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Small Town, Big Dreams #2
Love Him or Leave Him
Sometimes dreams are where you least expect them
Connor O’Malley and Becca Sanders were once high school sweethearts, ripped apart by rumors in the small town of Kortville, Illinois. Connor left to join the military, and Becca stayed, waiting for her younger brother to graduate so she could live her dreams of traveling the world. But now that Connor's back as the town sheriff, Becca finds herself struggling to resist the too-handsome man who once broke her heart.
Connor loves Kortville—its quaintness keeps at bay the painful memories of Afghanistan he’s sure make him unworthy of any woman, particularly the beautiful brunette he’s always secretly dreamed of a future with. But when a scandal rocks the town, suddenly Connor and Becca must trust in each other if they want to weather this storm…and come out on the other side of it together.
Connor O’Malley and Becca Sanders were once high school sweethearts, ripped apart by rumors in the small town of Kortville, Illinois. Connor left to join the military, and Becca stayed, waiting for her younger brother to graduate so she could live her dreams of traveling the world. But now that Connor's back as the town sheriff, Becca finds herself struggling to resist the too-handsome man who once broke her heart.
Connor loves Kortville—its quaintness keeps at bay the painful memories of Afghanistan he’s sure make him unworthy of any woman, particularly the beautiful brunette he’s always secretly dreamed of a future with. But when a scandal rocks the town, suddenly Connor and Becca must trust in each other if they want to weather this storm…and come out on the other side of it together.
213 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2013
4 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
About the author
Sara Daniel
33 books143 followersI write what I love to read—irresistible romance, from sweet to steamy and everything in between. I grew up in a small town and was once a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. For notifications on all my book releases, subscribe to my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/rx_AL
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 25, 2014
Becca is sweet, caring, compassionate and does the best she can to raise her teenage brother all by herself. Her mother made her promise to take care of him until graduation, but shortly after her mother had passed, her father left them and signed over guardianship to Becca. She started off having what I would call "tunnel vision". All she could think about was seeing her brother graduate and off to college, so she could pursue her wanderlust. The same discussion over time had put a strain on her relationship with Toby, so much so that she began to feel like a failure at raising him. Then her high school sweetheart, who broke her heart, returned and became the sheriff and mentor to her brother. She managed to avoid him around town for two years, but that was about to change.
Connor struggled with nightmares from his time serving in Afghanistan. He returned the quiet town of Kortville where he could serve and protect the quiet community while seeking redemption for failing to save his best friend. His demons prevent him from thinking he's worthy of love and happiness, especially with Becca. Even though they had put the past to rest, and it looked like they were becoming close friends, he still had nothing to offer her. She wanted to leave, and he couldn't imagine being anywhere but in a town where nothing ever happened. But a cocoa making contest and a string of vandalism attacks inevitably bring them closer together.
This story gets my vote for one of the sweetest romances I've read so far this year. At first I wasn't going to read it because of my insane schedule, but the blurb wouldn't leave me alone, so I opened it some time late last night and finished it this morning. I couldn't put it down, and I am so glad I caved.
One of my favorite tropes is that of an old flame returning and reigniting the sparks from times past. Even though the main characters never quite made it to the lovers stage, I felt that their unresolved sexual tension just kept going up a notch every time they were together.
Becca and Connor were wonderful characters, and their mature and open communication made this an engaging story from start to finish. I love it when the characters don't beat around the bush unnecessarily. They were caring, compassionate, extremely likeable and above all else, genuine. Their emotional growth was believable and well paced. Their obstacle from the past returned in the present leaving them with the choice to either repeat past mistakes or prove they had matured. There are quite a few scenes where Becca stood up for Connor that were very touching. The rest of the townsfolk were an eclectic mix, and despite their penchant for gossiping or the occasional snide remark, they proved they could and would come together for the sake of one of their own. The love scenes were fade to black, but even so, the ignited passion seamlessly carried over into the normal flow of the story the morning after. The ending gave both Becca and Connor what they wanted. It was perfect for them and brought them full circle.
Love Him or Leave Him made me smile through my tears and long for a cup of cocoa. A must read.
Favorite Lines:
"You made a turtle cocoa. You remembered."
That made me smile because of its significance.
~*~
"You're an idiot. You've always been worthy of my love."
"Aren't those two statements at odds?"
~*~
Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.
July 12, 2013
I love a man in uniform, and this book fills my needs for a soldier and a cop--in one swoony guy! Becca and Connor were high-school sweethearts who had a bad break up. Connor went off to war, and Becca had plans to go off to college. In order to take care of her little brother, Toby (who is now almost 18), Becca had to abandon her dreams of travel and higher education. Now, she's practically counting down the minutes until Toby graduates so she can start her life. Connor is now the sheriff of their small town and has no plans to leave, ever.
I really liked the pacing of this story and the way things played out. Though the small-town politics seemed a little far-fetched to me, I liked the characters and their town. Connor and Becca realizing they still had feelings for each other made sense, and I liked the way their relationship evolved.
What didn't I like? A couple of things. I didn't love the reveal of what made Connor and Becca break up all those years ago--I thought it was unrealistic for the couple everyone wanted to be in high school to give up over something so stupid that a real conversation would have cured. And then for his trust in her to be called into question again? DNW
This story was sweet, and I really liked Becca and Connor. Remember, Bliss titles fade to black, so even though there's some steam, there's nothing gratuitous. I haven't read anything else from Sara Daniel, but I definitely will be checking out more from her now. I think you'll like this one.
I really liked the pacing of this story and the way things played out. Though the small-town politics seemed a little far-fetched to me, I liked the characters and their town. Connor and Becca realizing they still had feelings for each other made sense, and I liked the way their relationship evolved.
"What are you going to do with me now?" she asked. Her vulnerable state didn't frighten her. She trusted him too much for nerves to interfere with her desire.
His lips curled, as his gaze swept over her from top to bottom. "That's a question I've pondered for nearly half my life. Believe me, I won't run out of ideas."
What didn't I like? A couple of things. I didn't love the reveal of what made Connor and Becca break up all those years ago--I thought it was unrealistic for the couple everyone wanted to be in high school to give up over something so stupid that a real conversation would have cured. And then for his trust in her to be called into question again? DNW
Becca's entire body ached, and it had nothing to do with overextending herself on the rowing machine. She already felt like that finger was pointed at her. Sure, Connor wasn't the one pointing, but she needed him to play a different role than in high school. He couldn't stand by and not defend her. She needed him to believe in her this time.
This story was sweet, and I really liked Becca and Connor. Remember, Bliss titles fade to black, so even though there's some steam, there's nothing gratuitous. I haven't read anything else from Sara Daniel, but I definitely will be checking out more from her now. I think you'll like this one.
March 11, 2015
Love Him or Leave Him is an Entangled Bliss print, which means its foundation is sweetly hometown feels. The story and characters were gently and innocently dramatic; it felt as if the author was trying to create a hybrid of Mayberry and an episode of CSI. An overflowing toilet prank snowballs into a murder conspiracy, not everything meshed perfectly. Becca was an agreeable character, if a little vague. I also had a hard time connecting with Conner and taking him seriously, a lot of the time he was the start of making mountains out of mole hills. Conner and Becca spend a lot of time together in the story, they have chemistry but it's a very mellow flame. Their shyness, lingering hurt, and wistfulness, from how their highschool relationship ended, was when they were at their most pleasant to read.
Read full review at: Reading Between the Wines book club
Read full review at: Reading Between the Wines book club
July 9, 2013
After finishing this book I want to pack up my home and move to a small town and meet me some young hot sheriff man to fall in love with.
This book starts out with how Becca Sanders has spent the last two years of her life ignoring Connor O’Malley, since he returned to small hometown Kortville. Apparently back in high school they were a thing and of course something happened and they broke up with broken hearts and years later something has brought them back into each other’s lives and of course feelings start to come up again and some more drama comes up and either they try to suppress those feelings and somehow still get thrown together. The book is truly comical watching the way Becca and Connor try to ignore each other and then at times trying to get along.
