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Thornehill Springs #1
Where You Least Expect
Navy SEAL Joe MacDermid came to Thornehill Springs, North Carolina seeking peace and quiet and maybe a break from his hectic life. But his next-door neighbor Verna Love seems intent on making sure he doesn’t get any of either. Verna takes pride in being a nice person, but when it comes to Joe, she just can’t help herself. Getting under his skin gives her an unexplainable satisfaction, and it doesn’t hurt that Joe is the picture of masculine perfection, especially when he’s angry. She’s smart enough to know that he’d never be interested in her, not with all her flaws, but she can’t pretend that goading him isn’t one of the highlights of her day. But when circumstances force the two of them together, they might find love where they least expect.
206 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2015
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May 16, 2015
I am really starting to hate the lack of 1/2 stars on the goodreads rating system.
This book could easily be a low 3 or a 2.5. Its solid writing but I just didn't care for a few of the story details.
A lot of readers will be turned off by Verna's low elf esteem. That's not a deal breaker for me though as I personally relate to it and believe its far more realistic than a lot of the I-am-woman-hear-me-roar heroines I read about. I actually enjoy reading a book where a woman discovers her self worth and confidence as part of her love journey. No, where this book dropped the ball is in the lack of comeuppance and true self discovery for the heroine.
Our hero, Joe did something TRULY shitty in the arc and while I did feel his remorse, it wasn't nearly enough. Verna's parents were also largely to blame for her feelings of inadequacy ad they were never dealt with to my satisfaction. Sure, that's reality a lot of the time...but this is fiction, dammit! I want villains to pay and heroes to grovel when they fuck up. This story didn't deliver on either of those counts. In the end, Verna is happy but there is never that moment where she truly stands up for herself. Also never a moment where I kind of don't feel like Joe is accepting that he just needs to go with this odd duck who somehow makes him happy. I am left not feeling entirely convinced he see's her as he should. Her ultimate list of demands is so telling its pathetic and not even something that should have to be stated or clarified. He fucked up bad enough to deepen her scars and its really not even dealt with.
This book could easily be a low 3 or a 2.5. Its solid writing but I just didn't care for a few of the story details.
A lot of readers will be turned off by Verna's low elf esteem. That's not a deal breaker for me though as I personally relate to it and believe its far more realistic than a lot of the I-am-woman-hear-me-roar heroines I read about. I actually enjoy reading a book where a woman discovers her self worth and confidence as part of her love journey. No, where this book dropped the ball is in the lack of comeuppance and true self discovery for the heroine.
Our hero, Joe did something TRULY shitty in the arc and while I did feel his remorse, it wasn't nearly enough. Verna's parents were also largely to blame for her feelings of inadequacy ad they were never dealt with to my satisfaction. Sure, that's reality a lot of the time...but this is fiction, dammit! I want villains to pay and heroes to grovel when they fuck up. This story didn't deliver on either of those counts. In the end, Verna is happy but there is never that moment where she truly stands up for herself. Also never a moment where I kind of don't feel like Joe is accepting that he just needs to go with this odd duck who somehow makes him happy. I am left not feeling entirely convinced he see's her as he should. Her ultimate list of demands is so telling its pathetic and not even something that should have to be stated or clarified. He fucked up bad enough to deepen her scars and its really not even dealt with.
July 6, 2022
Trigger Warnings:
I started this because I listened to Sarah MacLean’s grovel podcast episode thanks to Thushara. I heard this had a good grovel and decided to check it out. Honestly the grovel wasn’t that great, it wasn’t even groveling, more of a grand gesture and it wasn’t even that grand. What the MMC, Joe, did, in the end, was fucked up, he spent the whole book tryna help the FMC, Verna, feel better about herself to only crush all that progress in the end. He does feel guilt and remorse though. Verna was really relatable but she doesn’t really have much of a backbone, she does but she’s on the nicer side, she avoids but if the person comes up to her she won’t ignore them. She’s more of the type to distance herself from people who hurt her and avoid them rather than tell them off, which I relate to in some ways. I wish this book was longer since some conflict wasn’t resolved. But I did enjoy it though I’m disappointed with the grovel.
This follows Joe and Verna who are both neighbours that can’t stand each other. Verna does anything she can to irk Joe since it makes her day to annoy him and Joe actually looks forward to doing the same. After some playful banter, Joe slowly starts to realize that Verna is a hard worker who deals with so much on her own. He slowly helps her outta impulse and they grow closer and closer.
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks
I started this because I listened to Sarah MacLean’s grovel podcast episode thanks to Thushara. I heard this had a good grovel and decided to check it out. Honestly the grovel wasn’t that great, it wasn’t even groveling, more of a grand gesture and it wasn’t even that grand. What the MMC, Joe, did, in the end, was fucked up, he spent the whole book tryna help the FMC, Verna, feel better about herself to only crush all that progress in the end. He does feel guilt and remorse though. Verna was really relatable but she doesn’t really have much of a backbone, she does but she’s on the nicer side, she avoids but if the person comes up to her she won’t ignore them. She’s more of the type to distance herself from people who hurt her and avoid them rather than tell them off, which I relate to in some ways. I wish this book was longer since some conflict wasn’t resolved. But I did enjoy it though I’m disappointed with the grovel.
This follows Joe and Verna who are both neighbours that can’t stand each other. Verna does anything she can to irk Joe since it makes her day to annoy him and Joe actually looks forward to doing the same. After some playful banter, Joe slowly starts to realize that Verna is a hard worker who deals with so much on her own. He slowly helps her outta impulse and they grow closer and closer.
Now for spoilers
Stay safe folks
May 28, 2015
I am beginning to get tired of reading the same ‘structure’ in contemporary romance novels such as this one. Not so much the ‘ex-Navy SEAL’ (although they do become rather tedious after a while) but the way most books get to the 50% mark and then the couple have sex. And not only sex – it’s mind-blowingly GREAT sex - and followed by several more even better, explosive/shattering/shivering orgasms (generally all within a couple of hours.)
It becomes predictable and boring and this was much the same. We have a cock ‘springing free’ at 48% and the actual PIV moment at precisely 50%. I didn’t mind really, but THEN I read this:
‘She pulsed around him, her cunt spasming in an erratic little beat,…’
What a vile, unattractive, sordid word. Cunt. Even typing it here makes me feel uncomfortable. It put a whole new slant on what was supposed to be a ‘first-sex’ scene. Yes. Verna- she of the spasming -is that a real word- (insert vile word here) is a virgin. A down-trodden thirty year old who had virtually no self-esteem and even less confidence. And here she is, having her first kiss and first sexual experience and what could and should have been tender, careful, loving, is reduced to little more than a sordid encounter. All because of one word.
I really liked the start of the story, Verna’s abrasive ‘defence’ was nothing more than a cover for her feeling of inadequacy and the writer brought her to life – a woman with very little joy in her life. But after reading ‘that word’ (and no. I am not overreacting, that word is considered to be one of the most taboo words in English. Certainly I have never heard it used in ‘normal’ conversation, unlike the ‘’f’ word which is hard to avoid.) I found it hard to read on, half-wondering what else the author had in store. And as it turned out, not much, apart from more sex (which I ended up skimming though).
Verna vacillated between a woman with a complete lack of confidence to someone who, referring to Joe the Navy SEAL, said to Blakely: ‘Well I used to be a convenient hole to occasionally wet his dick in, but I’m not even that anymore.’ EUGH. What a potty-mouthed expression. What sort of woman would use such a term, and to the woman who was employing her of all people!
