Hudson Higgins had fond memories of Boggy Creek from his childhood. So what better place to escape New York City for a few weeks to finish up a book that was nearing deadline than the small town in New Hampshire his parents visited nearly every summer.
What he couldn’t have known was how his life would be turned upside down when he walked into Greer Larson’s bookstore his first day in town.
Greer Larson lived a quiet life in her hometown of Boggy Creek. She had worked nearly her whole adult life to make her dreams of owning her bookstore come true—and now, Turning Pages was her everything. She lived, eat, and breathed the success of owning her own business.
That is, until a stranger came to town and showed Greer that there was more to life than simply working. A friendship between Greer and Hudson quickly formed over their love of books and the outdoors.
When Greer’s bookstore is threatened, Hudson soon realizes he hasn’t simply fallen for the charm of Boggy Creek and Greer, he’d fallen in love…with both the town, and the woman who stole his heart from the moment she first smiled at him.
Playing with Words is book two in the Boggy Creek Valley series and is a stand alone novel.
Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings.
Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Without You, and Unconditional Love, to name just a few.
Kelly has been passionate about writing since she was fifteen. After years of filling journals with stories, she finally followed her dream and published her first novel, Wanted, in November of 2012.
Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings.
To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.
After a bad choices of books and a shitty time I had lately, Playing with Words is a welcome change. This book is I considered clean or vanilla romance. There is no major drama/ twist. The plot is predictable. I enjoyed it very much.
I do not usually like vanilla romance cause I need a good dose of drama/ twist. Miss Elliott done a good job bringing this clean romance into live. Her wording is very easy to follow. The plot is predictable. The smutt scenes are enough to make the story alive.
Overall this is a good relaxing read after a disaster time I had lately.
Playing With Words is a cute, small town story that is perfect for book lovers with its pairing of a bookstore owner and a bestselling author.
In the second book of the Boggy Creek Valley series, Hudson Higgins, a famous author of several bestselling suspense novels runs into Greer, the owner of Turning Pages bookstore when he decides to stay in Boggy Creek for a couple of weeks to finish his latest manuscript. Greer being rendered speechless the first time they meet, is what makes their meet cute, funny and adorable.
Greer is a book lover who is kind, sweet and maybe a little naive. I loved reading about Greer’s journey in making a successful career out of her passion. Hudson was just the right amount of sweet, sexy and smooth. Theirs was more of an instalove than slowburn and we see their relationship also progress at a pretty quick pace.
Greer is a history buff .So we see that Kelly dives deep into the historical background of Boggy Creek, its buildings and its residents. You can tell that the author has poured her soul into creating this fictional small town with a rich history.
While this book did not have any serious themes or too much drama like the previous book, it was still a very enjoyable ride. There also wasn’t a huge conflict in the story to break the happy vibes it was giving off throughout. If you are a reader looking for some angst or a serious story, then this is not the book for you.
If I had to describe this story in one word, it would be that it was sweet. This book had me grinning from ear to ear. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the adorable cover for this adorable book. I enjoyed my second trip to Boggy Creek and am very much anticipating the next book that will take me back. Kelly mentioned that we will be getting Bishop’s story in November and I am so excited for it.
I recommend Playing With Words to readers looking for a cozy, feel good, small town romance.
It is the second book in the Boggy Creek Valley series but can be read as a standalone. Special thanks to Kelly Elliot and Greys Promo for sharing an advanced reader copy with me. I have read and reviewed this voluntarily and all the opinions are my own.
I beta/sensitivity read this gem for Kelly, and I have to say, doing this made me fall in love with Kelly’s words! I loved this so much that I had to go back and read book one just to get the full experience. I sensitivity read for a character named Candace who is essentially…me. She is ducking hilarious, beautiful, super smart, and is Greer’s Bff. I mean, hello!! I love that I could see myself in this cozy small town that gave me all the Autumn feels of hot cocoa wrapped in a warm blanket. I love that this story surrounds a cool book store named Turning Pages, and it’s where all these amazing women who just happen to be the best of friends work together running this amazing place.
Oh, and did I mention that this is a love story? Lol. That’s the wonderful thing about this series, you are just as invested in the female friendships as well as the actual love story!!
“What do you do when a drop-dead gorgeous man walks into your bookstore and asks if you have a quiet corner for him to work in?” Greer was thrown off her rocker by the handsome author, Hudson..along with the rest of us.
