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Everland, Georgia #1
It Happened on Love Street
The most romantic place she never wanted to be . . .
Pepper Knight moved to Everland, Georgia, as step one in her plan for a successful legal career. But after this big-city gal's plans go awry, going home with her tail between her legs isn't an option. So when the town vet-and her sexy new neighbor-offers Pepper a temporary dog-walking job, she jumps at the chance. No one needs to know that man's best friend is her worst nightmare . . . or that Everland's hot animal whisperer leaves her panting.
The last thing Rhett Valentine wants is to be the center of small-town gossip. After his first love left him at the altar, he's been there, done that. These days, life is simple, just the way he likes it. But sultry southern nights get complicated once sparks fly between him and the knockout next door. When she proposes a sexy, secret fling-all the deliciousness and none of the prying neighbors-it seems too good to be true. And it is. Because Pepper's determined to leave Love Street, and when she goes, she just might take his heart with her . . .
Pepper Knight moved to Everland, Georgia, as step one in her plan for a successful legal career. But after this big-city gal's plans go awry, going home with her tail between her legs isn't an option. So when the town vet-and her sexy new neighbor-offers Pepper a temporary dog-walking job, she jumps at the chance. No one needs to know that man's best friend is her worst nightmare . . . or that Everland's hot animal whisperer leaves her panting.
The last thing Rhett Valentine wants is to be the center of small-town gossip. After his first love left him at the altar, he's been there, done that. These days, life is simple, just the way he likes it. But sultry southern nights get complicated once sparks fly between him and the knockout next door. When she proposes a sexy, secret fling-all the deliciousness and none of the prying neighbors-it seems too good to be true. And it is. Because Pepper's determined to leave Love Street, and when she goes, she just might take his heart with her . . .
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 25, 2017
About the author
Lia Riley
19 books819 followersLia Riley is a contemporary romance author. USA Today describes her as "refreshing" and RT Book Reviews calls her books "sizzling and heartfelt." She loves the beach, fresh flowers, foggy redwood forests and a perfect pour over coffee. She is 25% sarcastic, 54% optimistic, and 122% bad at math (good thing she writes happy endings for a living). She and her family live mostly in Northern California.
Visit her at www.liariley.com to learn more.
Visit her at www.liariley.com to learn more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 21, 2017
3 - "Hypothetically..." Stars.
Lia Riley takes her readers to the town of Everland, Georgia, for the first book in her new series of the same name; It Happened on Love Street.
Everland, Georgia wasn’t your everyday sort of place…
I am a huge fan of the small town romance genre, in series form this is one of my greatest joys to read because when written well you are introduced to and get to know and love a plethora of recurring characters as the stories develop while giving you individual characters their own happily ever after with each additional book. And on that front Lia nailed it, as with my review tag hypothetically this was a great story.
"In theory you’re a good kisser…"
"Let me experiment a bit more… The initial results are promising."
I liked Pepper even though she was a bit back and forth, as well as being a total martyr to her family, and I loved local vet and romantic interest Rhett Valentine, the parts when they were together were sizzling with chemistry and witty conversation. But for me and the reason for the mid-range rating was the fact that, their story at points get lost with long rambling inner monologues about unrelated things, It felt a little like the author had remembered a funny story and was desperate to add it to the story, and sometimes going off at a tangent to tell the tale worked, but at other points it just pulled me out of the book, and I lost focus on where the characters were actually at in the story itself.
"I do miss… feeling."
My other issues, and this isn’t new, it’s something that always bugs me is the whole familial issues that Pepper then deals with in the second half of the book. I am, and always have had a huge loathing for erroneous or over the top secondary familial drama especially when the family members in question, are portrayed in such a way that means they seem less than worthy of having so much time end energy spent on them by the hero or heroine of the tale. This was so the case on this occasion and it took a little sparkle away from the parts of the story I enjoyed.
"You’re not a fan of dogs are you?"
Still, the writing is excellent, the pacing (if you take out the unnecessary rambling) was pretty good, I liked the town and people of Everland, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series; The Corner of Forever and Always, when it releases in September.
ARC generously provided by the author via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Lia Riley takes her readers to the town of Everland, Georgia, for the first book in her new series of the same name; It Happened on Love Street.
Everland, Georgia wasn’t your everyday sort of place…
I am a huge fan of the small town romance genre, in series form this is one of my greatest joys to read because when written well you are introduced to and get to know and love a plethora of recurring characters as the stories develop while giving you individual characters their own happily ever after with each additional book. And on that front Lia nailed it, as with my review tag hypothetically this was a great story.
"In theory you’re a good kisser…"
"Let me experiment a bit more… The initial results are promising."
I liked Pepper even though she was a bit back and forth, as well as being a total martyr to her family, and I loved local vet and romantic interest Rhett Valentine, the parts when they were together were sizzling with chemistry and witty conversation. But for me and the reason for the mid-range rating was the fact that, their story at points get lost with long rambling inner monologues about unrelated things, It felt a little like the author had remembered a funny story and was desperate to add it to the story, and sometimes going off at a tangent to tell the tale worked, but at other points it just pulled me out of the book, and I lost focus on where the characters were actually at in the story itself.
"I do miss… feeling."
My other issues, and this isn’t new, it’s something that always bugs me is the whole familial issues that Pepper then deals with in the second half of the book. I am, and always have had a huge loathing for erroneous or over the top secondary familial drama especially when the family members in question, are portrayed in such a way that means they seem less than worthy of having so much time end energy spent on them by the hero or heroine of the tale. This was so the case on this occasion and it took a little sparkle away from the parts of the story I enjoyed.
"You’re not a fan of dogs are you?"
Still, the writing is excellent, the pacing (if you take out the unnecessary rambling) was pretty good, I liked the town and people of Everland, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series; The Corner of Forever and Always, when it releases in September.
ARC generously provided by the author via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
April 27, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this small town romance overall. I have been wanting to read Lia Riley for a while and once I read the description for this book, I knew that I wanted to give this one a try. It was a light-hearted, fun story that went pretty quickly for me. This is the first book in a new series and I just loved the little town of Everland, Georgia.
Pepper has just relocated to Everland for a new job. She shows up for her first day of work and realizes that there is a major problem and she doesn't have the job after all. So now she is in a new town with few funds and no job. When she is offered a job as a dog walker by the town vet who happens to be her next door neighbor, she needs to overcome her fear of dogs quickly and take the position.
Rhett is the local veterinarian. After a previous romantic mishap, he does his best to stay out of local gossip. He helps out the new next door neighbor and is instantly attracted but wants to keep things private. He is very much a part of the local community with his best friend serving as the mayor. Everyone in the town seems to be waiting for cupid to catch Rhett.
I liked Pepper and Rhett. Pepper was pretty tough and was able to make the most of the situation she is in. She does take on more responsibility than she probably should and tries to always make practical decisions. Rhett was such an all around good guy. It would be hard not to like him. Together they had a lot of chemistry and the more they were together the more I liked them as a couple. They really did seem to get closer as the book progressed and by the end of the story, I could really feel their connection.
The book did have a couple of issues. Pepper has a huge fear of dogs at the start of the story. It seemed to take her all of 30 seconds to get over that fear and become a pro dog-walker hanging out at the local dog park. She even adopts a puppy pretty quickly after shedding her fear of dogs. To go from can't stand to be near a dog to must adopt this dog in the span of a few pages seemed crazy. I am sorry it just doesn't work like that.
I also was pulled out of the story several times by some weird phrasing. It seemed like maybe the author was trying to be funny but it felt forced. There were several times that I had to stop and go back over a passage to make sure it really said what I thought it did. I didn't notice this happening as much towards the end of the book but it seemed to happen a lot at the beginning of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. Despite a couple of issues, it was a really fun romantic read. I look forward to future installments in this series.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley.
I enjoyed this small town romance overall. I have been wanting to read Lia Riley for a while and once I read the description for this book, I knew that I wanted to give this one a try. It was a light-hearted, fun story that went pretty quickly for me. This is the first book in a new series and I just loved the little town of Everland, Georgia.
Pepper has just relocated to Everland for a new job. She shows up for her first day of work and realizes that there is a major problem and she doesn't have the job after all. So now she is in a new town with few funds and no job. When she is offered a job as a dog walker by the town vet who happens to be her next door neighbor, she needs to overcome her fear of dogs quickly and take the position.
Rhett is the local veterinarian. After a previous romantic mishap, he does his best to stay out of local gossip. He helps out the new next door neighbor and is instantly attracted but wants to keep things private. He is very much a part of the local community with his best friend serving as the mayor. Everyone in the town seems to be waiting for cupid to catch Rhett.
I liked Pepper and Rhett. Pepper was pretty tough and was able to make the most of the situation she is in. She does take on more responsibility than she probably should and tries to always make practical decisions. Rhett was such an all around good guy. It would be hard not to like him. Together they had a lot of chemistry and the more they were together the more I liked them as a couple. They really did seem to get closer as the book progressed and by the end of the story, I could really feel their connection.
The book did have a couple of issues. Pepper has a huge fear of dogs at the start of the story. It seemed to take her all of 30 seconds to get over that fear and become a pro dog-walker hanging out at the local dog park. She even adopts a puppy pretty quickly after shedding her fear of dogs. To go from can't stand to be near a dog to must adopt this dog in the span of a few pages seemed crazy. I am sorry it just doesn't work like that.
I also was pulled out of the story several times by some weird phrasing. It seemed like maybe the author was trying to be funny but it felt forced. There were several times that I had to stop and go back over a passage to make sure it really said what I thought it did. I didn't notice this happening as much towards the end of the book but it seemed to happen a lot at the beginning of the story.
I would recommend this book to others. Despite a couple of issues, it was a really fun romantic read. I look forward to future installments in this series.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley.