There were too many inconsistencies in this story for me to excuse the sordid language.
The end of the story is rushed and thin. A shame, because the initial few chapters (up to the dreaded 50% mark) were promising and had some lovely character development. However, there were also numerous proof-reading errors: capital letters in the middle of sentences, words missed out etc.
Finally, the cover.
The title seems to have two separate fonts with the capital letters for ‘Where’ and ‘You’ in a totally different style to the capitals for ‘Least’ and ‘Expect’.
If I had to rate this up to the 50% mark it would have been a strong three stars, but the second half and the gutter language was a definite no-no for me and I can only give it 1 star.
It becomes predictable and boring and this was much the same. We have a cock ‘springing free’ at 48% and the actual PIV moment at precisely 50%. I didn’t mind really, but THEN I read this:
‘She pulsed around him, her cunt spasming in an erratic little beat,…’
What a vile, unattractive, sordid word. Cunt. Even typing it here makes me feel uncomfortable. It put a whole new slant on what was supposed to be a ‘first-sex’ scene. Yes. Verna- she of the spasming -is that a real word- (insert vile word here) is a virgin. A down-trodden thirty year old who had virtually no self-esteem and even less confidence. And here she is, having her first kiss and first sexual experience and what could and should have been tender, careful, loving, is reduced to little more than a sordid encounter. All because of one word.
I really liked the start of the story, Verna’s abrasive ‘defence’ was nothing more than a cover for her feeling of inadequacy and the writer brought her to life – a woman with very little joy in her life. But after reading ‘that word’ (and no. I am not overreacting, that word is considered to be one of the most taboo words in English. Certainly I have never heard it used in ‘normal’ conversation, unlike the ‘’f’ word which is hard to avoid.) I found it hard to read on, half-wondering what else the author had in store. And as it turned out, not much, apart from more sex (which I ended up skimming though).
Verna vacillated between a woman with a complete lack of confidence to someone who, referring to Joe the Navy SEAL, said to Blakely: ‘Well I used to be a convenient hole to occasionally wet his dick in, but I’m not even that anymore.’ EUGH. What a potty-mouthed expression. What sort of woman would use such a term, and to the woman who was employing her of all people!
There were too many inconsistencies in this story for me to excuse the sordid language.
The end of the story is rushed and thin. A shame, because the initial few chapters (up to the dreaded 50% mark) were promising and had some lovely character development. However, there were also numerous proof-reading errors: capital letters in the middle of sentences, words missed out etc.
Finally, the cover.
The title seems to have two separate fonts with the capital letters for ‘Where’ and ‘You’ in a totally different style to the capitals for ‘Least’ and ‘Expect’.
If I had to rate this up to the 50% mark it would have been a strong three stars, but the second half and the gutter language was a definite no-no for me and I can only give it 1 star.
April 21, 2016
2.5*
We really need 1/2 stars!!! Realistically, this was a 2.5* ("a little more than OK") book for me, in terms of the characters and the plot, but it was written in such a way that I couldn't put it down, so I rounded up to 3* !
Ohhh boy... Where do I begin ... Let's quickly summarize and then analyze...
Quick Summary:
Verna is a very insecure 30-year-old virgin, living in a small town. She gets a hot SEAL neighbor, Joe, and all of a sudden they are in a hot-and-heavy relationship, but with no strings attached... Verna wants more, but isn't sure if Joe wants the same - it sure doesn't look like it, since he seems embarrassed to be seen with her in public... Is there a future for them?
My Thoughts:
At the beginning of the book, this is where I stood: Verna was an immature little sh*t, who abused her neighbor for no particular reason, other than to make her pathetic, loserish life more interesting. All we know about her is that she is 30, insecure, overweight and mistreated by her parents. Instead of growing a backbone and standing up to her condescending parents who use her as free labor, she takes it out on a random guy who doesn't want much to do with her and generally stays out of her way!
During the middle of the book I started feeling bad for Verna. She has such low self esteem and considering the as*holes that are her parents, it's no wonder... She should have put them in their place a long time ago and not let them manipulate and abuse her - she's freakin' 30!! While I did feel bad for her, I was getting sick and tired of her "I suck at life... I suck at everything" pity parties. She was SOOOO pathetic all the time - it was embarrassing to read! It made me cringe how much she constantly put herself down!! Check this out: “Why do you swear so much?” he asked. “It’s a sign of a simple mind. I mostly just stick to the words I know, and I didn’t make it too far past the four-letter variety.” “Verna, you just put yourself down again.” “See, told you I’m a fuckup.” “And again,” he said, glancing over at her. “I’m stubborn too. A great thing to mix with stupid." “Verna, stop it,” he said and she went quiet. “Maybe one day I’ll get it right" she sighed wistfully... OMG - LOSER!!! Get over it!!
What also really bothered me was that Verna talked like the worst sort of trash!! Why does she have such a potty mouth and why does she feel it is necessary to use crude words in EVERY single sentence! Don't get me wrong, I swear whenever the occasion calls for it, so it's not the swear words that bother me here, I'm no prude - it's the way she talks ALL the time and with EVERYONE - it's so low class!! Is that what the author wanted to portray here - that this is a low class woman? I mean, if that's what the author is going for, then ok - but it just didn't work for me!
For example, how is it ok to talk like this with a guy you barely know? "I mean, Jesus-fuckin'-Christ, that is the worst fucking answer imaginable...If you go around doling out butterfly kisses because ‘it seemed like the right thing to do,’ and then actually telling the lucky recipient the truth about your reason, that is just so fucked-up. I was gonna ask you to teach me some game, but never mind.” >> What is she?! A 17-year-old "gangsta" ?!?!
Or, after only 45 minutes in her car in, the city, in an ice storm, this is considered a disaster and she needs to be brought thermos of coffee, thermal blankets and hiking boots... She was IN THE CAR the whole time - why would she be so cold and in so much danger ?! Fine... G.I. Joe to the rescue... Anyhow, her response is “These boots are fuckin’ heavy, man,” she observed as she stuck her left foot inside one." >> What WOMAN talks like this?! And this is a thank you to a guy who just saved your sorry a*s ?!
Anyways, during the middle of the book we see the relationship between Verna and Joe developing on paper, but I really couldn't envision it in reality. First of all - we know NOTHING about Joe! Other than that he's a soldier and freaking out that he is not actively fighting any more, we really don't know much else... We don't even know how old he is , other than the fact that he keeps claiming that he feels old. Considering that he's super hot and in super good shape - how old could he possibly be?!?! Now, back to Verna - we know EVERYTHING about Verna emotionally and we've seen inside her head (she's pretty messed up, let me tell you!) , but physically - other than that she's "big" - we know nothing! I don't know the color of her hair, what she looks like, what kind of body does she have ("fat" is not an acceptable answer since it means different things to different people!!!)...etc... It's like the author just wanted to plant a seed in our heads "SHE IS FAT and UNNATRACTIVE!" and wears baggy, ugly clothing and the whole book focused on that!!! Was there nothing else that could have been said about Verna physically?! That really disappointed me! Could we not get some sort of detail about her, something - ONE LITTLE THING - that Joe found attractive?! Throw me a bone here, author! I mean - I am supposed to imagine her and this hot dude getting it on all the time, but I don't have a picture in my head!! Or even worse - the picture that the author painted is a blur of a "big, unattractive" girl with no other details! Is that how the author wanted this to play out?! Is that ALL that the author wanted Verna to be?! That's disappointing! Actually, now that I look back, it did say that she had brown skin! Ok, so is Verna African-American?! In which case, Verna's physical description is not only so poorly written (if we can't even pick up on her race, physical traits, or have a picture of her in our minds), but the language Verna uses makes this book racist, too! If she is supposed to be African-American and is the only person in the whole book that talks like a thug, this is pretty uncool...
