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Little Shops on Heart Street #2
A Valentine Proposal
Just as free-spirited bookstore employee Cleo Davis faces closure of her beloved shop, the owner informs her it will continue as part of the successful Stephens chain. When the chain's risk assessor, the very reserved, very attractive Mark Stephens, enters the store to look over her business plan, Cleo clashes with him right away. Oil and water have nothing on them.
Mark has always followed the rules. But the minute he steps into vibrant and spunky Cleo’s store, he knows he’s in trouble. One moment he’s in her “craft corner” painting bookends with kids, the next in a bidding war with Cleo at a charity auction. He can't deny that opposites attract, and Cleo’s vivacious personality has him rethinking his life in more ways than one.
But when Cleo’s store officially becomes part of the bookstore chain, Mark will become her boss…and completely off limits.
137 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2020
23 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 14, 2020
What a nice, and sweet romance. It was very enjoyable to read it in this cold winter day. When I started reading I was glued to my kindle and simply had to finish it in one sitting. I liked every part of it, characters too. Only one thing was bad for me- it ended to quick, I wanted to read more. Looking forward of reading other books by this author!
March 11, 2021
I started off enjoying this...and then, somewhere around 30% I stopped caring. I kept reading hoping that my feelings would change...hoping that I would believe the chemistry between our MCs. Sadly, I didnt. The constant self doubt, denial and second guessing became irritating. It ended as any cozy romance can be expected so there's that. At least there was a payoff for all my perseverance.
January 12, 2020
I’ve read the first book in these series and wasn’t the biggest fan, specifically because it followed a widow. This book followed a bookshop worker and a risk assessor for the company that’s supposed to be buying out the bookshop she works at.
The story itself was good and so was the writing. It just didn’t work for me necessarily. I feel like I wanted more from this. There wasn’t much to it, in my opinion.
The story itself was good and so was the writing. It just didn’t work for me necessarily. I feel like I wanted more from this. There wasn’t much to it, in my opinion.
January 17, 2020
Be still my bookish heart!
This story had all the love, all the unexpected romance, all the bookish joy readers long for and more. From an adorable meet-cute (picture a bear rescue involving a book castle with a damsel not so much in distress as she in need of assistance and a somewhat unwilling knight in shiny armor happening upon the scene!) to several near misses, smile inducing bonding (where you totally know they are meant to be) to a big fat question mark of if they will actually end up together (not spoiling it...sorry, not sorry!), it's a Contemporary Romance written for the bookish heart in you, and what's more, it's part of a series that sounds rather heart warming too!
I adored (maybe identified with as well) Cleo for her heart, her warmth, her determination, and her spark. She knew books were more than simply books, and a bookshop was more than a place to house, showcase, and sell them. As for our reluctant love interest... Mark was definitely a work in progress, but he had good bones as they say. He knew in his heart of hearts, buried under all that business mumbo jumbo, that what Cleo had was something special...and I'm not just talking about her business sense.
In the end, a TOTAL MUST READ, and a series that I might just have to backtrack and check out the first installment. If you like clean romance with oh-so-much heart and book love to spare, this is definitely the book for you.
***ebook received for review; opinions are my own
This story had all the love, all the unexpected romance, all the bookish joy readers long for and more. From an adorable meet-cute (picture a bear rescue involving a book castle with a damsel not so much in distress as she in need of assistance and a somewhat unwilling knight in shiny armor happening upon the scene!) to several near misses, smile inducing bonding (where you totally know they are meant to be) to a big fat question mark of if they will actually end up together (not spoiling it...sorry, not sorry!), it's a Contemporary Romance written for the bookish heart in you, and what's more, it's part of a series that sounds rather heart warming too!
I adored (maybe identified with as well) Cleo for her heart, her warmth, her determination, and her spark. She knew books were more than simply books, and a bookshop was more than a place to house, showcase, and sell them. As for our reluctant love interest... Mark was definitely a work in progress, but he had good bones as they say. He knew in his heart of hearts, buried under all that business mumbo jumbo, that what Cleo had was something special...and I'm not just talking about her business sense.
In the end, a TOTAL MUST READ, and a series that I might just have to backtrack and check out the first installment. If you like clean romance with oh-so-much heart and book love to spare, this is definitely the book for you.
