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Peonies for Paige
A bookworm with big plans. A flirty handyman searching for joy. Can they find common ground and plant a lifelong passion?
Paige Bell’s dreams are withering. Devastated by a broken engagement, the career-focused college junior is counting on a publishing internship in New York to renew her zest for life. But when the offer falls through and she’s left to finish the summer working in a flower shop, her only pleasure comes from watching the handsome plumber fix the store’s burst pipe.
Trevor Morrison hides his troubled past beneath a cheerful grin. So after his hopes rise when he tumbles head-over-heels for a gorgeous florist, he’s ready to settle down without delay. But his heart sinks when the fiercely independent woman makes it clear NYC is still her calling.
Determined to stand on her own two feet so she can’t be hurt again, Paige tries to balance her personal needs with their blossoming relationship. But with his own abandonment issues surfacing, Trevor wonders if walking away first is the only way to protect his bruised affections.
Is their love destined to be lost in the weeds, or can they put down lasting roots?
Paige Bell’s dreams are withering. Devastated by a broken engagement, the career-focused college junior is counting on a publishing internship in New York to renew her zest for life. But when the offer falls through and she’s left to finish the summer working in a flower shop, her only pleasure comes from watching the handsome plumber fix the store’s burst pipe.
Trevor Morrison hides his troubled past beneath a cheerful grin. So after his hopes rise when he tumbles head-over-heels for a gorgeous florist, he’s ready to settle down without delay. But his heart sinks when the fiercely independent woman makes it clear NYC is still her calling.
Determined to stand on her own two feet so she can’t be hurt again, Paige tries to balance her personal needs with their blossoming relationship. But with his own abandonment issues surfacing, Trevor wonders if walking away first is the only way to protect his bruised affections.
Is their love destined to be lost in the weeds, or can they put down lasting roots?
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2022
111 people are currently reading
3473 people want to read
About the author
Kasey Kennedy
14 books256 followersKasey Kennedy loves reading books and writing the stories in her head. She has a B.A. in English from Southern Illinois University; is a member of the Chicago Writers Association; Chicago North Romance Writers Association; and a 2021 participant in StoryStudio Chicago’s Novel in a Year program.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 11, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you @KatieandBreyPA and @kaseykennedy8 for my #giftedbook!
This is a charming Rom Com that takes place in a small town in Central Illinois and features Illinois state. As an academic and being from Iowa, I jumped at the chance to read this authentic story filled with a cast of entertaining characters. That and purple is also my favorite color and this cover is gorgeous!
This is a quick read and I love that Paige and Hunter's relationship began as friends and slowly built into a steady romance. The depiction of the ups and downs of new love is realistic and will resonate with you as you think back. I enjoyed riding along as Paige reflected on her journey, began to better understand herself, and demonstrate personal growth. Meanwhile, I really like Trevor and that he fell first. While I can't say I have read a lot of books like this, I enjoyed it and will be looking for more. The writing style made this a quick read. The mix of fiction and realism was delightful!
I highly recommend and am anxiously awaiting book 2! I can't wait to see how this series develops.
This is a charming Rom Com that takes place in a small town in Central Illinois and features Illinois state. As an academic and being from Iowa, I jumped at the chance to read this authentic story filled with a cast of entertaining characters. That and purple is also my favorite color and this cover is gorgeous!
This is a quick read and I love that Paige and Hunter's relationship began as friends and slowly built into a steady romance. The depiction of the ups and downs of new love is realistic and will resonate with you as you think back. I enjoyed riding along as Paige reflected on her journey, began to better understand herself, and demonstrate personal growth. Meanwhile, I really like Trevor and that he fell first. While I can't say I have read a lot of books like this, I enjoyed it and will be looking for more. The writing style made this a quick read. The mix of fiction and realism was delightful!
I highly recommend and am anxiously awaiting book 2! I can't wait to see how this series develops.
October 3, 2022
Thank you to the Author and Katie & Bret PA for the gifted copy
This is a debut novel for Kasey Kennedy and it was a really easy read and such a cute story. I love a love story where the guy falls first and I absolutely loved Trevor and how he interacted with Paige from the day they met.
This definitely had that small town romance feel with likable characters and a certain innocence and sweetness that was just really endearing. This is a clean romance with some well-written kisses that gave even this steamy romance reader all the feels! I find I kind of like to throw a clean romance in every once and while because it’s nice to just enjoy some innocent love 💕
Miscommunication tropes are one of my least favorite and there is a good bit of miscommunication going around here, but I will say it didn’t bother me in the same way it normally does. Usually it just feels contrived and is so frustrating… this was definitely frustrating but in that way you feel in real life when you see people being stupid and not saying what they feel! So I guess what I’m saying is it felt genuine, but it’s still not my favorite (but it could be worse… pregnancy trope I’m looking at you, glad you weren’t in this one!)
Kasey is already writing the next book to tell the story of one of the secondary characters from this book and I’ll definitely be checking it out. It will be fun to glance Trevor and Paige in the pages and see what comes next for these sweet characters!
This is a debut novel for Kasey Kennedy and it was a really easy read and such a cute story. I love a love story where the guy falls first and I absolutely loved Trevor and how he interacted with Paige from the day they met.
This definitely had that small town romance feel with likable characters and a certain innocence and sweetness that was just really endearing. This is a clean romance with some well-written kisses that gave even this steamy romance reader all the feels! I find I kind of like to throw a clean romance in every once and while because it’s nice to just enjoy some innocent love 💕
Miscommunication tropes are one of my least favorite and there is a good bit of miscommunication going around here, but I will say it didn’t bother me in the same way it normally does. Usually it just feels contrived and is so frustrating… this was definitely frustrating but in that way you feel in real life when you see people being stupid and not saying what they feel! So I guess what I’m saying is it felt genuine, but it’s still not my favorite (but it could be worse… pregnancy trope I’m looking at you, glad you weren’t in this one!)
