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Juniper Springs #2
Crazy Love
USA Today author Melissa Schroeder invites you back to the world of Juniper Springs, and the one man who lives life on his own terms, CARTER HAWTHORNE.
I’ve always been the brother who everyone calls the flirt. The one who isn’t too serious, the one who is a little…different.
And I don’t mind that title. In fact, I use my ability to think outside of the box to help my family in their business.
I’m also known as the player, although, I haven’t…suited up in a while. So maybe that’s why I’ve become completely infatuated with my old childhood friend Piper Abernathy.
Just saying her name makes me itch beneath my skin. I want to know what she’s thinking, how she spends her days, and I fantasize what her hair smells like.
Weird, right?
And her lips…they are intoxicating. One taste will never be enough, and while I can talk her into my bed, she resists me beyond that.
She says we make each other bonkers, and she doesn’t believe in happily ever after.
For a woman who plans out ever minute of her day, she never counted on me, and I aim to prove to her there’s nothing wrong with crazy as long as you’re together.
Author Note: If you’ve met Carter, you know just how insane he is. But, he is in Juniper, wooing his old childhood friend, irritating his brother, making friends with the LOLs, and becoming at one with the Juniper Springs culture. And if you think he’s crazy with his family, just wait until you see the things he does to his lady love.
I’ve always been the brother who everyone calls the flirt. The one who isn’t too serious, the one who is a little…different.
And I don’t mind that title. In fact, I use my ability to think outside of the box to help my family in their business.
I’m also known as the player, although, I haven’t…suited up in a while. So maybe that’s why I’ve become completely infatuated with my old childhood friend Piper Abernathy.
Just saying her name makes me itch beneath my skin. I want to know what she’s thinking, how she spends her days, and I fantasize what her hair smells like.
Weird, right?
And her lips…they are intoxicating. One taste will never be enough, and while I can talk her into my bed, she resists me beyond that.
She says we make each other bonkers, and she doesn’t believe in happily ever after.
For a woman who plans out ever minute of her day, she never counted on me, and I aim to prove to her there’s nothing wrong with crazy as long as you’re together.
Author Note: If you’ve met Carter, you know just how insane he is. But, he is in Juniper, wooing his old childhood friend, irritating his brother, making friends with the LOLs, and becoming at one with the Juniper Springs culture. And if you think he’s crazy with his family, just wait until you see the things he does to his lady love.
250 pages, ebook
Published December 27, 2021
26 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Schroeder
212 books1,660 followersUSA Today bestselling author Melissa Schroeder has had almost 90 short stories, novellas, and novels published in the last 15 years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
February 20, 2022
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
This had so much potential that in all honesty I don’t know how to review. It has former childhood besties, fake dating, little old matchmaking ladies, an asshole cat, 2 gay birds, and a partridge in a pear tree. LOL
So before I dissect it for you, let’s get the backstory out of the way first…
This is apparently part of a series but I only read this one and it’s safe to say that you can read it as a standalone.
Carter, our Hero & Piper, our heroine, met when they were 9 and became besties until age 13 when Carter suddenly develops teen hormones for his BFF and gets scared of his feelings so decides to diss her and pursue other girls. (Grrr)😖 . Of course, that betrayal of losing her BFF and crush, devastates Piper since she is also caught in the drama of her parents and their divorce. As an only child, her parents put a lot of pressure on her and sent her away to Boarding School. She does come home now & then but avoids Carter because he is always with a girl and doesn’t see her as a romantic interest. Plus he dropped her as a friend and she doesn’t want to get hurt again.
It’s now 20 years later and both our MCs are in their 30’s. Our Hero is a former Man-slut (more on that later) who hangs out with little old ladies, crochets blankets for his baby niece, buys said niece Superwoman baby dresses, runs his family’s Clubs all around the world and is a Billionaire.
He also has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and is handsome AF, quirky, funny and an all-around adorable dork and the life of the party! His internal POVs are funny folks!
Heroine on the other hand is an OB/GYN doctor who left NY to come home and practice. She is serious and the opposite of Carter in every way.
It’s an entertaining story in the most part filled with humor (love Hero scenes with the LOLs – aka old ladies) and his ovary inducing scenes with his baby niece! BUT, and there is a BUT here, while there was a lot that I liked, there were also equally as much that I did not. Why? Because Manhos & long separations don’t work for me – at all! And 20 years is a bit much!
First, we are CONSTANTLY throughout the whole darn story told that he has slept with “A LOT” of women in his adult life.
“I slept with a lot of women”, “I love all type of women, race, age, size”, “I had a lot of women in my bed”, “I love sex. I love to f**k”, “I know. The rumors are all true. I’ve had a lot of women” and so on. Okay, we get it. He was a whore. Not something anyone – man or woman – should brag about IMO but to each their own.
In my eyes however, that tells me heroine was never anything special to him and he has STDs & baby mommas all over the place.…🤷
Then there is the author doing a lot of telling and not enough showing. For instance, after 20 years and many months of heroine coming back into the picture, why is he all of a sudden in love with her? HOW is he in love with her? He knew her as a pre-teen and it’s been 20 years so suffice to say, you DON'T know her and you CAN'T love someone you don’t know! Lust my friends is not love and though they had a few interactions here & there and some sex scenes, does not a couple make. And while we are at it, she had been back for a year or two and he said he was celibate for 6 months. Sooooo…. The “love of your life” is back and you don’t go and talk to her and you are still sleeping with OP? Uhmm…No. Just NO!
What also didn’t ring true either is the fact that Hero states that heroine knows him better than anyone and accepts him for who he is. Yet, I can think of 2 OW (Hero’s sister-in-law and her best friend) who he said the same thing about! In fact, he had more chemistry with those two then he had with heroine because all his POVs about how heroine was his “it” didn’t show me WHY she was!
