This was a sweet romance and even though it was the second book in a series I had no problems at all following it as it read as a total stand alone

Becky a single mother will do whatever she needs to in an effort to keep her son Byron safe and if that means a marriage of convenience so that she gets health insurance so be it. Steve Parker needs a wife to help with his aspirations to be the DA and he is willing to pay the sweet the shy waitress to make it happen What neither expected was the connection that they felt Will this marriage of convenience become so much more and what is the secret that they both are hiding

Small Town, Big Secrets is the second in the Trinity River series, though I didn’t realize it when I read it and don’t think I missed anything. I will be going back to read the first one though, especially if it’s as sweet as this one!

Steve and Becky, while an unlikely pair who had an accidental first meeting, had great chemistry! More of a stand out character for me though was Byron, her son. What a cutie!! He was definitely a scene-stealer for me!

The story was sweet and very small town, hence the name, and left me feeling like I was wrapped in a warm hug! All while wanting to punch one character in particular in the face...hello, Jack. Definitely check this one out when it releases on June 8th!

Thank you, NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Short and sweet. Family issues. A charming and delightful romance. Sure, it is predictable, but that is how we want it to flow anyway. There are a few bumps along the way to their happily ever after as a new family.

This is an arranged marriage turn love story. Becky has only had her mom and sister to help her raise her son. When she needs money for a surgery, surely his father will help right?

Steve is against the bad guys, it’s why he wants to be the DA and later a judge. But meanwhile he’s trying to save farms and when he meets a woman who he can’t take his eyes off. Maybe marriage isn’t so bad.

Secrets always come out and Becky is keeping one close. She’s not the only one, Steve has some of his own. When those secrets come out lives will be changed and will their marriage happen?

It was okay I didn’t feel chemistry between these two so at the end I felt slighted a bit. But it was good.

Becky’s life hasn’t turned out the way that she expected. She always imagined that she would leave the small town in which she grew up, but becoming pregnant at 18 changed her life forever. However, she wouldn’t give up her son for anything in the world. She just wishes that there was a little more money to go around, especially when she finds out that her son needs surgery that she is ill equipped to pay for.

Steve has had his life planned out for as long as he can remember. He has no interest in being in a relationship after living through his parents loveless and unhappy marriage. However, his plans might need to change when his campaign manager tells him that he is behind in the polls because he doesn’t present himself as a family man.

Steve and Becky meet and are instantly attracted to one another. Steve quickly finds out that Becky might be the perfect “temporary” wife. Becky agrees to the arrangement in order to pay for her son’s surgery; however, they are both harboring secrets that could blow this agreement out of the water.

Small Town, Big Secrets is a fun read. It’s filled with humor, romance, and characters that readers will want to root for.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
Single Mom Becky is barely getting by as a waitress, living with her Mom and sister. Steve an aspiring DA needs a wife fast and when they meet sparks fly! This is the first book I have read by the author however she is now one of my favorites. I loved these characters, this was a true fairy tale type story with some parts that you were saying seriously? how could that happen, the author had a way for the reader to care about these characters, root for them and love a good happy ending. Read this in one day, carried my kindle around with me for every chance I could! Excellent read!

This book is such a sweet read from start to finish. I loved the chemistry between the main characters. From the moment they meet you can see they feel things for each other. Becky is a struggling single mom who would do anything for her son. When Steve proposes a marriage of convenience she agrees. Both of them are holding secrets back. What will happen when those secrets come out? Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

A pleasant romance about a woman raising her young son, Byron, alone. Becky is saving everything she can to meet the deductible for her Byron’s upcoming surgery. His father, Jack Parker, has never been a part of their lives, but she knows that she must ask for his help. When she meets Steve, she has no idea who he is, but he needs a temporary wife for his upcoming election campaign and she needs health care for her son. Can they help each other? Too late she finds out his last name is Parker and Jack is his younger brother. Can they stay married for one year until her son is recovered and Steve wins his campaign? A slightly different spin on the “wife needed” storyline. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

i'm a sucker for a fake relationship romance & adding in single parent to the mix? Sign me up!

This one was sweeeet & easy to read, a clean romance! I read it in a day because i was so easy to read. It was fairly predictable, but I enjoyed it for what it was!

Marriage of Convenience that Never Takes Place.
On a fact finding mission to his hometown, DA candidate Steve Parker bumps (literally) into Becky McAllister and soon starts to give serious thought to his campaign manager’s suggestion that he marry to boost his poll figures. Although Becky is in serious need of money to pay for an operation for her five year old son, she is not easy to convince. Both are concealing secrets that get in the way of their burgeoning feelings for each other. An enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was short and sweet..
Single mother Becky has to raise money to pay for her son's surgery. She's willing to do anything to help her son but accept help from the brother of the man who broke her heart?

Steve Parker wants to win his local DA election, One way to do that would be to get married. And he has his eye on Becky McAllister.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was well written and liked all the characters.
But I had a hard time connecting with these two.

