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Riverbend Romance #3
Sweet Serenade
A Summertime Romance
A Christian Romance Novella
River guide and canoe builder Reed Daniels stands by as his lifelong friends pair off. After all, he's waited this long for the right woman… what's a little longer? But when newcomer Carly shows up at the gang's bonfire, he's mesmerized. Could she be the answer to his prayers?
Water-sport enthusiast Carly Thorbergsen is starting over in Riverbend. Hired as a canoeing and hiking guide, she's ready to focus on work and leave the personal stuff behind. That is until the competition, Reed Daniels, offers her a ride in his cedar-strip canoe. No resisting that!
But no matter how much they have in common, Carly can't erase her past, and Reed is bound to discover the truth. When a date finds Carly and Reed running rapids on the outside of the canoe, they come face to face with the real reasons their new relationship might capsize.
Welcome to Riverbend!
1. Secretly Yours
2. Pinky Promise
3. Sweet Serenade
Riverbend, BC, is the quaint Canadian town you wish you were from, where everyone knows everyone, seasons are celebrated, and love is in the air. Look for more Riverbend Romance Novellas through 2015. Sweet Serenade is coming in July.
The Riverbend Romance Novellas are a series of contemporary Christian romance stories. These inspirational romance novellas are heart-warming shorter reads with true-to-life (but fictional) characters who face challenges in finding their one true love.
EXCERPT
Give me words, Lord.
Reed glanced at the woman in the passenger seat of his truck as they jounced up a mountain road. In the brief time he'd known Carly, he'd figured she was quiet. Introspective. He liked that. But she seemed quieter than he'd expected. Never before had he felt like he needed to be the one to carry a conversation.
“It's sure a beautiful day.” Like that. Who talked to a gorgeous woman about the weather? The great conversationalist Reed Daniels, that's who. Yeah, he was pathetic.
“Is this typical for June?”
Well, if she was going to go along with it... “We usually get a lot of rain this time of year. That and the heat get the mosquitoes hatching in droves.” Again, like she didn’t know.
“At least they're not usually a problem out on the water.”
“True.” One benefit of paddling as opposed to backpacking. “There's a picnic area up a few kilometers. I figured we could have lunch there. After that it's not far to the put-in spot for the rapids.”
Carly smiled at him, her eyes gleaming, probably with curiosity about what kind of picnic a guy like him would pack. “Sounds good.”
She had the most stunning smile he'd ever seen. Wide and generous. He'd never spent any time looking at a woman's lips before, but hers deserved some consideration. He shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable. Thinking about lips meant thinking about kissing. And that was crazy. They'd barely met. All his friends figured him to be the slowest mover on the planet. If they could only see inside his brain right now, they'd amend their opinion in a hurry. It was too early to fall in love, for sure, but he was definitely sliding headlong into like.
Scroll up and grab your copy of SWEET SERENADE today!
A Christian Romance Novella
River guide and canoe builder Reed Daniels stands by as his lifelong friends pair off. After all, he's waited this long for the right woman… what's a little longer? But when newcomer Carly shows up at the gang's bonfire, he's mesmerized. Could she be the answer to his prayers?
Water-sport enthusiast Carly Thorbergsen is starting over in Riverbend. Hired as a canoeing and hiking guide, she's ready to focus on work and leave the personal stuff behind. That is until the competition, Reed Daniels, offers her a ride in his cedar-strip canoe. No resisting that!
But no matter how much they have in common, Carly can't erase her past, and Reed is bound to discover the truth. When a date finds Carly and Reed running rapids on the outside of the canoe, they come face to face with the real reasons their new relationship might capsize.
Welcome to Riverbend!
1. Secretly Yours
2. Pinky Promise
3. Sweet Serenade
Riverbend, BC, is the quaint Canadian town you wish you were from, where everyone knows everyone, seasons are celebrated, and love is in the air. Look for more Riverbend Romance Novellas through 2015. Sweet Serenade is coming in July.
The Riverbend Romance Novellas are a series of contemporary Christian romance stories. These inspirational romance novellas are heart-warming shorter reads with true-to-life (but fictional) characters who face challenges in finding their one true love.
