The book is no longer available. Fashion fanatic Mabel Muldowney loathes every part of life on the farm. And worst of all is her brother’s best friend, the infuriatingly broody Cal Horner. The man makes her want to spit nails.
What’s an aspiring fashionista stuck in the sticks to do? Fly the coop and head to the city.
Success in the world of haute couture is within her grasp when a scandalous secret takes her down...hard.
Now there’s nowhere left to go but back to the farm.
But her hometown farming community is in trouble—big financial trouble—and thanks to a crazy twist of fate, Mabel’s got the skills to help. The kicker—she’ll have to work with Cal if she wants to get paid. If the town makes a profit, she will, too. It’s her one-way ticket back to the fashion world.
But the longer she’s home, the harder it is to resist Cal’s tantalizing kisses. Will Cal’s warm embrace persuade her to stay, or will the temptation of her big-city dreams be too hard to ignore?
This ebook box set contains The Complete Farm to Mabel Duet: Farm to Mabel + Horn of Plenty.
USA Today Bestselling Author Krista Sandor writes steamy contemporary romance with toe-curlingly hot heroes and heroines you'll want as your best friends.
4.5 STARS Something NEW and different from Krista, glad I had Book 2 right away because I would have cried after that cliffy! Full review on my BLOG (beware it's long and I had a few words to say about the heroine) -> CLICK HERE
Cal and Mabel sucked me into their love-to-hate-you story from the very first chapter, and now I’m impatiently waiting to know how everything works or doesn’t work out. He’s rigid and cold, while she’s shallow and fake...or is that really the case? There are so many layers to both Cal and Mabel that I have to wonder what’s true, what’s the lie, and what Cal is hiding.
I won’t lie. At first, I actively disliked Mabel’s attitude...not while she was home, but the person she tried to be in NYC. And it took her mere hours to shed most of that armor, but she’s afraid to show her true self. Heck, does she even know all that is her true self? I think she’s learning just what her passion really is as she works to save her brother’s and Cal’s dream, the town, and maybe herself too.
As for Cal, he’s got some secrets and deep fears that have festered, so his brashness is painful at times, but I’m pretty sure he’s sheltering his hope and heart. But will he learn to let go just enough to let himself be happy? Or is he so tied up in trying to bear the weight and expectations of so many that he simply can’t or won’t take the chance?
I can’t wait to know if everyone’s plans work out, who set Mabel on her course of finding her truth, and what exactly Cal is hiding in his locked-away heart!
Hey there! Mabel and Cal are now available in an ebook box set! Our fashionista and favorite grumpy farmer are side by side in this pretty duet! And...there's a link to a bonus chapter! Fun fact: In the bonus chapter for THE NANNY AND THE HOTHEAD, the characters go to the fictional town (Elverna, IL) where Farm to Mabel is set. I love a juicy crossover! Happy reading!
OOhhhh, this Mabel chick - she's doing my head in!! She's bit of a selfish, self-centered twat really!! She has grown up in a small farming town - something she feels she's miles above. She "escapes" to the "Big" city after the sudden passing of her closest ally. It's here she is left to make her dreams come true - although everything is one big fat lie. Once exposed, she returns back to her family farm with her tail between her legs. Not letting her failures trample her every present dreams of escaping, she becomes the new town marketing guru. By her side is a bloke I'd love to get on the farm with - her brothers best friend, Cal. Their toing and froing with each other does add spark to his book!! The obvious attraction between them both comes off the pages in spades. I can't wait to read the follow-up read - Horn of Plenty - to see how these two end up - will they or won't they - hey, if they don't that means there might just be a chance for ME!!! And Mabel, you better get your act together in the next book too, young lady!!
Well, I’ll say one thing for Mabel Mulroney. She's got spunk. And plans. And dreams of traveling the world. But she should be concerned when it rains, with her nose stuck up in the air the way it is. She may come from a small farming town, but Mabel believes she was meant for far greater things. So she brushes the dust of small-town Illinois off of her designer stilettos and heads for New York City.