And speaking about chemistry, may I also add that I hate when a writer has Hero state how the heroine is not his type or describes her as too this or too that and lacks this or that by comparing her to his previous conquests. All it does is tell me that he is horny – not in love.
Because Hero is written as sort of a quirky/funny character, he comes across sometimes as immature. But heroine then seems to be his polar opposite and not in a good way. Her character was not delved into too much and came across as too bland, needy and not confident. .
This is a quote from Hero about the OW who is heroine & his sister-in-law’s friend:
I open my mouth, but she cocks her head to the side. Since the moment I met her, I have had this connection. It’s not romantic at all. It’s like we get each other. We both deal with people having preconceived notions about our personalities.
So as much as I was entertained with Hero’s antics and personality, along with all the brothers’ texts, it was just an okay read. One that I have already forgotten…
Safety:
Safe. No cheating. No OW/OM drama. No sex scenes with OP.
Yes, there are mentions of him being a man-slut in the past but he said he was celibate for 6 months prior to reuniting with heroine. I don’t know if I would call it cheating since heroine has been in town for over a year or two and he knew it before he got the guts to be back in her life, so that means he was still fooling around with others.
Heroine said she also had many lovers, so no virgin here.
HEA
I want to tell them everything. Sadly, I find comfort with these women. They never judge me, and they never say things about my attention span. But I can’t tell them the truth. I can’t say that every time I think of Josh asking Piper out, my brain starts plotting his murder. It would be a stupid endeavor mainly because he’s trained to hoot a gun, and I am not. I wouldn’t even know how to load a gun and don’t want to know.
--------------
“So, the gala? You want to go together?”
“No.”
“That was fast,” he says, sucking on his straw. “I think it might be a good idea.”
“It’s a stupid idea.”
“Why?”
“People will think we’re together.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Because we both know your type, and it isn’t a woman like me.”
“That’s silly.”
“No, it isn’t. The press likes to follow you around. Plus, you have a reputation. I would rather not put myself through that.”
He continues sucking on his shake as he studies me. “You know lobster’s pee out of their noses.”
I blink at the abrupt change of subject.
“Really?”
He nods with his straw in his mouth. “Slugs have four noses.”
I smile. “I remember that one.”
-----------------------
It doesn’t help that she’s wearing a curve-hugging dress. She doesn’t have a lot of curves, built more like a supermodel than she would like to admit. Well, except that ass. That ass is a masterpiece. I can imagine slipping my hand down her spine, then cupping it with both hands.
I shift my weight from one foot to another, trying to ease the tightness of my pants. I feel most people would frown at me for reaching down and adjusting my dick.
“Quit fidgeting,” my mother says beside me.
Well, that helps with the half chub I have going on.
--------------------
“Yeah, well, when I try to explain it to my parents, they make me feel….” I blow out a breath, searching for the exact word. “Small. I know they expected more of me.”
“Fuck that. Their main concern should be you being happy. If you want to open a nudist community and grow your own vegetables, they should be on board as long as you are healthy and happy. And by the way, I would expect an honorary membership in that community.”
-----------------
Before I can respond, quacking on my doorstep has me grabbing the bag of breadcrumbs. Bert and Ernie are there, our resident gay duo. “Here you go, you filthy bastards.”
---------------------
“Are you not going to put a shirt on?”
I blink, then it hits me. She keeps averting her eyes because she’s attracted to me. Of course, she is. I mean, I am a Hawthorne, and we are damned attractive. But I never thought about her being so attracted to me that she had to shun my naked body.
“No.”
She huffs then goes to sit down. I follow, enjoying the way her jeans hug her ass. Man, I want to slide my hand over it…and spank it.
----------------------
She hangs up and comes back to the table. “So, I guess you know I’m okay with pretending this is going on.”
“You won’t regret it.”
The look on her face tells me she’s already regretting it, but I will fix that soon enough. Inwardly, I rub my hands together. I’m going to romance the shit out of her and do it just like the romance books all do it. I will succeed, or my name isn’t Carter Phineas Hawthorne.
------------------
“I’ve known you for over two decades, Piper.”
“No, you haven’t. You barely know me. It’s been years since we spent time together. The moment you gained a female following, you dumped me. We’ve been apart more than we’ve been together.”
-----------------------
“I want to get this out there right now. I freaked out.”
“What?”
“When you hugged me, and you were crying. I…okay, it gave me a boner. I was thirteen, and I felt guilty.”
She frowns. “You mean you pushed me away because you were attracted to me?”
“Yes.” I say it emphatically no matter how embarrassing it is.
“Carter, you don’t have to lie to me.”
“I’m not. You were my best friend, and I was having issues keeping you out of my mind. I don’t want to tell you how many dreams I’ve had about you, but that was okay because I can’t control my dreams. But to have it happen with you in the room, I felt dirty, so I panicked. I couldn’t lose you because of that, but I was a stupid boy.”
“You were not.”
“I was about those things. I pushed you away because I thought there was something wrong with me. But you were always there in my mind.”
“Really? Even when you were dating models?”
“Yeah. And I can prove it. No matter where I went, I was thinking of you. I didn’t even realize it, but when you came back into my life, I started discovering just what I had been doing for close to two decades.”
“And you are so important to my happiness. That moment we met, when I made you smile, it was like I owned the world. Without understanding what was happening, I found my other half. When I’m with you, all the noise settles down in my head.”
“Is that it? I keep you on the straight and narrow, so I should stay with you?”
“I love you, Piper Abernathy. Even when I didn’t know it, I loved you. No matter where I went, you were there. Your handprints are on my soul, Piper. You are my person, and I will wait until you are ready to accept that. I know you did this all for show—”
“No, I didn’t.” She sighs. “I had a big crush on you when we were younger. When I saw you again, I started to fall for you all over again.”
My heart is in my throat, my head spinning. “Yeah?”
She nods. “If I keep you on the straight and narrow, you keep me from being too serious. I missed that.”
