You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
First, a huge thank you to Nicole for gifting me this book. This review is 100% my own.
My first romantic suspense and man did it have me hooked. I made the mistake of starting it before bed - sleep came much later that night.
Nicole pulls out all the stops in this small town romance - from fake dating (was it fake for them both đ¤), to an age gap, to the open door spice đśď¸. Getting to know both Declan and Paige was a pleasure, and the adventure they went on was worth it. Every time I thought I had things figured out I knew twist came along (and really though, perfect timing on those) I truly enjoyed this book!
My first romantic suspense and man did it have me hooked. I made the mistake of starting it before bed - sleep came much later that night.
Nicole pulls out all the stops in this small town romance - from fake dating (was it fake for them both đ¤), to an age gap, to the open door spice đśď¸. Getting to know both Declan and Paige was a pleasure, and the adventure they went on was worth it. Every time I thought I had things figured out I knew twist came along (and really though, perfect timing on those) I truly enjoyed this book!
*ARC REVIEW*
A Sweet and Emotional Small-Town Romance
If you love small-town romance with a swoon-worthy hero, a touch of mystery, and deep emotional connections, this book is for you!
Declan is an absolute sweetheartâhe falls first and falls hard. His emotional maturity was a standout, and the fact that he actively worked on himself (even going to therapy over his anger toward Paigeâs ex!) made him all the more irresistible. His devotion to Paige was unwavering, and some of his lines had me absolutely melting.
Paigeâs journey was filled with grief and family struggles, and while I admired how much she stepped up to help her mom, I wished she had been more understanding of why her mom made certain choices. Their relationship was complicated and heartbreaking, but it added so much depth to the story.
And letâs talk about the romanceâreverse age gap, small-town setting, and she used to be his babysitter?! I was hooked! Their connection was so sweet, and Declanâs determination to keep Paige in his life made this such a heartwarming read.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It had just the right balance of romance, family drama, and a little bit of suspense to keep me engaged. If you love protective, emotionally mature heroes and heartfelt small-town love stories, definitely give this one a try!
A Sweet and Emotional Small-Town Romance
If you love small-town romance with a swoon-worthy hero, a touch of mystery, and deep emotional connections, this book is for you!
Declan is an absolute sweetheartâhe falls first and falls hard. His emotional maturity was a standout, and the fact that he actively worked on himself (even going to therapy over his anger toward Paigeâs ex!) made him all the more irresistible. His devotion to Paige was unwavering, and some of his lines had me absolutely melting.
Paigeâs journey was filled with grief and family struggles, and while I admired how much she stepped up to help her mom, I wished she had been more understanding of why her mom made certain choices. Their relationship was complicated and heartbreaking, but it added so much depth to the story.
And letâs talk about the romanceâreverse age gap, small-town setting, and she used to be his babysitter?! I was hooked! Their connection was so sweet, and Declanâs determination to keep Paige in his life made this such a heartwarming read.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It had just the right balance of romance, family drama, and a little bit of suspense to keep me engaged. If you love protective, emotionally mature heroes and heartfelt small-town love stories, definitely give this one a try!
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
âFinal Goodbyeâ is set in a small town in mountainous Colorado where a recent mysterious tragedy has led 30 year Paige Wilson to return âhomeâ to say her goodbyes. In the first few days of returning home she runs into an unexpected acquaintance from the past, Declan Cooper. Will Paige be strong enough to carry on or will she crumble under tragedy? I loved the dual POV narrative of this story. It gave an all around glimpse into the lives,deep thoughts, and feelings of both main characters Paige and Declan. While the story did involve a tragedy it also brought forth a way forward for the characters in the story. I enjoyed the characterâs and found them to be realistic and it was easy to sympathize with them and also root them on. The ending was sweet and everything I would want in an ending to this story, I was not disappointed and had to choke back the tears. I would recommend this to any adult audience who loves romance stories!
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
After receiving the call no child wants to hear, Paige packs her bags and moves back to her hometown in Colorado for her dad's funeral. Alpine Peak is a cozy small town full of familiar faces, but the reason behind her visit is bittersweet . However, it doesn't feel like home until one face in particular catches Paige's eye. Declan has grown up so much since the days Paige babysat him, and now he's a successful contractor. Just when they start becoming friends, Paige askes Declan to be her fake boyfriend to scare off an ex. Declan is all too happy to agree, but when the lines blur between fake and real, a startling discovery will make them question everything.
Small town age gap love story with an element of unaliving mystery? I didn't know what to expect, but I definitely wasn't disappointed. Paige and Declan were two magnets that the world kept pushing closer until they snapped together. She was tired of not having somewhere to call home, so why not make it in the town that breathed new life into her? Then there's the hunky blue collar boy with the skills to back up all that dirty talking. I would have moved back home, too! It was never a fake relationship for him, but he was afraid to put his heart on the line if Paige was planning to leave again. Their rendezvous in and out of the bedroom were spicy for sure! I loved the host of supporting characters, but that tension between Declan's brother and Paige's coworker was sizzling. I can't wait to go back to Alpine Peak!
