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Farm Cove Bliss
Previously published on Kindle Vella as Farmhouse Bliss.
She’s relearning to trust. He’s healing his heartache. Can two shattered souls piece together a happily ever after?
Crystal Whitman is determined to redefine herself. Pulling double shifts to break free from a cheating ex, the single mom worries her life can’t get any more chaotic until her own mother dies. The city gal returns to her painfully rural hometown in the hopes of flipping her vacant ancestral farmhouse fast, so she never expected her hunky hired hand would make her want to slow down and enjoy the view.
Derek Fischer can’t shake his grief. Twelve years after losing his wife, the devoted dad’s broken heart beats only for his daughter, until a sexy school teacher sparks a different kind of love. But with a dying home improvement business to keep afloat, the contractor fears muddling the line between business and pleasure could only end in financial ruin.
When Crystal hires Derek to fix the old farmhouse, so she can sell it and return to her frenzied life, she moves in for the summer to save some money and give him a hand.
Fighting their growing attraction, she wonders if she’s destined to be alone and he wonders if his wife will ever forgive him for moving on.
When a vivacious blonde sinks her claws into Derek, Crystal relives her ex-husbands betrayal, and may sabotage their growing relationship.
Can Crystal and Derek fix the farmhouse and mend their fractured hearts?
Farm Cove Bliss is a small-town sweet romance. If you like small-town settings, relatable characters, and mid-life love, you’ll fall in love with E.D. Hackett’s Farm Cove Bliss.
She’s relearning to trust. He’s healing his heartache. Can two shattered souls piece together a happily ever after?
Crystal Whitman is determined to redefine herself. Pulling double shifts to break free from a cheating ex, the single mom worries her life can’t get any more chaotic until her own mother dies. The city gal returns to her painfully rural hometown in the hopes of flipping her vacant ancestral farmhouse fast, so she never expected her hunky hired hand would make her want to slow down and enjoy the view.
Derek Fischer can’t shake his grief. Twelve years after losing his wife, the devoted dad’s broken heart beats only for his daughter, until a sexy school teacher sparks a different kind of love. But with a dying home improvement business to keep afloat, the contractor fears muddling the line between business and pleasure could only end in financial ruin.
When Crystal hires Derek to fix the old farmhouse, so she can sell it and return to her frenzied life, she moves in for the summer to save some money and give him a hand.
Fighting their growing attraction, she wonders if she’s destined to be alone and he wonders if his wife will ever forgive him for moving on.
When a vivacious blonde sinks her claws into Derek, Crystal relives her ex-husbands betrayal, and may sabotage their growing relationship.
Can Crystal and Derek fix the farmhouse and mend their fractured hearts?
Farm Cove Bliss is a small-town sweet romance. If you like small-town settings, relatable characters, and mid-life love, you’ll fall in love with E.D. Hackett’s Farm Cove Bliss.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2023
11 people are currently reading
2976 people want to read
About the author
E.D. Hackett
18 books117 followersE.D. Hackett has dreamed of being an author since she was a child. Life got in the way and her writing was placed on the back burner for most of her adult life. One day, she decided to write a novel, write it well, and write it scared. She lives at home with her husband, two kids, and three fur-babies in Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 1, 2023
Crystal is reeling from the death of her mother, a recent divorce, and her son's learning disability.
Derek is reeling from the death of his wife, Vanessa, when she was killed in a car crash 12 years previous. He keeps his focus on his 18 year old daughter and his job and that suits him just fine.
Crystal heads back to Farm Cove, NY to prep her mother's farmhouse for sale. Noticing that the house needs more work than she was prepared for she hires a contractor to help. In walks Derek and the sparks fly.....I guess. (womp, womp)
Ugh. I did NOT enjoy this book at all. I have never hated a female lead character as much as this pity party, sad sack of a woman. She was so pathetic that I was embarrassed for her rather than feeling sorry for her. Derek fared slightly better in likeability but not by much. This was much too much insta-love for this cynical reader to appreciate.
The dialogue was just so awkward and cheesy. I had to continually remind myself that these were two people in their forties. They spoke to each other like they were two teenagers having their very first crush on one another and it made me cringe so hard. The miscommunication trope gets a work out here. Every conversation they have leads to tears shed and then they won't talk for days when if they just expressed themselves to begin with they'd have realized what morons their acting like.
