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Three Reasons You Should Read This Sweet Romance:
No Time for Apologies by Jean C. Gordon is a sweet contemporary romance about reluctant attraction and putting your heart first.
There is an amazing balance between a small-town sweethearts theme and a big-city potential rivals theme.
I really love that Jon can be an alpha male without needing to have the higher position and more prestigious job title – it makes me love him even more.
Kate Lewis left her family’s dairy farm and fell in love with everything about New York City–especially the high-powered, fast-paced world of finance. Once content to lie in the grass and watch clouds float across the sky, her biggest dream now is to work her way to the top of Wall Street.
Jon Smith is so much more than his plain name implies. He’s also a rising star in the world of finance, on a mission to save his grandfather’s cattle farm, and Kate’s former high school admirer.
When a shocking twist of fate puts these two in direct competition for a job they both covet, the last thing they need is any new sparks of attraction. Too bad fate isn’t done with them yet.
Will they give in to their attraction, or is their newfound rivalry too intense to put aside? Find out in this sweet big city twist on the classic second chance romance theme.
I absolutely loved Jon Smith in No Time for Apologies by Jean C. Gordon. He knew what he wanted, did what it took to get what he wanted, and tried hard to do right by everyone around him along the way. At times he may have been a little too perfect. I kept waiting for that flaw or quirk to show up, and I never really latched on to one.
Kate Lewis was a bit different, though. She was highly competitive – to the point that I worried about her. She was putting her career above absolutely everything. And her history with her firm had made her a little paranoid on top of it. Most of the time, she was right to be paranoid – but not this time.
Kate and Jon have this odd one-sided rivalry going. Kate doesn’t want him to get a promotion that he doesn’t want and won’t take. This seemed to consume her at times, and it really caused a lot of friction – but we have to have some conflict, right. Somehow, they seemed to be perfect for each other, though.
I enjoyed the mix of small-town and city atmospheres. It was like getting the best of both worlds. While this is part of a series, the romance portion can be read on its own, but there are some background references to previous books and characters.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
In Heart’s Landing, Evelyn wants to prove she’s a good manager of the Captain’s Cottage by the bay—a favorite place for weddings. Meanwhile, Ryan has invested his life savings to remodel the town’s old boatworks into a brand-new wedding venue.
When a Marine and his bride win the Wedding in a Week contest, they have seven days to put together a romantic, all-expenses-paid event. It’ll be written up in Weddings Today magazine. But will they choose Evelyn’s cottage or Ryan’s boatworks?
The rival business owners cozy up to the bride and groom, helping them plan their military wedding. And even though Evelyn and Ryan both grew up in Heart’s Landing, they learn they never truly knew each other until now. But can they trust each other when only one of them can win?
Evelyn is one of my favorite characters in this series so far. A bit of a work-a-holic, super competitive, incredibly caring and empathetic, but struggles to figure out where her place is going to be in the future. As she leads the Wedding in a Week couple through their preparations, she finds out that her biggest competitor may be the man of her dreams.
I would really like Ryan to come to my house and do some work. The description of The Boat Works after he completes renovations sounds so beautiful. He’s also a pretty nice guy, but need to win the Wedding in a Week competition to get his new venue off the ground – but how will that affect his simmering relationship with Evelyn?
A Waterfront Wedding doesn’t have just one romance either. The Wedding in a Week couple is just the most adorable pair I’ve seen in a long time. But things aren’t perfect, and the stress is getting to them. So Ryan and Evelyn make it their mission to help this super adorable and perfect couple through the stress and get them down the aisle.
But the big question is – will their budding relationship survive one of them losing the competition to the other? This whole dynaimc was handled brilliantly. There are hard feelings when you lose (and I’m not telling you who, but one of the does), and those hard feelings are difficult to deal with. But how things eventually work out – sigh – it’s romantic s all get-out and I want some more.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure for more details.
Three Reasons You Should Read This Hallmark Romance:
A Cottage Wedding by Leigh Duncan is a really sweet misunderstanding-type romance that shows how love can be made a priority.
Tara’s conflict over what to do feels very real, and while she tiptoes around the lying game, she never crosses so far over that I stop liking her – it was a nice balance.
We get to learn more about the history of Heart’s Landing and the Captain’s Cottage, and it is truly swoon-worthy.
It’s more than a charming small town― it’s a premier wedding destination. But will one journalist ruin Heart’s Landing forever?
Tara Stewart’s boss at Weddings Today magazine sends her to Heart’s Landing to debunk its romantic legends. This could devastate the many local businesses who cater to weddings, from Forget Me Knot Florist to Dress for a Day.
The locals convince Jason Heart, the handsome descendant of the town’s founder, to show Tara around the town. But can he persuade her to believe in the romance?
A Cottage Wedding takes us back to the beautiful Heart’s Landing and a little deeper into the inner workings of The Captain’s Cottage. Jason and his team are determined to make the #1 wedding venue again, and they are pulling out all the stops. It isn’t just the Cottage’s reputation on the line, but the entire town.
Tara shows up to review Heart’s Landing when her editor backs out at the last minute. But she comes with an ulterior motive. One that she finds very hard to keep in mind as the people, places, and history of Heart’s Landing win her over. But her career and the life she always wanted are on the line.
I really enjoyed the history that was revealed in A Cottage Wedding. While Tara’s initial reason to dig into it isn’t the best, what she uncovers is amazing and beautiful and lovely and… I think you get the picture. And Jason’s love of the family home is evident in every action.
The big conflict in this book worried me at first – as I’m not a fan of mistaken/false intentions, but this one may have changed my mind. The regret over misleading is real, and Tara never takes joy in her deception. In fact, it eats at her every time she thinks about it. And the inevitable blow-up was quite believable. I love that it came down to truth and history to save the day – and those things really showed that love should be the greater motivation.
I fell even more in love with the town and its residents. It was a joy to come and visit and to witness another Heart’s Landing love for the ages.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
