First of all a big thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this to read and review.

I liked the characters in this book however I did find it slow going and difficult to get into at the beginning. This was a good story but one I felt like I’d read before.

Catching up on past reviews! This was a nice romance. Checked all the boxes for me. Would read more from this author

A story of first love and how the strength o the pull of history continues to draw you in. The novel is well written and a great holiday read. Thanks for the opportunity to review, Netgalley

A Place to Belong was such a beautiful read. I loved it! This was my first book by Abbie Williams, but it will not be my last!

I’ve read almost all of Abbie Williams’ books, my favorite being the Heart of a Dove series. I do enjoy the Shore Leave Cafe series as well, so I eagerly agreed to read and review A Place to Belong, which is a continuation of the latter series. I love the families within this series, although admittedly it gets hard to keep track of the various marriages and kids!
Unfortunately, I was immediately uncomfortable with the age gap between the two main characters in the beginning - Millie Jo is 17 and a senior in high school, Wyatt is about 23. While this gap may not have been a big deal a few years later, I disliked it in this context. It is immediately evident that Millie Jo is not mature enough for a serious relationship, which is to be expected as she is still in high school and a teenager.
They end up being kept apart by an unfortunate circumstance, and years pass, so Millie Jo is able to mature. I found the time they spent apart more interesting than the beginning, and found myself reading that much more quickly. I felt that the conclusion was a bit rushed and too tidy, especially with the issues that Wyatt expected to face.
The highlight of this book for me were the family dynamics of both Millie Jo and Wyatt’s - large and supportive. Their unwavering loyalty was a breath of fresh air in the midst of all the tension and unhappiness of the main characters.

This was an engaging read that really captures your heart.
I loved the characters and the ways in which they grew as individuals throughout. The storyline flowed beautifully and really allowed you to immerse yourself in the world that this author brings to life. A wonderful, easy to read romance.

I received a copy of this book to review from Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.
This book is difficult to review as it is complex with some good and some bad aspects. The romance is sweet but very intense.
The MC seemed very young to me and the age gap seemed too big. These issues led to me not really enjoying the book as much as they took away from the story.
The writing was good and there weete some interesting ideas beind the story.

This is a very tricky one to review. The love story at the heart of the novel was undeniably beautiful, and I am a sucker for the 'fated to be together' trope. However, there were several elements of the story - Wyatt's irritating family, the strong family connection - that I perhaps didn't find as sweet and charming as I should have. Plus, most of the book focuses on the time that Millie and Wyatt aren't together, which meant that the book wasn't the uplifting romance I expected, but instead a book that focused on the misery and heartbreak of being seperated from the one you love. I also felt like the almost violent dislike aimed towards both Millie and Wyatt's partners felt quite juvenile and silly.

I also felt like the book was just too long for me, with a bit too much filler, and that did affect my enjoyment of the book a bit. There were elements that were quite predictable, and so you did feel like you were just waiting for things to happen, and almost wishing the book away. It's a shame, as at it's heart this is a very sweet book with a touching romance at it's heart, and Williams' is clearly a skilled author who I wouldn't hesitate to read again. It's just a case that this book in particular wasn't for me.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

I received A Place to Belong as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Part of the same large extended family network, Wyatt and Millie grew up separated by several hundred miles and six years of age, but have always had shared interests and a strong bond, one that comes to fruition when Millie is 17 and Wyatt 23. Yet their happiness is short-lived when past actions come to the fore and tear them apart. Years pass, and they go their separate ways, but are unable to forget one another. Can time and circumstance bring them back together?

I went back and forth on this one. I was compelled to keep reading, but there were a lot of things that irritated me along the way. First, as others had mentioned, the illegal and inappropriate age gap never sat quite right with me, especially given how immature Millie was. Second, frankly, I didn't find Wyatt's entire clan as charming as I was supposed to. I know large, lovable, interfering families are a trope of romances, but they exhaust me. Sorry, but as much as they cast Hannah as the villain, large groups of family showing up at your house without warning would be extremely irritating. And Wyatt's claims that his family wasn't over-involved in his life, despite his own father's threats getting him into a disaster of a marriage in the first place (and no apology???), rang hollow. Additionally, as much as he claimed he was an alcoholic (and I assume we're supposed to take his word for it), sorry Wyatt, you are. I appreciated that the main characters made bad decisions and were operating in messy circumstances, but I didn't love how they were excused from any sort of accountability. I didn't like the weird rage that each MC had towards the respective partners of the other--it's not attractive-- and supernatural elements in my romances aren't my favorite. That said, Abbie Williams is a skilled storyteller in that despite all my issues with this book, I read it in about 12 hours. A very flawed but readable book.