April 16, 2017
All of her life Pepper was the responsible one, the one who would do anything for her family, the one who carried too much weight on her shoulders, self-imposed or not. Now life has sent her to quaint Everland, GA, uprooting her Big City self for her first big job, a done deal until it was undone when she is “fired” on her first day. Although things don’t quite work out as planned for Pepper, one sure can’t say her eyes weren’t opened to life, fate and learning to live for the moment as the local Vet finds her a job as a dog walker until she can re-group and go on her merry way. Did I mention she is NOT a dog person? Trust me, her actions and dialogue will speak volumes on that topic!
When she finds herself attracted to said Veterinarian, Rhett Valentine, these two begin a no strings attached affair that has them both tied in knots! Spicy as her name implies, Pepper finally takes time to live in the moment, completely unaware that love was just another moment away!
Get those smiles, smirks and those , “You have GOT to be kidding me!” chuckles ready, because Lia Riley has one of the cutest and quirkiest love stories eve with IT HAPPENED ON LOVE STREET a sweet and sometimes hysterical romance that will brighten even the darkest of days! Prepare to be amused at Pepper’s inner dialogue and her stream of “Murphy’s law” events that will leave you smiling, if not laughing out loud!
Quirky small town residents manage to know every misstep or Pepper takes and her embarrassment can only be more delightful humor for us!
Looking for a fun and light read that brings new meaning to “Live, Love, Laugh?” Look no more, this is a fun and slightly silly read that will leave you with a smile and a sigh, because even Cupid can use humor to point the way to happiness and what really matters in life.
I received an ARC edition from Forever in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Everland, Georgia - Book 1
Publisher: Forever (April 25, 2017)
Publication Date: April 25, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Women's Fiction
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
When she finds herself attracted to said Veterinarian, Rhett Valentine, these two begin a no strings attached affair that has them both tied in knots! Spicy as her name implies, Pepper finally takes time to live in the moment, completely unaware that love was just another moment away!
Get those smiles, smirks and those , “You have GOT to be kidding me!” chuckles ready, because Lia Riley has one of the cutest and quirkiest love stories eve with IT HAPPENED ON LOVE STREET a sweet and sometimes hysterical romance that will brighten even the darkest of days! Prepare to be amused at Pepper’s inner dialogue and her stream of “Murphy’s law” events that will leave you smiling, if not laughing out loud!
Quirky small town residents manage to know every misstep or Pepper takes and her embarrassment can only be more delightful humor for us!
Looking for a fun and light read that brings new meaning to “Live, Love, Laugh?” Look no more, this is a fun and slightly silly read that will leave you with a smile and a sigh, because even Cupid can use humor to point the way to happiness and what really matters in life.
I received an ARC edition from Forever in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
Series: Everland, Georgia - Book 1
Publisher: Forever (April 25, 2017)
Publication Date: April 25, 2017
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Women's Fiction
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
May 3, 2017
Pepper moved to Everland for a job position that was actually given to somebody else before she even got to the town. Pepper is in a new town without a job, but luck seems to be on her side, when she bumps into a local vet Rhett, who offers her a job. Being a dog walker is not something Pepper would have wanted, especially because she is afraid of dogs, but there's not much of a choice. There's chemistry between Rhett and pepper since they met, but because of Rhett's past, he wants to keep things rather private. Pepper didn't plan on staying in Everland, but after meeting Rhett can she actually leave him and the town?
It was the first book by the author and enjoyed this small town romance. I liked how things progressed between Rhett and pepper and the cute dogs. It offered several lough out loud moments, but it wasn't very believable how easily Pepper got over her fear of dogs. Overall it was a sweet story and I definitely want to read the next book in the series.
It was the first book by the author and enjoyed this small town romance. I liked how things progressed between Rhett and pepper and the cute dogs. It offered several lough out loud moments, but it wasn't very believable how easily Pepper got over her fear of dogs. Overall it was a sweet story and I definitely want to read the next book in the series.
Read
February 10, 2017I can't wait to introduce you to Everland, my new small-town contemporary romance series. What will IT HAPPENED ON LOVE STREET deliver? A sexy (Southern gentleman) vet, a missing pirate treasure, a dog walker who doesn't like dogs, a dog (and gossip) obsessed town, an evil church organist and finding love where you least expect it.
Stay current with new releases and sales by signing up for my newsletter: http://liariley.us7.list-manage.com/s...
Everland, Georgia reading order:
#1: It Happened on Love Street
#2: The Corner of Forever and Always
Stay current with new releases and sales by signing up for my newsletter: http://liariley.us7.list-manage.com/s...
Everland, Georgia reading order:
#1: It Happened on Love Street
#2: The Corner of Forever and Always
April 14, 2017
Original review: The Daydreaming Bookworm
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*3.5 Stars!*
Small town romances are truly one of my most favorite types of romances, but I don’t often get to read many since I have trouble finding them. So when I heard about Lia Riley’s upcoming release from Nick over at Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist, I decided to give this new-to-me author a shot, hoping that this sweet, southern romance would give me the “small town romance” fix I was looking for.
With a degree in one hand and career plan in the other, Pepper Knight leaves the big city behind for a job in the charming town of Everland, Georgia. But when things don’t go according to plan, Pepper refuses to throw in the towel just yet. In comes Rhett Valentine, Everland’s local veterinarian, who helps Pepper get a temporary job until she figures out her next move. Falling in love was never part of her plan, but when sparks fly between her the southern charmer, Pepper will have to decide where her heart lies, and if that place is Everland, whether or not she’s willing to stay.
It Happened on Love Street is a sweet and hilarious small town romance that reminded me why I fell in love with these types of romances in the first place. Despite having lived majority of my life in the Big Apple, I’m a sucker for small town living which is why I absolutely adored the quirky town of Everland. It’s very much your typical small town where everyone knows who is who and no one is safe from the rumor mill. What makes this romance even better are the secondary characters. I FREAKIN’ LOVED THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS! Seriously, they are a riot and I was very much entertained by them. I especially loved Tuesday, Pepper’s younger sister. She’s a free-spirit with no filter and I think she fits right in with the people of Everland. I’m low key hoping she decides to stay because I am already invested in her possible romance with a fellow Everland local I need to see how things develop between the two.
While I loved the small town setting and the charismatic secondary characters, I did not care too much for our main characters. As individuals, I liked Pepper and Rhett, but I was not completely sold on their romance. Pepper is career-driven young woman who cares deeply for her family and puts their needs before her own desires. She is selfless, but that same selflessness eventually backfires on her when she realizes that she has spent majority of her life regretting the certain life choices. Rhett on the other hand is guy who has faced quite a bit of heartbreak and it’s made him guarded. He’s also not one for gossip so he tries to maintain a life free of scandal. What connects these two and what makes them so similar is that while they are both driven, but they weren’t experiencing life to its fullest until they both decide to throw caution to the wind and have a little fun. I really wished though that there were more scenes with just these two alone. I wanted more conversations where these two learned everything about each other. I wanted a deeper connection and I felt like everything was just so instant and easy and this was the main reasons why I didn’t buy the romance.
Although I wasn’t head-over-heels in love with the romance in It Happened on Love Street, I still adored the small town and the cast of secondary characters. I’m so excited for the sequel because I need to know more about Tuesday and what her plans are and I’m pretty sure she’s about to stir up quiet a bit of trouble in the small town of Everland.
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*3.5 Stars!*
Small town romances are truly one of my most favorite types of romances, but I don’t often get to read many since I have trouble finding them. So when I heard about Lia Riley’s upcoming release from Nick over at Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist, I decided to give this new-to-me author a shot, hoping that this sweet, southern romance would give me the “small town romance” fix I was looking for.
With a degree in one hand and career plan in the other, Pepper Knight leaves the big city behind for a job in the charming town of Everland, Georgia. But when things don’t go according to plan, Pepper refuses to throw in the towel just yet. In comes Rhett Valentine, Everland’s local veterinarian, who helps Pepper get a temporary job until she figures out her next move. Falling in love was never part of her plan, but when sparks fly between her the southern charmer, Pepper will have to decide where her heart lies, and if that place is Everland, whether or not she’s willing to stay.
It Happened on Love Street is a sweet and hilarious small town romance that reminded me why I fell in love with these types of romances in the first place. Despite having lived majority of my life in the Big Apple, I’m a sucker for small town living which is why I absolutely adored the quirky town of Everland. It’s very much your typical small town where everyone knows who is who and no one is safe from the rumor mill. What makes this romance even better are the secondary characters. I FREAKIN’ LOVED THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS! Seriously, they are a riot and I was very much entertained by them. I especially loved Tuesday, Pepper’s younger sister. She’s a free-spirit with no filter and I think she fits right in with the people of Everland. I’m low key hoping she decides to stay because I am already invested in her possible romance with a fellow Everland local I need to see how things develop between the two.
While I loved the small town setting and the charismatic secondary characters, I did not care too much for our main characters. As individuals, I liked Pepper and Rhett, but I was not completely sold on their romance. Pepper is career-driven young woman who cares deeply for her family and puts their needs before her own desires. She is selfless, but that same selflessness eventually backfires on her when she realizes that she has spent majority of her life regretting the certain life choices. Rhett on the other hand is guy who has faced quite a bit of heartbreak and it’s made him guarded. He’s also not one for gossip so he tries to maintain a life free of scandal. What connects these two and what makes them so similar is that while they are both driven, but they weren’t experiencing life to its fullest until they both decide to throw caution to the wind and have a little fun. I really wished though that there were more scenes with just these two alone. I wanted more conversations where these two learned everything about each other. I wanted a deeper connection and I felt like everything was just so instant and easy and this was the main reasons why I didn’t buy the romance.
Although I wasn’t head-over-heels in love with the romance in It Happened on Love Street, I still adored the small town and the cast of secondary characters. I’m so excited for the sequel because I need to know more about Tuesday and what her plans are and I’m pretty sure she’s about to stir up quiet a bit of trouble in the small town of Everland.
April 4, 2017
I am a sucker for anything set in the south, so I was pretty excited to read this one.
