Finding It All

Finding Happiness in Harmony #1

by Stacey Komosinski

Alternate cover edition of ASIN B08RSLH4HM

Welcome to the Finding Happiness in Harmony series’ first journey celebrating the bonds of friendship, love, and life. This feel-good story of first love and best friends will have you believing you too can find it all.

Twenty-five-year-old Chloe Larson has never had a relationship or been really kissed by someone. After a rough childhood spent hiding a secret and being ridiculed, Chloe believes she’s better off with only friends around her. That way she can’t get hurt or misused. She spends weekends living life to the fullest with her best friends and roommates Gaby and Jess and weekdays proving her worth as a newly promoted reporter. The thing is, she doesn’t have time for anything romantic. But secretly she longs for that special connection with someone.

Chris Sherman is bored of the selfish women who flock to him. Recently out of a relationship, he isn’t looking for love. But everything changes when he meets Chloe Larson. She has a way about her that excites and intrigues him, leaving him desperate to get to know her.

Will they both find the courage to let each other in and experience the joys and pains of love, life, and happiness to find it all?

Genres: Romance

ebook

First published December 30, 2020

About the author

Stacey Komosinski grew up in a small Pennsylvania town strongly influenced by her mother's passion for reading. She read her first romance novel in her early twenties and hasn't stopped.
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She writes both romantic comedy and slow burn contemporary romance. The reader can expect "SWEET HEAT" in all of her books, where a romantic relationship develops slowly. It is built on mutual love and respect, culminating in a powerfully passionate love story. Her books are bound to make your toes curl and laugh out loud along the way to a HEA.

Stacey holds a master’s degree in molecular biology and is employed as a supply chain product leader in the pharmaceutical industry.
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She makes the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania her home with her husband, Teddy, and their large blended family.

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Reviews

[Stacey Komosinski]

Sharing more about my contemporary romance series written in "Sweet Heat" style.

This is the book that started it all for me as an author. I had wanted to write a romance story for almost 10 years. I have always loved reading romance and had a few ideas of my own. I started writing in January of 2020. I finished this gentle love story in May 2020. I shared the manuscript with 2 friends and asked them if I was crazy to try and publish it. They gave me the green light! I worked with an editor for 3 months then tried to figure out how to publish as an indie author. In December of 2020 I released it out into the world.

I've learned a lot since then. I changed the cover once I met Angelique of @ctrl.alt.publish in 2021 and I also reedited it in 2022 after learning so much more about writing.

Finding It All introduces you to 3 best friends and focuses on one them: Chloe and her love story with Chris.

Two short teasers from Finding It All to give you a sense of what the book will hold: sweet romantic relationship development. But don't be fooled by the cute cover, there is definite 🔥heat with Chloe and Chris!

[Angela Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chole is happy going through life at the moment, with a complex past she is not looking for anything to disrupt at the moment but in walks Chris and the world may just get alot better.

Chole's past has not been the best, a tricky childhood which still haunts her but she has never really had luck in the romance world but her career has always been the beacon she has strived toward so when she gets a promotion she gets to write about topics she finds interesting, that's when Chris crashes into her world.

Chris is a High School Principal and has had his fix of dating high maintenance woman who only really want him as a trophy, so when he is interviewed for the paper in walks the girl of his dreams. Chole is not like the other woman he has dated but once he pursues her he finds that she has baggage and history which he will need to go slow but show her he is the one for her.

This is the first book I have read by this author and as for a debut book the book showed promise. I must admit I am normally like a bit of angst within the main characters path to happiness but within this book the main characters were just really nice which is not a bad thing just sometimes did not hold my interest within the story.

I do have to say that the secondary characters where brilliant each bringing their own drama to the story and you get to see the glimpse into other books in this story, I hope. I loved the well developed story and the characters are brilliantly written. I can't wait to read more in this series and from this author in the future.

