Make Me Love You

Hart's Ridge #1

by Elizabeth Bright

This town might not be big enough for both of them…

Emma Andrews despises Eli Carter. The way he betrayed her trust and arrested her father was unforgiveable. But that was eight years ago. Now, with her dad about to be released, she will make Hart’s Ridge a real home for him—even if she must become mayor to do it. The only thing standing in her way? Her annoyingly sexy, best-friend-turned-enemy, Eli.

There’s nothing Eli loves more than his small town…except maybe Emma. He knows he’ll incur her wrath when he decides to run for mayor, but he’ll take anger over indifference any day. So, he’ll give her the fight of her life, and if he’s lucky, he’ll win a lot more than an election—he’ll win back the woman he’s loved since kindergarten.

The battle for Hart’s Ridge is about to heat up in a big way. When the dust settles, are Eli and Emma headed to happily ever after, or heartbreak?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Small Town Romance, Second Chance

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2021

About the author

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Elizabeth Bright writes smart, passionate romance with heart, humor, and heat. "Sparkling prose...unrelentingly sharp...unabashedly nerdy." (Bookpage) When she's not writing stubborn heroines and the men who adore them, Elizabeth can be found hiking and rock climbing. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her two daughters, who are every bit as headstrong and wonderful as the characters she writes.

Reviews

[Jultri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5. I first discovered this author earlier this year, reading and absolutely loving The Duke's Wicked Wife. This CR offering is less memorable, less humorous, less charming, just less. For some reason, her HR voice rang more authentic than her contemporary dialogue. This wasn't bad. It was a short and sweet read and I was entertained enough. I'm just struggling to remember key elements of the plot 10 days later.

ARC from Net Galley.

[romancelibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

When Eli arrested Emma's father 8 years ago, Emma broke off their friendship. Eli and Emma live in the same small town, but they haven't seen much of each other during those 8 years. Now they're forced to work together to plan the 4th of July celebrations. Things get more interesting when both Eli and Emma decide to run for mayor.

Make Me Love You is a cozy small town contemporary romance. Emma and Eli are both flawed and well rounded characters. On Emma's side, Eli has been her enemy since the night he arrested her father. But as for Eli, he's still pining for his best friend. I really enjoyed their romance. It was the perfect mix of sweet and steamy. The relationship and character development were both well done.

The mayoral aspect of the story gave me Parks & Recreation vibes, which made the small town of Hart's Ridge feel very atmospheric. Keep in mind that this is a shorter book than your regular romance, so there are certain parts that feel a bit rushed. For instance, I wish there had been more scenes of Emma acting as mayor. I was also expecting more detailed scenes with Emma and Eli planning the 4th of July celebrations. The actual event itself happened too quickly.

But overall, this was a solid and fun small town contemporary romance. I'm hoping some of the supporting characters will get their own story in the future!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review..   


Make Me Love You was a 3 Star read for me. It was just okay I did enjoy reading about Emma and Eli, It was just okay  


Happy Reading 📚

Lisa 

[The Sewist's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ 3.75
🌶️ 1
🥵 Spicy chapters: 16, 21, 29
📚 Tropes/Themes: hate to love, it's always been you, rivals to lovers, just one night, no strings attached, healing, small town, childhood besties to enemies to lovers
👀 Dual POV 1st person 
🧠 Triggers: cancer, incarceration, parental death, childhood neglect, alcoholism, child abandonment 
🛍️ Available: now

💬 So I've slowly been reading my way through all of Bright's catalog after falling in love with the Lodestar Ranch series. For the most part I really enjoyed this one. It's a sweet, low angst and quick read about childhood besties working through their traumas and finding their way back to each other. 

It also hit on several of my fave tropes: small town, it's always been you, no strings attached that becomes all the strings attached 🤣

I can see how her writing has improved not just from this book to her most recent series, but also from the beginning to the end of the book. 

At first I had a hard time really feeling the emotions of the characters and connecting with them...and for a while I was even kind of confused as to what the issue was 😅 but the ending was the emotional punch I'd been waiting for and brought the story together. The mayor/deputy mayor plot line was cute, but I think could've used more depth. 

[Emma Hunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to love it, but just a bit too perfect in places. Delighted to have read a book where the FMC has the same first and middle name as me!

[Alex Krysztof · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can respect the attempt at nuance here but at the end of the day… ACAB

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Elizabeth Bright’s Make Me Love You ticks off these boxes:

\\ Childhood best friends to hate to love (on one side)
\\ Feeeeelings on the other
\\ Temporary sex arrangement to get it out of our system
\\ A food truck (does that excite anyone else or is just me?)

