My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Synopsis
Is a decade enough time to heal old wounds?
Professional chef Leah Spencer is level-headed, responsible, and practical—making it an easy decision to move home to Laurel Cove, North Carolina to care for her ailing father. All he wants is for his only child to find love and partnership like he had with his late wife—before he leaves her all alone. Desperate to ease his worries, as well as her own, she breaks character and creates a fake relationship with the one man in town who likely wants nothing to do with her. And the one man she’s ever truly loved.
Ladies’ man Jasper Bowdon has successfully avoided commitment ever since his heart was broken a decade ago. Casual dating, however, had grown tiresome and he’d recently decided to take a break from women to finally figure out what he really wants. Why, then, does he agree to a pretend relationship with the very woman who’d ruined him in the first place? And why is he left wondering if it could all be part of God’s plan to heal them both?
Love and friendship get a second chance in this final installment of the Laurel Cove Romance Series. Books in this series are stand-alone and can be read and enjoyed in any order.
My Review
Both Leah and Jasper are full of conflicts, so it took me a bit to understand what is real about them and what is a front they are putting up. The book began a bit slow as Leah has recently returned to Laurel Cove, set up a new business with best friend Penny, and anxiously worrying over the health of her father. The initial interactions between Leah and Jasper are stiff and awkward- almost painful to read. I was relieved when they began to act on instinct (against their better judgement) and had more genuine connections. With the way their relationship had ended, Leah is holding onto a debilitating amount of guilt while Jasper has an easier time overcoming his resentment as his feelings of love are swiftly resurrected. They are each well acquainted with grief, and it is a strong theme of the book as they learn about the risks and joy in finding a second chance at both love and life.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Don't miss the previous books in the Laurel Cove Romance series . . .