[Ashley Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a well-written, charming tale about the importance of friendship and the joy and impact it brings to our lives. It had a nice slow-burn romance mixed in as well. The author's characters are great. Jess, Gaby, and Chloe are all women I'd love to hang out with. And Chris, well, he's just about any woman's dream man. Successful, kind, sexy... he's awesome. I gave this book four stars because it's billed as contemporary romance, but it feels like women's fiction. The friendship takes center stage rather than the romance, so it wasn't what I was expecting. Overall, though, it was a great debut novel. I look forward to reading more about Harmony, Texas!

[Book.Athlete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look no further for a story that delivers everything you could want in a delightful, fun, story that will make your heart feel good! Stacey Komosinski delivers a feel-good story in her first novel, "Finding It All," and I can't wait for her to write more. This book would make a wonderful gift for someone who is recuperating or a new parent, as both would likely enjoy the light-hearted plot and warm characters. The general uplifting nature of the book has made me recommend it to several people looking for their next read. The added features of sexual fun and eroticism are an added bonus and are enjoyable as well. This is one author that has made it to my favourite list!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good romance story! Enjoyed it from beginning to end. This was my first Stacy Komosinski novel and was not disappointed! The story had all the elements of a romance, great main characters with backgrounds that are revealed so we understand them more. What I loved about this one was the friendships that Chloe has with Jess and Gaby. You don’t always get great friendships in romances and loved that Stacy put that into her story. Will be looking for her work in the future.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read from a first time author. I have recommended Finding It All to all my friends who have similar tastes in their reading. The book was hard to put down and I could have gotten lost in my reading.

[Martin Rinehart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars, mostly, but four because the beginning is slow.

Well, nothing wrong with a little gentle, sweet romance, right?

Nor is there anything wrong with a fast-paced, exciting, explicitly sexy middle and end. And hey, I don't want to spoil it for you, but it is a romance. Save a couple of tissues for the ending.

[Sarah]

*Digital Copy received from the author via LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.*

[Reading With Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding It All - Stacey Komosinski

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

::: SPOILER-FREE REVIEW :::

Rating: 4 STARS!!!!⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh my God. OH. MY. GOD.

Guys, you all HAVE to read this book!

This is my first @staceyakomosinski read. This is also her debut. I started following Eleanor on Instagram and she's a sweetheart. When Stacey reached out to me to read it. I had to say yes I mean... look at that COVER!! 😉😍

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL DEBUT! 💖

I started this book late last night after a long day at work and it kept me glued to my kindle until I finished it. I couldn’t put it down!! My heart was just SO wrapped up in the story and I connected to the characters so much! ❤

This story was great from start to finish. I loved the chemistry between Chloe and Chris. We got to see their relationship grow.

Chloe was a wonderful heroine. She was honest, kind, intelligent and I loved her.

And Chris, I fell in love with him right from the start. 🤤🤤
Like Grace, I felt drawn to him. I loved the fact that he was patient and commited and just let Chloe set the pace. 😍

We also got the chance to meet other great characters. Mainly, Chloe's friends, Gaby and Jess. I love the friendship these three girls have.😍😍😍

Stacey Komosinski writing was flawless and took me on a truly heartwarming journey. Its a sweet story that was beautiful, with an an uplifting, satisfying ending that left me clutching my heart, with happy tears in my eyes and a smile on my face 😁😁😁

I loved it. ❤❤

EVERYBODY, EVERYWHERE – READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!!!

[Pixie Auri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding It All is the sweetest book I’ve read this year. And when it comes to romance, it’s probably amongst the most realistic ones too. It tells a genuine story of two people overcoming their own fears and insecurities to forge a path for love.
The book follows Chloe and Chris in their slow-burn ride into a cute, healthy relationship. It probably cleansed some of the darkness I’ve been reading lately, which was awesome. But despite the low heat, this isn’t entirely a clean book. No fade to dark when it came down to it.
The characters are interesting, and I was eager to figure out the subtle clues the author dropped about their background. It all ties up quite nicely in the end. And talking about characters, I can’t fail to mention Chloe’s best friends here. Gaby and Jess give the story a cozy sense of belonging, bringing forth a message of friendship that – for me – was even more important than the love story.
The book contained quite a bit of head-hoping, which got me confused at times. But it didn’t keep me from engaging with each character as they found their voices within the story. I sure hope to read more from Stacey soon.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts:

Couple of months ago I found this book on one of my fellow book lover bookstagram, and she left such a good review that intrigued me so much and then Stacey messaged me privately offering to read her book. And I am so glad she did it.

