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emilygigs's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
brittanyt's review
4.0
Caila has always been a career driven woman. When her grandfather dies she internalizes her feelings, which leads to her getting slightly intoxicated at a work event and embarrassing herself. She is “punished” by having to go to a small town (Bradleton) and conduct a mock review of a factory. Mock, because the board has already decided to shut the plant down. Wyatt is the mayor of Bradleton and is determined to save the factory, which employs a significant portion of the town’s population. Wyatt decides he needs to prove to Caila the town is worth saving and he can only do that by showing her the town himself.
I really liked this book. I loved Caila’s friends group and I can’t wait to see them more. Livesay ends the book not with a standard epilogue, but with an email from Caila to the girlfriends. I thought it was a really unique way to end the book and I loved it! This book talks a lot about what it is like to be a Black woman in the workforce. There is no opportunity for mistakes, so Caila’s one screw up hurts that much worse!
Wyatt is a southern charmer who has no idea how to tell his rich white family how he wants to live his life. I read this after listening to the Tres Black Chicks podcast episode on interracial romance (if you haven’t listened to it, you should). After listening to the podcast, I am more appreciative that Caila finds a way to save HIS town, because she is brilliant. Wyatt does not do the saving. He really needs to just ditch his family’s ambitions and go build furniture wherever Caila wants to live! The next book in this series comes out soon and I’m excited to read it!
I really liked this book. I loved Caila’s friends group and I can’t wait to see them more. Livesay ends the book not with a standard epilogue, but with an email from Caila to the girlfriends. I thought it was a really unique way to end the book and I loved it! This book talks a lot about what it is like to be a Black woman in the workforce. There is no opportunity for mistakes, so Caila’s one screw up hurts that much worse!
Wyatt is a southern charmer who has no idea how to tell his rich white family how he wants to live his life. I read this after listening to the Tres Black Chicks podcast episode on interracial romance (if you haven’t listened to it, you should). After listening to the podcast, I am more appreciative that Caila finds a way to save HIS town, because she is brilliant. Wyatt does not do the saving. He really needs to just ditch his family’s ambitions and go build furniture wherever Caila wants to live! The next book in this series comes out soon and I’m excited to read it!
whatebonyreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"I've never seen that shoe before in my life." - Caila (pronounced Kay-lah)
Calia Harris had a specific plan for her life, and getting sent on an assignment in a rural town wasn't a part of it. However, one night after too many drinks and one lost shoe, she is sent to evaluate a factory her company wants to close.
Wyatt Bradley lives to ensure the security of his town as the mayor. When he hears that a new company is taking over their factory, he devises a plan to ensure that doesn't happen. Little did they both know this would be the beginning of something great for the town and for the two of them.
Who doesn't love an excellent small-town romance? This story reminds me of a Hallmark movie. It has all the elements that are needed.
-small town? check
-girl from the city? check
-a small-town mayor who is a hottie and a little jaded? check
All of these elements meld together to form the perfect story of how the universe says checkmate when people try and play each other. The humor woven in made this a great read. I am glad to have been introduced to Tracey Livesay's work and will continue to read the rest of her catalog.
Calia Harris had a specific plan for her life, and getting sent on an assignment in a rural town wasn't a part of it. However, one night after too many drinks and one lost shoe, she is sent to evaluate a factory her company wants to close.
Wyatt Bradley lives to ensure the security of his town as the mayor. When he hears that a new company is taking over their factory, he devises a plan to ensure that doesn't happen. Little did they both know this would be the beginning of something great for the town and for the two of them.
Who doesn't love an excellent small-town romance? This story reminds me of a Hallmark movie. It has all the elements that are needed.
-small town? check
-girl from the city? check
-a small-town mayor who is a hottie and a little jaded? check
All of these elements meld together to form the perfect story of how the universe says checkmate when people try and play each other. The humor woven in made this a great read. I am glad to have been introduced to Tracey Livesay's work and will continue to read the rest of her catalog.
missmeganmann's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked this! It was spicy, but the small town of it all wasn’t overwhelming. I loved all of the hallmarks though. The football game and the bake sale. It was sweet. I’m excited to read the next one!
kikiareyoureading's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
isabelisalright's review
4.0
This book was like a hallmark movie but with sex so I loved it.
It’s a delightful love story. The end conflict was meh, but I loved how the ending worked out overall.
It’s a delightful love story. The end conflict was meh, but I loved how the ending worked out overall.
liatrek's review
4.0
I can’t help it I’m a sucker for a small town boy and the city girl romance ❤️ This had all the features of a Hallmark movie with more spice and woman of color as the MC. I thought Caila and Wyatt had sizzling chemistry and their relationship felt genuine. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
thanys_thoughts's review
4.0
More of a 4.5. Almost a 5 for me!
This was about Caila and Wyatt. This read just like a plot for a Hallmark movie, and I am here for it! Caila is the big bad business lady come to shut down the small town packing company where Wyatt is mayor of said town. This had great small town charm and Hallmark sweetness but steamier. I really liked the build up for Caila and Wyatt. I thought the ending was a little rushed and I just wanted a little bit more. Also would have liked to see more interactions between the women. Overall, really enjoyed and looking forward to the next book in the series!
This was about Caila and Wyatt. This read just like a plot for a Hallmark movie, and I am here for it! Caila is the big bad business lady come to shut down the small town packing company where Wyatt is mayor of said town. This had great small town charm and Hallmark sweetness but steamier. I really liked the build up for Caila and Wyatt. I thought the ending was a little rushed and I just wanted a little bit more. Also would have liked to see more interactions between the women. Overall, really enjoyed and looking forward to the next book in the series!
tita_noir's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
You know how in those Lifetime or Hallmark Christmas movies the plot is basically that the heroine is a big city gal who has a big city job and finds herself in a charming small town where in one way or another she has to close down or sell off or in some way destroy one of the town's long time institutions? Yeah, that is this story in a nutshell, only it doesn't take place during Christmas time.
