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buleth's review
3.0
Poor research
I have no idea why there is a military reference for the male protagonist, Drew. This aspect was so poorly researched and developed it's actually laughable and moderately insulting both to veterans and those diagnosed with OCD. Drew should have just been "executive guy from the city", the story would actually read better that way.
I have no idea why there is a military reference for the male protagonist, Drew. This aspect was so poorly researched and developed it's actually laughable and moderately insulting both to veterans and those diagnosed with OCD. Drew should have just been "executive guy from the city", the story would actually read better that way.
hk0603's review
5.0
Omg amazing story , I want to be carriasa , very cute hope they appear in book 2.
sians_library's review
2.0
I went into this book expecting a cosy small town romance, and happily, that is what If You Love Me is.
Sadly I found the story a little predictable and the characters too stereotypical. The introduction of so many characters in the opening scene did not set a good precedent. Unfortunately, 8 chapters in, I began to feel that I had chosen the wrong genre to read.
If you like romance, baking and nicely tied up endings, you may love this book. The formulaic writing, characterisation and story arc may just be what you’re looking for. It just wasn’t for me I’m afraid.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
Sadly I found the story a little predictable and the characters too stereotypical. The introduction of so many characters in the opening scene did not set a good precedent. Unfortunately, 8 chapters in, I began to feel that I had chosen the wrong genre to read.
If you like romance, baking and nicely tied up endings, you may love this book. The formulaic writing, characterisation and story arc may just be what you’re looking for. It just wasn’t for me I’m afraid.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
canadiangirlreads's review
3.0
Drew is sent to small-town America to try to help his new boss try to fix his reputation. He demands order but learns quickly that this town is all but normal when he has to impress the crazy elders and his assistant tries to play matchmaker with the messy baker that he has to prepare for the television show they are there to film. Carissa is plain and that is the way that she likes and does things ever since her best friend and fiancé ran away together. So when she is told that the fate of the town is on her shoulders she freaks out a little bit. Drew tries to get Carissa to spend time with him but not fall in love so he can move up in the film industry but soon realizes that he's not sure that what he wants anymore and tries to get Carissa to open her heart to him.
If You Love Me is a small town romance and my first novel by Ciara Knight. The opening of the book throws a lot of information at you that you are left to try and figure out what is happening. Drew started out as a little overbearing and almost unlikeable but grew on me through the book. I liked the simple nature of Carissa. I did not like Jackie at all. The Sugar Maple series is about five women who were friends and need to participate in a television show to try and save their town which also helps to repair their friendships.
*ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review*
thewoollygeek's review
4.0
Great heartwarming read, just a lovely book to feel warm, comforted and happy with. I love these books so much, they are my happy place, never underestimate the power of books. Small towns, simpler lives, community and happiness, we seek what we need in books and this supplies exactly what I need and love. Wonderful
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
bookworm04's review
5.0
Omg amazing story , I want to be carriasa , very cute hope they appear in book 2.
jessicareadsit's review
3.0
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Shut the front door and make this a Hallmark movie, please! Set in the quaint little town of Sugar Maple, the “not so” fabulous five have been summoned by their mentor Mayor Horton to band together to save the town. Of course all bets are off when it comes to Judas Jackie, Southern Belle MaryBeth, Sassy Stella, negotiator Felicia and easy-going Carissa working together.
In comes pompous, glorified film producer Drew Lancaster who is trying to save not only the town from ruin but his bosses reputation and his job by creating a small town series. Carissa and Drew are forced to work together to try and win the towns and by extension, its citizens' approval before his boss arrives for production. Can Carissa step outside her comfort zone and charm the cameras, or will Judas Jackie take her prize once again? Will Drew be able to put aside his perfectionist, corporate attitude and embrace tar and southernize?
I especially enjoyed the quirky one-liners, mischievous and meddling elders and all-round small-town love. Who doesn’t enjoy some good ole southern hospitality mixed with some feuding and lots of desserts in between?
My only tiff with the book was how the relationship between Drew and Knox was written (very confusing) and the sudden change of the girl code at the end!
Shut the front door and make this a Hallmark movie, please! Set in the quaint little town of Sugar Maple, the “not so” fabulous five have been summoned by their mentor Mayor Horton to band together to save the town. Of course all bets are off when it comes to Judas Jackie, Southern Belle MaryBeth, Sassy Stella, negotiator Felicia and easy-going Carissa working together.
In comes pompous, glorified film producer Drew Lancaster who is trying to save not only the town from ruin but his bosses reputation and his job by creating a small town series. Carissa and Drew are forced to work together to try and win the towns and by extension, its citizens' approval before his boss arrives for production. Can Carissa step outside her comfort zone and charm the cameras, or will Judas Jackie take her prize once again? Will Drew be able to put aside his perfectionist, corporate attitude and embrace tar and southernize?