Except she learns that all that glitters is not gold, and followers get offended when they find out an influencer has lied to them. Of course this results in Mabel returning home with nothing to show for her time away but a bruised ego. And the same designer heels she hoofed it out of town on. But it's not long before Mabel finds a way to merge her social media know-how with an effort to help her suffering farming community succeed. I guess you really can’t take the farm out of the girl.
But the uppity farm girl still rubs Cal Horner the wrong way, especially when she begins to look like the savior of Elverna, IL, as she shows him up on his own project to create a sustainable farming community. She clearly thinks she's too good for a broody, stoic farmer, but her kindness and compassion towards his grandmother leaves Cal confused.
It took a little while for me to see through the façade to the real Mabel, but it wasn’t long before I loved her as much as the town of Elvira does. This is definitely a slow burn, but Mabel and Cal are throwing off enough sparks to put the Chicago fire to shame! I can’t wait to read the second part of their story and wholeheartedly recommend this one to all small-town, slow-burn romance lovers.
Krista rocked it out the park with this cute witty small town romance! The characters, the story lone! Everything was fresh and very entertaining! Charged with angst and gossipy town folks you will fall in love with this charming little farm town as they figure out their future!
Mabel and Cal are fighting against more than just their feelings! They are fighting for the future of their town! Mabel doesn’t know what the future holds for her after but for now she will do what she can to help and to save money for her next plan!
Tears will fall, smiles with come as an entrancing story unfolds. Krista Sandra takes laugh your head off to heart. Cal and Mabel are the best part of what makes love so frustrating. Foolish pride leads to broken hearts, will ego cost them their chance? Farm to Mabel is the beginning of the end for your heart.
Mabel and Cal have known each other for years. He was her brother’s best friend. She crushed on Cal when they were kids, but he never really paid much attention to her. Now, Mabel is ready to escape her small town farm life and become an influencer in the big city. A place where she can be someone different and no one will truly know her past. Now, four years later she has to return back to the small town she left.
I loved Cal and all his broodiness! He is hardworking and you can tell he is passionate about what he does and really wants to help his small town. Mabel, I still don’t know how I feel about her. I love that she took a risk and followed her dreams, but at the same time something about her just kind of sit right with me. I loved the chemistry that was starting to form between them and the connection they are forming.
This is somewhat of a slow burn and really starting to pick up towards the end and dropped a bomb on the story….thankfully it’s not a long wait until book two!
If you’re looking for a brothers best friend romance this is one to check out.
This was another solid offering from this author. Mabel has loved Cal, her brother's best friend, for as long as she can remember. He doesn't seem to reciprocate. So when a tragedy hits, she makes up her mind to leave and start her life in the big city. She has had plans for a career as a social media influencer. Things don't go as planned and she comes back home. Now the town is having troubles and she can help. She has to work with Cal though. Will she stay and help or will she leave town again for bigger and better things? Can't wait for part two!
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book! Well done
I loved that what took Mabel away from her farm town and to the city kind of brought her back again. She is not only helping the town, but Cal and her brother too. I love the way that Cal and Mabel get on each others' nerves. It's so fun to read. But I love that they have that connection with their childhoods and their tragic loss that both are still grieving for. I also love that the townspeople are trying to be sly and push them together. This book is fun and I need to see what happens next!
A slow burn, enemy to lovers, with some really sweet heart warming moments, but ends on a little cliff (don’t fret the second book is a week behind). It was a quick read, the book seemed shorter than some of the author’s previous works. Set in a small farming town that’s trying to turn it around, you get a sense that something more is going on. That the second book is surely going to reveal some juicy gossip. In the first couple chapters, I get Mabel, I love Mabel, but fast forward she’s in the city and ends up having to return and now she’s just a brat. There are multiple moments of redemption, but the inner selfish brat sometimes peak through. Cal, he’s just as Mabel calls him, broody. His shell might be tough, but he’s a softie at heart. While Cal is broody and not always communicative, you know there is something else going on, there’s more to the story.
As a heads up this book does end in a cliffhanger so make sure you have book 2 in the duet before you start. I was hooked from the beginning, there was so much wittiness and banter. Mabel is a character that truly needs to do some growing up. She returns home after dealing with a humiliation and realizes she has the skills to help the farm. However she has to work with Cal and he helps her with growing up and progressing to where she should be.
