What are you looking for?

Magnolia Falls #1

e-ARC provided by ValentinePR

Author: Laura Pavlov

In this modern day “Romeo & Juliet” of sorts, we meet Romeo Knight and Demi Crawford. She’s Magnolia Falls royalty. He’s from the wrong side of town. But nothing is as it seems. The “princess” works really hard in her new coffee shop and lives in the tiny apartment in the back. The “bad boy who went to juvie” is a good son, a hard worker and his “shady past” is the Crawford’s fault. He was supposed to hate her, but her smiles and the way she’s so perfect won’t let him stay away for long.

Romeo is practically being bullied by “The Flamethrower” to go back to the ring. He’s being taunted left and right and the money he could make from fighting the man could set him for life. He decides to take the challenge with the support of Demi and his friends. But the past is full of secrets and they’re all coming to the surface. It is going to be the fight of his life – but it will be one to keep Demi.

I’m a card-carrying member of Team Golden Boy! I couldn’t put down this perfect small town, enemies to lovers, sports romance with a dash of suspense. I’m also completely in love with Magnolia Falls and Romeo’s friends and family. 

Romeo is your broody, hot, small town hero. Demi is the girl who ignores the silver spoon handed to her at birth and paves her own way. She’s loyal to a fault. Their romance is sweet but scorchingly hot and you root for them from the moment they meet. 

Linc (Romeo’s long lost brother) and Brinkley from Cottonwood Cove make an appearance and – YES, A THOUSAND TIMES YES – no third act nonsense! 

I  can’t sing enough praises for this narrator duo! Samantha Brentmoor embodies Demi to perfection. The young woman who can’t figure out why her handsome neighbor dislikes her so much, the loyal sister who can’t believe her brother is capable of some horrible things, the woman in love (and she does it all over again when she does the voices for the other characters when performing Demi’s POV). Phenomenal.
Connor Crais is equally astounding. He brings the broody boxer to life and he gives us unique voices to every single of the friends. And the ladies. And the kid. And the parents. It’s amazing. Plus he adds all the little details that I love: a sigh, a cough, a laugh.  To use a boxing metaphor: it was a knockout! A thousand stars.

Possible triggers: mentions of SA (historical), drug and alcohol abuse, death of a parent, incarceration, MMC plays a violent sport, violence, hospitalization. harassment