This book made me laugh out loud, swoon, and Fangirl over the mention of Kerrigan Bryne, and her books—The Highway Man, and The Hunter!! These are the coolest women, and I just want to live here forever!!
Heartwarming, swoon-worthy, and full of all the feels, Playing With Words had me grinning from ear-to-ear from the first pages to the last. And I’m more in love with Kelly Elliott’s Boggy Creek Valley series than ever!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and options are my own.
This is my first time ever reading Kelly Elliott and I'm very surprised how much I really enjoyed this book. Greer and Hudson are such a perfect and sweet couple. These two are truly meant to be together. Greer is so easy to connect with. I know for one, like Greer, I would love to open my own bookstore in a small town. She’s adorably awkward, sweet and all about her small town. And Hudson is such a straight up great guy. He’s sweet, kind and has a dirty mouth (which is always a plus in my book). I don’t think Kelly Elliott could have written characters better than these two for one another. The small-town vibes are very strong with this one. It makes me think of fall, apple picking and candles. This was a straight up feel good story. No beating around the bush with unnecessary drama and was just a pleasant read. Since I didn't read book one in this series, I’m definitely going to read it now. I’m excited to continue on with the rest of the series. Also, can we talk about how GORGEOUS this cover is?? When there are such beautiful covers like this one, how do you not judge a book by its cover? It fits this book so well. Super sweet, heartwarming, and feel good read.
A lovely small town contemporary romance. Likable characters (Candace is the best sidekick that I've read in a while), a warm and welcoming community and a sweet romance without a lot of drama or angst that many contemporary romances currently include. An enjoyable afternoon reading experience.
Playing with Words is the latest addition to the Boggy Creek Valley Series and is just the read I was looking for. Playing with Words checked off so many of my boxes and left me grinning the entire time.
Playing with Words follows the story of Hudson and Greer. From the moment I dove into their story, I was hooked. Greer is an incredibly likable character who is adorably awkward when it comes to good-looking men and she loves books almost as much as I do. Hudson is the stranger who blows into town and can’t help but be intrigued by the shy local, Greer….
I knew right away that Greer and Hudson would be great together, and I wasn’t disappointed. Their chemistry was instant and I loved their interactions. As previously stated, Greer was adorably awkward in the beginning, but that just added to her charm. And while Hudson came into town looking for a quiet place to work, he couldn’t help be smitten by Greer. Together, they had a whirlwind romance that left me with a smile on my face and all the feels.
Playing with Words is such a fun read. I loved the small-town charm and the gossip factory. I loved that while there was some drama, it was on the light side and made sense to the story. This book has a lot of humorous moments that had me laughing out loud one moment and swooning the next. In the end, I couldn’t help falling head over heels for Greer and Hudson.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “If this was what people meant by floating on cloud nine, then I was set adrift and enjoying the ride.”
What You’ll Find: ✔️Smalltown Romance ✔️Quirky Heroine ✔️Friends to Lovers ✔️Steamy Scenes ✔️Dual POV
Playing With Words is the story of Greer and Hudson. Greer is speechless when the handsome Hudson, with a fantastic smile, complete with dimples, comes into her bookshop looking for a quiet place to work. And what ends up being a couple weeks visit for Hudson to finish a book, soon turns into so much more.
“She was passionate, full of life, and so damn adorable. And the more time I spent with her, the more I realized I didn’t want to walk away at all.”
I absolutely adored this story! Smitten from the very start! Every new book from this author becomes my new favourite! Greer is bubbly and sweet, always with a smile on her face. But the woman can surely put her foot in her mouth. I can’t tell you the amount of times she made me laugh! And Hudson. Swoon. I’ve got a new book boyfriend! He is so sweet, smooth, and perceptive. He’s only got eyes for her and I loved every minute of it.
“Knowing I was the one who made her light up made me want to do it every day for as long as I could.”
Their relationship starts friendly but quickly moves at the speed of lightening. And normally that doesn’t work for me. But I just couldn’t help but fall in love with these two, no matter how quick they fell in love themselves. They were the perfect match. This story made me smile and laugh out loud. There’s minimal conflict. Great steamy scenes. A charming smalltown. With a fun book loving connection. The best side characters- I mean Candace is the bestfriend we all want! Beautiful family dynamics. And loveable MC’s that really pull you into the story.
A heartfelt, feel good, love story you definitely don’t want to miss. And I can’t wait for Abby & Bishop’s story next. That second chance story is going to be amazing! This is shaping up to be my new favourite series from this author!
