Review : The December Market

The December Market by RaeAnne Thayne

Genre: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Family, Adult, Chick Lit,

Goodreads: Click

Pages: 308

Published: October 8, 2024

The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season…

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he's just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

This was such a sweet and adorable perfect for now since it's the Christmas time. Also do you see that cover isn't it lovely? So there is Amanda and Rafe Amanda is a local shop owner who is running a Christmas Market and race is a single dad local fireman who was injured while helping out and now looking for something to do. It was just so sweet watching the romance between the two but it seems like it's not the only romance going on when Amanda realizes her grandmother birdie maybe with someone causing her some concern. I really enjoyed this book would definitely recommend especially if you like Hallmark movies.

Review :

 The Getaway by Emily March

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Literature, Family, Drama, Chick Lit,

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Pages: 384

Published: September 6, 2022

After years of putting her family first, Genevieve Prentice is making a fresh start—but it’s never easy to leave the past behind.

Widowed young, Genevieve Prentice dedicated her life to raising her four children. Now, though, they’re all grown and scattered to the wind, and Genevieve is ready for a change. In a flash of inspiration, she puts her home on the market and heads to Lake in the Clouds, Colorado, to renovate a rustic waterfront lodge with her sister. But just as they begin, Genevieve gets the shock of a lifetime: the arrival of her son.

Jake Prentice built a career out of being dependable, one that left him perennially stressed and overworked. Finally heeding his mother’s words of wisdom, he’s quit his job and is ready to find out what truly makes him happy. And now, as he stands surrounded by open sky and fresh, pine-scented air, he’s got no regrets . . . until former colleague Tess Crenshaw appears at the lake, forcing him to reassess what—and who—he really wants.

As they work together to renovate the lodge, Genevieve and Jake embark on a heartfelt and inspiring journey to learn about themselves, each other, and the true meaning of family.

This book has been on my TBR list for a while now and I'm finally getting a chance to read it. This is actually the perfect time to read it it goes through the holidays things starting with Thanksgiving so if your a seasonal type of reader this is a good time to start it.

Anyways this is was a slow but good read for me. This at the heart of it was all about family.

Genevieve is a widow who put everything aside to give her children the best life she could and now as adults she just wants them to get along. Admittedly she may have held onto the family tighter using the holidays to spend more time with them since her husband passed but now she just needs to step back and do for herself. That's where dropping everything to live with her sister renovating a house and self care comes into place and I absolutely love that for her. You can kind of see the bits and pieces where she has conflict wanting to help her children and seeing the hatred that seems to be going around and she's had enough and I love that she's took that step away to do more for herself because she's more than just their mother she is a woman who has her own needs.

Jake is the oldest son who pretty much tried to take over what his dad roll was. At the adult now he is stressed over work and with the holiday season and the family feuds he's had enough and dropped everything to visit his mother and now he's got a lot to think about. He even has the possibility of finding love and trying to figure out what to do with himself now that he's stepped away from all the roles with he was playings and to figure out who he is.

This was a heartwarming book and I enjoyed getting to know each and every character. I will say having the mother's point of views was kind of confusing at first but I got used to it. Getting to know tough and Jake you just can't help but look for the two. Tess is looking for family after what she dealt with her history and Jake is just looking for freedom so it's interesting how these two figure out a way to make it work. Then there's a family feuding going on and seeing what it took to try to make things workings to stop fighting.  Overall I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend you readers to check it out. 

Review : Mountain Abduction Rescue

Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene L. Turner

Genre: Suspense, Christian Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Inspirational, Love Inspired, Contemporary, Family,

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Pages: 224

Published: August 22, 2023

A wildfire threat…

becomes a missing person search.

A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive…

A serial arsonist is looking for revenge against Hazel and her family. When Hazel finds out her son and his Championship friends are missing possibly kidnapped in the middle of the forest she will do everything she can to find him. Especially since there are so many elements that could get the boys as well as the serial arsonist she will work together with Mitchell a firefighter who will do everything we can to help Hazel find the boys.

Whew this book jumps right into the middle of the action. From the moment the book starts readers will be hooked by the massive of amounts of things that happen it was barely a minute to rest. I enjoyed following along I say follow the bread crumbs to finding the boys and figuring out how to deal with their faith that was really being tested throughout the book. I like that while there was interest between Hazel and Mitchell it really didn't do much in this book I mean there is no time for Romance time is of the essence with this book. I thought it was interested in the family dynamic and the issues people had with Hazel's father he really was something else. Overall I really enjoyed this action packed book it really will leave you hooked.