Becca’s life is kind of crappy in the sense that her dream since she was a little girl was to leave the small town and travel the world. She got an amazing scholarship for college, but had to turn it down because her mother got sick and ended up passing away. When Becca turned 18 her father decided he was down with the small town and Becca could learn to raise and take care of her younger brother Toby by herself and signed over guardianship to her and left. WOW? Really? What the hell kind of parent does that? I don’t care if you want to live in a small town or not, it isn’t like children can’t live in different cities. So poor Becca is stuck in a small town she hates and can’t wait to get out of and this is finally the year. Toby turns 18 this year and will be graduating and Becca is going to start living her life traveling the world.
On the flip side of this Connor has been the local sheriff for the last two years. However, before that he served in the military and on the Chicago police department. I love that his wake up call every morning at 5 am comes from a crazy old lady to complain about her neighbor being up too early.
Through different events Connor and Becca seem to constantly be stuck working together on something or another. Which give them a lot of time to learn to have to be around each other and actually talk. Since Connor and Becca were the "it" couple in high school we find out a little more about their breakup and why they can't really stand each other so many years later. Eventually, of course, they begin to realize that spending all this time together they still have unresolved feelings for one another.
As if that wasn't enough drama for a small town to have....where everyone knows every one's business. There have been a series of pranks happening around the town. Furthermore, the old sheriff who retired 2 years ago has come back to town with his wife in hopes of getting his job back as sheriff because he's bored of retirement. So now on top of pranks destroying his town, having run ins with Becca, trying to mentor a troubled Toby, Connor has to worry about his job.
This book has a lot of twists and turns that keeps the reader interested. Not only did she make me want to up and move to a small town and become part of that community, she gave me a better understanding of what community truly means when bad things can happen to good people. This was the first book by Sara that I read and I'm excited to get my hands on more of her books to get lost in the "fantasy" she creates. I highly recommend this book as a must read...so make sure to order your copy!!
This book starts out with how Becca Sanders has spent the last two years of her life ignoring Connor O’Malley, since he returned to small hometown Kortville. Apparently back in high school they were a thing and of course something happened and they broke up with broken hearts and years later something has brought them back into each other’s lives and of course feelings start to come up again and some more drama comes up and either they try to suppress those feelings and somehow still get thrown together. The book is truly comical watching the way Becca and Connor try to ignore each other and then at times trying to get along.
Becca’s life is kind of crappy in the sense that her dream since she was a little girl was to leave the small town and travel the world. She got an amazing scholarship for college, but had to turn it down because her mother got sick and ended up passing away. When Becca turned 18 her father decided he was down with the small town and Becca could learn to raise and take care of her younger brother Toby by herself and signed over guardianship to her and left. WOW? Really? What the hell kind of parent does that? I don’t care if you want to live in a small town or not, it isn’t like children can’t live in different cities. So poor Becca is stuck in a small town she hates and can’t wait to get out of and this is finally the year. Toby turns 18 this year and will be graduating and Becca is going to start living her life traveling the world.
On the flip side of this Connor has been the local sheriff for the last two years. However, before that he served in the military and on the Chicago police department. I love that his wake up call every morning at 5 am comes from a crazy old lady to complain about her neighbor being up too early.
Through different events Connor and Becca seem to constantly be stuck working together on something or another. Which give them a lot of time to learn to have to be around each other and actually talk. Since Connor and Becca were the "it" couple in high school we find out a little more about their breakup and why they can't really stand each other so many years later. Eventually, of course, they begin to realize that spending all this time together they still have unresolved feelings for one another.
As if that wasn't enough drama for a small town to have....where everyone knows every one's business. There have been a series of pranks happening around the town. Furthermore, the old sheriff who retired 2 years ago has come back to town with his wife in hopes of getting his job back as sheriff because he's bored of retirement. So now on top of pranks destroying his town, having run ins with Becca, trying to mentor a troubled Toby, Connor has to worry about his job.
This book has a lot of twists and turns that keeps the reader interested. Not only did she make me want to up and move to a small town and become part of that community, she gave me a better understanding of what community truly means when bad things can happen to good people. This was the first book by Sara that I read and I'm excited to get my hands on more of her books to get lost in the "fantasy" she creates. I highly recommend this book as a must read...so make sure to order your copy!!
July 22, 2013
Love Him or Leave Him by Sara Daniel was such an easy, cute, and charming read. It had a wonderful cast of characters that were easy to love, a clever plot line, and such a sweet romance that I enjoyed very much.
I thought Becca was a sweet and caring girl. I found her to be really friendly and kind. She really stepped up for her brother even if it meant put her dreams and her whole life on hold. It was hard, but she really instilled her kind and caring demeanor into him. Although her brother didn’t want the life outside of Kortville, I understood why she pushed it on him, why she wanted to give him the options she wasn’t able to grab onto. She never resented her brother, but loved him no matter what. I thought she was a great sister and model parent. She did her best and that’s all anyone could ask for. I loved that Becca was passionate about fitness, wanting to help others live a healthy lifestyle and how she dreamed of traveling and opening up her own fitness company. And I especially loved that she believed in Connor and made him realize that though he had his own issues she would still be there for him to listen or to talk to whether they were together or not.
Connor was the sexy, loyal and determined police chief of the town who also happened to be Becca’s ex-boyfriend from high school. I totally loved his dedication to the town; how much he cared for the citizens and how much he wanted to protect them. He even took the time to give everyone special attention, no matter how small the request or emergency. Connor was one charming and devoted character that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. I was really proud of him when he took in Becca’s advice and got help for his PTSD. He really learned a lot about himself in this book. He learned to trust Becca, to open up to her and he realized that though he may be damaged goods, that she would always care, love, and support him through his tough times. I adored Connor even more when he stuck my Becca’s side no matter what.
I really liked what Sara Daniel put into in this novel. The romance between Connor and Becca was a full of rediscovery and trusting one another. The attraction was still there and I loved that they rekindled what could have been. This time, there were ready and more mature. I enjoyed how Daniel brought these two back together through the fun cocoa contest and with the vandalism going on in Kortville. Despite the bad things happening, Daniel made the town of Kortville a homey place with a real tight knit community. The town dynamic was endearing and the way they looked out for each other really melted my heart. What was really great about this book was guessing who the vandal was. I had my predictions and my sights set on certain characters. Even when I knew I was right, it was exciting to see it all unfold. I also liked how this book was about the future, about what you truly wanted, and about accepting that sometimes the thing you thought you wanted wasn't exactly the best thing. I really liked that Love Him or Leave Him focused on achieving your dreams and realizing those dreams could be altered or changed and still bring happiness.
All in all, Love Him or Leave Him is a light and fun read that is so worth reading!
More Reviews on my blog: Words, Pages, and Books
I thought Becca was a sweet and caring girl. I found her to be really friendly and kind. She really stepped up for her brother even if it meant put her dreams and her whole life on hold. It was hard, but she really instilled her kind and caring demeanor into him. Although her brother didn’t want the life outside of Kortville, I understood why she pushed it on him, why she wanted to give him the options she wasn’t able to grab onto. She never resented her brother, but loved him no matter what. I thought she was a great sister and model parent. She did her best and that’s all anyone could ask for. I loved that Becca was passionate about fitness, wanting to help others live a healthy lifestyle and how she dreamed of traveling and opening up her own fitness company. And I especially loved that she believed in Connor and made him realize that though he had his own issues she would still be there for him to listen or to talk to whether they were together or not.
Connor was the sexy, loyal and determined police chief of the town who also happened to be Becca’s ex-boyfriend from high school. I totally loved his dedication to the town; how much he cared for the citizens and how much he wanted to protect them. He even took the time to give everyone special attention, no matter how small the request or emergency. Connor was one charming and devoted character that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. I was really proud of him when he took in Becca’s advice and got help for his PTSD. He really learned a lot about himself in this book. He learned to trust Becca, to open up to her and he realized that though he may be damaged goods, that she would always care, love, and support him through his tough times. I adored Connor even more when he stuck my Becca’s side no matter what.
