𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 1.5/5 ⭐️💫

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 6/10/24

*Thank you @NetGalley and @Entangled_Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Roxy wants to renovate her family ranch, so she enlists help from Josh- who unbeknownst to her- is the guy who was supposed to take her to Homecoming years ago.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲:
Dual POV
Mental Health and PTSD representation
Second Chance
Cowboy
Military
Small town

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:

I liked the prologue, I was eager to find out how the MMC would return and what actually was said behind those closed doors.
I made it through 30% and didn’t connect to the characters, the dialogue, the storyline. There were WAY too many tropes going on- small town, rich vs poor, second chance, cowboy, military, mental health… they didn’t flow well and jumbled up the story. I cringed with every cheesy expression the FMC made “Cheese and Rice!” Etc. I started skimming very early on and that’s a bad sign for the remainder of the book. I feel like I gave it a good shot, and had a good feel for how the rest of the story would go. I’d recommend more chapter development which might make the characters more relatable and likable.

Love a good small town/cowboy romance. This one was great by a new to me author. Looking forward to reading other things by her.

It was my first time reading anything from this author, and even though it promised a lot, I had a difficult time connecting with the characters.
The book has a great vibe to it, and a really enjoyed most of the story, but I think that the authors tackles so many tropes, such as small town, second chance, cowboy romance and even PTSD that feels to much, at least for my liking.

Slow to start and had trouble keeping my attention. Have not finished but hope to come back to it and try again as I have heard good things.

I really enjoyed Summer at Mount Joy by Ophelia London! It’s a charming, feel-good story perfect for a cozy read. The characters are relatable, and the romance feels natural and sweet. London’s writing brings the setting to life, making you feel like you’re spending the summer there too. If you love lighthearted romance with a touch of summer nostalgia, this book is a great choice!

Roxy is determined to make a difference in her family's business. Sadly, the one man who can help her is Josh, someone she has a complicated history with. However, she is determined. Will the two of them be able to work together and make the changes needed?

I loved this book. The back story and character building. Took them awhile to talk about their problems but they did. The slow burn small town romance was great. I love how at the end they came together and fixed the problems. I love second chance romances especially when they give you background into what happened.

I haven't watched Yellowstone but this book gives me that vibe. Romance, drama, a ranch and a cowboy...... who could ask for more.

Roxy Elliott has finally stumbled upon a project that ignites her passion and holds her investment. However, due to previous setbacks, her family's encouragement is lacking and time is of the essence. In order to achieve her dream of opening a dude ranch, she seeks the assistance of a local foreman, Josh. Josh is taken aback by the fact that Roxy is the one in need of a foreman and is surprised that she doesn't recognize him. He vividly recalls her as the person who shattered his young heart and drove him to leave home for military service.

Roxy's new foreman, Joshua Manning, is the young man who failed to accompany her to the homecoming dance a decade ago. Now, he is an extraordinary wounded hero grappling with the aftermath of his experience as a military veteran. Can these two individuals set aside their past grievances to help Roxy seize the future she needs to prove to her family that she is capable of forging her own path?

A wonderful story written for the reader's enjoyment.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I enjoyed this book and think you will to.

Summer at Mount Joy includes:
- Dual POV
_ Renovation of a Ranch to a Dude Ranch
- Military veteran turned cowboy
- Second-chance romance
- Slow-burn romance
- Mental Health (PTSD) rep
- Closed-door romance

Summer at Mount Joy is told in dual pov's of Roxy Elliot and Josh Manning. They were childhood classmates but after a misunderstanding no longer talked and Josh has not liked her since then. Roxy is going to upgrade her family's ranch into a dude ranch as her new project, she is going to need a lot of help for this which is when Josh comes into the story. Josh has avoided Roxy and her family since the misunderstanding and it seems that Roxy doesn't even remember him at all until it's brought to her attention that they know each other (this is so awkward), the two end up putting this behind them and working together to save the ranch. One of Roxy's big things for this ranch is to make it green to help make sure the city is behind it, and with a little convincing from Josh, she also wants to have big brother big sisters come out and be involved with it as well to give people chances to see a different side of life.

Overall this story is a bit of a slow start with how Josh feels about Roxy and how things are a little tense between the two. Once they start working together though you can see they make a great team. This doesn't mean they don't have any more ups and downs, because they do, in fact, a lot at times with how they try to avoid certain things and have to work through stuff. This renovation is a great distraction for both of them as they work through the relationship and see if they can be more or not.

This book is great for people who want a nice romance that is closed-door and has a cowboy.

Poor guy. But maybe she was defending him.

Roxie's plans sound good to me. Her brother is rude.

She doesn't know about the Amish?

She walked in on her brother and his wife?!

He should really tell her who he is.