Kasey is already writing the next book to tell the story of one of the secondary characters from this book and I’ll definitely be checking it out. It will be fun to glance Trevor and Paige in the pages and see what comes next for these sweet characters!
September 28, 2022
real rating: 3.75 stars
i read this book as an arc, and it was pretty good. sometimes i'm a little weary about arc reads because other than the blurb, it's completely a blind read. however, i was pleasantly surprised to say that this book wasn't bad, at all.
i liked the plot of the book.. very simple. i definitely will say that this is a very predictable book, and nothing really shocked me when it came down to it. i think i would have liked an element of surprise thrown in there, for sure. but the plot was good. i do like that it took place in a small town, in the middle of Illinois. a lot of books i read either take place in New York, Florida, Washington (because that's a big plot area???), or overseas... having a book take place in the midwest was a nice change. now, i will say that the main trope of this book is insta love, which isn't too much of my favorite. but, this book was alright with it. i got the vibes of this relationship being more real, more adequate to real life romances: meet someone, go on dates, get together. there wasn't too much drama involved (other than the miscommunication trope, we'll get into that later though), so that was nice as well. one thing i didn't like about the book at all was it being in third person pov. not only did we not truly understand what the characters were feeling, and that made the story a lil boring at times for sure. i also felt like certain things were skimmed over, when they shouldn't have been. i also felt like this book had a lot of information dump at times.. and it just wasn't all too engaging to read about if i'm being honest. having more of a connection with the character(s) would've been a lot nicer.
as for the characters themselves, they were okay. i can't really rave about any of them too much. i thought Paige was a cute, lil bookworm. at times i felt like the author was tryna go the "quirky" girl route with the character -- but other than that she was good. i actually saw a lot of myself in Paige, so that was nice. and for Trevor, he was alright. he's not a book boyfriend that i'll remember, or really rave about, but he was still cute. i do think he gave off the southern gentleman vibes, and it was cute to read about. i also like how he was also truly listening to Paige. and the side characters, they were cool. i liked Nica and Lauren; although i don't think i'm invested enough in this series to read their books. Macey was cute, but at times i got the vibes that she was a fake friend (i'm sorry, but i did). the families were nice, but i don't think they added anything to the story except boring, pointless conversations. Rick was a cool addition, and lowkey i think i would've liked Paige to end up with him more (but the heart wants what it wants, right?). i think my favorite character was probably Ann Lee. she gave me "everyone's grandma" vibes and i loved her -- she carried this book at times. now.. let's discuss the issues i had with the characters. there was a lack of character growth or depth with any of them. we don't see Paige nor Trevor (the main characters) really grow, and there wasn't any depth either. we know that Trevor has abandonment issues, but that's never discussed? like okay then, why mention it? and Paige has commitment issues because of her ex fiancee, which she talks about almost as much as she talks about Trevor and not wanting to date him.
okay now.. this next paragraph will be entirely spoilers. you can 100% read at your own risk, but you have been warned. now let's discuss the thing that i mentioned earlier: the miscommunication trope. that whole thing was so petty and immature, it was ridiculous. for the characters being 21 and 27, they communicate horribly at times. like i don't understand why Trevor got so mad at Paige for getting accepted into the internship. she didn't even tell him whether she was taking it or not... she just simply said she got in. and for him to storm out and leave, like bruh i promise it wasn't that deep. and the whole, "don't", thing had me LAUGHING. it reminded me of a high school, dramatic breakup. and then Paige needing to "go home" because she was heartbroken; yet she insisted they weren't dating. ooooookay girl, whatever you say. like that was another thing that i thought was so funny -- because it was so immature for no reason. and finally, Paige ignoring Trevor. like the girl wanted him to spam her phone, but she didn't want to text back. sweetie, this isn't middle school.. grow up. overall, this whole scene was so immature and i was laughing at the time because the characters were pittful.
overall, this book wasn't the worst.. it was decent. would i recommend it? depends on the person. if you're looking for a clean, wholesome read that's got the whole "hallmark movie vibes", then this is certainly for you.
i read this book as an arc, and it was pretty good. sometimes i'm a little weary about arc reads because other than the blurb, it's completely a blind read. however, i was pleasantly surprised to say that this book wasn't bad, at all.
i liked the plot of the book.. very simple. i definitely will say that this is a very predictable book, and nothing really shocked me when it came down to it. i think i would have liked an element of surprise thrown in there, for sure. but the plot was good. i do like that it took place in a small town, in the middle of Illinois. a lot of books i read either take place in New York, Florida, Washington (because that's a big plot area???), or overseas... having a book take place in the midwest was a nice change. now, i will say that the main trope of this book is insta love, which isn't too much of my favorite. but, this book was alright with it. i got the vibes of this relationship being more real, more adequate to real life romances: meet someone, go on dates, get together. there wasn't too much drama involved (other than the miscommunication trope, we'll get into that later though), so that was nice as well. one thing i didn't like about the book at all was it being in third person pov. not only did we not truly understand what the characters were feeling, and that made the story a lil boring at times for sure. i also felt like certain things were skimmed over, when they shouldn't have been. i also felt like this book had a lot of information dump at times.. and it just wasn't all too engaging to read about if i'm being honest. having more of a connection with the character(s) would've been a lot nicer.