The story had a lot of different life aspects, where some of them somehow reminded of my life actually.

Chloe - she have amazing friends, who are more like her family, and I used to think like that, as I do not have neither brothers or sisters... but she is lucky to have Gabby and Jess where they fill each other. Understands each other... these kind of friends I would like to have in my life...

Chris, he is kinda guy you probably know but wouldn't expect (if that makes sense) and as more you read the more you want to know him...

I won't lie, at the beginning I felt hard to get into the book, but when I did I enjoyed it, it was easy, flowing story which helps you forget outside world!!

Thank you Stacey for giving me a chance to read your book !!!

[(libraryofsha) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is really nice, it show the true bonding between the three friends and it is beautifully writen. This book is mostly Concentrates more on their friendship each story is so heartwarming and each one is dealing with their own struggles.

Chloe who has a bad past and now she is a working as a journalist staying with her two friends and she is very happy being with them they have a true bond. They hangout with each other and life goes on like this then she meets Chris in an interview and from that moment they discovered a feelings for each other and things started in different ways. I like Chris's character so much he is really a good person and his feelings is so genuine towards Chloe and their journey is so beautifully writen. I thoroughly liked it but in between it was little slow going but it was a good one.

[Likely Story · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion. This story was such a cute modern day romance that made me wish I could find a guy like Chris. It shows that every relationship is not without its struggles but if two people love each other they will find a way to be happy.
For my full review click here: https://likelystory.blog/2021/06/15/r...

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

As some of you may know, I love new authors and when Stacey asked me to review her debut novel, I was elated. Though this story has two main protagonists, Chloe and Chris, it also contains important supporting characters with their own side stories.  Namely, Chloe's friends, Gaby and Jess. I love the friendship the three girls have and that Chris, Chloe's new boyfriend, understands and accepts that. 

Chloe is sweet, yet driven. She is talented in many ways from her excellence as a journalist to her dessert prowess in the kitchen. In addition, she has premonitions which were a source of conflict with her estranged parents growing up. She knows what she loves and she loves with all of her heart. When she meets Chris it is basically love at first sight and observing their growing trust and past confessions is a beautiful thing to see.  Chris is a kind and patient man who is a dedicated high school principal that has lost the appreciation of his profession due to the violence and disrespect of the students. His love for Chloe is what makes him happy. She's nothing like any woman he's ever known and is thankful to have her in his life. They are a lovely couple who are perfect for each other.

The chemistry between Chloe and Chris is off the charts, but they take it slow due to Chloe's inexperience and tragic past with a drunken boy who attacked her. Kudos to Chris for his patience and commitment to let Chloe set the pace. The story has very little drama between the two which is actually refreshing. Sometimes I just need a break from all of the angst and need a delightful love story that gives me the feels. In fact, the scene where Chloe declares her love made me tear up. However, there is some suspense and uneasiness when a stalker starts to follow Gaby, but is nipped in the bud early on.

As for Gaby, after the whole stalker thing, she decides to put a stop to dating because of her bad choices and then runs into an old unattainable high school crush when she is visiting her lovely mother, Momma R, in Harmony. Normally, a very vibrant and happy young woman, Gaby falls into a depression when her mother falls ill and her life choices do not appeal to her anymore.

And, last but not least, roommate number three, Jess, an IT programmer, is dealing with a mother who is depressed, and a sister who is rebelling at home. Though her personal life is a mess, she is moving up in her profession and obtains a lucrative position in California with a hint of a romance that was unfortunately not touched upon like Chloe's and Gaby's relationships.