“I am the king of not being serious.”
This had so much potential that in all honesty I don’t know how to review. It has former childhood besties, fake dating, little old matchmaking ladies, an asshole cat, 2 gay birds, and a partridge in a pear tree. LOL
So before I dissect it for you, let’s get the backstory out of the way first…
This is apparently part of a series but I only read this one and it’s safe to say that you can read it as a standalone.
Carter, our Hero & Piper, our heroine, met when they were 9 and became besties until age 13 when Carter suddenly develops teen hormones for his BFF and gets scared of his feelings so decides to diss her and pursue other girls. (Grrr)😖 . Of course, that betrayal of losing her BFF and crush, devastates Piper since she is also caught in the drama of her parents and their divorce. As an only child, her parents put a lot of pressure on her and sent her away to Boarding School. She does come home now & then but avoids Carter because he is always with a girl and doesn’t see her as a romantic interest. Plus he dropped her as a friend and she doesn’t want to get hurt again.
It’s now 20 years later and both our MCs are in their 30’s. Our Hero is a former Man-slut (more on that later) who hangs out with little old ladies, crochets blankets for his baby niece, buys said niece Superwoman baby dresses, runs his family’s Clubs all around the world and is a Billionaire.
He also has ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and is handsome AF, quirky, funny and an all-around adorable dork and the life of the party! His internal POVs are funny folks!
Heroine on the other hand is an OB/GYN doctor who left NY to come home and practice. She is serious and the opposite of Carter in every way.
It’s an entertaining story in the most part filled with humor (love Hero scenes with the LOLs – aka old ladies) and his ovary inducing scenes with his baby niece! BUT, and there is a BUT here, while there was a lot that I liked, there were also equally as much that I did not. Why? Because Manhos & long separations don’t work for me – at all! And 20 years is a bit much!
First, we are CONSTANTLY throughout the whole darn story told that he has slept with “A LOT” of women in his adult life.
“I slept with a lot of women”, “I love all type of women, race, age, size”, “I had a lot of women in my bed”, “I love sex. I love to f**k”, “I know. The rumors are all true. I’ve had a lot of women” and so on. Okay, we get it. He was a whore. Not something anyone – man or woman – should brag about IMO but to each their own.
In my eyes however, that tells me heroine was never anything special to him and he has STDs & baby mommas all over the place.…🤷
Then there is the author doing a lot of telling and not enough showing. For instance, after 20 years and many months of heroine coming back into the picture, why is he all of a sudden in love with her? HOW is he in love with her? He knew her as a pre-teen and it’s been 20 years so suffice to say, you DON'T know her and you CAN'T love someone you don’t know! Lust my friends is not love and though they had a few interactions here & there and some sex scenes, does not a couple make. And while we are at it, she had been back for a year or two and he said he was celibate for 6 months. Sooooo…. The “love of your life” is back and you don’t go and talk to her and you are still sleeping with OP? Uhmm…No. Just NO!
What also didn’t ring true either is the fact that Hero states that heroine knows him better than anyone and accepts him for who he is. Yet, I can think of 2 OW (Hero’s sister-in-law and her best friend) who he said the same thing about! In fact, he had more chemistry with those two then he had with heroine because all his POVs about how heroine was his “it” didn’t show me WHY she was!
And speaking about chemistry, may I also add that I hate when a writer has Hero state how the heroine is not his type or describes her as too this or too that and lacks this or that by comparing her to his previous conquests. All it does is tell me that he is horny – not in love.
Because Hero is written as sort of a quirky/funny character, he comes across sometimes as immature. But heroine then seems to be his polar opposite and not in a good way. Her character was not delved into too much and came across as too bland, needy and not confident. .
This is a quote from Hero about the OW who is heroine & his sister-in-law’s friend:
I open my mouth, but she cocks her head to the side. Since the moment I met her, I have had this connection. It’s not romantic at all. It’s like we get each other. We both deal with people having preconceived notions about our personalities.
So as much as I was entertained with Hero’s antics and personality, along with all the brothers’ texts, it was just an okay read. One that I have already forgotten…
Safety:
Safe. No cheating. No OW/OM drama. No sex scenes with OP.
Yes, there are mentions of him being a man-slut in the past but he said he was celibate for 6 months prior to reuniting with heroine. I don’t know if I would call it cheating since heroine has been in town for over a year or two and he knew it before he got the guts to be back in her life, so that means he was still fooling around with others.
Heroine said she also had many lovers, so no virgin here.
HEA
I want to tell them everything. Sadly, I find comfort with these women. They never judge me, and they never say things about my attention span. But I can’t tell them the truth. I can’t say that every time I think of Josh asking Piper out, my brain starts plotting his murder. It would be a stupid endeavor mainly because he’s trained to hoot a gun, and I am not. I wouldn’t even know how to load a gun and don’t want to know.
--------------
“So, the gala? You want to go together?”
“No.”
“That was fast,” he says, sucking on his straw. “I think it might be a good idea.”
“It’s a stupid idea.”
“Why?”
“People will think we’re together.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Because we both know your type, and it isn’t a woman like me.”
“That’s silly.”
“No, it isn’t. The press likes to follow you around. Plus, you have a reputation. I would rather not put myself through that.”
He continues sucking on his shake as he studies me. “You know lobster’s pee out of their noses.”
I blink at the abrupt change of subject.
“Really?”
He nods with his straw in his mouth. “Slugs have four noses.”
I smile. “I remember that one.”
-----------------------
It doesn’t help that she’s wearing a curve-hugging dress. She doesn’t have a lot of curves, built more like a supermodel than she would like to admit. Well, except that ass. That ass is a masterpiece. I can imagine slipping my hand down her spine, then cupping it with both hands.
I shift my weight from one foot to another, trying to ease the tightness of my pants. I feel most people would frown at me for reaching down and adjusting my dick.
“Quit fidgeting,” my mother says beside me.