Millie Jo Gordon has loved Wyatt Rawley for as long as she can remember. Yet when she reaches the age of 17, she decides that she will make Wy, realise her feelings. Wy is twenty-three and secretly feels the same but realises that he must wait until she has turned eighteen and he has finished studying to become a veterinarian. Yet when they discover that they both feel the same, all thoughts of waiting are forgotten. However, a revelation leads to them breaking up before their romance had any chance to prosper. Whilst several years pass, Wy is still tormented over losing Millie and she feels that any chance for her to find love, is unlikely when she still feels strongly for Wy.
This book had me engrossed in two delightful characters in Millie and Wy from the start. The intensity of their feelings was evident, yet it seemed doomed from the start. I enjoyed the connection between the couple and the many family members but must confess that I did find the number of relatives difficult to tie in. I almost needed the family tree to help, not having read the series. However, this was a minor issue as the amazing backdrop, with the relationship issues faced by the couple, during the time apart, made for a fascinating read. What particularly stands out, is that whilst the couple spend a good proportion of the time apart, the intensity of their feelings still resonated.
I am now pleased to have a new author to follow and I appreciate the opportunity to read ‘A Place to Belong’.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing and Abbie Williams for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I really wanted to like this one but there were a few things I just couldn’t get pasted. Looking at reviews I see I am not the only one who feels this way.
If you look at the book from a step back the story is as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming. The amount of drama and love mixed in with a whole lotta growth made for two relatable and realistic main characters. The connection between Wynn and Millie was obvious and sweet. BUT... she was too young. I just personally don’t see why she needed to be so young, or maybe I don’t understand why Wynn was written so much older. Sure when you’re in your twenties or older, that age gap is nothing, but she was underage and he was well over age. Just makes me feel a bit yuck. Toss in there the family connection and this book just gave me a weird vibe. I guess I just didn’t understand the reasoning behind writing some things in a perfectly fine romance.

Cute second chance romance/ lost rekindled love. It’s was a lovely read full of chemistry, adorable and relatable characters, a sweet story and nice writing, it’s full of emotion and you can feel the characters longing for a love they once had, just lovely

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A Place to Belong grabbed my heart and wrenched it into a million little pieces. Our main characters, Millie Jo Gordon and Wyatt Rawley have been friends for as long as they can remember. His brother is married to her aunt and their families are good friends, even though they don't live in the same area. Millie has had a crush on Wyatt for years and isn't sure how to tell him. Wyatt is also attracted to Millie but is trying to wait to pursue her until she is eighteen. At the beginning of this book, she's seventeen and Wyatt is twenty-three. Not a horrible age difference when you're older, but it is one that people are sometimes uncomfortable with when a character is under eighteen. Personally, I wasn't bothered by it because I met my husband when I was eighteen and he was twenty-three. So, my perspective is different.

Millie Jo and Wyatt do eventually admit their feelings to one another but are fearful to tell their families just yet. So, they spend several days secretly spending time together. Just as their relationship takes a more serious turn, Wyatt finds out something that alters his plans and has to leave. They know that their relationship has to end and their dreams of a future together are crushed, along with both of their hearts.

The majority of this book actually covers a time that Millie and Wy aren't together. It's often heartbreaking to read because it is so blatantly obvious that they are both miserable. It shows that even though you think you might be making the right decisions and acting "responsibly," it truly might not be the path you should follow. Sometimes you truly do have to follow your heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, Central Avenue Publishing and Ms. Williams for this ARC. I voluntarily reviewed this book and the opinions included within are entirely my own.

I loved this book! It was so passionate and was full of forbidden love. My problem with this was their ages in the beginning, Millie was 17 and Wyatt was 23. My other problem is that the first part is kind of hard to get into.

