If your after a sweet, funny romance this is perfect. Kyra didnt let me down with yet another great book to the series.

Very sweet, funny and light-hearted!  I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author!

This was a really great addition to the series while it can easily be read as a standalone i would read the others two they are just as good.This is such a sweet read i really enjoyed it and did not want to put it down.Cole and Maddie were great characters you can't help but like them.A super sweet read i would recommend.

MY RATING: 3/5 STARS

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The third book in the Checkerberry Inn series, Kyra Jacobs continues the world building with our lovely heroine Maddie and our hero Cole. It is a complete standalone but it may be more enjoyable if the first two books were read.

The initial reaction of this book was excitement for me because the synopsis sounded exactly what I would enjoy. A small town romance that involved two unlikely characters, getting involved with each other. What I received was a kindling friendship between Maddie and Cole, two people are more similar than what you might think. Both started from the ground up, overcoming hardships and dramatic pasts that led them to fight for their dreams. I appreciated these aspects of these two characters because everyone loves an underdog story. The friendship that slowly turned in white hot attraction was also worthy of praise.

Maddie, a chef that has a dream of becoming a successful restaurant owner, is enjoyable. She’s spunky and talented. Her confidence in herself is dampened because of her shapely body appearance, making it realistic for readers to relate to. While at times, it may be frustrating to see her lack so much in confidence in herself, I felt that Kyra Jacobs did what she had to do to really make Maddie feel real on pages. Humans don’t just gain confidence in themselves over night.

Moving onto our hero, Cole. He had a better back story that Maddie which happens quite a lot now with books. The dark past he grew up with was beyond me. It was wild to say the least and a big mess that made it hard to clean up and for readers to adjust to. How can things be so cruel or how can it get this messy?

Krya Jacob’s writing was enjoyable for the most part. I found it easy to go through, nothing too hard on the mind to adjust too. The dialogue was enjoyable between characters, often with witty phrases.

I liked both characters but they were definitely not my favourite. They’re average characters that left no lasting impression on me and with the story following a troupe that has been rung out before, Her Unexpected Hero is an average read that wasn’t bad or wasn’t too good.

MY RECOMMENDATION:

I never read the first two books in the series but I can see the potential Kyra Jacobs has in her writing and development. I would suggest to read her entire series from chronological order first!

A beautifully written romance.  I could not put this book down.  The book has a great plot and well developed and believable characters.  I enjoyed the author's writing.

Didn't like the beginning, and it did get a bit better, but I just didn't connect with the characters or story as much as I wished.

Sometimes life just goes wrong. No one really at fault aside from being with the wrong person, or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cole and Maddie both had difficult back stories, the kind that will make you ache for the characters and believe that they can find better for themselves soon.

As Cole is basically starting over, every job he can get will make that business dream a reality sooner. So when Maddie offers him another job he jumps at the chance. It doesn’t hurt that he finds Maddie attractive either. Maddie and Cole develop a friendship and a bit of mentoring as Cole is coaching Maddie on her romantic endeavor techniques – all the while wishing it was him that she was interested in.

I liked Maddie and Cole’s romance. They make an interesting couple, each battling their own demons. As their friendship turned to more, it was easy to see them make a future for themselves. Sure, there were issues to be dealt with, but they turned into a solid couple that I could believe in.

I would recommend Her Unexpected Hero to any Romance reader. I believe you’ll discover a couple that has battles to face but their journey is engaging and believable.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I really enjoyed this book of new beginnings for a young man with a really rough start in life. That no matter what he never allowed his humanity to falter and take over turning to hate when at his worst.
See how Cole Granville a young man from Texas who had memories of his and his mother on his hauls. On this one haul to their disappointment he had them stay behind.
     You see being raised in Mount Pleasant, Michigan he knows how bad snow could be to drive in. Well, it never snowed in Texas, so they were not prepared for the weather at all on the roads. Asking his boss for a few extra hours for it to melt off since he did know how to drive in it coming from Michigan. But his boss said no. He went anyway and for his effort was killed.
     Being a very young bride and mother Daisy Mae was filled with the wonder lust that’s why being married to Cole’s dad was ideal. Now staying in one place wasn’t working. So, she takes 12-year-old Cole and starts moving from place to place, guy to guy, drink to drink, then drug to drug.
     She became more than Cole could handle. To the point one night on a high she robs a liquor store and he finds her stoned and inside it trying to steal some booze. But, as he’s carrying the gun his grandpa had given him in a case of an emergency trying to pull him mom out of the store the police show up and on his 18th birthday along with his mother is arrested. She doesn’t help him out by saying he had nothing to do without it. He was given seven years but served only threes.
     When he gets out Rev. Tom Granville (grandpa) comes to bring him home to Mount Pleasant where he is working hard to make money to open a guitar shop/lessons shop. Plus, he does odd jobs to make money. One of the odd jobs that find himself in is a dish washer a Checkerberry Inn. Under the watchful eye of the chef their Maddie Frye. A no nonsense young woman.
     Most people would consider Maddie as an Introvert or very gruff and someone you needed to stay out of her way. Which for the most part is all true. But Cole figures but quickly it is her way of keeping people away from her heart where she can be hurt. Since she lost her grandma Bea she is all alone. She really has a heart of gold, she's terribly toned def, but loves to sing and play the guitar he finds endearing now. But the first few days were rough.
     She was given a chance by Ms. Ruby the owner of the Inn and she feels a loyalty to her for her job. Ms. Ruby looks after just as her grandma would even when she doesn’t want it.
     See how Maddie and her town take the news of Cole once being a jail bird.
     I give this book 4 stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