I especially enjoyed the quirky one-liners, mischievous and meddling elders and all-round small-town love. Who doesn’t enjoy some good ole southern hospitality mixed with some feuding and lots of desserts in between?
My only tiff with the book was how the relationship between Drew and Knox was written (very confusing) and the sudden change of the girl code at the end!
lauriereadsrom1's review
4.0
Ciara Knight's "If You Love Me," the first book of the Sugar Maple series, was a funny, cute, and sweet story featuring a number of likeable, amusingly quirky characters and an interesting plot. The central enemies-to-lovers romance between main characters Drew Lancaster and Carissa Donahue was completely clean (kissing only), but still had a nice slow burn feel to it.
Drew came across as somewhat grumpy and off-putting at first, but it soon became apparent that his grumpiness was mainly due to dissatisfaction with his job. Drew worked for his friend and fellow military veteran Knox Brevard, but seemed to spend more time cleaning up Knox's messes than doing real work. He was particularly unhappy about being sent to the small town of Sugar Maple because he didn't think it would help him get any closer to landing a job with a "real" TV network. However, as he got to know the town and its people, Drew came to realize that his priorities might have been out of order, and that he had been putting too much time and energy into work rather than living his life.
Like Drew, Carissa had also put most of her energy into her career in recent years, concentrating on building her bakery from the ground up and leaving very little time for a social life since losing her fiance to her former best friend ten years earlier. I really liked Carissa and empathized with the loss of confidence she faced after her fiance's and best friend's betrayal, but thought she might have held on to the grudge a bit too long. It definitely wasn't doing her any favors to continue looking towards the past rather than the future, but fortunately, Carissa's outlook started to change when her mentor pushed her into participating into a reality show competition to benefit the town, leading to Drew's arrival.
I found the idea of a reality show that would somehow save the businesses in Sugar Maple to be an interesting idea, but I have to admit that I was a bit confused and felt like I missed the explanation of exactly how the show was supposed to work. Was it a competition show where bakers or fashion designers were given challenges and then judged, or were they just trying to highlight the best locally-owned businesses of whatever town Knox and his team chose to feature? It seemed to have some elements of both, but the idea was never fully explained. Also, who exactly was Knox Brevard and why was he famous? Did he have a show on a network like HGTV or the Travel Channel, or was he a YouTuber? Hopefully some of these details can be fleshed out in the next book of the series.
Overall, I think I enjoyed "If You Love Me" mostly because it reminded me so much of a cozy, comforting Hallmark movie. While it was a little predictable, the characters were likeable, and it was a cute, quick story perfect for a single afternoon or evening. I would recommend it for all fans of clean (kissing-only) contemporary romance and will probably continue with the series.
*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Drew came across as somewhat grumpy and off-putting at first, but it soon became apparent that his grumpiness was mainly due to dissatisfaction with his job. Drew worked for his friend and fellow military veteran Knox Brevard, but seemed to spend more time cleaning up Knox's messes than doing real work. He was particularly unhappy about being sent to the small town of Sugar Maple because he didn't think it would help him get any closer to landing a job with a "real" TV network. However, as he got to know the town and its people, Drew came to realize that his priorities might have been out of order, and that he had been putting too much time and energy into work rather than living his life.
Like Drew, Carissa had also put most of her energy into her career in recent years, concentrating on building her bakery from the ground up and leaving very little time for a social life since losing her fiance to her former best friend ten years earlier. I really liked Carissa and empathized with the loss of confidence she faced after her fiance's and best friend's betrayal, but thought she might have held on to the grudge a bit too long. It definitely wasn't doing her any favors to continue looking towards the past rather than the future, but fortunately, Carissa's outlook started to change when her mentor pushed her into participating into a reality show competition to benefit the town, leading to Drew's arrival.
I found the idea of a reality show that would somehow save the businesses in Sugar Maple to be an interesting idea, but I have to admit that I was a bit confused and felt like I missed the explanation of exactly how the show was supposed to work. Was it a competition show where bakers or fashion designers were given challenges and then judged, or were they just trying to highlight the best locally-owned businesses of whatever town Knox and his team chose to feature? It seemed to have some elements of both, but the idea was never fully explained. Also, who exactly was Knox Brevard and why was he famous? Did he have a show on a network like HGTV or the Travel Channel, or was he a YouTuber? Hopefully some of these details can be fleshed out in the next book of the series.
Overall, I think I enjoyed "If You Love Me" mostly because it reminded me so much of a cozy, comforting Hallmark movie. While it was a little predictable, the characters were likeable, and it was a cute, quick story perfect for a single afternoon or evening. I would recommend it for all fans of clean (kissing-only) contemporary romance and will probably continue with the series.
*ARC provided by the author via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own.
madsmcw_reads's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
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