I liked Pepper and Rhett. She's a bit of a martyr and he's a bit bitter, but together they're adorable. They're both genuinely good people and I enjoyed getting both sides of the story.
Plot wise, it's exactly what you would expect: prying neighbors, sassy older sisters, and a lot of dogs. The conflict {aka: the break up} and the resolution didn't take too long. There was an entire thread of plot that seemed to be added on a whim. For me, it didn't mesh with the rest of the story and I found those chapters to be jarring. I would be pulled out of the story with every one.
Overall, it was a quick, cute read that was mostly fluffy. I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.
**Huge thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Pepper and Rhett. She's a bit of a martyr and he's a bit bitter, but together they're adorable. They're both genuinely good people and I enjoyed getting both sides of the story.
Plot wise, it's exactly what you would expect: prying neighbors, sassy older sisters, and a lot of dogs. The conflict {aka: the break up} and the resolution didn't take too long. There was an entire thread of plot that seemed to be added on a whim. For me, it didn't mesh with the rest of the story and I found those chapters to be jarring. I would be pulled out of the story with every one.
Overall, it was a quick, cute read that was mostly fluffy. I'll definitely be reading the next in the series.
**Huge thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**
December 2, 2019
2-2.5 stars
I wasn't too crazy about this small town romance! While certain parts were lighthearted and funny, other times it was just too sugary sweet and cloying. There wasn't enough tension to keep me truly invested, and I ended up skimming when I felt like the book was dragging.
I wasn't too crazy about this small town romance! While certain parts were lighthearted and funny, other times it was just too sugary sweet and cloying. There wasn't enough tension to keep me truly invested, and I ended up skimming when I felt like the book was dragging.
November 23, 2017
I’m a huge fan of Lia Riley and when she announced a new series, I may or may not have done a happy dance. There’s something about her writing and her characters that I adore, and I knew I was in for a treat from the very first page of It Happened on Love Street. It’s very much a signature Lia Riley book, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Lia Riley’s characters are always charming and endearing, and nothing is different here. Pepper has just moved to a small town in Georgia only to discover that her position has been muddled with, so somehow she finds herself walking dogs. The only problem is that she’s afraid of dogs (I may have gasped a little when she first mentioned it!). I liked Pepper a lot. She’s a sweetheart and so completely loyal to her baby sister. Her confusion about what to do with her life rang very true to me. She really finds herself in It Happened on Love Street and though it takes her some time, she finally learns how to put herself first from time to time. Her love interest, Rhett, completely swept me off my feet. He’s a vet (can you say swoony??), a gentleman and truly a very appealing hero. He also happens to wear glasses, which oof, I find unbearably attractive.
The romance between the two was another aspect I liked a lot about It Happened on Love Street. The two of them shared a potent chemistry, and I loved watching the two slowly get together and connect on an emotional level. Their romance was the perfect combination of sweet, cuddly and sexy, which Lia Riley sure knows how to do well. I do admit that I would have liked to see more scenes of Rhett and Pepper together. There were times I felt like they were secondary to the rest of the plot, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment all that much because the two of them were so good together. Besides the romance, I also liked the small-town setting. There are plenty of nosy neighbors, drama and hilarity that ensued in Everland. Not to forget, I also loved how many puppies were featured here. Honestly, any time a book has dogs in them, I’m easily a goner.
It Happened on Love Street was a delightful romance that had me smiling and laughing all throughout. I’m excited that Lia Riley is back with a new series. If you haven’t read her books yet, I highly recommend them, especially if you’re a fan of contemporary romance.
April 25, 2017
My gosh, Lia Riley never disappoints! I have been a huge fan since I read her first book, "Upside Down", three years ago, and I've enjoyed every one of her titles I've read since. While "It Happened on Love Street" was certainly more lighthearted than Riley's "Off the Map" series, I loved the change of pace and small town feel here.
Pepper Knight was a fun character. She's a bit introverted, highly driven to succeed, smart, sassy, and feisty. She's also petrified of dogs, due to a traumatic incident when she was a child. Unfortunately, I can also relate to this trauma as my daughter was bitten in the face by our family dog a couple of years ago. It was awful, and although my daughter does not seem to have any lingering fear of dogs, she still bears the scars on her cheek. Pepper, too, has scars on her face, but the internal wounds are what she needs to overcome if she wants to make ends meet in her new town of Everland, Georgia, as the only job she could find once her clerkship position was rescinded was that of dog walker. Poor Pepper, I really felt for her, things weren't going even remotely as she'd envisioned! But at the same time, Rhett Valentine was there to ease the pain, so I couldn't feel too sorry for her.
If you are tired of reading romance novels where the hero is a clichéd brooding bad boy, then Rhett Valentine is definitely your man. He doesn't sleep around, he's always respectful and chivalrous - even to the old biddies who drive him bonkers poking their noses into his personal business! - and he has strong relationships with his best friend, his sister, and even his ex. In a word, he's amazing! Even though he's extremely attracted to Pepper, he feels the need to be cautious, considering how he'd been burned in the past. Eventually, he and Pepper enter into a friends-with-benefits type of secret relationship, which is super sweet and steamy, and I loved everything about it! This arrangement works out great for both of them, until of course, it doesn't.
So what else is there to love about this book? Well, Everland itself sounds pretty fabulous. There are some interesting characters making appearances throughout, most notably Mayor Beau and Tuesday (born on a Friday). There's a villain, a treasure hunt, and a mystery, plus a new twist on an old classic board game. And then there's the time that Pepper lost her favourite hat...
I do wish that some of the townspeople and events surrounding them had a bit more depth and description. For instance, there was one character introduced in the beginning of the book, and he didn't appear again until the end, where he was able to fulfill a pretty significant role in solving the mystery. I would have liked to know more about him, or for his character to at least be mentioned a couple of times throughout the book. Otherwise, his role in the story feels a tad forced, know what I mean? The mystery itself was cute, but I didn't really feel any urgency to see the resolution. Same with the treasure hunt - it was a neat idea, but too easily solved, and didn't add a whole lot of significance to the story. I also felt like Pepper was able to overcome her fear of dogs quite easily, and I wanted more detail on how she did this. Plus, she only ever made mention of walking the Chihuahua, Wolfgang, and maybe one other dog. I'm not asking that Pepper's every moment of every day be explained in detail, but for a person with a major phobia suddenly forced to spend a good chunk of time each day with the object of that phobia? I need a bit more to buy into the whole deal.
Those minor complaints aside, I thoroughly enjoyed my time hanging out on Love Street with Pepper, Rhett, and all their kooky sidekicks. You can bet I'll be picking up "The Corner of Forever and Always" as soon as I'm able!
Many thanks to Forever Publishing for the Advance Reading Copy in exchange for my honest review.
Pepper Knight was a fun character. She's a bit introverted, highly driven to succeed, smart, sassy, and feisty. She's also petrified of dogs, due to a traumatic incident when she was a child. Unfortunately, I can also relate to this trauma as my daughter was bitten in the face by our family dog a couple of years ago. It was awful, and although my daughter does not seem to have any lingering fear of dogs, she still bears the scars on her cheek. Pepper, too, has scars on her face, but the internal wounds are what she needs to overcome if she wants to make ends meet in her new town of Everland, Georgia, as the only job she could find once her clerkship position was rescinded was that of dog walker. Poor Pepper, I really felt for her, things weren't going even remotely as she'd envisioned! But at the same time, Rhett Valentine was there to ease the pain, so I couldn't feel too sorry for her.
If you are tired of reading romance novels where the hero is a clichéd brooding bad boy, then Rhett Valentine is definitely your man. He doesn't sleep around, he's always respectful and chivalrous - even to the old biddies who drive him bonkers poking their noses into his personal business! - and he has strong relationships with his best friend, his sister, and even his ex. In a word, he's amazing! Even though he's extremely attracted to Pepper, he feels the need to be cautious, considering how he'd been burned in the past. Eventually, he and Pepper enter into a friends-with-benefits type of secret relationship, which is super sweet and steamy, and I loved everything about it! This arrangement works out great for both of them, until of course, it doesn't.
So what else is there to love about this book? Well, Everland itself sounds pretty fabulous. There are some interesting characters making appearances throughout, most notably Mayor Beau and Tuesday (born on a Friday). There's a villain, a treasure hunt, and a mystery, plus a new twist on an old classic board game. And then there's the time that Pepper lost her favourite hat...
I do wish that some of the townspeople and events surrounding them had a bit more depth and description. For instance, there was one character introduced in the beginning of the book, and he didn't appear again until the end, where he was able to fulfill a pretty significant role in solving the mystery. I would have liked to know more about him, or for his character to at least be mentioned a couple of times throughout the book. Otherwise, his role in the story feels a tad forced, know what I mean? The mystery itself was cute, but I didn't really feel any urgency to see the resolution. Same with the treasure hunt - it was a neat idea, but too easily solved, and didn't add a whole lot of significance to the story. I also felt like Pepper was able to overcome her fear of dogs quite easily, and I wanted more detail on how she did this. Plus, she only ever made mention of walking the Chihuahua, Wolfgang, and maybe one other dog. I'm not asking that Pepper's every moment of every day be explained in detail, but for a person with a major phobia suddenly forced to spend a good chunk of time each day with the object of that phobia? I need a bit more to buy into the whole deal.
Those minor complaints aside, I thoroughly enjoyed my time hanging out on Love Street with Pepper, Rhett, and all their kooky sidekicks. You can bet I'll be picking up "The Corner of Forever and Always" as soon as I'm able!
Many thanks to Forever Publishing for the Advance Reading Copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog:
http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.c...
This is the second series I've read of hers. I started reading her when I discovered her Brightwater series which I truly loved.
If you haven't yet read it, you really should try it.
But we are here to talk about her new series Everland Georgia. I've got to share this with you, I so badly want to visit this town. I just love the street names. Crazy good!