***ebook received for review; opinions are my own
January 5, 2020
Cleo has never felt she was the daughter that her parents wanted her to be so when she pursued her love of books rather than her career as a lawyer it was just another way she disappointed them. Now that her boss is interested in selling the bookstore to a corporation she must convince them that keeping the store exactly the way it is will be the best solution for the store and them.
Mark’s family owns the corporation that is interested in the store where Cleo works and other stores in the area as well. He comes in with his list of expectations and is surprised when she doesn’t immediately fall in line and is skeptical of her plans for the store. Will Mark need to choose between the love he feels for Cleo and his loyalty to his family?
These two are perfect for each other as she helps him see what he wants out of life and he shows her that she is perfect just the way she is.
Mark’s family owns the corporation that is interested in the store where Cleo works and other stores in the area as well. He comes in with his list of expectations and is surprised when she doesn’t immediately fall in line and is skeptical of her plans for the store. Will Mark need to choose between the love he feels for Cleo and his loyalty to his family?
These two are perfect for each other as she helps him see what he wants out of life and he shows her that she is perfect just the way she is.
December 29, 2019
A Valentine Proposal is a sweet romance about two unlikely people falling in love. Cleo Davis is a book employee who is passionate about the bookstore and Mark Stephens is the risk assessor who is determining whether the store stays open or not.
I loved reading this!! It was cute and a fast read. There's an initial attraction when they first meet but because of the current store situation takes a little longer to open up to one another.
Once they let each other in, their story is beautiful. They both have tried to live up to expectations which have lead them to where they are today.
I loved the character development and thought it was an all-around lighthearted read.
I give A Valentine Proposal 5 stars. It's cute, sweet, romantic, and swoon-worthy! The perfect read for all the romance lovers!
I loved reading this!! It was cute and a fast read. There's an initial attraction when they first meet but because of the current store situation takes a little longer to open up to one another.
Once they let each other in, their story is beautiful. They both have tried to live up to expectations which have lead them to where they are today.
I loved the character development and thought it was an all-around lighthearted read.
I give A Valentine Proposal 5 stars. It's cute, sweet, romantic, and swoon-worthy! The perfect read for all the romance lovers!
January 20, 2020
Thank you Entangled and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
A Valentine Proposal
By: Viv Royce
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟.5
I love a good romcom and/or chicklit story, and that's what I got from A Valentine Proposal. Cleo and Mark are at odds but attracted to each other. You can probably imagine how this story, essentially, goes because it's approaching formulaic. Don't get me wrong-it's a delightfully adorable read with warm moments and humorous moments. Cleo owning a bookstore was a nice touch for us (aren't we all?) bookworms. I enjoyed reading this story and do recommend it for romcom fans, but there are no big surprises here. Overall, it's a light easy read.
A Valentine Proposal
By: Viv Royce
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟.5
I love a good romcom and/or chicklit story, and that's what I got from A Valentine Proposal. Cleo and Mark are at odds but attracted to each other. You can probably imagine how this story, essentially, goes because it's approaching formulaic. Don't get me wrong-it's a delightfully adorable read with warm moments and humorous moments. Cleo owning a bookstore was a nice touch for us (aren't we all?) bookworms. I enjoyed reading this story and do recommend it for romcom fans, but there are no big surprises here. Overall, it's a light easy read.
January 13, 2020
3 1/2 stars
What do you get when You’ve Got Mail meets Hallmark? A Valentine Proposal by Viv Royce. Although lacking the romance via email, A Valentine Proposal does have a small bookshop about to being taken over by a larger chain with a cookie cutter view of sales. For Cleo, the manager who has lived in the fast lane and wanted a slower more creative life, this takeover would mean personal disaster because she’d have to start all over again.
Mark Stephens, the son of the man who started the Stephens bookstore chain, is charmed by Cleo, although he knows that the shop will have to conform to the Stephens standard.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2020/01/1...
What do you get when You’ve Got Mail meets Hallmark? A Valentine Proposal by Viv Royce. Although lacking the romance via email, A Valentine Proposal does have a small bookshop about to being taken over by a larger chain with a cookie cutter view of sales. For Cleo, the manager who has lived in the fast lane and wanted a slower more creative life, this takeover would mean personal disaster because she’d have to start all over again.
