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misslover's review
2.0
Another free book on Kobo. It was just "meh" for a novella it was kinda cute, but nothing really exciting either.
sparklingreader's review
5.0
Short and sweet
This is a short, sweet story that takes place in a small town in Georgia. Shelby and Emory have known each other since second grade, but Shelby’s emotions are split between her love for Emory and her loyalty/love for her father. Add in a tornado that devastates the small town and you have the makings of a good story. This one doesn’t disappoint. It’s short, sweet, with a HEA that satisfies.
This is a short, sweet story that takes place in a small town in Georgia. Shelby and Emory have known each other since second grade, but Shelby’s emotions are split between her love for Emory and her loyalty/love for her father. Add in a tornado that devastates the small town and you have the makings of a good story. This one doesn’t disappoint. It’s short, sweet, with a HEA that satisfies.
nighteyes82's review
2.0
the story was nice enough.
As it's a novella we just have a glimpse.
But it is not enough to make me look for the 1st in the Southern Roads.
Didn't really care.
As it's a novella we just have a glimpse.
But it is not enough to make me look for the 1st in the Southern Roads.
Didn't really care.
scoutmomskf's review
4.0
This is a short prequel to the Southern Roads series, where a tornado all but wipes the town of Sweetness, Georgia, off the map. The series, Baby, Drive South, Baby, Come Home, and Baby, Don't Go, chronicles the efforts of the Armstrong brothers to rebuild the town they love.
The story opens with Emory on his way home to Sweetness, on a very short leave from the army. He desperately misses his girlfriend Shelby and is determined to ask her to marry him. The biggest obstacle is her father, who is equally determined to keep Shelby safely in Sweetness. And then there's poor Shelby, who loves Emory and wants to marry him, but doesn't want to hurt her father.
I felt bad for Emory, who did everything right. He saved up for a ring, has solid plans for his future, and even went to Shelby's dad to ask for his blessing. But that stubborn old man doesn't want to let go of Shelby. When Emory takes his proposal public, he sort of puts his foot in his mouth, which causes Shelby's pride to kick in and she sends him away. I ached for his pain, as he fled to his boyhood sanctuary of the town water tower.
I ached for Shelby too, as she was caught between a rock and a hard place. She immediately regrets the things she said, but can't go after him right away, because of issues at the grocery store. She also needs to be honest with her father about her wants and needs.
When Emory spots the tornado from his place on the tower, his first thoughts are for Shelby and the town's safety. My heart was in my throat at his dangerous predicament and I held my breath until I was sure he was safe. The intensity of his fears for Shelby leapt off the page. My heart melted as Emory says all the things he didn't say to Shelby when he proposed while he's trying to dig out the ruins of the grocery store. I loved her response, and that of her father. I loved seeing all the townspeople pull together to give them a special wedding day in spite of the devastation.
The story opens with Emory on his way home to Sweetness, on a very short leave from the army. He desperately misses his girlfriend Shelby and is determined to ask her to marry him. The biggest obstacle is her father, who is equally determined to keep Shelby safely in Sweetness. And then there's poor Shelby, who loves Emory and wants to marry him, but doesn't want to hurt her father.
I felt bad for Emory, who did everything right. He saved up for a ring, has solid plans for his future, and even went to Shelby's dad to ask for his blessing. But that stubborn old man doesn't want to let go of Shelby. When Emory takes his proposal public, he sort of puts his foot in his mouth, which causes Shelby's pride to kick in and she sends him away. I ached for his pain, as he fled to his boyhood sanctuary of the town water tower.
I ached for Shelby too, as she was caught between a rock and a hard place. She immediately regrets the things she said, but can't go after him right away, because of issues at the grocery store. She also needs to be honest with her father about her wants and needs.
When Emory spots the tornado from his place on the tower, his first thoughts are for Shelby and the town's safety. My heart was in my throat at his dangerous predicament and I held my breath until I was sure he was safe. The intensity of his fears for Shelby leapt off the page. My heart melted as Emory says all the things he didn't say to Shelby when he proposed while he's trying to dig out the ruins of the grocery store. I loved her response, and that of her father. I loved seeing all the townspeople pull together to give them a special wedding day in spite of the devastation.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review
3.0
This was a free read from Kindle. I’m so glad it was.
This is listed as a .5 in the Southern Roads trilogy, which is set in Sweetness, Georgia, and sets the stage for the next three books.
Emory Maxwell, on a five day leave from the Army, heads back to Sweetness to ask his long time girlfriend, Shelby, to marry him. They’ve been having their ups and downs (more down lately) and Emory decides asking her to marry him will fix the issue.
Unfortunately, when he gets back home, he finds marriage is not necessarily going to fix the issue.
Quickly, the town is hit by a tornado and Emory is determine to pull Shelby out of the rubble alive and tell her all the things he’s meant to say.
Of course, everything gets tidied up pretty neatly in the last chapter and set up the first book in the series.
I understand why the author wrote it and I also see why it was free. This definitely left me wishing she had made Emory and Shelby’s story a more in depth novella or a full length book. Just felt too rushed to me.
This said, I’ve got my copies of the next two books ready.
This is listed as a .5 in the Southern Roads trilogy, which is set in Sweetness, Georgia, and sets the stage for the next three books.
Emory Maxwell, on a five day leave from the Army, heads back to Sweetness to ask his long time girlfriend, Shelby, to marry him. They’ve been having their ups and downs (more down lately) and Emory decides asking her to marry him will fix the issue.
Unfortunately, when he gets back home, he finds marriage is not necessarily going to fix the issue.
Quickly, the town is hit by a tornado and Emory is determine to pull Shelby out of the rubble alive and tell her all the things he’s meant to say.
Of course, everything gets tidied up pretty neatly in the last chapter and set up the first book in the series.
I understand why the author wrote it and I also see why it was free. This definitely left me wishing she had made Emory and Shelby’s story a more in depth novella or a full length book. Just felt too rushed to me.
This said, I’ve got my copies of the next two books ready.
ileandover41789's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
marbles66's review
4.0
This was just a tasting of her writing and I think I will have to purchase more of her books.
ccgwalt's review
2.0
Cute short story, but no real character development. It sets the stage for the Southern Roads Trilogy by the same author.
gettinglostinagoodbook's review
2.0
Another free Harlequin book. Short, sweet and a little corny! The premise of this book could really have resulted in a much longer book. I would have been interested to hear how the town coped with its devestation, and how the families resolved the issues that still remain.