Review : The Cafe at Beach End

The Cafe at Beach End by RaeAnne Thayne

Cape Sanctuary #5

Genre: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Family,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | bookshop.org 

Pages: 333

Published: June 13, 2023

An emotional story of starting over and reclaiming happiness.

When Meredith Collins was a child, the little beach town of Cape Sanctuary lived up to its name. Spending summers there with her grandmother, Meredith finally felt safe and loved.

Now she’s returning in disgrace. Her late ex-husband swindled investors out of millions of dollars and made Meredith a figure of scorn—though she knew nothing about his scheme. But she still has the beach cottage she inherited from her grandmother and half ownership of the local café. It’s a place to work and earn a little money. That’s if her cousin, Tori, will let her through the door. Once, Tori and Meredith were as close as sisters—until Meredith chose her neglectful parents’ expectations over their bond. Now widowed with a teenage daughter, Tori isn’t setting out a welcome mat for the woman who let her down so badly.

While Meredith tries to make a fresh start, she is drawn to a mysterious writer renting the cottage next door. Liam Byrne’s kindness is a balm, though she worries he might not be so friendly if he knew who she was. But Liam has his own secret and a mission that will help Meredith confront her past—and maybe, claim a surprising future…

Meredith is dealing with a Fallout of her late husband embezzled charges and people think she has something to do with it. So she goes back to the beach town she spent her Summers with her grandmother and cousin at for a new start working at the families cafe. Thing is that her cousin Tori isn't happy that she's back in town helping at the cafe considering how Meredith ultimately left her. Meanwhile Tori is a widow with a teen daughter who keeps finding herself trouble so dealing with her cousin as well isn't something she's looking forward to. 

So I really enjoyed this book. Tori is just doing what she had for her daughter and isn't looking for love but he managed to find one but in a complicated way being that he is her late husband's brother. Meredith after dealing with her ex-husband isn't looking for love she's just trying to pick up the pieces of the life that fell apart and just trying to start over when she runs into her new neighbor. There was just so much going on to keep a reader hooked. I really enjoyed getting to see Meredith and Tori side of things and seeing how they were starting somewhat of a new chapter of their lives. They look over all the pretty good book I really enjoyed it,

Review : The Sweetheart Fix

The Sweetheart Fix by Miranda Liasson

Blossom Glen #2

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Family,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 352

Published: November 29, 2022

Juliet Montgomery absolutely loves her small town of Blossom Glen, Indiana, and everyone loves her. Except for the fact that she’s a couples counselor who suffered a very public breakup that no one can forget. And now her boss asks her to take a step back…which is exactly when the town’s good-lookin’ and unusually gruff mayor offers her an unexpected job.

Jack Monroe absolutely loves being the mayor of his small town. Except when he actually has to talk to people. Can’t he just fix the community problems in peace? Like right now, he’s mediating the silliest dispute two neighbors could possibly have. When the town sweetheart steps up and solves everyone’s problems in five minutes flat, Jack realizes what this town really needs…is a therapist.

Juliet is able to soothe anyone—other than the surly mayor, it seems. But there’s a reason they say opposites attract, because all of their verbal sparring leads to some serious attraction. Only, just like with fireworks, the view might appear beautiful—but she’s already had one public explosion that’s nearly ruined everything…how can she risk her heart again?

Juliet is a couples counselor who can't seem to get her own love life together. Now it seems like her job is in jeopardy and seems to need to work on her own self-image. Jack Monroe is the town's buff around the edges mayor who is looking for help that may be Juliet can offer. Since she's good at working with others getting people together maybe she can help work on the local problems as the town's counselor. But they never expected was running into each other more often will cause a little spark between them.

If you like small town drama you'll enjoy this book. It is clear that Juliet is having a hard time getting away from her old childhood self and is having a bit of issues trying to figure out her love life now that it seems to be impacting her job. I enjoyed Juliets little antics throughout the book so she did try to do best for those that are around her. Then there's Jack the mayor was trying to do everything again to save his family's home, as well as being a good mayor in general helping those who needs problem solving so getting Juliets help was a win for him. I enjoyed seeing the sparks fly between Juliet and Jacks. Nothing about the relationship both rushed or anything like it. I enjoyed seeing the little moments that ended up bringing them together. But then again there are issues when it comes to his past and her past relationships this would make things like the future for their relationship a problem and it was interesting how everything was resolving in the end. Overall I really enjoyed this book.