**3.5 Stars**

Maddie, a chef at the Checkerberry Inn, is naturally an introverted person. Her boss, Ruby, fancies herself a matchmaker and decides it's her responsibility to find someone for Maddie, or at least a plus one for the upcoming charity event. Though Maddie doesn't care about the dance, she does wish she could get "Cute Guy," aka the attractive man she may have switched her laundry days to coincide with, to notice her. Maddie, desperate to avoid Ruby's attempt to set her up with someone old enough to be her father, quickly invents a date for the event. However, that becomes something for a later time when Maddie is forced to fire her kitchen helper, Sarah, just hours prior to Ruby's bridge gathering. Desperate times and all that...

Cole returned to town a few months ago and has been helping his grandpa at the family's hardware store. But he's also been looking for extra work as well as he's hoping to open his own business offering guitar lessons and repairs. When the beautiful Maddie, yeah, he's noticed her, asks if he's available for some work, he quickly accepts. Accomplishing his dream may be closer than he thought.

Though Maddie knows guys as good-looking as Cole aren't interested in women like her, she can admit, at least to herself, that he impacts her ability to be coherent now that they're in such close proximity. Cole is trying to stay focused on his new job, hoping it becomes permanent as he saves money to purchase a shop, but the sexy Maddie makes it difficult at times. Add in that she can obviously cook, and she's funny, and he knows he's in trouble where she's concerned.

When Cole and Maddie begin negotiating his wage, Maddie decides to see if Cole can help her with another issue, seeing as how he's asking for more than the usual pay. Who better to ask about what she can do to capture Cute Guy's attention than another cute guy?

As Cole and Maddie begin working together inside the kitchen and out of it, the two quickly build a friendship that slowly becomes more as they get to know one another better. Maddie is finding more confidence in herself, becoming secure in the knowledge that she's worth it, thanks to Cole. As for Cole, he's second guessing his decision to help Maddie because he wants to be the guy she's doing all this for, but he doesn't know how to change their relationship to a more intimate one, nor is she even wants to. Plus, there's secrets he's keeping in regards to the life he left behind, and it's hard to look toward, and become invested in, a future when you're worried about your past.

Will Cole and Maddie realize they're connection is more than just that of friends? Will Maddie let go of her "Cute Guy" fairy tale and admit Cole is her dream come true? Will Maddie's plan to thwart Ruby's matchmaking attempts work? Will she discover real love because of it? What happened to Cole before he came home? Will he tell Maddie the truth? How will she react upon finding out? Is there a HEA for these two?

One-click now and follow along as a plan to help Maddie catch one man's attention puts her in the path of the one meant to be hers.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

4 stars

Her Unexpected Hero by Kyra Jacobs was a beautifully written and heartwarming read.
I enjoyed watching Maddie and Cole's relationship unfold, they both had insecurities they needed to put behind them and together they were able to help each other find happiness and peace. 
They totally deserved their HEA.

Her Unexpected Hero is the third book in the Checkerberry Inn Series, each book can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend them all.

*Purchase Links*
Amazon: http://bit.ly/HeruhZon 
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/HeruhBN 
Kobo: http://bit.ly/HeruhKobo 
iTunes: http://bit.ly/HeruhiT

*An ARC was provided in exchange for my honest thoughts*

Rating 4.5/5

Although this is the third story in this delightful series and I thoroughly enjoyed escaping back to the Checkerberry Inn, I don’t think you need to have read the earlier books to appreciate this one. It is another story with great characters, plenty of twists and turmoil leading to yet another much anticipated HEA! In this story Cole Granville is such a fantastic hero! He is a highly caring, hard working and is trying to make a fresh start, out running his past that could thwart his plans.

