Love on a Spring Morning (Pine Harbour Book 3)

I absolutely love this book. Sweet with a touch of heart wrenching sadness, father of 3 Ryan Howard is still grieving his wife's death when a movie production crew not only comes to town but to his neighborhood.

Ryan has no interest in women or the movie business, and certainly no interest in demanding actresses. He is still grieving the loss of his wife and trying to keep his sh*t together so he can raise their three young children. Then his in-laws rent out their home and accompanying cottages down the road to a movie cast and crew and he is tasked with managing them and keeping their guests happy. He has no idea who the woman is that comes knocking on his door, but whatever her complaint, it feels like the next few months will be long ones, especially once the actual cast members show up.

When Hope Creswell first knocks on the door of the maintenance guy down the road all she wants is for the hot water heater to be fixed. What she finds is a gruff and frustrated man surrounded by small children who appears to be completely overwhelmed. Although he's a little rough around the edges he reminds her of a sexy lumberjack.

What Hope quickly realizes is that Ryan is know where near ready for a relationship with the lingering issues he has over his wife's death. Nonetheless, her heart feels what it feels and wants what it wants. If she can just get Ryan to realize he deserves a sweet and happy future.

I liked the story and the struggle of emotions that these two had to endure, while keeping their relationship secretly under wraps from both their friends, and the public eye. I understand where Ryan was coming from after suffering a major loss, but at times I think he went completely over board. If I were Holly, I might have walked away after being screamed at, and treated so callously. She didn't deserve that kind of treatment. She has always treated him with kindness and respect, and she treated his kids like they were her own. It's hard to find a woman good enough to step into a ready made family, and treat his children like they were special and loved.

But even so...I still liked the story. The biggest draw back for me, though, were all the graphic sex scenes. IMO- they over done & actually started to ruin the whole story. I am in no way a prude, but sometimes it just feels like less is more. In this case I would have loved the story to have been more focused on the relationship not only between Holly & Ryan, but also with the kids, and how they interacted as a family unit.

I really enjoyed. I liked how the writer brought two worlds together. It made it obvious that relationships are not always about similarities, differences and adjustments can make a great relationship too.

Love on a Spring Morning by Zoe York is beautifully written, bittersweet story. I knew that this would be an emotional read since I have been keeping up with the storyline from the very beginning when Ryan’s wife is killed. That is perhaps an understatement, it is emotionally rich on several levels, not just Ryan’s loss. There is also his children who lost a mother. Added them is Faith Davidson, Bereaved Spouses group coordinator, who speaks from experience, and Holly who never really had a competent mother.

In fact, even though I had read the intro, I really liked Faith when Ryan met her and began to wonder if she was better suited for Ryan. Which leads me to state that Ms. York must be an amazing talented write because she totally sold me on Holly as being the best for Ryan and his children. Never in a million years would I have thought Ryan could live happily ever after with an actress, a big name movie star!

This is a story that will give you pause for thought as you see inside Ryan’s and Holly’s heads. The grieving is not belittled or glossed over in Love on a Spring Morning but neither does Ryan get stuck in bitterness. Clearly this story shows how comfort and help from others can facilitate healing for young and old alike.

It is important to tell anyone who has not read the first two books (I highly recommend too) in the series, this book stands well on its own. In a nutshell, Love on a Spring Morning is a tender story of a man and his family, whose lives changed in an instant and the woman who loves them.

The author provided a copy for an honest review.

This third book in the Pine Harbour series (though easily read as a standalone) is the lovely, heartwarming, and sometimes bittersweet romance between Ryan and Holly. Ryan lost his wife the past winter and he is still figuring out how to cope as a single parent to three young children. It's a struggle sometimes just to get through each day, but when he meets film intern Holly who has moved in next door for the movie being made in Pine Harbour, there finally seems to be a bright light at the end of the tunnel. He's found someone to look forward to sitting on the porch with at the end of a long day, someone to talk with and to temporarily forget his troubles. Only Holly has another persona, as film actress Hope. When Ryan finds out that the 'girl next door' is really a famous movie actress, will he still be willing to take a chance on a new relationship?