as for the characters themselves, they were okay. i can't really rave about any of them too much. i thought Paige was a cute, lil bookworm. at times i felt like the author was tryna go the "quirky" girl route with the character -- but other than that she was good. i actually saw a lot of myself in Paige, so that was nice. and for Trevor, he was alright. he's not a book boyfriend that i'll remember, or really rave about, but he was still cute. i do think he gave off the southern gentleman vibes, and it was cute to read about. i also like how he was also truly listening to Paige. and the side characters, they were cool. i liked Nica and Lauren; although i don't think i'm invested enough in this series to read their books. Macey was cute, but at times i got the vibes that she was a fake friend (i'm sorry, but i did). the families were nice, but i don't think they added anything to the story except boring, pointless conversations. Rick was a cool addition, and lowkey i think i would've liked Paige to end up with him more (but the heart wants what it wants, right?). i think my favorite character was probably Ann Lee. she gave me "everyone's grandma" vibes and i loved her -- she carried this book at times. now.. let's discuss the issues i had with the characters. there was a lack of character growth or depth with any of them. we don't see Paige nor Trevor (the main characters) really grow, and there wasn't any depth either. we know that Trevor has abandonment issues, but that's never discussed? like okay then, why mention it? and Paige has commitment issues because of her ex fiancee, which she talks about almost as much as she talks about Trevor and not wanting to date him.
okay now.. this next paragraph will be entirely spoilers. you can 100% read at your own risk, but you have been warned. now let's discuss the thing that i mentioned earlier: the miscommunication trope. that whole thing was so petty and immature, it was ridiculous. for the characters being 21 and 27, they communicate horribly at times. like i don't understand why Trevor got so mad at Paige for getting accepted into the internship. she didn't even tell him whether she was taking it or not... she just simply said she got in. and for him to storm out and leave, like bruh i promise it wasn't that deep. and the whole, "don't", thing had me LAUGHING. it reminded me of a high school, dramatic breakup. and then Paige needing to "go home" because she was heartbroken; yet she insisted they weren't dating. ooooookay girl, whatever you say. like that was another thing that i thought was so funny -- because it was so immature for no reason. and finally, Paige ignoring Trevor. like the girl wanted him to spam her phone, but she didn't want to text back. sweetie, this isn't middle school.. grow up. overall, this whole scene was so immature and i was laughing at the time because the characters were pittful.
overall, this book wasn't the worst.. it was decent. would i recommend it? depends on the person. if you're looking for a clean, wholesome read that's got the whole "hallmark movie vibes", then this is certainly for you.
October 1, 2022
"I believe there is a magic in the universe and sometimes the universe brings us what we need, not what we want."
"Don't borrow tomorrow's troubles."
"How do you say I love you to someone who's probably read all the great love stories, written by lovers of words?"
Summary: Paige Bell’s dreams are withering. Devastated by a broken engagement, the career-focused college junior is counting on a publishing internship in New York to renew her zest for life. But when the offer falls through and she’s left to finish the summer working in a flower shop, her only pleasure comes from watching the handsome plumber fix the store’s burst pipe. 🌸 Trevor Morrison hides his troubled past beneath a cheerful grin. So after his hopes rise when he tumbles head-over-heels for a gorgeous florist, he’s ready to settle down without delay. But his heart sinks when the fiercely independent woman makes it clear NYC is still her calling. 🌸 Determined to stand on her own two feet so she can’t be hurt again, Paige tries to balance her personal needs with their blossoming relationship. But with his own abandonment issues surfacing, Trevor wonders if walking away first is the only way to protect his bruised affections.
My thoughts: What a sweet, non steamy, full of lovable characters this book was! This was an easy, quick read, and just felt like a hug (yes i feel cheesy this morning) I loved the emotional issues that both the MC's were dealing with are very real and how they both worked threw those issues on their own before conquering them together. If you guys want a sweet, lighthearted read, this is the book for you! Thank you to @katieandbreypa and the author for letting me be on this team! I give Peonies for Paige by Kasey Kennedy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Don't borrow tomorrow's troubles."
"How do you say I love you to someone who's probably read all the great love stories, written by lovers of words?"
Summary: Paige Bell’s dreams are withering. Devastated by a broken engagement, the career-focused college junior is counting on a publishing internship in New York to renew her zest for life. But when the offer falls through and she’s left to finish the summer working in a flower shop, her only pleasure comes from watching the handsome plumber fix the store’s burst pipe. 🌸 Trevor Morrison hides his troubled past beneath a cheerful grin. So after his hopes rise when he tumbles head-over-heels for a gorgeous florist, he’s ready to settle down without delay. But his heart sinks when the fiercely independent woman makes it clear NYC is still her calling. 🌸 Determined to stand on her own two feet so she can’t be hurt again, Paige tries to balance her personal needs with their blossoming relationship. But with his own abandonment issues surfacing, Trevor wonders if walking away first is the only way to protect his bruised affections.
My thoughts: What a sweet, non steamy, full of lovable characters this book was! This was an easy, quick read, and just felt like a hug (yes i feel cheesy this morning) I loved the emotional issues that both the MC's were dealing with are very real and how they both worked threw those issues on their own before conquering them together. If you guys want a sweet, lighthearted read, this is the book for you! Thank you to @katieandbreypa and the author for letting me be on this team! I give Peonies for Paige by Kasey Kennedy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 25, 2022
CW: Peonies for Paige mentions infidelity, parental death, alcohol, poverty, and classim.
Peonies for Paige by Kasey Kenndey is a lovely new adult romance book. Think Hallmark movie. The main character Paige, is a book lover, who is adamant about two things no romantic relationships and her career. Until she meets Trevor, the plumber her boss hired. I felt the slow burn relationship between Paige and Trevor was really well done. At times the book was difficult to read because Paige reflects a lot of common issues people face. Additionally, I thought the author did a fantastic job introducing the characters for the next books without taking away from Paige and Trevor's story. My biggest issue with the book was the pacing towards the end with all the time jumps. Overall, I am highly recommend checking Peonies for Paige if you are in a mood for a cute read. I am looking forward to reading the upcoming books.