I would be worried about him driving during an episode.

I wonder if she really was a mean girl.

Cassoulet is not a casserole.

"Way back in the nineties". Kill me now.

Sheesh, now I want to see the smile.

Wow, they were spoiled.

Going green seems like a lot of trouble.

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

Roxy is in over her head renovating her grandparents’ home into a resort and summer camp destination. She hires Josh as her foreman to help carry the load. They make a good team and are quickly attracted to each other, but these two have history that won’t stay buried. Alas, the more I read this, the more I wished Roxy and Josh would finally hash out their past. It was clear from the beginning that there’d been some sort of misunderstanding. That they both allowed it to continue affecting their lives beyond high school and even when they met again as adults when they’re claiming to be so mature was really hard. They are both so eager throughout the story to put things behind them instead of fully understanding their past so they can live in the present and move toward the future. They do finally get there, but it took considerably longer than necessary and even toward the end, they both clearly have communication issues to continue to work through. Plus some things, like the ornery foreman, were left unresolved.

Read SUMMER AT MOUNT JOY for
- Dual POV
- Cowboy military veteran hero
- Heiress heroine
- Second-chance romance
- Mental health (PTSD) rep
- Dude ranch renovation

This book was just okay in my opinion. As someone else said, I found it hard to relate to the characters. It took me a bit to get through this one since I wasn't really dying to find out what happens next, but I didn't want to not finish. It is a cute summer read if that's what you're looking for.

Review: Summer at Mount Joy by Ophelia London

**Rating: 4/5 stars**

"Summer at Mount Joy" by Ophelia London is a delightful closed-door romance that captures the heart with its slow-burn relationship and heartwarming character dynamics. The story centers around Josh and Roxy, who share a complicated past dating back to high school, marked by a miscommunication about homecoming that led to years of resentment from Josh.

Roxy is determined to prove her worth to her family by taking on the ambitious project of renovating a dude ranch. Unbeknownst to her, she hires Josh, her old high school crush, and the past they thought they left behind resurfaces. Josh, now dealing with PTSD from his time in combat, finds solace and healing in the friendship that rekindles between them. Roxy's understanding and comforting presence helps Josh, while his unwavering trust in her bolsters her confidence in her abilities, something her family has always doubted.

The chemistry between Josh and Roxy is palpable, and their journey from estranged acquaintances to supportive friends and eventually something more is beautifully portrayed. Their interactions are super fluffy and sweet, making this a perfect feel-good read. The closed-door romance adds a charming touch, focusing on the emotional connection rather than physical intimacy.

Overall, "Summer at Mount Joy" is a fun, quick read that made me smile from start to finish. Ophelia London has crafted a lovely story about second chances, healing, and the power of trust and understanding. Highly recommended for fans of sweet, heartwarming romances.

**Pros:**
- Engaging slow-burn relationship
- Heartwarming character dynamics
- Well-handled themes of healing and trust

**Cons:**
- Some may find the pacing a bit slow

**Verdict:** A super fluffy and sweet closed-door romance that's perfect for a light, uplifting read.

I liked Roxanne but found her to be very... young. Josh was a great character as well and I found him to be much more likeable. Overall, the story was great. I enjoyed the book and it held my attention well. I enjoyed the character development and the story line. I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

I received this book as an ARC and was very pleased. It is a great summer read and made the perfect palette cleanser.
If you are looking for a quick cute summer read this may be for you. It has rom-com style vibes.
In this book you will find Roxy, the insecure but sassy FMC, an and Josh, the hot cowboy with a troubled past MMC. Who are working together to save her family’s ranch.
You will find friends to lovers, slow burn romance. It does cover some harder topics like veteran PTSD, old hurts and scars, but also healing and new beginnings.

Any book involving a hot cowboy and/or an army veteran is a must read for me! Bonus when the MMC is both! Josh and Roxanne swept me away and captivated my heart and attention from the very beginning, their story is raw and honest. It’s a dual POV which I adore as I’m always wondering what each character is thinking and feeling. This book allows you to see exactly what the FMC and MMC are feeling and thinking. I cried and my heart broke to see Josh going through his PTSD anxiety attacks and cheered when he conquered them! I fell in love with how kind and patient Roxanne was with Josh. They had to meet deadlines and step out of their comfort zones to build a fancy dude ranch together and overcome MANY obstacles together. It is 100% a HEA but you’ll experience a rollercoaster of emotions to get there!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Ophelia London and also Netgalley for blessing me with an E-ARC of this fantastic book! I am sharing this review of my own free will in hopes others will read this book and also enjoy it!

This was a cute second chance romance though I couldn’t really connect to the characters. I felt there was too much happening in the book, too many mini plots added. Didn’t enjoy it as much as I was expecting to after reading the synopsis.