Review : Kidnapped in Texas

Kidnapped in Texas by Virginia Vaughan

Genre: Suspense, Family, Adoption, Clean Romance, Romance,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 224

Published: January 24, 2023

A kidnapping case

reveals a secret that changes everything…

After witnessing an abduction, FBI agent Luke Harmon vows to return the teenage victim safely to her aunt, his ex, Abby Mitchell. But Abby has a secret—the girl is their daughter. To rescue his child from a human trafficking ring, he’ll partner with the woman who deceived him. But can he forgive the past before Abby becomes the next target…and his family is lost forever?

Luke and Abby witness a kidnapping and on a mission to get her back. Especially since Luke finds out that the teenager was their daughter. They both work together in getting the child from the human trafficking ring, while also trying to figure out where to go to next about their relationship.

This was a pretty fast paced read, I was pretty much enjoying it that I had a hard time putting it down. I thought it was interesting seeing how they worked on figuring out where the daughter was. I mean Luke was a FBI agent working on the case so he had the law on his side and ways to talk to suspects and Abby on the other hand didn't have those advantages. She did her own sleuthing looking though post and making connections and seeing where her own leads were taking her even if it put her in dangers way she would do everything she could to make sure to get her child back. I loved watching how everything progressing and the twists and turns that were thrown in the way. Overall really enjoyable book.

Review : Summer on the Island

Summer on the Island by Brenda Novak

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Family, 

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 400

Published: April 5th 2022 by MIRA

A summer of healing, friendship, love…and a secret that could change everything.

After the death of her US senator father, Marlow Madsen travels to the small island off the coast of Florida where she spent summers growing up to help her mother settle the family estate. For Marlow, the trip is a chance to reconnect after too long apart. It’s also the perfect escape to help her feel grounded again — one she’s happy to share with friends Aida and Claire, who are hoping to hit reset on their lives, too.

A leisurely beachfront summer promises the trio of women the opportunity to take deep healing breaths and explore new paths. But when her father’s will reveals an earth-shattering secret that tarnishes his impeccable reputation and everything she thought she knew about her family, Marlow finds herself questioning her entire childhood — and aspects of her future. Fortunately, her friends, and the most unlikely love interest she could imagine, prove that happiness can be found no matter what — as long as the right people are by your side. 

Marlow goes back home after the death of her father to see how her mothers doing. She takes along two friends that need some time away Aida and Claire who was with the game guy unknowingly so need some time to heal. This summer vacation is going to change all of them quite a bit with romance and secrets and they'll work on this summer to figure things out.

This was a pretty enjoyable book. Normally I try to stay away from books with multiple point of views because I have a hard time distinguishing between the characters but each character was made unique enough for me to seperate and enjoy. I liked getting to know the characters I loved seeing the romance for Marlow from a guy from her past who she really wasn't all that great to. Then there was well theres plenty of issues going around to keep things interesting you'll just have to read to find out because I don't want to give away too much. I liked the slow pace of the book and seeing how things resolved and how the book ended. It was overall a really nice read and recommend you lovely readers to check this book out. 

Review : One Perfect Summer

One Perfect Summer by Brenda Novak

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Summer, Family,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 464

Published: April 7th 2020 by Mira Books\

From New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak comes a novel about finding family in unexpected places and the lifelong bonds that don't need a lifetime to forge

When Serenity Alston swabbed her cheek for 23andMe, she joked about uncovering some dark ancestral scandal. The last thing she expected was to discover two half sisters she didn't know existed. Suddenly, everything about her loving family is drawn into question. And meeting these newfound sisters might be the only way to get answers.

Serenity has always found solace at her family's Lake Tahoe cabin, so what better place for the three women to dig into the mystery that has shaken the foundation each of them was raised on? With Reagan navigating romantic politics at her New York City advertising firm, and Lorelei staring down the collapse of her marriage, all three women are converging at a crossroads in their lives. Before the summer is over, they'll have to confront the paths they walked to get there and determine how to move forward when everything they previously thought to be true was a lie.

But any future is easier to face with family by your side. 

After a DNA test three women find that they are sisters and have come to meet eachother for a short while. While each one is from different backgrounds and on very important crossroads of their lives they are trying to figure out how they are connected.