Well, that helps with the half chub I have going on.
--------------------
“Yeah, well, when I try to explain it to my parents, they make me feel….” I blow out a breath, searching for the exact word. “Small. I know they expected more of me.”
“Fuck that. Their main concern should be you being happy. If you want to open a nudist community and grow your own vegetables, they should be on board as long as you are healthy and happy. And by the way, I would expect an honorary membership in that community.”
-----------------
Before I can respond, quacking on my doorstep has me grabbing the bag of breadcrumbs. Bert and Ernie are there, our resident gay duo. “Here you go, you filthy bastards.”
---------------------
“Are you not going to put a shirt on?”
I blink, then it hits me. She keeps averting her eyes because she’s attracted to me. Of course, she is. I mean, I am a Hawthorne, and we are damned attractive. But I never thought about her being so attracted to me that she had to shun my naked body.
“No.”
She huffs then goes to sit down. I follow, enjoying the way her jeans hug her ass. Man, I want to slide my hand over it…and spank it.
----------------------
She hangs up and comes back to the table. “So, I guess you know I’m okay with pretending this is going on.”
“You won’t regret it.”
The look on her face tells me she’s already regretting it, but I will fix that soon enough. Inwardly, I rub my hands together. I’m going to romance the shit out of her and do it just like the romance books all do it. I will succeed, or my name isn’t Carter Phineas Hawthorne.
------------------
“I’ve known you for over two decades, Piper.”
“No, you haven’t. You barely know me. It’s been years since we spent time together. The moment you gained a female following, you dumped me. We’ve been apart more than we’ve been together.”
-----------------------
“I want to get this out there right now. I freaked out.”
“What?”
“When you hugged me, and you were crying. I…okay, it gave me a boner. I was thirteen, and I felt guilty.”
She frowns. “You mean you pushed me away because you were attracted to me?”
“Yes.” I say it emphatically no matter how embarrassing it is.
“Carter, you don’t have to lie to me.”
“I’m not. You were my best friend, and I was having issues keeping you out of my mind. I don’t want to tell you how many dreams I’ve had about you, but that was okay because I can’t control my dreams. But to have it happen with you in the room, I felt dirty, so I panicked. I couldn’t lose you because of that, but I was a stupid boy.”
“You were not.”
“I was about those things. I pushed you away because I thought there was something wrong with me. But you were always there in my mind.”
“Really? Even when you were dating models?”
“Yeah. And I can prove it. No matter where I went, I was thinking of you. I didn’t even realize it, but when you came back into my life, I started discovering just what I had been doing for close to two decades.”
“And you are so important to my happiness. That moment we met, when I made you smile, it was like I owned the world. Without understanding what was happening, I found my other half. When I’m with you, all the noise settles down in my head.”
“Is that it? I keep you on the straight and narrow, so I should stay with you?”
“I love you, Piper Abernathy. Even when I didn’t know it, I loved you. No matter where I went, you were there. Your handprints are on my soul, Piper. You are my person, and I will wait until you are ready to accept that. I know you did this all for show—”
“No, I didn’t.” She sighs. “I had a big crush on you when we were younger. When I saw you again, I started to fall for you all over again.”
My heart is in my throat, my head spinning. “Yeah?”
She nods. “If I keep you on the straight and narrow, you keep me from being too serious. I missed that.”
“I am the king of not being serious.”
April 16, 2022
***3.5 Stars *** A decent book but forgettable
This is the second book in the Juniper Springs Series and is the story of Carter and Piper. I will preface by saying I haven’t read the first book, and maybe that impacted my enjoyment of this one. I liked it but it isn’t a book that I will remember much or think about again.
This was a well written book and I liked Carter. I enjoyed reading the book though I felt that for someone who knew Piper, Carter was acting in ways that he knew could cause misunderstandings. It was as if the author showed us that Carter really understood Piper but then had him act idiotically to extend the angst. I just didn’t understand why he didn’t talk to Piper about his feelings. Pipers visit to her mother also seemed too pat. Her parents have been rude and mean to her but suddenly she is okay with them and okay with everything? It seemed a little too much of ‘believe what we say not what we do.’ It just didn’t sit right with me. Overall, though I think the objections I had are just about me. I think most people will really enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the second book in the Juniper Springs Series and is the story of Carter and Piper. I will preface by saying I haven’t read the first book, and maybe that impacted my enjoyment of this one. I liked it but it isn’t a book that I will remember much or think about again.
This was a well written book and I liked Carter. I enjoyed reading the book though I felt that for someone who knew Piper, Carter was acting in ways that he knew could cause misunderstandings. It was as if the author showed us that Carter really understood Piper but then had him act idiotically to extend the angst. I just didn’t understand why he didn’t talk to Piper about his feelings. Pipers visit to her mother also seemed too pat. Her parents have been rude and mean to her but suddenly she is okay with them and okay with everything? It seemed a little too much of ‘believe what we say not what we do.’ It just didn’t sit right with me. Overall, though I think the objections I had are just about me. I think most people will really enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 4, 2022
Piper is a doctor who has recently moved from NY to Juniper Springs needing a different lifestyle. She plans to keep her distance from Carter, her childhood best friend who wasn’t there when she needed him the most, but an interfering family and a determined man are making that more difficult than she thought.
Carter regrets what happened between he and Piper when they were teenagers as he was unable to handle the feelings he was having for her. He is well aware of his charm when it comes to women however even though they have been apart for two decades he realizes that she was his first and only love and wants a second chance.
Although Piper and Carter must overcome some turmoil from the past and in present Carter is persistent and isn’t about to lose Piper a second time.
Carter regrets what happened between he and Piper when they were teenagers as he was unable to handle the feelings he was having for her. He is well aware of his charm when it comes to women however even though they have been apart for two decades he realizes that she was his first and only love and wants a second chance.