This lovely book presents how a wonderful cast of characters' lives transition as they find love, purpose, and a new way of life. It's a true testament to not letting your past define your life and building life-long friendships. 

Thank you to Ms. Komosinski for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review

[Ellie]

DNF @64%
Yeah, so I really tried with this one.
It's not even that it's awful, because it has loads of potential...or it would have in the hands of a writer who actually knew what to do with it - and who actually knew how to write a book.
This writer is either as green as they come, or has no earthly idea about perspective in a story let alone how to properly execute it. It was jarring and frustrating to the point I couldn't be arsed any longer and I tapped out.

The story is third person perspective, mostly from the heroine's POV. But then it jumps to the hero for a paragraph, which is confusing as hell. Only then suddenly we're getting the POV of a random, peripheral character for a few sentences, or a secondary character. Then back to the h, and so on and so forth. It is, to be blunt, a fucking mess.

I don't know if this was the writer's first book or her 5th, and at this point I don't care. What I do care about is having my time wasted by so-called writers that don't bother to learn how to properly write. I still long for the days that the only way a book was published was through a publisher. Amateur work such as this would have never seen the light of day without being edited to within an inch of its life, if it weren't rejected outright.

As I said in the beginning of this review, the book had potential. Part lighthearted slow burn, part serious real life stuff with the tiniest dash of pno. It was a little heavy handed on the melodrama at times, Chris was too perfect and Chloe's fragile, über-virgin damsel in distress routine made me want to slap her hard at times, but despite all that it still could have worked if not for the glaring mistakes and utter lack of an editor.
And one of my biggest pet peeves is when a writer doesn't do their research. In this story, a character puts trackers on several cars with the clear purpose of stalking another character, and yet the police say more or less that he hasn't committed a crime. Only it IS a crime and very much so in the state of Texas, where the story takes place. That character would have been arrested and very likely jailed for a time.
Don't be so fucking lazy, writers. Do your research because you look like an arse when you don't.

Others may be able to get past the issues I have here, but I cannot. My time is too important - and so is my money.

[Angelina Frazzini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding it All by Stacey Komosinski is book one of the Finding Happiness in Harmony series.

Chloe has never had a relationship which is sort of okay. After her childhood, it’s probably better that she hasn’t ever had a relationship. She has her two best friends and what more could a girl want. As much as she likes to tell herself she’s better off or that she’s too busy for a relationship, sometimes she catches herself longing for that connection with someone. It can’t be all bad can it? Chris has had his fair share of relationships. All with the wrong women. Finally single, the last thing Chris wants is another relationship or to look for love. The last thing Chris expects to find during his interview with the paper is the girl of his dreams. Immediately Chris can tell Chloe isn’t like all the other women he’s dated. Can Chloe and Chris both navigate their pasts and issues and find happiness together?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It was good! I enjoyed the characters especially Gabby and Jess. They definitely bring their own personality to the story.

[Amy Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a feel-good, goose bump filled, happy and nerve-wracking slow burning love story, grab this novel and get cozy! I was itching for an easy read when I elected to pick up this book, and I really am very glad that I did. I found that I really enjoyed the way that the story is told, making sure to give you information on all the characters involved in the main story line, and teasing you with more info, which has me hoping that there will be a second novel, with even more ‘feel good vibes.’ Though I kept waiting for the second shoe to drop, likely from the books I have been reading, this story is all happiness, though does have its very relatable issues between Chloe and Chris, and the others, that arise now and again. I am very excited to read more by Stacey Komosinski, thank you for this happily-ever-after read. I will be recommending this read to others!

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chloe, a 25-year-old who has never been in a relationship because of her troubling past. She is satisfied with her life with a promising career and her two best friends until Chris enters her life.

Chris is a high school principal and had a history of dating many women who only wanted him as a trophy. His life takes an interesting turn when Chloe comes to interview him for a paper.

This is the first book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed reading this. The characters were beautifully portrayed and I really liked the characters of Chloe's friends. The story is narrated very well and it takes about the importance of friendship, emotions, love, romance, mental illness and much more.

