Isn't It Romantic?

Twice Shy
Sarah Hogle
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Can you find real love when you've always got your head in the clouds?

Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start.

Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn't the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who's as grouchy as he is gorgeous—and it turns out he has very different vision for the property's future.

Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley's scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one's comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.

Maybell was sad to learn of her great aunt's passing, but along with the sadness came an opportunity to escape her current life. Though she had not seen her great aunt in many years, Maybell fondly remembered the time she spent with her and was happy to return to the site where so many beautiful memories were made. Little did she know she would have to share the house with her aunt's grumpy gardener Wesley. They didn't quite see eye-to-eye on things, but resolved to complete her aunt's final wishes together. 

What a sweet romance! Once again, Hogle treated me to an enemies-to-lovers tale filled with lots of great humor. It was easy to figure out Aunt Violet's end game, and I loved the addition of her last wishes list. These two butted heads at first, but it was wonderful seeing them bond over their shared affection for Aunt Violet as they worked to complete each of her wishes. 

Maybell was a dynamo, and I quickly attached to her. It was easy to relate to her feelings of being stuck, and it filled me with joy when she was able to leave the miserable situation she was in. Though her aunt's home wasn't quite the way she remembered it, she took on each challenge and worked through the road blocks as she tried to make her dreams a reality. I loved her determination. 

Both Maybell and Wesley struggled with anxiety, but Wesley's manifested in a different way. Regardless, these two managed to form a partnership, where they were allowed to come as-is and be accepted by they other. Rather they trying to change one another they worked together to navigate the situations together offering empathy and support to the other.  

Speaking of Wesley, he really was a big sweet cinnamon roll of a man. He came off so gruff and ruff, but that was just a result of his social anxiety. It wasn't easy for him to express himself, but I knew he had a heart of gold. It wasn't in the things he said or didn't say, but rather it was in his actions. He did things that had me walking on cloud nine sporting a grin from ear to ear, while a few things even moved me to tears. I really was quite taken by him, and I am sure many others will be too. Seriously! Wait until you hear about his childhood. Yes, he had been a tenderhearted unicorn boy even then. 

This was a beautiful and feel-good story. I was elated that they found each other and were able to open their hearts to the possibility of love. There were lots of fun and touching moments throughout this book, which kicked off the trifecta of snicker, smile, and swoon. Their story filled my heart with joy and my eyes with happy tears.  

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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