Peonies for Paige by Kasey Kenndey is a lovely new adult romance book. Think Hallmark movie. The main character Paige, is a book lover, who is adamant about two things no romantic relationships and her career. Until she meets Trevor, the plumber her boss hired. I felt the slow burn relationship between Paige and Trevor was really well done. At times the book was difficult to read because Paige reflects a lot of common issues people face. Additionally, I thought the author did a fantastic job introducing the characters for the next books without taking away from Paige and Trevor's story. My biggest issue with the book was the pacing towards the end with all the time jumps. Overall, I am highly recommend checking Peonies for Paige if you are in a mood for a cute read. I am looking forward to reading the upcoming books.
February 16, 2023
This was such an adorable, charming romcom. It was definitely a fast read that you will devour in one sitting. Although quite predictable, I couldn't stop myself from turning those pages. I needed to make sure that this was a HEA!
The plot is simple without any twists or without too much added. It was straight to the point and I loved that. The writing was easy to follow, flowed nicely, I would've liked to have Paige and Trevor's POV, instead of having it in the third POV. I think it would've brought even more to their love story, more emotions. I really liked the simplicity, reality of their relationship, it felt real and easy to connect with.
Paige was at sometimes annoying in her thought process and the fact that she needs to have a job in a corporate office, instead of just doing something that makes her happy. She was a little immature but it is to be expected from a 21 year old. She was still overall a likeable character. Trevor, what a cutie, such a sweetheart. He knew what he wanted and went for it without hesitation. I loved how family oriented the characters were, how involved they all were in this new relationship, it was nice to see. There is a miscommunication trope, but it gets resolved quite fast.
I will be reading the second installment soon.
If you want a cute, clean, sweet, new adult romance give this one a try !
The plot is simple without any twists or without too much added. It was straight to the point and I loved that. The writing was easy to follow, flowed nicely, I would've liked to have Paige and Trevor's POV, instead of having it in the third POV. I think it would've brought even more to their love story, more emotions. I really liked the simplicity, reality of their relationship, it felt real and easy to connect with.
Paige was at sometimes annoying in her thought process and the fact that she needs to have a job in a corporate office, instead of just doing something that makes her happy. She was a little immature but it is to be expected from a 21 year old. She was still overall a likeable character. Trevor, what a cutie, such a sweetheart. He knew what he wanted and went for it without hesitation. I loved how family oriented the characters were, how involved they all were in this new relationship, it was nice to see. There is a miscommunication trope, but it gets resolved quite fast.
I will be reading the second installment soon.
If you want a cute, clean, sweet, new adult romance give this one a try !
September 21, 2022
I don’t like not liking books! I was willing to stick it out because I was interested in seeing where Trevor and Paige landed. I wanted to see how they figured out their miscommunication problem. But when Paige decided she didn’t need to talk to Trevor because he was childish, after she wasn’t really willing to talk to him about the things she had been keeping from him. That was kind of the last straw for me? I did finish reading only because this happened at about 75% so it wasn’t a huge commitment to finish it.
The story fell flat for me. I didn’t love Paige. She was childish for a 21 year old with a lot of plans for her life. She was just upset that everyone was telling her she was making rash decisions and she didn’t want to hear it. And then she started randomly hanging out with a guy from high school while she was running home for the weekend to hide from her problems?
I did like Trevor, kind of? He was kind of TOO all in too quickly for me. They only knew each other 3 weeks before he was really thinking he could be husband material, that he could do it for Paige? It was so fast and he barely knew her! Yes when you know you know, but he didn’t even KNOW her?
I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story fell flat for me. I didn’t love Paige. She was childish for a 21 year old with a lot of plans for her life. She was just upset that everyone was telling her she was making rash decisions and she didn’t want to hear it. And then she started randomly hanging out with a guy from high school while she was running home for the weekend to hide from her problems?
I did like Trevor, kind of? He was kind of TOO all in too quickly for me. They only knew each other 3 weeks before he was really thinking he could be husband material, that he could do it for Paige? It was so fast and he barely knew her! Yes when you know you know, but he didn’t even KNOW her?
I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2022
This book has the age old trope of a girl wanting to fulfill her big city plans while also trying to balance her desire for romance and the idea of settling down. Told from the point of view of both Trevor and Paige, this story shows how they both overcome their personal hurdles to make a relationship work between them. Kasey Kennedy did it beautifully!
What I loved:
Trevor is such a sweet character. It’s fun to see the sweet side and yet still allow room for flaws.
Paige is driven and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish her goals. Love to see that in a character!
Family oriented book.
This book is so clean! It does mention alcohol usage, but the only intimate scenes described are kissing.
What I didn’t love:
This book promotes the idea that going on one date means you are in a relationship. I’ve never loved that cultural idea.
Who I would recommend this book to:
Teenagers and older.
I was given an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
What I loved:
Trevor is such a sweet character. It’s fun to see the sweet side and yet still allow room for flaws.
Paige is driven and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish her goals. Love to see that in a character!
Family oriented book.
This book is so clean! It does mention alcohol usage, but the only intimate scenes described are kissing.
What I didn’t love:
This book promotes the idea that going on one date means you are in a relationship. I’ve never loved that cultural idea.
Who I would recommend this book to:
Teenagers and older.
