Be my Valentine, Blueberry Springs.
The latest standalone short story romance from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jean Oram.
One woman. One man. One question.
Award-winning baker Mandy Mattson is tired of feeling as though she’s always leaning on her boyfriend Frankie Smith to make her dreams come true. Struggling to expand her new restaurant in hopes of becoming more … Struggling to expand her new restaurant in hopes of becoming more financially secure, she doesn’t know what to do when her boyfriend asks for the one thing she doesn’t have— more time to spend with him.
When Frankie runs out of patience, Mandy finds herself having to choose between two dreams. Will she make the right choice? Or will she find a way to have her cake and eat it too?
Note to readers: This standalone short story is also part of book 5–the Sweet Treats (Valentine’s Day in Blueberry Springs) boxed set. It contains no cliffhangers.
Read the Blueberry Springs Sweet Treats short stories in this order to prevent spoilers:
Tequila and Candy Hearts (Nicola and Todd)
Whiskey and Gumdrop Hearts (Mandy and Frankie)
Vodka and Chocolate Hearts (Amber, Russell, and Scott)
The Blueberry Springs Series [STANDALONE NOVELS]–sweet, clean romances:
Whiskey and Gumdrops (Book 1)
Rum and Raindrops (Book 2)
Eggnog and Candy Canes (Book 3)
Sweet Treats (Book 4)
Vodka and Chocolate Drops (Book 5)
Companion novel: Champagne and Lemon Drops NOW IN AUDIO!
Also by Jean Oram…
The Summer Sisters Tame the Billionaires:
Love and Rumors (Book 1–FREE!)
Love and Dreams (Book 2)
Love and Trust (Book 3)
Love and Danger (Book 4)
For the Kids (so you can read in peace!)
1,001 Boredom Busting Play Ideas
Psst! Jean’s Newsletter subscribers get a FREE Blueberry Springs book. Did you get yours?: www.jeanoram.com/FREEBOOK
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I got hooked on this author and the last three books I read were awesome. This one…meh. It was more of a tutorial on how to open a franchise. I will try another one hoping this was a fluke. On the bright side I appreciate that her books aren’t filled with lots of sex and no real story
Slow moving. Lots of stress and emotional parts. But ends happily.
I loved getting to know this small town. The characters and interactions and humor was great. I really loved their development and the hurdles that they faced.
Whiskey and Gumdrops is book 1 in the Blueberry Springs Sweet Romance series by Jean Oram and is such a fun read.
Mandy and Frankie have been best friends and fell for each other a long time ago but never let it go beyond friendship. After Mandy watches the man she thought she would marry she decides that she wants more from her small town life but she needs her best friend Frankie’s help.
Will these two finally realize that their friendship is more, build a future together or will Mandy always keep Frankie in the friend zone??
The characters are well fleshed out, but the female lead isn’t very likable… Mandy started off with a very self-centered attitude. She’s stretched and grows, thankfully.
The male lead, OTOH, is dreamy––so devoted, although it seems he was reaching the end of his patience with Mandy.
There’s no on-page sex, but there is A LOT of thought about it and of body parts.
I’m still interested to see what happens next in the small town of Blueberry Springs.
Attention ROMANCE READERS who love a happily ever after! Jean Orem’s sweet romance stories are well worth the read. The Blueberry Springs Series has six books . . . I’ve just ordered them all!
A great friends to lovers romance. Frankie has been in love with Mandy for years, but she is reluctant to be more than friends. Frankie is a sweetheart, he encourages her to follow her dreams and helps in anyway he can. There is that time in the book when you feel she’s left it too late and is losing the love of her life. But thank goodness for happy endings!
I found this book a fun read.
Love this book
Too farfetched not realistic
Mandy had given her boyfriend 8 years of her life, but sadly found it was one sided.
She was the only one that had forever on her mind, until he dumped her, and married another. Mandy thought that maybe she would end up like her mother, or Gloria, waitressing for someone else, going no where, she just had to think of something to improve her life. Mandy depended on her best friend Frankie, when she was in trouble or just down on life, never realizing he was there for her, more then what she seemed to know. He was always encouraging her to reach for the stars, and that he was wanting more….more then friendship, yet she felt she wasn’t good enough for him….Until….Frankie had an opportunity to make a splash in life for himself, and it took him away from town, and away from Mandy. Then Mandy decided it was time for her to have a place of her own, serving food that she wanted, and a place that she knew was needed in town. She thought if she would just make the leap, she would be the person Frankie would come back for.
Mandy’s step in courage, and putting herself on the line, she found she wasn’t alone, the town even encouraged her, but she still never thought Frankie would forgive her for not seeing him, as her forever man.
This is a great story of finding true love, and having the courage to put oneself on the line of failing or winning. There’s times I got frustrated with Mandy, then sad for not seeing what she had in front of her. But, it was good seeing how she grew and truly found what was important.
I’ve read some other stories from this author, and haven’t been disappointed. She’s refreshing to read, and has a way of having one look into oneself, that you feel encouraged too.
I liked this book mostly, I was not all that happy with the ending. Mandy and Frankie have so much history and they obviously have feelings for each other but Mandy is scared that if they become more than friends and it doesn’t work out then their bond will be lost. They have to work through their issues and I’m glad they do the ending just didn’t seem to resolve any issues it just ended happily. I will read more in this series.