This book focuses more on friendship than romance which makes it different from other romance books. And the surprise gift of Chloe makes the story a lot more interesting. Overall a great effort for a debut author. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I recommend it to everyone.

[Inishowen Cailín · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding it All is a lovely, gentle romance. Chris and Chloe are really cute together. Both have butterflies when they first meet and it was nice to read about their experiences from both of their perspectives.
There are some examples of bad relationships and unwanted interactions with men in this book but it also shows younger readers what a healthy relationship looks like and highlighting both is important. All three friends have high standards and I liked that about them.
I loved the friendships between Chloe, Jess and Gaby. They were more like sisters and they were a little group that anyone would want to be friends with.
I was a little bit surprised about how innocent the three girls are. Chloe is twenty-five and has never been kissed which I found a bit odd.
However, the story is good. there is plenty of drama along the way to love things up and the scene is set for further books in the series.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding It All (Finding Happiness In Harmony Book 1) by Stacey Komosinski

4 out of 5 Stars

Wow! I don’t know where to start. There is so much to love in this book it is hard to decide what to talk about first. The fun banter between characters, the tenderness the author uses when addressing past trauma, the fun steamy scenes, the amazing sisterhood, and much more make this a heartwarming start to this series that leaves you tapping your fingers with impatience for the next chapter!!

Chloe Larson is a dedicated friend. Chloe lives with her two best friends, Gaby and Jess. Chloe is a fledgling reporter that has big hopes and dreams when it comes to her job. She has just gotten a promotion at work that is giving her more options to pursue different stories. One of these stories brings her face to face with Chris Sherman, principal of one of the local high schools.

What isn’t there to love about Chris? A dedicated educator who lives with his brother and is close to his family? From the moment Chloe walked into Chris’ office, he knew there was something special about the amazing woman that came to interview him. Chris just didn’t know how special until he started to get to know her.

This story is so much more than the budding love between Chloe and Chris. The reader gets to know Jess and Gaby, Chloe’s best friends, and gets a peek into their unbreakable sisterhood that has withstood years of trials, break ups, family drama, and all the things life can throw at them. At first it seems all too much, so many characters to learn! But, without learning how each person plays into the life of the other, the story would not be as full or rich. These three friends, and their lives, are intertwined so thoroughly that it is important to follow every thread of this enduring and heartwarming story. It makes you hope there can be a fourth pea in that pod!!

[Lindsay Lacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Disclaimer: I was contacted by the author to do an honest review of this book and was able to obtain a free digital copy via Kindle Unlimited's services.***

Finding It All is a cute, Texas based romance that follows sweet and innocent 25 year old Chloe Larson. Chloe has never been in a relationship or even really been kissed. Possessing a special gift and lugging around baggage from her rough childhood, Chloe has always kept most people at arm's length...that is, until she meets Chris Sherman.

Finding It All appears to be a debut novel as well as the first book in the Finding Happiness in Harmony series. This was a sweet and stress free romance with the tiniest amount of spice and drama sprinkled in. The characters had some depth to them and they definitely have some potential to be fleshed out and built upon if they are used in further installments of this series. If you are looking for a cutesy, strings free romance then this is the book for you.

That being said, I did have a couple of gripes that while it did lower my personal rating for this book, it did not detract from the enjoyment of the story overall. This book is told in a very play by play style of narration (example: they did this, they wore this, they said this, they responded with this, they felt this, etc.) which made some of the scenes and conversations seem rather clunky and unnatural to me. Additionally, the plot seemed to meander a lot and I couldn't find that substantial intrigue or suspenseful situations that I typically look for when I'm reading romances.

Despite my gripes, Finding It All is still a commendable debut romance that I recommend giving a try if you are looking for something sweet and easy.

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first  book in the Finding Happiness in Harmoney series. This book is definately a light hearted feel good read which leaves you feeling like anything is possible and that love and happiness does exist.
The characters are really well written that you can't help being caught up in their stories.
Chloe  is a young women who is enjoying her life with her friends. She has had a troubled life and has secrets she is keeping. But she now loves her life to the fullest and enjoys herself with her friends. With her work and friends she has no time for a relationship and love. Even if love exists.

