Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A fake relationship heals real emotional wounds in Avery's sexy and sensitive second Honey Hill novel (after Something So Sweet). Widowed baker Rylee Harris impulsively claims to be romantically involved with her good friend Sheriff Canten Barnes in an effort to thwart her mother's matchmaking attempts. Canten, a widower, agrees to go along with the charade. Each secretly harbors feelings for the other, but their lingering grief over their respective spouses' deaths and guilt over the prospect of moving on has them avoiding acting on their connection. As their fake relationship heats up, however, their off-the-charts chemistry soon has them rethinking their roles in each other's lives. But their fledgling romance hits a hurdle when Rylee discovers Canten's shrine to his late wife, leaving her feeling like she's competing with a dead woman. Meanwhile, Canten is offered a dream job in another city. Can they save their relationship or is being together simply too complicated? Rylee and Canten are charming, complex characters whose transition from friends to lovers feels wonderfully organic. The eccentric supporting cast brings on some laugh-out-loud moments that perfectly complement the heavy emotions and sizzling romance. This is a must-read. Agent: Elaine Spencer, Knight Agency. (June)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A fake relationship sparks real feelings between a baker and the sheriff in a small town. Rylee Harris and Canten Barnes, both widowed, are neighbors in Honey Hill, North Carolina. They each lost their spouses to violence and are now more focused on their careers than romance. That doesn't mean Rylee isn't aware of how attractive she finds Sheriff Barnes, best friend to her older brother. When her mom tries to set her up on a date with a man Rylee is not at all interested in, Rylee panics and says she's secretly dating Canten. Luckily, Canten agrees to go along with the ruse for a couple months while Rylee's parents are visiting. They intend for it to be kept quiet, but news travels fast, so soon they are trying to fool the whole town. Fooling themselves turns out to be the hardest part of all, though, as they each try to ignore their very real emotions. Avery delivers the heart that fans of small-town romances love while also turning up the heat. The Honey Hill residents of all ages are funny, eccentric, and lovable. Rylee and Canten have both faced hardships, and it's uplifting to see how they are bolstered by their community. The chemistry between the leads is fiery, and they add a sizzling sexual component to their "fake" relationship early on. The conflicts keeping them apart are thin at times, which leads to the plot meandering, but the story still charms. An emotionally rich story featuring bighearted leads. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
