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rynniereads's review against another edition
4.0
This small town romance finds Leontyne “Leo” unexpectedly running into former professional football player Owen in her hometown, Rose Bend, about a year after the pair had a steamy one night stand. Owen is in Rose Bend hiding from the press after a horrific accident left him scarred and unable to play football. The pair are still deeply attracted to one another and small town life keeps them in each other’s paths. Their relationship leads to emotional healing for both Leo and Owen on their own terms.
This was the third book in the Rose Bend series and the only one I have read. From looking at other reviews it looks like this story gave satisfying updates on the lives from the couples in the first couple books. I liked both Owen and Leo. Both were prickly and had their own walls that needed to be broken down. I wasn’t sure what the steam level of the book would be given that this is a small town romance from Harlequin, but Naima brought the heat. A trigger warning for discussion of miscarriage should be noted.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was the third book in the Rose Bend series and the only one I have read. From looking at other reviews it looks like this story gave satisfying updates on the lives from the couples in the first couple books. I liked both Owen and Leo. Both were prickly and had their own walls that needed to be broken down. I wasn’t sure what the steam level of the book would be given that this is a small town romance from Harlequin, but Naima brought the heat. A trigger warning for discussion of miscarriage should be noted.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
colleenj_2080's review
3.0
Lots of emotion in this book. It does add depth the characters and their story. Overall, I found it hard to balance the gravity of what was happening emotionally with the silliness of some of the plot points.
*I did receive a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
*I did receive a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
crystal1010's review
5.0
Oh, Leo and Owen! I loved these two and their friends (and some family) so much! I just wanted to wrap them up in big hugs and shield them from their pain. But, they found ways to be there for each other and themselves, and that’s even better! Another great book in the series!
hanstoltz's review
4.0
I picked this up at Goodwill on a whim for the cheap price and was pleasantly surprised with how I enjoyed this. The small town second chance romance was really great and the whole cast of characters was a lot of fun.
ambermae81's review
5.0
I heard about this book from the Bonkers Romance Podcast and it was described as "the small town romance we all deserve." That is absolutely true! Rose Bend is all of the wonderful things we look for in a small town setting, without the things that we've seen over and over again (and would probably prefer not to see again).
Our heroine, Leo, is a perfect mix of fierce and a vulnerable. Her conflicts and wounds are deeply relatable and it's easy to cheer her on. Owen, the hero, has just enough charm and introspection to make up for his reoccurring foot-in-mouth problem. Alongside a huge list of supporting characters, these two follow a journey of growth, sometimes together and sometimes on their own.
To give you a little insight into how delish this book was, my bookstagram post on the morning I finished reading: "3 hours of sleep, unfolded laundry, dishes in the sink, barely on time for work... and it was worth it! I hung onto every word."
LOVED:
* The Sass - Leo has some sauciness and it's more than endearing
* The Steam - I literally found myself holding my breath through paragraph after paragraph
* The Family - Between Leo's huge family and Owen's friends that were more like family, there were so many beautiful souls to fall in love with (and hope for books about!)
* The Community - It's hard not to address the community when the series is called Rose Bend... Naima Simone lays out such a lovely small town vibe. There are no obnoxious clichés, just wonderful people you meet each step of the way, and you get to know just enough about them to wonder what their story is (or will be!)
* The Suspense - I'm not one to gravitate toward suspense in romance, but Leo's background unravels slowly, and each scene had me wondering "is this when I'll find out her true story?"
QUOTES I LOVED (THERE WERE SO SO MANY, it was hard to choose!)
"As if God hit the half-speed button on some celestial clock, time slowed. Suddenly, every hitch in her breath knocked against her throat like a tiny hammer. Every breeze drifting over the nape of her neck caressed her like a lover's gentle fingers." (Siggghhhh)
"Leo stretched up on her toes, craned her next to the right and left. Giving Jenna an exaggerated wince, she shrugged. "Dang it, Jenna. I'm sorry. I've looked but I can't seem to find where I left that last fu--" (Oh snap!)
"A dark chasm yawned deep inside her, and a flutter of delicate butterfly wings filled it. And underneath? Underneath was a bottomless pool of desire that she could willingly drown in and still never be satisfied." (Gahhhh!!!)
Owen saying "Please, God, let her have this moment, this victory." (Swoooooons all over)
WOULD HAVE LOVED:
There is so much depth to this book... characters, both dipped into and developed. It's hard to think of what more I would have wanted. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the Rose Bend Series to see the other beloved characters from this book.
OVERALL:
I loved. I swooned. I gasped. I giggled. And now I have a new series and new author to add to my favs. Thank you Bonkers Romance and Naima Simone for the Advanced Review Copy. This is my honest review.
Our heroine, Leo, is a perfect mix of fierce and a vulnerable. Her conflicts and wounds are deeply relatable and it's easy to cheer her on. Owen, the hero, has just enough charm and introspection to make up for his reoccurring foot-in-mouth problem. Alongside a huge list of supporting characters, these two follow a journey of growth, sometimes together and sometimes on their own.