*Thank you to the author and Grey’s Promo for the ARC for my honest review.
Cute read no drama and no third person trying to be relevant. Hudson and Greer were perfect for each other. He was a famous author who escaped to her little town to complete his most recent book and she was the owner of the bookstore where he went to write. The first time he saw her he was captivated by her beauty. Greer was tongue tied when she first saw him. She turned into a stuttering mess whenever he spoke to her lol and it was the cutest thing. He started as being her friend after she suggested her parents cabin for him to write. There was one person I thought was going to make a scene but no she didn’t and the story didn’t spin around her and I liked it. Both their families approved of their relationship and the things in very extreme way that Hudson did for her were very romantic. He did everything for his love of Greer. As always the secondary characters were hilarious and I can’t wait for their stories too.
If you are looking for a light, sweet and enjoyable reading, Playing with Words is your book. It is the story of Greer and Hudson, both involved in the world of letters. Greer Larson owns a bookstore and is entirely dedicated to it. She is a calm, sweet, kind and very noble woman; she is a true lover of books (with which I identify with her). However, she has not been lucky in love.
Hudson Higgins is a writer who comes to Boggy Creek Valley for inspiration. When he enters "Turning Pages," he is drawn to Greer, who turns to jelly every time she sees him. It may seem like insta love but the truth is that their relationship is flowing slowly; starting with a friendship. He has a sincere interest in her and his overflowing passion for books, her shop, and other hobbies she enjoys. Hudson is a romantic and manages to captivate the hearts of Greer and her friends, thus finding a piece that he needed to reach his full potential as a writer.
Tropes that you will find in this book: small town, sweet romance, friends to lovers, slow burn romance.
Not only does this series have the cutest covers, the story inside is always super cute!!
Playing with Words is the second book in the Boggy Creek Valley series, this time we're falling in love with Hudson and Greer. I loved Greer so much, she was a heroine who just had the biggest heart, she worked hard, and was just so quirky. When she meets Hudson, I couldn't stop laughing, I FELT HER AWKWERNESS, her nervousness. It was as if I was there watching these two people meet, and I loved every minute of it.
Hudson needs a break and some room to breathe, he decides to go to Boggy Creek Valley to clear his head and get some writing done. He never expected to run into Greer, the beautiful bookstore owner. These two were the best, I just love how understanding and respectful they were of each other, Hudson never judged or made fun of how nervous Greer was when they met, which made me love him more because he thought she was beautiful.
This book had all the feels, I just love this series so much.
I love this series, and each book is getting better! Her small town of Boggy Creek and all its residents is quickly becoming a favorite. This book features an author and a bookstore owner. How can we go wrong!
Greer is speechless as the handsome stranger walks into her store, and from there, I was hooked. I love her heart, her quirks, and how hard she works. Her love of books and achieving the goal of owning a bookstore!
Hudson is swoonworthy, author, and smitten with Greer. His happy memories driving his visit and to get away from the city. But, the stress of it all, plus a deadline, has him returning to Boggy Creek. A town with happy childhood memories. Is he looking for happiness?
I can not wait to return to Boggy Creek.
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
This book was just okay for me. I enjoyed the characters. The love story was sweet. It had that small hometown feel. But, there was something missing. No mystery. No villain. No angst to speak of. I guess I just needed more energy. More intensity. Something to keep my attention constantly. I found myself putting this book down often. For the most part, I seem to enjoy the premise of an author writing a book within a book. But, this one was a little boring. I totally loved, though, the first book of this series, but this book was lacking in drama. Oh, well, it just might be me because most of the reviews I read were rated pretty high…
Another great small town romance written by Kelly Elliott. She definitely knows how to sweep you off your feet and fall in love with ALL the characters she introduces us to.
I loved the backdrop of this story being a book store and the Hero being an author. I truly felt Kelly’s love for books and writing through the lives of Greer and Hudson.
A perfect summer beach read. Get lost in the story by “turning pages” until you reach the end.
I love the cover of this book and when I started reading I fell in love with this story☺
Hudson Higgins is a best selling suspense writer and he has a deadline in a month and he just can't seem to write anything. So he goes to Boggy Creek where his parents use to take him and his sister when they were young. That's where he meets Greer Larson when he goes in to find a quiet place to write and kind of can't happen to notice how pretty she is.