It Happened on Love Street is the first in the Everland Georgia series and it starts that series off with a bang. Or, maybe it should be a arrow instead? You know, to go with the theme of the town and the characters name. Ha!
Okay, enough silliness!
Like I mentioned this is the first book in the series and I will tell you the series starts off so good! Poor Pepper! She thinks she can control everyone that she loves if she only make herself needed by those around her. If they counted on her, they wouldn't leave her.
Can you say, mommy issues? Yep, you said it! Because of what her mother did to her she has huge issues with truly trusting people, or really loving them enough to count of them. How sad, right?
The funny thing is that Rhett has some of the same issues, just differently. These two are made for each other. They just need to figure it out.
You are going to love Rhett! He's such a nice caring guy who takes care of animals for a living, what's not to love?
It's not always easy being Pepper or Rhett but I like how the author handed them. Their story is very well done. I liked it and only got mad at the characters a couple of times. What can I say, it's like a parent with a child, you can see the mistakes they are making even when they can't.
After reading It Happened on Love Street and meeting some of the towns people I can't wait for the next story, The Corner of Forever and Always. Love, love, love, these titles!
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ARC received for a honest review
http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.c...
This is the second series I've read of hers. I started reading her when I discovered her Brightwater series which I truly loved.
If you haven't yet read it, you really should try it.
But we are here to talk about her new series Everland Georgia. I've got to share this with you, I so badly want to visit this town. I just love the street names. Crazy good!
It Happened on Love Street is the first in the Everland Georgia series and it starts that series off with a bang. Or, maybe it should be a arrow instead? You know, to go with the theme of the town and the characters name. Ha!
Okay, enough silliness!
Like I mentioned this is the first book in the series and I will tell you the series starts off so good! Poor Pepper! She thinks she can control everyone that she loves if she only make herself needed by those around her. If they counted on her, they wouldn't leave her.
Can you say, mommy issues? Yep, you said it! Because of what her mother did to her she has huge issues with truly trusting people, or really loving them enough to count of them. How sad, right?
The funny thing is that Rhett has some of the same issues, just differently. These two are made for each other. They just need to figure it out.
You are going to love Rhett! He's such a nice caring guy who takes care of animals for a living, what's not to love?
It's not always easy being Pepper or Rhett but I like how the author handed them. Their story is very well done. I liked it and only got mad at the characters a couple of times. What can I say, it's like a parent with a child, you can see the mistakes they are making even when they can't.
After reading It Happened on Love Street and meeting some of the towns people I can't wait for the next story, The Corner of Forever and Always. Love, love, love, these titles!
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
ARC received for a honest review
May 22, 2017
Reaction right after finishing it:
*sobs forever* this was so cute 😭😭😭 im fine i swear i just love rhett and pepper so so so much
Full review originally posted on Bookworm Wanders
Lia Riley is the ultimate auto - buy author for me, every single book she writes makes me swoon, cry, laugh, and sometimes all of that in the same page, so after a year of missing her books, when I finally started It Happened On Love Street, it felt like coming home even though these were all new characters. The magic feeling of her writing was still there and maybe a bit more than ever because Rhett and Pepper totally stole my heart from the second I started reading about them and completely owned my should the minute they had their meet cute.
Pepper and Rhett live in the ultimate super quirky small town and I would probably die if I ever had to move to a small town but if I were to find someone like Rhett I definitely wouldn’t mind. He has been burned before and definitely isn’t 100% emotionally available when he meets Pepper, all he wants is to take care of animals and honour his mom’s memory, the last thing he needs is the entire town gossiping about his love life, but from the second Pepper moves in next door, he has a soft spot for her.
“Although the real riddle was convincing a big-city girl to give a small-town guy a real shot.”
And Pepper, oh my god, I will be honest, last year I wouldn’t have loved Pepper as much because I was a very different person so I wouldn’t have understood her need to step up and take care of everyone she loves, even when they truly didn’t seem to need it, I adored her for it, she had spent her entire life trying to fix her sister’s and dad’s lives and she literally shaped her entire life around taking care of them, she had absolutely everything planned out, down to the type of guy she would marry and Rhett definitely wasn’t it, but faith (aka Lia) had other plans for Pepper which included over coming her life long fear of dogs by becoming a dog walker and totally accidental skinny dipping session.
“The only benefit to having a dating closet full of losers was that each one got her another step closer to Mr. Right. That’s how it worked. Hopefully.”
Everland, Georgia was such an interesting place to read about because like I said, small towns are not my thing, probably for the same reason Rhett didn’t want to get involved with Pepper at first, all the well meaning people being in my business would drive me nuts but Lia created all the characters in this town in a way that made me feel like they were all a family, a quirky, super gossipy but at the end of the day well meaning and loving family. I most admit I didn’t love Tuesday a lot in this book but I am definitely intrigued by her, I cannot wait to go back to Everland in her book and read more about my new favourite dog loving town!
* I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*sobs forever* this was so cute 😭😭😭 im fine i swear i just love rhett and pepper so so so much
Full review originally posted on Bookworm Wanders
Lia Riley is the ultimate auto - buy author for me, every single book she writes makes me swoon, cry, laugh, and sometimes all of that in the same page, so after a year of missing her books, when I finally started It Happened On Love Street, it felt like coming home even though these were all new characters. The magic feeling of her writing was still there and maybe a bit more than ever because Rhett and Pepper totally stole my heart from the second I started reading about them and completely owned my should the minute they had their meet cute.
Pepper and Rhett live in the ultimate super quirky small town and I would probably die if I ever had to move to a small town but if I were to find someone like Rhett I definitely wouldn’t mind. He has been burned before and definitely isn’t 100% emotionally available when he meets Pepper, all he wants is to take care of animals and honour his mom’s memory, the last thing he needs is the entire town gossiping about his love life, but from the second Pepper moves in next door, he has a soft spot for her.
“Although the real riddle was convincing a big-city girl to give a small-town guy a real shot.”
And Pepper, oh my god, I will be honest, last year I wouldn’t have loved Pepper as much because I was a very different person so I wouldn’t have understood her need to step up and take care of everyone she loves, even when they truly didn’t seem to need it, I adored her for it, she had spent her entire life trying to fix her sister’s and dad’s lives and she literally shaped her entire life around taking care of them, she had absolutely everything planned out, down to the type of guy she would marry and Rhett definitely wasn’t it, but faith (aka Lia) had other plans for Pepper which included over coming her life long fear of dogs by becoming a dog walker and totally accidental skinny dipping session.
“The only benefit to having a dating closet full of losers was that each one got her another step closer to Mr. Right. That’s how it worked. Hopefully.”
Everland, Georgia was such an interesting place to read about because like I said, small towns are not my thing, probably for the same reason Rhett didn’t want to get involved with Pepper at first, all the well meaning people being in my business would drive me nuts but Lia created all the characters in this town in a way that made me feel like they were all a family, a quirky, super gossipy but at the end of the day well meaning and loving family. I most admit I didn’t love Tuesday a lot in this book but I am definitely intrigued by her, I cannot wait to go back to Everland in her book and read more about my new favourite dog loving town!
* I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2017
Find this and other reviews at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.
I’ve been a huge fan of Lia Riley’s since her debut novel, Upside Down. I love that with each of her new series, you never quite know what to expect. Wherever her books are set and how ever different the characters and plots are, a few things always remain: humour, great characters, swoons, and super hot sexytimes. Those are four things I know I can count on when I pick up a book by Lia Riley, and that remained true with It Happened on Love Street.
Pepper had no intention of staying in Everland. Besides the fact she’s a big city girl and doesn’t think she’s cut out for life in a tiny place like Everland, she also needs to work, and not just at any job - she needs to make enough money so she’ll be able to support her dad and sister someday. She’s always been the steady and dependable one, thinking her family is her responsibility, and making her life choices based around that fact.
Pepper was a hoot. She was such a fun, feisty character, and I found her easy to relate to. My situation isn’t the same as hers, but I’ve felt the weight of responsibility toward family, so I understood her motivations. Rhett had his heart broken in a very public way many years ago and ever since then, he’s tried to live under the radar - something that’s hard to do in a town as small as Everland, especially with nosy neighbours and plenty of town gossips. Pepper and Rhett are a bit misguided because of things they’ve gone through and how they think things should be handled. When they meet each other, their cautious natures are put to the test. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship.
This book was so much fun. It had me laughing from pretty much the first page. Besides Pepper’s hilarious inner dialogue and some of the mishaps she experiences, the quirky secondary characters were highly entertaining.
If you’re looking for a sweet, sexy, laugh-out-loud funny small-town romance with a fun premise and an equally fun cast of characters, be sure to pick up It Happened on Love Street.
April 21, 2017
3.5 Stars
So let's just cut to the chase. My issue with this is mostly Pepper. She annoyed me most of the book. She was too ditzy, dramatic and too goodie-goodie. I could not relate to her "need" to take care, because it simply felt fake. Then again if you read the book you will realise that actually that part is quite brilliantly done. And while she grated on me, I loved the rest of the cast. They, at least most of them, were a tad eccentric but really likable. Rhett and Beau are total heart-throbs. And I don't mean just the fact that they are aparently uber hotties, but they are really interesting and good guys.
The story line is a super sweet cute & fluffy set in an adorable small town, complete with the town villain ala Psycho. Seriously the mother reminded me a bit of the film, lol.
At times it was a tad to saccharine for me. BUT I am rather jaded, so I am sure, that I am one of the few people who will feel like that.
The writing is witty and light hearted. I actually expected something with a tad more substance. I think that I'll always will measure everything Riley writes on Every Breath. I know this isn't fair whatsoever, but it is one of my favorite books, I still revel in Riley beautiful descriptions of Patagonia and I simply can't help it.
I love that Riley however isn't stuck in the same same and each series has it own vibes. Totally creative. I am more of a Wanderlust series person, still this is cute. (even if it's possibly too cute) It reminds me of some great rom-com movies.
