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Hatfield Falls (Don't Tell) #1
Don't Tell Mom I Have a Girlfriend (Hatfield Falls
He likes her. She likes him. There's only one problem: his mother.
Will Bennett hates to fail, and for most of his life, he's managed to avoid any horrible disasters. That's no easy task when building a business, taking on the largest building project he's attempted to date, helping his little sister start her adult life, and keeping his Jane-Austen-loving, when-are-you-going-to-marry mother from driving him crazy.
Lacey Welsh is cautious, protective, and just the sort of lady Will might consider as his happily ever after. But how does a guy get to know a girl and decide if she is "the one" when he has a mother who tends to go overboard at the smallest hint of a romantic entanglement for one of her boys? According to Will, the answer is simple: keep your girlfriend a secret.
If Will thought steering clear of disaster before adding in the secret relationship was hard, now, it just might be impossible.
If you like sweet romances that give you all the feels while not forgetting about grace and faith, then, download Don't Tell Mom I Have a Girlfriend, and fall in love with Hatfield Falls today.
___
About Hatfield Falls:
Welcome to Hatfield Falls, an imaginary town set in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia, Canada. This series focuses on several individuals in that town who are related by blood and/or their connections at Hatfield Falls Christian Church.
Faith, hope, and love flow here in great streams and small trickles. However, these streams don't take happy easy paths. Instead, they swerve around obstacles, dredge up memories from the past, cascade over plans for the present, and push the characters of Hatfield Falls forward into a future that is firmly rooted in grace and grounded in Christ.
Will Bennett hates to fail, and for most of his life, he's managed to avoid any horrible disasters. That's no easy task when building a business, taking on the largest building project he's attempted to date, helping his little sister start her adult life, and keeping his Jane-Austen-loving, when-are-you-going-to-marry mother from driving him crazy.
Lacey Welsh is cautious, protective, and just the sort of lady Will might consider as his happily ever after. But how does a guy get to know a girl and decide if she is "the one" when he has a mother who tends to go overboard at the smallest hint of a romantic entanglement for one of her boys? According to Will, the answer is simple: keep your girlfriend a secret.
If Will thought steering clear of disaster before adding in the secret relationship was hard, now, it just might be impossible.
If you like sweet romances that give you all the feels while not forgetting about grace and faith, then, download Don't Tell Mom I Have a Girlfriend, and fall in love with Hatfield Falls today.
___
About Hatfield Falls:
Welcome to Hatfield Falls, an imaginary town set in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia, Canada. This series focuses on several individuals in that town who are related by blood and/or their connections at Hatfield Falls Christian Church.
Faith, hope, and love flow here in great streams and small trickles. However, these streams don't take happy easy paths. Instead, they swerve around obstacles, dredge up memories from the past, cascade over plans for the present, and push the characters of Hatfield Falls forward into a future that is firmly rooted in grace and grounded in Christ.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2021
113 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 6, 2024
Started out slow and cheesy, but the last few chapters redeemed it. Would liked to have had more on Lacey's background and the ending seemed a little rushed. All in all worth a read if you can get the kindle edition cheap or free.
November 5, 2021
Clean, cute family series starter
This book lays a great foundation for a fun new series. I like this couple - Lacey and Will. I like his family: his ministerial parents, four brothers, and his very wise grandmother. Will's and Lacey's younger sisters provide the action when they decide to forego college and instead choose to start a food service business.
The author did a really good job representing the family of a ministerial couple and the pressure the children are (or that they perceive themselves to be) under to be "perfect". Then add in his mother's obsession with all things Austen.
Having experienced his relationships shatter under that dual attack, Will choses to keep personal life secret from his family. When he is introduced to Lacey, by their younger sisters, he is immediately attracted, but that habitual secrecy kicks in. He persuades Lacey to date in secret to avoid his mother scaring her off.
No one can live a lie forever, and eventually Lacey reaches her limit. What will it take to bring this couple out in the open? Who will be the next Bennett sibling to fall in love?