Zoe writes everything with such candor that you can't help but empathize with Ryan and his struggles. He has so many self -doubts - about being a widower, his part in what happened to his wife who was battling an unknown drug addiction, whether or not he can raise three kids on his own. He can't contemplate looking for a new love so when Holly turns up on his doorstep, it's not something he's even remotely prepared for. But something about Holly puts him at ease - when he's with her, he doesn't look forward or backwards, he just enjoys being with her in the present moment. Finding out she's not who she said she was throws him in disarray and makes him question what it is he really wants from his relationship with her. Friendship is a given - she's a warm, lovely woman and his kids have taken to her as well. When their relationship starts to heat up, he has second thoughts, though it doesn't take much for his body to outvote his mind. The scenes between them, like all of Zoe's fabulously written sex scenes are emotionally honest, sometimes funny and super steamy. Holly is just as interesting a character as Ryan. She's the outsider in town, as the actress on the film set and being with Ryan lets her be her true self, under her real name and that's a huge deal for her. She never gets to really be herself but here she can be the girl next door, falling in love with the man who has no pretensions, no designs on her money and who is just a warmhearted person who needs patience and understanding - something she's more than willing to give.

Though children in a romance aren't always my favourite, these kids act exactly as I expect them too, and they really add to the story (I'm betting some of how the children act in the story is based on Zoe's personal experience - either that or she's been at my house!). They've had a tough go of it, losing their mom and Ryan is rightfully wary of the difficulties in bringing a new woman into their life. Luckily both the kids and Holly form a wonderful and touching relationship too.

Secondary characters add to the story, familiar faces from previous Pine Harbour stories adding to the small town feel, the warmhearted friendships and the understanding of Ryan and his situation. They all want what's best for him, and they think Holly is it, even if it takes Ryan a while to see it. Returning to Pine Harbour is always a treat and with a few tears, some laughs and warm smiles, this book will delight small town romance readers. 5 stars.

The Pine Harbour series has fast become a firm favourite of mine and this third book is Holly and Ryan’s story.

Holly is a film star but is fast becoming disillusioned with all that that entails. She is losing her true self to her public persona Hope Creswell when all she really wants now is time to be her, be Holly. Her latest film brings her to Pine Harbour, a beautiful small town that seems to hold everything simple she would love to have as her normal. When she meets local man, Ryan, he makes that yearning all the more stronger.

Ryan is in mourning for the loss of his wife, leaving him to pick up the pieces for himself and his three young children. He still feels a guilt for not protecting his wife when she needed him most. He is now cocooned within his grief with nobody able to penetrate that armour of despair. That is until he starts talking with the pretty lady from the movie set and finds himself opening up to her in the evening talks. When things go to another level will Ryan be able to move on and leave his guilt and despair behind or will he lose a chance at happiness again?

I loved how the gradual friendship between the pairing was built and became more. There was sufficient angst and tension to give the reader an emotional read in parts. The way that Ryan kept pushing Holly away, thinking she was temporary and Holly not trusting herself to believe this could be her chance at a normal life with a man she was fast falling in love with.

This is by no means sweet and innocent as there is plenty of passion and hotness. That trailer must have been a rockin’! However saying that I did love Ryan’s vulnerability and how this strong country man was brought to his knees but the death of his wife. I also loved how Holly was able to bring the smile back into Ryan and his children’s life.

The characters from the previous books were a welcome addition and was great to see how they had moved on in their own stories (I still heart Rafe!) I can’t wait to read about Zander and Faith in the next book.

This was an absolute joy to read and a series I would definitely recommend you read if you love your romances set in a small town, with plenty of emotion, plenty of passion and plenty of love. Brilliant. Five stars!