It’s a pretty quick read that packs in a lot & I loved so much of it, from the small town setting to the quirky humor to the leads who so obviously care for each other despite the 8 long years of distance between them.

Eight years ago Emma Andrews confided in her police officer best friend Eli Carter that her dad had started making meth. Without actually telling her his plan, Eli arrested her dad & he was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

They haven’t spoken since their giant fight & Emma goes out of her way to pretend that he doesn’t exist.

When a chicken processing plant that employed lots of residents in & around Hart’s Ridge goes out of business—thereby affecting Emma’s livelihood & the town itself—Emma agrees to serve as interim mayor with the hated Eli as her deputy.

But God bless Elizabeth Bright because soon after, these characters decide to have sex to get their inconvenient lust out of their systems despite the fact that they both had strong, maybe romantic feelings for each other before everything went to shit & time hasn’t changed that.

Like a lot of short(er) romances there are a couple of moments in this read that feel rushed to me, but for the most part it packs a mighty punch. The emotional realizations both leads come to are so good, the buildup & pacing are well done, the sexy times are fun & with a sense of urgency & passion.

From beginning to end, especially with the grand gesture, it feels thoughtful & sexy. I really really enjoyed this read & rec it to anyone with a hankering for small town, best friends to hate to lovers romance!

4 ⭐️. Release date: 6/29

CW: parental neglect & abandonment; parental death; a person died after taking her father’s meth, which he reveals later in the story.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make Me Love You is a small town romance between former best friends who have avoided one another for 8 years but now find themselves forced to work together. Emma despises Eli, they grew up as best friends but that all changed when Eli arrested Emma’s father 8 years ago. When they find themselves working together as acting-Mayor and acting-deputy mayor of their small town, Hart’s Ridge, they both have a hard time denying their history and attraction for one another. Just as they’re about to give into the chemistry they have, things get even more complicated when they learn they are running against one another to be the new Mayor of their town...

This was a charming best friend-turned-enemy romance. I really enjoyed all the history between Eli & Emma, they’ve known one another since kindergarten and all their complicated history just adds to their chemistry. You definitely see how complex Emma’s feelings are about Eli, on one-hand she is so attracted to him and then at the same time she is wrestling with her feelings of betrayal from him all those years ago. I loved the dual POV, the steam in this, and all the side characters introduced. If you enjoy small town romance and friends turned enemies to lovers then definitely check this one out.

Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC. All thoughts in this review are my own. Make Me Love You comes out June 29, 2021.

[Sonya Wasden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Andrews and Eli Carter had been best friends since kindergarten. Then Emma told Eli a secret and he betrayed her so for eight years she has despised him. When they are forced to work together for the good of their small town, Emma finally realizes that Eli isn't the bad guy. He is a good man and he would do anything to protect her. Was it worth the risk to involve her heart? Would they regret their decision to put an expiration date on it?

This was a fun, sweet story but had some language and graphic details that I don't particularly enjoy and didn't really enhance the story, in my opinion. I did like the basics of the story and the character development, though.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

[Charlotte Griggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's quite miraculous Emma and Eli didn't see each other for eight years in the tiniest of towns and then bam seeing each other everyday. The idea was great however, it was not well executed. I always hate having to say that because I could never write a book myself.

I also hate the "we were only best friends nothing more in high school" and then in adulthood they're like "well, I guess it was actually love".

Eli went on to say how he dreamed of just pulling the strings on Emma's bikini top because he "loved her then" and Emma ate that up like it was the most romantic thing.

Unfortunately, this just was not the book for me.

[Deborah Cleaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love you but I hate you 3 times a day seems to be a theme in this novel. Unfortunately I’ve known people like this in real life and they are exhausting in a soul crushing way. Despite the author’s heroic attempts to normalize these extreme swings of emotion, I felt that same exhaustion just reading about it. Makeup sex may be good, but it’s much better to have nothing to make up. I found the plot lacking for these reasons but the book does end on a promising note for more stability in the relationship going forward.

[Mark taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Make me Love you is a small town romance by Elizabeth Bright and the first book in their Hart’s Ridge series.

It tells the story of two individuals who have been pressed into becoming mayot and deputy mayor of the failing small town of Hearts Ridge,

Make me Love you is an enjoyable romance to read which for me has to correct the amount of angst, as this is an enemy to lovers' romance. Yes it is a contemporary romance in a small town where they are not trying to kill each other.