Caila Harris is your original work-a-holic. For ten years she has worked for a beauty products company climbing the ladder, forsaking a personal life, and being the perfect corporate employee. She has her three best BFFs, but that is pretty much it. She isn't close to her family and has no love life. She is just one rung from a major promotion and she'll be set. But one mistake at a company party and all that is in jeopardy. To salvage her career dreams she is sent to a small town to evaluate a factory that packs some of the products. The factory has been losing money, it seems like open and shut case and something a student fresh out of business school would normally be sent to do, so Caila knows that she is pretty much on a shit detail.
Wyatt Bradley is the Mayor of said small town that was named after his family. He is handsome, pedigreed and rich. And did I say handsome. Apparently he is so handsome that his milkshake brings all the girls to the yard. But he is also devoted to his town and the factory is the number one employer in the town. If it closes it would catastrophic to their local economy. So he is on a mission to save it by hook or by crook.
The two meet and in tried and true romance fashion they get hot for each other while trying to meet their own individual goals. Wyatt is desperate to save his town and Caila is desperate to save her job.
What I liked:
- I liked that not only are we told that Caila was a workaholic, we were showed it too. There was a a fair amount of page time given to show us Caila's work and how important it was to her. So it wasn't all just background and set up. We got to see how Caila's work was important
- A reminder that you are never as important to your work environment as you think you might be. Especially if you are a woman. I think the author was spot on in her characterization that even ten years of superb performance and success can't survive one small, not even work related mistake. Women and especially women of color, are not give the luxury of even one mistake.
- The girlfriend trip in the beginning was fun. It is obviously series/sequel set up to get introduced right away to the other women who will be characters in the next books. All the personalities were different enough and fun enough that they seemed appealing. I liked the camaraderie established especially through their funny reminisces.
- The chemistry between Caila and Wyatt was undeniable and the sex scenes were really nicely hot.
- Overall the individual characters were lively and interesting, including the different supporting characters around town,.
What didn't work so well for me:
- This is a well used plot. To make it sing you kinda have to do something different with it. As it is, I could see all the plot points well before they unfolded. It is a case of, 'oh this is gonna happen next' and each time I was right. Nothing came out of left field, nothing swerved to make the plot more interesting. The strength of the book is mostly in the characters.
- Insta love. The hero is an avowed love 'em and leave 'em type. He never gets serious with a woman. But he is mad in love with the heroine after one week. Yeah this all takes place in the course of, like, a week.
So overall a nice, pleasant read with good characters, a central romance that is chemical enough to satisfy, but hampered a bit by a by-the-numbers plot.
This is an honest review based on an ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
You know how in those Lifetime or Hallmark Christmas movies the plot is basically that the heroine is a big city gal who has a big city job and finds herself in a charming small town where in one way or another she has to close down or sell off or in some way destroy one of the town's long time institutions? Yeah, that is this story in a nutshell, only it doesn't take place during Christmas time.
Caila Harris is your original work-a-holic. For ten years she has worked for a beauty products company climbing the ladder, forsaking a personal life, and being the perfect corporate employee. She has her three best BFFs, but that is pretty much it. She isn't close to her family and has no love life. She is just one rung from a major promotion and she'll be set. But one mistake at a company party and all that is in jeopardy. To salvage her career dreams she is sent to a small town to evaluate a factory that packs some of the products. The factory has been losing money, it seems like open and shut case and something a student fresh out of business school would normally be sent to do, so Caila knows that she is pretty much on a shit detail.
Wyatt Bradley is the Mayor of said small town that was named after his family. He is handsome, pedigreed and rich. And did I say handsome. Apparently he is so handsome that his milkshake brings all the girls to the yard. But he is also devoted to his town and the factory is the number one employer in the town. If it closes it would catastrophic to their local economy. So he is on a mission to save it by hook or by crook.
The two meet and in tried and true romance fashion they get hot for each other while trying to meet their own individual goals. Wyatt is desperate to save his town and Caila is desperate to save her job.
What I liked:
- I liked that not only are we told that Caila was a workaholic, we were showed it too. There was a a fair amount of page time given to show us Caila's work and how important it was to her. So it wasn't all just background and set up. We got to see how Caila's work was important
- A reminder that you are never as important to your work environment as you think you might be. Especially if you are a woman. I think the author was spot on in her characterization that even ten years of superb performance and success can't survive one small, not even work related mistake. Women and especially women of color, are not give the luxury of even one mistake.
- The girlfriend trip in the beginning was fun. It is obviously series/sequel set up to get introduced right away to the other women who will be characters in the next books. All the personalities were different enough and fun enough that they seemed appealing. I liked the camaraderie established especially through their funny reminisces.
- The chemistry between Caila and Wyatt was undeniable and the sex scenes were really nicely hot.
- Overall the individual characters were lively and interesting, including the different supporting characters around town,.
What didn't work so well for me:
- This is a well used plot. To make it sing you kinda have to do something different with it. As it is, I could see all the plot points well before they unfolded. It is a case of, 'oh this is gonna happen next' and each time I was right. Nothing came out of left field, nothing swerved to make the plot more interesting. The strength of the book is mostly in the characters.
- Insta love. The hero is an avowed love 'em and leave 'em type. He never gets serious with a woman. But he is mad in love with the heroine after one week. Yeah this all takes place in the course of, like, a week.
So overall a nice, pleasant read with good characters, a central romance that is chemical enough to satisfy, but hampered a bit by a by-the-numbers plot.
This is an honest review based on an ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley
lollypopzoo's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5