Zoe York , continually surprises me! I was not expecting her to tackle Ryan's story yet, I new she would but I figured he would be last in the series.
Ryan after all was widowed in book one , left to raise three children alone and we know from previous books that he has pretty much closed himself off and emotionally shuttered himself , he has left work to care for his heartbroken children while barely hanging on himself .
Ryan , has stayed behind in Pine Harbour to act as a caretaker to his in-laws home and bungalows being rented out to the movie crew and actors , not that he has any intrest in the movie , unlike the rest of the Pine Harbour residents.
What does capture Ryan's intrest is the beautiful young women running sprints along his drive; Holly Cresinski as she introduced herself( a small lie) she really is the lead actress in the film Hope Creswell; Holly being her real name and the anonymity a welcome retreat .
Holly has come early to get away from her mother and the continual barrage of the paparazzi , with her own problems to work out ; she finds herself inexplicably drawn to this handsome shell of a man she sees in Ryan .
Quiet starry nights talking on Ryan's porch and an ever increasing attraction between these two challenge Ryan to allow himself some pleasure , but he knows he is not ready for a relationship . The grief he feels over his sudden loss of Lynn and his own guilty feelings that he could not heel their relationship , that she felt the need to keep secrets , will have him putting up road blocks ; road blocks that sweet Holly will break through a little at a time .
As the relationship between Holly and Ryan gets stronger and the risk of being discovered as Hope not Holly increases she knows she should tell Ryan but fears it will change the budding intimacy , which she has come to love.
Ryan and Holly will be at odds twice in this story but drawn back to each other each time ; both truly needing each other more than they realize .

Zoe York gives us an emotional journey through Ryan's grief , finding love and trust again., that pulls at your heart and allows his freinds , family and the reader to be happy for him .

This story can be read alone, but I would recommend reading the first two in the Pine Harbour series to fully understand the dynamics of Ryan and his family's situation.
Arc graciously provided by author for an honest review .

Sometimes life takes us by surprise. It takes away something and often times, gives back something even more in return. Unfortunately, it’s going to take Ryan a bit of time to discover just how much more he has been given. A short time ago Ryan’s wife was killed in an accident, leaving behind three children without a mother and Ryan with a different life than what he thought he’d have. Each of his kids is unique and each is coping with their mother’s death in their own unique way. No one grieves the same no matter what the age.

Holly just wants a break from her life. As the actress Hope Creswell, she has everything the outside world believes she could possibly want. The truth is far different and for a while, one short week before filming begins she just wants to be herself. She didn’t expect her reaction to Ryan, she never meant to harm him or his adorable kids with her deception… but in the end giving herself a break from her reality changed other people’s lives and now she has to deal with that truth.

I completely enjoyed Love On A Spring Morning – even if at times I wanted to smack Ryan upside the head for being so dense or scold Holly for being the one to do the running back after Ryan’s denseness. But, let’s be honest here – it’s the way of relationships, especially ones that haven’t been entirely truthful from the beginning. I loved how Holly healed not only the kids, but the man as well in this journey. You cannot “heal” the death of a parent, that’s not what I mean… but you can help heal a heart or spirit and that Holly did so well. As well as the fact that these two were smokin’ hot together. I was rooting for their happy ever after throughout the drama of their lives.

I would easily recommend this story for everyone who loves a great story, an amazing couple and adorable kids who together will make up a brand new kind of family. You love a great love story? Then this one is for you.

*I received an e-ARC of Love On A Spring Morning from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
Originally reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf (dot) dom

‘ Forgiveness means letting go of the hope for a better past. ’ You won’t be able to forgive yourself for not doing things differently until you stop wishing things were different.”

Love on a Spring Morning is an emotional story about love, healing, forgiveness and friendship. This story is sweet, sexy and heartwarming. When it ended I found myself wishing there was more. This is the third book in the Pine Harbour series and it can be read as a standalone. The characters from the previous installments were featured, which makes me want to go and read their stories.

This installment tells the story of Ryan Howard and Holly Cresinki aka Hope Cresswell. Ryan’s wife was tragically taken from him and he was left to raise his children. He was struggling and found it difficult to deal with his loss. His main focus was his children’s welfare as such he was not looking to get involved in a relationship. However, when Holly Cresinki came to Pine Harbour she made him see things differently. Slowly but surely she helped to heal and made him realise that moving on with his life was not an act of betrayal. Holly is a famous movie star who came to Pine Harbour to film her latest movie. She is tired of the fast life associated with Los Angeles. Pine Harbour provided a tranquility that she has never felt in all her years of being in the spotlight. When she met Ryan she knew her life would change.

