Silver Medal Winner at the 2020 International Readers Favorite Awards Bead shop owner Amelia Frothingham has been keeping a secret from everyone she knows.She pretends to be the ultimate care-free bohemian chick, but the truth is, she’s the world’s biggest control freak. Much to the delight of her Southern family, Amelia’s life appears to be smooth sailing. That is, until bad … smooth sailing. That is, until bad boy rockstar Huck Wiley mysteriously blows into town like a spring tornado.
Like every other woman under eighty with a pulse, Amelia’s intrigued. So when Huck starts showing up in her shop with flirtation in mind, she finds herself getting sucked into the rock god vortex. But her previous attempts at long-distance love have always ended on a sour note, so Amelia has vowed never to repeat the experience.
What Amelia doesn’t know is that Huck has a secret of his own, and he has no intention of returning to Los Angeles before he’s good and ready.
Will Huck stay in town, scattering the beads Amelia has finally gotten sorted? Or will he head back to his glamorous life and take her last chance at spontaneity and love along with him?
Find out in this deliciously funny romcom about love and life in Creek Water, Missouri!more
Totally enjoyed this book. The characters are quirky, funny, heartbreaking and come with their own set of baggage.
Amelia Frothingham owns a bead shop and crafts jewelry. She also has a serious case of anxiety and suffers frequent panic attacks. She has locked herself in her small town where she feels safe. She has convinced herself she can only be happy in her town with the people she knows.
Huck Wiley is a rock star. He was given up for adoption as a baby. He and his daughter Maggie come to town for several months between tours. Maggie also suffers anxiety. Huck goes into the head shop looking to sign up his daughter for a class. Amelia is a huge fan and recognizes him immediately. He is interested in hooking up but she only wants a real relationship. It takes a while but they decide to date. He helps her to stretch her boundaries by going to Chicago, seeing her first concert and taking her first plane ride. She helps him with his first serious relationship. They have a lot of ups and downs but get their HEA in the end.
Funny and entertaining are just 2 of the words that can be used to describe this enjoyable read. Great characters and a well written story line make this a great read. You’ll be glad you added this to your reading list.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Plan created by Amelia Frothingham is to never leave her little town for the rest of her life.
Amelia is a 30-something and anxiety-ridden. She lives above her bead-shop busines. and tightly controls her life within narrow confines. But she’s challenged in oh so many ways when her musical idol, hot-as-sin rock star Huck Wiley, shows up in her shop about beading lessons for his precocious, lovable little daughter. And can it be? — he seems to have eyes for Miss Frothingham!
I love the big drama in Whitney Dineen’s small-town stories. Her totally eccentric characters always add twists to the plot, and make me laugh out loud. I can even identify with being a single woman grilled by the “old folks” who pose blatant questions about the wild sex lives they imagine she has.
The Plan is a sweet love story, fraught with nerve-wracking situations for Anxious Amelia, warm and fuzzy heart-fluttering romance, some guffaws, and a mean-spirited women who can break the heart of a grown man trying to overcome being an abandoned child — the same heartbreak for his little daughter who’s never had a mother in her life.
If you haven’t sampled Ms. Dineen’s lively little town, it’s time for a visit. Now.
The Plan, the third in Whitney Dineen’s Creek Water series, is fantastic! I LOVED every bit of it. As all of her stories do, it contained a lot of funny along with the feels. And this one dealt with anxiety and fear and old wounds but also HOPE, challenges met, and hurts forgiven. As Whitney’s stories always are, The Plan was full of wisdom and heart. I adored Huck and Maggie and Mrs. P, and of course the Frothinghams are always a hoot. I could hardly make myself put this book down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review, but I also Preordered the book, so I own a final copy as well.
This is my first read from this author and I really enjoyed it. It was really cute. I would definitely read more from this author.
Absolutely charming!
I loved this book! This was the first book I have read by this author and I was completely charmed!
Amelia was was a spectacular character. I loved how beautifully flawed she was.
Huck was everything a sexy, rockstar, single dad should be. His relationship with Maggie left me swooning, but his interactions with Amelia left me overheated! The only thing that I did not like was Huck’s interaction with Tanya knowing Amelia was there.
I’m definitely going to have to read the rest of this series!
*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Another hit:
I couldn’t stop reading this book! I loved how it drew me in and that I experienced a myriad of emotions right along with the characters. It was beautifully written with poetic descriptions and engaging dialogue.
It was fun being back in Creek Water and catching up with all of the craziness and family shenanigans, but this was more toned down than in prior books.
