3.5 stars rounded up!

i liked this one and it’s story of family and new beginnings but i was surprised at where the story went.

the book follows natalie, a widow who must start anew when she’s caught in a con. detective randy fellowes is commited to figuring this out for natalie and a possible future with natalie depsite not even looking for love. when natalie decides to move to chestnut ridge for new beginnings, she finds exactly what she’s looking for.

natalie was a cute character to follow and randy was a good lead man but i was expecting more romance between the two. i was a little disappointed on that front. there seemed like so much plot and details that the book’s pacing moved slower than i like and the ending felt rushed and anticlimactic.

the synopsis read like randy would be grumpier and more against a relationship but i didn’t find that the case at all. i was generally misled but could’ve been more into the book had randy had a bigger and more assertive role. i was disappointed when the book focused so much more on natalie’s life and her past finally making sense but it was predictable and i felt like i read too many things that could’ve easily been edited out.

the book was generally very sweet (and clean) but it wouldn’t inspire a reread from me.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc in return for am honest review.

And Then There Was You was a wonderful and inspirational novel that I found myself devouring as soon as I began reading.

Natalie Maynard returned home from vacation to find that she had lost everything to man whom she trusted, but who she learned was a professional con man. Now needing to start over for the second time after having lost her husband in a car accident a few years prior, she remembers that she still has the old hunting cabin her husband used to steal away to up in the Blue Ridge Mountains and decides to go there to reset.

As Natalie settles in her new hometown, she realizes that her late husband was beloved in the small town and she is welcomed with open arms. She has also connected with the detective on her case and there is definitely a mutual attraction, but the question is whether she can trust again after what she's just been through. As Natalie continues to navigate her new life, she realizes that while she may not have blood family remaining, family can be anyone you choose and this helps her to open herself up to both love and beginning to heal again.

I really enjoyed this book and the way the story unfolded. While it was heartbreaking at times, it was also heartwarming and it showed how having a strong group of people to support you goes such a long way in life.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

I am so glad that I recently discovered Nancy Naigle's books. Her writing quickly draws me into the story and makes me feel like a part of the community she has created. As a fan of true crime, I especially enjoyed this book because of the romance/financial con that the main character had suffered. I look forward to catching up on Nancy's previous books and will be on the watch for any future ones. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy to read and review.

Until recently, I’d only read Nancy Naigle’s Christmas-themed books. I honestly love reading them more than watching cheesy Hallmark-type Christmas movies. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this story, but I shouldn’t have been worried. This is a clean contemporary sweet romance with elements of faith and family, so if you’re looking for something a bit spicier, this may not be the one for you.

Ms. Naigle’s writing, as always, had me thoroughly engaged from the outset. The plot was a bit predictable, but the characters were so well-developed I felt like they were friends—even the secondary characters. Then there was the emotion. With major themes of loss, grief, found family, and forgiveness, this book was full of the crazy ups and downs those bring about, as one would expect. Add to all of this an adorably awkward detective (when it comes to his personal interactions with Natalie), and it hits all the feels.

NICUnurse’s Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭑ (4.5)

A good heartwarming book! Natalie finds herself in a precarious situation with a broken heart and fewer resources than she thought. Her strength and tenacity shines through as she soldiers on and finds her own happiness and stability along the way. I really loved that although she didn’t need a knight in shining armor to fix everything for her, she still allowed Randy to help in ways he could as they built a relationship.

You can expect to find in this book:
- a scam
- courage
- a grumpy old man
- neighborly kindness
- Mountain Views
- happily ever after ending

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a heartwarming story! As usual Ms Naigle shows us her ability to write down-to-earth and true to life stories. You can’t help but like the characters and the beautiful setting. Natalie is starting over after being bilked by a con artist who took almost everything she had. You won’t go wrong reading this book about starting over and finding family and love in unusual places. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a nice gentle start to a new series. Two years after being widowed, Natalie thought that she found another wonderful man. Instead, she was romanced by a con man, who took her home. Wanting a fresh start, Natalie leaves the city to move to her deceased husband's hunting cabin on a a mountain. Natalie finds a very welcoming community. Detective Randy Fellowes is disappointed that Natalie has left the city. Randy has fallen for her during his investigation. He wants to bring her good news and also hopes he has a chance to win her heart. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. Like Jan Karon's Mitford series, this is a book set in a quiet small town with interesting characters. This is a story that reminds us that life isn't always best at a fast pace. There are many interesting characters and I look forward to reading more books set in Chestnut Ridge.

An amazing story to get lost in! Atmospheric and well written with unforgettable characters.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A riveting story of love, loss and betrayal.
The Blue Ridge mountains make a wonderful setting for a second chance and the people of a small town are both loving and memorable. I finished this book the same day I started it, could not put it down. I loved it.

And Then There Was You....

I honestly don't even know where to start with this book. Sad tears, happy tears, frustrating tears, and more. I knew from the start that this book would take me a on an emotional ride. But don't let that stop you from reading it! I want to pack up my things and move myself to Chestnut Ridge.
I knew that Natalie and Randy would share a connection to each other. Randy was so patient and understanding with Natalie. And let me tell you, Natalie needed that. Natalie was sure put through the ringer. She experienced so much loss and hurt along her way, that you knew she needed to find some happiness. She found happiness and so much more along that way. She found family again in Chestnut Ridge in the most exciting and sweet way.
Grab this book and you won't be disappointed! Be prepared to shed some sad and happy tears along the way.