Ryan and Holly hit it off from the moment they met. They began spending a lot of time together getting to know each other at which point they discovered they had feelings for each other. Yet, throughout all this Ryan never once suspected that Holly was not who she portrayed herself to be.

The story drew me in and I felt as if I was a part of the happenings in Pinewood. The romance was well paced which made the story realistic given Ryan’s grief. I felt Ryan’s pain and it was easy to understand the struggles he was facing. Losing someone is never easy, especially if you believe that you are somehow responsible for the loss. He believed that he was not capable of loving Holly and as such he kept pushing her away. He believed that he would break her heart. His biggest obstacle in all of this was fear. Fear of letting go of the past, fear of love, fear that secrets will be revealed and fear of his children getting hurt. Holly was not afraid to let him know how she felt about him. She never made any unnecessary demands on him as she understood his inability to be emotionally available. She was willing to wait until he felt he was ready for all that a relationship had to offer.

This is my first time reading Zoe York’s work and I enjoyed it very much. If you love contemporary romance, then I would recommend that you pick up a copy Love on a Spring Morning. Happy Reading

This book was provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.
NO monetary compensation was provided for this review.
The opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.

What a heartbreaking story Ryan’s life was! My heart literally ached for him, but he thankfully found hope and love in Holly!

It was such a beautiful story!! I truly loved it! Not just loved it. I fell in love with it!

Zoe York managed to write a dark, heartbreaking story and turn it to a love story, a real love story. It was one of the most ravishing journeys I have ever read.

After tragedy hits Ryan and his family, he is left with an empty soul, barely holding on. Guilt and grief plagued his mind and he just couldn’t see any light anywhere.

Holly was successful in her job, had few friends that were more like family, but she wasn’t happy. She wasn’t loved and she didn’t love.

She lied so that she could spend time with him. He never really gave himself and them a chance.

Ryan had to go through so much in such little time. Zoe’s impeccable writing gave us a great gift, by writing the story by his point of view. We had the opportunity to see how he thinks, his life and his love with his own words and through his own eyes.

Zoe’s talent shone through in this book, because she gave life to an intricate storyline and made it sparkle. She gave us the good and the back. The heartbreaking and heartwarming. The hard and the easy parts. She gave everything to us in this story.

I feel so proud and happy that I got the chance to read this absolutely fantastic novel!!

It’s a story that deserves to be told, to be written and to be read.

Zoe York really outdid herself with this one.

Love on a Spring Morning took my breath away and a piece of my heart!

So, Love on a Spring Morning receives 5 Amazing Stars, because it is a mesmerizing story written by an incredibly talented author who always delivers quality, passion, emotion and beauty.

Love on a Spring Morning by Zoe York … wow… such an innocent name for such a great book. This book is the 3rd in the Pine Harbour series and it was my first. It can definitely be read as a standalone novel but after reading it I would recommend to read them in the right order for the full feeling. And I am going to catch up on this series too, so I will be prepared for the next part.

The author takes you into the conflicted world of a Ryan who lost his wife and is now left struggling to take care of his 3 little children. He can hardly survive on a daily base and does not need any additional “drama”. For an outsider on the other side Holly looks like she has everything – when she herself feels like she only lives to support her mother , her heart on the other side is empty .

I loved how Ms. York described Ryan’s world. It was refreshing that for once it was a man struggling to survive when normally authors tend to put woman in this position. All those conflicting feelings were presented in such a believable way that I could honestly feel for Ryan.

Holly on the other side was left a little less deep in her description. I could not really grasp her fully. I am not sure why, but I think its not that she was described less, its more that Ryan was described so deeply that Holly has to look shallower in comparison to him. And you know what … its OK !

Ryan’s world needs so much of the readers focus that it was only in the end when I noticed that I did not really know as much about Holly as I should know.

My only minor complaint is that after all the struggle and emotional rollercoaster I would have expected the end to be less abrupt. It felt to cool for all the emotions before.