Mark Stephens, the son of the man who started the Stephens bookstore chain, is charmed by Cleo, although he knows that the shop will have to conform to the Stephens standard.
read more: https://saschadarlington.me/2020/01/1...
January 13, 2020
3.5/5
This is the second book that I have read from this author and it was an ok read for me. If you are looking for a clean romance then this is the one for you. I still like my books with a little heat. Cleo and Mark were a good couple.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This is the second book that I have read from this author and it was an ok read for me. If you are looking for a clean romance then this is the one for you. I still like my books with a little heat. Cleo and Mark were a good couple.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 3, 2020
Oh goodness I loved this book, the patience required as the misunderstandings and wrong assumptions are made by both characters was nail biting and I did actually shout at them during one scene. It's a really excellent 'feel good' book about being yourself first and then finding someone who respects and encourages you. It's about family and growth and lots of little things in life.
A real triumph and perfect reading for February!
A real triumph and perfect reading for February!
December 17, 2019
A cute, fluffy read with the sweetest couple that made me smile. I loved this book.
I received an Arc copy of this book, all opinions here are my own.
I received an Arc copy of this book, all opinions here are my own.
December 19, 2019
A Valentine Proposal by Viv Royce a cute and sweet five-star read. This is such a great story, it’s the second story in the Little shop on Heart Street and it can be read as stand-alone as I haven’t read the first story and didn’t feel like I missed anything. This is a great story, you can read it quickly and it will suck you in and not let you out, it was deep enough that you could really grip it, but not so deep that you got stuck in the details. Cleo Davis was a great warm character, you could just pick her up and put her in your pocket to make sure she was all safe and well, the passion she has for books, comes off the page. Mark Stevens took longer to warm to, but when I did, well he warmed me plenty. This is a great story and I will be going back to check the first one out.
January 15, 2020
A Valentine Proposal is the second book in Viv Royce’s Little Shops on Heart Street series. All of the books are standalone titles and can be read in any order (so far, at least).
Cleo is a free spirit that is used to not having anyone understand or love her for who she is and what she loves in life. Mark is as almost as stuck in his ways as his father who never deviates from his successful business plan that has built his empire. Cleo is set on showing Mark that there’s so much more than a cookie-cutter business plan to running a successful business in a small town. When Mark’s family business takes over Cleo’s little bookstore and becomes her boss, is there any hope for them?
I read book one in this series, A Family by Christmas so I was already familiar with the small-town setting and a few of the minor characters mentioned. We got a bit of a peek into what was going to be the start of Cleo and Mark’s story in this book, as well, so I was looking forward to seeing how this book played out.
What I liked: Cleo. She’s brave in the sense that she chose to chase HER dreams instead of the dreams her parents had for her, even though she did give that life a shot. She moved to a small town to completely start over and was loving living her dream.
Mark. While it seemed he would be stodgy and unmovable in his viewpoint, in the end, he wasn’t. And he was even braver than Cleo when it came to risking it all for matters of the heart.
The message. There are so many things in life that shape who we are and the choices we make. But chasing your dreams to find true happiness, while not sacrificing important and positive relationships, is worth the risk. We’re not always going to live up to someone else’s plan for our lives, and when that happens, we have to be okay with ourselves and moving on from those who make us feel like we’re a disappointment.
NICUnure’s Rating: This is definitely a very sweet, very clean read. Very much a Hallmark type of story, so if you’re looking for something more, you definitely won’t find it in this book. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it did feel like the plot just kept circling around the same internal conflict for both main characters over and over again before someone actually decided to break the cycle. But I would definitely recommend this book to those of you out there looking for a good, sweet, and clean read. And I look forward to seeing what’s next in this series from this author
I give A Valentine Proposal by Viv Royce 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Cleo is a free spirit that is used to not having anyone understand or love her for who she is and what she loves in life. Mark is as almost as stuck in his ways as his father who never deviates from his successful business plan that has built his empire. Cleo is set on showing Mark that there’s so much more than a cookie-cutter business plan to running a successful business in a small town. When Mark’s family business takes over Cleo’s little bookstore and becomes her boss, is there any hope for them?