And Then There Was You, by Nancy Naigle, is the story of young widow Natalie Maynard in the aftermath of a dual loss. First, her beloved husband Jeremy is lost to her in a tragic accident. Then, a few years later, the grieving Natalie is bamboozled by a serial con artist, losing her money and belongings to a man she thought truly cared for her.
In the aftermath of the second loss, Natalie meets Detective Randy Fellowes of the Richmond, VA, police department. Randy takes a distinctive interest in Natalie’s case, wanting to help her overcome this obstacle and find the villain that has disappeared. After months of living in limbo at her best friend Sheila’s home, Natalie pulls herself together and decides to move to her beloved Jeremy’s cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of the small town of Chestnut Ridge, a few hours northwest of Richmond. On her first night in Chestnut Ridge, Natalie meets elderly Orene, whose lovely home had been posted online as a B&B. Although that is no longer true, Orene is more than happy to open her home to Jeremy’s young widow.
In fact, Orene was set to help Natalie however possible, from the job offer from Jesse to simply befriending the young widow. As she does so, things are kept from Natalie that may be hurtful. But the relationship Natalie’s job working with seniors brings to her in the form of octogenarian Paul Granstaff may be a key to both past and future.
This is such a good, original story! Ms. Naigle has created a cast of wonderful characters and a heartfelt plot that mirrors societal issues such as loss, grief, and those that try to swindle from others. I very much enjoyed this book and only hope it is the first of many set in Chestnut Ridge!

Oh how I love Chestnut Ridge! Once you read this book, I feel like you will too! Natalie finds herself in quite a predicament and retreats to her remote cabin that she inherited from her late husband. The life she begins there will be so different from the life she lived before, but she finds she wouldn’t change it! Really enjoyed this one!

This book was seriously the sweetest, and the most inspirational romance read.

Natalie gets conned from everything her late husband left her, she thought she was on the right path with this new man in her life, but the way he set her up, was horrible. She meets Randy, who is the detective on her case and hes really liking her but the timing is all wrong. There is heavy attraction and I loved how everything turned out.

She decides she wants to start fresh and forgets that her late husband has a cabin a few towns away, and she comes into an amazing town who remembers her husband and welcomes her with open arms. There is a huge town secret, and it involves her late husband, but the way this book ends!! OMG had me in tears. I would read more from this author, especially if there is part of a series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 stars
🔥(kissing only)

[ Thank you @smpromance and @netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

PUB DATE: June 27, 2023

THOUGHTS:

After being scammed by a professional con-man, Natalie has lost everything she owned. She remembers her late husband’s fishing cabin in Chestnut Ridge. It’s there in that town where she begins to heal, fall in love with the town and it’s people, and also over time find love again.

This was a super sweet love story. I liked the bit of mystery with solving and catching the con-man. I loved how the town welcomed her with open arms where Jeremy was well loved. Natalie’s cabin up in the mountains sounded so heavenly and peaceful.

Detective Randy Fellowes was respectful of Natalie and her wishes of just being friends at first. But it was so sweet to see over time and distance how they both gravitated towards each other more and more.

Overall, if you’re looking for a book with small town charm, a bit of mystery, and some light romance... this is the one for you! 💕

Natalie is a widow and now the victim of a romancing con artist who has literally walked out the door with everything she owned. She is shaken to her core. She no longer trusts her judgement in anything. When she remembers the little hunting cabin that her husband owns up on a mountain, she heads out to the solitary life and begins to rebuild her life and her self-esteem. The handsome detective working her case might play a part in that!

This is a book about deceit and heartache. It's about those getting just what they deserve in the end. It is about finding friends, romance and trust in yourself. I really loved it. It left me feeling warm and happy.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

This is an emotional and touching book that starts off with a strange happening in the life of widow Natalie Maynard as she returns home to Richmond from a vacation to find that a man, she trusted has conned her out of all of her possessions and home. The detective on the case, Randy, is drawn to Natalie and spends time over and above to try to solve her case. He is hoping that she will one day become a friend as well.
After a while, she remembers that her husband left her a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, so she moves up there to regroup. We met some wonderful people in the book, in both Richmond and the small mountain town of Chestnut Ridge. The townsfolks all open their hearts and arms to Natalie, widow of their special hometown son, including a reclusive older man needing some extra help. She doesn't have any family and soon finds that family can be anyone who cares for you and opens themselves up to you. It was nice to see Natalie begin to heal and take a chance at life again. There are surprises in store as the book wraps up and ends with a great ending.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review, and these are my thoughts and opinions.

I did not expect to love And Then There Was You as much as I did, but it was perfect. I read it in a single night, during the middle of a severe thunderstorm and it was the best cozy story for a night in. It gave me Virgin River vibes and I absolutely loved everything about this book!

Nancy never disappoints. This story is a good example of what happens when you put your heart in the wrong place. Left to struggle with building a new life without funds, without a vehicle, basically without a family she moves herself to a small town and unknowingly to a small town detective. He isn't looking for romance, but it finds him anyways. A story that will capture your attention and your heart.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked And Then There Was You. I read it all in one lazy summer day. Sometimes you just need an inspirational story to make you believe in the goodness of people. This is that story.

Natalie’s world came crashing down with her husband’s death. So she was over the moon with happiness when she met Marc. He was so good to her. Until it turned out he wasn’t who he said he was.

I think Nancy did a wonderful job weaving the unfortunate world of scammers into a love story. If just one person is able to have the courage to step forward with their own story Nancy will have done her job.

Looking forward to returning to Chestnut Ridge.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
Found family
Second chance

And Then There Was You (Chestnut Ridge #1) by Nancy Naigle
I love how Nancy welcomes me into her story and makes me want to live there. Natalie and Randy meet when she is scammed by a con artist. She is a widow who has been taken for everything. As he works her case there is angst, deceit, heartbreak, insecurity, laughter, tears, discovering family secrets, wonderful friends, finding love and happiness. I hope there are more books in this series.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Informative Wonderful characters Great world building Page-turner Entertaining Happily Ever After Witty Tear-jerker Easy-to-read Romantic Unpredictable.