I think, especially looking at everyone else's reviews, this is an "it's not you, it's me" situation. I normally love this author, but this book had so many of my red flags throughout it, and it really didn't work for me. Maybe it just wasn't the right time for me to read it, or maybe it is just me, and that's ok! Not every book can work for every reader! Definitely content warnings for anxiety and miscarriage.

* Received a copy for review.*
I am loving this series. This book has elements of beauty and the beast. It deals with how trauma can shape a person and how one event can flip your whole life upside down.
Both of these characters just jumped off the page. Leo has a crazy family. They are loud and loving and a bit overwhelming. Leo knows her role and she’s determined to succeed but her need to control is starting to crack.
Owen was a football star until a car accident sent him into hiding. He’d had a hell of a one night stand right before the accident but he does not care to have any people anywhere near him now. He’s hiding from everyone & everything.
Man do I love a liar. I know that sounds ridiculous but I love, I’m books, when one character pretends to not know another character.
I love how these two just bash up against one another until they explode. It’s the perfect balance of sexy & emotional. Just such a lovely read.

CW: miscarriage, anxiety and bad Dad

Leo and Owen are two damaged people trying to not be in a relationship and then are in a relationship SO HARD. They both work through a lot over the story, together and on their own. Lots of feelings.

This is sort of second chance romance. Leo and Owen had a one night stand that was amazing for both of them. But she snuck out in the morning, and he had given her a fake name (not that she looked for him). They run into each other in Rose Bend. Owen is hiding out, recovering after a car accident that left him physically scarred and in rehab. Leo stops by to recruit him for a volunteer event. Owen is so embarrassed about his scars, he PRETENDS NOT TO REMEMBER HER. Leo is devastated. And so begins their antagonistic relationship.

They don’t get along at first, both hiding their feelings behind a front of not caring or trying to be perfect. Leo is out on a girls night when she opens up to Owen and from there they are friendlier to each other. This didn’t make me cry as much as book 1 in the series, but there is a lot of emotional work done on the page by both characters.

Naima Simone has said a coming book will feature Jenna, the villain from book 1, and boy does she have some work to do. We see some of it done here for Jenna’s back story.

This copy also included a novella, ‘The Love List’ that was a cute, sexy story too.

A beautiful story of courage and love

Leo and Owen sure have a lot of chemistry, but a lot has changed in the year since their life-changing ONS. Their prickly start in Rose Bend quickly turns into a quiet friendship that gradually turns into so much more. This story is just as much about courage, though, as Leo learns to face her hidden pain while Owen struggles to come out of his self-imposed solitude after a disfiguring accident.

I loved the small town feeling that permeates every relationship, and I enjoyed the way the author contrasted the two families yet showed that anyone can experience self-doubt and painful trauma regardless of how supportive their family is or isn't. As a bit of a side storyline, we get some pertinent backstory on a rather unlikable character from the first book, and I thought that part was exceptionally well done.

Leo and Owen are wonderfully complex, highly relatable characters and it was pure joy to read their journey to their HEA. There's plenty of steam along the way, but not so much that it overshadows the heartfelt emotions at the core of their relationship. It was nice to see the couples from the earlier books and see more of the Dennison family. As a standalone romance or as part of the entire series, this romance is well worth the read. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I heard about this book from the Bonkers Romance Podcast and it was described as "the small town romance we all deserve." That is absolutely true! Rose Bend is all of the wonderful things we look for in a small town setting, without the things that we've seen over and over again (and would probably prefer not to see again).

Our heroine, Leo, is a perfect mix of fierce and a vulnerable. Her conflicts and wounds are deeply relatable and it's easy to cheer her on. Owen, the hero, has just enough charm and introspection to make up for his reoccurring foot-in-mouth problem. Alongside a huge list of supporting characters, these two follow a journey of growth, sometimes together and sometimes on their own.

To give you a little insight into how delish this book was, my bookstagram post on the morning I finished reading: "3 hours of sleep, unfolded laundry, dishes in the sink, barely on time for work... and it was worth it! I hung onto every word."