Greer Larson loves books and she owns th3 local bookshop. She spends her time reading books and if not watching Netflix. Until the day Hudson Higgins walks into her store trying to finish his book. She can't help the attraction she feels for him. And soon the end up being friends. But happens when they both want so much more. ButHudson is only here to finish his book. How will this relationship work when one of them doesn't even live there😬
I enjoyed this story. It was sweet and romantic and the way the town is described made me fall in love with the whole setting as well. But it wasn't without the drama of falling in love. But I enjoyed every minute of the story... I can't wait for the next book in this series❤☺
Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆ PLAYING WITH WORDS is the second installment in the Boggy Creek Valley series. It can be read as a standalone without issue but as always, it should be read in the order that the author intended.
Greer is the owner of the small bookstore on Main Street, Turning Pages. It has always been her dream to own the store and she worked out a deal with the owner of the building as a lease to own. She was proud of what she turned the little bookstore into. Unfortunately, working to make her dreams come true didn't leave her a whole lot of time to find love. When the sexy stranger comes into the store looking for a quiet place to work, Greer is at a loss for words. He is the most gorgeous man she's ever seen and makes a fool out of herself fumbling over her words. Luckily, Hudson thinks it's adorable and wants to see her again.
When Hudson's deadline looms over him and the words will not flow for his current manuscript, getting out of New York City seems like the perfect idea. Go somewhere quiet and less busy to just be able to think. He remembers family trips to Boggy Creek and thought it would be the perfect escape to get his book done on time. When he meets Greer, he can't help how his heart speeds up just at the sight of her. And when she offers her family cabin for him to really be alone to write, he's ready to marry her. (Well not really, but the cabin was the perfect place for him to be creative.)
I loved the sweetness and insta-love that PLAYING WITH WORDS provided. Of course, it was written in that Kelly Elliott style that has you swooning over the characters. Hudson and Greer were the perfect couple combination. They brought the sweet and the oh, so sexy moments. I do love this little town she created and can't wait for more.
AND LOOK AT THIS COVER... I'M OBSESSED!
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
5 star reviews Playing With Words (Boggy Creek Valley #2) by Kelly Elliott
This is the second book in the latest series from Ms.Elliott and I was excited to dive in.This time it is Greer Larson and Hudson Higgins’s story and what a fabulous story it was.
Hudson returns to Boggy Creek to complete the book he is writing. From the moment he meets Turning Pages bookstore owner , Greer, his life changes in ways he never expected. As their friendship grows, Hudson shows Greer that there is more to life than living in Boggy Creek and opens her eyes to the endless possibilities that await her.
I love stories based in small towns, it makes for a heart warming read where everyone knows everyone and is up in their business. Kelly Elliott has a way with words that draws you in and you cannot help but become invested in her stories.
When Greer’s bookstore is threatened, Hudson realizes he has fallen in love with not only Greer but Boggy Creek and will do whatever he can for her and the town. I fell hard and fast for Hudson, he ticked all the boxes for me.
This was a beautifully written story full of love and characters who are easy to relate to and I cannot wait to see what is next for the people of Boggy Creek.
What a beautifully written story, makes you believe in love at first sight!
Hudson Higgins is on a deadline to finish a novel he doesn't really want to write, comes to Boggy Creek Valley for some inspiration as he has fond memories from his childhood of this place. What he didn't expect was to be struck dumb by the town's book shop Turning Pages owner Greer, one smile and he was hooked.
This story was sweet, steamy, and heartwarming, I couldn't put my kindle down. I highly recommend this series and cannot wait to see what's next.
I loved the second book in the Boggy Creek Valley series! Greer and Hudson are adorable!! When you know…you just know! And the way Greer and Hudson were written was perfect. It didn’t seem too fast, they just clicked! And the way their relationship quickly evolved really showed through the words of the very talented Kelly Elliott. She has quickly become a one click author for me after reading just a few of her books. I was so excited to get back to Boggy Creek Valley with this book after Willa and Aiden’s story. And we get to see some Willa and Aiden in this story and see how their relationship has progressed since the end of their book. But anyway, back to Greer and Hudson, one of the most adorable couples ever! This book doesn’t have a lot of drama, not as much as the first book at least. But it does have some and we see how Hudson wants to protect Greer right from the beginning. I was sad to see this book end but it was a VERY interesting ending and now I can’t wait for Bishop’s story in book three!
If I could pack my bags right now and find Boggy Creek Valley that is where I would put down my roots and never leave. Kelly Elliott is the master in creating great content wrapped up in swoon-worthy books. Playing with Words is an absorbing can't put down read. It was pure genius having a book store and author as the centrepiece for Greer and Hudson's story. A captivating page-turner as I watched this great couple's romance play out before my eyes.