A brilliant story that captured my attention straight away and didn't let up at all. The storyline was absolutely perfect and the characters were amazing to read about. I fell in love e with this little town straight away and was desperate to find out how it all turned out.
This book was very witty with lots of intense banter. The tension between Cal and Mabel was insanely frustrating. The love hate relationship between the two is very insane. The girl hated farm life but quickly realized city life wasn’t better. Becoming a liar on social media became a life for her...until it wasn’t. Coming home to her childhood crush wasn’t what she planned but things never happen as they should. I can’t wait to find out the ending of the story of The Broody Farmer and the City Girl. Tension is definitely rising! Heat is definitely coming. Sparks are definitely flying.
I'm generally not a fan of duets (because cliffhangers), but Krista Sandor could re-write the phone book and I'd probably read (and love) it, so when I found out that she was re-releasing the Farm to Mabel duet as a single volume, I was all in! I'm so glad I gave this duet a chance because I absolutely adored it.
The first couple chapters of book 1, "Farm to Mabel," were honestly heartbreaking as protagonists Mabel Ruth Muldowney and Callan "Cal" Horner struggled to come to terms with the sudden death of Mabel's older brother Jamie, who had been Cal's best friend. Jamie was the only person who ever really understood and supported Mabel, and without him, life with her stoic farmer father in the tiny town of Elverna, Illinois was no longer bearable. When the story picks up four years later, Mabel has relocated to New York City and is trying to make it as a fashion and lifestyle influencer known as Bella Mae. Unfortunately, her dreams are shattered when she's outed as a fraud and she's forced to move back home to Elverna to regroup.
Meanwhile, Cal's been back in Illinois doing his best to implement his late best friend's plans to turn the town into an organic farming haven, but marketing efforts for their new farmer's market haven't exactly paid off with customers. When Mabel returns, she accidentally talks her way into a job developing a marketing and PR strategy for Elverna's farmers co-op. It's not exactly her dream job, but the money is her ticket out of town. The only problem is that she'll have to work closely with Cal, the head of the co-op, to develop and implement the plan. Mabel and Cal were close as kids but haven't gotten along since they were teenagers, when he pushed her away for some unknown reason. Can they overcome their animosity for the sake of the town?
The chemistry and tension between Mabel and Cal were fantastic from the start. I could practically see the sparks between them flying off the page! Once they stopped fighting each other and started working together, their relationship was ridiculously cute, and I found it very easy to root for them to overcome the obstacles that stood in the way of their eventual HEA. In addition, I loved how much each of their characters grew over the course of the two books, as well as the plot twists that kept me guessing until the very end.
In summary, Mabel and Cal's story gave me all the feels, and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait to get my hands on whatever Krista Sandor writes next.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Farm To Mabel: A second chance, brother’s best friend and younger sister, angsty romance read that will have you frustrated and falling in love all at once. Mabel has loved Cal almost all her life and once he rejects her at a young age, she decides she needs to step up her fashion game to become more like the girls her brother and him go after. Still never on Cal’s radar Mabel decides the only thing she wants now is to leave her small town behind for bigger and better things. Mabel’s passion is becoming a social influencer for fashion and her brother always supported he while everyone else in the town shunned her, even Cal. On the worst day of her life, she finally decides it’s time to go and 4 years later her world still crumbles down. With nothing left to do, she flees back to her hometown full of regret and shame, but her love/hate for Cal is as intense now as it was back then. Cal still harbors anger towards Mabel and vice versa, but now they must work together. Will sparks fly once again or will words or other objects fly at Cal’s head instead? These two had me laughing so hard one second then wanting to shake the crap out of them the next. Their back-and-forth banter, anger and lust had me sucked into this story. Mabel could come off as a little selfish but all she ever wanted was to go after her dreams and Cal could come off as a jerk at times but their attraction to each other is off the charts. This is book one of a duet and it’s a slow burn, angsty read but beautiful in learning to find oneself after loss and shame. Add some steam, fun banter, a cute baby goat, kittens, farm porn with a broody farmer, and an eccentric social media fashionista and you have a fun read full of excitement!! Horn Of Plenty: This is the continuation of Mabel and Cal’s story where we get answers to all the questions we have from book one and see them as their attraction grows. Mabel and Cal fall into this comfortable relationship that they plan to keep a secret for now since they are still working on bringing their town back to life, but the more time they spend together the harder it is for them to be apart. Cal is scared that Mabel will still plan to run once everything is said and done and Mabel is terrified her dreams are changing and she’s not sure how to feel about that. The more they work side by side the better things get for everyone, but secrets and truths come to light, and they don’t know if they can make it through or stand together.