EXCERPT
Give me words, Lord.
Reed glanced at the woman in the passenger seat of his truck as they jounced up a mountain road. In the brief time he'd known Carly, he'd figured she was quiet. Introspective. He liked that. But she seemed quieter than he'd expected. Never before had he felt like he needed to be the one to carry a conversation.
“It's sure a beautiful day.” Like that. Who talked to a gorgeous woman about the weather? The great conversationalist Reed Daniels, that's who. Yeah, he was pathetic.
“Is this typical for June?”
Well, if she was going to go along with it... “We usually get a lot of rain this time of year. That and the heat get the mosquitoes hatching in droves.” Again, like she didn’t know.
“At least they're not usually a problem out on the water.”
“True.” One benefit of paddling as opposed to backpacking. “There's a picnic area up a few kilometers. I figured we could have lunch there. After that it's not far to the put-in spot for the rapids.”
Carly smiled at him, her eyes gleaming, probably with curiosity about what kind of picnic a guy like him would pack. “Sounds good.”
She had the most stunning smile he'd ever seen. Wide and generous. He'd never spent any time looking at a woman's lips before, but hers deserved some consideration. He shifted in his seat, suddenly uncomfortable. Thinking about lips meant thinking about kissing. And that was crazy. They'd barely met. All his friends figured him to be the slowest mover on the planet. If they could only see inside his brain right now, they'd amend their opinion in a hurry. It was too early to fall in love, for sure, but he was definitely sliding headlong into like.
Scroll up and grab your copy of SWEET SERENADE today!
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2015
64 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Comer
88 books229 followersValerie Comer is constantly amazed that living, talking, dreaming characters appear in her mind and flow from her fingertips and, from there, to her delighted readers. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, sharing rural life in western Canada with her husband, adult children, and adorable grandkids.
Valerie is a two-time USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner. She is known for writing engaging characters, strong communities, and deep faith into her green clean romances.
CONTACTING VALERIE
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valerie@valeriecomer.com
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 9, 2022
Beautiful
This was such a sweet romance. I absolutely loved Reed and the Godly life he aspired to lead, but I also loved the fact that he realized that there aren't different levels of sins. What a lovely story.
This was such a sweet romance. I absolutely loved Reed and the Godly life he aspired to lead, but I also loved the fact that he realized that there aren't different levels of sins. What a lovely story.
July 26, 2015
Another one from Valerie that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is part of the Riverbend Romance Series but can be read as a standalone. This author is a wonderful story teller and writes about characters that you can't help but enjoy reading about. It was delightful reading about Caryl and Reed as they discovered their love for each other. This is another 5 star read from Valerie that I can definitely recommend.
July 12, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sweet Serenade. It is well-written with very likable characters. Reed and Carly have some bumps (some literal ones!) on their way to an HEA. I loved the setting of a small town in western Canada with its description of the nearby lakes, rivers, and wildlife. I liked that the author wasn't afraid to tackle the seeming acceptance of premarital sex among young Christian singles. This is done without any graphic details at all. I especially appreciated the message of repentance and grace. I would recommend this to readers of clean/wholesome romance, to readers of Christian romance, and to those readers that love the outdoors. I hope to read more from Valerie Comer.
I received my copy through KU.
I received my copy through KU.
February 3, 2025
Sweet Serenade, the third book in the Riverbend Romance Novella series, is a touching, enjoyable read. My attention was captured quickly and held for the entirety of the story. The beautifully sketched Canadian setting offers all the “feels” of a quaint small town and surrounding natural areas. The focus of the story is on the developing romantic relationship between river guides Carly and Reed including a strong faith message regarding the importance of God-honoring romantic relationships and standing up for your moral convictions. I especially appreciate the spiritual insights regarding purity and forgiveness. I totally enjoyed this quick, inspiring Christian contemporary romance read and recommend it especially for older teens and single young adults.
February 5, 2017
Sweet, sweet story!