Chris has his pick of women however he always seems to attract the wrong sort of woman. Frimly off the whole dating idea his world is rocked when he meets Chloe. There is something about her that makes him want to get to know her better.
As their relationship grows its beautiful to see that Chris is happy to take things at Chloe's pace. Placing the ball in her court gives her the chance the take the relationship at a pace she is comfortable with. That for Chloe helps her start to break down her walls and allow Chris in.

Even though the main romance is between Chris and Chloe the love between Chloe and her friends Jess and Gaby. Their relationship is so open and honest that they can discuss anything. They are also amazing at empowering each other.

This books is a feel good love story which will make you smile and also fall in love with the characters and their journey.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the ‘Finding Happiness in Harmony series’ and it is such a heartwarming story of best friends and first love which really gave me a feel good feeling, and I love a happy ending. Chloe Larson is twenty five and has never really been kissed let alone had a relationship as Chloe believes she’s better off with friends so she can’t get hurt. This is as a result of having had a bad childhood which was spent hiding a secret and being ridiculed. Anyway, Chloe is busy being a reporter by day and spending weekends living life to the fullest with best friends and roommates Gaby and Jess, so she has no time for romance. Meanwhile, Chris Sherman is bored of the selfish women that he seems to attract and having just got out of a relationship he is definitely not looking for love. Until, he meets Chloe and everything changes for Chris and he is determined to get to know her, but Chloe is still wary of letting anyone in. They both need to find the courage and choose love. This is a small town romance which I felt totally immersed in as the authors descriptive narrative bought both the characters and the setting to life. I felt Chloe and Chris were both likeable and relatable characters and I loved seeing how their relationship developed. I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Kristen Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Texas story of friendship, family, relationships & love is the first part of the Harmony trilogy and is as sweet and juicy as a slice of watermelon in the summer sun. The story follows 25-year-old Chloe and her two besties, Jess and Gabby. They all seem to be successful and smart. I could see myself being friends with these ladies! The lives of these girls seem pretty “perfect” but readers will find that each chapter shares another layer of each character and something deeper going on in their life. Parts of the story could be shorter, there are a lot of play by plays drawing chapters out but did not take away from the overall enjoyment.

I went into this thinking this was going to be a cliché story of country romance & values but I am so glad I was wrong, this story can really take place anywhere. There were a few other factors that pleasantly surprised me, so although I would call it an “easy” read, don’t underestimate this story. There is plenty of spice with budding romance and some unexpected conflicts and excitement. It is the perfect recipe! I would bring this book to the beach, coffee shop or snuggle up with it at home. Overall I enjoyed this book and would be interested in finding out what’s to come in the next two!

[Shadel ayerbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding It All (Finding Happiness In Harmony Book 1) by Stacey Komosinski is a western contemporary romance.

Chloe Larson, who is twenty-five years old, has never been in a relationship or had a true kiss. Chloe feels she is better off with only friends around her after a difficult childhood spent hiding a secret and being humiliated. That way, she won't be harmed or mistreated. She spends her weekends with her best friends and roommates, Gaby and Jess, and her weekdays demonstrating her worth as a freshly promoted reporter. The problem is that she doesn't have time for romance. However, she secretly yearns for that particular connection with someone.

Chris Sherman is tired of the egotistical ladies that seek him out. He isn't seeking love after just ending a relationship. When he meets Chloe Larson, though, everything changes. She has an allure about her that thrills and interests him, and he is eager to learn more about her. Will they be able to get the bravery to allow each other in and share the pleasures and sorrows of love, life, and happiness in order to discover it all?

