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Cherry Tree Harbor #1
Runaway Love
Austin Buckley
Yes, I’m a single dad who needs a nanny for the summer.
But hire the stranded runaway bride who shows up on my doorstep in a wedding gown with no references, no skills, and no experience?
No one is that desperate.
Except within twenty-four hours, down-on-her-luck Veronica Sutton manages to charm my kids, my family, and half the population of Cherry Tree Harbor into believing she’s perfect for the job.
And for me.
It’s not that I can’t see the appeal–those baby blue eyes? The endless legs? That mouth made for trouble? But I’ve got enough on my plate, raising two kids on my own and keeping the family business alive. I don’t have the time or the inclination to fall for an outspoken city girl.
So I should have kept my hands to myself.
Holding her in my arms was a big mistake. Even worse? Spending the night together. She ignites a possessive fire in me that I’m finding hard to snuff out.
But the most unforgivable? Growing attached to the sound of her laugh, the scent of her skin, and the way her body wraps around mine in the dark.
At the end of the summer, she’ll be gone.
And if I’m not careful, she might run away with my heart.
Yes, I’m a single dad who needs a nanny for the summer.
But hire the stranded runaway bride who shows up on my doorstep in a wedding gown with no references, no skills, and no experience?
No one is that desperate.
Except within twenty-four hours, down-on-her-luck Veronica Sutton manages to charm my kids, my family, and half the population of Cherry Tree Harbor into believing she’s perfect for the job.
And for me.
It’s not that I can’t see the appeal–those baby blue eyes? The endless legs? That mouth made for trouble? But I’ve got enough on my plate, raising two kids on my own and keeping the family business alive. I don’t have the time or the inclination to fall for an outspoken city girl.
So I should have kept my hands to myself.
Holding her in my arms was a big mistake. Even worse? Spending the night together. She ignites a possessive fire in me that I’m finding hard to snuff out.
But the most unforgivable? Growing attached to the sound of her laugh, the scent of her skin, and the way her body wraps around mine in the dark.
At the end of the summer, she’ll be gone.
And if I’m not careful, she might run away with my heart.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2023
About the author
Melanie Harlow
69 books18.9k followersUSA Today bestselling author of sweet and sexy romance. Lover of cocktails, high heels, and history with the naughty bits left in. Michigan girl. INTJ. Always seeking ginspiration...
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Website→harlow.pub/web
Newsletter→harlow.pub/mh-news
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,166 reviews
August 10, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ WAIT IF YOU LIKED HEARTLESS BY ELSIE SILVER YOU MUST READ THIS. THIS WAS ADORABLE. My first Melanie Harlow book and I’m in love with her writing style
April 29, 2023
melanie harlow cannot write a bad book!
this one reallyyyy hit the spot
veronica is just about to become a stepford wife when a perfectly timed text reveals her fiancée’s infidelity. with no money or belongings to her name, she decided to stay in the small town their wedding was supposed to be in and figure out her next steps. austin’s in the market for a summer nanny but a runaway bride who can’t cook, doesn’t have a car, and has zero childcare experience isn’t his first choice. with a little convincing from his kids and the town, he reluctantly hires her.
i don’t know what it was about this book but it’s one of my fave MH books. i loved austin and veronica so so much and they were such real characters.
austin was such a grump but such a good dad and SO hot. he really went from never letting loose to being a caveman in the bedroom and we looooove to see it.
roni hit a little too close to home with the abandonment issues ok but i loved her so much
single dad/nanny, small town, grumpy/sunshine, lots of amazing side characters, kids who aren’t annoying, and that g o o d spice that MH delivers every single time
this one reallyyyy hit the spot
veronica is just about to become a stepford wife when a perfectly timed text reveals her fiancée’s infidelity. with no money or belongings to her name, she decided to stay in the small town their wedding was supposed to be in and figure out her next steps. austin’s in the market for a summer nanny but a runaway bride who can’t cook, doesn’t have a car, and has zero childcare experience isn’t his first choice. with a little convincing from his kids and the town, he reluctantly hires her.
i don’t know what it was about this book but it’s one of my fave MH books. i loved austin and veronica so so much and they were such real characters.
austin was such a grump but such a good dad and SO hot. he really went from never letting loose to being a caveman in the bedroom and we looooove to see it.
roni hit a little too close to home with the abandonment issues ok but i loved her so much
single dad/nanny, small town, grumpy/sunshine, lots of amazing side characters, kids who aren’t annoying, and that g o o d spice that MH delivers every single time
May 8, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
''It only happens once''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating (between MCs)
- No OW/OM drama
- Loss of loved ones
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I have yet to read anything from Melanie that has disappointed me. This book was so good. The tension, the angst, the push/pull. The chemistry, the found family aspect.... honestly it was perfect.
Veronica is just moments away from getting married when she finds out her fiancé Neil has been cheating on her and was with another woman the night before. She spends a year with him where he controlled her life, money and personality. She decides right then and there to walk away and start over in the small town which they were supposed to marry and luckily gets informed about a job that has opened up: Nanny for the summer. She goes off and gets interviewed in her WEDDING DRESS lol
Austin is the grumpiest guy; he is a single father of 7-year-old twins (boy and girl). He is also the most responsible one out of his siblings, he put away his own dreams to take care of everyone and has been doing this for a really long time. He spends most of the beginning of the book scowling at Veronica but it’s not because he finds her annoying or wishes for her to be gone but it's all related to the fact, he finds her seriously attractive and can't stop thinking about her.
These two have moments of giving in and it's so good, the tension that is built up throughout the entire book is just perfection. You can sense how much they want each other and how much pain they are in when they need to pretend otherwise.
I loved how this was a drama free book other than the push/pull between them. No other woman drama, even the kids mother never made an appearance to cause issues nor did she cause issues later on - the kids only see her once a year for a week and she is described as a cool aunt rather than their mother because they were never planned, and it was a ONS. She didn't want them, but Austin stepped up. She isn't an absent mother as one would think, they talk every Sunday, and she takes care of them when she has them, but I actually expected her to cause issues? So, it was nice when it never happened. Also, nice that we didn’t dwell on Neil too much and he was just a mistake that was left behind…but it was so satisfying when Austin got in his face and told him a few things and then proceeded to punch him lol
We also find out that Austin has basically been celibate for 7 years - only been with 1-2 woman in the beginning of those years and nothing/nobody the years after. The smut in this book, the dirty talk, the small moments they share. It's all soo good.
He spends so much of the book going back and forth about Veronica, he did give in to their attraction, but he was saying the wrong things after it ended and just not owning up to his feelings. It was frustrating but it was not annoying or tiring for me.
I can sense that this series will be about the Buckley siblings since I can sense that they each have an interesting story to tell, we only got to meet Xander and Mable. The others were just mentioned but never made an on-page appearance.
Xander’s book is next! We have not met his FMC so it should be interesting considering he admits in this book he wants to settle down and be married.
Overall, this book was great, and I truly enjoyed it from the beginning till the end. Never skimming and never looking to see how much time was left so I could get it over with. If you are looking for a grumpy/sunshine – boss/nanny story without the useless drama, then this is it.
Some of the quotes I loved:
''Guard your heart like it's your home''
''Because now I loved her. And I couldn't fire my fucking feelings''
''It only happens once''
Safety warnings:
- No cheating (between MCs)
- No OW/OM drama
- Loss of loved ones
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
I have yet to read anything from Melanie that has disappointed me. This book was so good. The tension, the angst, the push/pull. The chemistry, the found family aspect.... honestly it was perfect.