Reed Daniels watches his friends fall in love . . . will it ever happen to him?
Carly Thorbergsen just might be the one he's been waiting for, but she's not too terribly impressed with him when she meets him -- and she has a few issues of her own that might just scare him off.
One tiny bit of spoiler... don't expect to love Brittany -- she's the type that -- well, I'll leave this for now, so you can read it on your own. Who knows? You might like her (let me know if you do).
Valerie Comer writes wonderful romance stories! I just can't seem to get enough of them. Thankfully, she keeps writing them (and I'll keep reading them).
Happy Reading!
January 17, 2022
Fall in Love in a canoe
Sweet and romantic. Carly moves in with her cousin in a new town. Her cousin tries to warn her away from Reed, A very handsome, but conservative man. But Carly can't forget his gorgeous canoe. As a river guide, she knows what a prize it is. This leads her to agree to go down the river with Reed and the rapids aren't the only thing thrilling that day.
With a happily ever after, this romance satisfies!
Sweet and romantic. Carly moves in with her cousin in a new town. Her cousin tries to warn her away from Reed, A very handsome, but conservative man. But Carly can't forget his gorgeous canoe. As a river guide, she knows what a prize it is. This leads her to agree to go down the river with Reed and the rapids aren't the only thing thrilling that day.
With a happily ever after, this romance satisfies!
April 24, 2022
Carly and her cousin Brittany
Are not two peas in a pod. In fact they are opposites and living in an apartment. Carly had come to stay with her cousin until she could get back on her feet, but Brittany had really really changed and not in a good way. Carly met Reed and you’ll have to read the book. Love can wait.
Are not two peas in a pod. In fact they are opposites and living in an apartment. Carly had come to stay with her cousin until she could get back on her feet, but Brittany had really really changed and not in a good way. Carly met Reed and you’ll have to read the book. Love can wait.
July 31, 2022
This was a fun romance that emphasized the importance of honoring God in relationships. Reed and Carly are drawn together by a love for God and a love for the outdoors and canoe and kayaks on rivers.
Unfortunately, the church young adult group includes many couples who lack commitment to moral purity. This quick read explores the themes of forgiveness and commitment.
Unfortunately, the church young adult group includes many couples who lack commitment to moral purity. This quick read explores the themes of forgiveness and commitment.
August 28, 2018
Another sweet story by Valerie Comer. Caryl moves to Riverbend and meets Reed. Her cousin tells her to stay away from him, but they are like magnets drawn to each other. Will they fall in love and conquer all of their issues. Read more to find out.
July 13, 2019
Great
I love her books. Always insightful, challenging, interesting, with a HEA. This book is great in how it showcases how a loving and cherishing relationship could look. It also shows none of us are perfect, yet we all need to be loved and accepted.
I love her books. Always insightful, challenging, interesting, with a HEA. This book is great in how it showcases how a loving and cherishing relationship could look. It also shows none of us are perfect, yet we all need to be loved and accepted.
July 16, 2022
A Cute Short Love Story!
I liked how Reed and Carly wanted to put the Bible into practice. Valerie Comer did a good job with highlighting how we need people in our lives that calls us higher for God.
I liked how Reed and Carly wanted to put the Bible into practice. Valerie Comer did a good job with highlighting how we need people in our lives that calls us higher for God.
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July 4, 2025
God’s timing is always perfect
Patience and faith go hand in hand. We can’t always see what God has in mind but if we trust him it will be for the best.
Patience and faith go hand in hand. We can’t always see what God has in mind but if we trust him it will be for the best.
August 12, 2025
A sweet story of 2 people searching for something.. Reed longs to have what he sees his friends finding.. love, a lasting relationship.. and Carly just wants a fresh start where she can put the past where it belongs... in the past. Can they find what they are looking for together?
September 18, 2023
I enjoyed reading Reed and Carly's story. They are drawn together by their love of the outdoors and love and faith. Sadly, many of the couples in the church young adult group lack commitment to moral purity. Carly's cousin Brittany warns her away from Reed at first, probably because she got her feelings hurt when he wasn't interested in her. The story explores the themes of commitment and forgiveness. Great descriptions and nice ending.