I loved this story and the concept of it as well. I loved every page of it. Every chapter was exciting. This is the first book that I have read from this author, I cant wait to read more.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding it All is new author Stacey Komosinski’s ( a molecular biologist/pharmaceutical exec. by day) maiden offering a a contemporary romance writer. I found this to be a very ambitious first book with a mixed bag of results. Her Finding Happiness in Harmony is a romance/coming of age series for three young women who became closer than sisters in their freshman year of college in Texas. Four years after graduation they are living together in a townhouse in the imaginary city of Galorston Tx.. Now 25 years old, Chloe the main protagonist in this story is a television journalist/reporter for Channel 9 a local news station. Jesse is a computer programmer extraordinaire and Gabriel is a hospital dietician/part time aerobic dance teacher. Like most young women of their age they’ve enjoyed their early twenties, establishing their budding careers and entertaining themselves in the off hours with dinner parties, nights out and retail therapy excursions. The one thing that is not typical about these three women who weren’t raised in a convent is that two are still virgins and one has had only one sexual experience. Chloe our heroine has never even been kissed. That all changes when she meets 32-year-old high school principal Chris Sherman while interviewing him for a story she’s working on. The lives of all three young women are about to change dramatically.
Early on I found the author’s voice too bland for my taste. I felt like I was reading something suitable for middle schoolers to read written at an 8th grade reading level. It wasn’t the lack of swearing or sex. Neither the Harry Potter nor Hunger Games series had foul language or sex and I loved both of them. While the story she was unraveling was interesting the way she told it just seemed to lack passion. Once Chloe and Chris’s relationship gets moving as Chloe begins to gain sexual experience, the book moves from a PG to a mild X no longer suitable for middle schoolers. In the final quarter of the book the story seemed to lose some focus as she bounced between Chloe’s and Chris’s relationship and Gabriel’s and Jesse’s lives. As I said the author was ambitious in trying to include so much of not just one young woman but all three of their lives in one book.
Chloe had a very difficult childhood growing up outside of Pittsburgh. Her father was physically and verbally abusive to her and her mother stood by and did nothing to protect her. In addition, Chloe has some psychic abilities which make her highly intuitive and at times gets visions and premonitions of future events. Although honestly there was only one incident in this book where those gifts seemed to benefit her. As a child when her schoolmates discovered her gifts they treated her like a freak leaving her with no friends. She has learned to keep her gifts a secret from others including her two close friends. When she left Pennsylvania and headed to Texas for college seven years ago she never looked back and her parents have never made any attempt to reach out to her. She’s built a new life for herself with Gabby and Jesse as sisters of the heart and Gabby’s mom as her pseudo mother figure. After being involved in a traffic accident after her freshman year of college her psychic gifts seemed to have disappeared. But after meeting Chris they are coming back to her.
I thought the slow burn romance between Chris an all around great guy who has had as much romantic experience as you’d expect for a man of his age and Chloe who has literally no relationship experience emotionally or sexually was extremely well done. Chris is very sensitive to Chloe’s lack of experience and allows her to move the physical part of their relationship along at her pace. Chloe is a healthy 25-year-old woman with a healthy sex drive but after being sexually assaulted by her next door neighbor just before her high school graduation, her brain isn’t always in sync with what her body and heart want. What I thought made this part of the story exceptionally good was watching Chloe and Chris navigate the issues in this new relationship beyond the physical issues. Jealousy is key among them. it’s clear as Chloe’s career blossoms she struggles to find enough hours in the day to find time for her relationships with Chris and her friends. Which made it hard for me to understand how she was going to find time to help co-author a book with one of her author idols?
Beyond Chris and Chloe’s romance we have the girls dealing with Kirk, Gabby’s ex who becomes a dangerous stalker. Kirk’s stalking as well as the vivacious Gabby’s inability to attract the attention of decent men has Gabby questioning many of her life decisions. The changes in Gabby from the start of this book where she’s the most outgoing and bubbly of the three to the end where she’s suffering from depression was shocking. Jesse like Chloe left her home and a troubled childhood in Oklahoma behind when she left for college promising to never go back. But she has maintained a close relationship with her father and now feels guilty and troubled over abandoning her now mostly unsupervised younger sister and mother who has mental health issues. This along with her close relationship with Chloe and Gabby made Jesse’s decision to relocate to California putting even more distance between herself and her family in Oklahoma left me puzzled. I also didn’t think her father deserved a free pass for leaving his family at home for long stretches seeking employment knowing his wife suffered with mental illness which left her incapable of properly caring for their children.
The later part of this story seemed as focused on Gabby and her life as it was on Chloe and Chris. It’s not all that unusual for authors to devote part of if not all of the epilogue of a book to introducing the next book in a series. But as interesting as Gabby’s story was it seemed a bit excessive in this book. Considering the series name and all the bread crumbs it wasn’t shocking to discover Chris and Chloe moving to Harmony at the end of their story. But it sort of was considering Chloe although basically living alone (or with Chris) by the end of the story, never expressed any dissatisfaction with living in Galorston. And suddenly driving from Harmony to Galorston for work for Chloe which was about a 90 minute drive one way adding three hours of travel time to her daily commute was acceptable so Chris could take the job in Harmony?