I really liked what Sara Daniel put into in this novel. The romance between Connor and Becca was a full of rediscovery and trusting one another. The attraction was still there and I loved that they rekindled what could have been. This time, there were ready and more mature. I enjoyed how Daniel brought these two back together through the fun cocoa contest and with the vandalism going on in Kortville. Despite the bad things happening, Daniel made the town of Kortville a homey place with a real tight knit community. The town dynamic was endearing and the way they looked out for each other really melted my heart. What was really great about this book was guessing who the vandal was. I had my predictions and my sights set on certain characters. Even when I knew I was right, it was exciting to see it all unfold. I also liked how this book was about the future, about what you truly wanted, and about accepting that sometimes the thing you thought you wanted wasn't exactly the best thing. I really liked that Love Him or Leave Him focused on achieving your dreams and realizing those dreams could be altered or changed and still bring happiness.
All in all, Love Him or Leave Him is a light and fun read that is so worth reading!
More Reviews on my blog: Words, Pages, and Books
July 24, 2013
Originally posted on my blog: Tangled Up In Books
I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I really hate having to write reviews like this. Let me start of by saying that this is strictly my opinion and honestly if the blurb interests you at all give it a try because while there are some things I liked, for the most part, this book wasn't for me.
I had a difficult time liking any of the characters. Becca started out alright but as the book went on I felt like she was too "knows what's best for everyone". Sometime she would voice her opinion but a lot of it was like an inner monologue Those types of people I have a hard time dealing with in real life and so when I find one in a book, which is supposed to be an escape, it grates on me.
Conner for the most part wasn't bad either. What I found to my disliking with him though was how overly dramatic he was at times. I understand he has PTSD and I'm not trying to blow that off on overreacting. There were some very PTSD reaction moments that were understandable. But when a building gets spray painted, vandalized, and he starts going through these internal thoughts about all the people he's let down which now included the guy who's store was vandalized, and how when he let people down, people died... it just got to be too much. And it wasn't just one time. Even for someone with PTSD he didn't react normal to situations.
One of the things I enjoyed was the relationship between Becca and her younger brother Toby, whom she's raising. It was very real. Real in the fact that they both had some resentments towards each other due to their situation. Becca for having to give up her dreams and be what she considered "Stuck" in a small town and not being able to follow her dreams of travel. And Toby for having to be raised by an older sister and knowing that he was the reason she was stuck and how much she couldn't wait til he graduated so she could take off. Their interactions were exactly how one would expect of that kind of a situation. It was nice watching them grow and struggle to eventually mend their relationship.
I wish I had more positive things to say. I really do, but even the whole scandal that rocks the town situation seemed like a bit of a stretch to me. I hope others have a different experience with this book than I did.
I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I really hate having to write reviews like this. Let me start of by saying that this is strictly my opinion and honestly if the blurb interests you at all give it a try because while there are some things I liked, for the most part, this book wasn't for me.
I had a difficult time liking any of the characters. Becca started out alright but as the book went on I felt like she was too "knows what's best for everyone". Sometime she would voice her opinion but a lot of it was like an inner monologue Those types of people I have a hard time dealing with in real life and so when I find one in a book, which is supposed to be an escape, it grates on me.
Conner for the most part wasn't bad either. What I found to my disliking with him though was how overly dramatic he was at times. I understand he has PTSD and I'm not trying to blow that off on overreacting. There were some very PTSD reaction moments that were understandable. But when a building gets spray painted, vandalized, and he starts going through these internal thoughts about all the people he's let down which now included the guy who's store was vandalized, and how when he let people down, people died... it just got to be too much. And it wasn't just one time. Even for someone with PTSD he didn't react normal to situations.
One of the things I enjoyed was the relationship between Becca and her younger brother Toby, whom she's raising. It was very real. Real in the fact that they both had some resentments towards each other due to their situation. Becca for having to give up her dreams and be what she considered "Stuck" in a small town and not being able to follow her dreams of travel. And Toby for having to be raised by an older sister and knowing that he was the reason she was stuck and how much she couldn't wait til he graduated so she could take off. Their interactions were exactly how one would expect of that kind of a situation. It was nice watching them grow and struggle to eventually mend their relationship.
I wish I had more positive things to say. I really do, but even the whole scandal that rocks the town situation seemed like a bit of a stretch to me. I hope others have a different experience with this book than I did.
July 16, 2013
4 Big-City-Lights Stars!
I have always wondered what it would be like to grow up in a small town, wishing that I had and I still want to raise a family in a small town. Sara Daniel’s Love Him or Leave Him just solidified that dream for me. I truly enjoyed this heartwarming tale of Becca and Connor in small town Kortville, IL.
Becca is feisty, strong, sticks by those she loves, and carried more on her shoulders than any young person ever should. After her dreams of leaving Kortville for college and to explore the world were shattered, she couldn’t wait to get out of town a decade later when she saw the chance. Especially after Connor O’Malley came back into the picture. She would never forgive him for believing the rumor mill of the small town, not trusting her, not sticking up for her, and letting her reputation sink in high school. There was a reason why he was her ex-boyfriend and no amount of time had healed her heart from his betrayal. Yet, Connor still showed up with a need for help that no one else but Becca saw. And Becca’s good nature couldn’t be so cold towards him.
Connor has suffered immensely from self-pity and guilt from not being able to protect those close to him and he doesn’t think he could ever be able to give Becca everything she deserves. Yet, he just can’t help himself. He wants Becca to be his.
As things in the usually quiet town of Kortville start to escalate in acts of extreme vandalism, the town seems to be against Becca once again and it’s up to Connor to pick a side, once again.
I didn’t know how to handle Becca’s situation. I’m not sure I would have handled things the way she did (and her way was much better) and that’s what I was most drawn to with her. She was strong and knew herself well enough that she could stand up for what she believed to be right. Connor also found a soft spot with me in his need to do everything right by Becca, even if it was too late.
Sara’s writing had a way of making the reading effortless and incredibly enjoyable, letting the time slip away
(I received an ARC for my review and this is my honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review)
www.caretocommentanne.blogspot.com For more reviews!
I have always wondered what it would be like to grow up in a small town, wishing that I had and I still want to raise a family in a small town. Sara Daniel’s Love Him or Leave Him just solidified that dream for me. I truly enjoyed this heartwarming tale of Becca and Connor in small town Kortville, IL.
Becca is feisty, strong, sticks by those she loves, and carried more on her shoulders than any young person ever should. After her dreams of leaving Kortville for college and to explore the world were shattered, she couldn’t wait to get out of town a decade later when she saw the chance. Especially after Connor O’Malley came back into the picture. She would never forgive him for believing the rumor mill of the small town, not trusting her, not sticking up for her, and letting her reputation sink in high school. There was a reason why he was her ex-boyfriend and no amount of time had healed her heart from his betrayal. Yet, Connor still showed up with a need for help that no one else but Becca saw. And Becca’s good nature couldn’t be so cold towards him.
Connor has suffered immensely from self-pity and guilt from not being able to protect those close to him and he doesn’t think he could ever be able to give Becca everything she deserves. Yet, he just can’t help himself. He wants Becca to be his.
As things in the usually quiet town of Kortville start to escalate in acts of extreme vandalism, the town seems to be against Becca once again and it’s up to Connor to pick a side, once again.
I didn’t know how to handle Becca’s situation. I’m not sure I would have handled things the way she did (and her way was much better) and that’s what I was most drawn to with her. She was strong and knew herself well enough that she could stand up for what she believed to be right. Connor also found a soft spot with me in his need to do everything right by Becca, even if it was too late.
Sara’s writing had a way of making the reading effortless and incredibly enjoyable, letting the time slip away
(I received an ARC for my review and this is my honest-to-goodness, straight from the heart review)
www.caretocommentanne.blogspot.com For more reviews!
July 10, 2013
These Entangled Bliss books have been fun to read. They are light, flirty, fun, and sweet. Is the word "sweet" overused in reviews? Yeah, I think it is. But this one IS sweet because there is a hot cocoa contest in it and doughnuts. I was a little worried about reading another Bliss book thinking it would be too similar to the others I have read (which were very good) but I was pleasantly reminded that each author is different and each book is different. I really liked Love Him or Leave Him by Sara Daniel!