Sounded like a good summer book to me so finally picked this book out. I will admit that I was having a bit of a hard time separating the three but once I got the hang of it this book was smooth sailing. I mean each of the sisters are so different once you get to know them. It was interesting seeing how they meshed together. I mean these women are virtually strangers and I really liked seeing how they helped eachother. One wanted to know more about her family, the other managed to sleep with her boss and dealing with the aftermath of choices that needs to be made and the third has to figure out what's next after finding out her husband cheated on her with her bestfriend. After all that is said and done, I loved the immense amount of support these women had for eachother. The summer was going to end and each would have to go home and face what's waiting but until then I loved how they spoke with eachother and helped be there. This was such a great book I really enjoyed it. 

Review : Secret Nights with a Cowboy

Secret Nights with a Cowboy by Caitlin Crews

(Kittredge Ranch #1)

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Western, Family, 

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 394

Published: December 1st 2020 by St. Martin's Press

A man holding on...
Riley Kittredge has always known exactly what he wanted. His land, his horses. His woman. He met and married Rae Trujillo far too young, and their young love combusted right after they said their vows. But their passion has never managed to burn itself out. Yet when Rae shows this time, it's not a night of pleasure she demands, but a divorce.

A woman letting go...
Rae should have moved on a long time ago. She knows she and Riley just don't work. They might make great lovers, but that doesn't make a marriage. And now Rae wants a new life, complete with a baby. But when her husband offers to be a father, to give her the family she's always secretly desired, she and Riley will both have to face demons from their past—and choose love over fear at last.

Riley and Rae got married a long while ago while they were too young and their relationship has always been a rocky one. Both clearly are passionate about one another but Rae keeps trying to keep some sort of distance and finally let him know that she wants a divorce but Riley doesn't want that.

I love second chances at romances I'm a sucker for them every time. I loved how passionate they were but I hated how toxic what they were doing was. They wanted eachother but Rae kept putting that wall between the two. You can't help but want to yell at Rae at what she was doing. Riley has what seems like an endless amount of patience, way too much if you ask me he was a good guy and wanted things to work out but clearly Rae is going through something. Overall this was a pretty great book I really enjoyed it

Review : The Bookstore on the Beach

The Bookstore on the Beach by Brenda Novak

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Family,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 448

Published: April 6th 2021 by MIRA

How do you start a new chapter of your life when you haven’t closed the book on the previous one?

Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac’s husband went missing. Her desperate search has yielded no answers, and she can’t imagine moving forward without him. But for the sake of their two teenage children, she has to try.

Autumn takes her kids home for the summer to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She seeks comfort working alongside her mother and aunt at their bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a huge life change and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. And when she runs into the boy who stole her heart in high school, old feelings start to bubble up again. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband’s return? She can only trust her heart…and hope it won’t lead her astray.

Autumns husband went missing two years ago and she's still reeling from the possible loss. Thats when she finally decides to go back to her hometown with her kids for the summer. She never expected to see a past love and with her husband gone there maybe a second chance at love? Meanwhile someone seems to be bringing up her mothers past, something she's kept well hidden and refuses to go back to it but circumstances are making things harder to keep secret. Then theres Autumns daughter who's life seem to be getting complicated by the moment and have a few life changes coming up. This summer is really a season of discovery and healing. 

I usually have a tough time getting into books with more the the two main characters but this book was different. I will admit I did have a lot of confusion trying to get used to the family members and making those connection of how their story was going but once I got the hang of it I was pretty much hooked. This book has the perspective of the grandmother, mother and daughter and each of them are dealing with some hard life choices at the moment and could change everything as they know it if revealed. I loved how each characters remained interesting and unique and I couldn't help but want the best. I will say that I could see where the mothers story was going from a mile away and still managed to get hooked. I thought that twist was going to come eventually and liked how it ended with how it turned out. Overall this was a pretty great book with some deep and complex characters .

Review : Autumn Skies

Autumn Skies by Denise Hunter

(Bluebell Inn #3)

Genre: Christian, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Clean, Family, 

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 304

Published: October 20th 2020 by Thomas Nelson

Facing the past is easier if you don’t have to face it alone.

The Bluebell Inn is turning a profit, and it’s time for the Bennett siblings to sell it and move on. Only Grace has plans to stay in the small lake town of Bluebell, North Carolina, where she hopes her growing outfitters business will save her from the loneliness of her siblings’ departure and the persistent sense of unworthiness in her life.