Early on in the book, before the romance has started, there is a scene when Derek walks into the bathroom where Crystal has just come out of the shower finding her stark naked. He knew she was staying in the house and yet he still let himself in with the key, went up the stairs, and just opens the bathroom door without so much as a knock in order to retrieve a tool he had left behind. I would have punched him right in the face and fired him on the spot. This isn't your house. You're a hired contractor. You don't just come and go as you please knowing your client is living there temporarily. That's just creepy on so many levels.
The writing itself is amateurish at best and uninspired at worst. Needless to say I was incredibly disappointed. I'm blaming the adorable cover for requesting this and the brief length the only reason as to why I even bothered to finish it. 1 star!
Thank you to NetGalley and E.D. Hackett for my complimentary copy.
Derek is reeling from the death of his wife, Vanessa, when she was killed in a car crash 12 years previous. He keeps his focus on his 18 year old daughter and his job and that suits him just fine.
Crystal heads back to Farm Cove, NY to prep her mother's farmhouse for sale. Noticing that the house needs more work than she was prepared for she hires a contractor to help. In walks Derek and the sparks fly.....I guess. (womp, womp)
Ugh. I did NOT enjoy this book at all. I have never hated a female lead character as much as this pity party, sad sack of a woman. She was so pathetic that I was embarrassed for her rather than feeling sorry for her. Derek fared slightly better in likeability but not by much. This was much too much insta-love for this cynical reader to appreciate.
The dialogue was just so awkward and cheesy. I had to continually remind myself that these were two people in their forties. They spoke to each other like they were two teenagers having their very first crush on one another and it made me cringe so hard. The miscommunication trope gets a work out here. Every conversation they have leads to tears shed and then they won't talk for days when if they just expressed themselves to begin with they'd have realized what morons their acting like.
Early on in the book, before the romance has started, there is a scene when Derek walks into the bathroom where Crystal has just come out of the shower finding her stark naked. He knew she was staying in the house and yet he still let himself in with the key, went up the stairs, and just opens the bathroom door without so much as a knock in order to retrieve a tool he had left behind. I would have punched him right in the face and fired him on the spot. This isn't your house. You're a hired contractor. You don't just come and go as you please knowing your client is living there temporarily. That's just creepy on so many levels.
The writing itself is amateurish at best and uninspired at worst. Needless to say I was incredibly disappointed. I'm blaming the adorable cover for requesting this and the brief length the only reason as to why I even bothered to finish it. 1 star!
Thank you to NetGalley and E.D. Hackett for my complimentary copy.
March 14, 2023
Great read!
3 years after leaving her mum at the nursing home, Crystal got a call to say she had sadly passed away. Needing to sort out her affairs and fix up her mums derelict home prior to selling, Crystal hired Derek and his company, and the roller-coaster ride of her new life began.
A wonderful, sweet story of a blossoming relationship with both people having demons from the past and overriding guilt that threatened to derail any hope of gettinh together. Well developed characters in a tale that gathers pace with each chapter as you learn about their past and how it affects their future. Love the little misunderstanding that could have stopped any further involvement. Great read, looking forward to reading more by this talented author.
3 years after leaving her mum at the nursing home, Crystal got a call to say she had sadly passed away. Needing to sort out her affairs and fix up her mums derelict home prior to selling, Crystal hired Derek and his company, and the roller-coaster ride of her new life began.
A wonderful, sweet story of a blossoming relationship with both people having demons from the past and overriding guilt that threatened to derail any hope of gettinh together. Well developed characters in a tale that gathers pace with each chapter as you learn about their past and how it affects their future. Love the little misunderstanding that could have stopped any further involvement. Great read, looking forward to reading more by this talented author.
November 3, 2023
This was my first book my E.D Hackett, and I really think this was such a fun introduction to this author.
This book was super cute. I really enjoyed the characters, they felt well thought out, and had interesting backstories. The romance was super sweet, I was cheering them on to make it work. Overall, it was just such an enjoyable, adorable read.
If you’re after a sweet, easy to read romance, this will be a great one to add to your TBR.
This book was super cute. I really enjoyed the characters, they felt well thought out, and had interesting backstories. The romance was super sweet, I was cheering them on to make it work. Overall, it was just such an enjoyable, adorable read.
If you’re after a sweet, easy to read romance, this will be a great one to add to your TBR.
January 21, 2023
Crystal is a hard working teacher, single mum to Mason and now, an orphan. Reeling after the loss of her estranged mother, Crystal heads back to her home town of Farm Cove to finalise the estate. To her shock, her mother's home (once the pride of the neighbourhood) is run down and in need of serious renovation before it can be sold.
In a stroke of luck, Crystal connects with local handyman Derek, a widower and single father, who agrees to take on the daunting task. As Crystal commits to spending her weekends and holidays in Farm Cove, she and Derek grow closer. Will romance bloom or are the walls they've built around their hearts going to sabotage them?
I really enjoyed this book and found it nice to have a slower, more natural paced relationship. Crystal is a Mum first, so her priority is her son and what is best for him rather than simply running away from her existing life to follow romance. In the same way, Derek is still grieving the loss of his wife and is understandably cautious. For me, it made the time they did have for each other even sweeter.
I'm grateful that I was given an ARC copy of this book to read and review by Netgalley, Author E. D. Hackett and Xpresso Book tours! Keep an eye out for this book on its publication day of 9th February 2023!
In a stroke of luck, Crystal connects with local handyman Derek, a widower and single father, who agrees to take on the daunting task. As Crystal commits to spending her weekends and holidays in Farm Cove, she and Derek grow closer. Will romance bloom or are the walls they've built around their hearts going to sabotage them?
I really enjoyed this book and found it nice to have a slower, more natural paced relationship. Crystal is a Mum first, so her priority is her son and what is best for him rather than simply running away from her existing life to follow romance. In the same way, Derek is still grieving the loss of his wife and is understandably cautious. For me, it made the time they did have for each other even sweeter.
I'm grateful that I was given an ARC copy of this book to read and review by Netgalley, Author E. D. Hackett and Xpresso Book tours! Keep an eye out for this book on its publication day of 9th February 2023!
February 8, 2023
This is definitely not what I was expecting.
The beginning was good, it was a good setup for the rest of the story, letting us know about Crystal and Derek's past and how they got to meet each other, how their stories connected and the kind of emotional baggage they both carried. The fact that it had small chapters was a plus for me.
And yes, it had its sweet moments and there were parts where I really liked Derek and Crystal together but then everything felt just the same, over 200 pages of her never trusting Derek and always excusing her outbursts with the fact she got cheated on before and him always feeling guilty for trying to move on after his wife passed away 12 years ago and always, ALWAYS being the one who went after Crystal when something went wrong. Even then, there was so much miscommunication it became annoying.
I know this kind of situations (being cheated on and the passing of someone you love) can be really bad experiences that leave you with some trauma and insecurities, I'm aware of the delicacy of this topics and how they can mess up with someone in so many levels but in this case it just felt like an excuse to create more drama, I never felt like there was truly some development and growth within the characters in a way that helped them heal from those wounds. In any case, I think Derek was a better character than Crystal, his journey being a little bit more significant.
I feel so bad about DNFing books that I don't do it but with this one I really wanted to do it, it just wasn't for me I guess. So instead of DNFing it I just skimmed from around the 60% til the end, reading the dialogs and bits that seemed important. I really just wanted to finish it as soon as possible.
Thanks so much Netgalley and the author for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The beginning was good, it was a good setup for the rest of the story, letting us know about Crystal and Derek's past and how they got to meet each other, how their stories connected and the kind of emotional baggage they both carried. The fact that it had small chapters was a plus for me.
And yes, it had its sweet moments and there were parts where I really liked Derek and Crystal together but then everything felt just the same, over 200 pages of her never trusting Derek and always excusing her outbursts with the fact she got cheated on before and him always feeling guilty for trying to move on after his wife passed away 12 years ago and always, ALWAYS being the one who went after Crystal when something went wrong. Even then, there was so much miscommunication it became annoying.
I know this kind of situations (being cheated on and the passing of someone you love) can be really bad experiences that leave you with some trauma and insecurities, I'm aware of the delicacy of this topics and how they can mess up with someone in so many levels but in this case it just felt like an excuse to create more drama, I never felt like there was truly some development and growth within the characters in a way that helped them heal from those wounds. In any case, I think Derek was a better character than Crystal, his journey being a little bit more significant.
I feel so bad about DNFing books that I don't do it but with this one I really wanted to do it, it just wasn't for me I guess. So instead of DNFing it I just skimmed from around the 60% til the end, reading the dialogs and bits that seemed important. I really just wanted to finish it as soon as possible.
Thanks so much Netgalley and the author for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.
December 29, 2022
Farm Cove Bliss offers so many amazing aspects - you've got a single mom, single dad, grief/loss, divorce/heartbreak, healing processes, parenting struggles, etc.
Crystal is a newly single mom who has just found out about a huge loss and through this loss she inherited her childhood home that holds a lot of negative/hard experiences/feelings for her. She's trying to come to terms with everything when she meets Derek, the one she ends up hiring to fix up her childhood home.
Derek is a single dad grieving the loss of his late wife. Meeting Crystal brings back some of his spark but he doesn't feel he's capable of moving on from his wife, so he fights those feelings.
The story within these pages is one that is full of bittersweet, real life experiences that are relatable. Both Crystal and Derek are living lives and experiences that so many others currently are. I love the character development and growth. There were times that I wanted to grab them both by the shoulders and tell them to open their eyes, but the issues they were having were what you would see in real life relationships and I loved that everything about this book can be related to. Having those relatable aspects makes reading a book, and enjoying it, so much easier.
I absolutely LOVED how Derek kept thanking his late wife for signs throughout this story.
Overall, I loved everything about this book and I can't wait for my friends to read this!
I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Crystal is a newly single mom who has just found out about a huge loss and through this loss she inherited her childhood home that holds a lot of negative/hard experiences/feelings for her. She's trying to come to terms with everything when she meets Derek, the one she ends up hiring to fix up her childhood home.
Derek is a single dad grieving the loss of his late wife. Meeting Crystal brings back some of his spark but he doesn't feel he's capable of moving on from his wife, so he fights those feelings.
The story within these pages is one that is full of bittersweet, real life experiences that are relatable. Both Crystal and Derek are living lives and experiences that so many others currently are. I love the character development and growth. There were times that I wanted to grab them both by the shoulders and tell them to open their eyes, but the issues they were having were what you would see in real life relationships and I loved that everything about this book can be related to. Having those relatable aspects makes reading a book, and enjoying it, so much easier.
I absolutely LOVED how Derek kept thanking his late wife for signs throughout this story.
Overall, I loved everything about this book and I can't wait for my friends to read this!
I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 27, 2023
I prefer a sweet romance, especially a small-town one with seasoned adults who have real-life issues, yet they still can find love despite the odds. This is a story about hope and finding the one when you least expect it. Dereck suffered the tragic loss of his wife while Crystal’s marriage ended in divorce because of a cheating husband.
After the death of her mom, Crystal returns to her hometown to find her childhood home in disrepair. She hires Dereck to oversee the renovation so she can sell it and the attraction is mutual. As the home is transformed through the much-needed repairs, these two single parents slowly heal from their past traumas and build a strong connection which is then tested.
I highlighted several passages because the words were so poignant and meaningful. The characters are both highly relatable and well-developed while the setting is a clever metaphor for their internal struggles, providing both a heartwarming and sweet, cozy read.
After the death of her mom, Crystal returns to her hometown to find her childhood home in disrepair. She hires Dereck to oversee the renovation so she can sell it and the attraction is mutual. As the home is transformed through the much-needed repairs, these two single parents slowly heal from their past traumas and build a strong connection which is then tested.
I highlighted several passages because the words were so poignant and meaningful. The characters are both highly relatable and well-developed while the setting is a clever metaphor for their internal struggles, providing both a heartwarming and sweet, cozy read.
February 8, 2023
4.25/5 stars! This was a sweet read. Fans of Tessa Bailey's "Hot and Hammered" series you'll love this contemporary romance. Crystal simply wants to fix up her mother's old farmhouse, sell it, and get the heck out of dodge. Derek needs a decent paycheck to keep his home improvement business going so he can provide for his daughter. Their chemistry is palatable and seeing them both learn how to love and how to trust again was heart-warming. Really looking forward to reading more by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
December 15, 2022
One thing about E.D. Hackett's writing is how each of her characters have their own struggles - ups and downs, like a rollercoaster ride - and of course, relatable! As normal as it could be, the solution for each issues her character came out. Makes the storyline didn't seem to forceful and flow naturally. Some themes I would like to highlight in this novel: parenthood struggle, financial issues, grievance of spouse's death, learning to trust again. Overall, I enjoyed the story of Derek and Crystal.
I received an ARC of this book in order to facilitate my voluntary review.
I received an ARC of this book in order to facilitate my voluntary review.
January 12, 2023
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was refreshing to read a love story surrounding two individuals who aren’t childless, 20-something’s. The characters were complex and in a different life stage than most romance books on the shelf. I took off a star because there seemed to be an unnecessary focus on physique in an unproductive way, especially attributing weight/build to a character’s worth. One example: “She felt pretty around Derek, despite her round mid-section and mousy hair.”
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC!
February 10, 2023
DRC from BookSirens
Fun rom-com about parenting, grief, and relationships.
Crystal is a divorced mother of one, Derek is a widowed father of one. They meet when Crystal's mother dies and she needs to fix up her dilapidated home. Crystal lives hours away in the city, the house is in a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone. Can they make it work? Can a long-distance relationship with a school-aged child work?
This story has all the good makings of a romance story - grief, guilt, parenting, miscommunication, and even jealousy.
Fun rom-com about parenting, grief, and relationships.
Crystal is a divorced mother of one, Derek is a widowed father of one. They meet when Crystal's mother dies and she needs to fix up her dilapidated home. Crystal lives hours away in the city, the house is in a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone. Can they make it work? Can a long-distance relationship with a school-aged child work?
This story has all the good makings of a romance story - grief, guilt, parenting, miscommunication, and even jealousy.
January 14, 2023
I loved this book! It's sweet romance that has you rooting for Crystal and Derek to get through the stumbling blocks in their way. An easy read and a "feel good" book. I would recommend it!
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--Edy.
--Edy.
February 9, 2023
This book follows Crystal and Derek. Crystals estranged mom just passed and was left the house and a few assets, but she has to drive 3 hours to Farm Cove to deal with her mother's estate. A single mother with more baggage than a grocery store, she takes off to farm cove for the weekend to assess current standings, The house is trashed, the elderly neighbor who was supposed to be caring for it had passed away 2 years before, so in order to sell her childhood home, which is riddled with bad memories, she hires Derek and his company to fix the place up to sell.
Derek, who was a transplant to Farm Cove with his wife Vanessa was now a single dad and a soon to be empty nester. Vanessa died 12 years prior in a car accident and Derek has never moved on. His relationship with his daughter Molly was really endearing. There was a brief period of interaction between the two where things were incredibly awkward, as the author intended. But then all of a sudden there are sparks flying. And you soon realize their baggage combined is ALOT to deal with.
The characters chemistry was likeable; however, I didn't think the bathroom scene was very likely. But then again Derek did take a lot of liberty with a client's house throughout the story, but having lived in a small town myself, that's not super surprising. Christina's character was really obnoxious though and I felt like her character needed more development. Who comes on that strong to a widow, after being warned that he's very flighty when it comes to dating?? It wasn't super believable. I get that her character was needed as a protagonist, I just felt like it needed refining.
Overall, this was a super easy read, the spice level was a 2. Closed door nods at intimacy at best. It was a sweet book with kind of a slow burn, since it's based mostly on a long-distance relationship. The third act break up wasn't as dramatic as most, and I enjoyed that, third act breakups are getting tiresome to read. Both characters had issues, several issues, and I think if there were any more issues, I might have had an issue.
Overall, I would have rated this story 3.5 stars out of 5 but I rounded up to four, Because I could really pick out what didn't work for me as a whole. I finished the book and don't regret finishing it, so I think that deserves a round up on rating.
You will like this book if you like:
**Sweet books
**Single Parents
**Small Town
**mid-life love
**Healing from past hurts
** Low Spice Levels
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and Happy Pub Day to the author!
Derek, who was a transplant to Farm Cove with his wife Vanessa was now a single dad and a soon to be empty nester. Vanessa died 12 years prior in a car accident and Derek has never moved on. His relationship with his daughter Molly was really endearing. There was a brief period of interaction between the two where things were incredibly awkward, as the author intended. But then all of a sudden there are sparks flying. And you soon realize their baggage combined is ALOT to deal with.
The characters chemistry was likeable; however, I didn't think the bathroom scene was very likely. But then again Derek did take a lot of liberty with a client's house throughout the story, but having lived in a small town myself, that's not super surprising. Christina's character was really obnoxious though and I felt like her character needed more development. Who comes on that strong to a widow, after being warned that he's very flighty when it comes to dating?? It wasn't super believable. I get that her character was needed as a protagonist, I just felt like it needed refining.
Overall, this was a super easy read, the spice level was a 2. Closed door nods at intimacy at best. It was a sweet book with kind of a slow burn, since it's based mostly on a long-distance relationship. The third act break up wasn't as dramatic as most, and I enjoyed that, third act breakups are getting tiresome to read. Both characters had issues, several issues, and I think if there were any more issues, I might have had an issue.
