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naridhi's review against another edition
3.0
QUOTES
“He’s excited to see you, ya know. Nervous but excited.”
“Daddy? Excited?” I ask in disbelief.
“Well, as excited as he gets.” He shrugs.
“I don’t know what he does or doesn’t do anymore. For all I know, he gets as giddy as a schoolgirl now. We’re strangers.”
The scarier it seemed. I would push it to the back of my Someday list. I ran out of somedays while I wasn’t looking.”
Time is the most valuable thing any of us owns. We can’t hoard it or save it, can’t borrow it from another person, can’t buy it or even pray for more of it. You are allotted only so many days on this Earth, so many birthdays and Christmases. Some get ninety, and some get far less. Gram got seventy-four birthdays. Braxton and Elle’s momma got only thirty. Some get less than that. Yet time is the one thing we waste more of than anything else, and we never even notice. We always think we have more until we don’t. We are even so careless as to wish it away. Wishing for the weekend to hurry up and come or the workday to be over with or the winter months to pass. Never appreciating the moment we have right now and never stopping to truly live it.
But she had stars in her eyes and wouldn’t listen to reason, and I had to stop trying to hold on to her. She was like a caged bird. Every day, she grew a little bit sadder, and it broke my heart to see her light fading. I loved her so much, and I wanted to keep her forever, but I couldn’t.”
“She did love me but not enough to stay. Love is defined by choice. If there were only one option, then you are just that—the only option. Choosing to love another person in spite of all the other options available … that’s the part that makes it special. That’s the part that makes it all worth it. I chose her, but she didn’t choose me.”
“Sometimes, a love so big comes along, and even if you only get to hold on to it for a little while, it can fill you up for a lifetime.
“See? She knew just like you know. You don’t have to say it. Real love survives time and distance. It doesn’t need to be constantly reassured. It just is. Besides, isn’t she the one who always said that when we die, we finally know all the answers to the questions in life, and until then, it’s a waste of time to keep asking why?”
“What qualifies as a material good?”
“A tangible commodity. Something you can hold, touch, or taste.”
“I would say semen is definitely something you could touch or taste.”
His stare bores into me, and it feels like the temperature in the room shoots up about ten degrees.
“Are you flirting with me, Brax?”
“Depends. Does bull semen turn you on?”
“Ew, no.”
He laughs.
“Material goods. Got it,” I mumble.
“You know, there is a reason all the fairy tales they tell us as kids end with the wedding. Nobody wants to read about how hard it is to actually be married. Falling in love is the easy part, the fun part. It’s staying in love that’s hard.
He was preaching on the importance of grace and how we should forgive others just as we were forgiven,” Aunt Doreen shares.
Then, she gives me a pointed look.
“I’m forgiving when it’s deserved.”
“That’s the point, sweetheart. Grace is forgiving someone even when they don’t ask for it or deserve it. It releases you from the burden of carrying a chain of anger around your neck because carrying that heavy load does more damage to you than it does the person your angry with. It affects you physically and emotionally. It lives in every relationship you have.”
“I don’t think it’s as easy as the good reverend made it sound.”
“He didn’t say it was easy; he said it was possible. And sometimes, to realize it’s possible is all you need. Then, the power to hold on or let go lies in your hands and not in theirs any longer.”
Because of the way he looks at me and the way he’s touched me. Because a woman knows when a man is attracted to her; that’s how
Maybe there is too much to say and too many years between us.
It sounds foolish. Here I am, a grown woman, trying to explain the fantasies of a little girl.
corbin22's review against another edition
4.0
- Small Town
- Enemy to Lovers
- Family
This was a very sweet book, however it was more about the family dynamics, forgiveness, finding yourself, and moving on then it was about the romance. Although, the romance was still good it just was not as prominent then a lot of other romance novels that I have read. Sophie knows who she is but is missing part of her life, which she was forced to leave when she was little. That part is at the ranch in her hometown, along with her dad and family. Braxton is a hard worker who loves his family and is very protective over them. Sophie and Braxton together was fire. First with the banter, then with the steam and support for each other. I loved how they were with all the family drama. It did not cause a third act breakup but rather they were there for each other and showed one another love and support without pushing the other away. It was nice. While, this was not the best small town romance book I have read it was still good and I can't wait to read more about Dallas and the other people of Poplar Falls.