I was given an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 23, 2022
This clean romance was a good way to finish out the summer with its setting of a flower shop, gorgeous floral arrangements, and a sweet love story. I enjoyed seeing Paige take a second chance on love with Trevor. While she is guarded and unsure of where a relationship can go with him, Trevor is patient and certain that Paige is the one for him.
The flower shop owner, Anna Lee, was a fun, caring mother figure who was my favorite character. She showed that life has unexpected things happen, but you can choose to look at the positive. The author is knowledgable concerning different varieties of peonies and I enjoyed how she incorporated that information so easily into the story. I actually looked up information on peonies after I read the story since I was curious and am a gardener.
I received an advanced reader copy and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
The flower shop owner, Anna Lee, was a fun, caring mother figure who was my favorite character. She showed that life has unexpected things happen, but you can choose to look at the positive. The author is knowledgable concerning different varieties of peonies and I enjoyed how she incorporated that information so easily into the story. I actually looked up information on peonies after I read the story since I was curious and am a gardener.
I received an advanced reader copy and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2022
Sweet romance story that's well written and I absolutely love the flower shop references. I can easily visualize each scene with the authors descriptive writing style. I do think Trevor latches on too quick but seems great for Paige... there is someone for everyone!
October 30, 2022
In a controversial world we live in today I enjoyed the deviation of a lighthearted romance. Paige made better choices than I have and as a mother I see how we influence and support our children. Nicely done.
October 12, 2022
Read this if you:
*Enjoy slow burn adult romance
*Like opposites attract hallmark movies
*Are fond of small town girls with big city goals
Meet the Author: Kasey Kennedy grew up in Central Illinois, staying in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs since. She is married and enjoys spending time listening to music, especially live shows. When not dreaming up new characters and stories, she is reading or planning what to read next.
Synopsis: “Is their love destined to be lost in the weeds, or can they put down lasting roots?” Paige Bell is working towards a publishing internship in New York. When she is turned away due to a mistake on their end, she decides to take up freelancing in hopes to WOW them for an upcoming internship. Paige is required to work numerous jobs to pay the bills due to this unexpected circumstance. When she shows up at the floral shop for her shift she meets Trevor, the handsome dedicated plumber. Trevor instantly falls for Paige despite his own feelings on relationships. He is devastated to know her goal is to leave for New York in the near future. Will the two of them be able to make this work?
Reader’s Thoughts: I am so very excited to learn that Peonies for Paige was the first installment of the Bloom Series. This was a quick afternoon read that I could not put down. Lately I have read very STEAMY romance novels and this one was just so pure, innocent, and CLEAN. It was nice to change it up. It really gave me the “feel good, hallmark movie” vibes. Trevor and Paige were both battling personal issues which caused them insecurities when it came to forming their relationship. I would have loved to see them work on their problems together opposed to running from what they feared but that is what made this story different from the rest. I enjoyed Kennedy’s descriptive writing style. At one point I was pretty sure I could smell the pink peonies Trevor sent Paige. I can’t wait to get my hands on book number 2!
Available Now in Paperback, Hardback, and eBook.
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐
Thank you, @KatieandBreyPA and @kaseykennedy8 for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.
*Enjoy slow burn adult romance
*Like opposites attract hallmark movies
*Are fond of small town girls with big city goals
Meet the Author: Kasey Kennedy grew up in Central Illinois, staying in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs since. She is married and enjoys spending time listening to music, especially live shows. When not dreaming up new characters and stories, she is reading or planning what to read next.
Synopsis: “Is their love destined to be lost in the weeds, or can they put down lasting roots?” Paige Bell is working towards a publishing internship in New York. When she is turned away due to a mistake on their end, she decides to take up freelancing in hopes to WOW them for an upcoming internship. Paige is required to work numerous jobs to pay the bills due to this unexpected circumstance. When she shows up at the floral shop for her shift she meets Trevor, the handsome dedicated plumber. Trevor instantly falls for Paige despite his own feelings on relationships. He is devastated to know her goal is to leave for New York in the near future. Will the two of them be able to make this work?
Reader’s Thoughts: I am so very excited to learn that Peonies for Paige was the first installment of the Bloom Series. This was a quick afternoon read that I could not put down. Lately I have read very STEAMY romance novels and this one was just so pure, innocent, and CLEAN. It was nice to change it up. It really gave me the “feel good, hallmark movie” vibes. Trevor and Paige were both battling personal issues which caused them insecurities when it came to forming their relationship. I would have loved to see them work on their problems together opposed to running from what they feared but that is what made this story different from the rest. I enjoyed Kennedy’s descriptive writing style. At one point I was pretty sure I could smell the pink peonies Trevor sent Paige. I can’t wait to get my hands on book number 2!
Available Now in Paperback, Hardback, and eBook.
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐
Thank you, @KatieandBreyPA and @kaseykennedy8 for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.
October 15, 2022
This story is so adorable! I fell for Trevor before they even went on their first date. A hardworking family man that looks "scrumptious" yes, please! Paige is an amazing book nerd that I can relate to, after going through a break up my priorities also changed, and I became career-oriented. This book was the perfect reminder that just because love does not work out once, does not mean you have to give up on love altogether. I cannot wait to see what Kennedy has planned for the next book in the "In Bloom" series.
October 9, 2022
The first book in a new series, Peonies For Paige was so adorably cute. Paige works at In Bloom, a flower shop in town. She's so excited to be an intern at a publishing company in New York, but when there is a mix up and they can't offer her the position, she stays at home, continues working at In Bloom, and picks up a waitressing job for some extra cash. When Paige meets Trevor, a plumber hired to fix the pipes at In Bloom, they both seem to have their eye on one another. When Paige is offered the spring internship in New York and Trevor realizes that, things suddenly take a turn. After a little time apart and some wise words from their families, can Paige and Trevor make their relationship work? This book was so sweet, the plot was super cute, and the characters were sweet and likeable. This story gave me all the Hallmark movie vibes, and I loved that so much. I can't wait to read Nica's story next.