I read book one in this series, A Family by Christmas so I was already familiar with the small-town setting and a few of the minor characters mentioned. We got a bit of a peek into what was going to be the start of Cleo and Mark’s story in this book, as well, so I was looking forward to seeing how this book played out.
What I liked: Cleo. She’s brave in the sense that she chose to chase HER dreams instead of the dreams her parents had for her, even though she did give that life a shot. She moved to a small town to completely start over and was loving living her dream.
Mark. While it seemed he would be stodgy and unmovable in his viewpoint, in the end, he wasn’t. And he was even braver than Cleo when it came to risking it all for matters of the heart.
The message. There are so many things in life that shape who we are and the choices we make. But chasing your dreams to find true happiness, while not sacrificing important and positive relationships, is worth the risk. We’re not always going to live up to someone else’s plan for our lives, and when that happens, we have to be okay with ourselves and moving on from those who make us feel like we’re a disappointment.
NICUnure’s Rating: This is definitely a very sweet, very clean read. Very much a Hallmark type of story, so if you’re looking for something more, you definitely won’t find it in this book. Overall, I enjoyed the story, but it did feel like the plot just kept circling around the same internal conflict for both main characters over and over again before someone actually decided to break the cycle. But I would definitely recommend this book to those of you out there looking for a good, sweet, and clean read. And I look forward to seeing what’s next in this series from this author
I give A Valentine Proposal by Viv Royce 3.5 out of 5 stars.
January 25, 2020
This was a very sweet story with a clean romance and some of the storyline reminded me of the movie “You got mail”.
Cleo works in a bookshop in the little town of Wood Creek. She has taken on all of the creative responsibilities and runs the shop very easygoing and knows how to run a shop in a small town. Unfortunately the owner hopes to sell the shop to a big bookstore chain and the appraiser is Mark Stephens who comes to town to see how the shop is run and if there is a possibility of buying it.
Cleo and Mark has very different opinions of how to run a bookstore but she talks Mark into waiting and seeing how her Valentines campaign goes and if it attracts more costumers. There are three events and he decides to come to them all and they slowly become closer and closer and he slowly figures out that he is not the person he wants to be. But how can he change his life for the better and is she willing to relinquish some of her control and trust that he only wants what is best for her?
Sometimes I was truly irritated with both of the characters but mostly her. She was supposed to be this brave, creative, sweet, strong woman but a lot of the time she just seemed sad and bland.
He at least decides that he wants to change his lifestyle and that he is open to a relationship with her.
I liked the small town Wood Creek and the little shop street called Heart Street. The side characters were also very sweet and I look forward to reading the next book in the series of “The little shops on Heart Street”
I got this book from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cleo works in a bookshop in the little town of Wood Creek. She has taken on all of the creative responsibilities and runs the shop very easygoing and knows how to run a shop in a small town. Unfortunately the owner hopes to sell the shop to a big bookstore chain and the appraiser is Mark Stephens who comes to town to see how the shop is run and if there is a possibility of buying it.
Cleo and Mark has very different opinions of how to run a bookstore but she talks Mark into waiting and seeing how her Valentines campaign goes and if it attracts more costumers. There are three events and he decides to come to them all and they slowly become closer and closer and he slowly figures out that he is not the person he wants to be. But how can he change his life for the better and is she willing to relinquish some of her control and trust that he only wants what is best for her?
Sometimes I was truly irritated with both of the characters but mostly her. She was supposed to be this brave, creative, sweet, strong woman but a lot of the time she just seemed sad and bland.
He at least decides that he wants to change his lifestyle and that he is open to a relationship with her.
I liked the small town Wood Creek and the little shop street called Heart Street. The side characters were also very sweet and I look forward to reading the next book in the series of “The little shops on Heart Street”
I got this book from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2020
I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars
I was originally interested in this book because it seemed like it would be a really cute winter read especially around Valentines Day considering the title of the book. I did read most of this book around that time and ended up putting it down as I was in a reading slump for quite some time but finally picked it back up to finish. I had no problems when I picked it back up and still remembered the majority of the book so I wasn't confused at all when I began to read again.