Saying all this, the question remains: will I read Tuesday's story? Hell yes! I wish I could get my hands on it N.O.W.
Because while I found some of Rhett's confession a tad over the top and I felt like giving Pepper a good smack every now and then, the rest of the story was thoroughly entertaining.
A fun and quirky rom-com.
So let's just cut to the chase. My issue with this is mostly Pepper. She annoyed me most of the book. She was too ditzy, dramatic and too goodie-goodie. I could not relate to her "need" to take care, because it simply felt fake. Then again if you read the book you will realise that actually that part is quite brilliantly done. And while she grated on me, I loved the rest of the cast. They, at least most of them, were a tad eccentric but really likable. Rhett and Beau are total heart-throbs. And I don't mean just the fact that they are aparently uber hotties, but they are really interesting and good guys.
The story line is a super sweet cute & fluffy set in an adorable small town, complete with the town villain ala Psycho. Seriously the mother reminded me a bit of the film, lol.
At times it was a tad to saccharine for me. BUT I am rather jaded, so I am sure, that I am one of the few people who will feel like that.
The writing is witty and light hearted. I actually expected something with a tad more substance. I think that I'll always will measure everything Riley writes on Every Breath. I know this isn't fair whatsoever, but it is one of my favorite books, I still revel in Riley beautiful descriptions of Patagonia and I simply can't help it.
I love that Riley however isn't stuck in the same same and each series has it own vibes. Totally creative. I am more of a Wanderlust series person, still this is cute. (even if it's possibly too cute) It reminds me of some great rom-com movies.
Saying all this, the question remains: will I read Tuesday's story? Hell yes! I wish I could get my hands on it N.O.W.
Because while I found some of Rhett's confession a tad over the top and I felt like giving Pepper a good smack every now and then, the rest of the story was thoroughly entertaining.
A fun and quirky rom-com.
April 25, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
Whoever said money can’t buy happiness must have been poor, honey. Never ever forget that.
Hand to chest, this computer upgrade is making me crazier than a one-legged cat in a sandbox.
The placards on either side of the entrance read TWO BEERS FOR THE PRICE OF TWO BEERS and OUR DRINKS ARE COLDER THAN YOUR EX-GIRLFRIEND’S HEART.
Sorry, I suffer from foot-in-mouth disease. There isn’t a cure.
And it was impossible to take the swaggering deputy sheriff seriously knowing that he had once been kicked offstage for playing “Jingle Bells” with his armpit during the high school talent night.
“Get out of the way, cougar! He’s five years younger than you.” “Who you calling cougar, you horny old saber-tooth!”
My Review:
I was frequently smirking and thoroughly entertaining by this crisp and cleverly written book. The characters were likable, witty, smart, and endearingly flawed. This was my first experience reading Lia Riley’s word craft, although I hope to make this extremely pleasurable experience a regular occurrence, as I adore her sense of humor and comical descriptions; reading this book was good fun. I would happily read a book like this every single day. The writing was well paced, engaging, and delicious. The quirkiness, pettiness, and pitfalls of small town living were observantly illuminated and captured in a colorful and highly amusing manner.
Whoever said money can’t buy happiness must have been poor, honey. Never ever forget that.
Hand to chest, this computer upgrade is making me crazier than a one-legged cat in a sandbox.
The placards on either side of the entrance read TWO BEERS FOR THE PRICE OF TWO BEERS and OUR DRINKS ARE COLDER THAN YOUR EX-GIRLFRIEND’S HEART.
Sorry, I suffer from foot-in-mouth disease. There isn’t a cure.
And it was impossible to take the swaggering deputy sheriff seriously knowing that he had once been kicked offstage for playing “Jingle Bells” with his armpit during the high school talent night.
“Get out of the way, cougar! He’s five years younger than you.” “Who you calling cougar, you horny old saber-tooth!”
My Review:
I was frequently smirking and thoroughly entertaining by this crisp and cleverly written book. The characters were likable, witty, smart, and endearingly flawed. This was my first experience reading Lia Riley’s word craft, although I hope to make this extremely pleasurable experience a regular occurrence, as I adore her sense of humor and comical descriptions; reading this book was good fun. I would happily read a book like this every single day. The writing was well paced, engaging, and delicious. The quirkiness, pettiness, and pitfalls of small town living were observantly illuminated and captured in a colorful and highly amusing manner.
April 22, 2017
**4-4.5 stars**
It happened on Love Street is the first book in Lia Riley's Everland, Georgia series and it's a great start to her new series! Loved it!
Pepper and Rhett had great chemistry from the very beginning. What starts out as a secret fling quickly turns into more. Neither can deny the feelings that are growing between them. But Pepper isn't planning on staying in Everland forever and Rhett doesn't want her to leave. Pepper has always felt responsible for taking care of her dad and sister and built her life around doing that, never going for what she really wants. Will Rhett be able to convince her to stay or will Pepper run away from her own happiness?
I so enjoyed this sexy, charming small town romance. The people, the town and the dogs of Everland definitely make me want to make a return trip and I'm very much looking forward to Pepper's sister's story!
It happened on Love Street is the first book in Lia Riley's Everland, Georgia series and it's a great start to her new series! Loved it!
Pepper and Rhett had great chemistry from the very beginning. What starts out as a secret fling quickly turns into more. Neither can deny the feelings that are growing between them. But Pepper isn't planning on staying in Everland forever and Rhett doesn't want her to leave. Pepper has always felt responsible for taking care of her dad and sister and built her life around doing that, never going for what she really wants. Will Rhett be able to convince her to stay or will Pepper run away from her own happiness?
I so enjoyed this sexy, charming small town romance. The people, the town and the dogs of Everland definitely make me want to make a return trip and I'm very much looking forward to Pepper's sister's story!
April 10, 2017
This is a cute, funny, and sometimes silly story that kept me completely entertained. Pepper and Rhett are such a cute couple and all the crazy townspeople and their antics had me laughing out loud. Pepper, originally from NY, comes to Everland for a job. Unfortunately she gets fired her first day on the job. Rhett, the local vet and Pepper's neighbor, helps find her a job as a fill in dog walker. The fact that Pepper is afraid of dogs shouldn't be a problem....right?? That's just the start of the hilarity in this story. Don't miss this one, I recommend it.
April 21, 2017
Welcome to Everland, Georgia. Where Cupid fell in love with Trouble just around the corner on Love Street ♥.
Those last chapters killed me. The words hit close to home and I cried my eyes out.
The dogs. The feelings. The people. Loved it.
Hoping the next one is about Tuesday and Beau!!!
Those last chapters killed me. The words hit close to home and I cried my eyes out.
The dogs. The feelings. The people. Loved it.
Hoping the next one is about Tuesday and Beau!!!
March 30, 2017
The premise of this book is so cute, but by the end of It Happened on Love Street, that cuteness is cloying.
Pepper's a New York lawyer who's just moved to Everland, Georgia for a job opportunity. She's Type-A spitfire with a streak of sass a mile long and twice as deep. Unfortunately for her, she's also just been fired before her day even begins.
Enter Rhett Valentine, local vet and gossip column darling as the town blue-hairs a dying to fix him up with literally anyone with a pulse. Rhett and Pepper's meet-cute in the rain is cut short by her debilitating fear of dogs, of which Rhett has three. And here's problem number one.
Pepper starts out so afraid of dogs that a yipping maltese literally sends her into a panic attack. A huddled on the ground, crying in front of children, panic attack. Have you ever seen a maltese?
Vicious murderers they are not. But that's ok because phobias aren't rational. Pepper realizes this and has even tried expensive immersion therapy to help, without success. So when Rhett calls her up and tells her he's gotten her a job as a dog walker, Pepper's understandably upset and fearful.
She walks one chihuahua to a dog park three times and is cured to the point of having five dogs by the epilogue.
The characters face no real struggles or issues. Pepper's not planning on sticking around past the summer, and Rhett's a Southern boy through and through, so there's a bit of fretting over the expiration date of the relationship. Rhett wants to keep the relationship secret because of the local gossips, but every time he turns around he's telling someone about them. So why then, when his sister correctly guesses that he and Pepper are a couple, does he not just open his mouth and say, no Lou Ellen, I will not be in your bachelor auction because of my girlfriend and by the way, I'm being blackmailed by the bad guy into getting him the auction spot? And the villain. Oh the villain, you guys.
Pepper's boss, the "honorable" Judge Hogg rescinds her job offer on the morning of her start date because his mama needed him to give the position to her friend's nephew. Later, without knowing who the other is, he approaches Pep in the dog park to violently sexually harass her. Now A) the town is the size of a postage stamp and she has a Northern accent, who the fuck did you think she was and B) the whole exchange is so cringingly bad, as a grown ass man who presumably did graduate from law school asks Pepper if she's from Tennessee (because you're the only ten I see) and makes honking noises while pretending to squeeze her breasts.
Boss Hogg is the villain from Dukes of Hazzard, guys. A fat, greedy southern cop/business man/sometimes lawyer who owned most of the town and the Dukes' property. An ineffectual bad guy who would do just about anything for money and power, though always stopping short of actual physical harm.
Judge Hogg is a dull, smarmy judge/landowner/grant committee chair keeping Rhett from opening his dream vet clinic due to building permits. An ineffectual bad guy who'll do pretty much anything for his criminal mother, though his only real crime (besides sexual harassment) is stealing a town statue to destroy Everland's morale.
Come on. The author even has Pepper think, "She'd imagined the judge as a paunchy Southern villain, short and jowly with a pale complexion and thick lids."
The only thing missing is the suit. She might as well have written, "Think Boss Hogg but don't actually for copy write reasons."
In addition to that character, who I think is poorly written all around, I found the sex scenes to not be my cup of tea. "Her hips were cool in contrast to the heat of her secret skin." "It's a trick to be witty with a finger massaging your lady button." Do we really need these kind of euphemisms for the vulva and clitoris in 2017? I know there are only so many ways of writing the same scenes, but "secret skin" comes off really sex negative to me, especially in a scene from the male POV.
