Ready For You

Valentine Bay #1

by Samantha Leigh

I’m a jilted bride who needs to heal, not a damsel looking for a hero—no matter how good he is with his hands.

I ran away to Valentine Bay looking for a place to hide from my cheating ex. I didn’t expect the scumbag to follow me or for the small town’s beautiful, brooding bachelor to swoop in and save my dignity by posing as my new fiancé.

But Joshua Ford—surfer god with a hero complex—has a haunted past, and he’s determined to leave it (and me) behind. So, we make a deal. As soon as my ex gets the message and gets lost, Josh and I will go our separate ways.

In the meantime, where’s the harm in a little misbehaviour between the sheets—or on the dining table?

The first time is so delicious, we go back for seconds… and thirds… until our appetite wreaks havoc on both our broken hearts.

With my chance at happiness pinned on a man not ready to fall in love, I have to wonder: where’s a hero when you really need one?

Ready For You is a first-person, dual POV contemporary romance with lots of steam and a satisfying happily ever after.

Genres: Romance, Fake Dating, Contemporary, Small Town Romance, Contemporary Romance, Found Family, He Falls First

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2023

About the author

Samantha Leigh is the author of hot and heartfelt small town romance. Her heroes are dirty but her heroines like it that way, and they always get their happily-ever-afters.

Sam lives in Sydney, Australia, with her book boyfriend husband and their two soccer-obsessed kids.

Find Sam online!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samanthaleig...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthalei...

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthaleigh...

Reviews

[cajareads · Rating 1 out of 5]

If he's still hung up on his dead girlfriend 75% into the book then maybe he should have just followed her to the grave. Just saying 🤷🏻‍♀️🙄

[Izzy ♡ boom, boom, fucking boom]

I don't think I've been so bored reading a book in a long time..

[Gia Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book 😫😫😫

I be love a man with trauma and a woman who doesn’t want love but ends up finding it unexpectedly.

Josh & Emily were such a great couple, they challenged each other and fell for each other slowly and completely.

I may have cried, I also may have laughed but I honestly loved this book.

[Belle Terese · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a wonderful debut novel! i really had such a lovely time reading this. i just know im gonna love this little found family so much as i continue the series 🥹. there are some spicy scenes in this that i will think about till THE END OF TIME 😩📱.

the one thing i will say about this is i struggled to connect with the main couple. i loved them both individually, but together I just struggled to believe them, that might just be a me thing, and others may really like them. but other than that, FAKE ENGAGEMENT SUPREMACY 😭 i can’t wait to continue with the series.

4⭐️. 1.5🌶️. enjoy my thoughts while reading:

- tropes: love after loss, fake engagement

- ahhhh this better be fake dating

- FAKE ENGAGEMENT/WEDDING?!?!!! EVEN BETTER

- I PROMISE NOT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU is alwayssssss my fave 😩

- jesus that sexting scene 👅🔥🔥

- “day one, one day”

- you go sis you don’t need him to save you

- aww him going to see maggie 😭

- i don’t believe the romance. i don’t think these two people are ready to marry each other, there’s just not enough development.

[Jade Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, small tow romance fake wedding widow and a girl running from her ex fiancé what more can you ask for I loved all the characters and loved it’s done by a Aussie author the spice is great too 🔥 do yourself a favour and read this on ku

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic debut novel I could not stop smiling and then when it got deep I felt sad and felt for the characters. It was everything I wanted in a small town romance. I was gripped from the start and it really drew you in instantly. Emily is trying to get away from her cheating ex and stumbles into the path of a broken hero named Josh who is dealing with his own inner demons. The plot was great and the spice was just what I needed. Not only that it was different every time! The texting scene was so unique and I can not stop thinking about that scene also the commanding scene ahhh… I loved all the side characters. It really felt like a welcoming homely town that really cared for its people.
I highly recommend going into this blind.
Don’t sit on this Debut novel! I loved it.

This book is out 9th February 2023!

