Member Review

Jillian Keller had to survive an awful marriage before moving back in with her parents along with her wonderful little girl. She's set up a life full of friends and family and convinced herself she has it all, until a boy from her past returns to town and shakes things up. Levi Bright left Smile to pursue his dream of being a chef. He left his family, his best friends, and their little sister, the girl he always had a crush on but never dared pursue. Now, they're back together and realizing that the seeds of feelings from their youth could grow into so much more if only they're brave enough to give it a chance.

I say the following with nothing but love: this book is pure, unadulterated fluff. And that's the reason why I enjoyed it so much. There are challenges, but they're the simple ones that everyone faces at one time or another of having to decide what to do with your life and where/how you want to live. There's no unnecessary drama beyond the mandatory third-act breakup that doesn't really feel like a breakup. You know these characters are meant to be and everything and everyone around them supports them. It's great to read a romance where the leads are mature enough to know what they want and ready to take on the work of an adult relationship. The fact that it's set in a small town that feels adorably like an extended family is just icing on the cake.

Allyson Morgan does a good job of narrating with emotion while keeping things light. She manages to make emotional scenes hit just the right level of seriousness without weighing down the overall sweetness of the story. I did have a couple of moments where I wasn't entirely sure who was talking, but nothing major.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin, and RBmedia for the sweet romance read!