Both Amelia and Huck are likable, tender souls and I felt a real connection to them both from the start. This is thankfully not your usual rock star romance but more about two separate lives finding a way to meld into one. I thought it dealt with the emotional disorder aspects in a respectful and honest manner and I appreciated that the author delved into this oft overlooked area. I love stories that include children especially when it adds depth and humour as was the case with this book.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in this fabulous series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. I love these story. I couldn’t put the book down. Great characters that pull you into their story and will pull at your heartstrings. The story flowed effortlessly with a few twists and turns that weren’t predictable. I really liked the way the author deals with the important issue of anxiety in a way that felt empowering. Huck and Amelia couldn’t be more different, yet they are perfect for each other. Both characters have things from their past that make them the people they become.
Enjoyably – each book seems wackier than the previous one, but …
Amelia was, as many of the characters of this series are, extremely quirky as she copes with a very real and unsettling problem. Huck and she ‘crash into one-another’, and it is so enjoyable to see where this obvious mismatch ends-up. Maggie is a delight, and a wise one well beyond her years; she is also the glue to many characters in this tale. My “but” relates to the rather extreme and somewhat unrealistic Cootie component to the story, but then Cootie has always been an extreme and difficult character. My favorite quote says it all “Its not what you have to lose that matters … it’s what you have to gain!”.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Amelia needs a plan, have everything under control and odds numbers to keep her mind from anxiety attacks. It’s been like this since she was a kid but she is been able Tom hide her awkwardness from her family and friends. But when she meets her rock star idol Huck in her shop she drawn to him and share her dark secrets with him. Can they help each other and his daughter, suffering from anxiety too, and find love and happiness in Creek Water? A touching, emotional, funny and tough story about confidence, friendship and love.
Amelia is one of the Frothinghams . Her extended family is numerous and pretty boisterous. Amelia herself is a little OCD, and has struggled with a panic disorder since she had a traumatic childhood experience.
Huck is a literal rock star. He comes to Amelia’s home town to spend his off time with his daughter Maggie- and he might just have some other personal business in town
These three seem to be on a journey of discovery: fears seem much easier to manage with support from the right people
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Plan: A Sweet and Sexy Rock Star Romantic Comedy is the third book in The Creek Water Series and is an entertaining read.
This story is lighthearted but also depicts the serious issue of anxiety disorders with compassion and empathy. The storyline is well written and enjoyable, with a control freak, a rock star, and his precocious daughter. Can Huck and Maggie be able to help Amelia with her issues or will they be too much to overcome?
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Amelia Frothingham owned a bead shop. She’s also a control freak, which is a secret she keeps hidden from everyone around her, hiding her anxiety and trying to cope. So when Huckleberry (“Huck”) Wiley, a rock star she has crushed on, walks into her store, she is left speechless! Huck pushes Amelia out of her comfort zone when he takes an interest in having a relationship with her. She is drawn to Huck’s daughter, Maggie, who struggles with similar anxiety issues, and they can find help and comfort in that commonality. With Huck and Amelia seeming to be perfect complements for each other, will they find a HEA waiting to claim them?
I really liked the way the author deals with the important issue of anxiety in a way that felt empowering. It was done well, and the story line and characters felt very real. Grab your copy and see how things play out for each of them.
A fabulous plot, great characters, the author’s famous humor, and romance too. I love her stories. This is Amelia’s story, and I don’t want to give any of it away. You’ll have to read it for yourself. I would recommend it for anyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ummm… wow! There are so many things in this book that I wasn’t expecting. And I can’t share any of them because they’d spoil the experience for everyone else. There’s lots of big emotions, but it’s also just so stinkin’ cute. It’s a Rockstar romance with a twist. Mind you, can anything with the Frothingham clan involved be straightforward? Amelia, Huck, and Maggie make the most adorable little family unit even though there’s a ton of growing pains and a whole lot of emotional baggage involved in getting them there. I loved seeing how in-depth the author goes with anxiety issues and how respectfully they’re dealt with. I’m dying to see what the author has in store for the remaining unmatched Frothingham, but do my eyes deceive me or do I also see the seeds of another Creek Water rom com in the works?
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Booksprout.
Excellent Reading Material. Exceedingly Poignant. Well Written. Highly Recommended Read Across Genres.
This story was exceedingly poignant and Ms. Dineen developed the sensitive material with a matter-of–fact manner, yet with a high level of compassion. Kudos to Ms. Dineen for bringing forward this delicate issue and enlightening the masses, of what is going on inside the head of a person living living with an anxiety disorder.
