e-ARC provided by author
Author: Melissa Foster
Twice-divorced, single mother, romance writer Nicole has just pressed “Control+Alt+Del” on her life. She needed a change, a fresh start. So, on a whim, she buys a raspberry-colored cottage in the small town of Chatemup, Massachusetts. She wants to spend her summer there, free of drama and the hot mess of her life back in Virginia. She wants a community to belong to. But like attracts like it seems, and all of a sudden, she’s a magnet to all the hot mess men in the town, including Declan Miller. Self-proclaimed hot mess himself, he’s a 47-year-old hunk of a man, with dimples that make Nicole swoon. Neither one is looking for romance. He’s stretched thin as someone can be with his messy life that includes a widower dad that’s not dealing with the loss of the love of his life, an ex-wife who keeps him on a leash with all the favors she needs from him, two sons, a successful “fish peddling” business… Nicole has sworn off men anyway, but they soon become fast friends and “adventure buddies” and all of a sudden the heart wants what the heart wants, right?
Loosely based on Melissa’s own “summer of change” this is a lovely story of finding what makes you happy, no matter when it happens in life. I love that the main characters are “older” and embracing change and new beginnings.
It’s Melissa’s first foray into 1st person POV and I really liked that she choose to write that way for this story. It makes you feel closer to the Nicole and Declan.
In true Melissa fashion, she touches some heavy subjects, such as divorce, grief, gambling, PTSD, but all with the Melissa touch we all know and love.
It’s funny, sweet, steamy and the best “hot mess” ever! I want to move to Chatemup! LOVED IT!