'Betty, her sisters, our zodiac signs, and casserole allowed me to see things more clearly
I absolutely adore this story so much. I couldn't stop reading, every page was perfect.
I love how Krista Sandor can bring a story where you just fall in love with the characters and the plot. Cal and Mabel where childhood friends but from one moment to the next they became estrangers. Cal was Mabel crush and when he gave her the cold shoulder Mabel's heart broke but she busied herself becoming this diva that drove Cal insane.
After the tragic death of her brother she left the farm and went to the city. Unlikely for her, the dreams of become an influencer came to an abrupt stop and she is force to come to a place that was not home for her anymore.
After facing each other again Mabel and Cal were just like a ticking time bomb. The sensual tension between these two was explosive. I love every single interaction these two had. From their back and forth banter, to every single fight and disagreement , to every dream they had about each other.
I like how Mabel's character progresses in the story and how she was able to appreciate the town and the people she once left behind.
The story does end in a cliffhanger but I can't just wait to see what is going to happen between them.
I liked this book a lot, but I didn't love it at first, probably because it was a different pace as compared to Krista's other books. I felt it was a little disjointed at the start, but once it got into its groove, it was a great story. Mabel has been in love with Cal since forever, but when he left her alone, waiting for him under a tree when she was thirteen, Mabel was devastated. From that time, Mabel becomes obsessed with fashion and becoming the woman she thinks Cal wants. Tragedy strikes on Mabel's 21st birthday when her beloved brother and Cal's best friend, Jamie, dies. Mabel's world falls apart, and when she remembers Jamie's last words to her "Follow your dreams", she knows that's what she has to do. So, Mabel packs up her stuff, sneaks out of the house and heads to New York to become an 'influencer'. But just as she is about to get her big break as Bella Mae, she is outed as Mabel Muldowney from Elverna and not the globe trotting socialite her online persona portrays. With her dignity and money gone, the only place she can go is back to Elverna and her dad. But when Mabel gets back home, she realizes that everything is different, and that Cal is now running her family farm and if she wants to stay in her father's house, she has to work for Cal. How can she do that, when he is still the man that holds the broken pieces of her heart in his hands, and working with him everyday will not help her heal? To make matters worse, Cal is sullen, broody and sometimes outright rude, but he is still as handsome and captivating as ever. And when Mabel agrees to help promote the Elverna Farmers Market, which was Jamie and Cal's vision and dream to make Elverna a sustainable, organic farming community, Cal and Mabel will be spending every minute together. And when that happens, the chemistry sparks and Mabel and Cal finally give in to the inevitable. But then Cal backs off and bolts when Mabel tells him she is a virgin. And once again, Mabel is left humiliated and devastated.
A second chance, brother’s best friend and younger sister, angsty romance read that will have you frustrated and falling in love all at once. Mabel has loved Cal almost all her life and once he rejects her at a young age, she decides she needs to step up her fashion game to become more like the girls her brother and him go after. Still never on Cal’s radar Mabel decides the only thing she wants now is to leave her small town behind for bigger and better things. Mabel’s passion is becoming a social influencer for fashion and her brother always supported he while everyone else in the town shunned her, even Cal. On the worst day of her life, she finally decides it’s time to go and 4 years later her world still crumbles down. With nothing left to do, she flees back to her hometown full of regret and shame, but her love/hate for Cal is as intense now as it was back then. Cal still harbors anger towards Mabel and vice versa, but now they must work together. Will sparks fly once again or will words or other objects fly at Cal’s head instead? These two had me laughing so hard one second then wanting to shake the crap out of them the next. Their back-and-forth banter, anger and lust had me sucked into this story. Mabel could come off as a little selfish but all she ever wanted was to go after her dreams and Cal could come off as a jerk at times but their attraction to each other is off the charts. This is book one of a duet and it’s a slow burn, angsty read but beautiful in learning to find oneself after loss and shame. Add some steam, fun banter, a cute baby goat, kittens, farm porn with a broody farmer, and an eccentric social media fashionista and you have a fun read full of excitement!!
This is a such fun, cutesy story! It's a pretty quick read and is less than 200 pages, but it does have enough length to give the characters depth and be an entertaining story!
Mabel is a determined character. She's trying to establish herself as a fashion influencer, and her current motto is "fake it 'til to make it!" and she's had some success with that...until an anonymous person exposes her secret. She heads home to the very place she wanted to leave in the beginning. I liked Mabel. She's pretty spunky and wants more for her life than what she'd be able to experience by only staying in her small hometown. And that out-of-small-town knowledge (or more worldly experience), really plays a positive role in this story. I liked the balance the author gave to this story, for the "ugh, I want to leave my small town, I have no options here," to the nostalgia of old memories and learning that maybe, she added some prejudices to small town life and that things weren't actually that bad or backwards. Mabel had great character growth in this short, well-paced story. Cal is a bit grumpy, and broody, which makes sense when your best friend dies, and then the woman who you may or may not be in love with disappears in the night. Cal has a complicated past and isn't known to be verbose, but he does have a large heart and a collection of stray animals. Compared to Mabel, Cal doesn't have that much growth in this story and he stays true to the country boy that he became. I liked the give and take of Mabel and Cal. They had great banter and amazing chemistry!
Part one of the duet is not steamy, though there is lots of build up (but don't worry, part two makes up for it!). There's swearing, death of a relative, farm euphemisms, and cyber bullying (small amount, pretty tame). This is part one of the duet, so this does end on a pretty good cliffhanger, but have no fear, the next book is already out and the complete duet is even sold as one unit.
Farm to Mabel is book one in the Farm to Mabel duet and not your average romance. I love the name!! This book is informative, romantic, and so funny. Do not read this when you're hungry either! Mabel lives in a farming community and her brother, his best friend Callan, and the town are trying to make all of the farms sustainable and organic. Mabel is not interested in any of it. She has dreams of fashion, big cities, and being a social influencer. Tragically, her brothers passes and after some heated words she leaves town to make her dreams come true. After years in the city, things happen and Mabel returns to the farm. The timing couldn't have been better for Elverna! Mabel learns a lot about herself, what she is capable of, and how to be true to who she is without being selfish. She also learns a lot about Callan. She thought many things about him, but hid her feelings behind snarkiness and by striking out at him. Callan hid his feelings by ignoring her. The book really illustrates how a goal can be accomplished by working together and trying new things. It also shows these two navigating their new relationship and trying to get past old hurts. I loved the info on sustainable farming and how communities were/are affected by changes in the industry. A domino effect that can go either way. It really opens up a new perspective. The writing is awesome! I loved the banter and I laughed out loud so many times. The book does end on a cliffhanger so be warned, but you only have to wait one week for the conclusion. I was given the opportunity to read a copy of this book.
I enjoyed book 1 in this new duet. Mabel grew up on a farm in rural Illinois but she didn’t feel she belonged there, she dreamed of bigger things- travel and fashion. Callan is a born and raised farmer and wouldn’t have it any other way. Mabel and Cal grew up together since he was Mabel’s brother’s best friend and Mabel has been in love with with for as long as she can remember. Mabel escapes farm life for the big city and doesn’t look back... until she doesn’t have a choice but to return home. Mabel expects everything to be the same but it isn’t and she can’t quite come to terms with that. But Cal is still there and now she is teamed up with Cal for work. I enjoyed the attraction between Cal and Mabel and how much Cal wants to fight it and yet give in at the same time but he knows she will leave again if given the chance. Mabel has a difficult relationship with her dad and yet when she returns she expects more of the same from her dad. But her dad has also changed a bit while she is gone and doesn’t know what to make of that. This was book 1 of 2. Have no fear book 2 is out only a week after the 1st book!
