Really cute story! Very entertaining and easy to read. I liked most of the characters. There were a couple places where the writing didn’t connect for me but it is definitely worth a read if you are r for a quick funny read.y

When Andrew Clarke, a movie star, starts to feel overwhelmed by work, he decides to get off the grid for a while. He ends up at a farm in the middle of nowhere where he can rest and recover. There, he meets Ellie, who has taken over her family farm. They find themselves falling for each other, but surely he’ll have to go back to the real world eventually, even though they want to stay together.

Sounds cute, right?

NO. It is not.

This is one of the most painful books I’ve read in a long time. I would not have finished it if I weren’t reading it to review. From the beginning, it was clear that this book was very poorly written. The way the characters spoke was extremely awkward; one example is Andrew saying he’s glad not to “have to exercise at the gym twice at day” when he’s on the farm. Who talks like that? Who wouldn’t just say “workout twice a day” or “go to the gym”? Just that one example wouldn’t be a big deal, but all of the dialogue was like that - so awkward and stilted.

He’s also super creepy with the way he’s into Ellie from the beginning. He seems to be immediately attracted to her, and keeps on even though she clearly has no interest for a while. He watches her from his bedroom window while she’s in the pool every day. He thinks about which of her bikinis is his favorite. This is BEFORE THEY ARE TOGETHER and when she has shown absolutely no interest in a relationship. This isn’t a case of them being at the pool together and he can’t help but notice she’s attractive. This is him intentionally watching her, at length, FROM HIS BEDROOM WINDOW. He even thinks “I know it’s creepy that I watch her swim, but I don’t care.” I guess this is supposed to make it better - because he said it’s creepy it’s okay? Anyway, it’s not. It’s just creepy.

There’s really no chemistry between Andrew and Ellie at all during the book. When they suddenly got together - after the narration skipped most of their first month knowing each other - it felt like it was from out of nowhere, at least on her part. The steamy scenes were so cringey and awkward. Everything between them was cringey and awkward! Ellie had come out of a relationship where the guy was clearly emotionally abusive, and Andrew is supposed to be the better guy, but the way he acts towards her is so uncomfortable as well. He makes some sweeping gestures that are supposed to be romantic but don’t feel that way at all.

Also, at the end of the book, there were suddenly a few chapters from the POV of random other characters. The whole story was first person from Andrew’s point of view until the last three chapters, which were three other side characters, some of whom we rarely saw throughout the rest of the story. I didn’t understand why those chapters were there at all. It was strange more than anything else.

There are a lot of good romance books in the world. There are lots of good romances set in the woods or on a farm! I’d recommend reading one of those and staying away from this one.

Andrew is a famous actor, but he hates being in the public eye, so takes a break 'off the grid'. He is staying with Ellie's family, and to keep the boredom at bay is soon helping Ellie out on the farm.

They grow closer, so what will happen when it is time for Andrew to return to his reality?

Great read - looking forward to more books from this author

This book is mostly written from the perspective of mega star actor Andrew Clarke. Andrew has been living a nomadic live shuffling from location to location and hotels for many years. His workaholic lifestyle has taken its toll. He’s burned out anxious and itching to take a month off in solitude—somewhere off the grid. His assistant Sage finds a town that fits the bill, a small town in Michigan where she visited her grandmother as a child. Sage puts Andrew up at a bed and breakfast run by woman who used to own a bakery in town. Andrew arrives and immediately hits it off with the proprietor Gran. He also meets Gran’s granddaughter Ellie and becomes infatuated with her. Does Ellie feel the same way?

I loved the first half of the book it was well-written, and perfectly paced. The second part of the book had me scratching my head. It switches from Andrew’s perspective to several other people’s perspective of important events in Andrew and Ellie’s life. The book flies through approximately 5 of these chapters and then ends with an epilogue. I wished the last chapters fleshed out these events. I am bummed and have a lot of unanswered questions. First part of the book 5/5 the second part with other perspectives 2/5.