ARC provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley

A sweet and entertaining story that made me smile and root for the characters.
I appreciated the plot, the characters and the setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This book was definitely a light read that brings a smile to your face.

I didn't realize this was in a series but I will enjoy going back and reading the first book even though I don't feel like you need to read the "series" in order or at all if you don't like. There really isn't much you miss or feel like is left out.

This is definitely a heart warming romance that is very light hearted and nothing to drastic happens (if you aren't into that type of reading).

I felt like I could come home after a hard day at work and just lift my spirits with this family.

#netgalley #smalltownbigsecrets

I’ve read several books by Elsie Davis and have always enjoyed them but this first book I’ve read in the Trinity River series and I felt as comfortable in this setting as if I was back, re-living my own small hometown childhood. She does a great job of portraying small town life and the way neighbors take care of their own. I will definitely look for the other book, Back in the Rancher’s Arms, in this series in order to revisit Trinity Rivers.

I appreciated Becky’s strength in making a life for herself and her son, as well as staying and helping her mom and little sister, after receiving no support or acknowledgement from Byron’s dad. The characters in the story were very well written and interesting. I really admired Steve Parker with his desire to become a judge and do right by women who have been let down by deadbeat dads (in the care of their young children). He was the perfect person for Becky to meet and it helped that she didn’t realize who he was at first. Their attraction seemed authentic and all three, Becky, Byron and Steve, seem to really click.

I love marriage of convenience stories and the interesting positions the characters find themselves in. This is a clean, wholesome love story that was hard to put down. I received a free Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I am interested in following more characters from the town of Trinity River so I will be sure to look for more titles as they come along.

What I liked:
Part of a series: Trinity River
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I had a hard time staying interested in this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.

DNF. Struggled trying to get into this book. Put it down & read something else hoping that the 2nd time around it would be palatable but gave up around chapter 5 or so.
Neither character appealed & the marriage of convenience didn't seem believable to me.
Becky is a single, unmarried mother who, to put it bluntly was stupid to fall for a rich guy (her mother works as a maid(?) in his parent's mansion) and ended up pregnant. Said guy is a player, blackmails her to never divulge who the father of her son is, else her mother loses her job & cuts all ties with her.
Working full time as a waitress, when her son urgently needs surgery, Becky is desperate. She bumps into Steve on her way to work and meets hims again when he turns up at the restaurant where she works. She's NOSY (what happened to shy?) and conversation when she taking his order put me off the character.
It didn't get much better and Steve's, who is the uncle of Becky's son & yes, he figures this out quite early in the story too, offer of a marriage of convenience in order to win a election - sorry but that just felt too far fetched.

Not my kind of story.

Small Town, Big Secrets is adorable. I loved every moment of this one. Becky is super sweet and loving. I love the family dynamics with in the McAllister family. The support Becky receives from her mom and sister is wonderful. Byron is such a delight. He will put a smile on your face. Becky and Steve have a cute meet cute and you can feel the little sparks starting. They have a complicated relationship in the beginning and by the end they will steal your heart. I love how Steve stands up to his family. He is so caring and doesn't want to repeat his parents mistakes. You can see him fighting his feelings for Becky and her son Byron from the very start. Steve is that stand up guy you can't help but to love in the end. There are so many sweet moments between Steve, Becky and Byron. I seriously couldn't get enough of this one.

Fake relationship become real love!

Waitress Becky McAllister would do anything to pay the deductible and copay for the surgery that her son Bryon needed even marrying lawyer Steve Parker for a year so he could win the election for the DA’s office. Steven Parker knew that he needed a wife and he could help Becky by marrying her but what did Becky want.

Becky was interested in marrying Steve because he would help Byron, but she didn’t know if she was ready for the storm if everyone would out who was Byron’s father. Steve never expected to fall in love with Becky, but he realized he was in love when she canceled the engagement and then had to do some groveling (and I love good groveling).

Small Town, Big Secrets is all about love in a small town where you think everyone knows your business, but they don’t.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This stand alone story is a sweet, touching, clean romance.
Steve Parker and Becky McAllister meet literally by accident. Neither knowing their lives would change forever and that in fact, they were already connected .
Steve, a lawyer from a prominent family in town , is running for DA in Houston. Becky is a single mom and a waitress struggling to support her family , especially when her little boy needs surgery.
Steve, who needs to win points for the election, proposes a marriage of convenience. Becky helps his image, and Steve pays for Byron’s surgery.
Neither expecting to have feelings. But misunderstands and Byron’s paternity, get in the way.
Will they find their HEA, or will each go their separate ways having lost what could have been a wonderful life?
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Entangled: Bliss. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

3.5 a half stars
This one started off well, but then lost my interest. I did skip around until the end to find out how it concluded. Maybe you will like this story more then me. The concept of the book was great!