In this story, we follow Connor and Becca. They were high school sweethearts but some rumors and teenage uncertainty got in their way. Now, twelve years later, they are living in the same small town trying to run from their past and figure out their future. Connor is the town's Sherif (check out my interview with him here) and Becca is trying hard to get her younger brother, Toby, graduated from high school so she can go explore the world. As you can imagine, things don't always go as we plan.
Sara does a great job of playing out Connor and Becca's romance in the story and weaving in a few plot lines to make for a very interesting read. I had a tough time putting it down because there never seemed to be a place that I felt I could stop and come back to it, so I read it pretty quickly. She adds a touch of suspense to the story with a crime spree going on in the cozy little town of Kortville. This was my first book by Sara and will not be my last. Her writing is smooth, her plot is well developed and her characters are ones you can root for with just enough amount of flaws but have big hearts.
Love Him or Leave Him is the second book in the series, but you can read it as a standalone. It does make me want to go back and read about Matt and Veronica (Construction Beauty Queen) who are very much a part of the story in Love Him or Leave Him. If you are looking for a light, fun, clean, contemporary romance that will have you wishing you lived in a small town, I highly recommend you read Love Him or Leave Him!
In this story, we follow Connor and Becca. They were high school sweethearts but some rumors and teenage uncertainty got in their way. Now, twelve years later, they are living in the same small town trying to run from their past and figure out their future. Connor is the town's Sherif (check out my interview with him here) and Becca is trying hard to get her younger brother, Toby, graduated from high school so she can go explore the world. As you can imagine, things don't always go as we plan.
Sara does a great job of playing out Connor and Becca's romance in the story and weaving in a few plot lines to make for a very interesting read. I had a tough time putting it down because there never seemed to be a place that I felt I could stop and come back to it, so I read it pretty quickly. She adds a touch of suspense to the story with a crime spree going on in the cozy little town of Kortville. This was my first book by Sara and will not be my last. Her writing is smooth, her plot is well developed and her characters are ones you can root for with just enough amount of flaws but have big hearts.
Love Him or Leave Him is the second book in the series, but you can read it as a standalone. It does make me want to go back and read about Matt and Veronica (Construction Beauty Queen) who are very much a part of the story in Love Him or Leave Him. If you are looking for a light, fun, clean, contemporary romance that will have you wishing you lived in a small town, I highly recommend you read Love Him or Leave Him!
July 21, 2013
Romance novels are quickly becoming my new escape from reality. There's just something about a feel good, happy ending, story that makes you all mushy inside! So when I saw the synopsis for Sara Daniels' Love Him or Leave Him, I knew I'd be reading it. With my glass of wine, and my chocolate cake, I sank into the couch and into Connor and Becca's lives.
I'm going to admit straight out that Becca wasn't my favorite person at first. I thought she was rather closed off and, if I'm being honest, slightly bitter. However the more I read, the more she opened up. I soon realized that she had every right to feel that way! Imagine being a young girl with big dreams. Now imagine those dreams are put on hold while you have to care for your younger brother. The fact that Becca was strong enough to take on so much responsibility really made her an amazing woman in my eyes.
Which is why when Connor sauntered into the scene I was a little skeptical at first. Was he good enough for her? Well, let's just say that a few pages later I was totally ready to steal him away. Connor O'Malley is everything you'd want in a man. Despite the skeletons in his closet, he's the sweetest and most giving character I've ever met! Absolutely swoon-worthy, and 100% adorable, he's too hard not to love. I could even forgive him the rather obnoxious reason why he and Becca split in the first place, and that's saying a lot.
Oh, and then the story! I could gush for ages, but suffice it to say that the small town setting is perfection. I know the word "sweet" is probably used a ton for reviews like this, but it's the simple truth. I mean, come on, it even has a cocoa competition in it! Sweet doesn't even quite cover how delectable this book really is. So it should be obvious that you need a copy of Love Him or Leave Him as soon as humanly possible. Wine and cake are optional, but highly recommended.
I'm going to admit straight out that Becca wasn't my favorite person at first. I thought she was rather closed off and, if I'm being honest, slightly bitter. However the more I read, the more she opened up. I soon realized that she had every right to feel that way! Imagine being a young girl with big dreams. Now imagine those dreams are put on hold while you have to care for your younger brother. The fact that Becca was strong enough to take on so much responsibility really made her an amazing woman in my eyes.
Which is why when Connor sauntered into the scene I was a little skeptical at first. Was he good enough for her? Well, let's just say that a few pages later I was totally ready to steal him away. Connor O'Malley is everything you'd want in a man. Despite the skeletons in his closet, he's the sweetest and most giving character I've ever met! Absolutely swoon-worthy, and 100% adorable, he's too hard not to love. I could even forgive him the rather obnoxious reason why he and Becca split in the first place, and that's saying a lot.
Oh, and then the story! I could gush for ages, but suffice it to say that the small town setting is perfection. I know the word "sweet" is probably used a ton for reviews like this, but it's the simple truth. I mean, come on, it even has a cocoa competition in it! Sweet doesn't even quite cover how delectable this book really is. So it should be obvious that you need a copy of Love Him or Leave Him as soon as humanly possible. Wine and cake are optional, but highly recommended.
June 25, 2013
I read the first book in this series "Construction Beauty Queen" and really liked it so when I was offered an ARC copy of Love Him Or Leave Him I jumped at the chance.
Becca had plans to leave her hometown, go to school and see the world. Things changed when she's suddenly raising her younger brother Toby. She's chomping at the bit waiting for Toby to graduate high school, go off to college whether he wants to or not, so she can finally leave the town and her ex Connor behind.
Connor's been home from Afghanistan for 2 years. He and Becca have an unspoken rule of avoiding each other do to anger and past hurts from their high school breakup. Conner has no desire to see the world. He likes being sheriff of his town and doesn't plan on leaving it and doesn't see why Becca would ever want to go.
When crazy things seem to be happening all over town with only Becca in common, they're thrown together while Connor tries to prove Becca's the victim, not the suspect. I really liked it. I also liked that we caught up with Matt and Veronica. If Sara writes another book in the series I'll definitely get it. She writes about some really quirky characters and is really funny. It's the perfect combination at the end of a stressful day at work!
Becca had plans to leave her hometown, go to school and see the world. Things changed when she's suddenly raising her younger brother Toby. She's chomping at the bit waiting for Toby to graduate high school, go off to college whether he wants to or not, so she can finally leave the town and her ex Connor behind.
Connor's been home from Afghanistan for 2 years. He and Becca have an unspoken rule of avoiding each other do to anger and past hurts from their high school breakup. Conner has no desire to see the world. He likes being sheriff of his town and doesn't plan on leaving it and doesn't see why Becca would ever want to go.
When crazy things seem to be happening all over town with only Becca in common, they're thrown together while Connor tries to prove Becca's the victim, not the suspect. I really liked it. I also liked that we caught up with Matt and Veronica. If Sara writes another book in the series I'll definitely get it. She writes about some really quirky characters and is really funny. It's the perfect combination at the end of a stressful day at work!
July 21, 2013
I want to live in Kortville. With its quirky residents and required quota of swoon worthy men, there is never a dull moment and this outing doesn't disappoint. I devoured it.
There's no decision to make, you can't not love Connor. Leaving him? Not an option. He's perfect, simply because he's not. He has insecurities and vulnerabilities but they are realistic and my heart went out to him. Plus he's a Cop. What's not to love about a uniformed protector of the law. I equally loved Becca; she's single-handedly brought up her brother following the death of their mum, their dad did a runner and although she may not think so, she's doing a sterling job of it; he's just a typical head-strong stubborn flighty teen.
With some realism, it balances light-hearted touching romantic moments with the more serious issues in life. The residents brought humour with them and the tension between Connor and Becca is flirty but also serious. And whilst there is build up, what actually happens in the bedroom stays behind closed doors, so it's all left to your imagination.
I'm hoping that this isn't our last visit. I want to know if Jake will win his battle of the bulge and bag himself a lady...Rochelle's single (but then again so is Mrs. Parker) ;)
There's no decision to make, you can't not love Connor. Leaving him? Not an option. He's perfect, simply because he's not. He has insecurities and vulnerabilities but they are realistic and my heart went out to him. Plus he's a Cop. What's not to love about a uniformed protector of the law. I equally loved Becca; she's single-handedly brought up her brother following the death of their mum, their dad did a runner and although she may not think so, she's doing a sterling job of it; he's just a typical head-strong stubborn flighty teen.
