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eicart_reads's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
With Love from Rose Bend was a solid, middle-of-the-road romance read for me. It was a nice, small town romance between Owen and Leontyne. Owen is a retired professional football player who is hiding out in Rose Bend. He retired after a serious car accident left him with facial scarring, and he is afraid to be in the public eye again. Leo's family runs an inn in Rose Bend, and she is sent to recruit Owen to help with a town festival. When she sees Owen, she realizes he is the man with whom she shared one passionate night of anonymous, uncharacteristic-for-her, sex about a year ago! They shared a magical night unlike either of them had ever had, and yet there are (of course) obstacles that keep them from immediately jumping back in where they left off.
This book is rather like a Hallmark movie with open door sex scenes, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not my preferred type of romance. This book was very straight and heteronormative, although there is a same sex couple briefly mentioned (two women in a committed relationship.)
CW for past unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage from multiple characters. Planned pregnancy/miscarriage in another case. These were the most tender, emotional moments to me -- when the impact of those miscarriages was discussed.
I could tell that there were references to events that happened in previous books in the series, even though I have not read those. I do not think it negatively impacted my reading experience to have read this one first.
I received a free ARC of this book from the Bonkers Romance book club. It was delivered via NetGalley. Thank you to Bonkers Romance, NetGalley, and the publisher for the advanced copy.
This book is rather like a Hallmark movie with open door sex scenes, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it's not my preferred type of romance. This book was very straight and heteronormative, although there is a same sex couple briefly mentioned (two women in a committed relationship.)
CW for past unplanned pregnancy and miscarriage from multiple characters. Planned pregnancy/miscarriage in another case. These were the most tender, emotional moments to me -- when the impact of those miscarriages was discussed.
I could tell that there were references to events that happened in previous books in the series, even though I have not read those. I do not think it negatively impacted my reading experience to have read this one first.
I received a free ARC of this book from the Bonkers Romance book club. It was delivered via NetGalley. Thank you to Bonkers Romance, NetGalley, and the publisher for the advanced copy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Car accident
tostita's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
With Love from Rose Bend didn’t really work for me. The characters were fine, the conflict was fine, the resolution was fine, but nothing really hooked me. It was just sort of… there. I felt like I’d read this story many times before—a damaged man and a woman with a wounded heart don’t want to fall in love but they end up doing it anyway. If that’s your favorite trope, this with likely work for you, just not for me.
On the other hand, the novella included with the audiobook, The Love List, was absolutely delightful, and it’s also a damaged man/wounded woman pairing. But the pace was much faster, and the story was relatively spicier (because it was shorter with fewer non-spicy scenes filling it out), and these characters actually wanted to spend time with each other even if they didn’t initially think they could make a go of it long-term. I enthusiastically recommend The Love List.
On the other hand, the novella included with the audiobook, The Love List, was absolutely delightful, and it’s also a damaged man/wounded woman pairing. But the pace was much faster, and the story was relatively spicier (because it was shorter with fewer non-spicy scenes filling it out), and these characters actually wanted to spend time with each other even if they didn’t initially think they could make a go of it long-term. I enthusiastically recommend The Love List.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Miscarriage, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pregnancy