Design: 4.7

I’m so obsessed with the cover design of the whole Greene family series – and this is one of my favorites!!! The layout, the picture, the fonts, the whole damn thing. I wished that I would have designed this book. We don’t even need to discuss the interior layout, because this book lives and breathes the insane front cover.

Review: 4.8 hearts

So hot – ohhhh soooo hottttt. Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my lip. This book made me fall in love with love. And create quite the infatuation with the lead characters. To begin this off right, can we just discuss how HOT Cade and Presley are? Like, OMG fan me off. Sexy as all sin – in looks and personality and hot-hot-hot chemistry! You start by finding yourself all hot and bothered just by the seethingly hot cover image depicting the two main characters, and the temperature doesn’t get turned down any after you start flipping through the pages. *oh hum*. I seriously cannot tell you which is better looking and more attractive, Cade or Presley, and I am 110% straight and attracted to men – but of course appreciate a beautiful woman. So when I first saw the cover image for this book, I just went, “WOW!” And I couldn’t look away – talk about beautiful people! (Insert heart-eye emoji here!).

The immediate attraction between the two lead characters is where the infatuation with these two really begins and it is why this story is so amazing. That chemistry is what put this book at a damn near perfect score of 4.8 hearts for me. You just KNOW from go that Cade and Presley are the perfect match and you find yourself cheering them on and silently (or not-so-silently) cursing the obstacles keeping them apart. And btw, Reese – just move aside sister! Your time has long passed and you are NOT worthy! Access denied, take a hint – take a hike. This is Presley’s time and he’s her property now, so b$&?%@, back off! *ugh.

For me, the sexual tension, the attraction, love story and romance between Cade and Presley is just absolutely fantastic – it is simple, somewhat, but it is so nice and refreshing in an Alaskan winter kind of way. I loved how the story helped develop the characters in Sunrise Bay further, as well as the town and its character. And can we just give a shout-out to grandma Ethel, the most awesome grandma? She soooo knows what she’s doing!

The incredible chemistry between Cade and Presley is ever-present, and it doesn’t escape anyone’s attention – which just makes their story all the sweeter – and hotter. How the back-and-forth between them grows their relationship, and how they challenge each other – as well as turn each other on – is top notch writing and storytelling. The character development of Presley and Cade themselves is wonderful and inclusive for the reader, they are both so beautiful and sexy in their own way, despite their insecurities and the issues that they are working to overcome, and in so doing you really see how they are meant for each other – they are each others’ solution. They are both smart, witty, and feisty yet gentle and kind. Their physical beauty and attractiveness is only matched by their internal
beauty and kindness – making both of these characters some of my favorite characters in a long time. I love them equally as much – which doesn’t happen too frequently for me when reading books in this genre. When I read these types of books and find myself extremely attracted to the main male character, I find that one (and yes, I’m saying “one” here instead of “I”) can get possessive and catty towards the main female lead because you feel that she might not be worthy – but with this book, I found myself rooting for Presley just as much as Cade. She is described in such a way that you not only “see” what a knock-out she is, but her personality is equally beautiful, smart, witty, and attractive. You find yourself wanting to become Presley’s bestie – I’ll be right over to your book store with the wine, girlfriend!

Presley and Cade’s attraction doesn’t falter at any point through the book, and so when they finally let into their desires and attraction, it is just as steamy as you had hoped it would be. But in such a sweet way – which is very fitting for them. And just to keep you on the edge of your seat, Piper Rayne throws you for a loop after the two finally get together…and to that I say, “what the hell Cade???” This is where I felt my loyalty for Presley in full force, I got your back girl! But alas, I had to remind myself that I wasn’t in Sunrise Bay, Alaska, and I wasn’t a voyeur witnessing this budding romance grow and steam up the room. Sad, I know.

This is the first official full-length story in the Greene Family series and I give it an almost perfect score because of my love for the main characters, the storyline, and the writing. It may take me a day or two before I dive into book #2 (even though it is set up in a jaw-dropping way), because I find it hard to face the fact that I have to leave Presley and Cade… this is a real problem when I fall for these characters and their story, leaving them is soooo hard – and I totally say that in a whiney way. But isn’t that the mark of a great book? That the reader feels so invested, that they almost feel as if they are betraying the characters and or the story if they leave them and go onto another book? That’s a hypothetical question because yes, yes it is. And that is another reason that this book receives almost a perfect score. Love – love – love this book.

Excerpt from Amazon

Who’s the mystery woman who just walked into my brewery?

I’m not the only one from my Alaskan small town asking themselves that question. But I’m positive, I’m the only one in Sunrise Bay undressing the pretty blonde in my head. Everything about her, from her make-up to her high heels says she’s a fish out of water.

Whispers and speculations run rampant until the secret of who she is gets uncovered. Then the rumor mill goes into overdrive when she announces she’s staying to open a bookstore in the building next to mine—throwing a big wrench into my plans to buy that empty building.

I quickly find myself in a tug-of-war since my business partner/brother is upset she’s ruined the opportunity to expand our business. I try to keep my distance, but I’ve got one sister with a gossip column on the local radio station and two meddling grandmas setting me up as a tour director.

And now I kind of like the idea of our new neighbor staying. But small-town life isn’t for the weak—time will tell if she has what it takes to be one of us.