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scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Such a fun book. Monica is the local florist who has spent her whole life in Valentine Valley. Travis is the Secret Service agent who has come to town to get ready for a presidential visit. The president's son is marrying a local girl and it's Travis's job to make sure everything goes smoothly. As he goes around town checking out the local businesses, he meets Monica. There is an instant attraction between them, but he has to maintain his focus so he can do his job. Monica feels the attraction too and would like to get to know him better.
Monica is a fun character. She's independent, loves her business, and active in her community, especially environmental issues. She's the kind of person who puts others' needs ahead of her own, but she's starting to wonder when it will be her turn to find love. Monica is intrigued by Travis and his stoic demeanor. She'd like a chance to get him to loosen up a little. I really loved seeing her interactions with him at the beginning as she tried hard to get reactions from him. It was fun to see them teasing each other.
Travis is former military and it's easy to see the influence it has had on his life. It has also contributed to his tendency to keep his emotions locked up. There's a great scene at the beginning where Travis is talking to a local veteran and Monica overhears something that gives her a little more insight into who he is. Because she knows almost everyone, Travis finds himself going to Monica frequently for information and introductions. They start to build a friendship, but their attraction is always simmering just below the surface. Though they try to stick to business as usual they aren't very successful at staying away from each other. The more time they spend together the deeper they fall for each other, though neither wants to admit it. Neither really sees a way to have a true relationship.
Adding to the complications of Monica and Travis trying to be together are the antics of the ladies of the Widow's Boarding House. These women are also very active in the community. Their current cause is that of trying to prevent the shutting down of a local archaeological dig. They feel that having the president coming to town is the perfect opportunity to get their message out and have planned a protest. As a participant Monica is torn about what to do. Travis has heard rumors of the protest, but nobody is talking to him about it, including Monica. She wants to tell him, but she has a loyalty to her friends also and doesn't want to chance that the protest will be shut down. This creates some tension between Travis and Monica because both want trust from the other, but are wary of doing the trusting themselves. By the time the protest comes around Travis has made some interesting discoveries about himself. The changes he has gone through have made him a person who is much more open to the idea of a happy future. I loved how this all becomes obvious during the protest. The event itself was fantastic and fit the town and the widows perfectly. I loved everyone's reactions to it.
Monica is a fun character. She's independent, loves her business, and active in her community, especially environmental issues. She's the kind of person who puts others' needs ahead of her own, but she's starting to wonder when it will be her turn to find love. Monica is intrigued by Travis and his stoic demeanor. She'd like a chance to get him to loosen up a little. I really loved seeing her interactions with him at the beginning as she tried hard to get reactions from him. It was fun to see them teasing each other.
Travis is former military and it's easy to see the influence it has had on his life. It has also contributed to his tendency to keep his emotions locked up. There's a great scene at the beginning where Travis is talking to a local veteran and Monica overhears something that gives her a little more insight into who he is. Because she knows almost everyone, Travis finds himself going to Monica frequently for information and introductions. They start to build a friendship, but their attraction is always simmering just below the surface. Though they try to stick to business as usual they aren't very successful at staying away from each other. The more time they spend together the deeper they fall for each other, though neither wants to admit it. Neither really sees a way to have a true relationship.
Adding to the complications of Monica and Travis trying to be together are the antics of the ladies of the Widow's Boarding House. These women are also very active in the community. Their current cause is that of trying to prevent the shutting down of a local archaeological dig. They feel that having the president coming to town is the perfect opportunity to get their message out and have planned a protest. As a participant Monica is torn about what to do. Travis has heard rumors of the protest, but nobody is talking to him about it, including Monica. She wants to tell him, but she has a loyalty to her friends also and doesn't want to chance that the protest will be shut down. This creates some tension between Travis and Monica because both want trust from the other, but are wary of doing the trusting themselves. By the time the protest comes around Travis has made some interesting discoveries about himself. The changes he has gone through have made him a person who is much more open to the idea of a happy future. I loved how this all becomes obvious during the protest. The event itself was fantastic and fit the town and the widows perfectly. I loved everyone's reactions to it.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Cocktails
Although this is the 4th book in Emma Cane's Valentine Valley series, it is the first I have read. This was a very sweet story. Even though I have read the books out of order, Cane did a good job of familiarizing me with the various characters and the setting of Valentine Valley. I felt like I was "up to speed" on what had happened in the previous books.
Monica and Travis are a cute couple (even before they know they'll be a couple!). While Monica is a Valentine Valley native and well established there, Cane is able to weave a story that brings Travis to the small Colorado town--albeit a little far-fetched. Travis is a stoic Secret Service agent in town to protect the president when she comes to Valentine Valley to attend her son's wedding to another VV native. Monica is interersted in Travis and as they get to know each other, she is able to bring out another side of him. They develop a personal relationship outside of their working relationship (she is the florist for the wedding and her apartment above her shop has the perfect vantage point for the agents to utilize).