January 11, 2016
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
This is the third Riverbend Romance Novella and hands down my favorite of the series so far. Carly and Reed are people who both work and play in the great outdoors. They amply demonstrate the sense of wonder being in nature should inspire and try to reveal that wonder with those around them. Since I share the same love of the wilderness and how every glance contains something new, I had no trouble bonding with the two of them.
At the same time, Sweet Serenade touches on another of my focuses with an underlying theme of peer pressure and how tangled up it can get in the way people take your actions as judgment about their own. Reed is considered standoffish and judgmental by Carly’s cousin Brittany because of his choice to remain a virgin until marriage when the rest of his crowd has not.
Instead, he’s a shy man who has been teased and used as the target of dares designed to break his convictions. Carly, meanwhile, has lived a very different life than Reed’s, growing up on the road with little stability beyond her bond with her father, who has since died, leaving her rudderless.
Theirs is not an easy path. They face both opposition from their peers and from the differences in their upbringing, but with a good bit of struggle, they work it through.
The subtitle makes it clear, but this is a Christian novel with their communing with nature bound up in connecting with God. The abstinence theme is also about faith and the promises made to yourself in faith, but ultimately the strength of the faith message for me is in how non-judgmental Reed truly is. He’s not perfect, and it’s not easy, but when push comes to shove, he demonstrates a truly Christian nature.
As part of the series, this title continues the tradition of the first and second by providing a connection in place and a couple of references but otherwise standing alone. I still had one moment where the story felt rushed, and I would have liked to have known more about Carly’s life before she shows up in Riverbend, but neither of those aspects reduced my enjoyment, especially when compared to the descriptions of the wildlife, and how Carly and Reed connected with nature.
P.S. I’ve mentioned it before, but I became a fan of Valerie Comer’s writing when we met as part of an online writers group, and she’s very much lived up to the potential evident back then.
This is the third Riverbend Romance Novella and hands down my favorite of the series so far. Carly and Reed are people who both work and play in the great outdoors. They amply demonstrate the sense of wonder being in nature should inspire and try to reveal that wonder with those around them. Since I share the same love of the wilderness and how every glance contains something new, I had no trouble bonding with the two of them.
At the same time, Sweet Serenade touches on another of my focuses with an underlying theme of peer pressure and how tangled up it can get in the way people take your actions as judgment about their own. Reed is considered standoffish and judgmental by Carly’s cousin Brittany because of his choice to remain a virgin until marriage when the rest of his crowd has not.
Instead, he’s a shy man who has been teased and used as the target of dares designed to break his convictions. Carly, meanwhile, has lived a very different life than Reed’s, growing up on the road with little stability beyond her bond with her father, who has since died, leaving her rudderless.
Theirs is not an easy path. They face both opposition from their peers and from the differences in their upbringing, but with a good bit of struggle, they work it through.
The subtitle makes it clear, but this is a Christian novel with their communing with nature bound up in connecting with God. The abstinence theme is also about faith and the promises made to yourself in faith, but ultimately the strength of the faith message for me is in how non-judgmental Reed truly is. He’s not perfect, and it’s not easy, but when push comes to shove, he demonstrates a truly Christian nature.
As part of the series, this title continues the tradition of the first and second by providing a connection in place and a couple of references but otherwise standing alone. I still had one moment where the story felt rushed, and I would have liked to have known more about Carly’s life before she shows up in Riverbend, but neither of those aspects reduced my enjoyment, especially when compared to the descriptions of the wildlife, and how Carly and Reed connected with nature.
P.S. I’ve mentioned it before, but I became a fan of Valerie Comer’s writing when we met as part of an online writers group, and she’s very much lived up to the potential evident back then.
July 7, 2015
Sweet Serenade by Valerie Comer is a sweet romance in Canada between Carly and Reed , two river guides.
Can they make together or will they go their separate ways.
The two main characters share their love for the Lord and love for the river.