[Betsy Melano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding It All by Stacey Komosinski is the first book in the Finding Happiness in Harmony series. The story is about Chloe and Chris.

Chloe grew up on a small town and experienced some bullying because she was different. She never really felt like she belonged in that town. She moved away for college and found met new friends Gaby & Jess who soon became lifelong friends. After college the three of them decided to live together in Texas. Gaby is the chatty outgoing girl and Jess is the sarcastic one. The girls seem to get along well and have a routine down that keeps them busy but active.

Chloe is a news reporter who also dabbles in writing fictional stories hoping someday to go back to school for literature. She meets Chris, a local high school principal, when she needed to interview him for an assignment about the local school district and all the changes they have made to the buildings and curriculum. Both Chloe and Chris seem to be interested in each other but keep the meeting professional. But soon after the meeting, Chris emails Chloe and asks her out. Is this the beginning of something great for Chloe? I’ll let to read it for yourself.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding It All (Finding Happiness In Harmony Book 1) by Stacey Komosinski. This is a sweet story about 25 year old Chloe Larson who is not your typical 25 year old. Chloe has had a hard upbringing and at 25 has never had a boyfriend or been kissed. She meets Chris when she goes to interview for a job at a school and he's the principal. Chloe's only family is her 2 friends Gabby and Jess and Gabby's mom who has taken over the role of mom to Chloe. When she and Chris become friends and she meets his parents they fall in love with Chloe. Chris is fed up of the selfish women who come on to him. Its all about what he can do for them and not about who he is as a person. When he meets Chloe he realizes she is different and wants to get to know her better. Will they both take down their walls and let each other in so they can see if they can make a relationship work? Read this sweet love story to find out!

[SaviLeeLind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hit the spot on a quiet rainy day! Its a very sweet and feel good romance that showcases the beauty of small towns, and the connections you form in them.
Chloe and Chris were very sweet and fun together. Each had that piece of the puzzle the other needed to find their way to love and happiness. Chloe who has had no experience in relationships or men is living her life day to day following her dreams of being a reporter. She has not had the best childhood and some of her experiences have been traumatic at best, but she has been able to thrive career wise When a promotion takes place she meets Chris who is apart of her next story. The moment they meet its love at first sight and an indescribable chemistry. Chris and Chloe take things slow and he proves to be a patient, sweet, and understanding man. Watching their love fall into place and both of them find that HEA was beautiful.

[Jenn Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a strong debut for this author. I enjoyed the concept, these three young women (mid twenties) with an amazing friendship. The story weighs heavily on the friendship between Chloe, Gaby and Jess, that bond that they share and the strength that they have, in good times and bad. Chloe and Chris have a spark from the start with a very, very slow burn. I did believe this to be a very sweet, clean read until much later in the story when the heat turned up a bit. There's a small amount of suspense/danger swirled in, enough to keep the ladies and myself on our toes. I did enjoy the book, even with the heaviness being the friendship between these three vs only focused on the romance between Chloe and Chris. I am looking forward to see what is next in Harmony and will be awaiting book two in this series.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.