Towards the end of the book we start getting an inkling that not everything is right in their relationship. They have been seeing each other for a few weeks and are spending most of their time together; however, they are always at home and Joe never takes Verna out. Verna hints at dinners/movies/shows but this never happens. I thought that maybe I was overthinking things, but then something happened - and it was so awful - that confirmed my fears. Joe, who seemed too good to be true, was actually a mega douche! Check this out:(SPOILER!) Verna has a girls' night in a bar and it just so happens that Joe's guys' night is there, too. His army buddies look at her table and comment on her girlfriends as "doable" but looking at Verna - "there’s not enough lipstick in the world to gussy up that pig.” AWFUL!!!! Joe and Poole (also Verna's acquaintance), get angry, but NEITHER ONE says anything!!! A few minutes later, Verna walks over to his table to say "hi" , his army buddies snicker (cuz she is so fat and ugly, get it!?!?) and Joe won't even look at her or say "hi" back!
No one says "hi" back (not even Poole, which is never addressed for some reason!! He could have made things better, at least, but chose not to!) But anyways - JOE PRETENDS THAT HE DOESN'T EVEN SEE HER OR HEAR HER!!! WHAT THE F*CK ?!?!?!?!? Of course, Verna is crushed... She already had zero self-esteem - now she's borderline suicidal ... WHAT THE EVER-LOVING F*CK JOE??!??! I!!F YOU ARE SO ASHAMED OF HER, WHY ARE YOU F*CKING HER?!?!?! IF SHE IS SOOOO UNATTRACTIVE AND EMBARASSING - AGAIN - WHYYYYY ARE YOU F*CKING HER??? HOW COULD HE HUMILIATE HER LIKE THIS?!?!?!
At that moment, I started hating Joe and I couldn't see how he could possibly redeem himself! Verna, on the other hand, got even more annoying with her attitude... Final example of Verna's disgusting vocabulary and inappropriateness: (I get that she was crushed by what happened, but this is Verna talking to her CLIENT!) - “And what are you to him?” client asked. “Nothing. Well, I used to be a convenient hole to occasionally wet his dick in, but I’m not even that anymore.” What the hell?! This is how you speak with your client ?! ZERO class! ZERO common sense!No wonder the guy was embarrassed to be seen with her in public! No, I don't actually mean that, there is NO excuse for Joe's actions!
SPOILER: Finally, pretty much all Joe had to do to redeem himself was to apologize and make out with Verna publically ... to show he was no longer ashamed of her! GREAT! THE END!
As I said, the plot and the characters of this book were pretty annoying and irredeemable, however the book itself was written in such a way that I couldn't stop reading! I had to finish it by staying up into the night :) So I guess that's a good sign... However, in terms of romance - this had a ZERO sizzle factor for me (for the reasons mentioned above)!
We really need 1/2 stars!!! Realistically, this was a 2.5* ("a little more than OK") book for me, in terms of the characters and the plot, but it was written in such a way that I couldn't put it down, so I rounded up to 3* !
Ohhh boy... Where do I begin ... Let's quickly summarize and then analyze...
Quick Summary:
Verna is a very insecure 30-year-old virgin, living in a small town. She gets a hot SEAL neighbor, Joe, and all of a sudden they are in a hot-and-heavy relationship, but with no strings attached... Verna wants more, but isn't sure if Joe wants the same - it sure doesn't look like it, since he seems embarrassed to be seen with her in public... Is there a future for them?
My Thoughts:
At the beginning of the book, this is where I stood: Verna was an immature little sh*t, who abused her neighbor for no particular reason, other than to make her pathetic, loserish life more interesting. All we know about her is that she is 30, insecure, overweight and mistreated by her parents. Instead of growing a backbone and standing up to her condescending parents who use her as free labor, she takes it out on a random guy who doesn't want much to do with her and generally stays out of her way!
During the middle of the book I started feeling bad for Verna. She has such low self esteem and considering the as*holes that are her parents, it's no wonder... She should have put them in their place a long time ago and not let them manipulate and abuse her - she's freakin' 30!! While I did feel bad for her, I was getting sick and tired of her "I suck at life... I suck at everything" pity parties. She was SOOOO pathetic all the time - it was embarrassing to read! It made me cringe how much she constantly put herself down!! Check this out: “Why do you swear so much?” he asked. “It’s a sign of a simple mind. I mostly just stick to the words I know, and I didn’t make it too far past the four-letter variety.” “Verna, you just put yourself down again.” “See, told you I’m a fuckup.” “And again,” he said, glancing over at her. “I’m stubborn too. A great thing to mix with stupid." “Verna, stop it,” he said and she went quiet. “Maybe one day I’ll get it right" she sighed wistfully... OMG - LOSER!!! Get over it!!
What also really bothered me was that Verna talked like the worst sort of trash!! Why does she have such a potty mouth and why does she feel it is necessary to use crude words in EVERY single sentence! Don't get me wrong, I swear whenever the occasion calls for it, so it's not the swear words that bother me here, I'm no prude - it's the way she talks ALL the time and with EVERYONE - it's so low class!! Is that what the author wanted to portray here - that this is a low class woman? I mean, if that's what the author is going for, then ok - but it just didn't work for me!
For example, how is it ok to talk like this with a guy you barely know? "I mean, Jesus-fuckin'-Christ, that is the worst fucking answer imaginable...If you go around doling out butterfly kisses because ‘it seemed like the right thing to do,’ and then actually telling the lucky recipient the truth about your reason, that is just so fucked-up. I was gonna ask you to teach me some game, but never mind.” >> What is she?! A 17-year-old "gangsta" ?!?!
Or, after only 45 minutes in her car in, the city, in an ice storm, this is considered a disaster and she needs to be brought thermos of coffee, thermal blankets and hiking boots... She was IN THE CAR the whole time - why would she be so cold and in so much danger ?! Fine... G.I. Joe to the rescue... Anyhow, her response is “These boots are fuckin’ heavy, man,” she observed as she stuck her left foot inside one." >> What WOMAN talks like this?! And this is a thank you to a guy who just saved your sorry a*s ?!
Anyways, during the middle of the book we see the relationship between Verna and Joe developing on paper, but I really couldn't envision it in reality. First of all - we know NOTHING about Joe! Other than that he's a soldier and freaking out that he is not actively fighting any more, we really don't know much else... We don't even know how old he is , other than the fact that he keeps claiming that he feels old. Considering that he's super hot and in super good shape - how old could he possibly be?!?! Now, back to Verna - we know EVERYTHING about Verna emotionally and we've seen inside her head (she's pretty messed up, let me tell you!) , but physically - other than that she's "big" - we know nothing! I don't know the color of her hair, what she looks like, what kind of body does she have ("fat" is not an acceptable answer since it means different things to different people!!!)...etc... It's like the author just wanted to plant a seed in our heads "SHE IS FAT and UNNATRACTIVE!" and wears baggy, ugly clothing and the whole book focused on that!!! Was there nothing else that could have been said about Verna physically?! That really disappointed me! Could we not get some sort of detail about her, something - ONE LITTLE THING - that Joe found attractive?! Throw me a bone here, author! I mean - I am supposed to imagine her and this hot dude getting it on all the time, but I don't have a picture in my head!! Or even worse - the picture that the author painted is a blur of a "big, unattractive" girl with no other details! Is that how the author wanted this to play out?! Is that ALL that the author wanted Verna to be?! That's disappointing! Actually, now that I look back, it did say that she had brown skin! Ok, so is Verna African-American?! In which case, Verna's physical description is not only so poorly written (if we can't even pick up on her race, physical traits, or have a picture of her in our minds), but the language Verna uses makes this book racist, too! If she is supposed to be African-American and is the only person in the whole book that talks like a thug, this is pretty uncool...
Towards the end of the book we start getting an inkling that not everything is right in their relationship. They have been seeing each other for a few weeks and are spending most of their time together; however, they are always at home and Joe never takes Verna out. Verna hints at dinners/movies/shows but this never happens. I thought that maybe I was overthinking things, but then something happened - and it was so awful - that confirmed my fears. Joe, who seemed too good to be true, was actually a mega douche! Check this out:(SPOILER!) Verna has a girls' night in a bar and it just so happens that Joe's guys' night is there, too. His army buddies look at her table and comment on her girlfriends as "doable" but looking at Verna - "there’s not enough lipstick in the world to gussy up that pig.” AWFUL!!!! Joe and Poole (also Verna's acquaintance), get angry, but NEITHER ONE says anything!!! A few minutes later, Verna walks over to his table to say "hi" , his army buddies snicker (cuz she is so fat and ugly, get it!?!?) and Joe won't even look at her or say "hi" back!
No one says "hi" back (not even Poole, which is never addressed for some reason!! He could have made things better, at least, but chose not to!) But anyways - JOE PRETENDS THAT HE DOESN'T EVEN SEE HER OR HEAR HER!!! WHAT THE F*CK ?!?!?!?!? Of course, Verna is crushed... She already had zero self-esteem - now she's borderline suicidal ... WHAT THE EVER-LOVING F*CK JOE??!??! I!!F YOU ARE SO ASHAMED OF HER, WHY ARE YOU F*CKING HER?!?!?! IF SHE IS SOOOO UNATTRACTIVE AND EMBARASSING - AGAIN - WHYYYYY ARE YOU F*CKING HER??? HOW COULD HE HUMILIATE HER LIKE THIS?!?!?!
At that moment, I started hating Joe and I couldn't see how he could possibly redeem himself! Verna, on the other hand, got even more annoying with her attitude... Final example of Verna's disgusting vocabulary and inappropriateness: (I get that she was crushed by what happened, but this is Verna talking to her CLIENT!) - “And what are you to him?” client asked. “Nothing. Well, I used to be a convenient hole to occasionally wet his dick in, but I’m not even that anymore.” What the hell?! This is how you speak with your client ?! ZERO class! ZERO common sense!
SPOILER: Finally, pretty much all Joe had to do to redeem himself was to apologize and make out with Verna publically ... to show he was no longer ashamed of her! GREAT! THE END!
As I said, the plot and the characters of this book were pretty annoying and irredeemable, however the book itself was written in such a way that I couldn't stop reading! I had to finish it by staying up into the night :) So I guess that's a good sign... However, in terms of romance - this had a ZERO sizzle factor for me (for the reasons mentioned above)!
January 2, 2025
I cried, laughed and got real emotional. I love when a story can convey those emotions in me. It is a must read.
June 3, 2015
3.6 stars.
What a pleasure to expect one thing, and get something better. Lydia Rowan’s Where You Least Expect (Thornehill Springs Book 1) was one such surprise. Looking at the cover, you expect “typical” boy meets girl, blah blah blah, they both live happily ever after. I mean, come on. The whole naked six-pack thing on the cover pretty much sets the expectations.
This was more than that – surprisingly more. It is about the damage family can do to you. How their disrespect and bullying can strip down the soul, leading you to true self-hatred. How learning to stand up and say “no more” can be the hardest thing in the world to do. And how wonderful it feels to finally be able to stand up and say Enough! It takes Verna a while to stand up to her abusive father and doormat mother, but when she does, it is realistic and empowering. It isn’t immediate, and she has fallbacks, but with help from Joe, she begins the process. Of course Joe has his own issues, issues that cause him to hurt Verna viciously, but he still starts her on her way to gathering up her life and making it her own. Of course she forgives him (much too quickly to my mind, but this is a romance so, sigh, I suppose it is to be expected.)
You get the idea that Verna is African American and Joe white, but that is never addressed except for the very instance that caused Joe to hurt Verna so badly. Being a curvy woman, and tall as well, is hard on Verna’s self-esteem, but it isn’t really overdone as it is with so many other books that encourage the idea of “curvy is good”. I am not saying curvy is bad, just that some authors want to bash you over the head with it, where Rowan touches on it as a part of the overall psychological abuse Verna has suffered all through her life.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the book. It isn’t War and Peace but it pleased me.
What a pleasure to expect one thing, and get something better. Lydia Rowan’s Where You Least Expect (Thornehill Springs Book 1) was one such surprise. Looking at the cover, you expect “typical” boy meets girl, blah blah blah, they both live happily ever after. I mean, come on. The whole naked six-pack thing on the cover pretty much sets the expectations.
This was more than that – surprisingly more. It is about the damage family can do to you. How their disrespect and bullying can strip down the soul, leading you to true self-hatred. How learning to stand up and say “no more” can be the hardest thing in the world to do. And how wonderful it feels to finally be able to stand up and say Enough! It takes Verna a while to stand up to her abusive father and doormat mother, but when she does, it is realistic and empowering. It isn’t immediate, and she has fallbacks, but with help from Joe, she begins the process. Of course Joe has his own issues, issues that cause him to hurt Verna viciously, but he still starts her on her way to gathering up her life and making it her own. Of course she forgives him (much too quickly to my mind, but this is a romance so, sigh, I suppose it is to be expected.)
You get the idea that Verna is African American and Joe white, but that is never addressed except for the very instance that caused Joe to hurt Verna so badly. Being a curvy woman, and tall as well, is hard on Verna’s self-esteem, but it isn’t really overdone as it is with so many other books that encourage the idea of “curvy is good”. I am not saying curvy is bad, just that some authors want to bash you over the head with it, where Rowan touches on it as a part of the overall psychological abuse Verna has suffered all through her life.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the book. It isn’t War and Peace but it pleased me.
May 21, 2015
I really loved the idea of a BBW as a h. It is so nice when an author breaks out of a traditional cookie cutter ideal of a H/h. Joe MacDermid is a well built, sexy seal who is trying to start off on the next leg on his journey through life. He is crabby and needs an answer for everything, which is what made him a great seal, but now he is searching for answers and resents the uncertain future not to mention the disorder his neighbor causes.
Verna Love is a cheerful, overweight waitress with an unfortunate penchant for swear words but otherwise ready with a quick joke and a smile. She is so easy to relate to hiding behind the jokes to protect her heart and feelings. The two rub as two magnets repelling the other until something changes between the two and suddenly Joe sees Verna in a totally different light. He is scared and confused and when his friends learn of this new fix of Joe's will he be man enough to accept the new changes taking place?
I know others felt the fights between the two were annoying along with Verna's swearing and overbearing nature but I truly did not mind. I found the h refreshing because while she lacked in self confidence department she still put herself out there. She did not pull back and huddle in a corner but instead strived to stand out. She was a hard working woman whose parents treated like her feelings didn't matter. I could easily understand why she criticized herself but Joe fought to help her see herself the way he saw her. It's really hard if someone consistently puts you down and you never stand up for yourself to not buy into the others opinion of you. I really enjoyed the story and found it an easy read.
The time I got to spend with the couple flew by and I really wish it would have been a little more descriptive in some parts. What I mean is the attachment between Joe and Verna forms really quick and I guess I would have liked to see more into the thought process during that time. Joe's sudden shift, while I bought into it, I would have liked to hear his thoughts and perception as his feelings developed for Verna. I felt Verna was an open book but his motives could have been elaborated on more to bring home his new feelings and for a better understanding of his changes. The sex between the two is hot and well written. I really hope to read more from this author. Enjoy!!
Verna Love is a cheerful, overweight waitress with an unfortunate penchant for swear words but otherwise ready with a quick joke and a smile. She is so easy to relate to hiding behind the jokes to protect her heart and feelings. The two rub as two magnets repelling the other until something changes between the two and suddenly Joe sees Verna in a totally different light. He is scared and confused and when his friends learn of this new fix of Joe's will he be man enough to accept the new changes taking place?
I know others felt the fights between the two were annoying along with Verna's swearing and overbearing nature but I truly did not mind. I found the h refreshing because while she lacked in self confidence department she still put herself out there. She did not pull back and huddle in a corner but instead strived to stand out. She was a hard working woman whose parents treated like her feelings didn't matter. I could easily understand why she criticized herself but Joe fought to help her see herself the way he saw her. It's really hard if someone consistently puts you down and you never stand up for yourself to not buy into the others opinion of you. I really enjoyed the story and found it an easy read.
The time I got to spend with the couple flew by and I really wish it would have been a little more descriptive in some parts. What I mean is the attachment between Joe and Verna forms really quick and I guess I would have liked to see more into the thought process during that time. Joe's sudden shift, while I bought into it, I would have liked to hear his thoughts and perception as his feelings developed for Verna. I felt Verna was an open book but his motives could have been elaborated on more to bring home his new feelings and for a better understanding of his changes. The sex between the two is hot and well written. I really hope to read more from this author. Enjoy!!
May 31, 2015
Tissues needed
Loved the story, almost had me in tears a few times. Love story was sweet but I was ready to beat Joe with a bat myself at one point!! Good read!!
Loved the story, almost had me in tears a few times. Love story was sweet but I was ready to beat Joe with a bat myself at one point!! Good read!!
March 15, 2025
4/5 Stars
I thought this was a cute read. It was angsty and had a really heartbreaking scene 💔 . It was a oppisiites attract story where I couldn't put it down.
The story line went like that:
👦 Boy meets nextdoor neighbor girl, thinks she's annoying
👧 Girl meets boy, thinks he's dreamy and likes to annoy him
👧 Girl is curvy and insecure, she lets others walk all over her
👦 Boy gets to know girl better and gelps her to get her confidence bac
👦 and 👧 start a fwb relationship where he tells noone about their relationship and they don't go out beyond their houses
👦 Crushes 👧 spirit when she tries to approach him in front of his friends
👦 realizes he's a jerk and he may be too late to win back 👧 heart ❤️
I thought this was a cute read. It was angsty and had a really heartbreaking scene 💔 . It was a oppisiites attract story where I couldn't put it down.
The story line went like that:
👦 Boy meets nextdoor neighbor girl, thinks she's annoying
👧 Girl meets boy, thinks he's dreamy and likes to annoy him
👧 Girl is curvy and insecure, she lets others walk all over her
👦 Boy gets to know girl better and gelps her to get her confidence bac
👦 and 👧 start a fwb relationship where he tells noone about their relationship and they don't go out beyond their houses
👦 Crushes 👧 spirit when she tries to approach him in front of his friends
👦 realizes he's a jerk and he may be too late to win back 👧 heart ❤️
January 5, 2016
This book is not quite what I expected. That is mostly my fault as I just skimmed the synopsis... and when I saw our hero was a military guy, my mind went in the direction of romantic suspense (as I had just finished another romantic suspense book). So I was thinking I would get a little more action than the standard neighbor-turned-romance type activity.
This book is all about low self-esteem. Both of our main characters suffer from it in different ways. The hero, Joe MacDermid, is a former Navy SEAL who has decided to retire. Now that he is living the civilian life, he is at odds with what to do with himself and his life and future. He really doesn't think he is good enough or capable to do anything else outside his life as a SEAL. This didn't make a lot of sense to me because - HELLO - NAVY FREAKING SEAL! Supreme badass! The idea that he wasn't going to be good at anything else just didn't fit with his character type for me. It also meant he was not an alpha male in my eyes - and a beta SEAL just didn't compute in my brain.
The heroine, Verna Love, is a 30 year old virgin who has never even been kissed. She slouches. She wears baggy jeans and t-shirts. Her career consists of waitressing (any every other menial job) at her family diner, though she does like to sew and create outfits in her spare time. She is outwardly happy and perky, but inwardly has horrible self-valuation and esteem issues. A large part of these issues can be attributed to her family, and the rest seem to have grown out from there. Her father essentially treats her as a doormat. I didn't really connect with her character on any level, but I was able to empathize with her at certain times. I think the problem was the doormat aspect - I couldn't put myself in her shoes b/c I would not allow anyone to treat me in such a way. Then, when Joe does something super horrible that would have shattered her already low self-worth. It was SO BAD. I think I teared up. I really felt sorry for the girl. But that was as close as I got to connecting.
So when Joe does this horrible thing - there would have been no coming back for him if it was me. The story fell apart for me after that. I could not get behind him as a hero after his very un-hero-like behavior. He could not be redeemed. Overall this was a quick "okay" read for a straight romance without any action or suspense. There was plenty of angst for those who like angsty reads. I actually liked our couple together until that one d-bag move. There may have been too much focus on Verna's body issues for me to really get into the story though. As much as it surprises me to say it, I think I would have liked more drama in the story... more plot conflicts to get me invested would have helped out I think.
3 stars / 3 flames. This was a freebie on Amazon.
This book is all about low self-esteem. Both of our main characters suffer from it in different ways. The hero, Joe MacDermid, is a former Navy SEAL who has decided to retire. Now that he is living the civilian life, he is at odds with what to do with himself and his life and future. He really doesn't think he is good enough or capable to do anything else outside his life as a SEAL. This didn't make a lot of sense to me because - HELLO - NAVY FREAKING SEAL! Supreme badass! The idea that he wasn't going to be good at anything else just didn't fit with his character type for me. It also meant he was not an alpha male in my eyes - and a beta SEAL just didn't compute in my brain.
The heroine, Verna Love, is a 30 year old virgin who has never even been kissed. She slouches. She wears baggy jeans and t-shirts. Her career consists of waitressing (any every other menial job) at her family diner, though she does like to sew and create outfits in her spare time. She is outwardly happy and perky, but inwardly has horrible self-valuation and esteem issues. A large part of these issues can be attributed to her family, and the rest seem to have grown out from there. Her father essentially treats her as a doormat. I didn't really connect with her character on any level, but I was able to empathize with her at certain times. I think the problem was the doormat aspect - I couldn't put myself in her shoes b/c I would not allow anyone to treat me in such a way. Then, when Joe does something super horrible that would have shattered her already low self-worth. It was SO BAD. I think I teared up. I really felt sorry for the girl. But that was as close as I got to connecting.
So when Joe does this horrible thing - there would have been no coming back for him if it was me. The story fell apart for me after that. I could not get behind him as a hero after his very un-hero-like behavior. He could not be redeemed. Overall this was a quick "okay" read for a straight romance without any action or suspense. There was plenty of angst for those who like angsty reads. I actually liked our couple together until that one d-bag move. There may have been too much focus on Verna's body issues for me to really get into the story though. As much as it surprises me to say it, I think I would have liked more drama in the story... more plot conflicts to get me invested would have helped out I think.
3 stars / 3 flames. This was a freebie on Amazon.
May 24, 2015
This was quite a surprisingly pleasant read. I must admit I didn't expect much, mostly because I didn't know the author and the summary didn't do much for me. But I ended up really liking it.
I found Verna very funny and I felt for her, especially how her parents treated her. I wish there had been more about that, her family background, her sister who was said by one of the character to be very unpleasant or something, and especially I wish she or some else would have call her father out for being such a jerk and a bad parent!
I like that Joe was not an all powerfull billionnaire and that he had self-doubts.
I like the banter between him and Verna and I think the conflict between them was very belivable : I was really pissed at what happened and I totally understand why Verna reacted the way she did, and she was actually very mature and self-preserving about that. I even think she caved in a tiny bit too quickly once he said those 3 words, like those were magic words, but I appreciated that the author didn't feel the need to make the conflict last too long just for the sake of it.
I found Verna very funny and I felt for her, especially how her parents treated her. I wish there had been more about that, her family background, her sister who was said by one of the character to be very unpleasant or something, and especially I wish she or some else would have call her father out for being such a jerk and a bad parent!
I like that Joe was not an all powerfull billionnaire and that he had self-doubts.
I like the banter between him and Verna and I think the conflict between them was very belivable : I was really pissed at what happened and I totally understand why Verna reacted the way she did, and she was actually very mature and self-preserving about that. I even think she caved in a tiny bit too quickly once he said those 3 words, like those were magic words, but I appreciated that the author didn't feel the need to make the conflict last too long just for the sake of it.
March 11, 2025
This is not romantic at all
She is only lonely, very
He doesn’t love her and doesn’t respect her
He is a navy? For real? he doesn’t have balls and plays with her
She forgives him so easily and he has no explanation for how he acted
THERE’s NO GROVEL! Am I clear? Because I’m here because people simply lie 🤢🤢🤢
I regret reading the sex scenes
No love at all
Even her friend tells her not to justify him and that what he did was cruel and then encourages him to fight for her??! What kind of friend wants you with a man like that???
He treated her horrible and let his friend insult her, ignore her, let her leave, keeps playing pool with his friends, he ended the night with his friends and goes after her, then they fick!!!!
I’m in another galaxy!
Love yourselves cariño!
Shit book, I regret this
Que le pasa a la gente que no se quiere ni una mierda? Asco de mundo! Ni en los libros una puede sobrevivir
She is only lonely, very
He doesn’t love her and doesn’t respect her
He is a navy? For real? he doesn’t have balls and plays with her
She forgives him so easily and he has no explanation for how he acted
THERE’s NO GROVEL! Am I clear? Because I’m here because people simply lie 🤢🤢🤢
I regret reading the sex scenes
No love at all
Even her friend tells her not to justify him and that what he did was cruel and then encourages him to fight for her??! What kind of friend wants you with a man like that???
He treated her horrible and let his friend insult her, ignore her, let her leave, keeps playing pool with his friends, he ended the night with his friends and goes after her, then they fick!!!!
I’m in another galaxy!
Love yourselves cariño!
Shit book, I regret this
Que le pasa a la gente que no se quiere ni una mierda? Asco de mundo! Ni en los libros una puede sobrevivir
May 21, 2015
Contemporary small town romance with two neighbors at a crossroads in their lives where they find love and new jobs.
The grumpy dark tall and mysterious Navy SEAL, Joe MacDermid is doubting almost everything in his life so he moved to Thornehill Springs, North Carolina to find some answers. He mostly finds an annoying neighbor, Verna Love. I really liked Verna. She hates her life but is stuck in it deep until her 30th birthday when everything falls apart and then promptly gets really great. Verna is not a skinny suffering heroine, not at all, she is a tough hard working curvy optimistic woman. I would love to be friends with her!
Cute fluffy read at perfect for the beach summer vacation read.
200ish pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
The grumpy dark tall and mysterious Navy SEAL, Joe MacDermid is doubting almost everything in his life so he moved to Thornehill Springs, North Carolina to find some answers. He mostly finds an annoying neighbor, Verna Love. I really liked Verna. She hates her life but is stuck in it deep until her 30th birthday when everything falls apart and then promptly gets really great. Verna is not a skinny suffering heroine, not at all, she is a tough hard working curvy optimistic woman. I would love to be friends with her!
Cute fluffy read at perfect for the beach summer vacation read.
200ish pages and kindle freebie
2 stars
May 24, 2015
Where you least expect it
Joe and Verna's story will tug at your heart. Two people each struggling with life's changes and self doubt come together in passion and love.
Verna hides her lack of self worth behind a false bravado and jokes.
Joe struggles with age and life changes, causing him to hurt Verna in the worst possible way imaginable.
Forgiveness is hard for even this reader to give Joe. But alas Joe redeems himself.
This was a good read with a well written story line with great characters that leap off the pages and pull you into their story.
Joe and Verna's story will tug at your heart. Two people each struggling with life's changes and self doubt come together in passion and love.
Verna hides her lack of self worth behind a false bravado and jokes.
Joe struggles with age and life changes, causing him to hurt Verna in the worst possible way imaginable.
Forgiveness is hard for even this reader to give Joe. But alas Joe redeems himself.
This was a good read with a well written story line with great characters that leap off the pages and pull you into their story.
May 26, 2015
Thornehill Springs (Book 1)
Truly a well written book. The journey from anger to love was very bumpy, as most love stories are. The characters were well fleshed out and you just couldn't wait for Verna and Joe to realize how special they were to each other. Neither of them was perfect, having multiple flaws each, but isn't that how love grows; learning to accept each other despite those flaws?
Truly a well written book. The journey from anger to love was very bumpy, as most love stories are. The characters were well fleshed out and you just couldn't wait for Verna and Joe to realize how special they were to each other. Neither of them was perfect, having multiple flaws each, but isn't that how love grows; learning to accept each other despite those flaws?
February 8, 2015
I liked how the couple's relationship came about and identified with their problems. I like how the heroine got stronger, even though she wasn't completely over her insecurities. Felt like both characters grew instead of some unrealistic miraculous resolution to their problems.
December 9, 2015
An awesome good book.
I really liked this book. My first book by this author. I will be looking for other books she has written. I liked the romance and how feelings were interjected into the characters. A romance created from unlikely people and a great ending.
I really liked this book. My first book by this author. I will be looking for other books she has written. I liked the romance and how feelings were interjected into the characters. A romance created from unlikely people and a great ending.
October 23, 2022
This could of been a 4 star read for me but
there was too much left unresolved. The ending felt rushed and that epilouge, well I wouldn't even call it an epilouge it was pointless. With that being said I'll probably read it again just because that bar scene was BRUTAL
there was too much left unresolved. The ending felt rushed and that epilouge, well I wouldn't even call it an epilouge it was pointless. With that being said I'll probably read it again just because that bar scene was BRUTAL
December 30, 2015
Cool story, I liked it very much with all its ups and downs.
March 14, 2016
Quick and easy read.
September 1, 2025
OK, I read this because Jen was raving about it on the Fated Mates grovel episode (this is all stemming from my recent read of The Unwanted Wife) and BOY was it fully mid. Our heroine is Verna, who is fully beat down by her awful parents and her thankless job in their cafe (a storyline that goes nowhere, by the way). She lives next door to Joe the Navy Seal who is at a transition point between being an active duty seal and whatever next steps are.
So Verna and Joe have a snappish relationship because she's very much of the Low Self Esteem Get In The First Dig school, "And so the parameters of their relationship had been set: she was rude; he was rude back; and all was right in the world." (Sidebar - the semicolon situation!!). Anyhoo, spar spar, banter banter, tease tease and next thing you know they are spending a three day winter storm banging it out, and then continue with a "casual fling."
This book is only a decade old at most but it feels like it's from the 90s. The pacing of this book is so bizarre, it's FULLY 50% before their first kiss. He's in full denial mode that he would want her to spend the night ever for no good reason, because he very much does. But you know, NO EMOTION MAN. "He'd also ignored her gentle overtures at spending time together outside of the house." like a true ass[hat], even though he knows "if another man was treating Verna as he did, he'd kick the guy's ass happily and without question."
So to sum up, he wants to be with her all the time and they are together every night, he feels like being with her is "exactly where he wanted to be and exactly where he belonged," she is supportive and helps him work though his decision making about his life changes. So when they are out with respective friends at a bar and she comes over to say hi he FLAT OUT IGNORES HER EXISTENCE. Even though she is also his neighbor, and it could have been just that. And she rightly ends everything. But first! She Does It with him one more time, so he's all, ok I showed her with my ACTIONS how sorry I am and how I really feel, so no need to follow up with words of any kind, good plan. OK, so the bar scene is already at 81%, and I'm like, yeah, cue the grovel. And he just....doesn't do anything for weeks? And one of her friends is like, dude you acted like you were ashamed of her, maybe just ask her out in public like you never would? And his friend is like, you eff'ed up, fix this? And he continues not to?? Like he comes around the house (again, in private) to try to do a little handyman stuff, and she is rightly, dude go away. And he follows her around a little. And then he literally does the least by apologizing and declaring love and she's like, cool I love you too and that's it.
OK, Jen and I have VERY different ideas of what constitutes a good grovel. I want it at The Day of the Duchess levels. So far the two I've gotten from at episode of Fated Mates have been weak sauce indeed.
So Verna and Joe have a snappish relationship because she's very much of the Low Self Esteem Get In The First Dig school, "And so the parameters of their relationship had been set: she was rude; he was rude back; and all was right in the world." (Sidebar - the semicolon situation!!). Anyhoo, spar spar, banter banter, tease tease and next thing you know they are spending a three day winter storm banging it out, and then continue with a "casual fling."
This book is only a decade old at most but it feels like it's from the 90s. The pacing of this book is so bizarre, it's FULLY 50% before their first kiss. He's in full denial mode that he would want her to spend the night ever for no good reason, because he very much does. But you know, NO EMOTION MAN. "He'd also ignored her gentle overtures at spending time together outside of the house." like a true ass[hat], even though he knows "if another man was treating Verna as he did, he'd kick the guy's ass happily and without question."
So to sum up, he wants to be with her all the time and they are together every night, he feels like being with her is "exactly where he wanted to be and exactly where he belonged," she is supportive and helps him work though his decision making about his life changes. So when they are out with respective friends at a bar and she comes over to say hi he FLAT OUT IGNORES HER EXISTENCE. Even though she is also his neighbor, and it could have been just that. And she rightly ends everything. But first! She Does It with him one more time, so he's all, ok I showed her with my ACTIONS how sorry I am and how I really feel, so no need to follow up with words of any kind, good plan. OK, so the bar scene is already at 81%, and I'm like, yeah, cue the grovel. And he just....doesn't do anything for weeks? And one of her friends is like, dude you acted like you were ashamed of her, maybe just ask her out in public like you never would? And his friend is like, you eff'ed up, fix this? And he continues not to?? Like he comes around the house (again, in private) to try to do a little handyman stuff, and she is rightly, dude go away. And he follows her around a little. And then he literally does the least by apologizing and declaring love and she's like, cool I love you too and that's it.
OK, Jen and I have VERY different ideas of what constitutes a good grovel. I want it at The Day of the Duchess levels. So far the two I've gotten from at episode of Fated Mates have been weak sauce indeed.
April 3, 2020
A contemporary romance which features Verna, a woman turning thirty with self-esteem issues, and her next door neighbor, Joe, who happens to be between jobs (that of the Navy Seals and what-next) and not sure what to do with himself.
Can these two figure out their mutual, if denying to themselves, attraction and act on it? Will they, and if they do, will it strictly be sex or could there be something more (like love)?
Personally, I understand Verna's constant putdowns of herself; I have been known to do that all too often. In fact, it was so bad in high school that my friends charged me a dime every time they caught me doing it, and hey, I didn't have THAT much money. However, I also understand that Verna's parents, especially her father, contributed to much of her self-esteem issues; however, it did get to be a little too much and too often reading it.
A few WTT, but not many; also a few typos (misused words, missing words, etc.).
Can these two figure out their mutual, if denying to themselves, attraction and act on it? Will they, and if they do, will it strictly be sex or could there be something more (like love)?
Personally, I understand Verna's constant putdowns of herself; I have been known to do that all too often. In fact, it was so bad in high school that my friends charged me a dime every time they caught me doing it, and hey, I didn't have THAT much money. However, I also understand that Verna's parents, especially her father, contributed to much of her self-esteem issues; however, it did get to be a little too much and too often reading it.
A few WTT, but not many; also a few typos (misused words, missing words, etc.).
February 4, 2023
Verna Love is one of life’s lovable underdogs, and I was rooting for her with my whole chest. Joe is totally the mountain of perfect man she deserves, but he does something so awful and cruel at the beginning of the 3rd act that I had a hard time getting over it. I read this because I love a good grovel, and fated mates promised this had one. I’m not sure I agree. But still 5 stars for the lovely Verna. Never wanted someone to get a HEA more. Great character work.
December 27, 2024
2.75 I really wanted to love this, and I would have if the H would have in ANY WAY groveled for the awful thing he did to the h. But he doesn’t, and it was so effing hurtful, and the “I’m sorry, I love you” just doesn’t cut it for me.
June 25, 2025
Look, we all know that I'm a sucker for a good gut-punch, but, Verna, you forgave him way too easily. And I
WISH
I could have seen you give your parents the cursing they deserve.
May 31, 2024
Did not age well
I had to check for the publishing date because wow, the hatred towards Verna from.herswlf and from Joe is unreal.
It was hard to get through.
I had to check for the publishing date because wow, the hatred towards Verna from.herswlf and from Joe is unreal.
It was hard to get through.
July 16, 2016
Great Read!
This was the best damn book! From the first page the witty banter took off like a road runner, and a fourth way through I was laughing so hard I literally had to use my inhaler. No joke.
There was NO denying that Joe, rather known by many other names, who was a Navy SEAL, but known by all sorts of other ranks....(trust me, must read book) lol had a chemistry with his pesky neighbor Verna that defied the laws of physics, gravity, or Do Not Trespass; (whichever you'd prefer to call it) Lol
These two kept you entertained. As they would participate in a constant back and forth battle of the Witty one liners. It was apparent Game On!
Verna however; struggled with self worth because she felt she didn't fit the image of what society views as desirable. Her fathers obvious cycle of breaking Verna's spirit was despicable. This character wasn't cast as the perfect body (if there is one), airbrushed model type, and it was refreshing. She was a beautiful, everyday woman with talent, heart, humor, spunk, that had struggles, low self worth and dreams.
Joe was of course the physically fit hard bodied, good looking SEAL, every girl would want. He's perfect right? So why would a perfect guy like that want someone like Verna? Joe although fit, and good looking, and respected for his accomplishments, had his struggles like the rest of us with the same fears. The author told the story so well.
There were times I laughed so hard I couldn't stand it, times my heart broke for Verna, and times I wanted to hogtie that big burly SEAL and give him a long talking to. I was so angry at him, and disappointed once. Joe and Verna really went through some stuff.
I was impressed by the authors ending of the story. How she took two peoples lives, and ended leaving such a smile on my face, and a warm satisfied feeling in my heart. Great job!
This was the best damn book! From the first page the witty banter took off like a road runner, and a fourth way through I was laughing so hard I literally had to use my inhaler. No joke.
There was NO denying that Joe, rather known by many other names, who was a Navy SEAL, but known by all sorts of other ranks....(trust me, must read book) lol had a chemistry with his pesky neighbor Verna that defied the laws of physics, gravity, or Do Not Trespass; (whichever you'd prefer to call it) Lol
These two kept you entertained. As they would participate in a constant back and forth battle of the Witty one liners. It was apparent Game On!
Verna however; struggled with self worth because she felt she didn't fit the image of what society views as desirable. Her fathers obvious cycle of breaking Verna's spirit was despicable. This character wasn't cast as the perfect body (if there is one), airbrushed model type, and it was refreshing. She was a beautiful, everyday woman with talent, heart, humor, spunk, that had struggles, low self worth and dreams.
Joe was of course the physically fit hard bodied, good looking SEAL, every girl would want. He's perfect right? So why would a perfect guy like that want someone like Verna? Joe although fit, and good looking, and respected for his accomplishments, had his struggles like the rest of us with the same fears. The author told the story so well.
There were times I laughed so hard I couldn't stand it, times my heart broke for Verna, and times I wanted to hogtie that big burly SEAL and give him a long talking to. I was so angry at him, and disappointed once. Joe and Verna really went through some stuff.
I was impressed by the authors ending of the story. How she took two peoples lives, and ended leaving such a smile on my face, and a warm satisfied feeling in my heart. Great job!
December 10, 2015
I was really enjoying this book until . . . The H began treating the h poorly -and he even knew it and was ashamed of it -but he kept doing it. All because of his own insecurities. And then he treats her like total CRAP, and he just doesn't suffer or grovel enough before the end of the book. It also ends pretty quickly. It could have used at least one more chapter.
Otherwise it was a good book. It did not fall into the trap of telling, not showing. And the book avoids many of the usual tropes that overwhelm books these days.. The H and h don't have insta-love, but develop a relationship over time. (The h had insta-lust for the H, but that's reasonable.). Also while the h lacked significant experience, it was handled well and didn't make me think that the author was sex-shaming women who have premarital sex. Also, the h doesn't suddenly turn into a Glamazon and prove that she actually is physically attractive and therefore worthy of the H's love. So, good for the author!!!!
I do wish the h's father had gotten his comeuppance - it would have been satisfying - but the book was too realistic for that.
It felt like a solid portrayal of life in a small town.
I just wish the H had grown up sooner or suffered more. But I'm bloodthirsty. Others may forgive him more easily.
Overall this has tempted me into exploring more of this author's work.
Otherwise it was a good book. It did not fall into the trap of telling, not showing. And the book avoids many of the usual tropes that overwhelm books these days.. The H and h don't have insta-love, but develop a relationship over time. (The h had insta-lust for the H, but that's reasonable.). Also while the h lacked significant experience, it was handled well and didn't make me think that the author was sex-shaming women who have premarital sex. Also, the h doesn't suddenly turn into a Glamazon and prove that she actually is physically attractive and therefore worthy of the H's love. So, good for the author!!!!
I do wish the h's father had gotten his comeuppance - it would have been satisfying - but the book was too realistic for that.
It felt like a solid portrayal of life in a small town.
I just wish the H had grown up sooner or suffered more. But I'm bloodthirsty. Others may forgive him more easily.
Overall this has tempted me into exploring more of this author's work.
December 17, 2015
Verna is a tall woman, she works in her family's diner and her father rules the diner and the family with a rod of iron. She lives next door to Joe, a former Navy SEAL and the book opens with her goading poor Joe and teasing him. He has to draw on all his special forces training not to lose his cool with her, a small-town waitress. At the start Verna is sassy and abrasive, in my mind I kind of thought of her as a bit like one of those masculine looking/acting women - perhaps it's because she walks into Joe's house uninvited and puts her feet up on his table?
But then her character seemed to change and she became a woman crippled by low self-esteem, one who is happy to carry on a friends with benefits arrangement with Joe as long as it's kept on the down low. One who thinks it's perfectly understandable that Joe would want to have sex with her but be too embarrassed to acknowledge her in public. Yet she has a potty mouth.
Others have said it before me and said it better. I liked Joan's review here and Savannah - Quad Motherin' Book Readin' Diva's review here both of which covered it perfectly.
But then her character seemed to change and she became a woman crippled by low self-esteem, one who is happy to carry on a friends with benefits arrangement with Joe as long as it's kept on the down low. One who thinks it's perfectly understandable that Joe would want to have sex with her but be too embarrassed to acknowledge her in public. Yet she has a potty mouth.
Others have said it before me and said it better. I liked Joan's review here and Savannah - Quad Motherin' Book Readin' Diva's review here both of which covered it perfectly.
June 6, 2015
Where You Least Expect is the first in the Thornehill Springs series. I had to check a couple times to make sure because I felt like I was missing something and that there was a book before it. Some of the people being spoken about made me think that that person's story was the book before.
This book is truly just a romance book that happens to have some heated sex scenes within it. It is about finding confidence despite your upbringing. Finding worth in life it self. It is good book overall but there is nothing except normal relationship screw ups and makeups to this story line. While many books have twists and turns, this one is strictly about a man who happens to be a SEAL and woman who happens to work as a waitress learning to adapt to what type of relationship they have.
This book is truly just a romance book that happens to have some heated sex scenes within it. It is about finding confidence despite your upbringing. Finding worth in life it self. It is good book overall but there is nothing except normal relationship screw ups and makeups to this story line. While many books have twists and turns, this one is strictly about a man who happens to be a SEAL and woman who happens to work as a waitress learning to adapt to what type of relationship they have.
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