Valerie brings a little of her Farm Fresh romance into the book with the character of Carly who prefers fresh found and outdoor activities than a zero calorie diet and working out in the gym.
I didn't like Brittany, Carly's cousin at all.
This was a part of Splash, the must read book of summer novellas with a water t, summer theme.
You will love the book and the series and you must read Valerie's Farm Fresh Romances.
Can they make together or will they go their separate ways.
The two main characters share their love for the Lord and love for the river.
Valerie brings a little of her Farm Fresh romance into the book with the character of Carly who prefers fresh found and outdoor activities than a zero calorie diet and working out in the gym.
I didn't like Brittany, Carly's cousin at all.
This was a part of Splash, the must read book of summer novellas with a water t, summer theme.
You will love the book and the series and you must read Valerie's Farm Fresh Romances.
October 10, 2025
I picked up this novella in an e-collection called, SPLASH! Summertime in Riverbend is full of canoeing, bonfires, and smores! Reed is considered by some of his church friends as cold and judgemental. Carly is new in town and has some secret 'stains' on her past. Brittany harbors resentment and desires to wound others to make herself feel better. Can Carly, Reed, and Brittany navigate the waters of romance to find what God has in store for them? Cozy summer Christian romance!
March 20, 2016
In this Riverbend Bride novella, Valerie took us outdoors so we could experience nature, river challenges as our heroine, Carly, and her hero, Reed, were both outdoors guides. I like to kayak the local rivers where I live, so I have experienced some of the outdoor activities that Carly and Reed did. That was fun. I appreciated their appreciation of nature. And Valerie put that together to make a delightful story.
July 7, 2015
I always enjoy Valerie Comer’s Canadian settings. She does such a good job making the places come to life and making me want to be there! I also liked the characters of Carly and Reed. The message of the importance of sexual purity, while perhaps a little heavy-handed in this short read, is a very necessary one these days and I thought it was handled well.
July 27, 2015
Another great read and setting from Valerie Comer. As always her settings make you want to visit there, and her characters are always real to life fun reading about. Her theme of sexual purity and moral living are much needed today. This was a fast fun delightful read, Riverbend Series but can be read as a stand alone. I was given a copy for an honest review.
July 8, 2015
Another fast, fun read from Valerie Comer! I really like how she makes each of her characters distinctive. The setting in Sweet Seranade was very well-done too, even more than usual for Comer (whose settings are usually well-done as is).
July 26, 2015
Sweet Serenader : A Christian Romance ( Riverbend Romance book 3)
By: Valerie Comer
I really enjoyed this novella. I love the story and the characters. There is Carly and Reed who both love the rushing waters in a canoe. Will romance from the past hurt them?
By: Valerie Comer
I really enjoyed this novella. I love the story and the characters. There is Carly and Reed who both love the rushing waters in a canoe. Will romance from the past hurt them?
February 22, 2023
Read via Kindle. 4 stars. 🇨🇦 CANADIAN AUTHOR 🇨🇦
I had not read a romance in awhile and this was a refreshing read. It took me back to the newness of love with my husband when we first began dating. He still fills my heart over 26 years later.
I had not read a romance in awhile and this was a refreshing read. It took me back to the newness of love with my husband when we first began dating. He still fills my heart over 26 years later.
July 28, 2015
Sweet
This is a sweet romance. Nice characters. A traditional plot. The plot is pretty standard. Nothing offensive, clean romance as a well.
This is a sweet romance. Nice characters. A traditional plot. The plot is pretty standard. Nothing offensive, clean romance as a well.
September 15, 2015
A sweet story about waiting and God's forgiveness. Really enjoyed this book about outdoor adventure and the struggles couples go through trying to stay pure.
December 23, 2015
Book 3 of 5
Great! Love Valerie Comer!
Great! Love Valerie Comer!
November 4, 2015
Live the life of Faith
Don't be a hypocrite be true and faithful to what you believe and don't let anyone or anybody not live your faith beautiful story of love and forgiveness.
Don't be a hypocrite be true and faithful to what you believe and don't let anyone or anybody not live your faith beautiful story of love and forgiveness.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews