The author has a way of blending a budding romance amongst the happenings in a small town and how everyone somehow is entwined with each other’s lives. That to me is what sets Kristan Higgins apart from the rest is that she can write with wit and snarky, with poignancy and emotion, and plots that real for ordinary people. ~ Amanda, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Emmaline Neal needs a date. Just a date—someone to help her get through her ex-fiancé’s wedding without losing her mind. But pickings are slim in Manningsport, New York, population 715. In fact, there’s really only one option: local heartthrob Jack Holland. Everyone loves Jack, and he won’t get the wrong idea…. After all, Jack Holland would never actually be interested in a woman like Em. Especially not with his beautiful ex-wife creeping around, angling to reunite ever since he rescued a group of teens and became a local hero.
But when the wedding festivities take an unexpectedly passionate turn, Em figures it was just one crazy night. Jack is too gorgeous, too popular, to ever end up with her. So why is she the one he can talk to about his deep, dark feelings? If Em is going to get her dream man, she’ll have to start by believing in him…
Win a print copy of In Your Dreams. Open to US contestants only.
Review copy provided for an honest review
With each new book in this series, I fall deeper in love with her writing and characters from Manningsport, New York. In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins is her latest story and it is a good one. Emmaline Neal needs a date for her ex-fiancé’s wedding and is a bit desperate. Lucky for her there is Jack Holland to the rescue. Jack helps all the ladies that need a date because he is such a good guy. Jack would love nothing more to escape his hometown, even for a little while, and pretend all is normal with his life. Little did they know that what may have started out as a good deed can turn into something more for both of them.
Jack Holland was blessed with good looks, 3 sisters and being the future heir to Blue Heron winery. He had done all the right things and was a good son, brother and friend and has heard plenty of things about women from his sisters. What happened that winter would shake him to his core and he wondered if there was something else who could have done. Accepting to be Emmaline’s date turned out the girl was more than he expected. He found himself wanting to date her when they returned home, but couldn’t very well without his ex-wife butting in every now and then. Hoping with time he will get better but in actuality the opposite is happening. It wasn’t until Emmaline herself tells him straight up what is truly going on he tries to deal with his PTSD himself. Thankfully his family is there to watch and support from the sidelines and know that he is truly loved and cared for individual. You feel for Jack and his situation. Good guys never have problems but indeed they do. He just never thought that love would find him again, for real this time, and with a strong and capable woman like Emmaline.
Emmaline is an unlikely heroine for Jack because she doesn’t fit the mold of being the town sweetheart and beauty. She is a very independent person but is quite vulnerable considering her backstory. It is told in flashbacks and once it is all out there you can’t help but feel sympathy and a bit of heartache for her situation. I love the fact that she immerses in her job and trains with night classes and takes on community services with the troubled youths. Emmaline is a realist when it comes to Jack and tells herself that someone like him wouldn’t want someone like her. She sells herself short, of course, but she doesn’t see all the qualities she possesses and the big heart she has for everyone.
The author has a way of blending a budding romance amongst the happenings in a small town and how everyone somehow is entwined with each other’s lives. That to me is what sets Kristan Higgins apart from the rest is that she can write with wit and snarky, with poignancy and emotion, and plots that real for ordinary people. It is always good to get caught up on previous couples and see how they are faring too. Add an adorable puppy story into the mix and you have a highly engaging romance by one of my favorites. If you enjoy small town living with good and loving people than you definitely will enjoy the Blue Heron series.
thanks for the fun giveaway!
Thanks for the review Amanda
I have read Kristan Higgans book. It is really good!