With some realism, it balances light-hearted touching romantic moments with the more serious issues in life. The residents brought humour with them and the tension between Connor and Becca is flirty but also serious. And whilst there is build up, what actually happens in the bedroom stays behind closed doors, so it's all left to your imagination.
I'm hoping that this isn't our last visit. I want to know if Jake will win his battle of the bulge and bag himself a lady...Rochelle's single (but then again so is Mrs. Parker) ;)
July 8, 2013
(Thank you to the publisher for an eARC!)
I truly believe that every girl needs to indulge in romance from time to time. Or all the time really. Love Him or Leave Him is such a fun and romantic read. I couldn't help but keep reading, even when my eyelids were growing heavy as I read late into the night. And let me tell you, Connor is one of those men you WANT to read about and even meet in person. For me, I pictured him looking like Channing Tatum. Hmm, not bad on the eyes, right ladies? Becca frustrated me a little at first but I grew to understand where she was coming from and what her reservations may be. However, I loved her for her wanting what's best for her little brother. Coming from a small town, I appreciated the sense of family that the town of Kortville gave me. After reading Love Him or Leave Him, I really think I am going to have to indulge in some more Sara Daniels' books. Especially if they involve men like Connor. :)
http://turningpages2011.blogspot.com/...
I truly believe that every girl needs to indulge in romance from time to time. Or all the time really. Love Him or Leave Him is such a fun and romantic read. I couldn't help but keep reading, even when my eyelids were growing heavy as I read late into the night. And let me tell you, Connor is one of those men you WANT to read about and even meet in person. For me, I pictured him looking like Channing Tatum. Hmm, not bad on the eyes, right ladies? Becca frustrated me a little at first but I grew to understand where she was coming from and what her reservations may be. However, I loved her for her wanting what's best for her little brother. Coming from a small town, I appreciated the sense of family that the town of Kortville gave me. After reading Love Him or Leave Him, I really think I am going to have to indulge in some more Sara Daniels' books. Especially if they involve men like Connor. :)
http://turningpages2011.blogspot.com/...
July 19, 2013
Kortville is a beautifully crafted small town with a full cast of diverse characters who’ll keep you entertained. This story features Becca and Connor who are former high school sweethearts drawn back together by circumstance.
Ms. Daniel does a fantastic job of crafting believable mature characters that have dreams and goals of their own yet are responsible enough to do what they have to do, and open-minded enough to realize that things change, people change, and they can too.
There are several creative, yet realistic twists and turns in the plot, and some great laugh-out-loud moments, all woven together seamlessly to create a very entertaining story.
This story was hard for me to put down because I’m a city girl who’s moved to a small town, and the author made the story so believable that I could see some of these things possibly happening in my own town!
It’s by far one of the sweetest romances I’ve read this summer. So good in fact, that the first book in the series is now on my ereader.
Ms. Daniel does a fantastic job of crafting believable mature characters that have dreams and goals of their own yet are responsible enough to do what they have to do, and open-minded enough to realize that things change, people change, and they can too.
There are several creative, yet realistic twists and turns in the plot, and some great laugh-out-loud moments, all woven together seamlessly to create a very entertaining story.
This story was hard for me to put down because I’m a city girl who’s moved to a small town, and the author made the story so believable that I could see some of these things possibly happening in my own town!
It’s by far one of the sweetest romances I’ve read this summer. So good in fact, that the first book in the series is now on my ereader.
Read
July 4, 2013What a sweet read! Connor and Becca are very credible, very empathetic characters. And this is just the sort of book which makes the most of a small town's eccentricities. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between the heroine and her younger brother. Priceless!
Note: all the sex in this book is "off screen." So if you want a sweet contemporary romance with great characters but don't like to blush your way through a book, this one is for you.
Note: all the sex in this book is "off screen." So if you want a sweet contemporary romance with great characters but don't like to blush your way through a book, this one is for you.
July 9, 2013
Love Him or Leave Him (A Small Town, Big Dreams Novel) (Entangled Bliss)Sara Daniel.
ARC supplied by publisher.
Romance, I love it :) and eagerly started on this book. Connor is a lovely man, finally back in the small town he grew up in after some horrific experiences in Afghanistan with the military, and then with the city police. He loves the way it's so secure and has pledged to make it his duty to keep it that way, and wants nothing more than to stay in the town the rest of his life. His schoolgirl sweetheart is there still. They split acrimoniously, and for the two years he's been back have been very carefully avoiding each other. Becca dreamed of travelling but had to sacrifice her dreams to look after a younger brother. Now he's almost eighteen she can't wait to leave and start her travels. Even though the attraction between the two is still shimmering there thoughts on the future are worlds apart – literally.
On the face of it I thought it was a perfect set up for romance but... the small town part was just too small for me. The characters irritated me. I grew up – and still live – in a small village, so I'm aware of how gossipy and awkward things can get but this seemed a step too far. The police tracking a lost dog as an emergency? The vandalism possibly resulting in an attempted manslaughter charge? When son no 1's car was broken into a couple of years back it took two days for police to arrive, and their response? “if you hear anything about who the culprit is contact us” I thought that was their job, certainly they'd never take anything as minor as the events that happen here so seriously. Even though its UK versus US and the policing style is different, and that’s its fact v fiction its still just too far for me. I need to feel that events could be real and this just didn't work. There were some good moments, I liked the way the people pulled together to help Becca set up her fitness centre, and the gossiping was something universal to all small villages I guess, and can be very funny as an onlooker. I felt for Becca in her quest to get her brother to go onto further education, and felt for him too. He was basically a good lad, but wanted something different out of life than Becca and resented her – as kids do resent parents. I remember the struggle to get my own kids to take education seriously – probably my parents had the same problem. Something else universal to all generations :)
Overall I enjoyed the book, but as a one off read only. Its very light, has some humour and very little sex for those who don't like that. As an old fashioned romance it works well, for those who want more sensual, realistic scenes like me its not one for the keeper files, but then we all (thankfully ) like different things which is why I give reasons for what I didn't like. That may be the opposite for someone else and make this a perfect read for them. At £2.36 for 184 pages its good value of this sort of novel appeals.
Stars: three from me.
ARC supplied by publisher.
Romance, I love it :) and eagerly started on this book. Connor is a lovely man, finally back in the small town he grew up in after some horrific experiences in Afghanistan with the military, and then with the city police. He loves the way it's so secure and has pledged to make it his duty to keep it that way, and wants nothing more than to stay in the town the rest of his life. His schoolgirl sweetheart is there still. They split acrimoniously, and for the two years he's been back have been very carefully avoiding each other. Becca dreamed of travelling but had to sacrifice her dreams to look after a younger brother. Now he's almost eighteen she can't wait to leave and start her travels. Even though the attraction between the two is still shimmering there thoughts on the future are worlds apart – literally.
On the face of it I thought it was a perfect set up for romance but... the small town part was just too small for me. The characters irritated me. I grew up – and still live – in a small village, so I'm aware of how gossipy and awkward things can get but this seemed a step too far. The police tracking a lost dog as an emergency? The vandalism possibly resulting in an attempted manslaughter charge? When son no 1's car was broken into a couple of years back it took two days for police to arrive, and their response? “if you hear anything about who the culprit is contact us” I thought that was their job, certainly they'd never take anything as minor as the events that happen here so seriously. Even though its UK versus US and the policing style is different, and that’s its fact v fiction its still just too far for me. I need to feel that events could be real and this just didn't work. There were some good moments, I liked the way the people pulled together to help Becca set up her fitness centre, and the gossiping was something universal to all small villages I guess, and can be very funny as an onlooker. I felt for Becca in her quest to get her brother to go onto further education, and felt for him too. He was basically a good lad, but wanted something different out of life than Becca and resented her – as kids do resent parents. I remember the struggle to get my own kids to take education seriously – probably my parents had the same problem. Something else universal to all generations :)
Overall I enjoyed the book, but as a one off read only. Its very light, has some humour and very little sex for those who don't like that. As an old fashioned romance it works well, for those who want more sensual, realistic scenes like me its not one for the keeper files, but then we all (thankfully ) like different things which is why I give reasons for what I didn't like. That may be the opposite for someone else and make this a perfect read for them. At £2.36 for 184 pages its good value of this sort of novel appeals.