If you love:

🔹Small Town Romance
🔹Fake Dating
🔹Jilted Bride
🔹Broken Hero
🔹Costal Town
🔹Cheating Ex Fiancé
🔹Fantastic Spice

Genre/Type: Contemporary Romance 18+
APK: Physical - Special Edition ARC
Pages: 346
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️
POV: First-Person Dual POV
Tropes: Small Town, Fake Dating & Found Family

[Phoebe Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

Emily is just wanting a fresh start after her wedding is called off just 3 days before it takes place. Queue a move to Valentine Bay and accepting drinks at the local bar in the hopes of making new friends. Emily is told that gorgeous, brooding paramedic Josh doesn't date but when her ex-fiance shows up begging her to take him back Josh proclaims that they're engaged and Emily goes with it. Since they're pretending to get married and they both know it has an expiration date there seems no harm in enjoying some fringe benefits to their arrangements and wow, they are hot. I find it hard to say whether this is a slow-burn romance or fast because the chemistry and the spice is fast but the development of their relationship is more of a slow-burn. Either way I was here for it. Emily and Josh are both looking for new starts in seemingly similar but ultimately different ways and it was lovely to see them support each other. I loved watching Emily's confidence grow as she found her feet and developed relationships in Valentine Bay and Josh learning that grief doesn't mean that you can never move on.

Aside from Emily and Josh, the side characters were amazing. I love when friends and family feel fleshed out with their own lives and side stories and these characters made me hungry for more from them.

Valentine Bay is a place I would love to visit. The crew reminds me so much of my own friends that I've grown up with and I loved them just as much as Emily and Josh's love story. I am so excited to see each of their happy ever afters as the series continues.

I'm so grateful to Samantha for sharing an ARC of her debut with me. One I've thoroughly enjoyed reading and can't wait for more from her.

[Nicole Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Valentine Bay, home to hot surfers and now Emily. Our leading lady, Emily Jones, finds herself starting her life over after her ex-fiance leaves her 3 days before their wedding. After becoming friends with some of the locals, Emily's ex shows up and with the help of her new friend Josh, they come up with the ultimate plan to make sure her ex leaves for good.

First and foremost, I have to thank the author Samantha Leigh for allowing me to be among some of the first to read her debut book! Samantha, congratulations, I'm looking forward to your future books!

Now onto the review! I love Emily's character development throughout this story. Seeing the FMC find her voice and confidence in herself is my favorite. The characters and their back stories are so well written and leave you craving more. Not only do I want to know what happens to Josh and Emily after the epilogue, I want to know how the other characters stories end as well. I'm officially invested in Valentine Bay and the residents! So if you like a contemporary romance, with fake dating and hot surfers, look no further and enjoy Ready for You.

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 52 Book Challenge - February Mini Challenge - 2) Be Mine, Valentine

Okay, I wanted to like this because I loved the small town, everybody knows each other and supports each other vibes, but Josh is literally hung up on the dead ex girlfriend like 80% of the way into the novel, and Emily just needs to tell her ex to buzz off. Maybe if these characters could learn to communicate a little better, 3/4 of the book wouldn't feel eye roll worthy.

[Deanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my god I loved this book! It was fun, fast-paced, and flirty and I found myself finishing it in just a few hours because I couldn’t put it down.

Josh and Emily together were both sweet and sexy and each complimented and pushed the other in the best way. Emily really grew into herself and embraced her new life. Josh took a little bit longer to find his happy place but I don’t think he ever would’ve done it without Emily.

The spice was probably about a 3.5. It definitely existed on page and was pretty hot but there was also lots of romance and plot to balance it out. I think that’s part of what made it so enjoyable!

I loved their group of friends as well and cannot wait to read the rest of their stories!! My heart was breaking for Jess in this one but I was so happy to see she’s the focus of the next book in the series 😁

Overall this was just a really wholesome, sweet “fake dating” romance with a healthy side of spice and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking!!

[nanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rate: 4,5

ARC REVIEW

Ready for You is the debut novel from Samantha Leigh and it's really good, I loved her writing and how fluid, cohesive and coherent it was. Samantha Leigh created a beautiful love story, an story I will never forget.

Emily was an amazing character, I felt in love with her since the beginning. She is so strong, beautiful, interesting and intelligent. I really loved her, like, a lot. She had an amazing individual development, and this made me fall in love with her even harder.

Josh was a really good character as well, he had that energy that makes everyone falling in love with him, Emily never had a chance to not falling in love with him too. He is a paramedic and Samantha showed us, in a incredible way, all of the aspects from a life of those who are paramedic in real life. And that's showed us how much Samantha Leigh made a real search to write this book. And that's incredible!

Emily and Josh relationship was very well built, I loved every scene of them together, every little scene of them made me smile really hard. They had a lot of chemistry and a lot of domestic scenes, that made me really happy, because it is this that make me falling in love with a couple.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐ for the amazing friendships

I was disappointed.

