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Small Town Girl (Small Town Girl #1)

by Linda Cunningham (Goodreads Author)

3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 · rating details · 92 ratings · 19 reviews

When Lauren Smith begrudgingly returns to the small Vermont town where she grew up to arrange for the sale of her late grandmother's old farmhouse, she has everything she's always worked for. Lauren drives a Mercedes. She's engaged to one of the most powerful businessmen in the country and wears a three carat diamond ring to prove it. She lives in a penthouse on Central Pa...more

Paperback, 212 pages

Published November 11th 2011 by Omnific Publishing (first published November 1st 2011)

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Jan 15, 2013 Caroline rated it 1 of 5 stars

I very very much disliked this book. You're welcome to read my ongoing updates for more detail as to why that is the case, but to keep it short it was for the following reasons:

1. I found Lauren and Caleb had nothing in common. She had dedicated her whole life to be different than her hippie parents (which she annoyingly makes fun of throughout the entire book and magically she likes them at the end?). She loves the city, she loves the finer things in life, she loves being a socialite. Caleb is...more

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Dec 16, 2011 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, blog-tour

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one based on the first chapter of the book, but I ended up really enjoying it despite not really liking Lauren all that much.

Lauren Smith grew up with hippie parents. She vowed she was going to move up in the world and have a better life. On the verge of marrying a very wealthy older gentleman Lauren seems to have it all. But her parents throw a little wrench in her plans when they deed over her grandmother's house to her as a wedding present. She doesn'...more I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one based on the first chapter of the book, but I ended up really enjoying it despite not really liking Lauren all that much.

Lauren Smith grew up with hippie parents. She vowed she was going to move up in the world and have a better life. On the verge of marrying a very wealthy older gentleman Lauren seems to have it all. But her parents throw a little wrench in her plans when they deed over her grandmother's house to her as a wedding present. She doesn't want the old farm house in rural Vermont. She doesn't want to be reminded of where she came from. So instead of keeping it, she's dead set on selling it. Convinced by her best friend that she needs to deal with the house herself rather than passing if off to someone else, she heads to Vermont.

Once at the house, she discovers she has no hot water and calls for a plumber. When the plumber gets there she's taken aback by the Adonis with a pipe wrench. She feels an attraction to him that she's never felt before, but at the same time, he's rude and irritating. She doesn't hide her disdain for him, but when given the opportunity in town see seeks him out.

Caleb Cochran has done everything he could over the past five years to keep himself busy. Still dealing with the death of his young wife, he's never been interested in any woman other than the one he was married to. But the moment he lays his eyes on Lauren that all changes. The rub each other the wrong way immediately, but there is something about her that keeps drawing him back in. He knows she's engaged and he knows she's leaving but he can't help himself when it comes to her.

Lauren is very snotty and uppity in the beginning of this story I took an immediate dislike to her. But as the story moves along, you can see that she's starting to realize that what she thought was "making it" wasn't really what made her happy. By the end, you were pulling for Lauren and liked the changes you saw in her.

Caleb laid it all out there. He was a man who knew what he wanted and wasn't afraid to ask for it. Too bad, when he asked, what he wanted didn't want the same thing.

A very enjoyable story about a woman understanding that "making it" doesn't necessarily mean you have money, fancy cars and a ritzy address, but finding happiness within yourself.(less)

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Dec 10, 2011 Katya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3.65 Stars. Contains Spoilers!!! ~ I wrote a Summery of sorts:

This was a short, pleasant read that really resolved too quickly if you ask me. It was very obvious. But I enjoyed it...thought it was good....But felt that the way it wrapped up all nice and sweet did take away from what could have been a much better story.

Lauren has it all...great job and a rich powerful fiancee who can give her everything materially as well as socially. Life will not be dull and she will be able to move in the high...more

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Nov 05, 2011 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Small Town Girl is a great start to a new contemporary romance series by Cunningham. Fans of Fool's Gold by Susan Mallery will enjoy this book.

The attraction between Lauren and Caleb is immediate from the moment they meet, albeit shown through tension and feathers getting ruffled. The chemistry with these two is HOT and undeniable. They of course have to work for a happily ever after, but that's why we like this genre, right?

The characters are likable and I invested more in Caleb loving the page...more Small Town Girl is a great start to a new contemporary romance series by Cunningham. Fans of Fool's Gold by Susan Mallery will enjoy this book.

The attraction between Lauren and Caleb is immediate from the moment they meet, albeit shown through tension and feathers getting ruffled. The chemistry with these two is HOT and undeniable. They of course have to work for a happily ever after, but that's why we like this genre, right?

The characters are likable and I invested more in Caleb loving the pages where he showed up. Oddly, you never read any of the story from his point of view. We know what he is thinking only when he tells us through conversation. The whole story is told through the eyes of Lauren. I didn't realize that until half way through and realized I would have liked to get inside Caleb's head more. He is gorgeous, owns his own business, a volunteer firefighter, and has a tragic past that you just want to fill the hole in his heart yourself. Great leading man. Lauren is more complex in that she thinks she wants one thing out of life while running as fast as she can from the type of life she perceives Caleb could represent. She's also engaged to a powersuit in New York that could give her everything she ever wanted. Much to figure out for Lauren and she lets you in on all her thoughts along the way.

Lauren's best friend Kelly is a great support and I like her sarcastic, tell it like it is, side. Another character I liked, although this isn't a live character, is Lauren's grandmother's house she inherited back in that small town. I think this house is a major player in the story. If it weren't for the house, there would be no meeting Caleb, no place to go when her world falls apart, nothing to throw all her efforts and emotions into, and no home for the future. What a great friend she has in that house!

I'm interested to see where Cunningham takes this series. For those that like happily ever afters that require work, disappointment, grand gestures, hot scenes, and redemption, Small Town Girl is a book for you.(less)

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Dec 12, 2011 Jen - At Random rated it 4 of 5 stars

The book summary is a good description of the book. Lauren is very vocal about being ashamed of her hippy parents. Because of that she has always dreamed of a future in the city and full of glitz and glam. Her fiancé has given her all of this. She thinks she has the perfect life and fights for that life even when faced with her past...and the yummy Caleb. Which path will Lauren choose? And will she regret it?

Caleb is a small town boy and proud of it. Although he is instantaly attracted to Laure...more

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Dec 07, 2011 Tessamari ♥Many Waters...♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-lendable

3.5-3.75 Stars :)

This was a sweet story about a woman who was on the verge of having everything she thought she wanted, then realizing its not what she wants after all. As much as I liked the concept, the story was extremely predictable. Normally, I don't have problems with it, but i found myself skimming, which i hate doing, but it couldnt be helped. Another reason why i didnt enjoy the story as much was because of the heroine. She kinda bugged me. She was a little stuck-up IMHO. She made the d...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Missie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lauren Smith is on top of the world. She's got a job she loves, a social life most people would die for, and a rich fiancé who adores her. So when she unexpectedly inheritances her grandmother's old fixer upper, it puts a wrench in her plans. Determined to sell the old house as quickly as possibly and move forward with the perfect life she's built for herself, Lauren heads to the place where she grew up, and learns that though she's moved on, her heart never left.

Initially, because of the main c...more Lauren Smith is on top of the world. She's got a job she loves, a social life most people would die for, and a rich fiancé who adores her. So when she unexpectedly inheritances her grandmother's old fixer upper, it puts a wrench in her plans. Determined to sell the old house as quickly as possibly and move forward with the perfect life she's built for herself, Lauren heads to the place where she grew up, and learns that though she's moved on, her heart never left.

Initially, because of the main character, I didn't think I was going to like this book at all. Upon first meeting Lauren, I couldn't stand her. She was so snooty, and the way she spoke to or thought about people was demeaning and belittling. I had a hard time supporting her. But as the story continued, she surprised me. It wasn't so much that she changed, but she did grow emotionally.

The story itself was a bit unsettling because it brought to mind a lot of moral questions, like, Do cheaters have a right to be angry when they find out the person they are cheating on is also cheating? Though the build up to that particular story arc was rather predictable, Lauren's reaction was not. The aftermath of that fiasco could have made her crumble, but instead, it uncovered a different side of Lauren. One that was admirable because she entered a state of self reflection that allowed her to re-evaluate herself. I liked that; it made her a more relatable character.

As a love interest, Caleb, the local plumber whom Lauren had a passionate affair with, remained largely mysterious throughout the story. Hints about his past were revealed, and he did seem like a nice guy, but his character never fleshed out in the way I hoped. Plus, the relationship between Caleb and Lauren seemed to lean more towards undeniable desire than sweet bubbling romance, but it worked to keep the story steamy.

Overall, fun contemporary read with a lot of sweaty romps. The only other thing that kind of threw me off at times was that though Lauren and her BFF were young, modern women, sometimes the phrases they used were old fashioned. It seemed a bit out of place in the story, but then again, what does a country girl hick like me know about sophisticated women speak?

http://www.theunreadreader.com/2011/1...(less)

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Dec 14, 2011 Danielle (Bookwhoreblog) Perez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lauren has everything she has ever wanted in life, a rich fiancé, a great job, and status in New York City. When Lauren inherits a house for a wedding gift, she meets a man named Caleb and they share an instant attraction that could possibly be love at first site. Lauren has to decide the person she wants to be, before she can decide the man she wants to be with.

Words cannot describe how in love with this novel I am. I literally picked it up and could not put it down to save my own life. I am a...more Lauren has everything she has ever wanted in life, a rich fiancé, a great job, and status in New York City. When Lauren inherits a house for a wedding gift, she meets a man named Caleb and they share an instant attraction that could possibly be love at first site. Lauren has to decide the person she wants to be, before she can decide the man she wants to be with.

Words cannot describe how in love with this novel I am. I literally picked it up and could not put it down to save my own life. I am an avid reader, and I am always on the search for a book that will capture me to a point I become completely lost in the story. It is always hard to find a book that totally sucks me in, and Small Town Girl succeeds in having me wrapped up entirely into the story. When I was finished with Small Town Girl I felt sad, I did not want the story to end, I wanted to keep reading this amazing love story.