If you are looking for a cute, almost insta-lovey, short book to read then this is definitely a good one to pick up. For me personally, I didn't really enjoy the fact that it felt really insta-lovey. They were both pretty intrigued with each other after just the first meeting even though he was at her bookshop to see if his family's company could help the bookstore out financially and take it in as part of their chain. The romance was quite cute and enjoyable and I loved the little "dates" that they ended up having which were part of her bookstore programs/community programs that were set up for Valentine's Day. In the background of the book there was a little bit of drama going on between each family and I don't feel like they were fully resolved at the ending even with the epilogue. Coming from a very small town myself though I do like how the author described the smaller town life. It really is all about the community coming together and a lot of spaces are more than just shops but places to catch up and unwind from different events in the day as well as community involvement in general.
3/5 stars
I was originally interested in this book because it seemed like it would be a really cute winter read especially around Valentines Day considering the title of the book. I did read most of this book around that time and ended up putting it down as I was in a reading slump for quite some time but finally picked it back up to finish. I had no problems when I picked it back up and still remembered the majority of the book so I wasn't confused at all when I began to read again.
If you are looking for a cute, almost insta-lovey, short book to read then this is definitely a good one to pick up. For me personally, I didn't really enjoy the fact that it felt really insta-lovey. They were both pretty intrigued with each other after just the first meeting even though he was at her bookshop to see if his family's company could help the bookstore out financially and take it in as part of their chain. The romance was quite cute and enjoyable and I loved the little "dates" that they ended up having which were part of her bookstore programs/community programs that were set up for Valentine's Day. In the background of the book there was a little bit of drama going on between each family and I don't feel like they were fully resolved at the ending even with the epilogue. Coming from a very small town myself though I do like how the author described the smaller town life. It really is all about the community coming together and a lot of spaces are more than just shops but places to catch up and unwind from different events in the day as well as community involvement in general.
December 26, 2019
The Valentine Proposal by Viv Royce is a cute fun and clean romance. Cleo is a creative spirit that manages a book store. She had followed in her parent’s footsteps to be a lawyer but realized it was not her calling and did not fulfill her. This is the second book in the series so I am not sure if she left Boston in the first book. This book opens with her already managing the store.
The book store is not doing well and the owner is considering selling to the Stephens chain. Mark is the son of the owner and the risk analyzer to determine if they will buy the store.
Mark and Cleo feel a connection that both feel they cannot pursue as long as he is analyzing the store and he may be her boss if he decides to buy.
The author created some really cute scenes to bring out the personalities of both characters. I liked both of them very much. The author was able to bring out different characteristics of both of them so it was not just a physical thing. It was a sweet clean romance.
I hope we get some closure for Mark’s sister. It was very sad to watch her story through Mark’s eyes.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for an escape read. This would make a great beach read or just escaping during the holidays.
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
The book store is not doing well and the owner is considering selling to the Stephens chain. Mark is the son of the owner and the risk analyzer to determine if they will buy the store.
Mark and Cleo feel a connection that both feel they cannot pursue as long as he is analyzing the store and he may be her boss if he decides to buy.
The author created some really cute scenes to bring out the personalities of both characters. I liked both of them very much. The author was able to bring out different characteristics of both of them so it was not just a physical thing. It was a sweet clean romance.
I hope we get some closure for Mark’s sister. It was very sad to watch her story through Mark’s eyes.
I would recommend this book if you are looking for an escape read. This would make a great beach read or just escaping during the holidays.
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
December 29, 2019
Mark works in his father’s company – the Stephen’s chain on bookstores – as an assessor, assessing potential takeovers for the company. His father is a workaholic, where everything is regimented and all the stores run by a list of rules – from where the cash register is placed, to a dress code. When Mark joined the company, he found himself becoming like his father; putting in long hours and losing himself to the company.
When his next trip takes him to the small town of Wood Creek and the charming bookstore there, Mark finds his world upended by Cleo, who runs the bookstore with a huge personal touch.
Both Mark and Cleo come with rather a bit of baggage caused by their respective families. Cleo’s parent are successful lawyers whose expectation of her was that she would join their law firm. Never having much of her parent’s time growing up, as an only child Cleo was lonely and frequently crushed from lack of parental attention. After being stifled working in her parent’s law firm, she leaves and ends up working in a bookstore where she can fully express herself.
Cleo is just an adorable, charming character. To her, her customers are individuals whom she wants to build a connection with. Being with her makes Mark rediscover the part of himself that he has buried away because of work.
