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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
Sylvia moves home with her two children to Cloverleigh after a bitter divorce. There she connects with Cloverleigh’s winemaker, Henry, who also just went through a divorce. Henry has always wanted a family, but he and his former wife couldn’t have one and she wouldn’t adopt. Sylvia and Henry hit it off quickly, but Sylvia keeps their relationship a secret from her kids, which backfires.
***
This isn’t your typical single parent trope where the hero and the kids fall in love with each other and they become one big happy family. There’s an HEA, but that’s not the route this book takes.
***
This isn’t your typical single parent trope where the hero and the kids fall in love with each other and they become one big happy family. There’s an HEA, but that’s not the route this book takes.
“We’re all just stumbling our way through life, hoping to arrive at the right destination. If something makes you feel good on the way, why not do it?”
2.5 stars.
This was kind of disappointing. The characters had so little chemistry and their relationship felt too forced and had no development. It honestly just felt like a gender-reversed version of the first book and a bad one at that!
I just think Sylvia deserved a better romance, not that Henry was a bad guy or anything, their relationship was just... bland and lacked chemistry.
I am, however, still excited for April's book. I can safely say, she's well on her way to being my favorite Sawyer girl.
Note: An ARC was provided by the author.
Oh, the feels! Goodness but how this book had it in spades. It may have seemed like there was the whole insta-lust or insta-love thing going, but when you delve deeper into Sylvia and Henry's story, their respective marriages were over prior to them even considering divorce with their spouses. There were no shenanigans going on while they were married to their exes, so they were definitely free and clear to become involved with each other. The whole aspect regarding Sylvia's children was one that I could relate to having parents who separated when I was very young and went on to be with other people afterwards. While what was happening between Sylvia and Henry felt so easy and carefree, there were things--and people--to consider, highlighting that even true love is complicated.
Four books into the Cloverleigh Farms series and Melanie Harlow has managed to deliver a different story for each of the sisters--with April, the second oldest, left to tell her tale--which is no easy feat by any means. I liked that Sylvia and Henry were in their late thirties and aren't absolutely jaded but merely a bit cautious about being in love again. I certainly didn't foresee the direction that Harlow would take the story, but I appreciated the fact that it was different in the best ways possible. If I were hard-pressed to pinpoint something I was iffy about, it would have to be Sylvia saying that her son needed a male influence because I would hope that the influence we wish for our kids nowadays would simply be good and positive and have nothing to do with gender. But that's my own conviction at play. Other than that, I adored Sylvia and Henry's love story, enough so that I'm giving Unbreakable five-plus stars. ♥
Oh, the feels! Goodness but how this book had it in spades. It may have seemed like there was the whole insta-lust or insta-love thing going, but when you delve deeper into Sylvia and Henry's story, their respective marriages were over prior to them even considering divorce with their spouses. There were no shenanigans going on while they were married to their exes, so they were definitely free and clear to become involved with each other. The whole aspect regarding Sylvia's children was one that I could relate to having parents who separated when I was very young and went on to be with other people afterwards. While what was happening between Sylvia and Henry felt so easy and carefree, there were things--and people--to consider, highlighting that even true love is complicated.
Four books into the Cloverleigh Farms series and Melanie Harlow has managed to deliver a different story for each of the sisters--with April, the second oldest, left to tell her tale--which is no easy feat by any means. I liked that Sylvia and Henry were in their late thirties and aren't absolutely jaded but merely a bit cautious about being in love again. I certainly didn't foresee the direction that Harlow would take the story, but I appreciated the fact that it was different in the best ways possible. If I were hard-pressed to pinpoint something I was iffy about, it would have to be Sylvia saying that her son needed a male influence because I would hope that the influence we wish for our kids nowadays would simply be good and positive and have nothing to do with gender. But that's my own conviction at play. Other than that, I adored Sylvia and Henry's love story, enough so that I'm giving Unbreakable five-plus stars. ♥
2,5 ⭐ This was cool i guess, not the worst in this serie, i just wanted to know more about the ex and how it all came down, and his relationship with the kids , a confrontation between them , between whit and her dad , i don't know
But i can't wait to read about April , she's always there and i want to know more about her story
But i can't wait to read about April , she's always there and i want to know more about her story
I love the heart in this series and I just continue to swoon more and more with each story. I loved the friendship and banter between these characters, but I also loved the heat between them. You could see it from the beginning. They had great chemistry. This story is sweet and it is such an enjoyable read. I can't wait for more from Melanie Harlow.
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's bad... So damn bad
3.5 STARS
This was a sweet, fast paced romance. I adore this family/world and enjoyed Sylvia's story. I'm hoping April has the next book.
This was a sweet, fast paced romance. I adore this family/world and enjoyed Sylvia's story. I'm hoping April has the next book.
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So this book was good. Sylvia and Henry actually fell in love by BONDING outside of SEX. They actually had normal conversations, and their interactions naturally progressed from them being acquaintances to actual lovers. Like, it was so realistic to witness. Mind you, it happened within like a week—HOWEVER, the author ACTUALLY made them CONSTANTLY CONVERSE through actual fucking dialogue instead of TELLING us that they had conversations, like so many fucking romance authors are guilty of doing. Which was why it didn’t feel like insta-love, because the author FUCKING SHOWED US that they fell in love.
Also, the third act breakup actually made sense and it was realistic.
HAVING SAID THAT.
I only gave this book 3 stars due to a few things:
1.) the surprise baby at the end… just. Why. And how. Girl I thought you were infertile??? You had to go through IVF TWICE to conceive your TWO kids, and now suddenly you’re like super fertile?? Instantly knocked up once Henry came inside you??? Mind you this would not have bothered me so much if Sylvia’s ex hadn’t knocked his mistress up on the first try too because that could at least point out to the possibility that her ex would have been the one who was sterile so it’s like. What is this inconsistency??
2.) That part where Henry went to Lucas and Mia’s to ask for their advice… Lucas was like “yeah I used to not want marriage and kids but the power of love made me change my mind and now I’m a happy man!” and I was like… why is this author constantly pushing the republican agenda bro.
3.) What was the resolution with the whole Brett-was-a-neglectful-father?? Made it a big deal only to have it not resolved at the end.
4.) Henry should have had more screen time with Whitney. Romance with a single parent should ALWAYS come with a lot of screen time between the kids and the person dating the single parent!!! Show us the readers how they bond and connect, so that we’ll know for sure they’ll have their HEA!!!
Also, the third act breakup actually made sense and it was realistic.
HAVING SAID THAT.
I only gave this book 3 stars due to a few things:
2.) That part where Henry went to Lucas and Mia’s to ask for their advice… Lucas was like “yeah I used to not want marriage and kids but the power of love made me change my mind and now I’m a happy man!” and I was like… why is this author constantly pushing the republican agenda bro.
3.) What was the resolution with the whole Brett-was-a-neglectful-father?? Made it a big deal only to have it not resolved at the end.
4.) Henry should have had more screen time with Whitney. Romance with a single parent should ALWAYS come with a lot of screen time between the kids and the person dating the single parent!!! Show us the readers how they bond and connect, so that we’ll know for sure they’ll have their HEA!!!