The Friendly Cottage by Susan Hatler.
Megan dreams of making a living as an artist and a small town contest is the chance to make that happen. But insecurities about her unique style make her doubt she has what it takes. Will her best friend’s older brother inspire her to follow her inner voice that she is all she needs and the woman he’s always loved?
A brilliant read. I do love this author. Great story and characters. 5*.

Heartwarming clean, tell your friends about read.
An artist who hasn't made it big yet enters a contest to improve her skills and live her dream life abroad with a trip to Italy. Does that mean she'll have to leave behind her best friend and a newly discovered love? It is heartwarming to see her gain her confidence as the book progresses.
The characters were easy to connect with and the book is heartwarming. I will be reading more of this author.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

'The Friendly Cottage' is a book from the Blue Moon Bay series by Susan Hatler. It's the fourth book in the series that follows the journey of Megan Wallace. Megan loves to paint and wants to be a professional artist. But she has never been able to take that plunge until she sees a local art competition where the winner gets to work in an Italian art galley for a year. The competition presents the perfect opportunity for Megan yet she's also unsure about her decision. Meanwhile, Brian, the guy Megan has a crush on finally is starting to see her in a new light and not just as his childhood friend.

This slow-burn romance was easy to get into and I liked how Megan & Brian's relationship progressed. It was a cute romance that was quite enjoyable. Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

Susan Halter wrote the perfect small town romance! The characters are so relatable and you are drawn in to the story from the first page!

I of course love everything I read by Susan Hatler. Her books are so easy to get into and relate to. You always feel a part of the story and can relate to the characters and what they are going through. This book is no exception to her many books I have read. Such a great read!

Megan has always had a secret crush on her best friends brother, Brian. She has never let anyone know about it because she was afraid of what her other friends might think. Especially Brian's sister. When there is a friendly competition for an new artist opportunity in Italy, Megan knows that she wants to win this. The artist also has to have a carpenter/wood worker to help construct the frames for their artwork. Megan knows just the person to get to work with her, Brian!

When Megan goes to ask Brian to work with her, there has already been another competitor ask him. And she is not one of Megan's favorite people. Why would Brian agree to work with her? Now Megan has to find someone to help her. Will Brian fall for the girl he is helping when she lays it on thick? That is Megan's only worry!

You will have to read this awesome read to find out what the Blue Moon Bay myth is that has Megan so worried about what she and Brian experienced. Will the myth hold true or will it be just a myth? Such a great read that will have your attention from beginning to end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy of this book.

I have read loads of Susan Hatlers books now and they do not disappoint. This was another lovely read, I like all the characters in Blue Moon Bay and love them all – can’t recommend these books more for a light, easy romantic read.

"The Friendly Cottage*: 3⭐

(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @susanhatlerauthor and the publishers for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)

One thing I loved about this book was the fact that it can be read as a standalone. This is book #4 in a series and, as many of us readers know, sometimes it can't be separated from the earlier books.

Meghan and Brian are adorable characters, their relationship is the basic friends-to-lovers type, which makes it the more likeable. The romance is really cute but, as this is a short story, I wish the book would've been longer, so the characters would've had more time to get in the likings of one another.

However, this book is really amazing for anyone who's looking for a quick, cozy romance read!

Reviewed by Cristiana Marques

With thanks to #Netgalley and #HatcoPublishing for an ARC of this book.
The Friendly Cottage is book 4 in the Blue Moon Bay series, however i read it as a stand alone, which was fine, but a series is always best read in order.
Megan dreams of making it as an artist. She enters a local competition, which pitts her against her best friend and secret love Brian.
If i’m honest I wasn’t too keen on Megan, she seemed quite immature.
This book was well written with a lovely ending.
I think i would have enjoyed #TheFriendlyCottage more if i’d read the otjer books in the series.
Overall an enjoyable read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I could not put it it down.. Quick sweet read. Emotions that happens in this book like others in the series before are so tender and simple.

In this book we have Meghan and Brian. All the time together as friends and never lovers.. Megan if ful of design and art project. So is Brian. A man who love to work with wood and run the Holiday Inn.

As a tradition we learn about the legend of the Blue Moon.. But it is better everyone discover alone what happened next... there is an art competition where people works in pairs. The winners goes for one year in Florence. A dream right?

I recomend to all romantic souls. Short but sweet one.