In total this was a real emotional read and I can fully recommend it

Ryan is barely hanging on since his wife was killed about four months ago. He and the kids miss her and the routine that she had established in their home. Even though she and Ryan weren't getting along as a couple they were doing everything possible to make a happy life for their kids. Ryan was still struggling with the fact that he had no idea that his wife was sick and had kept it from him for a year.
Holly was in town to film a movie and while there she and the other actors along with the crew were staying in local homes. Holly was staying in Ryan's in-law's home while they were out of town. Ryan was the go to handyman if anything was broken or something was needed.
Holly hated living in Hollywood with her mother. Going on locations gave her the much needed break that she needed, but sometimes the work trips just weren't long enough. She wanted more in her life, but finding people she could trust was next to impossible so dating was extremely difficult.
She and Ryan were both lonely and found companionship in each other almost immediately, but their attraction for one another seemed to be getting in the way.
Ryan didn't feel like he could give Holly what she needed in a relationship because he was stretched too thin as it was and Holly was okay with that if she could honestly believe that he would be okay with knowing what she did for a living and all that came with it.
Ryan and Holly soon figure out that none of those things matter as much as their love.

I'm loving this series by Zoe York. It just keeps getting better with each book. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more.

I was given and ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

First and foremost wow! I LOVE this book. This is that book that you will not want to put down. This book will keep you wanting to keep reading more to know what happens next. I want to say Thank you Ms. York for the ARC of this book. I look forward to reading all of the books in this series!!!

Next, I want to say I made a mistake, a serious one. My mistake was not picking up and reading a book by Zoe York in the past. Ms York is a phenomenal writer. Her writing takes you into a depth of the story that you will not want to step out of, you will want to find out what comes next.

This is the story of two people, Ryan and Holly, neither really looking for nor feeling the deserving love. Ryan feels he is broken and not capable of that kind of love. He feels guilty for his wife's death, and not helping her through her problems. He also feels guilty that now his children are growing up without their mother. Holly on the other hand grew up without a father, and a mother who did not did not know how to raise a child, let alone really want one. The story starts with Holly and Ryan starting out with a friendship that they both desperately need, and becomes the love of their lives.

This is a wonderfully emotional story of two people each with baggage of their own falling in love. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you for reading my review. If you liked contemporary romance novels, you really will enjoy it.

Ryan Howard is a single father of 3 children which he absolutely loves and is very protective of. He is struggling to raise his kids while trying to survive the tragic loss of his wife! He doesn't care for the "Hollywood types" that are going to be living in the cottages on his lane. His in-laws have went away so that their house can be used for some of the cast. Ryan has been left in charge of making sure everything is in order at the cottages. This is the first movie to be filmed in the little town of Pine Harbour.

Holly Cresinski, aka Hope Creswell (actress), arrives early to the "nice" town for some peaceful rest and relaxation from all the limelight and her mother before the filming starts. She is staying in the main house. Her hot water doesn't work so she shows up at Ryan's while he is busy with his dad duties. Even though he is a "grump" he gives her the directions on how to turn it on.
Something has intrigued Holly about this grumpy lumberjack. She uses going for a run to get closer to his place but she quickly realizes he is outside watching her. From there, she begins going to his porch to have nightly discussions under the stars every night. A friendship has begun but Ryan won't let it go any further than that!
Holly starts getting to Ryan and they enjoy their nightly talks about everything but the truth. She never feels like it's the right time to tell him. When he finds out her secret he pushes her away and doesn't want anything to do with her. He doesn't want his kids publicized. He still loves his wife and he does not want a relationship with anyone, especially someone in the public eye.
Opportunities come into play that has them running into each other and they decide to be friends again. His kids adore her and want to see her or ask about her constantly. Holly wants more and tells him another secret she's been hiding but Ryan cannot risk it.
So what happens when the filming is over and Holly returns to California? Will Holly be able to break down Ryan's walls?
This was another great read by Zoe York!! Even though I wanted to slap Ryan for his behavior a couple of times, I still felt he needed a second chance at love. He deserved it!! Overall this was a great book portraying the life and struggle of a man that is grieving and also trying to be there for his kids. Truly touched my heart!!
I definitely recommend this book but I do encourage reading the first 2 books in this series beforehand. It is a continuance of the other 2 and you will not regret it!!! Zoe York is a wonderful author and she will not disappoint in any of her books. They are all great!!
I received an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review.