I received an ARC copy of this story from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to share my review.
This book lays a great foundation for a fun new series. I like this couple - Lacey and Will. I like his family: his ministerial parents, four brothers, and his very wise grandmother. Will's and Lacey's younger sisters provide the action when they decide to forego college and instead choose to start a food service business.
The author did a really good job representing the family of a ministerial couple and the pressure the children are (or that they perceive themselves to be) under to be "perfect". Then add in his mother's obsession with all things Austen.
Having experienced his relationships shatter under that dual attack, Will choses to keep personal life secret from his family. When he is introduced to Lacey, by their younger sisters, he is immediately attracted, but that habitual secrecy kicks in. He persuades Lacey to date in secret to avoid his mother scaring her off.
No one can live a lie forever, and eventually Lacey reaches her limit. What will it take to bring this couple out in the open? Who will be the next Bennett sibling to fall in love?
I received an ARC copy of this story from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to share my review.
March 19, 2025
This was the first book I've read by this author, and there was a lot to like. I enjoyed all the Jane Austen references and Will's large family. I liked that the characters lived out their relationships with God in a natural way. And while some may think the conflict was contrived, I found it realistic and relatable that Will had been so negatively affected by his mom's past actions that he didn't want her to know he had a girlfriend. Parents often don't realize that something that wasn't a big deal to them significantly affected their child. I appreciated that the mom finally realized and apologized, and both she and Will grew from it. Lacey didn't seem to have as much character growth. I would have liked to have seen more of an arc and a change with her character. The writing was also confusing in places, mainly not making it clear where the characters were in certain scenes, making me reread those places and still not be sure. But overall, I liked this clean, sweet, genuinely Christian story.
January 24, 2025
Ok, I totally bought this book because of the title. I was extremely curious why he wanted to hide his girlfriend from his mom.
And I'm so glad I did. It's a must read for fans of Christian romance and fans of Jane Austen.
Wait, what? Jane Austen? Yup.
The author does a fantastic job weaving together faith, romance, and hooks into Jane Austen novels. I'm sure there are far more Jane Austen parallels than I realized, but the ones I did delighted me.
I really enjoyed the cute meet that brought Lacey and Will together. They are both overprotective older siblings watching out for their younger sisters. The entire plot is genius and so unique.
I also appreciated the author's use of a pastor's family with each of the pastor's kids having very different personalities. It's a realistic and uplifting aspect of the book.
Anyway, I truly loved this book for much more than the title and I think you will too.
And I'm so glad I did. It's a must read for fans of Christian romance and fans of Jane Austen.
Wait, what? Jane Austen? Yup.
The author does a fantastic job weaving together faith, romance, and hooks into Jane Austen novels. I'm sure there are far more Jane Austen parallels than I realized, but the ones I did delighted me.
I really enjoyed the cute meet that brought Lacey and Will together. They are both overprotective older siblings watching out for their younger sisters. The entire plot is genius and so unique.
I also appreciated the author's use of a pastor's family with each of the pastor's kids having very different personalities. It's a realistic and uplifting aspect of the book.
Anyway, I truly loved this book for much more than the title and I think you will too.
October 27, 2023
A sweet contemporary romance with a large Austen vibe.
The main characters of the Bennet family as all named after Austen characters, and Mrs Amy Bennet is a slightly more caring (and marginally more self-aware) version of the P&P version.
William and Lacey fall into attraction after their first meeting, even though Lacey is initially put off by what she perceives as a disdainful look directed at her younger sister.
The romance progresses in secret, in order to avoid the interference of mother-dearest.
Containing elements of faith, this sweet romance will keep you well entertained for an afternoon.
The main characters of the Bennet family as all named after Austen characters, and Mrs Amy Bennet is a slightly more caring (and marginally more self-aware) version of the P&P version.
William and Lacey fall into attraction after their first meeting, even though Lacey is initially put off by what she perceives as a disdainful look directed at her younger sister.
The romance progresses in secret, in order to avoid the interference of mother-dearest.