October 3, 2022
Book Review
Peonies For Paige
A Novel Written By Kasey Kennedy
Fiction - Romance
256 Pages
Published 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Do you like:
- Hallmark movies
- Stories where opposites attract
- When the male main character falls first
- Characters with a close family
- Small town setting
- A female main character with big city goals
- A cute setting in a flower shop
- A book with a clean romance
If you said yes to any of these, you will like this book. Paige, the main character, is a small town girl with big city goals. She is willing to put romance on hold to reach her goals.
Trevor, is a plumber who has fallen fast for Paige. He is looking for a happily ever after with her.
Paige’s career goals and miscommunication have put a damper on their relationship.
This is Book 1 in the author’s In Bloom Series. I’m looking forward to Book 2!
“Sometimes the universe brings us what we need, not what we want.”
Peonies For Paige
A Novel Written By Kasey Kennedy
Fiction - Romance
256 Pages
Published 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Do you like:
- Hallmark movies
- Stories where opposites attract
- When the male main character falls first
- Characters with a close family
- Small town setting
- A female main character with big city goals
- A cute setting in a flower shop
- A book with a clean romance
If you said yes to any of these, you will like this book. Paige, the main character, is a small town girl with big city goals. She is willing to put romance on hold to reach her goals.
Trevor, is a plumber who has fallen fast for Paige. He is looking for a happily ever after with her.
Paige’s career goals and miscommunication have put a damper on their relationship.
This is Book 1 in the author’s In Bloom Series. I’m looking forward to Book 2!
“Sometimes the universe brings us what we need, not what we want.”
October 5, 2022
Read if you like :
💐Flowers
💋Whirlwind romances
📣 Dual POV
This was a cute light romance. It was kind of an instant love situation for Trevor. I liked Paige and her work ethic and her friends at the flower shop. I kind of resonate with Paige and her realistic mindset about having a stable job and waiting to settle down. I liked how sweet Trevor was but I didn’t like how at times he thought he could convince Paige to leave her dreams of New York and publishing. However, he did come around in the end. I also was happy that Paige did not end up ditching the idea of NY I felt at times her mom was unsupportive and trying to talk her out of it. Overall I was happy with the ending and the message that we don’t have to give up our dreams and settle.
💐Flowers
💋Whirlwind romances
📣 Dual POV
This was a cute light romance. It was kind of an instant love situation for Trevor. I liked Paige and her work ethic and her friends at the flower shop. I kind of resonate with Paige and her realistic mindset about having a stable job and waiting to settle down. I liked how sweet Trevor was but I didn’t like how at times he thought he could convince Paige to leave her dreams of New York and publishing. However, he did come around in the end. I also was happy that Paige did not end up ditching the idea of NY I felt at times her mom was unsupportive and trying to talk her out of it. Overall I was happy with the ending and the message that we don’t have to give up our dreams and settle.
November 4, 2022
I enjoyed this book and found it an easy read. There are things that I would have liked done/handled differently which is why it’s a 4 star.
Paige is an interesting and complicated character of which a significant layer isn’t revealed until after the major story conflict happens. Though Trevor has his own issues, he is willing to pursue the romance and see where it goes. He’s an awesome book boyfriend – sweet, romantic, caring, intelligent, hardworking and a nice guy. This is one of those books that I love picking up to refresh my pallet. The romance is sweet and I love reading about their dates and the time they spent together.
I wanted more time from Trevor’s perspective than we got. 90% of the book is from Paige’s point of view, which is ok, I just enjoyed Trevor and wanted more, including a better understanding and setup of things. I also would have liked more page time of his friends – the main characters interacting with them, especially as Paige is planning on setting up one of her friends with one of Trevor’s after only one meeting – this is a later book in the series. There were times when the story slowed down for me because the author went away from the main story and added content that was unnecessary (for me) and didn’t move the story along.
I wanted more from the ending of the book than we got. I Like the last few chapters for the most part, but I was left with several unanswered questions and for me, I need closure, especially as the other books in the series aren’t about the same main characters. This involved one particular story thread that ran through the entire story.
Paige is an interesting and complicated character of which a significant layer isn’t revealed until after the major story conflict happens. Though Trevor has his own issues, he is willing to pursue the romance and see where it goes. He’s an awesome book boyfriend – sweet, romantic, caring, intelligent, hardworking and a nice guy. This is one of those books that I love picking up to refresh my pallet. The romance is sweet and I love reading about their dates and the time they spent together.
I wanted more time from Trevor’s perspective than we got. 90% of the book is from Paige’s point of view, which is ok, I just enjoyed Trevor and wanted more, including a better understanding and setup of things. I also would have liked more page time of his friends – the main characters interacting with them, especially as Paige is planning on setting up one of her friends with one of Trevor’s after only one meeting – this is a later book in the series. There were times when the story slowed down for me because the author went away from the main story and added content that was unnecessary (for me) and didn’t move the story along.
I wanted more from the ending of the book than we got. I Like the last few chapters for the most part, but I was left with several unanswered questions and for me, I need closure, especially as the other books in the series aren’t about the same main characters. This involved one particular story thread that ran through the entire story.
September 28, 2022
3.5⭐
Romance level: kissing.
The first few chapters give you a good background of her situation. Then she meets Trevor, the most charming handyman. I was surprised by his honesty! How he approached her about the chocolate cake and the date👌🏻🔥.