Stars: three from me.
August 13, 2013
When I first requested this book for review I had no idea that it was part of a series, but luckily, as I read it, it was clear that even if you had not read the first book that you were safe.
The title of this series is very prominently displayed in this book; Small Town, Big Dreams. You see, Becca Sanders and Connor O'Malley were high school sweethearts.
Becca had all these plans, she had big dreams about what would have happened once she had graduated and Connor had graduated. He was already enlisted, and she was going to get a scholarship and leave the small town of Kortville and travel around the world to meet up with Connor whenever he was on leave.
But unfortunately none of that came to pass. Becca and Connor broke up due to something Becca had supposedly done--but didn't! And for me, this was probably the biggest pet peeve I had with this book. I didn't enjoy the "big reveal" of what broke these two up. I mean, they were so giddy in love with each other and I felt like they could have gone all the way. Pun intended. Alas, they never did. Becca just wasn't going to be one of those girls that got herself in trouble and lose out on her dreams. Which made the reason for the breakup not really gel with me.
Also, another road block in Becca's life was when her mother made her promise to stay in town and look after her little brother after she died. Becca's father couldn't get out of town fast enough and signed everything over to a unprepared 18 year old kid. So yeah, Becca was stuck.
But now that her brother, Toby is on the cusp of turning 18 and graduating high school, Becca can finally have her dream. Or will she?
Connor, who I haven't spoken much about so far, is a really great guy. I really felt for him in this story. I mean, I sympathized with Becca for sure, but Connor was just so sweet... and awkward. He'd gone to war in Afghanistan, then spent some time as a city cop before returning home to be the chief of police.
But all is not well with Connor, he's dealing with a serious case of PTSD and he doesn't want anyone to know about it. Especially Becca.
After two years of being back in town and avoiding each other like the plague, which is hard to do since he's the town's police and Becca works her mom's old job as a checkout girl at the local store, they are thrown together when Connor becomes her brother's mentor and when they get paired up for the town's cocoa contest. Being thrown together by these events happening in town helps them to see that there may be still something between them.
Overall, I thought this was a very sweet and fluffy read. The writing was well-paced, and witty and at times laugh out loud good. Looking forward to reading other works by Sara Daniel since this was my first.
The title of this series is very prominently displayed in this book; Small Town, Big Dreams. You see, Becca Sanders and Connor O'Malley were high school sweethearts.
Becca had all these plans, she had big dreams about what would have happened once she had graduated and Connor had graduated. He was already enlisted, and she was going to get a scholarship and leave the small town of Kortville and travel around the world to meet up with Connor whenever he was on leave.
But unfortunately none of that came to pass. Becca and Connor broke up due to something Becca had supposedly done--but didn't! And for me, this was probably the biggest pet peeve I had with this book. I didn't enjoy the "big reveal" of what broke these two up. I mean, they were so giddy in love with each other and I felt like they could have gone all the way. Pun intended. Alas, they never did. Becca just wasn't going to be one of those girls that got herself in trouble and lose out on her dreams. Which made the reason for the breakup not really gel with me.
Also, another road block in Becca's life was when her mother made her promise to stay in town and look after her little brother after she died. Becca's father couldn't get out of town fast enough and signed everything over to a unprepared 18 year old kid. So yeah, Becca was stuck.
But now that her brother, Toby is on the cusp of turning 18 and graduating high school, Becca can finally have her dream. Or will she?
Connor, who I haven't spoken much about so far, is a really great guy. I really felt for him in this story. I mean, I sympathized with Becca for sure, but Connor was just so sweet... and awkward. He'd gone to war in Afghanistan, then spent some time as a city cop before returning home to be the chief of police.
But all is not well with Connor, he's dealing with a serious case of PTSD and he doesn't want anyone to know about it. Especially Becca.
After two years of being back in town and avoiding each other like the plague, which is hard to do since he's the town's police and Becca works her mom's old job as a checkout girl at the local store, they are thrown together when Connor becomes her brother's mentor and when they get paired up for the town's cocoa contest. Being thrown together by these events happening in town helps them to see that there may be still something between them.
Overall, I thought this was a very sweet and fluffy read. The writing was well-paced, and witty and at times laugh out loud good. Looking forward to reading other works by Sara Daniel since this was my first.
August 30, 2016
Love Him or Leave Him was one of those reads I just love. It's filled with characters that are passionate and complex, there's drama and unwavering heart and small town quirkiness--complete with hot chocolate contests. It's just a sweet romance that kept me smiling and entertained.
Becca and Connor. I don't know. They just made me smile and really touched my heart with what they'd been through. There's a lot of heat and fire between them--though there's not really much on page action going on. Lots of history that has to be overcome and well, not everyone is always quite on board with getting all romancy. But they're so good for each other you can't help but want to see them together in the end.
Connor. Oh damn. He is my kind of hero. Yall, this man. He is dreamy. Sexy, sweet, dedicated and passionate about his town and being a good Sheriff. But what got me was how he took care of the little old ladies in town. He dotes on them and it is just so damn cute how he has a relationship with his little senior citizen neighbor who he realized was lonely years earlier and chats with every morning. It's a total *girly sigh* kinda thing. lol
Becca was great too even if she was a bit of a health nut and all about fitness and eating right. I know it's really, really bad but damn the girl had me wanting a donut something fierce. I so can't relate to the love of fitness but I loved that she cared so much. That she wanted to take care of everyone. She's had a hard few years and often I felt like just reaching in and hugging her. She so sparked the mama bear in me.
All in all, Daniel's created a wonderful small town romance. She had me falling for Becca and Connor and wanting to spend more time with them. I loved watching them deal with the past, with her dream of leaving town and discovering a new path, with his struggles over his time in the military. It all made them feel so real. The added mystery of who was causing havoc in the town added a nice element that kept things even more interesting. It was a great time and has me wanting to read more from Daniels in the near future.
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup
Becca and Connor. I don't know. They just made me smile and really touched my heart with what they'd been through. There's a lot of heat and fire between them--though there's not really much on page action going on. Lots of history that has to be overcome and well, not everyone is always quite on board with getting all romancy. But they're so good for each other you can't help but want to see them together in the end.
Connor. Oh damn. He is my kind of hero. Yall, this man. He is dreamy. Sexy, sweet, dedicated and passionate about his town and being a good Sheriff. But what got me was how he took care of the little old ladies in town. He dotes on them and it is just so damn cute how he has a relationship with his little senior citizen neighbor who he realized was lonely years earlier and chats with every morning. It's a total *girly sigh* kinda thing. lol
Becca was great too even if she was a bit of a health nut and all about fitness and eating right. I know it's really, really bad but damn the girl had me wanting a donut something fierce. I so can't relate to the love of fitness but I loved that she cared so much. That she wanted to take care of everyone. She's had a hard few years and often I felt like just reaching in and hugging her. She so sparked the mama bear in me.
All in all, Daniel's created a wonderful small town romance. She had me falling for Becca and Connor and wanting to spend more time with them. I loved watching them deal with the past, with her dream of leaving town and discovering a new path, with his struggles over his time in the military. It all made them feel so real. The added mystery of who was causing havoc in the town added a nice element that kept things even more interesting. It was a great time and has me wanting to read more from Daniels in the near future.
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup
July 8, 2013
This book tell the story of Connor and Becca. They were once a couple during their teenage but because of his best friend who lied about his relationship with Becca, Connor broken off their relationship. Now, Connor is back in town for two years and throughout these two years, he tried to stay away from her. Becca have a wish to leave the town as soon as her brother enters into a respectable college. She wanted him to have a brighter future outside rather than staying put in town. But what Becca wish for is not what her brother want. When Becca’s brother makes Connor his mentor, it actually forces both of them to be in contact again even though it is against both their wishes.
