A heartwarming novella in the Sweetwater Springs series from USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains, perfect for fans of RaeAnne Thayne and Debbie Mason. If Lacy Shaw could have one wish, it’s that the past would stay in the past. And with her high school reunion coming up, she has no intention of reliving the worst four years of her life. Especially when all she has to show for the last … when all she has to show for the last decade is how the shy bookworm blossomed into…the shy town librarian. Ditching the event seems the best option until a blistering hot alternative roars into Lacy’s life. Perhaps riding into the reunion on the back of Paris Montgomery’s motorcycle will show her classmates how much she really has changed…
While growing up as a foster kid, Paris Montgomery only felt at home in Sweetwater Springs, which is why he picked the small town to start over after his divorce. He can’t afford to ruin this refuge with another doomed relationship – especially one with a woman who is his total opposite. But when the town’s sweet librarian offers to help him reconnect with his foster dad, he finds they have more in common than he thought. Both are about to discover that home is where the heart is.
(22,000 words)
Sweet romance and small town charm come naturally to this delightful writer who pens feel good old-fashioned romances that make you remember the good old days when sexual activity was left to the imagination of the reader. There are plenty of heartwarming characters that will charm you from your head to your toes and I’m looking forward to reading more about the lives of the characters in this feel-good series. I read an early copy of this book through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
Sweetwater Springs #2.5, Paris moved to Sweetwater Springs looking for a home, he once lived there as a child and was being bounced from different foster homes every couple of months. His foster parents were stern but welcoming and loving it was the only place that felt like home and Paris was looking for that again after his nasty divorce and maybe reconnect with his former foster parents. Lacy was born and raised in Sweetwater Springs and had the worst high school experience. Despite this she still loved her hometown and moved back after college and became the towns librarian. Lacy is determined not to go to her reunion she doesn’t want to relive her past but between her family and friends she halfway to changing her mind and if she could claim she was dating someone like Paris then maybe her old classmates might see her differently now. Lacy makes Paris a deal be her date for her reunion and she’ll help him connect to the cantankerous old man his foster father became.
Overall, a short and sweet story I very much enjoyed. Both Lacy and Paris deal with past hurts and learn to love each other. They really are good for each other; the tattooed bad boy image Paris puts off riding his motorcycle and the shy bookish Lacy bring out the best in each other. I am glad Paris got his HEA I fell in love with his character from the first book. This can be read as a stand alone told from a third person POV. Annie Rains packs a punch with this novella, humor and romance with plenty of heartfelt emotion.
This was such a sweet, adorable, emotional novella.
I loved how connected Paris was to the small town Sweetwater Springs, and how the whole town seemed to look after each other, and if it was wanted or not, it didn’t matter.
Paris and Lacy Shaw have a shy yet true connection, I loved how Lucy blossomed and found her inner strength to face the past.
Paris finding his foster parents was touching, and how a memory illness affects a person was realistic and sadly true to life. I wish there would have been more about Paris’ past, about his struggles with his parents and growing up in foster care. What we find out about him is admirable, how he reaches out to his former foster parents was heartwarming.
Lacy’s meddling family had me laughing out loud – cause it is only funny when it is not happening to yourself!
I somehow have missed this series until this novella was offered for me to read, and I’m glad that I found out about the series, even if late to the game, cause this place, Sweetwater Springs, sounds like the perfect place to escape into!
An entertaining and lovely love story
~ Four Spoons
A very short yet highly entertaining, fun, witty and engaging journey filled with interesting charters, heartwarming twists and emotional turns… was a great read. Loving Sweetwater Springs and looking forward to returning!
This sweet little novella is the perfect thing to pick up to get you out of a slump or to bring a little happiness to your day.
The characters are interesting and while we have met them before you could easily read this as a standalone. The plot is sweet even though it could be considered a little fast it is a novella so I don’t hold that against it. Its romantic and uplifting.
Personally I love the Sweetwater Springs Series and highly recommend romance lovers read the whole series!
