A woman with no ties in the states finds herself connecting to the small town where she's wanting to start an equine therapy program in this sweet and sensual contemporary romance. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Harvest Moon Kisses by Sara Ohlin, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in the My Graciella series to your bookshelf!
Choosing true love suddenly seems like no sacrifice at all.
Starting an equine therapy program is Vivianna Orleans’ dream, and she has three months to work on it at Brockman Farms before family obligations will pull her back to France. Arriving in the charming town of Graciella, Vivianna discovers her small rental house is right next door to bachelor Jake Cooper.
Thirty-six-year-old estate attorney Jake Cooper has purchased his first home in Graciella. Too bad his girlfriend doesn’t share his love of small-town life and dumps him. But Jake’s used to moving on from relationships. He’s also used to charming people and being the life of the party, but the woman in the rental next door won’t give him the time of day or even her name.
Slowly, guardedly, the pair draw closer, bonding over their love of animals…including Jake’s crazy rescue mutt who adores Vivianna. When Vivianna gets hurt, Jake swoops in to care for her and their love affair begins. The people and town of Graciella swirl their magic and friendship around Vivianna, urging her to stay…despite the family duties demanding her return to her old life.
Will she give up her legacy and inheritance for a beautiful found family and true love?
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
With summer winding down I've been on the lookout for quick reads with likable characters, romantic storylines that warm your heart, all in a tale wrapped up in a beautiful bow. This is just such a read! It's an easygoing romance with an appealing main couple and just the right amount of emotional melodrama to keep you turning the pages.
Vivianna is a woman with a dream...a dream that time is running out on. To help her achieve her dream though she's got the unexpected allies of the denizens of Graciella as well as Jake, the single attorney next door. Vivianna's an appealing heroine, one who's loving and loyal, yet afraid to trust her heart. Throughout the story, and with the unconditional support of the colorful townsfolk of Graciella, she slowly strengthens her self-esteem in a story of empowerment. Jake's a good match for Vivianna, a man who's been seen as the life of the party who lives for the moment. With Vivianna, he's willing to take his time though, and together they create a sensual burn that was nicely built up.
Along with a main couple who readers will be rooting for, there's the equally delightful citizens of Graciella who infused an extra bit of joy to the story. To top it off, there's Gus...the doggy star of the story. He played a pivotal role in bringing these two neighbors together and I absolutely adored him. He added to the warmth of this small town romance and helped put a smile on my face that I'm still wearing. While this story is nothing new, what it does do it does very well...which has me looking forward to the next installment in this series.
My rating for this is a B.
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher, Salvaging Love and the upcoming contemporary romance Seducing the Dragonfly.
She has over fifteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, Feminine Collective, Mothers Always Write, Her View from Home, and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.
If she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen creating scrumptious meals with her two kids and amazing husband, or perhaps cooking up her next love story. She once met a person who both “didn’t read books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart. You can learn more about Ms. Ohlin on her website.