Readers will enjoy being a part of their budding relationship. Especially as the former Marine & Secret Service Agent learns to let himself go a little and give in to love again. Monica and the other Valentine Valley characters are very endearing and readers will feel as though they know the citizens of this small town in real life.
Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books
Although this is the 4th book in Emma Cane's Valentine Valley series, it is the first I have read. This was a very sweet story. Even though I have read the books out of order, Cane did a good job of familiarizing me with the various characters and the setting of Valentine Valley. I felt like I was "up to speed" on what had happened in the previous books.
Monica and Travis are a cute couple (even before they know they'll be a couple!). While Monica is a Valentine Valley native and well established there, Cane is able to weave a story that brings Travis to the small Colorado town--albeit a little far-fetched. Travis is a stoic Secret Service agent in town to protect the president when she comes to Valentine Valley to attend her son's wedding to another VV native. Monica is interersted in Travis and as they get to know each other, she is able to bring out another side of him. They develop a personal relationship outside of their working relationship (she is the florist for the wedding and her apartment above her shop has the perfect vantage point for the agents to utilize).
Readers will enjoy being a part of their budding relationship. Especially as the former Marine & Secret Service Agent learns to let himself go a little and give in to love again. Monica and the other Valentine Valley characters are very endearing and readers will feel as though they know the citizens of this small town in real life.
Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books
loverofromance's review against another edition
4.0
Received a copy of ARC in return of a honest review.
Monica Shaw runs a flower shop, and unlike her twin sister, doesn't need the glamour of the city lights to satisfy her, all she needs is her small town home and the charming people that live within its boundaries. A stranger comes into town, acting strange but she feels a attraction to him that she doesn't fully understand. Travis Beaumont is a secret service agent, and with the President's son having his wedding in Valentine, its his job to prepare for her arrival, even with the beautiful distraction of Monica Shaw. Travis has his own past and has served in the military for years, and has always wanted a command. But when he meets Monica his perspective on his life changes. He starts to see that the little things in life matter just as much as the big ones. When a tender love starts to blossom between these two Travis will have to make a choice his job and career as a secret service agent, one he has dedicated his whole life to or choosing the love he has for Monica and sharing his life with her....
A Promise At Bluebell Hill is the most recent addiction to the Valentine Valley series. This latest installment just might be my favorite one so far. Its a charming and emotional driven romance that completely won me over from the first chapter. In the beginning you start to see how sparks fly between these two even though both of them don't see a future together. As the time of the wedding day draws closer though, Monica and Travis's bond to each other only becomes that much stronger, and its almost heartbreaking watching them struggle with finding their HEA. Of course I knew it had to happen, but you wonder how it does and it does happen in such a delightful way. One of my favorite aspects of this story was trying to find out the way they make a future together. I could barely put this one down, I was so intrigued by their dilemma and wondering how these two would make it work.
From beginning to end this author totally enthralls the reader with a beautiful love story that will win your heart! SENSATIONAL!!
Monica Shaw runs a flower shop, and unlike her twin sister, doesn't need the glamour of the city lights to satisfy her, all she needs is her small town home and the charming people that live within its boundaries. A stranger comes into town, acting strange but she feels a attraction to him that she doesn't fully understand. Travis Beaumont is a secret service agent, and with the President's son having his wedding in Valentine, its his job to prepare for her arrival, even with the beautiful distraction of Monica Shaw. Travis has his own past and has served in the military for years, and has always wanted a command. But when he meets Monica his perspective on his life changes. He starts to see that the little things in life matter just as much as the big ones. When a tender love starts to blossom between these two Travis will have to make a choice his job and career as a secret service agent, one he has dedicated his whole life to or choosing the love he has for Monica and sharing his life with her....
A Promise At Bluebell Hill is the most recent addiction to the Valentine Valley series. This latest installment just might be my favorite one so far. Its a charming and emotional driven romance that completely won me over from the first chapter. In the beginning you start to see how sparks fly between these two even though both of them don't see a future together. As the time of the wedding day draws closer though, Monica and Travis's bond to each other only becomes that much stronger, and its almost heartbreaking watching them struggle with finding their HEA. Of course I knew it had to happen, but you wonder how it does and it does happen in such a delightful way. One of my favorite aspects of this story was trying to find out the way they make a future together. I could barely put this one down, I was so intrigued by their dilemma and wondering how these two would make it work.
From beginning to end this author totally enthralls the reader with a beautiful love story that will win your heart! SENSATIONAL!!
shell74's review against another edition
4.0
See my full review:
http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-a-promise-at-bluebell-hill-by-emma-cane/
http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-a-promise-at-bluebell-hill-by-emma-cane/
crazyoverbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
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