A sweet, heartwarming story.
When his next trip takes him to the small town of Wood Creek and the charming bookstore there, Mark finds his world upended by Cleo, who runs the bookstore with a huge personal touch.
Both Mark and Cleo come with rather a bit of baggage caused by their respective families. Cleo’s parent are successful lawyers whose expectation of her was that she would join their law firm. Never having much of her parent’s time growing up, as an only child Cleo was lonely and frequently crushed from lack of parental attention. After being stifled working in her parent’s law firm, she leaves and ends up working in a bookstore where she can fully express herself.
Cleo is just an adorable, charming character. To her, her customers are individuals whom she wants to build a connection with. Being with her makes Mark rediscover the part of himself that he has buried away because of work.
A sweet, heartwarming story.
March 23, 2020
This is a lovely, heartwarming, contemporary romance set in a delightful community and a great easy read story to escape into.
Cleo Davis is dreading the bookstore where she works being taken over by the Stephens chain. She’s innovative, hardworking and community orientated, something the potential new owners may well not appreciate. She’s also somewhat rebellious, having given up a potentially lucrative career working with her parents to follow her own path. When Mark Stephens arrives to evaluate the bookstore, they immediately clash -well, that’s after she crawls out of the book castle! He’s always followed the rules for business set by his father but Cleo challenges him, making him rethink his choices, remember his past and even to have fun. Will their mutual attraction lead to anything more? Should it, as he may become her boss? What will happen if his firm don’t take over the bookstore- or if they do?
This fun read explores parental aspirations and pressures on their offspring. It is about life choices, daring to follow your dreams despite parental antagonism to you doing so. It is a story of working together with the local community, friendship and love, one which I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in highly recommending.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
Cleo Davis is dreading the bookstore where she works being taken over by the Stephens chain. She’s innovative, hardworking and community orientated, something the potential new owners may well not appreciate. She’s also somewhat rebellious, having given up a potentially lucrative career working with her parents to follow her own path. When Mark Stephens arrives to evaluate the bookstore, they immediately clash -well, that’s after she crawls out of the book castle! He’s always followed the rules for business set by his father but Cleo challenges him, making him rethink his choices, remember his past and even to have fun. Will their mutual attraction lead to anything more? Should it, as he may become her boss? What will happen if his firm don’t take over the bookstore- or if they do?
This fun read explores parental aspirations and pressures on their offspring. It is about life choices, daring to follow your dreams despite parental antagonism to you doing so. It is a story of working together with the local community, friendship and love, one which I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in highly recommending.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
January 12, 2020
This light, quick, and clean read reminded me of a Hallmark movie in print form, with a meet cute, some playful banter, a few obstacles in the way of happiness, and an ending that will make you smile. I personally didn’t connect with the very internalized writing style, but it’s a sweet, heartwarming read.
The story follows Cleo, an employee at a book store that’s in the process of being bought out by a larger business. When the representative of that business, Mark, visits the store, he soon realizes that it’s unlike any book store he’s ever been in - and whether or not that’s a good thing has yet to be decided. As Cleo tries to win Mark over to the small town way of running a book store, sparks fly between them.
I enjoyed the sweetness of the story and the playful banter between these two. It’s a short book, just longer than novella-length, so there’s not a ton of depth to the relationship. I would’ve loved more focus on these two rather than some of the distracting subplots, though when they’re together it was pretty sweet. The subplots combined with the writing style detracted from the romance, but it’s a cute book and a nice, easy read. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story follows Cleo, an employee at a book store that’s in the process of being bought out by a larger business. When the representative of that business, Mark, visits the store, he soon realizes that it’s unlike any book store he’s ever been in - and whether or not that’s a good thing has yet to be decided. As Cleo tries to win Mark over to the small town way of running a book store, sparks fly between them.
I enjoyed the sweetness of the story and the playful banter between these two. It’s a short book, just longer than novella-length, so there’s not a ton of depth to the relationship. I would’ve loved more focus on these two rather than some of the distracting subplots, though when they’re together it was pretty sweet. The subplots combined with the writing style detracted from the romance, but it’s a cute book and a nice, easy read. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 20, 2020
I received an ARC through NetGalley provided by the publisher.