For someone whose supposed to be grumpy and grieving his dead gf, the MC sure did fall fast for the FMC

FMC was stupid to tell her ex where she moved to

The whole fake engagement/wedding was utterly stupid and doesn't make sense at all

They met each other 2 times only! Yet the MC felt the need to fake a whole wedding to save her from her ex (who she could have just spoke to!)
Then he buys her an expensive ring. For a fake wedding!!

I also just didn't like Josh in most of the book. He was rude and and verbally abusive anytime Emily mentioned Maggie or his past

Ending was too quick and abrupt. Suddenly out of the blue he decides he loves her, he can get over the death of his girlfriend and decides to live in the present and not the past.

Small town romances have really been disappointing me lately

[Annie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

"If everything works out, there’ll be no doubt in Emily’s mind that she belongs here with us. And with me.”

This book was just perfect - I was nervous at first because part of their situation hit close to home for me but I was not disappointed this was everything I wanted it to be and more! Josh had such an emotional past with so much loss that he was looking for a new start outside of Valentine Bay and Emily was looking for a new start inside Valentine Bay after her last relationship ended up with her feeling alone and broken - they were both searching for something that would make them feel whole again.

“I could love you, Josh, forever if you’d let me, but if there’s someone out there you need to rescue, it’s not me. It’s you.”

I love a good fake dating story and this one didn't disappoint! These two were so perfect for each other and there were times I wanted to reach into the booth and shake Josh for how he was acting especially at the bonfire scene BUT his grand gesture at the end so made up for it - when he finally let himself accept that he loved her and that that was perfectly okay he was all in and it was just beautiful

“You told me you could love me forever if I’d let you. Emily Jones, I want to love you back if you’ll have me.”

Thank you Samantha for reaching out to me and giving me a chance to read this book - it was so healing and such a beautiful story about going through real issues in a realistic way - Josh and Emily were exactly what the other one needed! Emily got the family she so badly needed and deserved and Josh learned to love again and more important he started living again🫶🏻 i loved this story and the whole world of Valentine Bay - this friend group was so fun to read about and i cant wait to continue with Logan and Jess's story!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a cute coastal town, with dirty-talking surfer boys? What about that wouldn't draw you in? It was definitely a cute, easy to read first book to kick off the series. It is a bit more of slow-burn in terms of how long it takes the main characters to actually end up together. But along the way you are definitely treated to some insane chemistry, alongside some rather frustrating moments courtesy of the mmc. There is a lot of discussion of grief amd the lose of a very important person from their core friend group. But with that comes a journey of healing too. I loved that this book had such a huge sense of community and found-family with it too. The whole community really banded together to be there for both of them.

With Emily, you get to see her grow and build back her confidence and see her become this strong, happy person that sees her worth. And with Josh, he goes from being this tortued heart-broken guy thats trying to be someone he's not by running away from everything, to this softer lighter version that values the people around him. They both helped each other to heal and become better versions of themselves.

After starting with Sam's Aster Springs series, and adoring it, I have finally come back to her debut series! In a sense you can feel that this one was a debut. It was a good read but was missing that slight spark and experience that I felt from her other two books I've read. I still enjoyed it as a whole though and am still giving it a 4 ⭐️ for my review.

[Kylie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review. This is a debut read by this author, and oh my goodness I am in LOVE with her writing! This is a small town sweet romance. Emily just moved to Valentine Bay, to get away from her ex fiancé and start over. When having drinks on Valentine’s day at a bar with her new friends, her ex shows up wanting her back. Josh, who’s not available since losing his ex gf, comes to her rescue pretending to be her fiancé. They both agree to this charade to get her ex to back off for good. Neither is looking for a relationship and content with the arrangement. Josh’s plan has been to move away and start over. Finding love again is not what he has set for his future.
It doesn’t take long for the chemistry between the two to fly off the charts. I practically felt the steam coming out of my kindle. Waters get muddled when they realize there are real feelings beginning to take hold.
I loved this story so much! The angst that Josh is living daily nearly broke my heart. He is such a sweet character, he has so much love to give but struggles daily with accepting that it is ok to be happy and to live again.
The more time Josh and Emily spend together, the more the two of them really find themselves and truly experience happiness. These two had some fantastic character growth. This story was sweet but packed a punch with the steam. Loving these characters, especially all of the side characters, was so easy ! I am so excited for this series to progress, I am eager for Jess and Abbie’s stories!! I couldn’t have asked for a happier HEA!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Brandi-Lynn Weiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