Nonetheless, there is a charming romance evolving as well. The main male character appeared to be fascinated with the main female character almost from the start of this story. The characterizations were fantastic. There was as large ensemble cast, yet each character was sharply described and unique; some of the characters were indeed quite unique. I sure hope Ms. Dineen provides us with another novel that tells the story of the main male character`s best friend and the main male character`s sister. The dialogue, the familial ties, the friendships, all were deeply laced with support, love and humor.
This is a long read but it sure did not take long to read, as I became so engrossed in this smooth flowing story and stayed up perhaps a tad too late to complete the story in one go … badness!
I am most impressed with Ms. Dineen`s writing and sense of humour that she imbues into her novels. Refreshing.
Highly recommended read across genres.
I voluntarily received an advance review copy of this novel via Booksprout and I am leaving an honest and unbiased review. I have no affiliation to this author.
Another great adventure from Creek Water! Huck and Amelia are both broken and have secrets. Amelia has debilitating anxiety attacks from a childhood incident and is constantly trying to be in control. Huck is looking for his roots since he was adopted. Huck’s daughter Maggie also has anxiety and she and Amelia help each other through the attacks. Now, throw them into the small town craziness. Wonderfully written and so enjoyable. It’s good for one sitting. It’s upside down laugh out loud funny, it’s serious, it’s heartbreaking sad and it’s over the moon happy. Just an awesome book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book
Coming back to Creek Water, Missouri is like going back to visit your own kaaarazzeee family! These folks are what y’all should picture for a big, loving, crazy Southern family/friends and they do NOT disappoint. There are so many ways this story turns that I cannot do it justice so you will just have to read it for yourself. What I can say is this: When you were a teen, did you ever dream about ones of your idols showing up on your doorstep to sweep you away? Yes, right? Well, Amelia Frothingham (love her family name!) walks smack dab into one of her rock star crushes, in her own store (!), and completely forgets how to think. And talk. It is a funny meet/cute.
And Huck Wiley is a trip. Not sure I believe how “perfect” he is, as the author tells it, but it’s all part of a fun story so I had to suspend my life belief for a bit and just enjoy. I love the part where he uses a fake name, in this small Southern town, to try to remain under the radar. Fortunately/unfortunately, that doesn’t last long. The interactions with all the townsfolk, and Amelia’s family, are often hilarious. Sometimes, though, the reception (if you will) of Huck and his daughter are quite hurtful. Again, the small-town dynamic comes into play here and it can be what you’d expect anywhere.
The heart of the story is that both Amelia and Huck are hiding some pretty big “things” about themselves, and their pasts, but until they learn to trust one another, well, neither is going to get beyond being stuck in a very hurtful and scary place. Huck’s daughter, Maggie, is pretty down to earth for a rock star’s child – and pretty darn precocious! – but to me, she is the ultimate little matchmaker for her dad and Amelia. And her interactions with Mrs. Peabody (Amelia’s eighth-grade math teacher) are pretty honest, imho. Loved Mrs. P!
We get to visit with previous characters – family, country club “friends” and “frenemies” – but you could read this as a standalone. For me, I like to read more about previous characters; and in this case, I like how Amelia’s brothers tease and needle her…just like brothers should.
All in all, a good addition to the series and a funny addition to romance a la Frothingham!
A more serious side to the residents of Creek Water, Missouri
4.5stars
Enjoyable romance with plenty of emotion (not all related to the romance) and populated with some great chatacters.
I found this book in the Creek Water series a bit of a departure from author Whitney Dineen’s other stories that focus on a romance with zany and quirky residents dominating the secondary character spots. Heroine Amelia is a seriously troubled, anxiety-ridden soul. It takes the appearance of young Maggie, the equally anxious daughter of a visiting rockstar, to get Amelia on the wobbly start to facing her fears. And, of course, the instant attraction between her and Maggie’s father! With a name like Huckleberry, in Missouri, and with his own slice of sorrow and mysterious past, he’s the perfect fellow to get Amelia out of her cocoon.
Amelia’s issues are not funny, though an occasional scene with her mother and Gracie, her aunt, provides some chuckles. Amelia’s surprise volunteer shop assistant was another fun element. I liked the tentative romance (clean, by the way), and the inclusion of some new characters who just might mean more Creek Water romances are in store. Young Maggie is a bit of a scene stealer, too. A champion pig wrestler in the making?!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout; this is my voluntary and honest review.
An interesting read that starts with a woman who has anxiety attacks, a guy whose daughter also has them, their getting together and just as you wonder if it could happen- a jaw dropping reveal.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.