Charming little village wins over posh city-dweller in this
cosy little romance.
Lauren Montgomery is unfairly fired from her job. While
she’s still grappling with this in the cab going home she remembers that she
has an appointment with a lawyer about the will of some not-so-close relative.
In the meeting she is told that she has inherited a pub-cum-inn, Rose &
Crown, in rural England and needs to go there for paperwork. Rose & Crown
is a local institution and the employees are nervous about a new owner. Camden
Crawley, a local gin distiller, has her own sentimentality for the inn and is
dead set against any change to the world as she knows it. Ergo, she doesn’t
like Lauren even before they meet. Lauren has a nebulous plan of selling the
inn and starting her own advertising and marketing agency, but the plan is
tentative. She first wants to see the place before making any decisions.
The author creates great simmering chemistry between Lauren
and Cam. However, Cam comes across as a judgemental, contrary curmudgeon
interfering in matters (namely what will happen to the inn) that have no
bearing on her. This is especially stark because Lauren is written as a
free-flowing, open-minded, sensitive character who sets out to do the best
thing possible. Since it’s a romance it ends in HEA but we believe that for
this relationship to have an ever-after, Lauren will be carrying the entire
emotional burden of making it work. We’re also not thoroughly convinced about
Lauren turning down an offer of millions for the inn. Honestly, what is the problem with sealing a good deal?
That said, we loved – absolutely loved – the chemistry
between them and this book makes for a fairly easy and entertaining read.
⭐⭐⭐★