But the worst crime, and the one I alluded to in my opening statement, the writing is cheesy. For example, "Last night he hadn't simply opened Piper's legs; he'd opened a part of his heart." These two think things like this all. the. time. It's bad enough his name is Rhett Valentine and he lives on Love Street, like I understood a certain amount of sugar was to be expected going in, but you couldn't have switched to Sweet-n-Low for the dialogue?
I love a good Southern romance and a fish out of the Hudson Bay. My favorite movie is Sweet Home Alabama, so I don't even require they be good stories! But guys, watch Hart of Dixie on Netflix instead.
Pepper's a New York lawyer who's just moved to Everland, Georgia for a job opportunity. She's Type-A spitfire with a streak of sass a mile long and twice as deep. Unfortunately for her, she's also just been fired before her day even begins.
Enter Rhett Valentine, local vet and gossip column darling as the town blue-hairs a dying to fix him up with literally anyone with a pulse. Rhett and Pepper's meet-cute in the rain is cut short by her debilitating fear of dogs, of which Rhett has three. And here's problem number one.
Pepper starts out so afraid of dogs that a yipping maltese literally sends her into a panic attack. A huddled on the ground, crying in front of children, panic attack. Have you ever seen a maltese?
Vicious murderers they are not. But that's ok because phobias aren't rational. Pepper realizes this and has even tried expensive immersion therapy to help, without success. So when Rhett calls her up and tells her he's gotten her a job as a dog walker, Pepper's understandably upset and fearful.
She walks one chihuahua to a dog park three times and is cured to the point of having five dogs by the epilogue.
The characters face no real struggles or issues. Pepper's not planning on sticking around past the summer, and Rhett's a Southern boy through and through, so there's a bit of fretting over the expiration date of the relationship. Rhett wants to keep the relationship secret because of the local gossips, but every time he turns around he's telling someone about them. So why then, when his sister correctly guesses that he and Pepper are a couple, does he not just open his mouth and say, no Lou Ellen, I will not be in your bachelor auction because of my girlfriend and by the way, I'm being blackmailed by the bad guy into getting him the auction spot? And the villain. Oh the villain, you guys.
Pepper's boss, the "honorable" Judge Hogg rescinds her job offer on the morning of her start date because his mama needed him to give the position to her friend's nephew. Later, without knowing who the other is, he approaches Pep in the dog park to violently sexually harass her. Now A) the town is the size of a postage stamp and she has a Northern accent, who the fuck did you think she was and B) the whole exchange is so cringingly bad, as a grown ass man who presumably did graduate from law school asks Pepper if she's from Tennessee (because you're the only ten I see) and makes honking noises while pretending to squeeze her breasts.
Boss Hogg is the villain from Dukes of Hazzard, guys. A fat, greedy southern cop/business man/sometimes lawyer who owned most of the town and the Dukes' property. An ineffectual bad guy who would do just about anything for money and power, though always stopping short of actual physical harm.
Judge Hogg is a dull, smarmy judge/landowner/grant committee chair keeping Rhett from opening his dream vet clinic due to building permits. An ineffectual bad guy who'll do pretty much anything for his criminal mother, though his only real crime (besides sexual harassment) is stealing a town statue to destroy Everland's morale.
Come on. The author even has Pepper think, "She'd imagined the judge as a paunchy Southern villain, short and jowly with a pale complexion and thick lids."
The only thing missing is the suit. She might as well have written, "Think Boss Hogg but don't actually for copy write reasons."
In addition to that character, who I think is poorly written all around, I found the sex scenes to not be my cup of tea. "Her hips were cool in contrast to the heat of her secret skin." "It's a trick to be witty with a finger massaging your lady button." Do we really need these kind of euphemisms for the vulva and clitoris in 2017? I know there are only so many ways of writing the same scenes, but "secret skin" comes off really sex negative to me, especially in a scene from the male POV.
But the worst crime, and the one I alluded to in my opening statement, the writing is cheesy. For example, "Last night he hadn't simply opened Piper's legs; he'd opened a part of his heart." These two think things like this all. the. time. It's bad enough his name is Rhett Valentine and he lives on Love Street, like I understood a certain amount of sugar was to be expected going in, but you couldn't have switched to Sweet-n-Low for the dialogue?
I love a good Southern romance and a fish out of the Hudson Bay. My favorite movie is Sweet Home Alabama, so I don't even require they be good stories! But guys, watch Hart of Dixie on Netflix instead.
March 23, 2017
I chose it because of the cover..what?! It's cute :D I make too many NG decisions based on cuteness when it comes to contemporary romance.
Pepper comes to a small town as a step in becoming a lawyer, but something goes wrong and she must stay in this small town. It's a cute town, a friendly gossiping town. Oh and the neighbour is a hottie. As for Pepper herself, she felt this need to take care of everyone, she was afraid to look like a failure and she is driven. She needs to chill.
Rhett the vet. Awww, I like a man who loves animals. He is hounded by the grannies of town to find a girlfriend ;) Haha, poor guy. He is a sweet guy.
They meet, they become friendly, they fall in lust. There is some drama in town. There are dogs. Treasure hunts and a good romance. Her sister shows up too and will find love in the next book, that will be interesting.
A nice romance
Pepper comes to a small town as a step in becoming a lawyer, but something goes wrong and she must stay in this small town. It's a cute town, a friendly gossiping town. Oh and the neighbour is a hottie. As for Pepper herself, she felt this need to take care of everyone, she was afraid to look like a failure and she is driven. She needs to chill.
Rhett the vet. Awww, I like a man who loves animals. He is hounded by the grannies of town to find a girlfriend ;) Haha, poor guy. He is a sweet guy.
They meet, they become friendly, they fall in lust. There is some drama in town. There are dogs. Treasure hunts and a good romance. Her sister shows up too and will find love in the next book, that will be interesting.
A nice romance
July 2, 2017
I've enjoyed every Lia Riley book I've read, which is almost all of them. Her writing is engaging and full of subtle humor and likeable characters. So I was really excited about this small town Southern setting, as well as the fish out of water story. I loved the town, its quirky characters and traditions. It was the kind of place I'd love to visit. An overall cute and fun read. Looking forward to taking another trip to Everland, GA.
I think any fan of Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor books might enjoy this one.
I think any fan of Jill Shalvis's Lucky Harbor books might enjoy this one.
April 1, 2017
This was an engaging and enjoyable read. Pepper is a recent grad from law school and ends up in a small town in Georgia for a job. And then the job falls through and she's stuck in Georgia. She is afraid of dogs, but ends up working as a dog walker.
Rhett is a life long resident of Everland, Georgia, he is a bachelor determined to keep his love life private due to the small town previously being witness to his love life and failures.
Rhett and Pepper have great chemistry from the start. They engage in a quasi relationship, but Rhett is determined to keep it private. We know this never truly happens. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship.
This was a great small town romance, quirky characters that love their town a lot. This was also great because the town is diverse, I don't recall this happening in a lot of other small town romances that I have read.
There are definitely some laughs in the book, but it isn't all fun. There's emotion to it to. I truly believed in Rhett and Pepper.
A few things I didn't like, Pepper had some martyrdom happening with how she felt about her father and sister. It didn't take over her character, but it is something that I dislike. There is a 3rd tier character that gets a little bit of page time that I could have done without.
The next book appears to be about Tuesday, Pepper's sister, and Beau, Rhett's best friend. Riley did a great job of creating interest but not letting them take over. I am definitely interested in reading the next book.
Rhett is a life long resident of Everland, Georgia, he is a bachelor determined to keep his love life private due to the small town previously being witness to his love life and failures.
Rhett and Pepper have great chemistry from the start. They engage in a quasi relationship, but Rhett is determined to keep it private. We know this never truly happens. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship.
This was a great small town romance, quirky characters that love their town a lot. This was also great because the town is diverse, I don't recall this happening in a lot of other small town romances that I have read.
There are definitely some laughs in the book, but it isn't all fun. There's emotion to it to. I truly believed in Rhett and Pepper.
A few things I didn't like, Pepper had some martyrdom happening with how she felt about her father and sister. It didn't take over her character, but it is something that I dislike. There is a 3rd tier character that gets a little bit of page time that I could have done without.
The next book appears to be about Tuesday, Pepper's sister, and Beau, Rhett's best friend. Riley did a great job of creating interest but not letting them take over. I am definitely interested in reading the next book.
March 7, 2017
I cannot wait for you all to read this charming, sexy, and utterly delightful romance. Review to come!
Read
April 2, 2017**4 Boundless Stars** Full Review and Rating will be up on Boundless Book Reviews
May 6, 2016
LOVED this book! If you're a fan of Hart of Dixie, you will absolutely love this hilarious, sexy romance.
April 25, 2017
Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.
It's pretty much no secret that I adore Lia Riley AND her books. Since I fell head over heels for her last small town romance series, Brightwater, I've been looking forward to seeing what she'd give us next. When I first saw her post the cover for It Happened on Love Street, the first book in her Everland, Georgia series, I knew it was going to be right up my alley. Or, you know, quaint Southern street, as the case may be here.
Everything about this book, the characters and the quirky small town charmed me from start to finish. It was a true joy to be in Pepper's head throughout this book. Her honest awkwardness and hilarious inner dialogue made me smile and chuckle from start to finish. I found that I could relate to her in a lot of ways, so I connected to her and her journey on another level. Who hasn't found they're not sure where they belong a time or two in their lives? Pepper was a great and likable heroine. Rhett was super charming and sweet. There were swoons all around when it came to him. Sure he was locked down because of his past, but actually that just endeared him more to me. I'm glad we also got some chapters from his perspective, too. I enjoyed getting into his head and learning more about him and how he saw the world.