Becca have personal issues. She wanted so much to leave the town and explore the world but her promise to her mother make her stay where she is to take care of her brother. And with her father taking off soon after her mother’s death and passing the baton of responsibility to her, it has actually killed off her trust on the other gender. Connor is having post trauma disorder syndrome after the army but he seems to hide it well. But as the story progress, the issues become clearer but he refuses help. All he wanted is to serve and protect his town.
This is a sweet romance story which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Not much conflict between the two main character but I noted that the emphasis of the conflict is more towards themselves; Becca for her intention to leave the town where she have grew up and Connor on his guilty feeling for the death of his best friend. The story developed on a rather moderate speed and this allow the reader time to grasp the emotional moment in the book. a
Becca have personal issues. She wanted so much to leave the town and explore the world but her promise to her mother make her stay where she is to take care of her brother. And with her father taking off soon after her mother’s death and passing the baton of responsibility to her, it has actually killed off her trust on the other gender. Connor is having post trauma disorder syndrome after the army but he seems to hide it well. But as the story progress, the issues become clearer but he refuses help. All he wanted is to serve and protect his town.
This is a sweet romance story which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Not much conflict between the two main character but I noted that the emphasis of the conflict is more towards themselves; Becca for her intention to leave the town where she have grew up and Connor on his guilty feeling for the death of his best friend. The story developed on a rather moderate speed and this allow the reader time to grasp the emotional moment in the book. a
July 11, 2013
Becca is counting down the days until her brother graduates so she will finally be free to travel the world rather than staying in the small town of Kortville, Ilinois. Connor, the town sheriff never wants to leave Kortville. The two were high school sweethearts until Connor broke Becca’s heart. Now he is battling his own demons from Afghanistan to try and win Becca’s love once again, despite the fact that they both are looking for very different things. Love Him or Leave Him is the second in the ‘Small Town, Big Dreams’ series.
At first I didn’t find Love Him or Leave Him to be that enjoyable. The opening jumped straight into heated emotions and lustful thoughts which seemed to come out of nowhere (even after reading more into the story the beginning still didn’t make much sense and was far too contrived in my opinion). The characters felt half-formed with a few situational issues carefully placed in their way. However, about halfway through the novel suddenly became much more readable with the story becoming character-led – it’s just unfortunate that it didn’t start that way.
The story does deal with a few serious issues, in particular PTSD and vandalism, with the usual trust issues that always appear in romance novels. These issues were explained enough to show how they affect the characters within the town, but definitely didn’t eclipse the light-hearted romance.
Love Him or Leave Him would be a wonderful summer read, leaving you with appreciation of wherever you are. Despite the faltering start, I look forward to reading more books by Sara Daniel, with the hope that they will offer more endings that leave me wishing for more.
[I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
At first I didn’t find Love Him or Leave Him to be that enjoyable. The opening jumped straight into heated emotions and lustful thoughts which seemed to come out of nowhere (even after reading more into the story the beginning still didn’t make much sense and was far too contrived in my opinion). The characters felt half-formed with a few situational issues carefully placed in their way. However, about halfway through the novel suddenly became much more readable with the story becoming character-led – it’s just unfortunate that it didn’t start that way.
The story does deal with a few serious issues, in particular PTSD and vandalism, with the usual trust issues that always appear in romance novels. These issues were explained enough to show how they affect the characters within the town, but definitely didn’t eclipse the light-hearted romance.
Love Him or Leave Him would be a wonderful summer read, leaving you with appreciation of wherever you are. Despite the faltering start, I look forward to reading more books by Sara Daniel, with the hope that they will offer more endings that leave me wishing for more.
[I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
November 26, 2015
Love Him or Leave Him is a super cute second chance romance with a strong focus on family and community. Becca and Connor dated back in high school, but after believing town gossip over her, Connor dumped her. Twelve years later, Becca has been working at the grocery store, raising her teen brother, and dreaming of travel and opening her own fitness center. Connor, on the other hand, has only been back in town for two years after joining the military and then the police academy. For those two years, he and Becca have pretended the other didn’t exist, but now that’s not so easy anymore.
I thought Love Him or Leave Him was really cute. Becca and Connor are suddenly forced together for multiple reasons. The first being that Connor has been assigned as Becca’s brother’s mentor to keep him out of trouble until he graduates. Then both are wrangled into participating in Pauline’s wacky cocoa contest. And finally, there’s been a string of vandalism in town, and not enough police power, so Becca volunteers to check things out and winds up paired with Connor! Needless to say, that much close proximity brings up old feelings and stirs up some new ones! I wasn’t quite as invested in the vandalism plot, especially because it becomes super obvious who the culprit is. But I really enjoyed the cocoa contest! Lots of creativity there!
Love Him or Leave Him was quick and sweet, but was missing that extra something that Veronica and Matt’s story had. I still very much enjoyed seeing Becca and Connor come together, and I’m so glad that this didn’t turn into another case where the woman drops her dreams to stay with her man! She can totally have it all!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
I thought Love Him or Leave Him was really cute. Becca and Connor are suddenly forced together for multiple reasons. The first being that Connor has been assigned as Becca’s brother’s mentor to keep him out of trouble until he graduates. Then both are wrangled into participating in Pauline’s wacky cocoa contest. And finally, there’s been a string of vandalism in town, and not enough police power, so Becca volunteers to check things out and winds up paired with Connor! Needless to say, that much close proximity brings up old feelings and stirs up some new ones! I wasn’t quite as invested in the vandalism plot, especially because it becomes super obvious who the culprit is. But I really enjoyed the cocoa contest! Lots of creativity there!
Love Him or Leave Him was quick and sweet, but was missing that extra something that Veronica and Matt’s story had. I still very much enjoyed seeing Becca and Connor come together, and I’m so glad that this didn’t turn into another case where the woman drops her dreams to stay with her man! She can totally have it all!
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
July 10, 2013
Posted on What I'm Reading
Today I finished Love Him or Leave Him by Sara Daniel. Let just say that this story is a sweet small town story. With most small town stories any scandal is a huge scandal. Plus, everyone is in everyones business.
Everyone knows that Becca Sanders wants to get out of dodge once her brother graduates from high school. However, her brother doesn't want to go the route Becca wants him to go. So, we have two siblings going head to head on what's a right choice. Then you throw in the hot police chief, Conner O'Malley, who happens to mentor to Becca's brother. Let's not forget that these two use to be high school sweet hearts until something stupid happen and cause these two to breakup.
I'm not a huge fan of reunited lover stories. The reason why is usually the past lovers broke up, because of something dumb, and Becca and Conner is no exception. Basically, Conner choose his bro's story over his girlfriend. However, in the story Conner and Becca learn to trust each other. By learning to trust one another, they are able to figure out what's going on.
Overall, Love Him or Leave Him is a sweet story set in a small town. It's a story about reuniting lovers. So, if you are looking for a sweet romantic read which emphasis on the sweet, you might want to give Love Him or Leave Him a try.
Copy provided by the publisher
Today I finished Love Him or Leave Him by Sara Daniel. Let just say that this story is a sweet small town story. With most small town stories any scandal is a huge scandal. Plus, everyone is in everyones business.
Everyone knows that Becca Sanders wants to get out of dodge once her brother graduates from high school. However, her brother doesn't want to go the route Becca wants him to go. So, we have two siblings going head to head on what's a right choice. Then you throw in the hot police chief, Conner O'Malley, who happens to mentor to Becca's brother. Let's not forget that these two use to be high school sweet hearts until something stupid happen and cause these two to breakup.
I'm not a huge fan of reunited lover stories. The reason why is usually the past lovers broke up, because of something dumb, and Becca and Conner is no exception. Basically, Conner choose his bro's story over his girlfriend. However, in the story Conner and Becca learn to trust each other. By learning to trust one another, they are able to figure out what's going on.
Overall, Love Him or Leave Him is a sweet story set in a small town. It's a story about reuniting lovers. So, if you are looking for a sweet romantic read which emphasis on the sweet, you might want to give Love Him or Leave Him a try.