For her first book, Samantha really did a phenomenal job, & if this book is any indication of what’s to come she’s definitely going to be huge. This was really a good read, it got me aggravated at times & I don’t think there’s ever been a Hero in a book I wanted to literally smack, shake & knock sense into more than Josh. This guy has lived w/the guilt & grief of losing someone that he’s spent 4 years never moving forward. Just living in the past. I really felt for Emily, she started having feelings for Josh, but he was such an a$$ hole to her at times. She didn’t deserve it. Josh was so wrapped up in his past & the loss of Maggie, he couldn’t see the happiness he had & a future he could have w/Emily. I was relieved he finally woke up, but I kept waiting & waiting for it to have happened before it did.
I really loved this book, it takes you on an emotional journey, but all leads to a HEA! At the same time I felt Emily’s heart hurting because of Josh, my heart broke for Jess. I can’t wait for her & Logan’s story, because if this was emotional at times, I can only imagine Jess’s story. Seeing her ex love moving on & marrying someone else isn’t easy, especially when she never got over him. But I got a feeling there’s a strong love/hate relationship w/her & Logan. And those always lead to the best HEA’s & ones w/explosive chemistry!!! I can’t wait for it!
Samantha you did an absolutely amazing job w/this book & I can’t wait for more f/you! You totally rocked this- great story, excellent characters & no boring fillers! This entire story was beautifully written. Great job!

[Mindy Menotti bookishly_mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚This is an ARC BOOK REVIEW in return for an honest opinion…

📖Ready for you by Samantha Leigh

🌟 5/5
🌶️ 4/5 steamy
💘Fake Dating
🏡Small Town
👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏽 Dual Point of View
🤍 contemporary romance
💔 Loss / Grief
😠 Grumpy ☀️ Sunshine
🚑 Paramedic
📸 Photographer

🔸First off- congrats going to Samantha Leigh on creating such a beautiful love story with uher debut novel!!

▫️▫️Emily Jones (FMC) was headed to the alter when her fiancé called it off a few days prior. So as a jilted bride, she decided she needs a completely fresh start and moves to Valentine Bay. It’s a quaint small town, in Australia, with a group of locals that know each others business.

🔲🔲When Emily is invited by some new friends, Abbie & Jess, to go out to the local bar for some margaritas… she did not know her ex, Tyler, was going to come running after her to try to win her back.

▫️▫️When Tyler starts to manipulate Emily into the reason she needs to “come back home” with him, Josh Ford (MMC) makes a quick decision to try to make Tyler believe they are in a strong, committed relation…
And planning to get married in a few short weeks! Josh just really got the ball rolling with this “fake dating” fib he told…’And this is where the story really gets started! So, please get yourself a copy and dive in right now!! You will read about some fun banter between friends, the way a community really pitches in to support this “relationship” and how just a few steamy moments can turn into the need & desire for more! 🤍

🔹🔹The character development of Emily coming to terms that she can be a strong, independent woman without the help of a man making her feel empowered, was beautifully constructed. I was so drawn from her character from the beginning to the end. Her beauty is displayed perfectly and the friendships that she makes throughout the story are so fun!

🔹🔹 Josh has endured so much loss and grief in his lifetime and the way that his character developed throughout the book had my heart breaking into pieces all while picking them right back up and making me whole again. His broody character was swoon worthy, but who doesn’t like a sexy grump… especially one who likes to surf !!! I absolutely adored him from The very beginning & the small spurts I’d his dad being in the book made my heart palpitate! I loved him!

▪️Such a beautifully written book!! Recommended and cannot wait to read the next book in this series by SL! ▪️

[Stef (Noveltea Corner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her fiance dumps her days before their wedding, Emily escapes to the small coastal town of Valentine Bay where she works at the local veterinarian clinic and dreams of a fresh start. She doesn't expect grumpy, grieving paramedic, Josh, who's still dealing with the death of his high school sweetheart. When Emily's ex turns up in town, Emily and Josh pretend to be engaged and the whole town gets in on the deception, but things get complicated when real feelings get involved and Emily and Josh need to figure out if there's anything truth behind their fake relationship.

This was a fun, fast-paced debut that definitely had me reading until the end. It has a depth to it, particularly in the second half of the book, that I was expecting, as Josh has to unpack his grief and address the way he deals with it if he wants to pursue a relationship with Emily. There were a great cast of side characters - the entire town was delightful in the way they all pitched in to plan the perfect wedding - and I can't wait to read books for some of the other characters. (No, seriously, I'm hanging out for the next book because the set-up was great.) It was definitely nice to read another Australian author/Aussie romance that had a nice blend of sweet and steamy scenes, romance and drama and all-around comfort read feelings.