A Place to Belong is like an offshoot of the Shore Leave Cafe series. I've not had the pleasure of reading those books but now that I've finished Camille's daughter's love story, I'm very curious about the family secrets. With this coming of age book, it truly is a long road for any semblance of happiness for Millie Jo Gordon and Wyatt Rawley. These two have loved each other since they were kids and we're taken on their heartbreaking journey to what one hopes will be a sincere happy ending. There were times I will admit that the story seemed to go on a bit too long but I enjoyed all the descriptions of this lakeside town and the love that clearly shaped what it is today.

Although there seems to be so much at play, at the crux of it all is simply a 23-year-old man, desperately in love with a 17-year-old girl. Sure they need to wait until she's older but I didn't blame Wyatt nor Millie for wanting to declare their love in the most beautiful way. Of course, from that moment on, the world turns upside down for our couple and I almost couldn't stand the pain they both endured at having to be apart.

But the author took her time and we were privy to two different lives as Wyatt finds himself with a new kind of family all the while still trying to achieve his dream of being a veterinarian. And Millie is going to college and simply trying to move on from the man who will forever have her heart. This book is really her story most of all and I enjoyed watching her bloom from the emotional teenager to the mature 22-year-old who finally finds her dream, both personally and professionally.

I love the family dynamic although a couple of times I felt as if I wanted to throttle a few for causing a bit of mayhem. However, with such a tight extended group, it's a bit expected everyone is involved in every aspect of everyone's lives. And for Wyatt and Millie, despite the well-intentioned actions of a few, their painful parting almost broke them.

In the end, I enjoyed this hard-fought HEA even when it felt too long. And again, I think all the characters were well-written and endearing and I will be going back to catch up and find out how all this madness really started. There is an ethereal component that has me curious and I'm hopeful I'll get my answers in the previously released books.

I'd read this new-to-me author again and happily give A Place to Belong a solid 4 stars!

Millie and Wy are star crossed lovers. I wasn't as bothered as some reviewers have been by their age difference (she's 17 and he's 23 when the novel begins) but this is a factor in how they handle events. Wy's on his way to becoming a vet, she's not yet in college. Wy decides the do the right thing., leaving Millie to wonder what might have been. I liked the setting, I liked that both worked with animals but I was confused initially by too many characters, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a read for romance fans.

#APlaceToBelong#NetGalley
This will touch a memory of any teenager turned to adulthood who wonders what if he was the one. Wyatt and Millie have loved each other most of their lives and finally fell each other how they feel. But then a turn of events fears them apart Will Wyatt and Millie ever find their way back to each other ? Will they be willing to take the risk ? Will
Millie follow her dream to become a equine therapist ? Will Wyatt who is a vet find a way for them to be together ? Very emotional read, part of a series and I will be looking for the series to read. This can be read as stand zlone. Thank you Central Ave. Publishing and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this.

I received and e-book copy of "A Place to Belong" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review in advance of the paperback release. From the first pages I was immediately drawn in to the story. At first it feels like a sweet friends to lovers trope but quickly life happens and the young lovers are forced to live apart even though they want nothing more than to be together. There is a lot of angst in this book, perhaps a little more than necessary, but nonetheless you're drawn in wanting to know if after all the years will the lovers finally have their time?

I absolutely loved this novel!! Reading both of Millie's and wyatt's perspective was so fun to enjoy and the plot kept me hanging and hooked throughout the whole book. The plot flows perfectly and the romantic scenes were intense!!!

Loved it all. Can't wait for more!

This book has all the right ingredients to keep the interest of avid romance readers. A gorgeous heroine, a handsome, sexy hero, unbridled teenage passion, heartbreak, bad decisions, confusion, missed opportunities, and life-changing events. But between the intense happiness and searing sadness of the two main characters, Millie and Wy, is a wonderful story about family and how the support of a large loving, close-knit family can get one through anything. There are many interesting characters, almost too many as I found it difficult to maneuver through all the names. (But that could just be me). The vivid place descriptions, both in Minnesota and Montana, are well written. Millie and Wy love animals and both eventually work in animal care. The animals included play an important role and add to the story. This book is part of a series but stands alone very well. It is a great read for romance readers and others who simply enjoy a good, well-written story. Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book.