Hudson has come back to Boggy Creek, a place he remembers from childhood vacations, hoping to get his creative juices flowing as his deadline for his next book draws ever closer. Greer owns Turning Pages the local bookstore and from the moment Hudson walks through the door of her store she falls under his spell. Hudson should only be in town until his book is finished but the more time he spends with Greer, the more the town seeps into his soul. Could this be his forever place after all?
I loved every minute of this book, from the first time Greer saw Hudson and stumbled over her words right up until the end. Hudson is only visiting Boggy Creek to write his book. He needs to get out of the city and clear his head. Growing up, his parents took him to Boggy Creek and he always felt at peace there. Little does he know, his life is about to change. Greer always has a plan and never takes time off. She owns the book store and that is all she needs. She can’t figure out why she is so tongue tied by Hudson. She agrees to show him around town and offers her family cabin for him to stay in. I loved how they started as friends, even though they were both attracted to the other. The time line seemed to move fast, but it was still believable in how their relationship grew. I liked how he brought her out of her shell and she opened his eyes to there being more to life than the big city. I felt like they complemented each other well and helped the other when needed. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Boggy Creek. I highly recommend this book, as well as, The Butterfly Effect. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars -- An HJ Top Pick!! See the full review & more at HarlequinJunkie
Playing with Words had quite possibly the most adorably perfect couple in Kelly Elliott’s books yet: a kind, strong bookstore owner and a compassionate, sexy suspense author. Instant attraction led to a slow burn romance that was destined to overcome the odds.
I could *not* wait to get Greer’s story in Playing with Words. Just the fact that she owned her own bookstore (can you imagine??) was interesting enough. Then there’s how Greer tied in to Willa and Aiden’s story in book one, The Butterfly Effect, so we caught glimpses of who she was and of her good standing in town. FYI: The books can be read as standalones, but where there’s a circle of friends and locals the Boggy Creek Valley series follows, I think you’ll get more out of it by starting with book one... Read More
Playing with words is a swoon-worthy, heartfelt, small town romance that had me smiling the whole time I was reading!
Greer and Hudson kept me hooked from the first page to the last. Playing with Words doesn’t have over the top drama which I really liked, especially because it left so much room to just feel the characters! Their chemistry was instant and so so insane, there wasn’t a dull moment with them!
This is such an amazing feel-good romance, and as someone that’s new to Kelly Elliot, I can’t wait to read more from her after this immaculate piece of art. This book is just a perfect read for a rainy day, you can be sure that the smile won’t leave your face as you read this! I think Boggy Creek Valley might as well be one of my new favourite series and I CAN NOT WAIT FOR MORE!
Kelly Elliott does it again with book 2 of the Boggy Creek Valley series. In Playing with Words, we follow Greer Larson who is the owner of Boggy Creek's bookstore "Turning Pages". A new stranger from town shows up at her store. Enter Hudson Higgins, best selling author of thriller/mystery books and most gorgeous man Greer has ever seen.
Greer and Hudson develop a fun friendship which slow burns into something more. The sparks have always been there but once they embrace bring on the fireworks! I absolutely loved their chemistry and this series. I will say this book left us on a bit of a cliffhanger which I can't wait to keep reading in the next book.
Start this series ASAP and you will not be disappointed!
Playing with Words is book 2 in the Boggy Creek Valley series by Kelly Elliott and another great book in this series!
Up next is Hudson Higgins, writer and Greer Larson book store owner. He’s back in Boggy Creek to finish his book and then he walks into the bookstore and both their worlds are turned upside down…
Can these two go from friends to more? Such a wonderfully, well written, steamy and heartwarming story and can’t wait to see where Ms. Elliott takes us in the next book!
This is the second book in the Boggy Creek Valley series but is read as a stand alone novel. Greer and Hudson are great characters in this sweet small town love story. Their love of books and nature brought them together and they fulfill a void in each other. He's a best selling author escaping for a few weeks from New York and she's a small town book store owner. This was a sweet book that I read as a advance copy via Grey's Promotions and I voluntarily chose to write a review. A good book that I enjoyed.
I absolutely love Hudson and Greer. Their story was so cute, sweet, and swoon-worthy. I definitely loved it more than the first one, Aidan and Willa's. It gave me all the feels! The storyline was amazing. And the connection and chemistry these two have are undeniable. This one is just amazing! Highly, highly recommended!