Maddie Frye is the chef at the Checkerberry Inn who is something of a loner, much to the chagrin of her matchmaking employer. When her assistant unexpectedly leaves to sort out her romance, Maddie is desperate for help as there’s a big event happening that evening. When she spots Cole making some deliveries she quickly asks him to help . . . and that’s when she discovers just how distracting having the swoon-worthy Cole working in her kitchen can be! 

This is a beautiful read, whatever the season. It is a story filled with love and laughter in a close knit community where everyone generally knows everyone’s business. As Cole strives to set up his own business he discovers how detrimental this can be . . . but maybe love can help find a way to help him succeed in both business and romance!

The story has great characters, explores some interesting issues regarding attitudes, trust and forgiveness, as well as being a heartwarming romance. I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into it and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone looking for a lighthearted, cheering romance to read.

I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

This was the first book that I’ve read by Kyra Jacobs and it’s also book three in her Checkerberry Inn series. 

I really enjoyed the witty banter that happens between the characters especially between the Inn’s owner, Ruby, and the main female character, Maddie. 

Maddie is the chef at the Checkerberry Inn and is an introvert. She’s a lot like many of today’s women where she has low confidence when it comes to herself and when it comes to dating. I really liked that Maddie was such a relatable character. 

The town, Mount Pleasant, has an upcoming gala and Maddie is being pressured by Ruby to find a date. She lies and says that she already has one as she has her eyes set on a hunky guy she sees at her laundromat. Only problem is, she has never said a word to him and has no clue how to go about asking him to the gala. 

One night, Maddie’s dishwasher has a crisis and bolts out the door leaving Maddie with no one to help her on one of the busiest nights the Inn has seen. She frantically goes in search of help and sees the hardware store delivery guy coming up the drive. Cole Granville, is doing odd jobs around town in the hope of earning enough money to open the shop of his dream. When Maddie asks him if he could help her and wash dishes for the night he snatches the opportunity up. 

The friendship that develops between Cole and Maddie is lovely! Maddie feels like she can be herself around Cole and her true personality shines through. They get along so great she asks Cole for some date coaching to help her ask her hunky laundromat guy out. But in the end what happens is that she ends up falling for her coach and not for Tyson, the hunky guy. 

The only reason why this book was only 3.5 stars for me was I felt that it dragged on a little too long. The storyline was solid and you see the struggles that Coles go through while trying to get his guitar shop off the ground. It just didn’t flow that well. 

Overall though the book was a really nice and sweet romance to read.

Her Unexpected Hero is a sweet, light-hearted and fun romance. It's the third book in a series but I read it without reading the first two books and enjoyed it. I've worked in the hospitality/restaurant business for YEARS so I really enjoyed the setting. Maddie was so much like a lot of the chefs I've worked with: creative, controlling, and a tad bit neurotic. And Cole was so so perfect for her - I'm pretty sure he was my favorite part of the book. I do tend prefer my romance with a bit more bomchickawowwow, but Her Unexpected Hero was an enjoyable read nonetheless. I give it 3 out of 5 wine glasses.

This was the first book I have read by this author.  I found it to be a fun & enjoyable book to read this summer!  I would highly recommend reading this book, if you are looking for a fun, easy & light hearted story.

Maddie loves working at the Checkerberry Inn, where she's the chef. Maddie's boss wants to find Maddie a date for the gala they're hosting, but Maddie gets out of it by telling her she has already found someone. When Maddie needs an extra pair of hands in the kitchen one night Cole helps her to manage. In return she does him a favor and he promises to coach her, so she can get a date with the man she's admired from afar for a while. Will the guy Maddie's planning to take agree to accompany her?

Cole needs a second chance. He's moved in with his grandfather and finally has a chance to make his dreams for the future come true. Working for Maddie is fun, but assisting her to score a date for the gala isn't easy. Cole likes Maddie and would love to date her himself. However, Cole's past isn't something he wants to bother Maddie with. Will he ever be free of it and will he eventually get the chance to find happiness?

Cole is a sweet guy. He has a wonderful kind heart and he's incredibly gentle. Maddie is feisty and caring and she makes Cole come out of his shell. They're both adorable and I loved their beautiful personalities. Cole and Maddie are talented and hardworking, but they aren't as successful in life as they could have been, because they've each been damaged by someone in their pasts. They are insecure because of it, but together they're great and I immediately loved their connection. I like stories about true love and Her Unexpected Hero is definitely a good one.