I was one of those readers that emailed Annie as soon as I read Christmas on Mistletoe Lane wanting to know if Paris got his own book. I’m very happy that Annie agreed he was deserving. This novella doesn’t disappoint….well, only in the sense that it is a novella and not a full-length novel! I loved revisiting Sweetwater Springs and seeing Paris get his HEA. This is a must read for fans of this series and anyone who needs a reminder that it does get better.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novella.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a wonderful short story. I adored Paris and Lacy and their journey to really accepting themselves and opening up to the possibly of a relationship. Even though I didn’t wear a back brace in high school, I was bullied as well. I could see a younger version of myself in Lacy. I adored getting an inside look into the thoughts of both characters. This helped me to identify with Paris. I had loving parents so I didn’t have the foster child background like he did.
This story will make a dark dreary day a bright one. I was charmed by the plot and the wonderful story-telling. The only sad part was it ended way too early for me.
This is a sweet charming story that anyone can read.
Welcome back to Sweetwater Springs with all its wonderful characters. Lacy Shaw is the towns librarian. She likes to blend in so that she doesn’t stand out. She is the good girl. Paris Montgomery is a graphic designer who hasn’t decided to settle down. He rides a motorcycle. From the moment they meet in the library, all bets are off. You will laugh and smile
Every visit to Sweetwater Springs makes me fall a little bit more in love with the town.
Meeting Paris in the first book in this series made me want his story so bad and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The backstories of Paris and Lacy made me want so much more of their book. Their connection made my heart feel so full. This novella has made me so excited to visit this town again!
Sweet gem of a short romance
A short, happy interlude of a story that brightened my day. The small-town characters are kind and concerned and Lacy and Paris, the librarian and the computer expert, are deserving of a partner and sweet romance in their lives. It’s story is short and not too deep, but does touch on the ravages of mental changes for seniors and the prospect of going it alone when your partner can no longer cope at home. The minimal angst and hopeful ending are just what the decompression expert ordered to mellow out after a stressful day.
I read a complimentary advance copy provided through NetGalley; this is my voluntary and honest review
It was nice to return to Sweetwater Springs in this short story about Lacy Shaw, the town librarian and Paris Montgomery, a graphics designer. This story gives you hope as the two main characters have overcome their pasts, moved on, and have a chance to reconnect with their pasts too. They also have a chance of building a relationship of their own.
I enjoyed Lacy’s book group, Ladies Day Out, who did not always read the monthly book but took on other activities at the meeting like enrolling Lacy in a dating site called Fish in the Sea. I also enjoyed Lacy coming out of her shell and learning to enjoy her life outside of books.
I really enjoyed the grumpy character of Mr. Jenson, who surprised me in the story as to the roll he would play and why he was so grumpy. He was a character you just had to end up liking in the end. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
A novella that encompasses so much!
A sweet, clean read with some very tough and emotional pasts for both Lacey and Paris that very much affected them, tho in different ways . A journey of two very opposite characters who find and bring out the best in each other.
The setting in Sweetwater Springs is so perfectly small town, and of course there are the busybodies just wanting to help lol.
A super short, but meaningful read with an HEA that will have you sighing. Part of a wonderful series, but can stand alone.
I received an advance reader’s copy and am giving my honest opinions freely.
Annie Rains writes the perfect small town stories. They draw you in & keep you invested in the characters. In this one, we learn about Paris & Lacy. They are perfect together! They both have had difficult childhoods to get past. Paris’s parents were felons & he was in & out of foster care. He really never had a place to call home except for one special foster placement. The Jensen’s in Sweetwater Springs was the one place he felt comfortable.
Lacy faced childhood scoliosis & her formative years in a rigid back brace. It gave the mean girls something to torment her about. Now, she’s out of the brace & is the town librarian. She hasn’t quite broken herself of sitting in the corner & people watching, instead of joining in. At least, she hadn’t until she met Paris. Despite his motorcycle & tattoos, she was drawn to him. Could they have a future together?