A gunshot wound resurrects the past for Secret Service agent Wyatt Jennings, and a mandatory leave of absence lands him in Bluebell. There he must come to grips with the tragedy that altered his life fourteen years ago.

When Wyatt books a room at the Bluebell Inn, sparks fly between him and Grace. She volunteers to be his mountain guide, and he soon opens up to her, drawn to her strength and sense of humor. But both are reticent to talk about the survivor’s guilt they each carry, and when their pasts finally collide, their budding romance might not survive the truth.

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom and A December Bride (now beloved Hallmark Original movies) comes the third and final novel in the Bluebell Inn series.

“Denise Hunter delivers another must-read!” —Nancy Naigle, author of Christmas Angels 

Now that Bluebell in is renovated and running well the siblings are finally making the move to sell and go their own way. Grace the youngest is still trying to figure out a location other then where she's currently at since they are selling. Wyatt is on a break from work while he gets his head straight and gets Graces help to look for a certain area from his past so that maybe he can finally get past what's been hard to get over for years. 

This was such a sweet read after all the mystery thrillers I've been reading lately. I loved getting to see that attraction between Grace and Wyatt there was the slow simmer between the two but its was clear there was something there and I enjoyed seeing how that romance played out. Grace had a bit of trauma in the past and the family is very much over protective to the point where it get ridiculous but its understandable and I just loved how close knit her family was. Wyatt had some trama himself with his past and he was around bluebell on his break to get some healing and I loved how Grace helped him out with his issues along with him being there for eachother for some tough situations and revelations. Overall this was a pretty good contemporary romance and I really enjoyed myself reading it. 

Review : Charmed by the Cook's Kids

Charmed by the Cook's Kids by Melinda Curtis

(The Mountain Monroes #6)
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Family,

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Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | iBooks | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 368

Published: June 1st 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming

A cook rediscovers her passion… 

Thanks to a new chef in town

If she’s to keep her diner afloat, single mom Ivy Parker must overhaul her menu. When high-profile chef Cam Monroe comes to Second Chance, she’s wary of asking for help. Would a perfectionist like him approve of the corners she cuts to find time for her children? But as Cam helps her rediscover her love for cooking, Ivy finds they have more in common than she expected…

Ivy is a single mom who needs to work on the menu at her diner to keep is going. Times are changing in town and she needs to keep at pace or get out of there. Cam Monroe is a big name chef and he's less then thrilled with how Ivy's diner is running and while hes looking towards bigger and better things he'll have to help out Ivy. He never expected to like Ivy or her boys as much as he does.

This was a pretty enjoyable book if you are looking for a contemporary book to read this summer. I enjoyed getting to konw the characters and seeing how everything played out. Cam was a bit over the top when it came to him thinking way too highly of himself but there was also the hurt he was dealing with when it came to his previous job. He's a bit lost and Ivy is nothing he expected. I liked getting a deeper insight to Ivy's character and seeing why things the way they were and getting to know her character though her point of view. Overall this was a pretty good book I really did enjoy it.

Review : Sisters of Summer's End

Sisters of Summer's End by Lori Foster

(Summer Resort #2)

Genre: Contemporary, Romance, 

Goodreads: Click

Purchase Link: Amazon | BN | Walmart eBooks 

Pages: 384

Published: June 11th 2019 by HQN Books

From New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Lori Foster comes the story of two very different women who become sisters of the heart, learning that the best families are made—not given—and love is just around the corner.

Joy is a wealthy single mom who’s estranged from her family and wants to give her five-year-old son the kind of support she never received. Maris grew up with unconditional love from her family and little else and is trying to find her way on her own now that they’re all gone. This summer, Joy and Maris will find the family they’ve always longed for in one another—and love where they least expect it—in Summer’s End. 

So this book is the perspective of two best friends Joy and Maris both who are going through life and facing different challenges. Joy is just trying to give her five year old son what she didn't have growing up. She was raised in a wealthy family and while given what she wanted she wasn't given that love and support she truly wanted and things went downhill for her when she was pregnant and forced to make some tough choices and she really seems to be a at a good place right now. Now shes facing a different challenge : dating and possibly finding the one but can she be open for that? Then there is Maris her friend who hasn't had the best childhood but got thought and is happy at the moment with how her life is but how dating is a challenge she never really got into growing up and yea can't say more without spoiling the book. If your a fan of contemporary romances then you'll definitely love this book. I pretty much devoured it from start to end and highly recommend you lovely readers to check it out.