Isn't It Romantic?

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Lowcountry Lost by T.I. Lowe
Published by Tyndale Fiction on September 3, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

Sometimes what haunts you most is wondering what could have been . . . Avalee Elvis prides herself with being able to fix just about anything. . . except her past. Unable to put the puzzle of her life together, she pours heart and soul into making neglected places whole again. As the owner of Lowcountry Lost, Avalee spends her days in hot-pink Carhartt overalls and a tool belt reclaiming Lowcountry properties. Making them beautiful again releases the deep sigh that soothes the hurt she holds.

Avalee's latest project takes her to tiny Somewhere, South Carolina, a long-abandoned town. She ignores its ghostly folklore but can't miss the shock of hearing the familiar Irish brogue that materializes on the job site--the voice of the man she never wanted to see again.

Rowan Murray is a structural engineer hired by investors to oversee the redevelopment of the quaint downtown Avalee is bringing back to life. Once upon a time, he was also the man who knew Avalee better than anyone else--or so he thought. Turns out he was wrong. Neither of them was prepared for what happened between them six years ago. But as they work together to complete the rehabbing of Somewhere, their broken pieces and the pain that nearly consumed them begin to lose its grip, and both begin to wonder if it's not too late for a restoration of their own.

From the author of the breakout Southern fiction bestseller Under the Magnolias comes a story of loss and abandonment, forgiveness, and the beauty of undying love.

- Contemporary Southern romance with a second chance romance trope
- Special features include: discussion questions for book clubs, recipes, and a playlist inspired by Avalee and Rowan's love story
- Contains themes of loss and restoration
- For fans of HGTV shows like Fixer Upper, Home Town, and Good Bones

It had been six years since the demise of Avalee and Rowan's marriage. But when her firm, Lowcountry Lost, is tapped to revitalize a ghost town, she finds none other than her ex-husband as part of the crew. Pushed back into each others lives, would they be able to heal from their past losses and move forward together?

Lowcountry Lost's motto was that nothing was ever too far gone.

This book!! It started out as a second chance romance which I was fully onboard with and also had a touch of mystery. I had no idea what drove Rowan and Avalee apart, but it was clear that Rowan wanted to be part of Avalee's life again. He would drop these exceptionally romantic lines that made my heart melt and sometimes moved me to tears. Every time he called her "a stór" (my treasure in Irish). *swoon* Never mind all the history they shared.

Six or sixty...If doesn't matter how many years go by. You and I, a stór, will ever be strangers.

Friends since third grade, their love evolved from platonic to romantic. They married, but after suffering some great losses, they divorced. The circumstances surrounding their breakup are heartbreaking, but also made this second chance seem so viable. What I loved was the parallels between the revitalization of Somewhere, South Carolina, and the restoration and healing that both Rowan and Avalee needed.

From day one, way back in third grade, you demanded I follow you, and I have.

Speaking of the revitalization of the ghost town - what a great premise. I really enjoyed watching the town transform and getting to observe the process. It was interesting and made even better with the addition of some great characters and a subplot that tugged on my heartstrings.

We'd lost a lot, but look at how much we'd found within the ruins of our loss.

With a great balance of heavier topics and humor, wonderful characters, and a beautiful second chance romance, Lowcountry Lost was a hit for me. There were times I cried because my heart hurt so much for Rowen and Avalee, but those tears I shed at the end, were tears of pure joy and happiness.

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Prime Time Romance by Kate Robb
Published by Dial Press on September 3, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Romance, Fiction

Goodreads

Is love on the small screen better than the real thing?

Brynn’s happy ending has gone up in flames. She’s newly divorced and living with a roommate – Josh – to afford her mortgage. At least she’s got Carson’s Cove to binge - her beloved 90s teenage soap.

So when a birthday cake shows up on her and Josh’s doorstep, Brynn makes a wish for her own happily-ever-after.

The next morning, she doesn't wake up in her apartment. She's in Carson's Cove... and Josh is there too. Except they're not Brynn and Josh; they're the sweetheart and the bad boy.

Will they stick to the script, or will real love change the story forever?

A young divorcee finds herself in the ideal world of her favourite 90s nostalgia TV show, in this second-chance romantic comedy from the author of This Spells Love.

Do you have a happy place? A place that brings you comfort? Well, for Brynn, that place was the fictional world of Carson's Cove, and with one wish, Brynn would become the Cove's leading lady.

As a HUGE fan of This Spells Love, I was eager to read Robb's follow up, and I am glad to report that it was a solid hit for me. The premise of this book was so much fun! First, I delighted in the Dawson's Creek-ness of this fictional world, but I also found that the magical element such a great way to set Brynn on her healing journey.

My heart really ached for Brynn. She never saw her divorce coming, and as with most break ups, she lost more than just her husband. Her lifestyle had to change, she lost all their shared friends, and she was just feeling an overall sense of failure. 

Carson's Creek came to an end without a definitive conclusion for its characters. Brynn now had the opportunity to finish that story, and it was of the utmost importance to her. She needed the win, she needed to succeed, she could not fail again. But there always is a fine line between what we think we need and what we really need. I thought Brynn discovered so much about herself, and I was so happy she had Josh by her side. He was a wonderful surprise. Josh may not have willingly been in Carson's Cove, but it led to some closure and clarity for him as well.

Filled with lots of nostalgia and humor, I had a wonderful time with Brynn and Josh as they found their way from Carson's Cove back to themselves.

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

Have you ever been to a ghost town?
Let us know in the comments!