Pepper and Rhett, despite all of their differences — or maybe BECAUSE of their differences — were so great together. I wasn't thrilled at first that they both insisted that things between them remained a secret, but I also understood. Life in a small town is interesting and Everland, Georgia was no exception. In small towns, people tend to think each individual's business belongs to the town as a whole. I understand the desire not to be the topic of conversation. They might've been expiration dating, with Penny never planning to stick around Everland, but I just knew they had some staying power.
I love when a setting basically becomes a character in and of itself. That's precisely what happened with Everland. Not only did the town's quirky residents make for interesting backstory, but the town itself and its history did the same. It came alive in the pages thanks to Lia's writing and attention to detail. It's the kind of place that, when I'm sick of city life, I think I'd love to move to. I'm intrigued by the secondary characters (*cough* Tuesday *cough* Beau *cough*) and the townspeople themselves. Lia's new series is off to a strong start and I can't wait for more!
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Better find a dentist. A year surrounded by this much sugary sweetness put her at risk of a cavity (or five).
Pug or Pit Bull, it didn't matter. Man's best friend was her worst nightmare.
Sooner or later, their gazes would connect in a crowded intersection and boom, a part of her soul would lock into his and that would be it. Cue the balloon drop. Blazing meteoroids. Unicorns dancing the fox trot. Rainbows—make that double rainbows—bursting over the cityscape. She'd plan a wedding in the Hamptons, stop hitting snooze on her biological clock, and have her own perfect life.
"Not every first love is meant to be your last."
"Who are you and what have you done with my sister? It's the romance here isn't it? All the Love Streets and Kissing Bridges. A quintessential coastal Southern town up front, with the sexy, scurvy-dog pirates in the back. Put like that, I can see the appeal."
"Tonight, I'm taking you so hard that you forget everything except for the fact you're mine. That I've got you. That I'm here to keep catching you. Let go for once, see if you fall, or if you fly."
"Everland's not like anywhere else. There's something in the air here. I like to think it's magic."
It's pretty much no secret that I adore Lia Riley AND her books. Since I fell head over heels for her last small town romance series, Brightwater, I've been looking forward to seeing what she'd give us next. When I first saw her post the cover for It Happened on Love Street, the first book in her Everland, Georgia series, I knew it was going to be right up my alley. Or, you know, quaint Southern street, as the case may be here.
Everything about this book, the characters and the quirky small town charmed me from start to finish. It was a true joy to be in Pepper's head throughout this book. Her honest awkwardness and hilarious inner dialogue made me smile and chuckle from start to finish. I found that I could relate to her in a lot of ways, so I connected to her and her journey on another level. Who hasn't found they're not sure where they belong a time or two in their lives? Pepper was a great and likable heroine. Rhett was super charming and sweet. There were swoons all around when it came to him. Sure he was locked down because of his past, but actually that just endeared him more to me. I'm glad we also got some chapters from his perspective, too. I enjoyed getting into his head and learning more about him and how he saw the world.
Pepper and Rhett, despite all of their differences — or maybe BECAUSE of their differences — were so great together. I wasn't thrilled at first that they both insisted that things between them remained a secret, but I also understood. Life in a small town is interesting and Everland, Georgia was no exception. In small towns, people tend to think each individual's business belongs to the town as a whole. I understand the desire not to be the topic of conversation. They might've been expiration dating, with Penny never planning to stick around Everland, but I just knew they had some staying power.
I love when a setting basically becomes a character in and of itself. That's precisely what happened with Everland. Not only did the town's quirky residents make for interesting backstory, but the town itself and its history did the same. It came alive in the pages thanks to Lia's writing and attention to detail. It's the kind of place that, when I'm sick of city life, I think I'd love to move to. I'm intrigued by the secondary characters (*cough* Tuesday *cough* Beau *cough*) and the townspeople themselves. Lia's new series is off to a strong start and I can't wait for more!
I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Better find a dentist. A year surrounded by this much sugary sweetness put her at risk of a cavity (or five).
Pug or Pit Bull, it didn't matter. Man's best friend was her worst nightmare.
Sooner or later, their gazes would connect in a crowded intersection and boom, a part of her soul would lock into his and that would be it. Cue the balloon drop. Blazing meteoroids. Unicorns dancing the fox trot. Rainbows—make that double rainbows—bursting over the cityscape. She'd plan a wedding in the Hamptons, stop hitting snooze on her biological clock, and have her own perfect life.
"Not every first love is meant to be your last."
"Who are you and what have you done with my sister? It's the romance here isn't it? All the Love Streets and Kissing Bridges. A quintessential coastal Southern town up front, with the sexy, scurvy-dog pirates in the back. Put like that, I can see the appeal."
"Tonight, I'm taking you so hard that you forget everything except for the fact you're mine. That I've got you. That I'm here to keep catching you. Let go for once, see if you fall, or if you fly."
"Everland's not like anywhere else. There's something in the air here. I like to think it's magic."
April 27, 2017
Pepper moves from New York to Love Street in Everland, Georgia, for the start of a promising legal career. When she arrives she discovers that she relocated for a promise that doesn't come true. She has no income and won't be able to do something else with her legal career in Everland, because it's such a small town. Fortunately Pepper's new neighbor, Rhett, helps her out and finds her a job. Rhett is the local vet and one of the town's most eligible bachelors. Nothing in his life is private and he hates being in the spotlight. With Pepper so close to him he can't shake off the curious inhabitants of Everland any longer. Will he keep his distance because of this or does he take a chance to get to know his new neighbor after all?
Pepper's only option to make some money is temporarily taking over someone's dog walking business. This is the most awful job she can think of, as Pepper is afraid of dogs. Not being able to pay her bills, however, scares her even more. She needs a new life plan and Everland is a nice place to enjoy herself a bit and think about her future. Maybe she will get over her phobia by spending more time with the animals she doesn't like and Rhett can assist her when she needs it. Pepper doesn't count on Rhett being so attractive though, will she be able to resist falling in love with the handsome vet?
It Happened on Love Street is a wonderful story. I immediately loved Everland. The street names are magical, the inhabitants are eccentric and cute and the community spirit is amazing. Reading about this enchanting place put a big smile on my face. Pepper tries to be responsible. She doesn't follow her heart and all of her decisions are rational, which doesn't work at all in Everland. Living next door to Rhett, becoming part of the small town and falling in love with the dogs she used to be so afraid of, slowly changes her and that was fabulous to witness.
Pepper has a good heart and she's perfect for Rhett, who's just as kind, or maybe even kinder. After someone broke his heart he tries to stay out of the public eye, but by doing so he actually achieves the exact opposite. It only makes people more curious and they want him to be happy with someone, so everyone is trying to make him have a love life, which is something I found really funny. Pepper and Rhett have sparkling chemistry and it was fun to read about their relationship. It's clear from the start that they have found true love, but the circumstances are less than ideal. I read It Happened on Love Street in one sitting because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen to them.
Lia Riley writes original romantic stories. I love the way she approaches the genre. She has a delightful outlook on life and her main characters always have fabulous quirks. She made me laugh out loud several times while reading It Happened on Love Street. It's a terrific romantic story with a great charming atmosphere. There are plenty of sexy scenes and in between there are a lot of surprising twists and turns. I especially loved Everland's treasure hunt and the Scrabble matches in the park. It Happened on Love Street is a very special book, it's a great happy story with a gorgeous endearing ending.
Pepper's only option to make some money is temporarily taking over someone's dog walking business. This is the most awful job she can think of, as Pepper is afraid of dogs. Not being able to pay her bills, however, scares her even more. She needs a new life plan and Everland is a nice place to enjoy herself a bit and think about her future. Maybe she will get over her phobia by spending more time with the animals she doesn't like and Rhett can assist her when she needs it. Pepper doesn't count on Rhett being so attractive though, will she be able to resist falling in love with the handsome vet?
It Happened on Love Street is a wonderful story. I immediately loved Everland. The street names are magical, the inhabitants are eccentric and cute and the community spirit is amazing. Reading about this enchanting place put a big smile on my face. Pepper tries to be responsible. She doesn't follow her heart and all of her decisions are rational, which doesn't work at all in Everland. Living next door to Rhett, becoming part of the small town and falling in love with the dogs she used to be so afraid of, slowly changes her and that was fabulous to witness.
Pepper has a good heart and she's perfect for Rhett, who's just as kind, or maybe even kinder. After someone broke his heart he tries to stay out of the public eye, but by doing so he actually achieves the exact opposite. It only makes people more curious and they want him to be happy with someone, so everyone is trying to make him have a love life, which is something I found really funny. Pepper and Rhett have sparkling chemistry and it was fun to read about their relationship. It's clear from the start that they have found true love, but the circumstances are less than ideal. I read It Happened on Love Street in one sitting because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen to them.
Lia Riley writes original romantic stories. I love the way she approaches the genre. She has a delightful outlook on life and her main characters always have fabulous quirks. She made me laugh out loud several times while reading It Happened on Love Street. It's a terrific romantic story with a great charming atmosphere. There are plenty of sexy scenes and in between there are a lot of surprising twists and turns. I especially loved Everland's treasure hunt and the Scrabble matches in the park. It Happened on Love Street is a very special book, it's a great happy story with a gorgeous endearing ending.
April 25, 2017
Pepper moves to a small town specifically for a job as a clerk at the Mayor's office. She shows up on her first day only to learn that she no longer has that job. She had everything planned around this move including the fact that it would've been a stepping stone to bigger and greater things but now those plans are in tatters. Resident hunk and much-loved local vet Rhett has a successful business but has been tight-lipped about his personal life mostly because he's determined to keep his private affairs from prying eyes. Rhett meets Pepper on her worst day ever and despite their awkward start, he finds her incredibly attractive. That's a reaction he hasn't had in a while. Hoping to keep her in town longer, he arranges a temporary job for her: that of a dog walker. It's so ridiculous that it's funny because she's petrified of dogs. Bills have to be paid though and this gig should buy her some time while she resets her plans. Falling in love with the town's most eligible bachelor is so not part of it.