Overall, I would have rated this story 3.5 stars out of 5 but I rounded up to four, Because I could really pick out what didn't work for me as a whole. I finished the book and don't regret finishing it, so I think that deserves a round up on rating.
You will like this book if you like:
**Sweet books
**Single Parents
**Small Town
**mid-life love
**Healing from past hurts
** Low Spice Levels
Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book to read and Happy Pub Day to the author!
February 1, 2024
Working Together Never Looked So Good!
This is my first by E.D. Hackett, and I must say I really enjoyed it. Although both MCs are dealing with grief from different times in their lives (One more recent, one over a decade old), this book was what I consider light hearted. There isn’t any on page romance nor is there an overly traumatic event. Just a great story with two main characters learning and growing together.
Derek is still learning the mechanics of being a business owner and trying to help provide for his college aged daughter. As he juggles those responsibilities, he falls for Crystal who has her own baggage to deal with, all while working together to fix up an old farm house.
Crystal, returns to her hometown after her mother’s passing, and finds the house in shambles. She decides to get it fixed up and sell it for a profit to help with future expenses of having a son with learning/behavior disabilities. Crystal also has trust issues due to her ex-husband being unfaithful and a not so good relationship with her now deceased mother.
Throughout the book, both MCs start to move past their grief and on with their lives. They learn to love again and work on trusting each other and themselves in the process. Through the ups and downs Derek and Crystal get their well deserved HEA.
This is my first by E.D. Hackett, and I must say I really enjoyed it. Although both MCs are dealing with grief from different times in their lives (One more recent, one over a decade old), this book was what I consider light hearted. There isn’t any on page romance nor is there an overly traumatic event. Just a great story with two main characters learning and growing together.
Derek is still learning the mechanics of being a business owner and trying to help provide for his college aged daughter. As he juggles those responsibilities, he falls for Crystal who has her own baggage to deal with, all while working together to fix up an old farm house.
Crystal, returns to her hometown after her mother’s passing, and finds the house in shambles. She decides to get it fixed up and sell it for a profit to help with future expenses of having a son with learning/behavior disabilities. Crystal also has trust issues due to her ex-husband being unfaithful and a not so good relationship with her now deceased mother.
Throughout the book, both MCs start to move past their grief and on with their lives. They learn to love again and work on trusting each other and themselves in the process. Through the ups and downs Derek and Crystal get their well deserved HEA.
January 5, 2023
This was a cute little novel about two older people finding love after heartache, Crystal being divorced after their spouse's infidelity and Derek, losing his spouse 12 years earlier to a drunk driver. They have meetcute in a diner and then he helps her fix up her family farmhouse after her mother passes and leaves it to her.
This story also features both of them having children, Mason coming to terms with two households and two parents barely co-parenting civilly, and Molly coming to terms with her father finally dating again after losing her mother when she was seven. These interwoven storylines are very sweet and I enjoyed seeing these dynamics play out.
Overall, this is a generally likable book, but unfortunately, the romance between Derek and Crystal feels contrived and forced at times. However, the shining aspect of this story is the characterization and the subplots and backstories. So, I'm leaning 3/5 for this one.
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC for a review.
This story also features both of them having children, Mason coming to terms with two households and two parents barely co-parenting civilly, and Molly coming to terms with her father finally dating again after losing her mother when she was seven. These interwoven storylines are very sweet and I enjoyed seeing these dynamics play out.
Overall, this is a generally likable book, but unfortunately, the romance between Derek and Crystal feels contrived and forced at times. However, the shining aspect of this story is the characterization and the subplots and backstories. So, I'm leaning 3/5 for this one.
Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC for a review.
January 24, 2023
What pulled me in to this book was the cover.. so cute!! I had never heard of the author, but the description and the cute cover drew me in. I was so excited when I was approved! I really wanted to love it. Here are some of my takeaways:
Liked:
- different storyline than what I'm used to
- the main characters seemed to not come from a picture perfect background.. it felt different
- I loved the cover & it was a quick and easy read
Disliked:
- once the main characters met, it felt like a lot of back and forth in their relationship. and they never truly grew their "love story"
- i didn't really like the "money" conflicts. it felt unnecessary and just made me feel uncomfortable with how it was handled
- the ending still felt predictable.. but to be fair, this tends to happen a lot with Romance novels
Overall, I'm glad I gave it a go and I did enjoy the book.