A charming premise attracted me when I was craving a cozier read. This has all the trappings I was looking for- a fall and winter vibes and a setting that made me want to curl up with a steaming bowl of soup and enjoy. Sadly I found the writing stilted and the relationship between Andrew and Evie never came together for me. Suddenly they were declaring their attraction to each other and I was left wondering if I had missed a chapter (I hadn't). I could have forgiven that if I wasn't honestly so bored throughout the entire book. Evert time I thought something was actually going to happen it fizzled out in a page or two. I'm afraid, this one wasn't for me.

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

Andrew, a burnt out actor, seeks refuge on an isolated farm to rest for a month. While there he meets, Ellie, who helps Gran run the farm and all of its ventures. Love, and a few explicit sex scenes, blossom between the two of them.

I didn't love how fast paced this book was. I wish the whole book had of been about his initial time on the farm, instead it fast forwarded through most of it. Andrew was off the farm in a couple of chapters and the rest of the book spanned their quick marriage, a new home, and a few kids. I did like that you don't have to wonder about what happens to the characters after the book since the author wrapped it all up, but I usually prefer a slower pace in books. The end of the book had a few chapters from the viewpoint of character on the peripheral of the story and they didn't really add much to the book for me.

If you're like Andrew and also looking for an escape, consider this book. It's a great read to turn to when you want a break from reality in that its and easy read and relatively light hearted.

All in all, The book wasn't what I was expecting after reading the synopsis provided. I don't think I would read the next book in this series.

Reader Advisory: This book contains multiple, explicit sexual scenes and profanity.

After dedicating almost a decade of his life to becoming a well-known film star, Andrew Clarke is teetering on the edge of burnout. A non-stop schedule, lack of privacy, constant travel and living in hotel rooms have taken their toll. He escapes to a Bed and Breakfast on a working farm in Hartsville, Michigan for a month of rest and relaxation and becomes enamored with Ellie Snow, the young woman who manages the farm for her grandmother. When he is unable to put Ellie and the simplicity of the farm life out of his mind, he returns with the intention of taking up residence and creating a more balanced lifestyle.

There are not many positive things I can say about this novel. It lacks any real emotional depth and superficially touches on the significant issues of stress/burnout and domestic violence. The sexual attraction between Andrew and Ellie is the primary driver of the storyline. I enjoy a well-placed, well-written love scene, but the repeated, graphic sex scenes in this book detract from the overall story. The whirlwind pace of their “romance” seems unrealistic and the dialogue moves between casual (littered with sexual innuendos) and a stiff, almost scripted, formality. Among the supporting cast of characters of family and friends, the beloved grandmother, the gruff sheriff father, the narcissistic mother, the jealous ex-boyfriend and the obsessed ex-girlfriend all seem a bit clichéd.

One bright spot was the handling of Ellie’s weight issue. A former size six, she now is a curvaceous size sixteen. Andrew loves her body just as it is, even though Ellie, herself, is a bit self-conscious. However, even this body-positive viewpoint is counterbalanced by her overbearing mother’s criticisms.

Overall, I was disappointed between what the promotional material promised and what the novel delivered.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

I love a book set in Michigan! This was a quick, easy read romance.

Maybe a little bit too easy - the characters are great, but the story isn't too involved -- Andrew, top Hollywood actor burns out and escapes to Ellie's Gran's bed and breakfast for a break - boy meets girl, they fall in love and he leaves his life to move to Michigan. A sweet little romance wrapped up quickly. I could see this becoming a Hallmark fall movie.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Off the Grid is an easy to read book.

Andrew is a famous actor, who's tired of working all the time, and needs a break. His assistant, Sage, finds him a secluded farm where he can take a month off, away from the public eye, nobody will know where he is.

So, off he goes to the farm where he meets Gran, the sweet owner who used to own a bakery, and her granddaughter Ellie, who left everything to help at the farm. Of course, Ellie and Andrew hit it off, and when the month is over, Andrew goes back to his life, with the promise to saty in touch.

At first, I liked the premise, and I wanted to see how things went, but as the story moved, I didn't like it quite so much. Things moved really fast, all of a sudden, they just meet again and move in together. then everybody is married or pregnant, or living together. And by the end, you get the two of them talking about all the things that happened to them, saying things like "Remember our wedding, that we did here, and celebrated like this?", "Yes, and do you remember our honeymoon, we went to that place and did those things?". And just like that, in a couple of pages, they start recalling all the events of the year.
As much as I couldn't relate to the dialogues in the story, I really had trouble with that last part of them sharing memories of what they did such a short time ago.