Thank you to the author for the review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CW/TW: Death of loved ones (parent, girlfriend, historical off page), possessive ex,

Tropes/Keywords: Small town, fake relationship, paramedic, wedding photographer, grumpy/sunshine, found family, dual POV

[Only.ever.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️💔Ready for you💔❤️

By Samantha Leigh

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Feelings: ❤️5/5 🌶4/5 😭4/5


Second chance for Josh and Emily


Gut wrenching and highly emotional. This story is built of grief and sadness and brings you to hope and a second chance for love. It shows you how to move on when you are stuck and don't know how or where to go. When you lose yourself and hang on to promises made of grief and sadness.

Josh had experienced loss and he can't and won't find a way out of it, so it seems. But he has a plan. Emily moved to Valentine Bay for a new start. After being wronged so deeply by her ex she wants a new life, a new Emily.

When these two meet there is an instant attraction. A new and foreign feeling for both. So when they run into each other more often that attraction stays. An unwelcome situation leads to a spontaneous agreement nobody saw coming. At least Emily and Josh. And so things begin to wheel. And attraction becomes more, and more leads to guilt. And that ends in heartbreaks. 

Poor Joshdoesn't know where his head is most of the time. But he made his progress, slowly but steadily. 

Emily was so understanding and caring. Sometimes I wished she let him grovel more. But she did good with all her intentions. 

It was really really sensitive and carefully written. You could easily understand each character and their thoughts. I cried a lot because I felt so much. With them, in that Moment. I really anticipate the next book, did they grow the characters on me that much. And I want to know their stories and want to see them get their happy ends.

[Abbey | bookishandme · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sam slid into my DMs and asked if I would take a chance on her by reading her debut novel I was just as surprised as you are! All it took was the mention of small town, fake dating, heartbroken Aussie surfer with a hero complex and I was sold (TBH I’m always willing to take a chance on an author especially indie authors, so she could have told me anything and I’d have probably said yes!)

Welcome to Valentines Bay, a small town in Australia with a “disproportionate number of divine, dirty-talking surfers.” Emily is new in town, having being dumped by her now ex-fiancé 3 days before her wedding she’s hoping that the Bay will give her the opportunity to start anew. Josh our MMC is struggling under the weight of his past that he is desperately trying to escape. When Emily’s ex fiancé turns up demanding they get back together, Josh & Emily hatch a plan with the help of the Bays other residents to throw a fake wedding to FINALLY drive home the message that they are over.

First off - massive congratulations Sam! What a debut! I’m officially in love with Valentine’s Bay ❤️

Emily was a girl after my own heart. Her development over the course of story is one screaming of female empowerment. I loved the fact that she grew so much to realise that she was strong enough to save herself and she was worthy of finding someone to love and be loved. Plus her friendship with Abbie & Jess was brilliant - Margarita’s for all please.

Joshua Ford aka Josh our brooding surfer. His story is one of self healing and self redemption. Sam expertly handled his grief and growth with the grace it required. He did make me mad at times but he also made me cry. In the end these two broken souls were made to find one another.

I should also mention the chemistry - 🔥🔥 these two had it in buckets! I loved it!

Overall that was a brilliantly moving debut novel, fast paced with a balance of storytelling and steam.

If you love the below, you’ll love this book
🤍 small town romance
🤍 fake relationship
🤍 jilted bride
🤍 tortured hero
🤍 grump x sunshine
🤍 meddling friends (in the best way)
🤍 found family

[bek.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book.
I finished this in one sitting. I just couldn’t get enough.
We follow Emily as she packs up and moves to a new town called Valentine Bay after her cheating fiancé walked away right before their wedding. Cue emotional unavailable, hit AF paramedic, Josh who is intrigued by this new face in town. Josh has a lot haunting him and doesn’t want to be dealing with it HOWEVER when Emily’s ex-fiancé turns up begging for her to take him back, Josh introduces himself as her new fiancé and they are getting married in 3 weeks!! Sparks fly, clothes removed, hearts on the line…what will happen…?

I fell into this story hard! I love fake dating/engagement and small town romances and this didn’t disappoint. I laughed, cried, grinned till my cheeks hurt and fanned myself throughout this entire book. It was so full of emotion and I’m all for it.

