adam. This was a cute, clean story.

[Nashellej · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really sweet book. I felt like it was a very simple story- not a lot of intrigue or necessary backstory or crazy antics- and I think that's why I genuinely enjoyed the whole thing. I wasn't trying to keep up with anything bizarre or follow a story line only half there. It was straightforward and good writing that told a story that I became interested in by virtue of the characters rather than insane plot twists. I think that says a lot about something you read - when you can read it for enjoyment of just being in the moment with the characters.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read in this "falling for" series. I enjoy this author and this book was no exception. However, I felt it was a little short, more like a novella than an actual novel. The characters were fun and appealing, the dialogue was witty, but I wish it had been longer and the other characters had more space and development in the story. I might feel differently if I had read the previous books in the series, but on its own, I wish this one had more to it. It was still highly enjoyable, and had I read it in a collection of novellas, I would have no complaints.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read “Fallng for Lucy” in the anthology "With a Kiss". I loved it, this is such a great story! I really related to Lucy in so many ways... my first favorite job was in a bookstore, I love to read, and I relate to the characters in books. Adam and his dad are totally the kind of people I’d be friends with and the story gave us enough background to understand the characters and why they fall in love. I would totally fall for someone like Adam and get why he'd fall for Lucy!

[Sunshinemeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is a hard worker trying to find her way in a world where she feels unequaled to her overachieving siblings. After dropping out of college and losing her latest job, Lucy takes a job at a book store. A perfect choice for a lover of books!
Adam is dealing with family drama and running the family book store. Adam has plans to improve the business. I love how Adam and his father welcome Lucy and her ideas to help. They work together easily, and a little love along the way is always sweet!

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy is floundering a bit through life and trying to find her place in it when she gets a job in a book store. I'm a little jealous although I'm pretty sure I'd just spend my whole paycheck on books anyway so a library might be a better spot for me. But it doesn't take long to see that Lucy flourishes in that setting. I liked Lucy and Adam both. And Adam's dad. This is a light, fun, quick read.

No sex, language or violence

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sweet, and I enjoyed it. I liked how Lucy made Darci seem more human than just a villian of sorts, and I enjoyed the bookstore as a backdrop as well as the references to specific books and authors. I was a little sad about Sydney and that her tension wasn't really resolved.

Content: clean. No profanity or sex.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from the author.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this novella about Lucy who has had many jobs and didn't graduate from college. But little does she know that when she takes a part time job at a bookstore it could change her life forever. She is very kind and has a good heart. It was an extra quick read with great chemistry between the characters. I loved that it took place in a bookstore... I mean who doesn't love books ;)

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book and a quick read. I loved the characters and story in this book. The author did a great job with both. I love that the kindness of Lucy even softens the sister a bit. Great love story! I love this length, I can read it without feeling like I have disregarded all of my other chores.
I was given a free copy of this book for an honest review.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need a quick romantic pick-me-up, this fits the bill. It's a quick read and like others I have read by this author, it's clean (no profanity, no sex) but with just the right amount of kissing, it's fun, and it's exactly what you'd expect. Loved Lucy's assertive nature and that they 'get each other' right off.

I received a free copy of this book but my opinions are my own.