Kyra Jacobs has a fabulous descriptive writing style. I love her smooth and interesting dialogue and her main characters are very special. Her Unexpected Hero is sweet and romantic. Because of the unfairness of what's been done to Cole and Maddie there's a nice layer of depth as well, which gives the story a good balance. Her Unexpected Hero is both charming and entertaining. I loved the endearing ending and really enjoyed reading this heartwarming book.

<i>Her Unexpected Hero</i> is part of Kyra Jacob's Checkerberry Inn series. You do not need to have read the earlier books in this series to enjoy this one, though you may enjoy revisiting familiar characters if you do. 

Maddie is confident in the kitchen, but take her out of her domain and she is insecure. With her boss trying to set her up on dates, she turns to the man she has recently hired as her dishwasher for help. 

Cole Granville is looking for a new start. When the part time job as a dishwasher at the Checkerberry Inn opens up he leaps at the chance to gain a paycheck so he can finally achieve his dream. He didn't count on Maddie. While he agrees to coach her on getting a date, he also finds himself falling for her. But then his past rears it's head and the happiness he's found is in danger, he has to decide whether to stand his ground or run. 

This is a sweet and clean romance. Maddie and Cole are a great couple though I do wish that both were a little less insecure than they are portrayed. The secondary characters are fantastic and it really feels like you're stepping into the world of the Checkerberry Inn and visiting with some friends. It is easy to get sucked into this world and I really enjoyed reading how the friendship between Maddie and Cole became something more. If you're looking for a sweet summer read, look no further than <i>Her Unexpected Hero</i>.

4 stars

Received in exchange for a honest review.

So love Cole and his grandad. Cole is kind and just wanting to start over. He has had a tough life but he didn’t let it get him down. He picked himself up and decided to let it stay in the past. His grandad believes in him and for him that is all that matters. His fear is if people find out his past they will shun him and treat him badly. While he is working hard to get his dream and begin life once more he meets Maddie.

Maddie starts the book prickly. She has been burned in the past and now she is just focusing on work. Her life seems lonely to me and I think meeting Cole shows her this. She is wary of men due to a bad experience so she keeps them at a distance. Unfortunately she has a boss that treats her like family and tries to gix her up so she does something drastic and her foot is now in her mouth. At the same time she is in deep when she is left in the lurch. So what does she do? She grabs Cole and gets his help. Help in more ways than one.

Cole and Maddie are cute together. He teaches her to trust once more and she teaches him to let others in. He loves so much and is so loyal that he doesn’t want to cause anyone pain. When his life looks to be doing that he is willing to sacrifice so others aren’t harmed. He is a strong character and one that your heart warms to. Maddie with him becomes more sassy and opens up. She learns that not everyone wants something from you except maybe friendship and love. When Cole’s past rears up it causes a slight ripple but not in a way I thought. The drama wasn’t with Maddie but others. She stood by him and wanted to protect him while he wanted to protect those he loves.

this is a sweet, adorable and tender romance that has you love the characters and engages you in their story.

This was a lovely tale of love, hard work and second chances. Cole is an absolute sweetheart to whom life has dealt an extremely bad hand, and I just wanted all the good things for him in this book.

Luckily for him, Maddie is a lot more caring and understanding than her brash, often bossy demeanor frequently suggests. There’s also a lot more to her than the confident, moody chef of the Checkerberry Inn. She has her own dreams and heartaches which she hides behind a fierce exterior, so it was lovely seeing Cole sneak in under her guard and reveal the true Maddie inside.

As I’ve already said, Cole is lovely. Not just to look at, but he’s caring and sweet and just wants a chance to work so that he can build his dream. I felt incredibly protective towards him when his past comes out and things don’t always go well. I also wanted to rain vengeance down on those who should have treated certain pieces of information in confidence.

Overall I really enjoyed this. The Checkerberry Inn remains a warm and charming place, filled with people who care about their family – including those not related by blood. You don’t need to have read the other books to enjoy this one, but it will help, if only to make you feel more at home. I think this is my favourite of the three, because Maddie and Cole were so perfect for each other. They were exactly what the other needed, especially at this time, and I loved how their relationship grew from work to friends to more.

So if you’re looking for something sweet, romantic and downright lovely, this book definitely delivers. It felt like a warm hug after a rough week, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for what this author writes next.