Although Piper and Carter must overcome some turmoil from the past and in present Carter is persistent and isn’t about to lose Piper a second time.
February 25, 2022
As the youngest Carter was seen as disruptive, with his ADHD nothing kept his attention for long. Open with his feelings, views and perception of the world many see him as a goof but there is so much more to him. When Piper moves back she settles in Juniper Springs to start fresh, until she finds out her childhood best friend, secret crush, and the boy who broke her heart, yes all the same man, has connections in the small town and life isn't going to be as quiet as she thought. This small town just keeps growing with all the great people and new romance. I love it and can't wait for more.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 27, 2022
I really liked that Piper and Carter had a history of friendship when they were kids. Sure it went wrong because kids are stupid, but it was still there, making both of them yearn for that connection they had. I liked that Carter took advantage of the situation to talk (and he didn't have to try hard) Piper into a fake relationship. And we all know how those go! Sure things got a bit messed up again, but Carter redeemed himself in a way that Piper knew she was always on his mind, even if she was there in person. I loved how this one ended for them, their little secret.
February 24, 2022
Completely romantic
4.5
I was undecided because the story shines with its romantic side throughout and although it could have been negative, here it works well because the characters of Phin/Carter and Piper, are both moving and funny.
I had a great time reading this story in this small provincial town where everyone knows everything about everyone.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
4.5
I was undecided because the story shines with its romantic side throughout and although it could have been negative, here it works well because the characters of Phin/Carter and Piper, are both moving and funny.
I had a great time reading this story in this small provincial town where everyone knows everything about everyone.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
March 28, 2022
This is a friends-to-lovers romance story with a separation period of 20 years that takes place in Texas.
I liked the story just wish that there weren't some inconsistencies as her repairing her relationship with her parents and how he expressed many times she wasn't her type. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the story just wish that there weren't some inconsistencies as her repairing her relationship with her parents and how he expressed many times she wasn't her type. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2022
This read as a wannabe Emma Chase male POV story… we only need to hear 1 time that a character has slept with a lot of people to understand what that means. I knew when i finally reached the “spice” in this story, and wasnt rooting for it, that this story was a 1/5 stars. Skilled to the last chapter after that, and could easily fill in all the gaps.
February 23, 2022
First, this was a really good love story. Second, I was waiting for Carter's book and I wasn't disappointed. Third, I recommend this story (and the whole series really). Now that I have that out of the way....
Piper is new to town but not new to Texas or the area. She moved from New York to start a medical practice in Juniper Springs but she had no idea that her former best friend, Carter, would be a thorn in her side. Carter wants his best friend back and maybe a little more than being friends. They've been apart for almost 20 years so is there any chance they could find their way back to each other?
Piper is a little uptight and slightly damaged from her childhood. I really like her. She had really good reasons for leaving New York and returning to Texas. Carter is a little hyper and unfocused but he makes it work for himself. He embraces his natural personality and doesn't mind (anymore) that people might think he's a little strange (honestly, he knits with the Little Old Ladies group in town). When they decide to pretend to be dating to get Piper's parents off her back, they have no way of knowing that they both want it to be real. Their journey back into friendship and then admitting they love each other is really lovely. Bonus: Carter's level of weird is actually pretty cool. He has embraced his ADHD and he uses it in his daily life. I really enjoyed the interplay between all of the family members and friends.
My one issue was that there are now so many people and related people that sometimes it was hard to keep everyone straight at times. Some people might not like how Piper "straightens out" the situation with her parents. I thought it was the weakest part of her story.
This is a contemporary romance that takes place in Texas. I think you really need to read the prior books in the series because there are so many characters in this book from the rest of the series (oh, and, you'll get more Carter). Oooo....Mason gets his story next. I can't wait!
Piper is new to town but not new to Texas or the area. She moved from New York to start a medical practice in Juniper Springs but she had no idea that her former best friend, Carter, would be a thorn in her side. Carter wants his best friend back and maybe a little more than being friends. They've been apart for almost 20 years so is there any chance they could find their way back to each other?
Piper is a little uptight and slightly damaged from her childhood. I really like her. She had really good reasons for leaving New York and returning to Texas. Carter is a little hyper and unfocused but he makes it work for himself. He embraces his natural personality and doesn't mind (anymore) that people might think he's a little strange (honestly, he knits with the Little Old Ladies group in town). When they decide to pretend to be dating to get Piper's parents off her back, they have no way of knowing that they both want it to be real. Their journey back into friendship and then admitting they love each other is really lovely. Bonus: Carter's level of weird is actually pretty cool. He has embraced his ADHD and he uses it in his daily life. I really enjoyed the interplay between all of the family members and friends.
My one issue was that there are now so many people and related people that sometimes it was hard to keep everyone straight at times. Some people might not like how Piper "straightens out" the situation with her parents. I thought it was the weakest part of her story.
This is a contemporary romance that takes place in Texas. I think you really need to read the prior books in the series because there are so many characters in this book from the rest of the series (oh, and, you'll get more Carter). Oooo....Mason gets his story next. I can't wait!