The most enjoyable part about IHOLS is Pepper adapting to small town living, the slower pace and the friendliness. It’s weird after spending so much time in New York, and for her it’s coming full circle since she grew up in an even smaller town. However, she constantly worries about having a reliable income so that she can take care of her father. She has always felt the weight of responsibility therefore, while she may be taking to Everland and its quirks, she's always mindful that it’s temporary. Rhett on the other hand sees her a welcome breath of fresh air. She has no history here, she's smart, isn’t immersed in the town gossip and not to be forgotten, hot as hell. He’s finally interested in someone except that she wants to skedaddle as soon as she can. They have a fun thing going where they're at ease with each other to a certain extent. Unfortunately, Pepper’s just at a tough stage in her life trying to pick apart her needs from that of others. It’s going to take patience, encouragement and a lot of love to convince her to stay.
My only hangup was all the town gossip. It's a minor story detail but everyone’s business is on full display and even worse, some even openly meddle and barge in on you. That intrusion just makes me so uncomfortable. Luckily, that doesn't overshadow Rhett and Pepper being annoyingly adorable or her entertaining adventures in dog walking.
It Happened on Love Street is a cute, small town romance filled with friendly people and a few wacky personalities. It's not my personal favourite of Riley's romances but it's an ideal escape if you're in need of one this summer and you can bet that I'll be reading The Corner of Forever and Always because how can I resist? These titles just make me smile :) For now pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea and enjoy!
~ Bel
The most enjoyable part about IHOLS is Pepper adapting to small town living, the slower pace and the friendliness. It’s weird after spending so much time in New York, and for her it’s coming full circle since she grew up in an even smaller town. However, she constantly worries about having a reliable income so that she can take care of her father. She has always felt the weight of responsibility therefore, while she may be taking to Everland and its quirks, she's always mindful that it’s temporary. Rhett on the other hand sees her a welcome breath of fresh air. She has no history here, she's smart, isn’t immersed in the town gossip and not to be forgotten, hot as hell. He’s finally interested in someone except that she wants to skedaddle as soon as she can. They have a fun thing going where they're at ease with each other to a certain extent. Unfortunately, Pepper’s just at a tough stage in her life trying to pick apart her needs from that of others. It’s going to take patience, encouragement and a lot of love to convince her to stay.
My only hangup was all the town gossip. It's a minor story detail but everyone’s business is on full display and even worse, some even openly meddle and barge in on you. That intrusion just makes me so uncomfortable. Luckily, that doesn't overshadow Rhett and Pepper being annoyingly adorable or her entertaining adventures in dog walking.
It Happened on Love Street is a cute, small town romance filled with friendly people and a few wacky personalities. It's not my personal favourite of Riley's romances but it's an ideal escape if you're in need of one this summer and you can bet that I'll be reading The Corner of Forever and Always because how can I resist? These titles just make me smile :) For now pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea and enjoy!
~ Bel
June 23, 2017
3.75
The definition of small town :
Where you can't say hello to someone of the opposite sex without setting off rumors and when you have to swerve on the road to avoid an armadillo.
Pepper Knight relocated to Everland, Georgia for a job as a judicial clerkship. But when she arrive at her new workplace, she learn that her position had been giving to someone else. With no money and no job, she doesn't really have a choice and she's gonna have to stay for at least the time of her lease and find work. But her options are limited. The perks of her situation ? She can ogle the sexy neighbor ;p
Rhett Valentine is the town vet. He wants to open a shelter as a memorial to his mother, but he can't get the fund and he need a construction permit too. And when your family is in a feud with the mayor's, this is not a foregone conclusion. As the town's most eligible bachelor, the hero's every moves are scrutinized and gossiped in the town's blog, and his sister is always trying to set him up with women. But Rhett doesn't want anything to do with that. When the dogwalker of Everland break a leg, he ask Pepper to replace her, even if he knows that she's afraid of dogs. He know she need a job and he already have enough on his plate.
Small town settings with down on their luck heroines is probably the storyline I read the most in my life. It's a genre I enjoy because it's usually a perfect mix of romance and humor, and I like to see how they will manage with what is throw at them. I liked the whole local history of the town. I liked the townsfolk, especially the two kids, and I think the little twist with Elizabeth was clever and well done, but I think the despicable mayor shouldn't have had an easy way out. I liked the addition of the ads of Everland. There were lots of reference to literature and authors (the cat's name was hilarious).
The author played a lot with words. It's usually something I like but... I think it would have been better if she had cut down on the inner dialogues and metaphor, because what is funny and cute at first can lose the comical efficiency when there's too many.
But I liked this book enough to read the next one.
The definition of small town :
Where you can't say hello to someone of the opposite sex without setting off rumors and when you have to swerve on the road to avoid an armadillo.
Pepper Knight relocated to Everland, Georgia for a job as a judicial clerkship. But when she arrive at her new workplace, she learn that her position had been giving to someone else. With no money and no job, she doesn't really have a choice and she's gonna have to stay for at least the time of her lease and find work. But her options are limited. The perks of her situation ? She can ogle the sexy neighbor ;p
Rhett Valentine is the town vet. He wants to open a shelter as a memorial to his mother, but he can't get the fund and he need a construction permit too. And when your family is in a feud with the mayor's, this is not a foregone conclusion. As the town's most eligible bachelor, the hero's every moves are scrutinized and gossiped in the town's blog, and his sister is always trying to set him up with women. But Rhett doesn't want anything to do with that. When the dogwalker of Everland break a leg, he ask Pepper to replace her, even if he knows that she's afraid of dogs. He know she need a job and he already have enough on his plate.
Small town settings with down on their luck heroines is probably the storyline I read the most in my life. It's a genre I enjoy because it's usually a perfect mix of romance and humor, and I like to see how they will manage with what is throw at them. I liked the whole local history of the town. I liked the townsfolk, especially the two kids, and I think the little twist with Elizabeth was clever and well done, but I think the despicable mayor shouldn't have had an easy way out. I liked the addition of the ads of Everland. There were lots of reference to literature and authors (the cat's name was hilarious).
The author played a lot with words. It's usually something I like but... I think it would have been better if she had cut down on the inner dialogues and metaphor, because what is funny and cute at first can lose the comical efficiency when there's too many.
But I liked this book enough to read the next one.
April 24, 2017
“My sister’s uterus is a clown car.”
That has little to no bearing on my review, except it made me laugh so hard that I HAD to include it. Which brings me to one need-to-know fact about my experience with It Happened on Love Street: I highlighted the hell out of this book.
I couldn’t stop. Typically, choosing what quotes to include in my review is fairly easy. There’ll be several I like, but only a couple that speak to me or underscore what I want to say. Sometimes, though, it’s harder—either because the words don’t quite match, or, as is the case here, there are too many great lines to choose from.
When she looked at him, recognition sparked, like catching a glimpse of one’s reflection in a window.
Not only did this book have words that made me want to share (which shouldn’t be surprising, really, since I’ve long been a fan of Lia Riley and her way of writing just works for me), but it also made me happy.
So, so happy. It’s a charming, quirky, utterly delightful small-town romance, one which comes jam-packed with all the things that make small-town romances one of my favorite things ever. Nosy neighbors, kooky characters, silly situations, and whimsical, romantic street names and town histories. Plus, it had Cupid.
“A quintessential coastal Southern town up front, with the sexy, scury-dog pirates in the back. Put like that, I can see the appeal.”
Oh, my apologies. Rhett. Rhett Valentine, who melted my heart *and* my panties with his animal-loving nature and his chimpanzee-cage-inducing swoon factor. When paired with Pepper—erstwhile law clerk, now dog-phobic dogwalker—he shines. They shine.
Their banter is light-hearted. Their feelings are deep. Their romance is somewhat predictable but wholly enjoyable, and as the foundation for Ms. Riley’s new series, it is absolutely on-point.
Yep, I’m incredibly excited about the future of Everland, Georgia—because I’m already hoping to highlight the hell out of a book about Beau and Tuesday...
“I didn’t know I’d been waiting. I didn’t know I’d been wanting. Convinced myself what I had was enough. But you, this, I’ll never get enough.”
~ 4.5 Cupid STARS ~
That has little to no bearing on my review, except it made me laugh so hard that I HAD to include it. Which brings me to one need-to-know fact about my experience with It Happened on Love Street: I highlighted the hell out of this book.
I couldn’t stop. Typically, choosing what quotes to include in my review is fairly easy. There’ll be several I like, but only a couple that speak to me or underscore what I want to say. Sometimes, though, it’s harder—either because the words don’t quite match, or, as is the case here, there are too many great lines to choose from.
When she looked at him, recognition sparked, like catching a glimpse of one’s reflection in a window.
Not only did this book have words that made me want to share (which shouldn’t be surprising, really, since I’ve long been a fan of Lia Riley and her way of writing just works for me), but it also made me happy.
So, so happy. It’s a charming, quirky, utterly delightful small-town romance, one which comes jam-packed with all the things that make small-town romances one of my favorite things ever. Nosy neighbors, kooky characters, silly situations, and whimsical, romantic street names and town histories. Plus, it had Cupid.
“A quintessential coastal Southern town up front, with the sexy, scury-dog pirates in the back. Put like that, I can see the appeal.”
Oh, my apologies. Rhett. Rhett Valentine, who melted my heart *and* my panties with his animal-loving nature and his chimpanzee-cage-inducing swoon factor. When paired with Pepper—erstwhile law clerk, now dog-phobic dogwalker—he shines. They shine.
Their banter is light-hearted. Their feelings are deep. Their romance is somewhat predictable but wholly enjoyable, and as the foundation for Ms. Riley’s new series, it is absolutely on-point.
Yep, I’m incredibly excited about the future of Everland, Georgia—because I’m already hoping to highlight the hell out of a book about Beau and Tuesday...
“I didn’t know I’d been waiting. I didn’t know I’d been wanting. Convinced myself what I had was enough. But you, this, I’ll never get enough.”
~ 4.5 Cupid STARS ~
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