The enemy to lovers comes from the fact that after the main female protagonist Emma’s mother had died from cancer her father started a meth lab for a local drug dealer.

So when Emma found out she told her best friend Eli who just happened to be a cop, who then went and arrested her father who now has been in jail for about 8 years about the time that Emma has not spoken to Elie.

For a contemporary romance romance Make Me Love you did almost fell like a proper enemies to lovers plot line but what the writer Elizabet Bright did really well was build up the tension between Emma and Elie.

This was done through both of the two main characters having their own narrative divided by chapters this really allows readers to get into the mind of the individuals as they realise the sexual tension between them both.

With the culmination of the sexual tension happening in a way that made this tension part of the story, yes in a romance you know the two are going to get together but this was delayed enough that it was never a certainty that it would happen nor was it in the first 10% of a book.

So for anyone looking for a small town romance which makes no use of insta action even which some enemies to lovers’ romance does then Make Me Love You by Elizabeth Bright is worh reading.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went back and forth on my rating for MAKE ME LOVE YOU because while I found the writing incredibly strong, the plot just wasn't for me. Emma and Eli's history as best friends who have a falling out (mostly on Emma's side) after Eli arrests Emma's dad and then their lack of any interactions for 8 years was just not my favorite dynamic to read about. These characters were extra messy with a complicated history but I did appreciate the personal growth they go through during the book, especially Emma gaining some new self-awareness.

However, I do wish Emma had taken more personal responsibility for how their history played out and recognized how much Eli loved, cared for, and sacrificed for her. Emma was a bit of a selfish FMC and that was really highlighted when they talked about their past..

All of that being said, Elizabeth Bright does have a fantastic writing voice and this was super easy to read. So even though the plot wasn't for me I still managed to read this in a day because there was enough there to keep me engaged. I also thought the side characters were a lot of fun, especially Suzie, and they felt just as three-dimensional as the main characters.

Content Warning: past death of a parent from cancer; past child abandonment and alcoholic parent

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:

"Emma is always a little angry. That's part of her charm."

[Shaunie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the story and the growth between the two MCs. However I found the first sentence kinda hard to read in the way it was worded which had me setting the book down for a week. I gave it another chance and I'm glad I did but there's a few things I would've changed.

I found after Emma speaks to the historical lady about the lamp posts that I thought that was going to be the conflict but everything after that was kind of solved in the background. I wish we would've seen Eli helping her get the in ready and the problems that come up. I wish Emma would've had more interaction with the social media girl. I would've loved a sc ne with the OG friends + Kate like when they were kids. The girls shouldve had a proper girls night too. No boys, no drama.

I definitely thought the man with the gun who Emma's dad was clearly cooking meth for would've been the bad guy but he never made an appearance.

I would've liked to see Emma's dad getting out of jail and possibly making meeting with the family of the boy that died.

I really liked the bones, and how the two grew up, and the forgiveness I just found their was a lack of conflict and suspense. The spice was okay, but it felt more hallmark-ish even though it was graphic. I like that it didn't run the story though.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading Elizabeth Bright, wanted to read the 3rd Hart's Ridge & didn't realize it was a series. But I'm glad! I liked Emma and Eli, friends to enemies to lovers to forever!
I like a heroine who is flawed, but can overcome her own preconceived bias.
Eli was sweet to give Emma everything she thought she wanted and I'm glad that together they were able to work for the town and themselves. Loved the friendships here as well, everyone worked together to get these knuckleheads together.

[Hannah Winning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet read! I loved the fact the main characters were late twenties rather than late teen / early twenties. Not overly spicy, but I enjoyed the story so much I didn’t mind about that. It was a quick read, and I do wish there was a bit more about the planning of the July 4th party. Definitely interested in reading the other books about Hart’s Ridge.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma and Eli

I'm not really a fan of enemies to lovers and this is a sad story to begin with as we find out how former best friends become estranged. I felt very sorry for Eli as Emma certainly can hold a grudge until she examines her own actions. This book has good small town feels and sets up the rest of the series well.

[Piper Brintnall · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
Hmmm. Emma and Eli. I’m not a super fan of enemies to lovers trope since it’s never really about enemies and more about love disguised as hate. And while Emma’s “hate” feels justified, it’s not. And shame on her friends for never calling her out on this misguided hate. Also, therapy for everyone. Emma for her family trauma and Eli for his.

I don’t know that I’m excited for the next book.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved This Enemies To Lovers Romance!