Liked:
- different storyline than what I'm used to
- the main characters seemed to not come from a picture perfect background.. it felt different
- I loved the cover & it was a quick and easy read
Disliked:
- once the main characters met, it felt like a lot of back and forth in their relationship. and they never truly grew their "love story"
- i didn't really like the "money" conflicts. it felt unnecessary and just made me feel uncomfortable with how it was handled
- the ending still felt predictable.. but to be fair, this tends to happen a lot with Romance novels
Overall, I'm glad I gave it a go and I did enjoy the book.
January 7, 2023
Thank you E.D. Hackett and Netgalley for this opportunity.
I'm not a big fan of writing long ass reviews becauwe my mind never works that way no matter how much I try.
When I read the synopsis of this story one thing caught my attention and it was the words "kids" and "small town". I felt giddy because I freaking love reading stories with kids in it. It just makes the story more likeable to me.
The sexual tension between Crystal and Derek is out if this world. My brain keeps on screaming and telling them to hook-up already. I'm a little bit dissapointed because I didn't really feel any spark between the two main characters. The story is great but it didn't gut me. It made me smile and swoon most of the tike though.
This book is perfect if you want something lighter and sweet.
I'm not a big fan of writing long ass reviews becauwe my mind never works that way no matter how much I try.
When I read the synopsis of this story one thing caught my attention and it was the words "kids" and "small town". I felt giddy because I freaking love reading stories with kids in it. It just makes the story more likeable to me.
The sexual tension between Crystal and Derek is out if this world. My brain keeps on screaming and telling them to hook-up already. I'm a little bit dissapointed because I didn't really feel any spark between the two main characters. The story is great but it didn't gut me. It made me smile and swoon most of the tike though.
This book is perfect if you want something lighter and sweet.
March 2, 2023
I really loved this book. Both of the main characters were really loveable and I found myself completely rooting for them from the very start. All the little issues they had with regards to their pasts were all very believable and nothing seemed pointless or forced, the book and their relationship just flowed nicely and was a pleasure to read. I also thought the lack of "spice" (in detail sex scenes) was really refreshing because I've read a lot of romances recently that you wouldn't expect to have that from the covers and so it's a surprise when they do, so I've not read one like this for a while. Loved the writing style too. Perfect romance for me, I'll definitely be reading more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book to write an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book to write an honest review.
January 17, 2023
This book was gifted to me by Net Galley and the publisher for an unbiased review.
The cover of this book drew me in, I know don't judge a book by it's cover is the norm but this cute little story was just like the cover. This book is about a single mother trying to balance life with a 10 year old special needs child and an ex-husband when her mother leaves her a farmhouse that hadn't been updated in a while. This is where Derek a widower of an adult daughter comes in to help fix the place up. This book is full of fun little tidbits and of course some bumps. Overall it was an enjoyable quick read.
The cover of this book drew me in, I know don't judge a book by it's cover is the norm but this cute little story was just like the cover. This book is about a single mother trying to balance life with a 10 year old special needs child and an ex-husband when her mother leaves her a farmhouse that hadn't been updated in a while. This is where Derek a widower of an adult daughter comes in to help fix the place up. This book is full of fun little tidbits and of course some bumps. Overall it was an enjoyable quick read.
January 11, 2023
This book was a good read. The farm themed title caught my attention. I wanted to like it more than I did, but it was still good. I can do without the bad language in books, but that’s hard to avoid; this book had minimal. It was constantly going back and forth between Crystal and Derek’s perspectives which was fine. I liked the addition of annoying Christina constantly trying to get Derek’s attention. Overall, I would really another boon by this author!
Thanks to netgalley for the advanced copy
Thanks to netgalley for the advanced copy
January 28, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bliss is definitely the right word for this book. I like a good small town romance… I don’t like it a lot but I’ll still read them lol. Anyways, both of our main characters are not exactly “young” or like in their 20’s or early 30’s like a lot of small town romance these days. Derek is a widower and a single father of a 20-year-old daughter, and Crystal is divorced, and a single parent as well with a 10-year-old son. I like how it’s almost “realistic” when it came down to expectations of each other. Especially with Crystal. This book was surprisingly a quick read for me, despite the number of chapters. It was… blissful. I just wished there was more in terms of Derek and Crystal’s characterization. I wished there was more bonding between their respective child and them. I would love to see that.