Small town age gap love story with an element of unaliving mystery? I didn't know what to expect, but I definitely wasn't disappointed. Paige and Declan were two magnets that the world kept pushing closer until they snapped together. She was tired of not having somewhere to call home, so why not make it in the town that breathed new life into her? Then there's the hunky blue collar boy with the skills to back up all that dirty talking. I would have moved back home, too! It was never a fake relationship for him, but he was afraid to put his heart on the line if Paige was planning to leave again. Their rendezvous in and out of the bedroom were spicy for sure! I loved the host of supporting characters, but that tension between Declan's brother and Paige's coworker was sizzling. I can't wait to go back to Alpine Peak!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction, Infidelity, Car accident, Gaslighting
"He gave me a reason to smile, even in the darkest moments."
I was lucky to receive an ARC of Nicole Kennedy's debut novel, Final Goodbye. It follows the story of Paige and Declan.
I was excited to go to the small town of Alpine Peak!
It sounded like such a beautiful place. I could easily picture myself going to Mugs for a coffee or catching up with friends at Peaks for drinks and dinner after work.
I enjoyed Paige and Declan's story and thought they were perfect together.
Paige is a strong, independent woman. She has always been the one who held everything together, taking care of everyone else and putting their needs first. But deep down, she longs for someone to be there for her.
Declan is such a sweetheart. He was so far gone for Paige and would do anything for her. Seeing him be there for Paige taking care of her, helping her, and supporting her just melted my heart.
Final Goodbye focuses on sensitive topics, which Nicole treated with the care they deserved.
I liked the mystery aspect of the book. Even though I had figured out who did it early on in the story, I still enjoyed seeing how it would all play out.
I can not wait to read what Nicole comes out with next!
Thank you so much to Nicole Kennedy for this ARC and the opportunity to read your debut novel đ
I was lucky to receive an ARC of Nicole Kennedy's debut novel, Final Goodbye. It follows the story of Paige and Declan.
I was excited to go to the small town of Alpine Peak!
It sounded like such a beautiful place. I could easily picture myself going to Mugs for a coffee or catching up with friends at Peaks for drinks and dinner after work.
I enjoyed Paige and Declan's story and thought they were perfect together.
Paige is a strong, independent woman. She has always been the one who held everything together, taking care of everyone else and putting their needs first. But deep down, she longs for someone to be there for her.
Declan is such a sweetheart. He was so far gone for Paige and would do anything for her. Seeing him be there for Paige taking care of her, helping her, and supporting her just melted my heart.
Final Goodbye focuses on sensitive topics, which Nicole treated with the care they deserved.
I liked the mystery aspect of the book. Even though I had figured out who did it early on in the story, I still enjoyed seeing how it would all play out.
I can not wait to read what Nicole comes out with next!
Thank you so much to Nicole Kennedy for this ARC and the opportunity to read your debut novel đ
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nicole Kennedy wrote Final Goodbye, the first in the Alpine Peak series. This book introduced me to this author, and I am now excited to see what else happens in this series.
The book follows Paige's return to Alpine Peak twelve years after she left, never intending to return. After a tragic accident, she is forced to return to not only pay her last respects but to mend a damaged relationship with her mother. She never expected to reconnect with the boy she used to babysit all those years ago. The book also follows the now-grown Declan, who used to harbor a big crush on his then-babysitter.
This small-town romance with a side of fake dating had me in a chokehold while reading! The dual PoV added so much more emotion to the storyline, allowing both perspectives to be viewed. The twist in the book had me gasping. I actually clutched my invisible pearls with my mouth agape!
I think this may be Nicole Kennedyâs debut book, and she won me over wholeheartedly! I canât wait to devour the other books in this series. Well done, Nicole!
Thanks to Nicole Kennedy for gifting me an eARC of Final Goodbye. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
âď¸: 3.25
đśď¸: 3
Favorite Quote:
My hands gripped the steering wheel as I cranked up the radio, blaring Animals by Nickelback through my truck speakers.
I was selected to be an ARC reader for this book and am so grateful for the opportunity!
Iâm not exactly sure how I feel after reading this. I will preface this with ânot every books is for everyoneâ and maybe thatâs the case with this one for me. I will also add to that in sharing my own father passed away 8 years ago (albeit under very different circumstances) so I might be viewing this from a very different POV than other readers.
One of my main issues with the book is it felt like there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. There are huge chunks of exposition especially between the two main characters with long monologues that get a little repetitive. It didnât feel as layered as it could have been and because of that I kept getting pulled out of the story. Even with the twist in the last part, it never really felt like high stakes? Yes her ex was unhinged and stalking her but I wish had been more of an active threat? He felt like a forgotten plot point for a lot of it?
I also really wanted more depth to Declan. Heâs the perfect book boyfriend but I didnât understand his âwhyâ or his motivation. He seemed to have lived a lot of life by 25 living in a small town but you never really understand that history. The zero to 100 possessiveness threw off the pacing in the book and I never understood the anger he had?
Additionally, and again this is my personal opinion and I am not here to yuck someoneâs yum, but I canât handle it when the romantic interest calls their partner âbaby girlâ or âbabyâ repeatedly. Like multiple times on the same page. It pulls me out of the scene immediately but again, thatâs just my opinion.
Itâs an entertaining story and Iâm glad I read it. It does show that people grieve in a multitude of ways and there isnât a right or wrong approach but that itâs important to have people you can rely on. But overall this book just wasnât for me. đ¤ˇđťââď¸