Loving Ivy

Highland Falls #3

by Kat Ryan

A single mom trying to raise her kid and get a new bookstore off the ground had zero time for a relationship with the know-it-all brewery owner, but crazier things have happened.

Ivy James
My horoscope neglected to mention anything about freak snowstorms, busted Jeep tires, or sleepovers at a certain brewery owner’s place, but here I am. Goddess knows, I’m thrilled my daughter and I are okay. However, staying at Jake Spencer’s house was not in the plans. Nor was the way he and Addie got along immediately. I’m telling myself that’s fine. We can always use more friends, right? Because I’m not ready for more. My circle is small, mainly Addie and me. My parents embedded that lesson early. Life is busy and I know what my future holds, and it’s not this grumpy brewery owner, that’s for sure.

Jake Spencer
Business at the brewery is good. My family and friends are amazing. The only thing missing is the wife and kids gig I thought I’d have by now. But I never expected that the kid I was ready for might belong to someone else, or that her mother would collect moon water and crystals. Ivy drives me up a wall, but I still want to kiss the hell out of her. The question is, can I find a balance so we can build a life together?

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Adult

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2021

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Jake and Ivy story oh and can't forget Addie who was an absolute star!

If you love a single parent, small town romance that has a little bit of enemies to lovers thrown in then you will love this.

Ivy is a single mum to the cutest little girl that you just can't help falling instantly in love with. Ivy is also the proud owner of the local bookstore in Highland Falls. She is strong independent, which she really has had to be as she hasn't really had any support from her family over the years.

Jake co-owns the local brewery with his friend Sully. A previous relationship has left him a little jaded and has always approached any relationship since with caution. Where's Ivy's family are non existent Jake's are anything but! I loved his relationship with his siblings and the banter between them was so much fun.

Jake and Ivy's chemistry is electric! Whenever they are in a room together they can't take their eyes of each other! I couldn't put their story down, it was my favourite of the series!

I can't wait to see whose story is next as we meet a few more characters in this book and I am really hoping Drew, Jake's brother gets his own HEA.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Highland Falls series just keeps getting better as new characters have been introduced. The stories are all about families; the ones you are born to and the ones you gather to you along the way. This small town is just bursting at the seams with great friends who have become family.

Jake is the partner to Sully at Homestead Brewery. A broken engagement 10 years prior has made him weary of love ever since, until Ivy, the bookstore owner crosses his path.

Ivy is a single mom to the precocious four year old, Addie.. ivy has never really had support from her family, besides her dearly departed grandmother. Ivy is a very strong and independent person because she’s had to.

I loved everything about this book. Jakes family is loud, sassy, and very loving and they add a lot to this story. The characters we have already met as well as a couple of new people in town add a lot as well and I look forward to seeing if they will get a story of their own.

One last main character to mention is Jake’s dog, Chief who turns out to be a super hero.

You can’t go wrong with this series!

[Regina Breier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy and Jake are too good to be true!

I really loved this couple and the book. I just wanted it to be a bit more angst in the build up of the couple. Ivy moved to Highland Falls with her young daughter to start her bookstore. Jake has lived with in Highland Falls and is co-owner of the brewery in town. These two appear to be enemies but the magnetic pull of the two characters is strong. You add in a precocious 4-year old and the chemistry is set.

Ivy needs someone to help watch her daughter because her normal sitter has a conflict. This bachelor who already has a busy life just offers to watch her … that is a bit of a stretch. However, the author wrote such a cute little girl that I went with it.

Of course the two do not fall easily and are garbage at expressing feelings, but they somehow manage to get together. I adored Jake’s parents and siblings throughout this book and really am looking forward to the next one.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book featuring people and their community you would gladly adopt as your own is as heartwarming as the previous two. These two characters come with pasts that connect them to Highland Falls through family and friends. They, Ivy and Jake, both desire to have their happily ever after, but Ivy already has a four-year-old daughter and Jake got burned weeks before a marriage ten years ago. Ivy owns the bookshop in town called Pages. Jake is part owner in a now successful brewery. Their viewpoints in conversations seem to be opposite, but we all know the saying about opposites. Will they discover what we know to be true? Will they figure out how well they complement each other, filling in the empty gaps in their lives?

As I finished this book, I cried twice in the course of a few hours. You can't help but step into the characters's lives, understanding and feeling the emotional and lasting impact of events.

[Colorado · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third novel in the Highland Falls series, this tells the story of brewpub owner, Jake, and bookstore owner, Ivy. I love this town and I can easily see myself wandering the trails, browsing in Pages, taking a community yoga class or grabbing a beer at the Homestead.I fell in love with these characters immediately. Ivy is a single mom, struggling to run a small business and raise Addie on her own. After a bad experience, Jake is wary of relationships but can't resist helping and getting to know Ivy and Addie. This romance is nor just about a man and a woman falling in love; it's also about bonding with a very cute little girl and making a family. Perfect book to read in the runup to Christmas. I hope Kat writes Drew's story next. Really curious about the handsome and troubled fireman.

[Paulette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book. So far I’ve read all three books by this author. This by far is my favorite. The characters are both smart, charming and witty. Ivy’s daughter is adorable. The selection of music is from my favorite decade.

I don’t do spoilers. You should enjoy this for yourself. If you’ve read the previous books you’ll be happy to know you get to reconnect with characters from previous books and even meet some new ones. Don’t worry this is a standalone.

The contention in Ivy and Jake’’s relationship will make you smile. How it plays out will melt your heart..
This is a book I will be rereading!

[Ana Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is just one cinnamon roll hero after another one. They are all very cute. I loved the kid, aside from the romance, it was one of my favorite parts of the story. The way she has everyone wrapped around her little finger is so cute. I loved the small town, as always.

This is just such a heartwarming read, as all of the previous books. I really liked the relationship both main characters developed. It was really fun to watch them navigate through all of their differences and give into one another.

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Hero Jake and his relationship with Addie. Loved how Ivy and Addie were embraced and enfolded into Jake's loving family. Could have done without Ivy's green light/red light/green light near the end, but thankfully the obligatory relationship challenge was short-lived - lost half a star for that drama. Final Rating: 4.5 Stars The next book is hopefully Jake's brother Drew, and it is on my Must Buy list.

[Kelly]

Enemies-to-lovers with a busted car in snow rescue to kickoff the story. I enjoyed all the characters and the Spencer family dynamics. I spotted a setup for one couple at the end, but really hope Drew’s story is in the works, too. Love the setting of Highland Falls! It reminds me of the vibe in Stars Hollow.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is she really a calm and centered free spirit as described in the other books leading to this one or just a sad rich girl cosplaying as one? Gotta say the crying and whininess was unsuspected for a 28 yr old business owner and single mom

gave it 5 stars just for the kid that was totally adorable

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Great series!
I absolutely loved everything about this book! I loved the banter between Jake & his siblings. I loved the amazing chemistry between Jake & Ivy. And I absolutely adored how Jake & Drew were with Addy!

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanna live in Highland Falls!!!!!
I wanna find my own dream man like Max and Sully and Just Jake!
What a dream boat Mr Jake turned out to be!
And Ivy is just a gorgeous soul that needed Just Jake in her life.
Miss Addie and Chief stole the show at times and I loved every time.

Adoring this author and 100% recommend her to one and all!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read in this wonderful series! I love these characters! A spunky single mom finds her HEA with bar/brew owner set in a delightful small town. Loved it!

[buket · Rating 5 out of 5]

so.dang.cute.

[Haleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the small town and a great story about second chances at love! A blended family and lovable dog can get some tears started

[Isabel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to finish it to see what was going to happen but it was hard.