The Farm to Mabel duet by Krista Sandor was a quick read full of second chances and a hometown romance.
Mabel grew up in the small town of Elverna where her love of fashion was the talk of the town…and not in a positive way.The only thing Mabel cared for more than her love of fashion was her brother Jaime and his best friend Cal. When tragedy strikes on her 21st birthday Mabel decides to follow her dream of becoming a fashion influencer by heading out to New York City. Big city life isn’t all it is cracked up to be and Mabel finds out that her persona, Bella Mae, may have the followers but her life is quite lonely.
When her big break is ruined by an anonymous comment revealing her to the world, she decides to tuck tail and head back home to regroup. Yet Elverna is not the same as she left it and it may take her help to fulfill her brother's dream. That is if she can humble herself back to her roots and figure out her feelings for her grumpy farmer Cal.
I don’t want to give too much away so i’m going to stop here but I recommend reading the Farm to Mabel duet. I had trouble with Mabel in the beginning with her snooty attitude however my feelings changed as she matured throughout the books. Grumpy farmer Cal is worth the read alone, i mean can you say swoon! I hope you enjoyed this uplifting farming community who takes care of their own.
I received a free advanced reader’s copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
RECOMMENDED: those that like small town, brother’s best friend, returning home
First my usual points: - I do not do spoilers unless warned. - Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate. - This is a standalone - No errors that I caught as far as editing. - The author was not new to me
BOOK: - Cover adequately reflects the story - Genre/troupe: contemporary romance - 3rd person alternating only
Star Ratings - 1 (poor) - 5(READ THIS BOOK) • Writing Quality: 5 stars • Story ingredient: 5 stars • Ease of reading/Pace: 5 stars • Plot strength: 5 stars • Steam Level 4 stars with a lot of romance
Notes/Opinion (personal):
Having grandparents who were farmers and coming from a small town, I loved this book; it reminded me of spending weeks at their farm as a child. Every roadblock and stumble pertaining to small towns struggling to survive with dwindling populations and farming was spot on and with this author’s sense of humor, each stumble and roadblock had its own humorous take. From baby goats to nosy but well intentioned neighbors, throw in romance and this book had it all. I loved it.
Jamie and Cal were best friends and Mabel had a crush on Cal as a young girl.Cal and Jamie were working on changing things in there farming town in ElVerna to more natural and organic farming.Then Jamie passes away and the funeral is on Mabel's birthday.Mabel is some what high maintenance and a fashion diva and can't wait to leave this farm town.On the day of the funeral her and her father have words and she decides today is the day.Mabel ends of in the big city and starts blogging about fashion and travel.One day her fictional life is found out and she is doomed.With little money left and nothing left to blog about she heads back to the one place she dreads.Only life there is not how she left so many changes and her father has given her rules.She must work for Cal who now runs her father's farm.Cal started a farmers market with the town which is not going well.Mabel is hired to promote the market and Cal is not thrilled about this Things heat up between these two in more ways then one.The book ends with a cliffhanger can't wait to find the answers
This is the first book in the Farm to Mabel duet. I really like Mabel and Cal. I felt for Mabel in this one. The one person who totally supported her is ripped away from her. This small town makes her feel like an outcast and I really didn't like it. It made me back Mabel on spreading her wings to reach her dreams. Now she's back in her hometown at her lowest, but I've began to see there is more to Elverna then I gave it credit for. You can tell things are about to get very interesting between Cal and Mabel. Cal has made Mabel believe he doesn't like her, but that's not the truth at all. Now these two are going to be forced to work together to save the town Mabel couldn't wait to runaway from. This is book does end on a cliffhanger that makes me eagerly await the conclusion to Mabel and Cal's story. This book has the start of great chemistry between Mabel and Cal. It also gives you all the small town drama.