March 2, 2022
Charming angsty ex-friends-to-lovers romance. 5*
The story of Piper, the local doctor and Carter, aka Phin, one-time childhood best friends have suffered emotional traumas coping with ADHD, while Piper witnessed her parent’s marriage disintegrating, leaving deep scars behind. As a result, she is unable to form lasting relationships but being left by Phin all those years ago is what hurt her the most. Phin sees his chance to rekindle their close bond with Piper when she moves back to Juniper Springs. The story that leads them from an emotionally dark place to their eventual happy ending, is a very well-written novel with well-developed and described characters, scene-appropriate dialogues and soliloquies, enabling the reader to understand and feel their fears and state of mind. I couldn’t help but root for them to overcome the limitations, they have both set in their minds and find their happy ending. The novel had managed to convey true emotions and the love they both had for the other. The penmanship and editorial competence had resulted in a very worthwhile novel about two people who are not only victims of circumstances, but of their own failures to communicate. The storyline is charming, easy-to-read, and enjoyable with enough steam to burn a hole in the pages. I am very happy to recommend this book to all those who love a steamy angsty romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story of Piper, the local doctor and Carter, aka Phin, one-time childhood best friends have suffered emotional traumas coping with ADHD, while Piper witnessed her parent’s marriage disintegrating, leaving deep scars behind. As a result, she is unable to form lasting relationships but being left by Phin all those years ago is what hurt her the most. Phin sees his chance to rekindle their close bond with Piper when she moves back to Juniper Springs. The story that leads them from an emotionally dark place to their eventual happy ending, is a very well-written novel with well-developed and described characters, scene-appropriate dialogues and soliloquies, enabling the reader to understand and feel their fears and state of mind. I couldn’t help but root for them to overcome the limitations, they have both set in their minds and find their happy ending. The novel had managed to convey true emotions and the love they both had for the other. The penmanship and editorial competence had resulted in a very worthwhile novel about two people who are not only victims of circumstances, but of their own failures to communicate. The storyline is charming, easy-to-read, and enjoyable with enough steam to burn a hole in the pages. I am very happy to recommend this book to all those who love a steamy angsty romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 8, 2022
'Crazy Love' by Melissa Schroeder is the second book in her Juniper Springs series and tells the story of Piper Abernathy and Carter Hawthorne who were childhood friends. Carter is charming and has a player rep but is much smarter than people give him credit for. Piper is a doctor who doesn't know how to relax. Carter and Piper meet again when Piper delivers his brother, Quinn, and girlfriend, Everly's, baby. Carter is as taken with Piper as he was when they first meet as young teenagers. Piper can not believe how much Carter has grown into the promise of his youth. Too bad she heard he a player and very shallow. Although that doesn't sound like the Carter she knew, people can change. Carter is determined to win Piper's heart and everything else by any means.
Ms. Schroder has written a delightful addition to her series. The interactions between Piper and Carter are sweet and steamy. I loved the elf story and how Piper keeps all the elf figurines Carter has bought her and how Carter kept buying the figurines and saving them for Piper. The story has laughs, secrets, trust issues, passion, miscommunications, and plenty of steam. I enjoyed this book and recommend them to anyone who likes some drama with their romance.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ms. Schroder has written a delightful addition to her series. The interactions between Piper and Carter are sweet and steamy. I loved the elf story and how Piper keeps all the elf figurines Carter has bought her and how Carter kept buying the figurines and saving them for Piper. The story has laughs, secrets, trust issues, passion, miscommunications, and plenty of steam. I enjoyed this book and recommend them to anyone who likes some drama with their romance.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 4, 2022
Love sometimes takes time...
Book 2 of the Juniper Springs series is wonderful and well-written.
Carter Hawthorne is the brother that you know you want and the wild one that you never think can be tamed. Or so it seems.
Piper Abernathy is the girl who doesn't believe in true love and doesn't want anything to change her plans... BUT what happens when two childhood best friends come back together after years. Piper and Carter had a misunderstanding and now they have to work it out while keeping their family out of their personal lives.
So what better way to throw them off than to "pretend" to be in love with your childhood best friend. This also brings to light the feelings of hurt that they were holding on to. But now they are forced to face them and move forward.
The story for these two were just what I waited for. No quick happy ever after. Afterall, there were feeling being held on to since the age of 13. And there were many feelings that they had to work out based on their life experiences. But bringing all of that out and putting together their HEA was worth the wait!
Book 2 of the Juniper Springs series is wonderful and well-written.
Carter Hawthorne is the brother that you know you want and the wild one that you never think can be tamed. Or so it seems.
Piper Abernathy is the girl who doesn't believe in true love and doesn't want anything to change her plans... BUT what happens when two childhood best friends come back together after years. Piper and Carter had a misunderstanding and now they have to work it out while keeping their family out of their personal lives.
So what better way to throw them off than to "pretend" to be in love with your childhood best friend. This also brings to light the feelings of hurt that they were holding on to. But now they are forced to face them and move forward.
The story for these two were just what I waited for. No quick happy ever after. Afterall, there were feeling being held on to since the age of 13. And there were many feelings that they had to work out based on their life experiences. But bringing all of that out and putting together their HEA was worth the wait!
February 15, 2022
Ahhh, the wait for Carter is over and he did NOT disappoint! We saw a glimpse of the tension between Carter and Piper previously in the series, but the reasons become so clear here, and so easily fixable. If they only talked to each other about the past, instead of letting it cloud their judgment in the present. Piper has some heartbreak of so many different reasons in her past, Carter being one, but others as well. My heart broke for her at what she had been through and the damage it did to her. Carter’s feelings are a little more complicated, part of who he is and how he is, and have absorbed into his being. He missed those who love him actually know and see him, he is so used to just being himself without noticing those things. But together, together Carter and Piper have a connection that soothes and empowers them. They have a connection that isn’t easily named and bonds them together. They have a connection full of chemistry and heat, love and longing, patience and understanding. Carter and Piper really are, and always have been, each others’ lobsters <3
February 26, 2022
This was a sweet small town romance.
Piper Abernathy is an OB/GYN in Juniper Springs. She is very serious and subdued. She recently moved from NYC after treating pandemic patients and needed a break. She met Carter when they were children and they became best friends. Once they were teens Carter dropped her and she never knew why. Twenty years later they are living in the same small town and reconnect. Her parents are pressuring her to marry and have children and move back to NY.
