Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 6/29/2018 + 2617 more book reviews

Good small town story with a sweet romance combined with a bit of heat. Reid McCormack made his return to Hope in the previous book (Love After All) to attend his brother's wedding. While there, he and his brothers bought one of the town's historic buildings, preventing it from being demolished. Now Reid is in charge of its renovation, keeping him in Hope for an extended time before he heads back to Boston and his life there. He didn't count on getting involved with Sam.

Sam is the owner of the local florist shop, which she has taken over from her grandmother. She has a busy life, centered around her work and watching over Grammy Claire. She's fascinated by the plans for the mercantile and has had a quiet crush growing for Reid. Acting on it wasn't in her plans, but resisting the attraction proved to be impossible.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sam and Reid. They are both part of the same group of friends, so they have known each other for a while, but it's only recently that there has been more to it. Both of them have noted the attraction, but Reid is determined to return to Boston, and Sam wants more than just a fling from her next relationship. Though both try to ignore the sparks, but that doesn't work for long. The friendship that has grown between them turns into friends with benefits, and those benefits are pretty intense. More than passion, the time they spend together also deepens the bond between them. I loved seeing the two of them watching out for each other, understanding and supportive when lives get busy. It was sweet to see the number of times one or the other would show up with food just when the other needed a break. I also liked Reid's quiet presence when Sam was dealing with her grandmother's issues, supportive but not controlling.

As the weeks went on, their feelings deepened. Sam was the first to admit it to herself, but couldn't bring herself to say anything. Reid's plans to return to Boston have never been in doubt, and she won't guilt him into staying in Hope. I ached for her and her pain in letting him go but really wished that she had given him at least a hint of what she felt. Reid spent a much longer time denying his feelings. He spent more and more time reminding himself that he was going back to Boston, and each time it seemed to be a harder sell. I loved seeing his friends and family doing their best to convince him to come home to stay, and I wanted to shake Reid out of his stubborn determination. I liked the boot in the butt that his brothers provided. Fortunately, when Reid finally makes up his mind, he's very focused. I liked his big moment at the end, as he takes his courage in hand and goes for it.

Even more than Reid and Sam, whose romance I did enjoy, I loved the dog. I loved how he attached himself to Reid and would not be dissuaded. I liked Reid's acceptance of the dog's attention, even though he kept trying to deny their bond. His frequent response of "he's not my dog" soon became the dog's name. It was fun to see Reid talk to the dog and imagine the dog's answers. He was a wonderful sounding board for Reid's dilemmas, especially when it came to his relationship with Sam.

As always in series like this, I like being able to catch up with characters from previous books. Casual scenes like the gang meeting at Bash's bar give glimpses into their everyday lives, while events like the ranch barbeque are the opportunity to witness major life events. I loved the house scene with Bash and Chelsea and her closet dilemma. There's also a hint for a future book that looks like it could have some drama to it.

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