Thanks NetGally for my ARC of this book

What I Liked: fleshed out main characters, fast paced start, the overall premise

What I Didn't Like: lots of dialogue, quick wrap up with introduction of new POVs towards the end

This book feels like a warm hug. It is an easy, breezy read. The main characters are personable and easy to love. The romance is quick and totally adorable. You can't go wrong with falling in love with this one.

The novel reads like a movie in that there is a lot of dialogue and everything happens quickly. We immediately meet Andrew and go on this journey with him from start to finish, which makes for a quick yet impactful read. The reader immediately falls in love with Andrew, Ellie, and Gran (we all need a Gran in our life!) as we get to know them and understand how they've come to be who they are as well as how they become intertwined. The setting also reads as a beautiful escape that anyone would be lucky to call home. There are quite a few side characters that are not always present or totally fleshed out but keep the plot moving and give our MCs support throughout the story. The premise of a movie star needing an escape is a great one and you can empathize with Andrew. As him and Ellie face challenges throughout the novel, it feels realistic and easy to follow. Although quick and some portion is told from the perspective of other characters, the ending gives you all the warm and fuzzies and just enough to know our MCs will be okay! Overall, this is a good one!

3.5 stars. This is a nice world--the MCs are good people, the farm sounds idyllic, and everyone needs a power-baking Gran. The story is quick, sweet, and fairly low-angst. Given the overall tone, I was a bit surprised at how explicit the love scenes were, but this is not a complaint at all. The steam was creative and enjoyable!

What didn't work so well was the tendency to tell rather than show. Within the first couple of pages it was stated outright that the male MC was burnt out. Very shortly upon meeting her, we were directly told the female MC had body image issues. The reader didn't get a chance to infer or discover these things about the characters, which gave less incentive to invest in them or identify with them.

That said, sometimes it's nice to take a mental break and read something with less tension just to enjoy the fun, spice, and sweetness. On that front, this novel delivers!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

Women’s fiction mixed with romance? Perfect. Two of my favourite genres so of course I had to read this. I really did enjoy this and the authors writing it was perfect. My craving for women’s fiction as of recently has for sure heightened and really strengthened if anything but more then anything, I enjoyed this for what it was and will for sure keep an eye out for what the author has planned for us!

I really like this one! I don’t know why but I kept picturing Zac Efron while reading this.
Premise
Through years of dedication, Andrew Clarke has evolved from his humble Midwest beginnings to become one of Hollywood’s most highly sought-after actors. He has taken roles often overlooked by others, turning them into opportunities and showcasing his undeniable talent. While Andrew has built a career admired by his contemporaries, it has come at a price—the ever-present scrutiny and constant intrusion into his life away from the cameras. With this grueling pace and lack of privacy, his once ideal life has lost its luster and he is rapidly approaching burnout. After Andrew demands a long-overdue break, his assistant puts his rigorous schedule on hold and arranges the perfect month-long secluded retreat.

When her grandmother was unexpectedly injured, Ellie Snow left college life behind and took over the management of their family farm nestled within the woods of Michigan, transforming it into a profitable business. Currently in the middle of a busy fall harvest season, she spends exhausting days alongside workers, hustling to meet demand. Together, they gather apples from the orchards and pumpkins from the fields—all bound for the local cider mill. Her recent renovations of the old farmhouse into a fledgling bed and breakfast have brought some unexpected attention from a guest desperately seeking solace.
I love these type of women’s fiction book that has someone is Hollywood looking for a different slice of love and also finding love in the process. Such a good read!

This was a quick cute book with a fast passed plot and definite smiling moments. I enjoyed reading it and will probably continue the series.

Pros;
Read from the males POV 95% of the time
Likable characters
Dogs (always a plus in my book)
Chosen family

Cons:
Big picture book - if you like all the little details this is not the book for you
Jumpy

This book is amazing. I love the representation of plus-sized women in this book. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed it so much.