Veronica is just moments away from getting married when she finds out her fiancé Neil has been cheating on her and was with another woman the night before. She spends a year with him where he controlled her life, money and personality. She decides right then and there to walk away and start over in the small town which they were supposed to marry and luckily gets informed about a job that has opened up: Nanny for the summer. She goes off and gets interviewed in her WEDDING DRESS lol
Austin is the grumpiest guy; he is a single father of 7-year-old twins (boy and girl). He is also the most responsible one out of his siblings, he put away his own dreams to take care of everyone and has been doing this for a really long time. He spends most of the beginning of the book scowling at Veronica but it’s not because he finds her annoying or wishes for her to be gone but it's all related to the fact, he finds her seriously attractive and can't stop thinking about her.
These two have moments of giving in and it's so good, the tension that is built up throughout the entire book is just perfection. You can sense how much they want each other and how much pain they are in when they need to pretend otherwise.
I loved how this was a drama free book other than the push/pull between them. No other woman drama, even the kids mother never made an appearance to cause issues nor did she cause issues later on - the kids only see her once a year for a week and she is described as a cool aunt rather than their mother because they were never planned, and it was a ONS. She didn't want them, but Austin stepped up. She isn't an absent mother as one would think, they talk every Sunday, and she takes care of them when she has them, but I actually expected her to cause issues? So, it was nice when it never happened. Also, nice that we didn’t dwell on Neil too much and he was just a mistake that was left behind…but it was so satisfying when Austin got in his face and told him a few things and then proceeded to punch him lol
We also find out that Austin has basically been celibate for 7 years - only been with 1-2 woman in the beginning of those years and nothing/nobody the years after. The smut in this book, the dirty talk, the small moments they share. It's all soo good.
He spends so much of the book going back and forth about Veronica, he did give in to their attraction, but he was saying the wrong things after it ended and just not owning up to his feelings. It was frustrating but it was not annoying or tiring for me.
I can sense that this series will be about the Buckley siblings since I can sense that they each have an interesting story to tell, we only got to meet Xander and Mable. The others were just mentioned but never made an on-page appearance.
Xander’s book is next! We have not met his FMC so it should be interesting considering he admits in this book he wants to settle down and be married.
Overall, this book was great, and I truly enjoyed it from the beginning till the end. Never skimming and never looking to see how much time was left so I could get it over with. If you are looking for a grumpy/sunshine – boss/nanny story without the useless drama, then this is it.
Some of the quotes I loved:
''Guard your heart like it's your home''
''Because now I loved her. And I couldn't fire my fucking feelings''
Read
November 20, 2023✮ ✮ 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗪 ✮ ✮
𝐻𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑡 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎 𝑦𝑒𝑡?
✓ Small Town Love Story
✓ Hot Single Dad
✓ Grumpy/Sunshine
✓ Forced Proximity
✓ Nanny/Boss
✓ Runaway Bride
✓ Starting Over
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱!
✦ Kindle Unlimited/Amazon → https://harlow.pub/RunawayLove-amazon
✦ Amazon International → https://mybook.to/RunawayLove
✦ Paperback → https://harlow.pub/RunawayLove-pb
🎧 Audio → https://harlow.pub/RunawayLove-audible (𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑆𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑌𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑠)
𝐻𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑡 𝐴𝑢𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎 𝑦𝑒𝑡?
✓ Small Town Love Story
✓ Hot Single Dad
✓ Grumpy/Sunshine
✓ Forced Proximity
✓ Nanny/Boss
✓ Runaway Bride
✓ Starting Over
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆! 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱!
✦ Kindle Unlimited/Amazon → https://harlow.pub/RunawayLove-amazon
✦ Amazon International → https://mybook.to/RunawayLove
✦ Paperback → https://harlow.pub/RunawayLove-pb
🎧 Audio → https://harlow.pub/RunawayLove-audible (𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑆𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑌𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑜𝑝ℎ𝑖𝑒 𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑠)
February 20, 2024
this is cute but I’ll definitely forget about it within five business days
May 9, 2023
4⭐️ this was fun! An interesting and slightly different take on these tropes, with a jealous possessive grumpy and not entirely likeable MMC that of course we all end up loving 😂
I feel like it was all a little rushed - not the actual writing, but how fast everything seemed to happen in the book. There was so much ‘build up’ to the relationship and not enough of the actual relationship. On reflection, maybe the issue here is relationship development was actually quite drawn out and not rushed???
All I know is I was listening to the audiobook and I felt like I was finally getting into the grit of the story and that’s when I realised I was already at chapter 22/26. Still working out how I feel about this.
I know this was just the plot style for the story, but I guess I wanted more of them together. This is not a criticism though, just the vibe I was getting from this book.
I also felt like this story needed:
👏 More about the twins’ Mother and how she has almost nothing to do with them, but they still seem to have quite a healthy relationship with her. I can’t see how this wouldn’t effect them more.
👏 More sweet moments and relationship development between the twins and Veronica.
👏 More about Veronica’s mother dying and how this contributed to her relationship with her ex. He obviously used this and her vulnerability at this time to gain more control over her.
👏 More of Veronica building a life in Cherry Tree Harbour, making friends and starting her studio and family life with Austin and the twins. Again, I needed more of the ‘after’ 😂
I honestly really enjoyed this book and I absolutely recommend it! I just wanted more! 🥹❤️
I feel like it was all a little rushed - not the actual writing, but how fast everything seemed to happen in the book. There was so much ‘build up’ to the relationship and not enough of the actual relationship. On reflection, maybe the issue here is relationship development was actually quite drawn out and not rushed???
All I know is I was listening to the audiobook and I felt like I was finally getting into the grit of the story and that’s when I realised I was already at chapter 22/26. Still working out how I feel about this.
I know this was just the plot style for the story, but I guess I wanted more of them together. This is not a criticism though, just the vibe I was getting from this book.
I also felt like this story needed:
👏 More about the twins’ Mother and how she has almost nothing to do with them, but they still seem to have quite a healthy relationship with her. I can’t see how this wouldn’t effect them more.
👏 More sweet moments and relationship development between the twins and Veronica.
👏 More about Veronica’s mother dying and how this contributed to her relationship with her ex. He obviously used this and her vulnerability at this time to gain more control over her.
👏 More of Veronica building a life in Cherry Tree Harbour, making friends and starting her studio and family life with Austin and the twins. Again, I needed more of the ‘after’ 😂
I honestly really enjoyed this book and I absolutely recommend it! I just wanted more! 🥹❤️
March 10, 2024
4.75 it-only-happens-once, gonna-mark-you stars
Yeah. You read those lines right ^^. We get both sweet/swoony and hot/duuurty in this one, and oh… does it get duuuurty 😉.
It’s Veronica’s (29) wedding day when she receives a sext message from her fiancé talking about last night… except she wasn’t with him last night 😑. When she confronts him, she does the only sensible thing a Rockette like her could do- she kicks him in the face 😮💨💅. He deserves it 💁🏻♀️. It also prevents her from being the cookie-cutter wife he wants her to be. She leaves the area and goes to a small town, in her wedding dress, to get a burger. There, she meets many locals, but one specifically sees her as someone that could maybe help her brother Austin.
Austin’s (32) a single father of twins and tends to rely on his sister Mabel to help him with them. The twins’ mother lives in a different state, so he needs his family to help him. The problem is that Mabel wants to go on a dig for her PhD program and needs to leave like ASAP😬. Being the good older brother that he is (he’s been helping his dad raise his siblings since their mother died when he was a teenager), he encourages her to go. But now, he’ll need a nanny for the summer. Luckily for him, Mabel met an amazing prospect down at the city’s burger joint.