To give you a little insight into how delish this book was, my bookstagram post on the morning I finished reading: "3 hours of sleep, unfolded laundry, dishes in the sink, barely on time for work... and it was worth it! I hung onto every word."
LOVED:
* The Sass - Leo has some sauciness and it's more than endearing
* The Steam - I literally found myself holding my breath through paragraph after paragraph
* The Family - Between Leo's huge family and Owen's friends that were more like family, there were so many beautiful souls to fall in love with (and hope for books about!)
* The Community - It's hard not to address the community when the series is called Rose Bend... Naima Simone lays out such a lovely small town vibe. There are no obnoxious clichés, just wonderful people you meet each step of the way, and you get to know just enough about them to wonder what their story is (or will be!)
* The Suspense - I'm not one to gravitate toward suspense in romance, but Leo's background unravels slowly, and each scene had me wondering "is this when I'll find out her true story?"
QUOTES I LOVED (THERE WERE SO SO MANY, it was hard to choose!)
"As if God hit the half-speed button on some celestial clock, time slowed. Suddenly, every hitch in her breath knocked against her throat like a tiny hammer. Every breeze drifting over the nape of her neck caressed her like a lover's gentle fingers." (Siggghhhh)
"Leo stretched up on her toes, craned her next to the right and left. Giving Jenna an exaggerated wince, she shrugged. "Dang it, Jenna. I'm sorry. I've looked but I can't seem to find where I left that last fu--" (Oh snap!)
"A dark chasm yawned deep inside her, and a flutter of delicate butterfly wings filled it. And underneath? Underneath was a bottomless pool of desire that she could willingly drown in and still never be satisfied." (Gahhhh!!!)
Owen saying "Please, God, let her have this moment, this victory." (Swoooooons all over)
WOULD HAVE LOVED:
There is so much depth to this book... characters, both dipped into and developed. It's hard to think of what more I would have wanted. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the Rose Bend Series to see the other beloved characters from this book.
OVERALL:
I loved. I swooned. I gasped. I giggled. And now I have a new series and new author to add to my favs. Thank you Bonkers Romance and Naima Simone for the Advanced Review Copy. This is my honest review.
lashea677's review
5.0
Romance told with heart and humor. With Love From Rose Bend gets right to the heart of the matter. Simone keeps the emotions real with more than a little heartache and a fair share of angst. Leontyne and Owen are a work of art brought to life with a realism that with grab hold of your soul.
angelinoo's review
3.0
First of all, I thought Leontyne was a black woman. And then the book tells us that she is not, and is in fact, a white woman. That’s not a huge deal, but it really took me out of the story. Leontyne is so basic and uncool. Totally bland and flavorless af. The book tries its best to make her deep and layered but it just ends up being contrived and flat. Cute story though. i’m not convinced that the stakes are high enough with this hicktown beauty pageant. All of the mean girl banter back-and-forth was ridiculous and immature if these were supposed to be grown ass women. Again, this is all very basic bitch.. when Jenna said, no one messes with a bitch like no one messes with a good girl. What does that even mean?… very fake deep. that shit doesn’t make any sense. The narrator was great. I love Mari. I wished they’d used a male narrator for Owen though.How is Leo only 29? She feels older and at least 35. The obsession with not riding with women older than 35 is absolutely exhausting at this point. And also weird. This is also another book that uses miscarriage as a plot device. This is overused and boring. I’m so sick of the female, protagonist longing and wanting kids. It’s boring hetero normative bullshit.. women do other things besides get married, and have babies.
Owens mother and father are garbage. His mom excuses her husband’s abusive behavior because she has no idea what a healthy relationship and a healthy attraction is. She’s just as bad as her stupid asshole husband.
Owens mother and father are garbage. His mom excuses her husband’s abusive behavior because she has no idea what a healthy relationship and a healthy attraction is. She’s just as bad as her stupid asshole husband.
bugsbunny_234's review against another edition
4.0
If you like your romances with added spice then this is one for you, it’s not just the chilli competition that’s getting hot let me tell you! In Christmas at Rose Bend we had the mud room scene but I would say that this book is spicier and on more occasions, but if you can be a bit prudish like me don’t let that put you off.
There’s also quite a few emotional moments in this book, first off with Owen coming to terms with the emotional and physical scars left from his recent accident and his childhood to some parts. Leo is also up against it, holding back a secret that she’s held for 8 years while plastering over the cracks to present the perfect and organised front.
The sexual tension between the two of them is off the scales from the very beginning and you can feel it burning through the pages until it reaches its crescendo.
Fire, fear, friendship and a whole lot more come together in this book to create a full on journey that you’ll be wrapped up in
There’s also quite a few emotional moments in this book, first off with Owen coming to terms with the emotional and physical scars left from his recent accident and his childhood to some parts. Leo is also up against it, holding back a secret that she’s held for 8 years while plastering over the cracks to present the perfect and organised front.
The sexual tension between the two of them is off the scales from the very beginning and you can feel it burning through the pages until it reaches its crescendo.
Fire, fear, friendship and a whole lot more come together in this book to create a full on journey that you’ll be wrapped up in