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aktreich's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
natasha__'s review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
goldenholdencervone's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leigh_47's review against another edition
3.0
Did a chamber of commerce write this?
There were some great scenes and the author has an ear for dialogue. I love puns and a town full of Shakespeare puns is great. More about whiskey tasting notes and baking and interesting meals please!
Less interesting to me is a haughty, insular town. You know there is no cell reception because they have ordinances against towers or something because “character.”
There were some great scenes and the author has an ear for dialogue. I love puns and a town full of Shakespeare puns is great. More about whiskey tasting notes and baking and interesting meals please!
Less interesting to me is a haughty, insular town. You know there is no cell reception because they have ordinances against towers or something because “character.”
bbloome01's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.
Genre: Romance
Spice Level: Pretty Hot chili peppers! On the page with varying degrees of details. (Confession, I skipped...)
Themes: Relationships, Family, Quality of Living, Small Town
Woohoo! This book has Shakespeare references. Yes—I think the Bard is fun especially when including puns and plays on his plays' names.
The couple in this would definitely fight and understand each other because of their work. And both feel like outsiders in different ways. They gave me that fun bantering vibe without going over the top. There were moments when I laughed and snickered. For those looking for a sweet romance, there are several bedroom scenes starting around 60% of the book, on and off for a bit. And honestly, I knock off a star when the book is too spicy and has people moving on so deftly from sexual experiences with others.
Pacing and forward momentum worked great in this book. I really loved the characters. Even third-tier characters have unique personalities. It's quite a lovely romance.
Things I loved:
Hamlet
Store names
Sisters
A ring
The surprise
Grouchy woman in the office
Food
The entire town!
I recommend this book :)
Happy reading!
Genre: Romance
Spice Level: Pretty Hot chili peppers! On the page with varying degrees of details. (Confession, I skipped...)
Themes: Relationships, Family, Quality of Living, Small Town
Woohoo! This book has Shakespeare references. Yes—I think the Bard is fun especially when including puns and plays on his plays' names.
The couple in this would definitely fight and understand each other because of their work. And both feel like outsiders in different ways. They gave me that fun bantering vibe without going over the top. There were moments when I laughed and snickered. For those looking for a sweet romance, there are several bedroom scenes starting around 60% of the book, on and off for a bit. And honestly, I knock off a star when the book is too spicy and has people moving on so deftly from sexual experiences with others.
Pacing and forward momentum worked great in this book. I really loved the characters. Even third-tier characters have unique personalities. It's quite a lovely romance.
Things I loved:
Hamlet
Store names
Sisters
A ring
The surprise
Grouchy woman in the office
Food
The entire town!
I recommend this book :)
Happy reading!
jennrreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this small town, enemies to lovers romance between a hotshot lawyer and a commercial developer who are on opposite sides when it comes to a piece of local land treasured by the Shakespeare-obsessed town of Bard's Rest, New Hampshire.
It was so fun returning to Bard's Rest and another Barnes sister. This series is funny and heartfelt with a great cast of secondary characters, strong family relationships and a TON of charm. Great on audio narrated by Gilli Messer and recommended for other small town romance authors like Sarah Adams and Annie Sereno.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC.
Steam level: fade to black/closed door
It was so fun returning to Bard's Rest and another Barnes sister. This series is funny and heartfelt with a great cast of secondary characters, strong family relationships and a TON of charm. Great on audio narrated by Gilli Messer and recommended for other small town romance authors like Sarah Adams and Annie Sereno.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC.
Steam level: fade to black/closed door
allisonderose's review against another edition
3.0
(received from Berkley) i’m very firmly… confused by how i feel. there were a lot of good qualities! i rlly felt ~seen~ as a fellow INTJ, aka i rlly liked portia’s character. both portia and ben are really developed characters with clear strengths, weaknesses, convincing motivations (and great banter!)
the town of Bards Rest is so fun and silly and immersive. However the cast of characters is a bit overwhelming and hard to track. Additionally, I found the first 100 or so pages extremely aimless?? I don’t know how to explain it. Like there’s this conflict between Portia and Ben but it’s all going on at a low level steeped in lawyer jargon and business/law/corporate terminology. But the conflict most of the time doesn’t exist. So it’s a bit confusing to me where the driving force of it all is.
Portia and Ben were good, but not great. I liked them but also the moment they finally solidify their relationship a bit feels anticlimactic and a bit rushed.
DESPITE THIS HOWEVER, i really enjoyed the latter 2/3 of my reading of this book. (the beginning was slow). and there were a lot of amazingly adorable moments and heart warming moments and i liked it. but i don’t know if it’s super memorable and i know i won’t pick it up for a re read.
so… 3.5 rounded up??
the town of Bards Rest is so fun and silly and immersive. However the cast of characters is a bit overwhelming and hard to track. Additionally, I found the first 100 or so pages extremely aimless?? I don’t know how to explain it. Like there’s this conflict between Portia and Ben but it’s all going on at a low level steeped in lawyer jargon and business/law/corporate terminology. But the conflict most of the time doesn’t exist. So it’s a bit confusing to me where the driving force of it all is.
Portia and Ben were good, but not great. I liked them but also the moment they finally solidify their relationship a bit feels anticlimactic and a bit rushed.
DESPITE THIS HOWEVER, i really enjoyed the latter 2/3 of my reading of this book. (the beginning was slow). and there were a lot of amazingly adorable moments and heart warming moments and i liked it. but i don’t know if it’s super memorable and i know i won’t pick it up for a re read.
so… 3.5 rounded up??