LOVED:
* The Sass - Leo has some sauciness and it's more than endearing
* The Steam - I literally found myself holding my breath through paragraph after paragraph
* The Family - Between Leo's huge family and Owen's friends that were more like family, there were so many beautiful souls to fall in love with (and hope for books about!)
* The Community - It's hard not to address the community when the series is called Rose Bend... Naima Simone lays out such a lovely small town vibe. There are no obnoxious clichés, just wonderful people you meet each step of the way, and you get to know just enough about them to wonder what their story is (or will be!)
* The Suspense - I'm not one to gravitate toward suspense in romance, but Leo's background unravels slowly, and each scene had me wondering "is this when I'll find out her true story?"

QUOTES I LOVED (THERE WERE SO SO MANY, it was hard to choose!)

"As if God hit the half-speed button on some celestial clock, time slowed. Suddenly, every hitch in her breath knocked against her throat like a tiny hammer. Every breeze drifting over the nape of her neck caressed her like a lover's gentle fingers." (Siggghhhh)

"Leo stretched up on her toes, craned her next to the right and left. Giving Jenna an exaggerated wince, she shrugged. "Dang it, Jenna. I'm sorry. I've looked but I can't seem to find where I left that last fu--" (Oh snap!)

"A dark chasm yawned deep inside her, and a flutter of delicate butterfly wings filled it. And underneath? Underneath was a bottomless pool of desire that she could willingly drown in and still never be satisfied." (Gahhhh!!!)

Owen saying "Please, God, let her have this moment, this victory." (Swoooooons all over)

WOULD HAVE LOVED:
There is so much depth to this book... characters, both dipped into and developed. It's hard to think of what more I would have wanted. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the Rose Bend Series to see the other beloved characters from this book.

OVERALL:
I loved. I swooned. I gasped. I giggled. And now I have a new series and new author to add to my favs. Thank you Bonkers Romance and Naima Simone for the Advanced Review Copy. This is my honest review.

The Rose Bend series is absolutely everything I want from a small-town romance, and 'With Love from Rose Bend' delivers the Hallmark-eqsue cozy small town setting with the diversity I wish existed, and a super steamy yet endearing romance. I loved Leo and Owen's story and I felt they were really great parallels against each other, and I was so thrilled to see another festival backdrop.

With Love from Rose Bend is in the same style, and with the same strong feelings as the prior books in the series. I loved getting to know the main characters, and it was just such a feel-good romance. It made my toes curl, and it brought me a lot of happiness.

WITH LOVE FROM ROSE BEND – Naima Simone

Rose Bend, Book 3

HQN

ISBN: 978-1-335-54079-9

March 29, 2022

Contemporary Romance



Rose Bend, Massachusetts – Present Day



Leontyne “Leo” Dennison has no plans to get involved with a man, especially after she had a one-night stand in Boston a year ago that didn’t amount to anything past their night together. But to her surprise, her one-night stand man, professional football player Owen Stafford, shows up in Rose Bend. He’s now disfigured on one side of his face after an accident and hiding away from others. Owen also—apparently—doesn’t remember Leo from their night together. She tries to draw him out, but he rebuffs her. Yet, there is something that draws the two of them together.



Owen lied to Leo. He does remember her, but he wants to keep any close contact away because he feels like half a man with his facial disfiguration. However, she is persistent because she needs his participation as a judge in a festival the town is holding in a few weeks. Leo’s persistence pays off as the attraction between Owen and her begins to spark again. Will they end up in bed once more? He has been pondering his future in the NFL. Will his feelings for Leo play a role in the decision?



Leo has a frenemy relationship with another female in Rose Bend, which proves to be a turning point for her in WITH LOVE FROM ROSE BEND. She has given up on love and concentrated on the family business, an inn that still needs a lot of work and customers. Bringing people to town for the upcoming festival is essential for the inn and Leo has thrown herself into doing whatever it takes to help. However, she didn’t expect to get roped into participating in a beauty contest. But Owen encourages her and even brings in a friend of his to help her practice the right moves for walking the stage. Meanwhile, the attraction between Leo and Owen blooms into a repeat of their one-night stand—and an admission from him that he does remember her.