I really enjoyed reading this romance. I loved the plot, the banter and the chemistry! It had everything I look for in a good romance. I haven’t read any other books by this author but I plan on reading more by her after reading this one.

[Chelle Langford · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. Fun easy read. Nothing super special.

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

So stinking cute ♥️

[Stephanie Reaume · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. It was for sure cozy small town feels. I wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt though. What does the future hold?!

[Nicole McPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've left it a few days to write a review. I remember enjoying it but couldn't tell you what it was a out...

[Farisa]

DNF middle of ch 4, pg 40 (12% into the book). The book simply isn't holding my attention.

[Jenni Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Elizabeth Bright. The banter, the chemistry, the growth… all things that were written perfectly. Can’t wait to dive into the next book.

[Luv2TrvlLuvBks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enemies to Lovers trope.

Picked this up after reading the author’s Lodestar series. Writing has definitely improved by the latter. This felt more surface level hate. One sided and misplaced.

[Claire Hercher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite from this whole series. I just loved the enemies to lovers tension - angsty angsty goodness. Small-town feels. Loved it.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of a tough one to rate. The things that I liked about it, I LOVED. But the things I had trouble with were kind of the biggest drivers of the story. 😬

So first of all—let me tell you—the banter, tension, and chemistry between Eli and Emma is off the charts. I LOVED how they were together. I loved that Eli pushes Emma to get her to admit what she wants or how she feels and how gone for her he’s been since, well, forever.

It’s fun to see Emma come into her own throughout the story, and I feel like you can really feel the history between Emma and Eli—and how easily they fall back into each other’s lives. Both have trauma and individual hurts they have to overcome before they can truly claim the other, and that growth was showcased so well too. Honestly, the romance was fantastic.

But.

*We find out what I’m going to share early in the story, but if you want no spoilers, don’t read ahead!*

So Emma hasn’t talked to her childhood best friend Eli for 8 years after the night he arrests her father FOR COOKING METH. Which SHE told him about, KNOWING he was a police officer. And yes, Emma slowly comes to understand her role in the situation and forgive him (it’s a romance folks) but she acts like her father was arrested for jaywalking, not COOKING FUCKING METH. This made it very hard for me to like Emma, and any time they talked about the system not being right for a middle-aged white man to be sentenced to 8 years for cooking meth I’m like…how?? The SYSTEM isn’t fair for 15 year old Black kids who get sentenced as adults for something as simple as stealing a backpack.

Also, Eli is in law enforcement. Elizabeth Bright did include a bit about the town dissolving the police force to build a free health clinic, which, yay. But Eli is still a deputy sheriff and it’s just kind of…meh. Because obvious reasons. However YMMV.

Disclaimer: I received Make Me Love You from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author, and won't be my last. I really enjoyed reading this book. I felt it was a bit of a slow start, but once I really started knowing the characters, I got into the book. The dialogue was really well done, it was snappy and well thought out. The lead characters Eli and Emma were well written characters and they were fun together. I like to have a bit of angst in my contemporary romances and that was definitely in this story.

This is a second chance at love story as Emma and Eli had hurt each other in the past. The growth they experience along their way to finding each other again was beautiful. The story was well developed. The small town of Hart's Ridge was almost a character itself. The descriptions of the town, made you feel like you knew it. This is definitely a quirky small town romance.

I felt there were a few missed opportunities to move the story along with the secondary characters. One scene was in Luke's bar with Luke and his brother Ethan seeing Emma for the first time in a long time. It was mentioned that Ethan resented Emma, and that was the last I heard of this. There were some throw-away statements that felt like they should of went somewhere and didn't. I guess what I'm saying is I felt there were some loose threads and I was waiting for them to be addressed or resolved and they were not.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[who · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every single moment of this book!! I cannot stop gushing! It gave me happy butterflies all throughout.

I love the small town vibe that makes everything feel slow and steady, even with all the issues our protagonists face. It felt like such a light read yet it wasn't. This book touched on serious topics without overpowering the friendships and romance. It felt real and raw yet still managed to be hopeful too.

There were so many moments of realization and growth that made me feel so darn proud of both Emma and Eli. I loved that they eventually reached a point where they got over their stubbornness and grudges, and grew together, and became better people not only for each other but for themselves.

With that said, it was too darn short! Don't get me wrong, I think the pacing of the book was great, it didn't drag at all. And I love how balanced the dual POV was, BUT I wanted more! I needed an epilogue of these two living out their happily ever after. Ugh I'd die for a second book to revisit these two!!