Carter Phineas Hawthorne is a billionaire club owner and has ADHD. He has a playboy reputation with women. Some of his closest friends are the LOLs - little old ladies - in Juniper Springs who know everything going on in town. He is known as the fun guy. He realizes after reconnecting with Piper that he has loved her for decades and talks her into fake dating him. They eventually admit their feelings and get their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Piper Abernathy is an OB/GYN in Juniper Springs. She is very serious and subdued. She recently moved from NYC after treating pandemic patients and needed a break. She met Carter when they were children and they became best friends. Once they were teens Carter dropped her and she never knew why. Twenty years later they are living in the same small town and reconnect. Her parents are pressuring her to marry and have children and move back to NY.
Carter Phineas Hawthorne is a billionaire club owner and has ADHD. He has a playboy reputation with women. Some of his closest friends are the LOLs - little old ladies - in Juniper Springs who know everything going on in town. He is known as the fun guy. He realizes after reconnecting with Piper that he has loved her for decades and talks her into fake dating him. They eventually admit their feelings and get their HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 26, 2022
This is the 2nd book in the Juniper Springs series featuring Carter and Piper's complicated second chance romance. Carter and Piper are both unique children and you could really feel the bond between them even when they were kids sharing their factoids only with each other. You just had the sense that they were made for each other until things change when her parents divorce they send her away to school so her and Carter lose touch. Now years later Piper has left NY to return to the small town that she grew up in to practice medicine. The LOL'S think that they belong together so they plan to manipulate them into getting married. Carter and Piper decide to team up and pretend that they're in a relationship to get their parents to stop trying to marry them off. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this wonderful, funny,delightful story to see what happens. I would recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 26, 2022
I liked this story. It was entertaining and enjoyable with a few exceptions. The characters were interesting and likable for the most part. Carter and Piper were best friends until Carter's hormones kicked in and he decided to ditch Piper as a friend and hook up with other girls. Piper ended up getting sent to a boarding school but when she came back home she avoided Carter because he was always with a girl. After 20 years apart they were both living in the same town again. My issue with the story was the time apart as well as the time that Carter took to talk to Piper again. She had been in town for over a year and he had been celibate for 6 months which means that he was still with other people while the love of his life was in town. I liked how the story ended but I would have liked an epilogue further out. I recommend giving this book a chance especially if long separations don't bother you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 19, 2022
I thought it was interesting that I could really feel that "click" between Carter and Piper when they were kids. Just goes to show you that things that start out so simply when you are young turn much more complicated with age. I felt for both of them as kids struggling with defining their own personalities instead of what other people thought they should be.
I loved the way Carter was with his niece Esme, how he and Piper just got one another after being separated for so long. Juniper Springs and the LOL's help to make this story fun and humorous. I liked that Piper grounded Carter while he lightened her load.
I thought the dialogue was sweet, quirky, snarky, witty, and funny. Piper and Carter's HEA was just as special as their relationship. I enjoyed all of the characters, along with the double epilogue. I am looking forward to both Josh and Mason's books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book received via Booksprout.
I loved the way Carter was with his niece Esme, how he and Piper just got one another after being separated for so long. Juniper Springs and the LOL's help to make this story fun and humorous. I liked that Piper grounded Carter while he lightened her load.
I thought the dialogue was sweet, quirky, snarky, witty, and funny. Piper and Carter's HEA was just as special as their relationship. I enjoyed all of the characters, along with the double epilogue. I am looking forward to both Josh and Mason's books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book received via Booksprout.
February 27, 2022
Piper and Carter are absolutely adorable! They're forced together as kids because Piper isn't making friends and Carter is the baby boy of the family and has ADHD and his brothers would rather kill him than spend time with him. A misunderstanding and a divorce causes a rift in their friendship right before high school and Piper is shipped off to boarding school in Switzerland. Now they are back in each others orbit, friends turned enemies turned into two people secretly pining for each other. Therest a conspiracy afoot and a pic on the Juniper Springs Gossip site has them dating and more. A fake relationship is born, but we all know how those work out. It gets real all too fast and things must go sideways before they can be righted again.
What a sweet, funny, steamy read. I have to go back and read Quinn and Everly's story immediately.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a sweet, funny, steamy read. I have to go back and read Quinn and Everly's story immediately.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 2, 2023
I knew back then Carter was special but man he can be annoying as well according to Piper. I loved that Melissa Schroeder gave Carter his own story and boy so many things about him now makes sense. Piper is totally all in him yet in many ways she is just like Carter in her way. One is all series about life, work and making people happy meaning her parents. Then we have Carter the little fun, distracting and oh so sexy best friend she needs right now. These two may have grown apart but once they meet everything comes back like fireworks. In many ways they complete each other and we see Carter at his best with Piper which may surprise alot of people in Juniper Springs. All in all this is one book you got to read full of friendship, romance, comedy but most of all we see a young man falling all over in love again. Loved it.
"I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own."
"I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own."
February 15, 2022
So I love this series. I have read all the stories and Carter has been my favorite character so I have been waiting to read this story from the first time he appeared. It was absolutely worth the wait. Piper was so worthy of Carter and I loved how hard he worked to win her heart. This is a second chance at love between childhood best friends. Carter and Piper were besties when they were 13 until he sorta ghosted her and now they are both living in the same town Carter wants a second chance with her. But shall we say Piper has issues. One is she doesn't see that Carter is into her, second, he gave her a broken heart at 13 and lastly her parents divorce hurt her very badly. But Carter is no quitter and he wants her badly and so the fun begins as they sorta fake date.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 17, 2022
I have so been looking forward to Carter’s story, and this sure did not disappoint. It is so cute the way the LOL’s manipulate Carter in to making his move on Piper. I love a good 2nd chance romance, especially with such a wonderful cast of characters. It is so easy to see that Carter and Piper have always been uniquely meant for each other. They have previous history together, and now that they’ve reconnected Carter’s determined to move them in a different direction, even if he’s not sure where that will take them. This is a fun read with a lot of heart, great emotional connection between the MC’s, with a slow build to some pretty steamy passion. This is a charming tale from beginning to end. Carter and Piper are such a delight as a couple, even through the bumps along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed their story and am really looking forward to Mason and Liv’s story coming next.