This story had it all! As a reader, I was pulled by Paris’s feelings of coming home, Mr. Jensen’s emotional pain, Paris’s hurt from Mrs. Jensen telling him to leave them alone, & so many other instances. I loved watching Paris & Lacy grow closer & realize their feelings. This was a lovely short story that I fell in love with. If you enjoy sweet, tender romances, this story is for you!
Enjoyed Lacy and Paris’s short story , both are great characters !
I absolutely loved this sweet story. It was full of good feels.
Lacy Shaw had grown up in Sweetwater Springs. She was now the town’s librarian. As a teenager, she had scoliosis and had to wear a back brace and was teased mercilessly about it. Her 10 year class reunion was coming up and she had no desire to return to the scene of her embarrassing teenage years. She would just stay home and avoid the drama.
Paris Montgomery had spent six months in Sweetwater Springs in foster care. It had been his most favorite time anywhere. When the opportunity came for him to return there, he jumped at it. He had his own successful business and had grown into a tattooed, motorcycle-riding, man. He had lived through some horrible years with his ex-felon parents and a cheating spouse resulting in divorce. He wanted to return to the place he had been the happiest. The town librarian had finally convinced him to teach a computer class at the town’s library for elderly people needing some basic computer skills. Upon meeting the librarian, he was caught off guard at how beautiful she was and how easily he could make her blush. He didn’t want a relationship but if he did, he might just be interested in Lacy Shaw. Would it be worth the risk? Could he possibly have a happy ever after? He wouldn’t know unless he was willing to try.
This story was a quick read and a sweet, clean romance about two adults who had had a rough time in their teenage years but still could find the good and who really just wanted to be loved.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
I fell in love with Lacy and Paris! I can’t wait to read the whole series and find out what happens to them! Must read!!
Such a sweet, lovely story about facing fears and second chances. Readers will love this super sweet romance between a once bullied librarian and a ex-foster child, turned graphic designer. My only complaint is that the story ended.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy for my honest review.
I’m so happy that I started reading Annie Rains’ Sweetwater Springs series. I really have been enjoying it. I truly love when authors add novella’s to tide us over till their next mass-market book comes out. It makes the wait much more bearable.
I’ve been waiting for Paris’s story since he first walked into the series. He’s one of those characters that draws you to them and you want to know more about them. I kinda wish his story wasn’t so short but I’m happy that the author did a wonderful job of it.
I might have wanted more, but didn’t feel like I missed out on anything.
Paris comes over as this super-tough guys that you might think twice about talking too. Turns out he’s a sweetie at heart. One that gets talked into teaching a computer class he didn’t want to teach. In so many ways his back story is sad but it also made him the man he is today. With the help of some certain people.
I totally love Lacy. I felt for her. Feeling like you don’t matter or aren’t as good as others because you were picked on as a child is tough. She is a wonderful person who deserves all the happiness in the world. She also needs a tough, sexy guy to make sure she never gets picked on again.
These two just work! I love how they act together and I’m glad that Paris took a leap of faith and went with his heart even when I was, let’s face it, scared. I’m so glad that I read Kiss Me in Sweetwater Springs.
Le sigh… I love getting back to Sweetwater Springs – though I have terrible bookzheimer’s and the only character I remembered in this one from the previous books was Dawanda the fudge shop owner (this probably says more about my sweet tooth than anything else!)
Paris and Lacy’s story is sweet and funny and lovely and I just wanted more of this story.
It is a complete opposites attract, with the shy librarian and the unattainable bad boy with a heart of gold.
I couldn’t help but want, no need these lovelies to get together.
This was a wonderful addition to the Sweetwater Springs series, and I can’t wait to see what Ms Rains brings us next.
Welcome to Sweetwater Springs a magical place that draws you in and makes you fall in love.
The chacters are wonderful, the place is beautiful, and love is in the air. Lacy the shy, bullied, librarian and Paris the tattooed graphic artistic finally find their happiness.
This is a fast paced short story that leaves you with all the feels!
#NetGalley #AnnieRains #Lacy&Paris