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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars
the book’s skeleton was your classic small town romance filled with a soupçon of suspense and a perfect dose of family drama. going back to Tilikum was both invigorating without it being suffocated by the centenary-feud and felt nostalgic to reconnect with the Bailey family and observe the evolution of their bond and camaraderie with the Haven family.
the female main character, Audrey was new in town and ended up ranting a house from Josiah; the male protagonist. the romance was enhanced by the GrumpyxSunshine trope, but I appreciated the way it didn't feel overdone while reading. the two of them built naturally and steadily their friendship that thrived later on into a beautiful and healthy relationship. i absolutely adore when characters are depicted through realistic flaws and a typical day-to-day basis. and more importantly, when adults are portrayed as adults, gifted with good communication skills and do not exhibit childlike behavior or inner monologues. Josiah and Audrey were the perfect pair, complementing each other in every way and embodying the opposites attract with their undeniable chemistry.
the suspense facet was superbly crafted with a stalker-obsession arc and a few glimpses into the stalker’s mind, derived from diary-pages that were infused throughout the book and between chapters. even if all the indices sprinkled in the storyline converged to a clear and easily deduced culprit. in my head, i had another perfect perpetrator of the crime cemented with a plausible motive. I was certain that I had solved the mastery that was orbiting around the succession of morbid events that were falling on Audrey. of course, i had it all wrong and none of them was the actual culprit.
all in all, it was an enjoyable and addicting read. can’t wait to return to Tilikum with a new Haven brother and hopefully another entertaining mystery plot and a lot of squirrels !!
~•~
many thanks to the author for providing an arc in exchange of an honest review.
———
i got the arc and it’s one of my most anticipated reads of the year
"I’m a simple man, Audrey. I just need one thing from you.”
“what’s that?”
“just love me.”
the book’s skeleton was your classic small town romance filled with a soupçon of suspense and a perfect dose of family drama. going back to Tilikum was both invigorating without it being suffocated by the centenary-feud and felt nostalgic to reconnect with the Bailey family and observe the evolution of their bond and camaraderie with the Haven family.
"nice girls didn’t belong with assholes like me. she was blue sky and sunshine, plucky optimism and happiness. I was a stoic cloud of pessimism and surliness."
the female main character, Audrey was new in town and ended up ranting a house from Josiah; the male protagonist. the romance was enhanced by the GrumpyxSunshine trope, but I appreciated the way it didn't feel overdone while reading. the two of them built naturally and steadily their friendship that thrived later on into a beautiful and healthy relationship. i absolutely adore when characters are depicted through realistic flaws and a typical day-to-day basis. and more importantly, when adults are portrayed as adults, gifted with good communication skills and do not exhibit childlike behavior or inner monologues. Josiah and Audrey were the perfect pair, complementing each other in every way and embodying the opposites attract with their undeniable chemistry.
"you’re safe with me. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
the suspense facet was superbly crafted with a stalker-obsession arc and a few glimpses into the stalker’s mind, derived from diary-pages that were infused throughout the book and between chapters. even if all the indices sprinkled in the storyline converged to a clear and easily deduced culprit. in my head, i had another perfect perpetrator of the crime cemented with a plausible motive. I was certain that I had solved the mastery that was orbiting around the succession of morbid events that were falling on Audrey. of course, i had it all wrong and none of them was the actual culprit.
all in all, it was an enjoyable and addicting read. can’t wait to return to Tilikum with a new Haven brother and hopefully another entertaining mystery plot and a lot of squirrels !!
~•~
many thanks to the author for providing an arc in exchange of an honest review.
———
i got the arc and it’s one of my most anticipated reads of the year
medium-paced
After losing her job, Audrey moves back to her home town and in with her mom. She eventually ends up renting a house after she gets a job at the local newspaper. She meets Josiah, one of the owners of the house she rented. They start to get chummy, he of course is the grump. Audrey, the sunshine finds out she has a stalker and Josiah goes into caveman mode. The entire plot is surrounded by their love story and who her stalker is. Either I am a complete idiot or I just didn’t see the ending coming.
Josiah is stubborn but caring, but he had been burned before, ready to commit, and the woman was prepared to walk away from him and the small-town life.
Audrey has moved back home with her dog, Max. It is not precisely an excellent midlife achievement, and she feels like she could have done better. Her parent's house is stuffy and formal, and she and Max are definitely not. Amidst all the stress, the author adds to the creepy stalker vibes.
The weird notes in the book's pages and the oddities that happen are definitely suspect, but the adventures with Max are the best. I love all the small-town vibes, from the girl next door to the gossip. So I know who the creeper is in the story by now, but it still gives me the Herbie Jeebies. Also, I really want Josiah to beat him to a pulp. The stalker vibes are vital in this romantic suspense/contemporary romance.
Omg, squirrel funerals are not supposed to be funny, but I couldn't help but laugh.
Oh, steamy at last, Josiah and Audrey don't disappoint. He totally lives up to his lumbersnack nickname. Oh, the stalker isn't who I thought it was at all twisted. Josiah and Audrey are an opposites-attract couple. But I love them together. I love the ending of this book just enough to make you smile.
This was a fantastic read. I loved the added romantic suspense, the neighbor-to-lovers tropes, and, of course, the grumpy/sunshine opposites attract romance. This book was unexpectedly excellent. I didn't think I would like it initially, but it was the perfect mix of small-town romance and larger-than-life characters. I especially loved Max. This book is a must-read if you love contemporary romance and a little bit of suspense. Also, I loved how I was surprised by who the stalker was.
Audrey has moved back home with her dog, Max. It is not precisely an excellent midlife achievement, and she feels like she could have done better. Her parent's house is stuffy and formal, and she and Max are definitely not. Amidst all the stress, the author adds to the creepy stalker vibes.
The weird notes in the book's pages and the oddities that happen are definitely suspect, but the adventures with Max are the best. I love all the small-town vibes, from the girl next door to the gossip. So I know who the creeper is in the story by now, but it still gives me the Herbie Jeebies. Also, I really want Josiah to beat him to a pulp. The stalker vibes are vital in this romantic suspense/contemporary romance.
Omg, squirrel funerals are not supposed to be funny, but I couldn't help but laugh.
Oh, steamy at last, Josiah and Audrey don't disappoint. He totally lives up to his lumbersnack nickname. Oh, the stalker isn't who I thought it was at all twisted. Josiah and Audrey are an opposites-attract couple. But I love them together. I love the ending of this book just enough to make you smile.
This was a fantastic read. I loved the added romantic suspense, the neighbor-to-lovers tropes, and, of course, the grumpy/sunshine opposites attract romance. This book was unexpectedly excellent. I didn't think I would like it initially, but it was the perfect mix of small-town romance and larger-than-life characters. I especially loved Max. This book is a must-read if you love contemporary romance and a little bit of suspense. Also, I loved how I was surprised by who the stalker was.
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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
The romance was fine. I was not invested in the mystery whatsoever just wanted to check off this book. It was meh mostly the second half but not soo bad.
Claire Kingsley gets small town romance, and this is another shining example ! I adored Josiah and Audrey, they are grumpy sunshine perfection. I loved the intrigue and whodoneit storyline. Just yes.
I guessed wrong. Oops! 🤫😂
I'm excited for the Haven stories, and the Bailey cameos of course.
I'm excited for the Haven stories, and the Bailey cameos of course.