I liked where their relationship was going! He fell hard for her first & quick. It was sweet...Until they stopped talking & decided to flee from one another, creating such a mess.
Here's the thing. I had conflicting thoughts about Paige actions, because even if they were fighting, it didn't end in "the relationship is over". Therefore, her seeing someone else while they were still fighting wasn't my cup of tea. She told herself they were only friends, but then she let him flirt with her, go on dates & talk about how he was familiar & safe. (While ignoring Trevor). It's just a trope I am not a fan of. I was kind of bummed about it because the story was good.
Despite everything, I loved the flower gesture. Trevor was really sweet. I loved the epilogue & their communication then. It was cute. Let me know your thoughts
🍁
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*
Romance level: kissing.
The first few chapters give you a good background of her situation. Then she meets Trevor, the most charming handyman. I was surprised by his honesty! How he approached her about the chocolate cake and the date👌🏻🔥.
I liked where their relationship was going! He fell hard for her first & quick. It was sweet...Until they stopped talking & decided to flee from one another, creating such a mess.
Here's the thing. I had conflicting thoughts about Paige actions, because even if they were fighting, it didn't end in "the relationship is over". Therefore, her seeing someone else while they were still fighting wasn't my cup of tea. She told herself they were only friends, but then she let him flirt with her, go on dates & talk about how he was familiar & safe. (While ignoring Trevor). It's just a trope I am not a fan of. I was kind of bummed about it because the story was good.
Despite everything, I loved the flower gesture. Trevor was really sweet. I loved the epilogue & their communication then. It was cute. Let me know your thoughts
🍁
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion of the book*
October 7, 2022
I ADORED this book. A sweet and cute Hallmark-like love story that isn’t too heavy. The plot line makes you feel warm and fuzzy, while the characters feel like real people. I really enjoyed this light read and would recommend it to any Rom-com/Hallmark lover!
September 25, 2022
Well…
I didn’t connect with this book. And it makes me sad. Plot of this book sounded so cute. But when I started to read it…
It was fine. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think that this is a bad book. No. It just… is not for me. I started to read it, continued reading it… but just could not connect with characters and everything happening.
Main couple is not bad people. They felt a bit chaotic for me at some moments, but they were not bad people.
Love was kinda insta-love. So I you are into that – this book may be for you. I liked small town feel. It was cozy and nice. I don’t know. I just liked it. Also I liked Anna Lee who was side character. Sometimes writing style felt too descriptive. Like – descriptions of details which in my opinion did not matter that much. You take out some sentences in some episodes and… it doesn’t change anything in story because those descriptions didn’t give anything to the story in the first place. But it’s just my opinion.
I will not give new info about plot because I don’t want to give out spoilers. Overall it was fine book, just not really for me. But just because i didn't connect with characters, doesn't mean you will not. If you want to read sweet insta-love...y... romance in small town setting - you can try this one :).
Also - It’s so called clean romance, so no spicy porn.
I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t connect with this book. And it makes me sad. Plot of this book sounded so cute. But when I started to read it…
It was fine. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think that this is a bad book. No. It just… is not for me. I started to read it, continued reading it… but just could not connect with characters and everything happening.
Main couple is not bad people. They felt a bit chaotic for me at some moments, but they were not bad people.
Love was kinda insta-love. So I you are into that – this book may be for you. I liked small town feel. It was cozy and nice. I don’t know. I just liked it. Also I liked Anna Lee who was side character. Sometimes writing style felt too descriptive. Like – descriptions of details which in my opinion did not matter that much. You take out some sentences in some episodes and… it doesn’t change anything in story because those descriptions didn’t give anything to the story in the first place. But it’s just my opinion.
I will not give new info about plot because I don’t want to give out spoilers. Overall it was fine book, just not really for me. But just because i didn't connect with characters, doesn't mean you will not. If you want to read sweet insta-love...y... romance in small town setting - you can try this one :).
Also - It’s so called clean romance, so no spicy porn.
I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2022
This book was super cute! I loved reading a light and sweet novel compared to the spooky or spicy I’m used to! I highly recommend this book, it’s a quick read and enjoyable.
September 28, 2022
Thank you so much to Kasey Kennedy for allowing me the opportunity to read an ARC of her novel, "Peonies for Paige". It was released on September 27th, 2022.
Overall, I rated this novel 4/5 stars!
This book tells the story of Paige, who ends up working in a flower shop over the summer because her original plans of a publishing internship fall through. There, she meets a plumber named Trevor, who her new boss has hired. Paige is very goal-oriented and career focused, without leaving a lot of wiggle-room for romance. Trevor has some issues of his own that he is dealing with. Will the two of them be able to make their attraction for one another grow and blossom, or not? You'll have to read in order to find out!
Overall, I rated this novel 4/5 stars!
This book tells the story of Paige, who ends up working in a flower shop over the summer because her original plans of a publishing internship fall through. There, she meets a plumber named Trevor, who her new boss has hired. Paige is very goal-oriented and career focused, without leaving a lot of wiggle-room for romance. Trevor has some issues of his own that he is dealing with. Will the two of them be able to make their attraction for one another grow and blossom, or not? You'll have to read in order to find out!
September 29, 2022
What a sweet and wholesome change to add into my mix! I knew I had to snag this one when I saw Paige is written as a fellow bookworm. A beautiful new adult romance of a gal who has big plans and even bigger dreams. Moving on from a broken engagement, Paige is determined to focus and accomplish her dreams. Trevor was the sweetest love interest and gave such cinnamon roll vibes. I loved that there was such a delicate balance of pushing just enough to get Paige to give him a chance without it becoming a gross power play of not being able to take no for an answer. The side characters are all quirky and fun too! I’m not typically one for the clean romance or no spice life but this is such a refreshing change of pace!
October 4, 2022
sweet and fun!
Great debut novel by a wonderful female author. Cozy and sweet, a fast read. Can’t wait for the next one.
Great debut novel by a wonderful female author. Cozy and sweet, a fast read. Can’t wait for the next one.
September 21, 2022
Peonies for Paige by Kasey Kennedy was a sweet and cozy way to end my summer. This book is the first in the In Bloom series. If you love small town settings, close knit family, near love at first sight (when you know you know) heartwarming, sweet clean romance then this story is for you.
I absolutely delighted in the setting. This whole story felt like a homecoming. It was realistic with characters that quickly felt like old friends or family. I saw so much of myself in Paige especially when I was her age. I liked that while it’s obvious that Paige and Trevor have physical good looks the author had them center their attention on other great qualities that they had, like being smart, considerate, hard working and goal oriented. This story took me back to my own early dating days when my hubby and I were just getting to know each other!
Overall Story Theme:
* Guy falls first
* Goal Oriented Heroine
* Family centered
* Miss-communication
* Swoony Sweet Hero
* Clean Romance
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
https://littlebittydelights.wordpress...
I absolutely delighted in the setting. This whole story felt like a homecoming. It was realistic with characters that quickly felt like old friends or family. I saw so much of myself in Paige especially when I was her age. I liked that while it’s obvious that Paige and Trevor have physical good looks the author had them center their attention on other great qualities that they had, like being smart, considerate, hard working and goal oriented. This story took me back to my own early dating days when my hubby and I were just getting to know each other!
Overall Story Theme:
* Guy falls first
* Goal Oriented Heroine
* Family centered
* Miss-communication
* Swoony Sweet Hero
* Clean Romance
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
https://littlebittydelights.wordpress...
September 19, 2022
After a change in her summer plans, Paige was on a mission to get her affairs in order. Dedicated in making a to-do list, she created one that didn’t involve love. However, as we all know, things don’t happen the way we hope it would.
It took awhile for me to get into the story, and even when I thought I was getting into the story,
it was hard for me to stay with it. I’m not too sure what it was.
I love to escape into the book’s world, but I felt there wasn’t anywhere for me to go, because I spent a lot of time in the character’s head. Not much for my imagination to build on. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone?
Then there was information that was given, that I felt was unnecessary to know because it wasn’t needed to make the story move along or didn’t pertain to anything further in the story.
Another thing was that I felt that Paige and Trevor were more attracted to each other than they were connected. There was definitely physical attraction, but I never got that feeling that they were strongly connected and bonded. I had more of the curiosity of being with each other, just to see vibes.
The storyline was okay, however, it just wasn’t for me.
I received an ARC and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
It took awhile for me to get into the story, and even when I thought I was getting into the story,
it was hard for me to stay with it. I’m not too sure what it was.
I love to escape into the book’s world, but I felt there wasn’t anywhere for me to go, because I spent a lot of time in the character’s head. Not much for my imagination to build on. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone?
Then there was information that was given, that I felt was unnecessary to know because it wasn’t needed to make the story move along or didn’t pertain to anything further in the story.
Another thing was that I felt that Paige and Trevor were more attracted to each other than they were connected. There was definitely physical attraction, but I never got that feeling that they were strongly connected and bonded. I had more of the curiosity of being with each other, just to see vibes.
The storyline was okay, however, it just wasn’t for me.
I received an ARC and I am leaving a review voluntarily.
September 24, 2022
If you love good rom-coms, opposites attract trope, and Hallmark movies, this book is for you! I really fell for Trevor and found myself rooting for him the whole book! I almost wish I could’ve had more from his perspective! I enjoyed watching Paige go on her journey of reflection, understanding, and growth. I would love to read more about them and what happened in between chapters and what happens next! The set up of all the characters leaves me excited to see what’s next for the gang! This is a wholesome quick read that kept me sneaking off or staying up late to read another chapter! A perfect cuddle up with a warm drink under a blanket kind of read! It kept me guessing and gave me that happy feeling I love to get in books! This book comes out on September 27th!
January 13, 2023
Who doesn’t love a good small town will they or won’t they love story? Me! Hand raised high over here.
Just a quick run down of this adorable story. Paige wants stability. Her goal in life is to have control over her future. It makes sense, but it is giving her tunnel vision. Trevor walks into her life and he is determined they are perfect together. Which only leads to flirting, miss communication, and love. Yay for all the things.
What was not so “yay” was the instant connection trop that felt off between Paige and Trevor. The banter between the main characters was good, but Paige’s internal monologue kept me from wanting her to end up with Trevor. He would try to joke with her and Paige either took them way too seriously or started to question his character. Trevor said on their first date about how he wanted someone who also valued honesty as much as he did. Paige agreed, yet she omitted so much that was important for a relationship to blossom (Hehe. See what I did there? 😉) that it is no wonder Trevor responded the way he did. Yet somehow he was the one who needed to “fix it.” It felt as if Trevor was going out of his way to make Paige happy, and all she was focused on was herself and her goals.
September 21, 2022
I loved this book! A charming love story of a heroine with career goals(Paige) being pursued by a handsome, charismatic plumber (Trevor). The book is filled with fun characters and witty dialogue that made this an easy read for me. I could almost smell the flowers in the shop!
September 20, 2022
Being a clean romance, this is the kind of book I would easily recommend for my niece or younger family members. It was a fun read with characters that I felt I knew by the time the book was finished. They were fun, young, humorous and real, and being a clean romance, it was cozy and sweet. I also loved the flower shop setting -what a great place to visit when taking a break in the day. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series.
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