Genre ~ contemporary romance
Featuring ~ grump, island life, small town, slow burn, second chance, some steamage
POV ~ dual 1st person
Series ~ Carolina Banks #1
Release date ~ April 13, 2023
Page count ~ 271
My rating ~ 4.5⭐
My review:
Bennett & Claire spent a summer crushing on each other 9 years ago. Now Claire is back in the Carolina Banks on business. Bennett is happy to see her, but he’s not too happy about the resort proposal she is trying to get approved in his small town.
Bennett is a flannel wearing grumphole most of the time with his pooch Larry in tow wherever he goes. He’s one of 8 siblings and their bond was evident. He’s a great uncle too ~ I absolutely loved when he went to Dad’s and Doughnuts Day at school with niece, Sophia.
Claire is a hardworking attorney just in town for a short time, so it doesn’t make much sense to get involved with Bennett. But they can’t seem to deny their attraction even though they have opposing opinions on the resort.
I thought the Banks Brew Co. was quite the clever name for Bennett’s bar on one side for the night owls and Carmen’s coffee shop on the other for the early birds. It’s just one example of how tight knit the family really is. There isn’t any rivalry just good old banter between them.
I gotta have one little gripe ~ Claire spent one summer there 9 years ago, 9! and she was acting like she knew everything about the place. That’s a short amount of time and so long ago to still know what’s up with a place IMO, but maybe that’s what small town living is like.
Overall, a delightful start of a new series. I do like series that follow siblings and I’m looking forward to ~ One Perfect Kiss next. There isn’t a blurb yet, so I’m not sure who it will follow, but I could wager a guess.
*Thanks to Jessica Ruddick and Booksprout for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Add to your never ending TBR ~ goodreads
I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read it.
Book blurb:
She’s about to meet her match…
For me, living in the Carolina Banks is just about perfect. Between my brewery, my family, and my idiot dog, there’s nothing more I need. Sure, my mom nags me about settling down, but everything is great exactly the way it is.
Then Claire Holden waltzes back into my life thinking she can bring a tacky resort to the islands. Not on my watch. As a member of the island business council, I’m determined to stop her. I won’t be distracted by her baby blues or her rocking body. Except the more time I spend with her, the more I’m reminded of the past when she came to my islands and made them better for one summer.
Suddenly, nothing is simple any longer. I need to face that life in the Carolina Banks isn’t as perfect as I thought it was, and she might be what’s been missing all along.
Connect with Jessica 💕 Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Instagram ~ Twitter ~ Website
Thanks for stopping by! Visit my bookish product page here 🥰📚
Connect with me ⬇
Great review! Just added it to my TBR.
Thanks, Ali 💗