Bliss is definitely the right word for this book. I like a good small town romance… I don’t like it a lot but I’ll still read them lol. Anyways, both of our main characters are not exactly “young” or like in their 20’s or early 30’s like a lot of small town romance these days. Derek is a widower and a single father of a 20-year-old daughter, and Crystal is divorced, and a single parent as well with a 10-year-old son. I like how it’s almost “realistic” when it came down to expectations of each other. Especially with Crystal. This book was surprisingly a quick read for me, despite the number of chapters. It was… blissful. I just wished there was more in terms of Derek and Crystal’s characterization. I wished there was more bonding between their respective child and them. I would love to see that.
February 16, 2023
My first experience with E.D Hackett's work was through this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a great way to get to know the author better.
It is a lighthearted rom-com focusing on parenting, grief processing and different types of relationships. I appreciated the different take on a romantic story, as it featured characters that are around my age, have lived and loved befaore meeting each other. I really enjoyed this book overall.
It is a lighthearted rom-com focusing on parenting, grief processing and different types of relationships. I appreciated the different take on a romantic story, as it featured characters that are around my age, have lived and loved befaore meeting each other. I really enjoyed this book overall.
January 19, 2023
This is my favorite E.D. Hackett novel so far! If you are looking for a country romance that gets all tangled up in upstate New York, you will enjoy reading Farm Cove
Bliss. At times, I could predict what was about to happen yet at other times I was pleasantly surprised. I also enjoyed the use of similes, which the author has an uncanny knack of using in her story.
Bliss. At times, I could predict what was about to happen yet at other times I was pleasantly surprised. I also enjoyed the use of similes, which the author has an uncanny knack of using in her story.
January 15, 2023
Such a feel good sweet romance! E.D. Hackett's characters are real and likable. I found myself rooting them all, through their ups and downs, hoping that they find their happily ever after. I wasn't disappointed! Farm Cove Bliss is the perfect read for anyone who loves light stories that help make everything in the world feel good again!
January 7, 2023
I think I wanted this book to be more than it was. The romance itself was cute but I wanted him to spend more time with her son, that’s the best part of a single parent romance. I also feel like her pov didn’t show that she was as into him as he was into her. Overall it’s cute but I think it needs a bit more work.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.
January 12, 2023
This was pretty slow. It was pretty predictable but there were some things I thought would happen that didn’t. Glad there was a happy ending but it took a long time to get there. There was just not a whole lot to the plot and the characters were not relatable but rather annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
Thank you to netgalley for sending me a arc for a honest review.
Unfortunately I had to dnf this book! I’m sad to say that I really wanted to like this book I got to chapter 13 and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I feel like the main characters have no chemistry and maybe it’s just me I know it maybe early but it was not my cup of tea. His daughter was also pretty rude to her and made a rude comment which honestly shouldn’t have been said because was does her weight have to do with anything. His daughter wants to live in a apartment with roommates but yet she is still really immature for getting mad over food.
It also seemed at first that crystal had no family at all but out of nowhere she has a cousin and aunts and uncles that appeared out of no where? That got me really confused.
And that bathroom scene! Like why does she mention that he has a cellphone up while looking at her taking a bath like do you just walk into peoples bathrooms like that? Did I read that part wrong?
In all honesty this story is described as a cute small town romance but it left me so confused from the very beginning.
Unfortunately I had to dnf this book! I’m sad to say that I really wanted to like this book I got to chapter 13 and I just couldn’t take it anymore. I feel like the main characters have no chemistry and maybe it’s just me I know it maybe early but it was not my cup of tea. His daughter was also pretty rude to her and made a rude comment which honestly shouldn’t have been said because was does her weight have to do with anything. His daughter wants to live in a apartment with roommates but yet she is still really immature for getting mad over food.
It also seemed at first that crystal had no family at all but out of nowhere she has a cousin and aunts and uncles that appeared out of no where? That got me really confused.
And that bathroom scene! Like why does she mention that he has a cellphone up while looking at her taking a bath like do you just walk into peoples bathrooms like that? Did I read that part wrong?
In all honesty this story is described as a cute small town romance but it left me so confused from the very beginning.
February 9, 2023
I enjoyed this book about a divorcee and widower. The book deals with problems with their past and physical distance inhibiting their romance. I enjoyed the dialog and family support.
I received a free advanced readers copy and this is my honest opinion.
I received a free advanced readers copy and this is my honest opinion.
December 15, 2022
This was a good read. Most of the time the characters seemed relatable except for the dealings with her son. As a child of divorce, I have never seen anything with a custody agreement go that smoothly. But I still enjoyed the story.
Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
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