Containing elements of faith, this sweet romance will keep you well entertained for an afternoon.
November 9, 2021
Three and a Half Stars - This faith-filled, Christian romance is definitely sweet and clean. I really liked how the feel of the book seemed to reflect an Austen vibe. The pacing was steady, and the story held my interest. But I was not particularly pleased with how Lacey's reasoning lead her to conclude that her relationship with Will compromised her integrity.
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.
April 28, 2024
This faith filled story is a great start to the Hatfield Falls series.
This romance tells the story of how easy it is to slip into white lies and compromise your integrity.
I found the characters, as well as the story, realistic and relatable.
The story flowed well and kept me engaged.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I am delighted to include her in my growing list of favorites!
This romance tells the story of how easy it is to slip into white lies and compromise your integrity.
I found the characters, as well as the story, realistic and relatable.
The story flowed well and kept me engaged.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I am delighted to include her in my growing list of favorites!
October 31, 2021
Such a good story. Loved Will and Lacey. Both were protective of their families and wanted the best for their younger sisters. Their faith also brought them together and they grew their relationship with each other and the Lord. Can’t wait to read more stories about the Bennetts.
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.
November 7, 2021
This book was about Will.
He is part of a big family and they have strong ties to each other, their community and their faith.
He has to learn how to nail control issues in this story and it's sweet how he works on it.
He likes Lacey, but his loving yet meddlesome family makes him cautious about how he wants to proceed.
Great novel.
He is part of a big family and they have strong ties to each other, their community and their faith.
He has to learn how to nail control issues in this story and it's sweet how he works on it.
He likes Lacey, but his loving yet meddlesome family makes him cautious about how he wants to proceed.
Great novel.
January 26, 2023
When you have a mom named Mrs. Bennett who is like THE Mrs. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice only this time she's trying to marry off her sons, you don't want her to know you have a girlfriend. But then keeping it secret is proving problematic. This is the first in the series and I look forward to how Will's brothers meet their matches.
November 6, 2021
The book is a good, and enjoyable inspirational romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.
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.
November 7, 2021
Wonderful introduction to a new family, a new community, and new entry into Contemporary Christian Fiction. I can’t wait for the next adventure.
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.
July 3, 2023
Hiding from Mom
This delightful intro to the Bennett family is a great read. Mom wants her kids to get married and tries to find them mates. Thus the hiding relationships. But that can also cause problems. Looking forward to book two.
This delightful intro to the Bennett family is a great read. Mom wants her kids to get married and tries to find them mates. Thus the hiding relationships. But that can also cause problems. Looking forward to book two.
August 25, 2023
This wasn’t a new author to me but I plan on reading more of her work. The mix of romance, humor, family, and biblical truth was perfect. Loved Gran. Can’t wait to meet more members of this community.
January 26, 2025
interfering moms
When your mom comes on too strong, do you feel you have to hide from her? This couple faces the challenge of a mother who likes to be in control. A problem when her son has the same preference.
When your mom comes on too strong, do you feel you have to hide from her? This couple faces the challenge of a mother who likes to be in control. A problem when her son has the same preference.
June 8, 2025
I truly enjoyed getting to know these fabulously quirky characters with whom I see many similarities. The story was intriguing, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series from this talented author.
November 28, 2021
This was a fun read. I liked how important it was to the characters to be true to who they are. I loved his grandmother!
December 1, 2021
This was a sweet story. I enjoyed reading about Will and Lacey’s romance. Will’s mother was great and the things he did to avoid telling her about his girlfriend were hilarious!
March 28, 2022
Sweet romance
This low angst, Christian romance was a fun read. I can't wait for the next one to come out! Check it out now!
This low angst, Christian romance was a fun read. I can't wait for the next one to come out! Check it out now!
June 1, 2023
Loved this book
Great characters and good story. Loved the addition of spiritual growth of the characters. Loved Gran, great addition to the story.
Great characters and good story. Loved the addition of spiritual growth of the characters. Loved Gran, great addition to the story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews