Such a cute, feel good read! This will be a win for small town, single parent lovers who appreciate a laidback and easygoing love story with a touch of heartache. I could feel the instant ZAP of attraction between these two, and it immediately had my attention. It reminded me of my favorite of Locke’s romances, Tangle, with small town vibes and tension that arises from two people who are perfect for each other in all ways but one – their outlook on relationships. Our heroine has been burned too many times, so she’s determined not to fall for a man who openly admits that he can’t promise her forever. I loved watching Palmer resist Cole at first, just as much as I loved watching him fall head over heels for Palmer AND her son. The romance between them was all kinds of swoony and sweet, though the laidback feel did drag on occasion. I also thought the unexpected shot of angst towards the end detracted from the vibes, but it went right back to the swoons, so I can’t complain too much.
The story follows Palmer, a woman who has put her heart on the line too many times. She’s given her all in relationships, only to be strung along by guys who were never going to give her forever. So when she meets an irresistibly sexy and confident retired baseball player who is only in town temporarily, Palmer knows better than to fall for his charms. But the more Palmer resists Cole, the more he finds himself attracted, and it’s not long before he reconsiders his plans. Spending time in a small town with Palmer and her 12-year-old son, coaching little league and getting to know the community… it’s all pretty great. Unfortunately, there’s a reason why Cole never promised forever, and it’s all too easy to lose sight of that.
Locke can be hit or miss for me, but I’ve enjoyed several of her small town romances in the past – I think that’s where she really shines. There is such personality in the community setting, a true sense of authenticity about being a mom, and lighthearted vibes that simply worked. The chemistry was also great. It was all working for me, though I do think the length could’ve been shortened a bit. I also loved that it went in a direction I wasn’t expecting from the blurb, with Cole being less of a player and more of a sweetheart who has his reasons for holding back. It’s clear throughout the story that he’s got a secret – he retired from baseball for a reason – but I was very taken aback when all was revealed. There were some unexpected triggers and a few chapters that weighed things down, though I certainly empathized with the situation. I didn’t even mind how instalovey everything was. This ended up being a solid 4-star read for me, and I think it could’ve been higher if a few things had been tightened up. It definitely gave me a case of the warm and fuzzies, which makes it a win overall.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IUnbcd
Audio Note:
The audio was great! I was able to switch back and forth between the text and audio, though I ended up listening to most of it. The runtime was short enough to binge in a single day, and the narrators (Teddy Hamilton and Stella Hunter) were both easy to listen to. It’s dual narration, with two skilled, relaxing narrators that I’ve listened to before. They were both good fits for the type of story, and I had no complaints about the performance. It’s a low heat/slow burn story, so this also made for the perfect book to listen to while working. The laidback vibes were ideal for that, and it made my workday go faster. I recommend listening to this one – it was good.
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3Wkwfdp
Blurb:
She wants forever. He plays it day by day. They’re both wishing for the best in USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke’s charming and sexy hopefully-ever-after romance.
Single mom Palmer Clark will not be sidelined by the new man in town. Sure, the honey-tongued baseball legend is gorgeous, loves puppies, and has charmed his way into the community’s heart, but Palmer craves stability. Nothing about Cole says forever. So why is he so hard to resist?
Cole is swinging through town to visit his parents when he meets the kind of down-to-earth distraction he’s been looking for since retiring from the majors. True, his long-term relationship score is zero. But even though raising his average with Palmer seems impossible, it’s worth a shot.
As promising as the summer nights are, fate turns small-town dreams upside down, and some lessons are learned the hard way. But having faith in love and choosing hope over fear might get Palmer and Cole to the sweet spot they’re looking for.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IUnbcd
Have you read Tangle?
The books are entirely unrelated, but they have similar premises that went in different directions. It remains my favorite from Locke!
Sparks fly between a die-hard romantic and a sexy cynic in this fresh, funny romance from USA Todaybestselling author Adriana Locke.
That cream-filled, caramel-topped doughnut should have been hers. Still, Haley Raynor can’t deny that the pastry thief with the dreamy blue eyes looks even more delicious. But moving in on a handsome devil like Trevor Kelly is bad news for a die-hard romantic like Haley. Trevor doesn’t believe in love. She does. Giving in to a fling and Trevor’s irresistible charms can’t end well. Can it? What can it hurt to give it a shot?
Girls always fall for Trevor, and in the end, he always ends up looking like a bad-boy cad. Still, spending some time with Haley and her smart-talking, kissable mouth sounds pretty perfect. Besides, he’s only going to be in Dogwood Lane for one week. How much trouble could they possibly get into?
The only answer? A “no falling in love” contract. All Trevor and Haley have to do is follow the rules and resist the attraction sizzling between them…before their hearts get completely tangled up in temptation.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CZq7R2
About the Author:
About Adriana Locke
USA Today, Washington Post, and Amazon Charts Bestselling author Adriana Locke lives and breathes books. After years of slightly obsessive relationships with the flawed bad boys created by other authors, Adriana has created her own.
She resides in the Midwest with her husband, four sons, and two dogs. She spends a large amount of time playing with her kids, drinking coffee, and cooking. You can find her outside if the weather’s nice and there’s always a piece of candy in her pocket.
Connect with Adriana
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Nf4JjE
Instagram: https://bit.ly/36Xb76f
Facebook: http://bit.ly/3d4UXeP
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3jCwPBo
BookBub: http://bit.ly/3d4Vai7
Website: https://adrianalocke.com
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