When he meets her, he’s concerned about her inexperience, among other things 😬. He never mixes work with pleasure, so if she’s gonna be the twins’ nanny, nothing can happen between them…
Like… nothing 👀
If only people always followed the rules… 👀😅
What I loved/liked: possible spoilers
—the tension 👀. Even though Austin says he CAN’T do anything with Veronica, he sure can’t help thinking about her in very un-nanny ways 😅. And, she does the same 😉. Once they have their first kiss, it becomes even harder to stay away. And they way Austin kisses her 😮💨🔥. The “are you a good girl scene” had me 🫠. Ufff
—the JP scenes 😈. Not me applauding the way Austin hulks out and loses his 💩 whenever men are around Veronica 💁🏻♀️. The dancing/wall scene was GOLD 😉. MINEMINEMINE 💅
—the 🔥. Oh LAWD. LORDT. My poor kindle didn’t see it coming. Austin, you’re a diiirty boi 👀. For a man that’s all about rules and family, you sure get down when it counts 😜. Jeeezus 🥵. This is medium burn (full smeexx early 50% ish) and it keeps going til the end 😉. Even the extended epilogue is 🔥
—the marking scenes 👀. Yeah. I know. I had to double check the author. Austin wants everyone to know Veronica is his 🔥 and he’ll do it any way possible 💦
—did I mention Austin’s dirty mouth? It definitely needs its own bullet 👀🥵
—how protective Austin is❤️. Gah. This man’s so swoony with his protectiveness, not only with Veronica but with his family as well. He took on the role of pseudo-mom when theirs died and he takes care of Veronica in whatever way he can ❤️
—getting to know each other ❤️. I love all the day-to-day scenes, just them talking or exercising (ahem… yoga anyone? 👀)
—broken nose 💁🏻♀️. Don’t you be throwing his woman’s things out, or you’re gonna meet Austin’s 👊🏻
—found family🫶. I love that Veronica found supportive people in the small town and in Austin’s family ❤️
—taking on the role of single father 🥹. Austin had no qualms about this when he was younger 🫶. Such an admirable quality and one not many men have 🤷🏻♀️
—the twins. The kids were NOT annoying. I actually found myself giggling here and there 🤣
—the (dirty 😜) chore chart. Umm… 🔥
—how selfless Austin is 🥹. He never puts his needs first. Sigh 🥹. He’s just so swooooony 😭
—massages 👀. Oh. This was… this was 🔥I might’ve reread these scenes just because of Austin and how he acts🤣
—Austin’s dad 😭. Ermagod. Protect this man at all cost 😭. Love at first sight with their mom and he’s never dated since. It only happens once 😭❤️. I got soooo emotional ☹️😭 gaaaah 🥹
What I wanted more of:
—um… length? Lol maybe more of a grovel? We have a “grovel”, but it could’ve been drawn out more 🤷🏻♀️😜
—normally, Melanie Harlow does MANY-years into the future epilogues when you go to her website, but we didn’t get that this time 😭. I’m missing it 😭 lol but this is just me trying to find something else to say 🤣
—ohhhh!! I thought of something! Her ex Neil 😑
—I wouldn’t have minded if Veronica had made Austin stew in his regret juices a bit more 💅
Overall, I loved it 🥹
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd
-cheating*: the h is cheated on by her ex. She finds out on her wedding day
-recounting of lost loved ones
-mental health: slight panic attack
-mild OMD- the h gets asked out to dance and the H gets jealous. Her cheating ex causes mild drama when the h goes to pick up her stuff. The H takes care of him 💁🏻♀️ 💅
-biting/praise kink/dirty talk/face f/face sitting/marking/hand necklace
-condoms/H hasn’t had sex in years/h is on birth control
-HEA/epilogue/about a year ish later/extended epilogue through newsletter
Yeah. You read those lines right ^^. We get both sweet/swoony and hot/duuurty in this one, and oh… does it get duuuurty 😉.
It’s Veronica’s (29) wedding day when she receives a sext message from her fiancé talking about last night… except she wasn’t with him last night 😑. When she confronts him, she does the only sensible thing a Rockette like her could do- she kicks him in the face 😮💨💅. He deserves it 💁🏻♀️. It also prevents her from being the cookie-cutter wife he wants her to be. She leaves the area and goes to a small town, in her wedding dress, to get a burger. There, she meets many locals, but one specifically sees her as someone that could maybe help her brother Austin.
Austin’s (32) a single father of twins and tends to rely on his sister Mabel to help him with them. The twins’ mother lives in a different state, so he needs his family to help him. The problem is that Mabel wants to go on a dig for her PhD program and needs to leave like ASAP😬. Being the good older brother that he is (he’s been helping his dad raise his siblings since their mother died when he was a teenager), he encourages her to go. But now, he’ll need a nanny for the summer. Luckily for him, Mabel met an amazing prospect down at the city’s burger joint.
When he meets her, he’s concerned about her inexperience, among other things 😬. He never mixes work with pleasure, so if she’s gonna be the twins’ nanny, nothing can happen between them…
Like… nothing 👀
If only people always followed the rules… 👀😅
What I loved/liked: possible spoilers
—the tension 👀. Even though Austin says he CAN’T do anything with Veronica, he sure can’t help thinking about her in very un-nanny ways 😅. And, she does the same 😉. Once they have their first kiss, it becomes even harder to stay away. And they way Austin kisses her 😮💨🔥. The “are you a good girl scene” had me 🫠. Ufff
—the JP scenes 😈. Not me applauding the way Austin hulks out and loses his 💩 whenever men are around Veronica 💁🏻♀️. The dancing/wall scene was GOLD 😉. MINEMINEMINE 💅
—the 🔥. Oh LAWD. LORDT. My poor kindle didn’t see it coming. Austin, you’re a diiirty boi 👀. For a man that’s all about rules and family, you sure get down when it counts 😜. Jeeezus 🥵. This is medium burn (full smeexx early 50% ish) and it keeps going til the end 😉. Even the extended epilogue is 🔥
—the marking scenes 👀. Yeah. I know. I had to double check the author. Austin wants everyone to know Veronica is his 🔥 and he’ll do it any way possible 💦
—did I mention Austin’s dirty mouth? It definitely needs its own bullet 👀🥵
—how protective Austin is❤️. Gah. This man’s so swoony with his protectiveness, not only with Veronica but with his family as well. He took on the role of pseudo-mom when theirs died and he takes care of Veronica in whatever way he can ❤️
—getting to know each other ❤️. I love all the day-to-day scenes, just them talking or exercising (ahem… yoga anyone? 👀)
—broken nose 💁🏻♀️. Don’t you be throwing his woman’s things out, or you’re gonna meet Austin’s 👊🏻
—found family🫶. I love that Veronica found supportive people in the small town and in Austin’s family ❤️
—taking on the role of single father 🥹. Austin had no qualms about this when he was younger 🫶. Such an admirable quality and one not many men have 🤷🏻♀️
—the twins. The kids were NOT annoying. I actually found myself giggling here and there 🤣
—the (dirty 😜) chore chart. Umm… 🔥
—how selfless Austin is 🥹. He never puts his needs first. Sigh 🥹. He’s just so swooooony 😭
—massages 👀. Oh. This was… this was 🔥I might’ve reread these scenes just because of Austin and how he acts🤣
—Austin’s dad 😭. Ermagod. Protect this man at all cost 😭. Love at first sight with their mom and he’s never dated since. It only happens once 😭❤️. I got soooo emotional ☹️😭 gaaaah 🥹
What I wanted more of:
—um… length? Lol maybe more of a grovel? We have a “grovel”, but it could’ve been drawn out more 🤷🏻♀️😜
—normally, Melanie Harlow does MANY-years into the future epilogues when you go to her website, but we didn’t get that this time 😭. I’m missing it 😭 lol but this is just me trying to find something else to say 🤣
—ohhhh!! I thought of something! Her ex Neil 😑
—I wouldn’t have minded if Veronica had made Austin stew in his regret juices a bit more 💅
Overall, I loved it 🥹
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/sharing/owd
-cheating*: the h is cheated on by her ex. She finds out on her wedding day
-recounting of lost loved ones
-mental health: slight panic attack
-mild OMD- the h gets asked out to dance and the H gets jealous. Her cheating ex causes mild drama when the h goes to pick up her stuff. The H takes care of him 💁🏻♀️ 💅
-biting/praise kink/dirty talk/face f/face sitting/marking/hand necklace
-condoms/H hasn’t had sex in years/h is on birth control
-HEA/epilogue/about a year ish later/extended epilogue through newsletter
August 6, 2023
I’ve loved every other Melanie Harlowe book I have read, but this one not so much. I didn’t like the insta-lust, their relationship was built on attraction and sex, they went on one date; and barely talked to each other throughout the whole book. They would go from hot and heavy to complete avoidance for days; I really don’t get how you can fall in love that way!?!?! The only reason I kept reading is the small-town vibes, the town and people were so charming and quaint; I couldn’t get enough of them.