Congratulations Samantha on this release. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Special thank you to Peachy Keen and Samantha Leigh for an advanced reader copy. This is an honest review and are my own thoughts and opinions.

[Emily | bookedbyemily · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★

𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼:
~ Fake dating/fiancé
~ Small town romance
~ Jilted bride
~ Broken hero
~ Found family

For a debut novel, Samantha’s writing was beautiful. It felt very advanced, as if she’d been writing books for years.

This hit all the emotions and it wasn’t just a gentle brush over them but rather a sucker punch to the stomach. She had me smiling with giddiness and also

The spice was good, but at times it felt like it was just put in to satisfy the readers rather than offering anything o the story.

Both the MMC’s were completely normal (that’s a good thing I promise). Everything about them, from their interactions to the way they handled their “baggage”, was incredibly realistic. It made it much more easier to visualise and I ended up getting more out of the story than I might have done otherwise.

Also a major appreciation for this book because the FMC was called Emily and I barely ever read books with my name in!

Thank you to Samantha Leigh for sending me a copy 💗

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why I waited so long to start this series. I think I was nervous. You know when you LOVE another series the author has and then you try another one and it’s not as good? I was worried. Shouldn’t have been but was.

This book was so good. I smiled, I laughed…I almost cried. This one had all the feels. It had all the wonderful things of finding a group of people that are yours. Who choose you and choose to love you every day. It was so good.


I can’t wait to get to the next one!!!

[Melissa Wilks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the Valentines Day Series we meet Emily, a jilted bride and Josh who is still loves his deceased high school gf.

Emily's ex fiance comes to town to rattle some bones, so Josh helps Emily with a fake marriage.
In the end Josh and emily realise they actually are in love for real and well the rest is beautiful love.

A fantastic first person dual POV story. Samantha is an amazing author.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/28/2023)! 🎁

[Kaleigh Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable. Real life struggles. Love the fake dating/engagement trope. Great debut novel for this author.

[meka · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You told me you could love me forever if I’d let you. Emily Jones, I want to love you back if you’ll have me.”

Super cute! Being an Aussie and reading books set in other parts of the world sometimes (weirdly enough) makes me feel home sick so discovering a new Aussie author who writes characters chill and laid back with Aussie slang is like my bread and butter!!

The plot was nicely paced and though there were some things that weren’t my cup of tea I really did enjoy this book! My favourite thing though was how the characters become themselves through acceptance. It was a bit sudden (after basically fighting it throughout the whole book) but the character development Josh goes through by finding a balance in love and grief, and Emily learning that she’s stronger than she thinks was very moving. Super excited for the others in the series.

[Staceyinkindleland · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars Thank you so much to the author for reaching out and sending me the first two books in the Valentine Bay series.

The FMCs character development through the book was great to read, seeing her come into her own, gain so much confidence was one of the best parts!

I love a fake relationship as much as the next person, but I feel like it happened so fast and so random! I was like wait - isn’t this guy meant to be a serial non dater and then he randomly comes out with that he will be a fake fiancé? Not just a fake boyfriend. I had to do a reread of that specific part to make sure I had read it properly.

But please don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the book! It was a great small town romance with ALLLLL the found family vibes.

I am excited to continue on in the series!

[Jaymie | Girlogic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful debut story.

This book is absolutely amazing, it completely captivated me from page one.

"Josh + Emily + Valentine Bay = Forever!"

Valentine Bay is a place you come to visit but end up staying because you realised you’re finally home. That’s what happened for Emily.

Emily and Josh are very similar, they are both running from something. For Emily, it’s her scummy ex fiancé and for Josh, it’s the death of his first love and his mother. Together, they unknowingly start to heal one another and stop running from things and start running towards each other.

I loved every single one of the characters in this book and that includes the side characters that live in Valentine Bay. The character growth is everything with Emily and Josh, their journey of grief, healing and falling in love is beautiful. I also really enjoyed the fun and quirky moments as well as the small community feel that only a small town romance can give you.

Samantha Leigh’s writing is so easy to follow, it’s paced perfectly and is flows seamlessly. You can tell she’s put her whole heart into writing this book.

I am absolutely addicted, I cannot wait for book 2 in the Valentine Bay series.

"Day One = Today."

Highly recommend.

5 stars.

[Tayla Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a BRILLIANT debut novel!
I’m a slut for a small town romance and this hit the spot perfectly for me. I loved Emily and Josh so much 🥹
Also that texting scene will live with me forever x
Tropes: small town, fake dating, jilted bride, broken hero