Love on a Spring Morning is a really good, touching romance. It is the story of a couple of have reasons to close themselves off from everyone, yet find themselves caring deeply for one another. They have to slowly learn to trust one another and to take time to see if they are ready for a relationship together. The two main characters are very likable, and the storyline is a good one.

Holly is a movie star without many people who truly know her. It isn't easy for her to trust, and when she meets Ryan, she finds someone who has an even more difficult trust issue. Ryan lost his wife a few months prior, and is still reeling, while trying to carry on the best he can for his three young children. When Ryan and Holly meet, they each find someone they can talk with easily, and soon, feelings are developing that neither feel ready for. As they slowly forge their way through a friendship which may be developing into something more, Ryan learns something that destroys his trust in Holly. Holly is devastated and doesn't know if Ryan will ever forgive her.

This was a really good story, and I found it quick and easy to read. It was a tender and sweet romance, but had good chemistry between the main characters too. I thought it was a great addition to the series.

Ryan Howard has had a round time. Although his wife lost her life in a police raid they had been having issues prior to her death. Knowing he is not ready to move on or really talk to anyone he is taken by surprise by his attraction to Holly Cresinski. While they both open up a bit to each other Holly is holding a big secret. She isn't an intern on the set of the movie being filmed. She is one of the main stars, Hope Creswell. Will this secret end them before they get a chance to begin?

Zoe York really knows how to write characters you can feel. The tormented, sad, closed off character portrayed by Ryan has so many emotions and changes throughout the book. The pure strength he uses to move on and move outside his comfort zone for help is empowering to those in similar situations. Zoe York makes you feel like you can understand and feel everything Ryan goes though. The push and pull between Ryan and Holly makes you keep flipping pages. Add in a couple kids, especially the sweet little Maya, and what more can you ask for. While this story doesn't have as much drama as the first two book it keeps you just as engaged and wanting more. I look forward to see how Zander and Faith meet and what their story entails!

Reviewed by Jess H.

Love on a Spring morning

Ryan and Holly aka Hope Creswell the actress star in this very gripping story of love, past, present and future.

How do you pick up the pieces when the person you thought you would be spending the rest of your life with is gone. Fans of the Wardham and Pine Harbour series knew this story was coming and it was as heart wrenching as I thought it would be but also so positive and inspiring. Ryan whom we met briefly in two other books takes centre stage here; he is a complex character as he struggles with daily life of raising three children, figuring out his next career move, negotiating family and well meaning friends, dealing with grief and perhaps opening his mind to the possibility of a new love ( I think his heart made the journey before his mind caught ) his quiet reflexion and discussion with his wife are hard to read however it gives us the reader insight into their lives and the aftermath of the tragedy that took her. The authors description of the children are spot on and they occupy a big part of the stage for me and of course Holly / Hope has a big role and her with her need for normalcy she ultimately she is the one who helps bring them all their happy ending.

This story was a very good continuation of this series. In the story we have Ryan, a widower who is struggling to raise his three kids after the death of his wife. He is clearly struggling with so many emotions and trying to hold it all together while looking forward to the day everything starts to feel and seem not so bad for his family.

Then you have Holly, who is just visiting town while filming a movie and ends up staying down the lane from Ryan and his family. Holly has her own demons that she is struggling with between worrying about her career and issues with the only family she's got, her absentee mother.

Neither Ryan nor Holly expect the connection they experience as they begin talking and getting to know each other, but it's there and grows into something that both characters have to figure out what they want from it and each other. There is plenty of emotion in this story, some secrets and revelations, and big dose of romance and steam. There were a few moments when I wanted to shake some sense into a character, but it all added to the ultimate enjoyment of the story.

I absolutely loved reading Ryan and Holly 's story and look forward to the next in the series.

Zoe York never disappoints. This is book 3 in the Pine Harbour series and an adjunct series to her Wardham books. Her characters always feel like old friends whose story you have been anxiously waiting to hear about. It's family and definitely in the category of sweet and comfortable with a HEA, but no worries, there is plenty of hot sex, but this is real life...there are issues with jobs and kids and in-laws getting in the way. Ryan (defined as a lumbersexual...new term from Zoe for those of us who love our rough, bearded, plaid shirt wearing men) needed to be next up to have his story told. We were left hanging in one of the last books (no spoilers if you haven't read any of these titles, you need to at least start with Pine Harbour #1)and we were not really sure if he was going to have much of a happy ever after. I particularly like how this story line was basically a struggle of moving on. Love doesn't just go away; people struggling with crumbling marriages don't often really fall out of love, sometimes they just don't end up with enough time or trust to fix things. It would be silly to think a new love would be easy at that point. Zoe's characters are always real, always relatable, and you will always wish they were your friends and family. You'll wish this town existed, so you could move there.

Ryan is not looking for love. He's floundering at being a dad to three young children after his wife was killed. The town of Pine Harbor is playing host to a movie cast and crew. Ryan is playing handy man as they are renting the cabins that his in laws own.
Holly is tired of her alter ego film star Hope Creswell she's been acting since she was a young child and taking care of a needy parent.
When Holly walks up to Ryan's to complain of having no hot water , hot water doesn't seem so important when the big burly, gruff, frazzeled, handsome single dad answers the door. Attraction is instant, but full of guilt, secrets and lies by omission. Slowly their romance blooms as they try to work through the guilt and logistics, hurt and heartache to eventually find their HEA. I love this book of Zoe's. She writes with wit and her heart.

An ARC for the author.

This story follows Ryan and how he is coping with the heartbreak of his wife's death and looking after 3 young kids.

This story opens you to see the difficult paths, decisions he takes but also friendships (found in strange places) and help there is for anyone.

Holly just wants to be Holly, not Hope the movie star, so when the filming for "Unexpected" is filmed in a nice quiet, peaceful town Holly takes this to her advantage. But when she finds trouble with her cottage and had to go and seek out the grounds keeper "Ryan". But when they meet there is this connection that begins.

What will happen between Ryan and Holly?

What will the kids thinks?

Will the paparazzi catch up with Ryan?

All this and more twists to be revealed.

Ryan Howard is raising his 3 kids alone after his wife died unexpectedly a few months ago. Holly is actress Hope Creswell and she's in town filming a movie, staying at Ryan's in-laws cabin. Ryan can't help noticing Holly, she's beautiful and sweet but he's not ready for a relationship. Plus, he doesn't know that Holly is actually the famous actress in town filming a movie. I really enjoyed the build up between these characters and their relationship. Ryan's kids were really sweet and he was such a good dad. I really enjoyed a lot about this story. There were parts that were sad because Ryan still struggles so much with Lynn's death but overall, this story was very sweet.

My favorite Pine Harbour book, so far. The others were great too but I can relate to having kids and all the stuff that brings to friendships. The other couples were kidless, at the time. Ryan, a widower with 3 kids, has guilt over not noticing the signs of his troubled marriage. Holly, LA actress filming a movie in town, has her own insecurities and dysfunctional history. Together there is a spark along with more concerns over her celebrity and his family's feelings. Faith is a new character, from a widower support group, but I hear she's got book four. She was a great secondary here with a comedic attitude and spunk. Emotionally I felt very connected with Ryan and Holly. Part of this story is overlapping with the second book, but it can be read separately. My copy was given for my honest review.

Second chance romances can be sad but a second chance romance for a widowed father doesn't get much sadder. But all in a good way. I love how Ryan makes his kids his priority as he should. I also like how he is starting to forgive himself and realize he needs to move on slowly over time. And the fact that Holly accidentally gives her real name and not her screen name so he doesn't realize who she is makes it perfect. Holly is patient and kind and gives Ryan all the space and time he needs to figure out what he wants and what his kids need with no pressure from Holly. It is so perfect and touching. You must read this.