4.5⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Donovans: Sweetbriar Ridge
Others in the series
Setting ~ Virginia
Publication date ~ April 23, 2024
Page Count ~ audio exclusive for now, book will not come out until 2025
Audio length ~ 8 hours 8 minutes
Narrator ~ Carly Robins
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ small town, strangers to roommates, roommates to lovers, workplace romance, insta-love, no steamage
My review:
Devin & MacKenzie meet when her classic car breaks down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere, in a storm to boot. Devin just so happens to be the best mechanic in town, so he can’t help but offer his services to a damsel in distress.
Side note ~ I do have to mention that her GPS didn’t seem to be working because the route doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. She’s going from New York to Oregon, but ends up in Virginia. Perhaps taking the scenic route?
Due to a festival there isn’t a room to rent in the whole town, so MacKenzie reluctantly accepts Devin’s offer of his spare room. Not because he’s creepy, but she doesn’t want to be a burden due to her unresolved mommy issues. But the room, or the labor for her car, doesn’t come for free as she’ll be working in his shop at the front desk.
Per usual with this series we have full on small town vibes and outsider, MacKenzie, is welcomed with open arms by all. I love that there was a festival everyone was looking forward to attending. I’m not big on festivals, but even I would like to go to it, minus the ferris wheel as I’m not a fan of those, give me a roller coaster any day.
Anyway, a smidgen of no communication, as usual, but overall I liked both of them separately and as a couple. They were both so sweet. His grand gesture might have been one of the most adorable ones I’ve read.
Narration notes:
Carly narrates all of Samantha’s books, so my ears are settled with the fact that I’ll never get a second narrator for the male parts. She does a great job, though, so that’s good at least.
Series notes:
This one is a little different in this series because neither character is a Donovan, but it takes place in Sweetbriar Ridge, so we still interact with some of the Donovans. It’s unnumbered and is best read between Teasing You and Wanting You.
*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Get your copy on ~ Amazon
Add to your never ending TBR ~ goodreads
I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.
Book blurb:
Devin Maxwell has made automotive repairs his life. Being the lone mechanic in Sweetbriar Ridge hasn’t left him with a whole lot of free time and up until now, he hasn’t minded. But now that the business is finally solid, he decides to take a weekend just for himself to try and figure out what his next big thing in life should be. He never expected the answer to be found on the side of the highway…
All MacKenzie Holland wanted was the chance to live the life she wanted without dealing with other people’s expectations. That’s what had spurred her last-minute cross-country trip. Well, that and a cheating ex. If only her car had cooperated.
Stranded on the side of the road left her feeling as if her great adventure was over before it had even begun. Devin getting car back to Sweetbriar Ridge was easy. Getting it fixed? That was going to take some time.
With a town festival set to begin and a shortage of hotel rooms, MacKenzie finds herself not only relying on Devin to get her car back on the road, but also for a place to stay and a job. And the longer she stays, the more she becomes drawn to the sweet little mountain town, and Devin.
Getting stranded on the side of the road seemed like the worst thing that could happen. Little did she know, it was really just the beginning of her greatest adventure yet.
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