This book was not a good fit for me. I was excited to read Kate Campfield's book. She has great reviews and I like the authors that influenced her work. It is a story of second chances. Ten years after high school ends and the couple broke up, the couple attends a high school reunion together. Nate appears to be a successful police officer in the same town and Rory is returning home after her life kind of falls apart. The marriage pact is not a major plot point for the story, but it does come up.

I think my biggest challenge was not connecting with Rory. I didn't really like her as a main character which made it difficult to root for the couple. I liked Nate and was no put off by his opinions of her dog.

My favorite part of the book was the chapters by Olie. Those I laughed out loud for!

Thank you NetGallery for the ARC.

Not Mine to Keep by Kate Campfield was a fun, delightful book that was easy to read and kept me laughing and rooting for the characters throughout the book.

The opening paragraph set the tone for the humor of the main character, Rory, and what I knew to expect throughout the book - a FMC who didn't take herself too seriously and could laugh at really crappy things (literally) happening to you.

When Rory and Nate reunite after ten years and can they find love? I'm not spoiling it for you, but if you like characters that you root for, dogs that have their own chapters :) and a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is for you.

I can't wait for the rest of the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in consideration of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A light-hearted easy-to-read romance with dual POV. Tropes included; second chance, small town, steamy. This author was new to me but I'd read more of their books. Recommend to fans of this genre. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Review is up on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon Australia on release day. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book.

Small-Town Second Chances with a Side of Dog POV

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Not Mine To Take by Kate Campfield, and let me tell you—this one checks all the boxes! Small-town charm, second chances, fake dating, and yes, even a POV from a lovable German Shepherd named Ollie.

Rory’s relatable quirks—like forgetting packages she ordered, leading to surprise mail days—had me laughing and nodding along because, same, girl. Her return to her hometown after heartbreak and job loss felt genuine, and her slow-burn reconnection with Nate, the small-town cop who never stopped loving her, was equal parts cozy and swoony.

The romance had Hallmark vibes but with an edge, keeping the story engaging and heartfelt. While I would’ve loved to see Nate’s personality fleshed out a bit more beyond his love for Rory and his cop duties, his quiet, steadfast devotion made me root for him. The small-town dynamics and angsty plot twists added depth, and the reunion felt like slipping into a warm blanket.

Oh, and the ending? I’m officially begging for book two! Kate, we need it ASAP.

Why You’ll Love It:
🐾 A dog POV that’s just too adorable
🏔️ A charming small-town setting
💌 Second-chance romance with all the feels

This is a heartwarming rom-com that’s perfect for fans of small-town romances with humor, charm, and a dash of angst. Highly recommend!

Loved this one so much! Can't wait for book 2. Fast paced, funny. Couldn't put it down. The world building of the small town was perfect- I want to move to High Lonesome!

While this is one of my favorite romance tropes, this one was a miss for me. I thought this started off strong, but it got progressively harder for me to stick with it. This book is well written from a technical standpoint, and I really like the author’s voice (so much that I would love to read some more of her work). The pacing is nice. The story has funny moments. I think I’m just the wrong audience for this specific story. I didn't really connect with any of it, unfortunately. I thought Nate’s attitude toward Spam (Rory's adoptive dog) was a little off-putting from the get-go, despite Spam’s quirks. It made him a little unlikable for me. And I never truly connected with Rory. Also: the book description made me believe that this book was about the two coming back together because of the marriage pact (which I found intriguing), but I don't think either of them even mention it to the other until halfway(ish) through the book, and that particularly storyline doesn't get much attention afterward. That specific storyline (which I was most looking forward to based on the description) just fell flat for me since it had little to do with the events driving the plot. And did I just... miss the "one tiny secret" that was supposed to throw everything off track? I'm guessing that's what the epilogue alludes to, but again, the description made me think this would be a major pot of the plot of this book. Lastly, I knew this was the first in a series, but I guess I didn’t realize that the trajectory of their romance would remain unresolved in the end of this first book. I think there is certainly an audience for this book, but it wasn’t for me.

My Favorite Thing:
• I cackled at the line, “If she asks you about the scone, just tell her it was delicious.”

Second chances and coming back to the one that got away - and even better, that high school reunion with the mean girls who never grew up or moved away, always the way. Circling around to find what is truly important with all the insecurities attached, and maybe what you anticipate isn't exactly what happens. Ends on a cliff ...