February 18, 2022
Really loved this book! Piper & Carter were best friends until teenage ‘feelings’ got in the way. Now they are grown up and neither seems to be able to deal with their chemistry when each other’s orbit. Both the main characters are totally likeable and the reader really wants them to find their HEA. I loved that they both have their own issues/demons. Piper is introverted possibly as a direct result of her parents’ messy divorce and Carter suffers from ADHD. It is the latter that is entertaining in a gentle way and the author handles this in a sympathetic way – Carter’s habit of letting exactly what he is thinking come out of his mouth is often downright hilarious! As a reader I found I was really rooting for them and read the book in 24 hours. Will definitely go back and read the previous book in this ‘series’. Highly recommended read.
February 18, 2022
Carter is an oddball youngest child with ADHD which causes his brain to go full speed ahead and out of his mouth. Piper is a nerd with her nose forever in a book. When they are put together as young children, they find that they have both absorbed unique factoids and enjoy sharing them with each otherv, anot with others who don’t seen to understand. They lose touch when her parents divorce and ship her away to school. Now, she is back from New York to practice medicine in their small town. They cook up a fake relationship when each of their parents are trying to get them married off. The LOLs think they belong together. They have many nosy and interfering family and friends that are hellbent to make this real. Quirky Carter is a hoot! Very well written and a most enjoyable and entertaining short read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
February 22, 2022
Carter was the youngest of the Hawthorne brothers, and different. He remembers weird stuff like most Icelandic people believe in elves, and his brothers voted to kill him rather than leave him in a foreign country...then he met Piper. She fascinated him, where she quieted his racing mind and she got her to be a bit more adventurous...then her parents divorced, and she was sent to Switzerland boarding school...breaking his heart...but Carter recovered and discovered GIRLS!!! He loved women, all shapes, ages, color...was all the ladies' favorite...so when he moved to Juniper Springs and discovered that Piper had opened a medical practice there when she delivered his niece Esme, he decided to move there also...but can he win the girl he was obsessed with for most of his life??? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 16, 2022
This is the second book in the Juniper Springs Series. If you've read other books in the series you've met Piper and Carter. We're so glad that Piper and Carter have their own story. Their chemistry is great and they have a lot of water under the dam between them. They were childhood friends who went their separate ways and some bad feelings developed between them. Carter's back in town and determined to win her back. You will love this story. The characters are so well developed and likable. The story line will grab your attention right at the beginning and take you on an emotional journey as they work their way toward a second chance. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 17, 2022
Crazy Love is Carter’s story, he is the hyper suave fun loving Hawthorne brother that no one takes seriously. Growing up he was friends with Dr Piper Abernathy, she has returned to work in Juniper Springs. Something happened between Carter and Piper when they were teens that made them no longer friends. Now that they are back in the same town the two of them are having a tough time trying to avoid each other! This is a really funny and cute book but also serious! You have Carter who is never taken seriously because he is so laid back and Piper who is a perfectionist with crazy parents and a chemistry between the two of them that is wild. They actually complement and need each other! It’s about time they put down the walls and realize they are in love!
February 24, 2022
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. Welcome back to Juniper Springs. This time you will find Carter and his determination to make Piper his. These two were close childhood friends, but a lot has happened since then. I was really looking forward to this story. It has the humor, drama, family, struggles, misunderstandings, passion and love that I expected. It is a good story with plenty of interesting characters. I was both pleasantly surprised and frustrated with Carter. He is one of a kind. Piper has her own baggage and family to deal with. The storyline is a good one and for the most part, flowed well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2022
This is a great read. I loved Carter and Piper. The two are great together and it was fun to be along for the ride as the two figure things out. Carter is something else and he endeared himself to this reader right from the start. The two have issues from their past to work through before they can attempt to look towards a future. I enjoyed the banter between all the characters and watching the way the relationship develops between Piper and Carter made for a delightful read. Their story is a sweet and fun read that pulled me in and kept me engaged all the way to the end. The two learn that love cannot be ignored and that assumptions are almost always wrong.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 8, 2022
Carter and Piper were best friends until high school when they each had issues they had to face. Piper went on to become a doctor and moved to the small town of Juniper Springs. Carter had a rental in the area due to part of his family living there and seeing Piper brought back feelings he didn’t think he would have. Both ended up at an event where he overhead Piper crying. Photos were taken and it appeared they were a couple, although they were not. Using this to his advantage he talked Piper into pretending they were a couple to prevent a bad reputation and she agreed. Another great book by Melissa Schroeder and I can not wait to read more of the series . I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 4, 2022
A Lot of Crazy
Carter Phineas Hawthorne is the youngest, wildest and ADHD inspired brother of his family. The Hawthorne's are rich, successful and renowed. They are also hard working, dedicated and sincere. Carter met Piper Abernathy when they were both preteens. They became best friends. But like many young best friends they were separated and grew apart. However, 20 years later they both reside in the small town Juniper Springs, Texas. She's now Dr. Abernathy, OBGYN. He's an entrepreneur developing and owning night clubs. Clearly, this is not only a second chance romance but opposites attract, too. Well written this is an entertaining, sexy romance including good friends, excellent families and an intrusive community to bring our heroes together.
Carter Phineas Hawthorne is the youngest, wildest and ADHD inspired brother of his family. The Hawthorne's are rich, successful and renowed. They are also hard working, dedicated and sincere. Carter met Piper Abernathy when they were both preteens. They became best friends. But like many young best friends they were separated and grew apart. However, 20 years later they both reside in the small town Juniper Springs, Texas. She's now Dr. Abernathy, OBGYN. He's an entrepreneur developing and owning night clubs. Clearly, this is not only a second chance romance but opposites attract, too. Well written this is an entertaining, sexy romance including good friends, excellent families and an intrusive community to bring our heroes together.
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