Small Town Girl does a great job of taking readers on the journey of two people falling in love. Linda Cunningham does an good job of letting readers read, and feel the attraction between her characters buildup, and form into this intoxicating romance. I like when a novel gives you a love story, but the characters have challenges, and conflict that make them have to fight to hold onto that love, not just be in love and happily ever after. This novel had the perfect amount of push and pull between, love and conflict that had me flipping through the pages as fast as I possibly could. It is also a realistic novel, making it very relate-able to readers.

I normally have a favorite character in every novel I read, and it is normally one of the main characters. I had a tough time selecting which character in this novel would be my favorite it is a toss up between Caleb and Lauren. Lauren is this smart girl, who makes poor choices, and her views are a little off on what is important in life, but Laurens character changes and develops the way a character should. I found myself cheering for Lauren as she developed in the story. Caleb you cannot help but be attracted to this back of the woods boy. I picture Caleb to be this rugged man, but he was so charming he captured my heart.

The use of imagery in this book is mind blowing. I can actually visualize the smell of the air, and the feel of the breeze on the beautiful nights described in this book. This use of imagery also helped me get sucked into the story. I half debated packing my bags to go to a small town, just because this book makes it sound so beautiful.

I highly recommend this book to adult readers only, due to the strong sexual content in the book. I never just give five heart rating it is something that has to be earned. This booked earned a five heart rating and I cannot wait to read more from this author. (less)

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Dec 12, 2011 Mandy (I read Indie) Anderson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lauren Smith has everything she has ever worked for; a great job, a rich and successful fiancé, what more could she want? But one day she learns she has inherited her grandmother's Vermont farmhouse. Lauren used to spend summers there with her grandmother when her hippy parents needed to get away. What does she need with an old farmhouse when she is about to officially move in to a 4000 sq ft penthouse? Leaving New York for a couple days, Lauren sets off to put the old house on the market and be...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Megan (magan bagan) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Linda Cunningham's debut romance novel was a pleasant surprise filled with sweet romance. I didn't want to stop reading and was sad when I finally did reach the end, wishing there was more.

Lauren Smith has everything she could possibly want: the perfect job, fiancé, penthouse, an engagement ring. But most importantly, stability. So when Lauren learns that her grandmother left her home in a small Vermont town, she begrudgingly returns in hopes of selling it.

What she doesn't expect is Caleb Cochra...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Autumn Review rated it 4 of 5 stars

Summary:
Lauren Smith is a New York City sophisticate, engaged to a prominent and well known businessman, who happens to inherit a home from her grandmother in Vermont. She decides it would be best to go prepare the house to sell. However, there are issues with house and she needs to call on the local plumber. So, she meets Caleb Cochran, who gets her blood boiling from the get go. Can Lauren find her true self or is her social status more important?

My Take:
The only thing that could have made thi...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Terra rated it 2 of 5 stars

After losing a giveaway for this book, I bought the Kindle edition because the story sounded intriguing and I liked the intense, immediate connection between Lauren and Caleb. As it turns out, Small Town Girl is rather a cheesy and predictable romance story but an okay read if you like that sort of thing. I found the main character Lauren to be a bit shallow and materialistic. Caleb is more relatable but their romance doesn't evolve into anything other than steamy sex scenes...(view spoiler)...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Just a perfect summer book to read!! This love story was beautiful and you see how the main character evolves into a brighter person! Caleb is one hot gentleman that I wish was real!! haha Loved it!

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May 21, 2013 Jamie Casey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm flabbergasted that this book received bad reviews. Personally I don't understand it at all. I loved this book. I book marked tons of pages because the quotes and message were amazing. Great read.

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Apr 22, 2013 L.A. Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Excellent book, to bad plumbers don't really come in the same package as Caleb Cochran. Totally hot, steamy and could not put down.

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Apr 19, 2013 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have given this book 3 stars, I really liked the story but it felt a bit rushed, and I didn't really mesh with the characters.

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May 25, 2013 Meghan rated it 4 of 5 stars

A love at first sight with a side of a fiancé kinda of book :)

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Apr 19, 2013 Dee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-stars-good-reads

Cute. Not overly anything - but a cute read.

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Apr 23, 2012 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Fun romance.

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Dec 13, 2011 Tamie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

See my review here: http://bookishtemptations.wordpress.com/

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Dec 13, 2011 Bookish Temptations rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

See my review here: http://bookishtemptations.wordpress.com/

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Jun 18, 2013 Alex Blackheart marked it as to-read

Jun 17, 2013 Bri marked it as to-read

Jun 15, 2013 Jennifer marked it as tbr-own

Jun 15, 2013 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jun 11, 2013 Gloria Perez marked it as to-read

Jun 10, 2013 Malin Nilsen marked it as to-read

Jun 13, 2013 Jessica Sweeney added it

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Jun 09, 2013 Yaro marked it as to-read

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Small Town Girl (Small Town Girl #1)

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