- Enemy to Lovers
- Family
This was a very sweet book, however it was more about the family dynamics, forgiveness, finding yourself, and moving on then it was about the romance. Although, the romance was still good it just was not as prominent then a lot of other romance novels that I have read. Sophie knows who she is but is missing part of her life, which she was forced to leave when she was little. That part is at the ranch in her hometown, along with her dad and family. Braxton is a hard worker who loves his family and is very protective over them. Sophie and Braxton together was fire. First with the banter, then with the steam and support for each other. I loved how they were with all the family drama. It did not cause a third act breakup but rather they were there for each other and showed one another love and support without pushing the other away. It was nice. While, this was not the best small town romance book I have read it was still good and I can't wait to read more about Dallas and the other people of Poplar Falls.
jessenreadsromance's review against another edition
3.0
A small town romance between a Colorado rancher and a jewelry designer.
Sophia returns to her childhood home twenty years after her mother whisked her away to New York. Her relationship with her father never recovered and now she has to be faced his new family. Sophia struggles with the changes to her childhood home - where she had so many happy memories - and resents her father for replacing her with a new family.
Braxton (complicated family connections that I won’t start to explain) thinks Sophia is a stuck up city girl who has ignored her father for years. The mystery of what happened when she was twelve was a little obvious, but I eagerly anticipated the moment when she would put the pieces together.
All in all it was a sweet romance but the chemistry was a little lacking. I was more interested in Sophia’s relationship with her father than her interest in Braxton.
Sophia returns to her childhood home twenty years after her mother whisked her away to New York. Her relationship with her father never recovered and now she has to be faced his new family. Sophia struggles with the changes to her childhood home - where she had so many happy memories - and resents her father for replacing her with a new family.
Braxton (complicated family connections that I won’t start to explain) thinks Sophia is a stuck up city girl who has ignored her father for years. The mystery of what happened when she was twelve was a little obvious, but I eagerly anticipated the moment when she would put the pieces together.
All in all it was a sweet romance but the chemistry was a little lacking. I was more interested in Sophia’s relationship with her father than her interest in Braxton.
catra121's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It's not something that will stand out for its unique plot...but I loved the characters and the writing. This one was really able to suck me in when a lot of books just havent been lately. Glad I picked it up and hoping to continue the series...though none of the other books are available on audiobook so not sure when I will get to them.
jensreads1983's review against another edition
4.0
I completely devoured this book! From the moment I picked it up, I was completely hooked. This book had me absolutely swooning and laughing out loud. I loved the small town setting. Amber Kelly clearly has a knack for writing settings that feel so warm and inviting. This one was just captivating and wholly unique in feel. I loved every minute of the small town atmosphere created. It was charming, entertaining and just so pleasant.
I so enjoyed this story. Braxton and Sophie were everything, and I was completely smitten. I loved the dynamic between them and the tension that transpired between them. And not only were the main characters fantastic, but so were the side characters. There were so many side characters, I loved them all. This book also did an amazing job at getting me excited for the upcoming books in this series. I'm completely obsessed with this friendship group and want all their books right now!
Overall this book completely captured me and pulled me into this adorable, small town. I loved the main characters, and their romance. This book was steamy, romantic, and full everything I love in romance. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
I so enjoyed this story. Braxton and Sophie were everything, and I was completely smitten. I loved the dynamic between them and the tension that transpired between them. And not only were the main characters fantastic, but so were the side characters. There were so many side characters, I loved them all. This book also did an amazing job at getting me excited for the upcoming books in this series. I'm completely obsessed with this friendship group and want all their books right now!
Overall this book completely captured me and pulled me into this adorable, small town. I loved the main characters, and their romance. This book was steamy, romantic, and full everything I love in romance. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
missbookreader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
3.75