WITH LOVE FROM ROSE BEND is a sweet, yet sensual romance that has a smalltown romance feel. In Rose Bend, just about everyone knows each other. Owen has kept to himself, but he is soon a part of the town and is welcomed with open arms. Few care about the scars on his face. Will he make the town a permanent residence, or return to New York City where he trains for football? Will Leo and Owen fall in love—and provide a happily-ever-after for each other? Don’t miss the fun, the sexy hot scenes, and the scintillating storytelling. Don’t miss WITH LOVE FROM ROSE BEND.



Patti Fischer

Leo knocks on Owen's door to recruit him for a town contest only to discover he was the one night stand she had a year earlier - I was hooked on this book instantly and read it in one sitting. I loved the development of all of the characters and the story.

With Love from Rose Bend by Naima Simone is the third book in her Rose Bend Series and can be read as a stand-alone book. This steamy, small town, sports romance is an emotional journey that I found delightful.

Leontyne Dennison (Leo) is dedicated to her family’s inn, situated in the quaint small town of Rose Bend. She works hard and keeps to herself and her family. She gave up on love years ago, and now she just wants to help her family. She decides to volunteer for the Rose Bend annual spring festival to boost visibility for the inn, and she needs a celebrity to judge the wildly popular chili contest.

Owen Strafford retired from the NFL after a car accident caused him to stop playing football. His scarring makes him a hermit and the last thing he wants to do is to make a public appearance, even in a small town.

Leo and Owen also have a history. Over a year ago, they had a one-night stand in Boston and Leo can’t believe her bad luck that Owen is now living in her town.

I liked the characters in this story. Leo, has shut herself off, and she’s a bit difficult to get to know, but eventually, we know her story and I felt for her and was rooting for her to find her way. Owen is also a bit deeper than I expected and although broody at the beginning of the story, once he started to move out of his shell, I found him delightful.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a steamy romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Leonthyda runs the family inn and likes to keep extra busy. Some might call her a bit of a control freak. She pour all of her into the inn and there is not much left for social life.

One year ago she had a one night stand. It was the best night, but she left before she could say goodbye. When her mother hurts her ankle, she takes over some of her responsibilities. One of them is to convince football players to judge the chilly contest at the spring festival.

When she knocked on the door she is very surprised to see her one night stand, who pretends that he does know her. So she does the same. :)

He is not interested in being a part of any town stuff and is quite rude. But convinces his best friend, also a famous player, to do it instead of him.

Leo gets roped into doing the pageant at the festival. The trouble is that she has horrible stage fright. Owen comes to the rescue. His best friend's wife is a former Miss USA and he asks her to coach her.

Owen is an ex-football player, currently retired and hiding from the words in Rose Bend. He had a car accident, that left his face scared and he is too afraid to face people. He is a walking contradiction. On one side he is extremely nice and helpful, on another side he is very rude. :)

Even though the sparks are flying, it takes a lot for them both to get over themselves and find their happily ever after.

My favourite part of the story is Leo. Especially her wicked tongue, I was laughing all throughout the story.

"Dang it, Jenna. I'm sorry. I've looked but I can't seem to find where I left that last fu- "

It's not just a love story, it's about overcoming fears, dealing with trauma and rough childhood.

This is a really good book. The two main characters are Leo and Owen. Leo and Owen meet in a bar and hit it off. Now 14 months later they meet up again. Owen is a professional football player, who was in an accident and has scars on his face. Leo works for her family’s inn, she is trying to make it a wedding destination. Leo is sent by the spring festival to get Owen to judge the chili competition. When Owen opens the door, he recognizes Leo, and Leo recognizes Owen. Owen doesn’t want to do the judging because of his scars but gets his best friend to do it. Over time Leo gets Owen out of his hermit mode. They each have some issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.