Copy provided by the publisher
July 4, 2013
The love story of Becca and Connor was heartwarming as they get a second chance to right the wrongs of their failed high school romance while crossing paths as they navigate small town life. Becca is raising her teen brother as her mom died years ago and she promised to take care of him and she works as a grocery store cashier. Her dream is to leave her small hometown and open her own fitness center. Connor who has PTSD from the war has come home to protect the people of his hometown as the head law enforcement officer. A fun cocoa contest throws them together and a threat to Connor's job status has her defending him and doing ridealongs while he is on duty. Investigating who is causing mayhem by pulling not so harmless pranks takes up Connor's time and he starts thinking it might be Becca's brother Toby who is involved. The sweetness of the whole town bonding and caring for one another comes through in this story as Connor and Becca find their way back to each other and build trust. Will she leave town to follow her dreams or will she stay and discover her dream has been in her hometown all along.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
August 21, 2013
I love small town stories!! I'm a small town gal myself, so I really enjoyed reading about Kortville and it's "crimes." I wish I still lived in a place where moving a bike rack would get police involvement!!
Connor and Becca are a cute couple, and the entire town is full of eccentric and playful characters. I have to admit that the former sheriff really did annoy me, but I'm fairly certain that was the point. Hehe. Becca is an inspiration for her town, I loved how she treated the overweight and elderly in the town. She shows her true nature by helping them become more fit and make healthier choices. Connor is a dedicated worker and will obviously do anything to keep his town safe.
The romance is slow going, and I really appreciate how it wasn't rushed. Connor and Becca work at their own pace to create their own slow-burning but passionate love. Plus when you add in the extra mystery of who the culprit is behind the random acts of vandalism in the town, you have a great summer read!
Note: I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
Connor and Becca are a cute couple, and the entire town is full of eccentric and playful characters. I have to admit that the former sheriff really did annoy me, but I'm fairly certain that was the point. Hehe. Becca is an inspiration for her town, I loved how she treated the overweight and elderly in the town. She shows her true nature by helping them become more fit and make healthier choices. Connor is a dedicated worker and will obviously do anything to keep his town safe.
The romance is slow going, and I really appreciate how it wasn't rushed. Connor and Becca work at their own pace to create their own slow-burning but passionate love. Plus when you add in the extra mystery of who the culprit is behind the random acts of vandalism in the town, you have a great summer read!
Note: I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2013
I enjoyed Becca and Conner's story. It was especially heart-warming because it was a second chance love story set in a small town. Despite Becca's determination to leave Kortville, and Conner's foolish notion that because he suffers from PTSD, he has nothing to offer a woman, the two managed to come together.
My favorite line from the entire book came on page 203:
"She thought she'd have to travel the world to liberate herself, but both freedom and her dreams had been right here in Kortville all along."
Small town romances are my favorite...I love the quirky characters and the sense that everyone looks out for one another. This story didn't disappoint! I hope the author plans to tell more stories about the residents of Kortville. In the mean time, I missed book 1 in this series, so I'll be adding that to my TBR list.
My favorite line from the entire book came on page 203:
"She thought she'd have to travel the world to liberate herself, but both freedom and her dreams had been right here in Kortville all along."
Small town romances are my favorite...I love the quirky characters and the sense that everyone looks out for one another. This story didn't disappoint! I hope the author plans to tell more stories about the residents of Kortville. In the mean time, I missed book 1 in this series, so I'll be adding that to my TBR list.
August 13, 2013
I enjoyed this book plenty, but beware that this book starts off kind of sad. The history of the characters and between them is enough to make a girl cry a little. However, I enjoyed the town and its people, especially as they related to our couple. Connor is so sweet, and Becca is so dedicated and the people around them can’t help but be supportive.
You can tell there was a story before this one, but not in such a way that you feel like you’re missing anything, so this makes a fine standalone read. It’s well-written with good mystery, even if it’s a little predictable, good personal conflicts and character depth, and great chemistry even with closed door love scenes (which is disappointing, but I maybe I’m just a smut addict). The ending was very sweet and just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling of love, family, and community.
You can tell there was a story before this one, but not in such a way that you feel like you’re missing anything, so this makes a fine standalone read. It’s well-written with good mystery, even if it’s a little predictable, good personal conflicts and character depth, and great chemistry even with closed door love scenes (which is disappointing, but I maybe I’m just a smut addict). The ending was very sweet and just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling of love, family, and community.
March 26, 2016
I enjoyed this book plenty, but beware that this book starts off kind of sad. The history of the characters and between them is enough to make a girl cry a little. However, I enjoyed the town and its people, especially as they related to our couple. Connor is so sweet, and Becca is so dedicated and the people around them can 19t help but be supportive.
You can tell there was a story before this one, but not in such a way that you feel like you 19re missing anything, so this makes a fine standalone read. It 19s well-written with good mystery, even if it 19s a little predictable, good personal conflicts and character depth, and great chemistry even with closed door love scenes (which is disappointing, but I maybe I 19m just a smut addict). The ending was very sweet and just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling of love, family, and community.
You can tell there was a story before this one, but not in such a way that you feel like you 19re missing anything, so this makes a fine standalone read. It 19s well-written with good mystery, even if it 19s a little predictable, good personal conflicts and character depth, and great chemistry even with closed door love scenes (which is disappointing, but I maybe I 19m just a smut addict). The ending was very sweet and just gives you a warm fuzzy feeling of love, family, and community.
July 21, 2013
As posted on The Smutty Kitty reviewed by KittyKelly
3 out of 5 Licks
I haven't read the first book in this series but I don't feel like I missed out on anything reading this one by itself. There wasn't a lot of conflict in the book. Kortville is a very small town so while I can understand that the scandal that occurred was probably pretty big for them it just kind of made me bored. The attraction between Connor and Becca is apparent but they fight it pretty hard. The PTSD that Connor is suffering from did break my heart. I am too patriotic for my own good sometimes and reading about military peeps (past or current) always hits me hard. This was a light, sweet read that would be great to read on a nice quiet afternoon.
3 out of 5 Licks
I haven't read the first book in this series but I don't feel like I missed out on anything reading this one by itself. There wasn't a lot of conflict in the book. Kortville is a very small town so while I can understand that the scandal that occurred was probably pretty big for them it just kind of made me bored. The attraction between Connor and Becca is apparent but they fight it pretty hard. The PTSD that Connor is suffering from did break my heart. I am too patriotic for my own good sometimes and reading about military peeps (past or current) always hits me hard. This was a light, sweet read that would be great to read on a nice quiet afternoon.
July 15, 2013
In Love Him or Leave Him by Sara Daniel, Becca Sanders and Connor O’Malley used to be high school sweethearts. But when Connor’s so-called best friend started rumors about Becca, Connor did nothing to stop them and turned his back on her.
Now Becca is a cashier at the supermarket while she is finishing her degree online and is trying to get her brother to finish high school and send him off to college. A promise that she made her mother on her deathbed and one that she will see through until she can make it happen. Read More...
Now Becca is a cashier at the supermarket while she is finishing her degree online and is trying to get her brother to finish high school and send him off to college. A promise that she made her mother on her deathbed and one that she will see through until she can make it happen. Read More...
August 18, 2013
This book was mega sweet. It had it's bits of suspense and sexual frustration, but it was sweet most of all. I definitely had a soft spot for Connor. the poor guy is tortured by those flashes from Afghanistan. I liked how they start to sort of develop a friendship again, even if it is a bit against Becca's will at first lol. Becca's brother (I'm sorry I don't remember his name at all! I read this book like a month ago and after that I've read about 10) is a bit of a penis to her and I was a bit annoyed at him, but when it really matters he's there for Becca. Definitely an enjoyable read.
July 16, 2013
Love Him or Leave Him truly follows what life is probably like in a small town. If you grew up in a small town and/or ever lived in one then you know that your business is everyone’s business and that is the same for Connor and Becca. The cast of characters and the storyline are full of humor which is one of the highlights. As a military spouse, I appreciate that the book touched on the subject of PTSD. Overall, the book was light, fluffy, and a sweet romance.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of Love Him or Leave Him in exchange for an honest review.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of Love Him or Leave Him in exchange for an honest review.
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