Publisher: 2nd June 2021 by Harlequin/HarperCollins Australia
Pages: 408 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: contemporary, romance
My Rating: 4 cups
Synopsis:
A hot vet. A rebellious teenager. And meddling but well-meaning townsfolk. Vera gets more than she bargains for when she runs off to a new life in the country ... A fresh and funny rural romance, perfect for readers of Alissa Callen and Rachael Johns.
Vera De Rossi no longer believes in love ...
And thanks to her ex-boyfriend- she's also broke, jobless, and staring down the barrel at a court case that could land her in prison. Turning to her talent for baking, Vera opens a cafe in Hanrahan, a cosy tourist town in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains.
Josh Cody, once Hanrahan's golden boy, escaped sixteen years ago with gossip hard on his heels and a pregnant girlfriend in tow. Now he's back: a qualified veterinarian - and a single dad with a lot to prove. A new start and a grumpy teenage daughter ... it's a lot to juggle, and there's no room in his life for further complications. But that's before he walks into The Billy Button Cafe and meets its prickly owner ...
Reeling from the past, Vera has no intention of being sidetracked by the hot vet with his killer smile. But fate has a way of tripping up our best intentions and between a stray cat and a busybody with a heart of gold, this is a town - a family - unlike any other. And, whether Vera wants it or not, is there anything a family won't do to help one of its own?
My Thoughts
There is always that feel good sensation of reading a satisfying romance. It fills a place in our hearts. This is a wonderful debut and fulfills that sensation.
There is much I enjoyed about this tale. I like that both the lead characters had backstories that succeeded in adding more depth to the story. There was Josh returning to his hometown and the issues concerning the veterinary practice; and, Vera with the reasons why she was escaping city living. I enjoyed the story behind the building restoration and as for the baking … well be prepared to salivate for all the yummies on offer.
I loved that the secondary characters had a real depth to them. Graeme was a real stand out for me … so much in fact, that he achieved almost a whole star rating just for his contribution alone! Coming a close second was Josh’s daughter Poppy - I really enjoyed her character arc and loved to see the journey she was on. Even the animals, especially dear Jane Doe, really added that extra something to this tale.
The issue I had was concerned the ‘Insta-love’ - it all happened too quickly. The relationship needed time to develop and I just found Josh to be too committed too early. I also felt that there were some loose threads all tied together very quickly and needed a bit more fleshing out eg. the issues surrounding the veterinary business. I am also still at a loss as to why Hannah was so closed up on her own personal life. Perhaps that is a future story?
Overall, this provided some good escapism with solid backstories for both the main leads. The sense of community was rich and inviting - the cafe is certainly a place I would love to visit - if for no other reason than the food alone! I am with Vera, I would love to escape to a quiet rural spot with the view of a mountain, something yummy to eat and drink, with a cat purring in my lap!
‘She didn’t want coffee in some grey, city bistro. She wanted mountain air. She wanted a quiet moment in the chair by her window with a fat grey cat on her lap. She wanted to go home.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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