Reviews
This is book 2 in the Harbor Keep series but can be read as a complete standalone. Read this if you like:
Small town romance, Single dad, Forced proximity, Fake dating, Secret heir, Angsty/emotional, Real/raw/messy relationship issues, Hard-won HEA, Healing.
This is a fun and entertaining book, so be ready to sit and enjoy the read. The story of Cassidy & Logan is all about a fake relationship that proves that love can be found when you least expected. The book starts with a bang as Logan defends Cassidy as she is humiliated in a postcast. THe fake relationship is a way to help her conserve some of her dignity. SHe is a strong female who is all about women independence and that but has to lean on Logan to help through the PR nightmare. And the book goes from there. The plot is entertaining laced with complex and interesting characters, romantic tension, intelligent conversation, slow burn, there are secrets that will change them. A great read!!.
I ate this book up in one sitting because it hit all my favorite tropes—second chance romance, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine vibes, and enough emotional tension to keep me glued to the pages.
From the second Penny showed up on his porch—drenched, brokenhearted, and still somehow glowing—I knew I was in for a ride. And let me just say, the grumpy surfer hero? He is everything. The push and pull between them was raw and believable, layered with all that messy history you just know is going to unravel the rules they set. Watching them slip from “fake” to very, very real was the best kind of slow-burn torture.
CL Bloom didn’t just give us a romance; she gave us two people who’ve been through hell, who’ve loved and lost, and who have to decide if love is worth the risk this time. The surf shop setting, the stormy intensity of the hero, and Penny’s sunshine spirit made for the perfect emotional storm.
If you love a grumpy man who has only one soft spot—and it’s for her—this book will grab you by the heart. The ending had me smiling like a fool and already craving book two.
This book is not for the insta love, no turmoil type. The characters were troubled, damaged, and trying to find their way in life. This was an eye opener if you live life online as that’s how Penny lives her life, and has to find herself again. And Dean…he tugged on your heart strings the whole time, whether infuriating or melting. Can never forget to include Tug and the perfect wedding.
I will say towards the ending a huge unexpected reveal about Dean happens, it seemed weird too me to go in that direction after everything was at Harbor Keep, but this is how the author saw the story going so as a reader I just went with it. Altogether only took about 2 days to finish and am happy with the start of Harbor Keeps residence and can’t wait for Stone’s story.
This is a great fast read. The characters were so believable, troubled, hurt by love and trying to find their way. Our heroine, Penny is an internet influencer, and we meet her on her wedding day, with the wedding being livestreamed. She waits and waits but her groom does not show. She is humiliated, as it has gone viral. To escape she gets in her car and drives to Harbor Keep, a place she had left 10 years ago. But it’s the only safe place she can think of with her friend Dean. She’s not even sure he is still there, and if he is if he will let her in. This is a great story, with a totally unexpected reveal. I fell in love with Tug.
Penny Donavon is a internet influencer with a large following. Today is her big day. Her wedding is being livestreamed. She waits...and waits....and waits. Finally they stop the livestream. She is humiliated. She becomes the gossip of the day. She gets in her car and drives to Harbor Keep, a place she swore she would never return. But the only safe place she can think of is with Dean Rivera. He might not even let her in after ten years. He was hurt when she left. He reluctantly let her in. It's an awkward situation. She planned to leave the next day. But she had nowhere to go. He offers the guest bedroom. This is a story of love, showing up, and claiming who you are truly meant to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I could not put this book down. The tension between Penny and Dean was palpable. I found their feelings about their relationship and themselves were spot on. I will keep my eye out for the next book by this author.
This was an absolute jem to read. Penny and Dean were just amazing and the storyline really got me hooked. Tug the dog was the cutest little part of the story that could not be left out. The ending was just a mind blown on Dean. I was not expecting that what so ever. Truly priceless and one of the best outcomes you could ever ask for. Kudos!!!