Thanks to Nettgaley.com and Hatco Publishing for a free copy in echange of an honest review

Megan was planning on fulfilling her grandmothers wish by going to paint in Italy, but then she had to have dental work done and that took the money she had saved for Italy. Then she found out there was a local contest and the contestants would have to submit 3 paintings in a frame and the winner at the end win the prize which was painting in Italy for one year.
She had just been offered a new job that would help her financially but since her grandmother taught her how to paint when she was young, painting was her passion. It was interesting reading about the changes in Megan as she learned to believe in herself and found her confidence. She made her decision and she followed through with it. Life has a way of their being ups and downs, uncertainty and setbacks, but she kept moving forward.
The Friendly Cottage isn't a fairy tale, it is a story of Megan's life, and that is what I like most about it. I received an ARC from Hatco Publishing through NetGalley and Susan Hatler writes from the heart about life.

Meagan dreams of making a living as an artist. A small town contest gives her the opportunity to have a chance at her dreams. Meagan feels that an established artist in the town will win over her but she decides to try her luck. She gains confidence from an older brother of her best friend. Her style of painting is very unique and Brian encourages to continue in the style that is hers. She makes if through several stages of the contest and then feels that she needs to play it safe and be more traditional. This a a great story that I recommend.

The Friendly Cottage by Susan Hatler

The warm hearted book follows the journey of Megan who’s true passion is art, painting in particular, but due to circumstances has never managed to follow her dream. Megan must decide whether to follow her dream and let go of her insecurities by entering a painting competition to spend a year painting in Italy and leave Blue Moon Bay behind.

A sweet fast easy read with Lovely characters. An njoyable feel good story that can be read in one go. 4.5/5

Megan enters an art contest hoping for a chance to study painting in Italy for a year. But when things heat up between her and Brian, her best friend's brother, will winning the contest mean leaving him behind?

Megan is dealing with a lot in this book—especially the challenges of being true to herself and her art, when financial considerations get in the way. And then there's Brian, and her confusion over the messages he's sending. Even though this is comedy, the struggle is real.

One of the things I admire about Susan Hatler is how she uses her characters' history to make their present actions believable. When Brian says "no long distance relationships," not even with an ex-girlfriend who moved 45 minutes away, that seems pretty extreme. But in the context of the story, it works. Even though Hatler doesn't spend a lot of time on those wounds. This is chick lit, after all, and it's supposed to be fun. There's just enough to make the characters seem internally consistent—to make them seem like real people. There are hurts underneath the surface, which add poignancy to the humor without giving the books a dark feel. This is an enjoyable, satisfying novel that would make a good beach read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review. .

Thank you NetGalley, Susan Hatler and Hatco Publishing for the digital copy of The Friendly Cottage. This is my personal review.
I can truly say there is not enough wonderful things I can say about this series – Blue Moon Bay! I have connected with each and every character in the books.
The Friendly Cottage is a story about Megan and Brian.
Megan is a hard-working artist but just has not made it to the top yet but she can see her dream becoming reality when a contest is happening in the town and the prize is a year in Italy learning and improving her skills. She has tough competitors and her hopes of winning to her seem slim.
Brian works at the Blue Moon Inn that was left to his sister by their grandmother. He loves the inn, and he also has a passion and skill as a woodworker.
I could feel the connection between Brian and Megan and was rooting for them all the way to the final page.

Really enjoyed this sexy, fun and emotionally thrilling adventure filled with engaging and interesting charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and exciting passion.

I literally just finished The Friendly Cottage! And honestly I'm praying they put Halters last four books to the Blue Moon series on NetGalley because I have the first three! And I'd love to have the rest in ebook form as well!
Because this series is the best thing ever! And I've honestly have enjoyed reading the first three!

Susan Hatler is hands down one of my favorite sweet romance authors to date!
Her writing is sweet, loveable, charming romantic vibe I just devour!
Right from the first line, the reader is pulled into the narrative and the fast pace.
Told from Megan’s point of view, she is sweet, down to earth lady!
I also loved getting to see other characters from the previous books! So much fun!

Megan is a struggling artist who wants to paint more than anything but also make a living of it. In the search of her dream she'll find confidence in her talent and the love of her life.
Brian.... I mean could he be any more perfect than he already is?! I think not!

This romantic novel will grab your heart and take off with it!

Thank you Hatco Publishing NetGalley and Susan for the chance to read this series so far!
PLEASE BRING THE LAST BOOKS THE BLUE MOON..... on NetGalley! Please!.😍😘