June 3, 2023
OMG! Such a good book! Definitely give it a go! Grumpy single dad x sunshine nanny, and small-town spicy 🔥 romance 😊 What’s not the love?
The book moves fast and has a very easy-going energy. I LOVE books that you can finish in a couple of hours because they're easy to read and understand. Like the writing style is on point and there aren't any pointless chapter or moments. 😊
The kids are 7-year-old twins and amazingly funny and sweet. They were less present than kids in The Nanny by Lana Ferguson or To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise or The Final Offer by Lauren Asher which is a shame because they were awesome 💜
From the top the book was really fun and easy-going. The way Roni dumped her cheating fiancé at the wedding was beautiful. Austin, true to his grumpy archetype, was a meanie at the first meeting but caved just a few hours later.
The dual pov was really great and made me enjoy both characters. Maybe Austin a bit more because I found it hilarious how smitten and aroused the poor guy was by Roni. But during the 3rd act breakup he pissed me off so much more than Roni 🙄😒 Miscommunication is a bitch.
I would say the lust was there from the start, and kissing and daydreaming happened pretty fast like before 100 pages, but then it was mostly attraction and lust until there was finally spice but it was before the ending don't worry 😉
I also liked the side characters and I can't wait for Xander's book. 😊
Back to the point, this book is totally worth trying it out. ❤️
The book moves fast and has a very easy-going energy. I LOVE books that you can finish in a couple of hours because they're easy to read and understand. Like the writing style is on point and there aren't any pointless chapter or moments. 😊
The kids are 7-year-old twins and amazingly funny and sweet. They were less present than kids in The Nanny by Lana Ferguson or To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise or The Final Offer by Lauren Asher which is a shame because they were awesome 💜
From the top the book was really fun and easy-going. The way Roni dumped her cheating fiancé at the wedding was beautiful. Austin, true to his grumpy archetype, was a meanie at the first meeting but caved just a few hours later.
The dual pov was really great and made me enjoy both characters. Maybe Austin a bit more because I found it hilarious how smitten and aroused the poor guy was by Roni. But during the 3rd act breakup he pissed me off so much more than Roni 🙄😒 Miscommunication is a bitch.
I would say the lust was there from the start, and kissing and daydreaming happened pretty fast like before 100 pages, but then it was mostly attraction and lust until there was finally spice but it was before the ending don't worry 😉
I also liked the side characters and I can't wait for Xander's book. 😊
Back to the point, this book is totally worth trying it out. ❤️
July 14, 2023
melanie harlow will always be an autobuy author for me! her books are always the perfect balance of sweet moments, hilarious characters (especially kids!), top tier spice, and small town shenanigans. and she totally delivered all of that & more with this book
when veronica discovers that her soon to be husband has been cheating on her on the morning of their wedding, she wastes no time leaving him at the altar and making her escape. when she ends up stranded in a small town with no money and no way to leave town, fate steps in in the form of a grumpy single dad in desperate need of a nanny 🤭
runaway love was a fun, lighthearted read with lots of witty banter, tension, and cute moments that made for the perfect summery small town romance!
i listened to this one on audio and loved the narrators! sebastian york always plays the broody grump so well, and sophie daniels brought out all of veronica’s sweet, witty, sunshiney personality. i already know it’ll be added to the comfort audiobook rotation.
when veronica discovers that her soon to be husband has been cheating on her on the morning of their wedding, she wastes no time leaving him at the altar and making her escape. when she ends up stranded in a small town with no money and no way to leave town, fate steps in in the form of a grumpy single dad in desperate need of a nanny 🤭
runaway love was a fun, lighthearted read with lots of witty banter, tension, and cute moments that made for the perfect summery small town romance!
i listened to this one on audio and loved the narrators! sebastian york always plays the broody grump so well, and sophie daniels brought out all of veronica’s sweet, witty, sunshiney personality. i already know it’ll be added to the comfort audiobook rotation.
April 22, 2023
Rating: 5 Stars
Spice: 4.5
Runaway Love by Melanie Harlow is an unforgettable, fast paced romance novel. This small town, romantic comedy will have you in the feels, I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. Chapter one had me in tears of laughter.
This small town loves to give our lovely MMC Austin a run for his money,truly entertaining. Austin is a single dad of twins and needs a new nanny. How can he turn down the one woman who showed up on his doorstep, in her wedding dress, looking for a job? Cherry Tree Harbor is the perfect town to unwind after you found out your ex was cheating on you, on your wedding day. Left with nothing and no place to go, Veronica with the help of her new friends, makes a way for herself. Determined not to break, she strides forward with her head held high.
This was charismatic and charming funny. Veronica had me laughing with her spunky personality and her defiance. She was good with Adelaide and Owen, she put all her effort into properly taken care of Austin’s kids. I love a good strong FMC who knows what she wants and goes for it. Her intelligence, loving nature, and determination are admirable. She may have been a little lost along the way but she didn’t let it stop her or control her.
This was full of sass, laughs and it was incredibly steamy. I loved how it ended and can’t wait for Melanie Harlow’s next book. She never fails to amaze me with her writing talent. Every single character was well written and I’m dying for more of them.
Happy Reading 💋
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Spice: 4.5
Runaway Love by Melanie Harlow is an unforgettable, fast paced romance novel. This small town, romantic comedy will have you in the feels, I’ve never laughed so hard in my life. Chapter one had me in tears of laughter.
This small town loves to give our lovely MMC Austin a run for his money,truly entertaining. Austin is a single dad of twins and needs a new nanny. How can he turn down the one woman who showed up on his doorstep, in her wedding dress, looking for a job? Cherry Tree Harbor is the perfect town to unwind after you found out your ex was cheating on you, on your wedding day. Left with nothing and no place to go, Veronica with the help of her new friends, makes a way for herself. Determined not to break, she strides forward with her head held high.
This was charismatic and charming funny. Veronica had me laughing with her spunky personality and her defiance. She was good with Adelaide and Owen, she put all her effort into properly taken care of Austin’s kids. I love a good strong FMC who knows what she wants and goes for it. Her intelligence, loving nature, and determination are admirable. She may have been a little lost along the way but she didn’t let it stop her or control her.
This was full of sass, laughs and it was incredibly steamy. I loved how it ended and can’t wait for Melanie Harlow’s next book. She never fails to amaze me with her writing talent. Every single character was well written and I’m dying for more of them.
Happy Reading 💋
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 11, 2023
Melanie Harlow knows how to write the BEST DANG SINGLE DAD BOOKS!!
I am so excited for this new series & this was an absolutely amazing start to it!!! The perfect combination of romance and swoon-factor!
Austin & Veronica were perfection. As was the whole town, the twins, and the buckleys. My heart is just so full after finishing this book. Austin was the grumpiest grump you will ever see. And a freaking single dad?! It’s quite the combination if I say so myself 😏 the tension between the two was so thiccccc I felt it coming off the pages and boy were these two HOT together. Daddy’s got a dirty mouth ;) Also, if a man doesn’t rip your exes shirt in half…I don’t want him!!
The side characters were amazing and I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW HAPPY I AM WITH HOW FUCKBOY NEIL GOT HIS COMEUPPANCE!!!!
You need to read this book immediately. If you are in a slump, this book WILL get you out of it. I was hooked in the first few pages and I could NOT put it down.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Single dad x nanny
Grumpy x sunshine
Small town
Forced proximity
Found family
Runaway bride
Boss x employee
I am so excited for this new series & this was an absolutely amazing start to it!!! The perfect combination of romance and swoon-factor!
Austin & Veronica were perfection. As was the whole town, the twins, and the buckleys. My heart is just so full after finishing this book. Austin was the grumpiest grump you will ever see. And a freaking single dad?! It’s quite the combination if I say so myself 😏 the tension between the two was so thiccccc I felt it coming off the pages and boy were these two HOT together. Daddy’s got a dirty mouth ;) Also, if a man doesn’t rip your exes shirt in half…I don’t want him!!
The side characters were amazing and I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW HAPPY I AM WITH HOW FUCKBOY NEIL GOT HIS COMEUPPANCE!!!!
You need to read this book immediately. If you are in a slump, this book WILL get you out of it. I was hooked in the first few pages and I could NOT put it down.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
Single dad x nanny
Grumpy x sunshine
Small town
Forced proximity
Found family
Runaway bride
Boss x employee
July 15, 2023
so cute, funny and spicy. i love me some melanie harlow. <3
July 10, 2023
Awww, that was so cute! Nothing like some sweet, sexy, feel-good romance from Melanie Harlow to end the weekend. I had so much fun reading this! Veronica, or Roni, is about to marry her fiancé when he texts her…only the text is intended for Valerie, who he was apparently with last night and can’t stop thinking about. So Roni leaves him at the alter, and through a series of events, ends up on Austin’s doorstep after his sister told her to come interview to be his nanny. In her wedding dress. Austin, though immediately attracted to her, is less than impressed with her less than stellar resume. But Roni is determined to gain a life for herself, and through her awesome personality and charm, she lands the job.
Austin likes his life very orderly. Know who’s not orderly? The gorgeous woman living over his garage who does backyard yoga, can’t cook t save her life, and drives him crazy with lust. But she’s wonderful with his adorable children, Adelaide and Owen, and she is quickly becoming the town sweetheart. Austin fights his attraction as long as possible before giving in. I loved this book! Opposites attract, and Roni needed Austin to give her love and stability, while Austin needed Roni to remind him to enjoy life and embrace the fun. Super cute, super sweet, maybe a little corny towards the end, but hey, I know what I’m in for with MH and I love her for it!
Austin likes his life very orderly. Know who’s not orderly? The gorgeous woman living over his garage who does backyard yoga, can’t cook t save her life, and drives him crazy with lust. But she’s wonderful with his adorable children, Adelaide and Owen, and she is quickly becoming the town sweetheart. Austin fights his attraction as long as possible before giving in. I loved this book! Opposites attract, and Roni needed Austin to give her love and stability, while Austin needed Roni to remind him to enjoy life and embrace the fun. Super cute, super sweet, maybe a little corny towards the end, but hey, I know what I’m in for with MH and I love her for it!
April 25, 2023
single dad + nanny + spice + small town = perfection
Melanie once again delivers on her newest release!
This one follows Veronica… she finds out her fiancé is cheating as she’s supposed to walk down the isle!!! Instead of hearing his bullsh*t she takes matters into her own hands!
I honestly loved her so much. She’s a little lost. Unsure of herself (not in a self confidence way) but in a way of not knowing what to do when her life didn’t turn out the way she thought. But then she meets Austin… he’s the single dad she ends up nannying for!
Austin is a great father but always puts everyone’s needs before himself. Until he meets her. They can only handle it for so long until they collide… literally 😉
All I’m saying is LIPSTICKKKKKKKK!
All together this a sweet, swoony, sexy and small town romance that just made me happy! Loved every single second!!!
**ARC/alpha read**
Melanie once again delivers on her newest release!
This one follows Veronica… she finds out her fiancé is cheating as she’s supposed to walk down the isle!!! Instead of hearing his bullsh*t she takes matters into her own hands!
I honestly loved her so much. She’s a little lost. Unsure of herself (not in a self confidence way) but in a way of not knowing what to do when her life didn’t turn out the way she thought. But then she meets Austin… he’s the single dad she ends up nannying for!
Austin is a great father but always puts everyone’s needs before himself. Until he meets her. They can only handle it for so long until they collide… literally 😉
All I’m saying is LIPSTICKKKKKKKK!
All together this a sweet, swoony, sexy and small town romance that just made me happy! Loved every single second!!!
**ARC/alpha read**
May 9, 2023
UNDERWHELMING!!
Me siento estafada yo esperaba la gran historia o sea es Single Dad/Nanny una protagonista fugitiva de su boda un protagonista grumpy y sobre todo que es de Melanie Harlow que ella es un must read para mí.
Sus historias son ligeras, frescas, con un poquitito de drama, steamy, ambientados en small town y sí tiene todo eso, pero mal desarrollado y es que hay un poco de historia en el sexo.
El protagonista se la pasa pensando en el sexo todo el tiempo como se lo va hacer que postura y pues ella también muy deseosa, además fue instalust
Desperdició a los niños que cuando aparecieron eran encantadores.
Todo fue muy basic y flat.
Me duele porque es Melanie, pero sus últimos libros no han sido tan buenos espero que el siguiente si sea muy bueno
Me siento estafada yo esperaba la gran historia o sea es Single Dad/Nanny una protagonista fugitiva de su boda un protagonista grumpy y sobre todo que es de Melanie Harlow que ella es un must read para mí.
Sus historias son ligeras, frescas, con un poquitito de drama, steamy, ambientados en small town y sí tiene todo eso, pero mal desarrollado y es que hay un poco de historia en el sexo.
El protagonista se la pasa pensando en el sexo todo el tiempo como se lo va hacer que postura y pues ella también muy deseosa, además fue instalust
Desperdició a los niños que cuando aparecieron eran encantadores.
Todo fue muy basic y flat.
Me duele porque es Melanie, pero sus últimos libros no han sido tan buenos espero que el siguiente si sea muy bueno
Read
May 2, 2023Heart, heat, and perfect punches of humor, Runaway Love had me smiling, swooning, and falling in love with Austin and Veronica! This single dad/nanny romance is small town perfection with hilarious side characters, delicious spice, and all the grumpy/sunshine feels we love. A must read for romance lovers!
May 5, 2023
2.5⭐️ unfortunately this wasn’t my fav. I normally LOVE the single dad/ nanny trope but this was purely sexual chemistry between the couple. They had a very insta lovey relationship and no substance at all. Austin was a dick and I had no desire to read about him LOL. The man needed therapy to learn how to stop being a damn idiot. The constant denial of feelings even tho it was so clear they liked each other was so frustrating.
The only redeeming qualities was the hints at the future books in this series. Very interested in Ari & Dash’s story 👀
The only redeeming qualities was the hints at the future books in this series. Very interested in Ari & Dash’s story 👀
May 10, 2023
Meh. I'm mostly easy when it comes to this author but this one felt lackluster. It was alright but similar to a few of her previous books without the family and friends dynamics Harlow usually delivers with brio.
Something that put me out of the story many times is Veronica very one sided relationship with her "best friend". The same best friend that couldn't attend her failed wedding because she ended rushing to delivering her baby THE SAME DAY.
And so we're presented with this weird dynamic of Veronica calling her bestie whenever she needs a sympathetic hear or someone to listen to her tales of woe and never —or barely— asking her about... her newborn baby. Or the rushed early delivery. Or... new mom stuff, really. It's all about Veronica, first and always. It made it hard for me to like her as a person.
The sexual tension did the job until it became a done deal—too fast for my liking, sadly.
There wasn't much communication done between Austin and Veronica, their interaction alternated from sky rocketing sexual tension to wild sex periods and brief terms of avoidance. Not an mature adult in sight.
This felt like a rushed book from this author. It wasn't awful but it wasn't great either.
Something that put me out of the story many times is Veronica very one sided relationship with her "best friend". The same best friend that couldn't attend her failed wedding because she ended rushing to delivering her baby THE SAME DAY.
And so we're presented with this weird dynamic of Veronica calling her bestie whenever she needs a sympathetic hear or someone to listen to her tales of woe and never —or barely— asking her about... her newborn baby. Or the rushed early delivery. Or... new mom stuff, really. It's all about Veronica, first and always. It made it hard for me to like her as a person.
The sexual tension did the job until it became a done deal—too fast for my liking, sadly.
There wasn't much communication done between Austin and Veronica, their interaction alternated from sky rocketing sexual tension to wild sex periods and brief terms of avoidance. Not an mature adult in sight.
This felt like a rushed book from this author. It wasn't awful but it wasn't great either.
May 7, 2023
i should really stop getting excited about book announcements and spending entire months building expectations for the day i actually read it cause 3/5 times i end up severely disappointed wishing i could somehow throw up the memory of wasting my time over it.
i love single dad romances, they’re my guilty pleasure. i do not, however, enjoy how sometimes the author takes this SUPPOSEDLY ADULT MAN. A GROWN ASS MAN. WITH KIDS. AND A BIG BOY JOB AND RESPONSIBILITIES, and makes him into a shitheaded immature 6ft tall baby with the emotional intelligence of a chair. he is a 32 year old man. MAKE HIM ACT LIKE IT. he throws temper tantrums every 3 pages and cannot understand the idea of not acting like a fucking ASSHOLE to a girl that he just met and gave him absolutely no reason for him to treat her like she’s the roadkill he stepped on.
this also moved way too fucking fast, with way too many sex scenes and way too little cute moments with the kids. everything about the romance felt forced.
the fact that she gave up on her dreams because of a man AGAIN? ugh. i simply hated this shit.
i love single dad romances, they’re my guilty pleasure. i do not, however, enjoy how sometimes the author takes this SUPPOSEDLY ADULT MAN. A GROWN ASS MAN. WITH KIDS. AND A BIG BOY JOB AND RESPONSIBILITIES, and makes him into a shitheaded immature 6ft tall baby with the emotional intelligence of a chair. he is a 32 year old man. MAKE HIM ACT LIKE IT. he throws temper tantrums every 3 pages and cannot understand the idea of not acting like a fucking ASSHOLE to a girl that he just met and gave him absolutely no reason for him to treat her like she’s the roadkill he stepped on.
this also moved way too fucking fast, with way too many sex scenes and way too little cute moments with the kids. everything about the romance felt forced.
the fact that she gave up on her dreams because of a man AGAIN? ugh. i simply hated this shit.
May 9, 2023
Single dad romances are my bread and butter. It's one of my favorite tropes. However, Runway Love didn't have a good execution of this trope. I'm starting to believe that this author's books aren't for me because I read another single dad romance from her before and also wasn't a fan.
Look, it's one thing to have a grumpy hero. But Austin was plain mean. So many times he let shit come out of his mouth that was uncalled for. Don't even get me started that he's one of those "I'm mad at her for making me want her" types. Bro grow up!
Veronica was a queen. I liked her spunk and she wasn't going to let her mother's words and actions dictate how she led her life. She took the fallout of running from her wedding in strides and I liked she never thought about going back.
The chemistry was there for those two but honestly, that was about it. They jump into bed and have this raunchy sex, but I missed the falling in love part. I can see Austin falling in love with Veronica (of course) but not Veronica falling in love with Austin. What did she learn about him to make her do so? I just don't get it.
We had miscommunication so bad my eye twitched. Neither one of them just spoke up about their feelings or what they wanted. They just took the childish way out and ignored each other even though they lived in the same space.
Did this have potential? Yes. Did we get that, no.
I buddy read this with my wonderful friend Deanna. You should check out her review as well!💗
Look, it's one thing to have a grumpy hero. But Austin was plain mean. So many times he let shit come out of his mouth that was uncalled for. Don't even get me started that he's one of those "I'm mad at her for making me want her" types. Bro grow up!
Veronica was a queen. I liked her spunk and she wasn't going to let her mother's words and actions dictate how she led her life. She took the fallout of running from her wedding in strides and I liked she never thought about going back.
The chemistry was there for those two but honestly, that was about it. They jump into bed and have this raunchy sex, but I missed the falling in love part. I can see Austin falling in love with Veronica (of course) but not Veronica falling in love with Austin. What did she learn about him to make her do so? I just don't get it.
We had miscommunication so bad my eye twitched. Neither one of them just spoke up about their feelings or what they wanted. They just took the childish way out and ignored each other even though they lived in the same space.
Did this have potential? Yes. Did we get that, no.
I buddy read this with my wonderful friend Deanna. You should check out her review as well!💗
June 1, 2023
the beginning of this was kind of bland, but bro the ending ugh i bawled
anyway, this didn’t really stood out. it was still enjoyable but wouldn’t reread probably.
3.5✨
anyway, this didn’t really stood out. it was still enjoyable but wouldn’t reread probably.
3.5✨
May 5, 2023
Runaway Love is the first book in Melanie Harlow’s new small town series, Cherry Tree Harbor. I’ve always enjoyed MH’s book and when I heard this was a single dad hero and nanny heroine romance and I was like “say less”!
The story starts with Veronica getting a sext from her husband-to-be on their wedding day, but just one problem he meant to send it to someone else and she realizes he has obviously been cheating. 👀 She ends up fleeing her wedding as a runaway bride and shows up at a local diner! At the diner the locals hear out her story and help her out by letting her know a local guy is looking for a nanny!
Austin is the single dad to 7-year old twins. He just found out his sister can’t nanny for the summer and he’s in a bind. That is until Veronica shows up at his front door applying for the nanny position…in her wedding dress. He ends up telling her no at first but later he realizes he needs her in his life. Austin had to put his own dreams on the back-burner to work alongside his father and their family business as carpenters/making furniture. He and Veronica instantly have a connection and it was fun seeing them fall into one another, especially the week his kids aren’t home.
This did have grumpy, sunshine vibes and it was just a fun, quick read! Low angst and a great start to the series with some future books/couples hinted at. The romance is a bit insta-lovey and the 3rd act breakup were both not my favs, but the hero does do some groveling at the end! The audio was narrated by Sebastian York and Sophie Daniels and it made it a breeze to get lost into the book.
The story starts with Veronica getting a sext from her husband-to-be on their wedding day, but just one problem he meant to send it to someone else and she realizes he has obviously been cheating. 👀 She ends up fleeing her wedding as a runaway bride and shows up at a local diner! At the diner the locals hear out her story and help her out by letting her know a local guy is looking for a nanny!
Austin is the single dad to 7-year old twins. He just found out his sister can’t nanny for the summer and he’s in a bind. That is until Veronica shows up at his front door applying for the nanny position…in her wedding dress. He ends up telling her no at first but later he realizes he needs her in his life. Austin had to put his own dreams on the back-burner to work alongside his father and their family business as carpenters/making furniture. He and Veronica instantly have a connection and it was fun seeing them fall into one another, especially the week his kids aren’t home.
This did have grumpy, sunshine vibes and it was just a fun, quick read! Low angst and a great start to the series with some future books/couples hinted at. The romance is a bit insta-lovey and the 3rd act breakup were both not my favs, but the hero does do some groveling at the end! The audio was narrated by Sebastian York and Sophie Daniels and it made it a breeze to get lost into the book.
April 25, 2023
Melanie Harlow's stories always have that magic touch! They are sweet, sassy, sexy and full of alllll the amazing swoony moments.
I absolutely adore the small town of Cherry Tree Harbour. I am obsessed with this new world Harlow has j trounced us to! Austin and Veronica were just the icing on the cake!
I thought this story was so funny and the fact that this had the single dad + nanny trope was just pure perfection!! I loved the chemistry and banter between Austin and Veronica and how the tension between them sizzled! This was another 5 star winner from Harlow! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
****
Runaway Love ran off with my heart and I don’t want it back! Wowza, what a terrific start to the Cherry Tree Harbor series!
From the start I loved Roni and her spunk. Her positive outlook regardless of her circumstances and her tenacity were also some of her best attributes. Oh, and her patience, because boy did she need it when dealing with Austin.
Grumpy, stuck in his ways, Austin was pretty terrific too. Especially when trying to string some words together and communicate with Roni. He certainly met his match with her. And Roni was exactly who and what he needed to realize that while family was important, so was true happiness.
And I would be remiss not to mention the fabulosity of Austin’s family—his brother Xander who pulled no punches when it came to his thoughts on Roni. And the kids—Adelaide and Owen who stole all their scenes.
I cannot wait for what comes next in this smart, sexy, swoony new series! ~ Missy, 5 stars
I absolutely adore the small town of Cherry Tree Harbour. I am obsessed with this new world Harlow has j trounced us to! Austin and Veronica were just the icing on the cake!
I thought this story was so funny and the fact that this had the single dad + nanny trope was just pure perfection!! I loved the chemistry and banter between Austin and Veronica and how the tension between them sizzled! This was another 5 star winner from Harlow! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
****
Runaway Love ran off with my heart and I don’t want it back! Wowza, what a terrific start to the Cherry Tree Harbor series!
From the start I loved Roni and her spunk. Her positive outlook regardless of her circumstances and her tenacity were also some of her best attributes. Oh, and her patience, because boy did she need it when dealing with Austin.
Grumpy, stuck in his ways, Austin was pretty terrific too. Especially when trying to string some words together and communicate with Roni. He certainly met his match with her. And Roni was exactly who and what he needed to realize that while family was important, so was true happiness.
And I would be remiss not to mention the fabulosity of Austin’s family—his brother Xander who pulled no punches when it came to his thoughts on Roni. And the kids—Adelaide and Owen who stole all their scenes.
I cannot wait for what comes next in this smart, sexy, swoony new series! ~ Missy, 5 stars
May 6, 2023
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
Austin Buckley is the oldest of five siblings from Cherry Tree Harbor. He's a single dad whose family is everything to him. He works for their small business with his dad and doesn't make time for himself or dating. He's known for being all work and no play, so when he finds himself in need of a new nanny he's in a major bind. Then a woman shows up on his doorstep that could be just what he needs. She isn't qualified for the position, but she's desperate for a job. Now he justs needs to ignore how gorgeous she is, and how she ignites something inside him. Can he resist temptation for the next few weeks and be professional, or will he give in to these new unexpected feelings?
Veronica Sutton got engaged and ended up wasting a year of her life with the wrong man. Now circumstances have her in a small town stranded and in need of a fresh start. She just wanted to be in a place where she felt free and like she could breath. After her life had been turned upside down, she needed time to figure out her next move. She had a positive attitude and knew her situation would turn around. The first step was to find work. Then she learns of a live in nanny job and is determined to get it. She gets a lot more than she bargained for with her new broody, bossy, beautiful boss. She can't deny the instant attraction she feels and isn't against something casual. She could use some fun in her life, and isn't looking for a relationship since she's only in town for the summer. When happiness and something real forms will she still be looking for only temporary, or will she finally be right where she belongs?
Runaway Love by Melanie Harlow is the first book in the Cherry Tree Harbor series. It's a small town, single dad, runaway bride, nanny, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, boss/employee romance with fabulous banter, amazing chemistry and major swoon. I loved these characters and this story so much! It was super sexy, and full of humor and plenty of heart. This was a fantastic start to this new series, and I'm so excited for more!!! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3NBxm7T
(ARC provided by author)
Austin Buckley is the oldest of five siblings from Cherry Tree Harbor. He's a single dad whose family is everything to him. He works for their small business with his dad and doesn't make time for himself or dating. He's known for being all work and no play, so when he finds himself in need of a new nanny he's in a major bind. Then a woman shows up on his doorstep that could be just what he needs. She isn't qualified for the position, but she's desperate for a job. Now he justs needs to ignore how gorgeous she is, and how she ignites something inside him. Can he resist temptation for the next few weeks and be professional, or will he give in to these new unexpected feelings?
Veronica Sutton got engaged and ended up wasting a year of her life with the wrong man. Now circumstances have her in a small town stranded and in need of a fresh start. She just wanted to be in a place where she felt free and like she could breath. After her life had been turned upside down, she needed time to figure out her next move. She had a positive attitude and knew her situation would turn around. The first step was to find work. Then she learns of a live in nanny job and is determined to get it. She gets a lot more than she bargained for with her new broody, bossy, beautiful boss. She can't deny the instant attraction she feels and isn't against something casual. She could use some fun in her life, and isn't looking for a relationship since she's only in town for the summer. When happiness and something real forms will she still be looking for only temporary, or will she finally be right where she belongs?
Runaway Love by Melanie Harlow is the first book in the Cherry Tree Harbor series. It's a small town, single dad, runaway bride, nanny, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, boss/employee romance with fabulous banter, amazing chemistry and major swoon. I loved these characters and this story so much! It was super sexy, and full of humor and plenty of heart. This was a fantastic start to this new series, and I'm so excited for more!!! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/3NBxm7T
March 25, 2024
2,5⭐️
Purtroppo avevo delle aspettative altissime su questo libro, in quanto ha una delle trope che amo di più in assoluto, ovvero Single Dad x Nanny, ma non sono state minimamente rispettate.
La stoia aveva incominciato a prendermi fin dai primi capitoli, ma arrivata a metà libro, nonostante sia molto scorrevole, il susseguirsi dei fatti erano diventati troppo ripetitivi e uguali tra loro: lui che aveva paura di lasciarsi andare, mentre lei cercava in tutti i modi di scioglierlo un pò. Il tutto accentuato da tantissime scene spicy, che comunque a me non danno fastidio, ma in questo caso le ho trovate senza senso. E tutto ciò è andato avanti fino all'ultimo capitolo🤦🏻♀️.
Ecco perché ho deciso di dare come valutazione finale le 2,5⭐️, perché l'inizio prometteva bene e comunque alcune scene mi hanno anche fatta ridere, ma finisce qui.
So che ci sono anche altri libri, visto che si tratta di una serie che hanno come protagonisti gli altri fratelli del protagonista maschile, ma a sto punto non so se leggerli, se mai verranno tradotti in italiano.
Purtroppo avevo delle aspettative altissime su questo libro, in quanto ha una delle trope che amo di più in assoluto, ovvero Single Dad x Nanny, ma non sono state minimamente rispettate.
La stoia aveva incominciato a prendermi fin dai primi capitoli, ma arrivata a metà libro, nonostante sia molto scorrevole, il susseguirsi dei fatti erano diventati troppo ripetitivi e uguali tra loro: lui che aveva paura di lasciarsi andare, mentre lei cercava in tutti i modi di scioglierlo un pò. Il tutto accentuato da tantissime scene spicy, che comunque a me non danno fastidio, ma in questo caso le ho trovate senza senso. E tutto ciò è andato avanti fino all'ultimo capitolo🤦🏻♀️.
Ecco perché ho deciso di dare come valutazione finale le 2,5⭐️, perché l'inizio prometteva bene e comunque alcune scene mi hanno anche fatta ridere, ma finisce qui.
So che ci sono anche altri libri, visto che si tratta di una serie che hanno come protagonisti gli altri fratelli del protagonista maschile, ma a sto punto non so se leggerli, se mai verranno tradotti in italiano.
May 3, 2023
Like a bowl of vanilla ice cream, this hit the spot - even if it didn’t bring anything new to the table. With small town vibes and a grumpy single dad, this felt lighter and cozier than some of Harlow's other work. It still featured a hearty dose of spice, with sexual tension that probably would've been more successful if I had been emotionally invested in the relationship. It felt like these two jumped in physically right away, but it was a much slower emotional burn. The denial of feelings for SO long left me pretty frustrated, and I definitely rolled my eyes a few times. I might've wanted to shake some sense into this hero, but that's just me. I still binged it in one sitting, and I'm intrigued by the cast of characters, so this was successful as a series starter. And there was also nothing major standing in the way of my enjoyment, even if I wasn't quite sold on certain elements. So this sits solidly between 3 and 4 stars for me - definitely not one of Harlow's better books, but an easy, popcorn read.
The story follows Veronica, a woman whose fiancé shows his true colors on their wedding day. It's only once they break up that she realizes how much he's been controlling her life. Broke, jobless, and still in her wedding dress, Veronica encounters a sexy single dad and his two cute kids. Turns out, Austin has been looking for a nanny, but he's not convinced that hiring Veronica is the best idea. Not only is he hesitant to trust an unqualified stranger with his kids, but he's also wildly attracted to Veronica. Since neither one is in the market for a relationship, their mutual attraction is more of an unwelcome distraction than anything else. But falling into bed together feels inevitable, especially once Veronica becomes a part of Austin's everyday life.
There's a lot to love about this - I love a grumpy single dad, a runaway bride is always a fun time, the spice was smokin', and Harlow can certainly write a great book. It was just missing that wow factor for me. There are a ton of single dad romances out there, especially lately, and this one didn't stand out from the pack for me. It definitely satisfied my light and sexy craving, though I'm confident I'll forget the whole plot in a week or two. Fans of friends with benefits-style relationships and restrained, devoted dads might have a better time with it, because those were both big components of the story. It doesn't take long for things to heat up between these two, and I can see why that was the case, given the headspace of both characters. I liked Veronica, but Austin mostly frustrated me - especially towards the end. I did like some of the other characters who were introduced, and I can already see future love stories taking shape, so I'm ready for more from the series. I clearly have complicated, underwhelming feelings about this specific installment, but it was easy to devour.
Audio note: The audio was great, no complaints there! You can't go wrong with Sebastian York and Sophie Daniels, who are both talented narrators. Their voices were easy to listen to, and their performances made for an excellent audio experience. The runtime (around 9 hours) was also perfect for bingeing, which is one of the reasons I was able to finish in a single day. Probably too spicy for the workplace, especially since it starts up towards the beginning. But the vibe was ideal for an audio experience, and I think the format definitely enhanced my enjoyment. So I don't hesitate to recommend the audio.
The story follows Veronica, a woman whose fiancé shows his true colors on their wedding day. It's only once they break up that she realizes how much he's been controlling her life. Broke, jobless, and still in her wedding dress, Veronica encounters a sexy single dad and his two cute kids. Turns out, Austin has been looking for a nanny, but he's not convinced that hiring Veronica is the best idea. Not only is he hesitant to trust an unqualified stranger with his kids, but he's also wildly attracted to Veronica. Since neither one is in the market for a relationship, their mutual attraction is more of an unwelcome distraction than anything else. But falling into bed together feels inevitable, especially once Veronica becomes a part of Austin's everyday life.
There's a lot to love about this - I love a grumpy single dad, a runaway bride is always a fun time, the spice was smokin', and Harlow can certainly write a great book. It was just missing that wow factor for me. There are a ton of single dad romances out there, especially lately, and this one didn't stand out from the pack for me. It definitely satisfied my light and sexy craving, though I'm confident I'll forget the whole plot in a week or two. Fans of friends with benefits-style relationships and restrained, devoted dads might have a better time with it, because those were both big components of the story. It doesn't take long for things to heat up between these two, and I can see why that was the case, given the headspace of both characters. I liked Veronica, but Austin mostly frustrated me - especially towards the end. I did like some of the other characters who were introduced, and I can already see future love stories taking shape, so I'm ready for more from the series. I clearly have complicated, underwhelming feelings about this specific installment, but it was easy to devour.
Audio note: The audio was great, no complaints there! You can't go wrong with Sebastian York and Sophie Daniels, who are both talented narrators. Their voices were easy to listen to, and their performances made for an excellent audio experience. The runtime (around 9 hours) was also perfect for bingeing, which is one of the reasons I was able to finish in a single day. Probably too spicy for the workplace, especially since it starts up towards the beginning. But the vibe was ideal for an audio experience, and I think the format definitely enhanced my enjoyment. So I don't hesitate to recommend the audio.
February 21, 2024
It took me a while to finish Runaway Love. Not because the book is ugly, but I have limited time lately to read book.
Runaway Love certainly is not heavy reading. Miss Harlow surely having fun writing the story. It is in fact light reading. There is not much drama and very little on character development.
Overall it is not bad ans not that good either.
3 stars
Runaway Love certainly is not heavy reading. Miss Harlow surely having fun writing the story. It is in fact light reading. There is not much drama and very little on character development.
Overall it is not bad ans not that good either.
3 stars
May 17, 2023
4.75 stars
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