Synopsis:
Just as free-spirited bookstore employee Cleo Davis faces closure of her beloved shop, the owner informs her it will continue as part of the successful Stephens chain. When the chain's risk assessor, the very reserved, very attractive Mark Stephens, enters the store to look over her business plan, Cleo clashes with him right away. Oil and water have nothing on them.
Mark has always followed the rules. But the minute he steps into vibrant and spunky Cleo’s store, he knows he’s in trouble. One moment he’s in her “craft corner” painting bookends with kids, the next in a bidding war with Cleo at a charity auction. He can't deny that opposites attract, and Cleo’s vivacious personality has him rethinking his life in more ways than one.
But when Cleo’s store officially becomes part of the bookstore chain, Mark will become her boss…and completely off limits.
Review:
This is a perfect winter day read. The book was a great read for curling up with a sweet novel and some alone time. The characters were very likable and after several near misses find each other what we wish we could all find in our significant others. I really enjoyed this one!
Synopsis:
Just as free-spirited bookstore employee Cleo Davis faces closure of her beloved shop, the owner informs her it will continue as part of the successful Stephens chain. When the chain's risk assessor, the very reserved, very attractive Mark Stephens, enters the store to look over her business plan, Cleo clashes with him right away. Oil and water have nothing on them.
Mark has always followed the rules. But the minute he steps into vibrant and spunky Cleo’s store, he knows he’s in trouble. One moment he’s in her “craft corner” painting bookends with kids, the next in a bidding war with Cleo at a charity auction. He can't deny that opposites attract, and Cleo’s vivacious personality has him rethinking his life in more ways than one.
But when Cleo’s store officially becomes part of the bookstore chain, Mark will become her boss…and completely off limits.
Review:
This is a perfect winter day read. The book was a great read for curling up with a sweet novel and some alone time. The characters were very likable and after several near misses find each other what we wish we could all find in our significant others. I really enjoyed this one!
January 13, 2020
ARC REVIEW
Little Shops on Heart Street #2, This standalone story is a cute read, it is a bit of fluff and I don't mind that every now and then. I wish there was just a bit more to the actual story.
Cleo spent most of he life doing what her parents told her to do. Get good grades, go to law school, become a lawyer but Cleo always knew she was missing something. She wanted more from her life than that and while on vacation she found a perfect town with a bookstore that called to her. Cleo has been there ever since, much to her parents dismay. Only now the current owner needs to sell and Cleo can't buy it on her own but the big bookstore, Stephen's, can. Now Cleo is worried that the uniqueness of the shop is going to get gobbled up by corporate cookie cutter store.
Mark works for his Dad as risk assessment, he goes out and evaluates all the future locations for the Stephen's bookstore and sees if the location and the business is worth the risk. When Mark first walks into Cleo's bookstore he notices all the things that are going to have to change, Cleo on the other hand tells him he's wrong. There are some Valentine's Day activities she has planned with the town that she invites him to to prove it's not just about the bottom line but about knowing your customers and neighbors.
Overall, it's short and sweet. The chemistry between them is strong but I still wish there was a bit more to it.
Little Shops on Heart Street #2, This standalone story is a cute read, it is a bit of fluff and I don't mind that every now and then. I wish there was just a bit more to the actual story.
Cleo spent most of he life doing what her parents told her to do. Get good grades, go to law school, become a lawyer but Cleo always knew she was missing something. She wanted more from her life than that and while on vacation she found a perfect town with a bookstore that called to her. Cleo has been there ever since, much to her parents dismay. Only now the current owner needs to sell and Cleo can't buy it on her own but the big bookstore, Stephen's, can. Now Cleo is worried that the uniqueness of the shop is going to get gobbled up by corporate cookie cutter store.
Mark works for his Dad as risk assessment, he goes out and evaluates all the future locations for the Stephen's bookstore and sees if the location and the business is worth the risk. When Mark first walks into Cleo's bookstore he notices all the things that are going to have to change, Cleo on the other hand tells him he's wrong. There are some Valentine's Day activities she has planned with the town that she invites him to to prove it's not just about the bottom line but about knowing your customers and neighbors.
Overall, it's short and sweet. The chemistry between them is strong but I still wish there was a bit more to it.
December 6, 2019
A Valentine Proposal is a cute, fluffy, fast read that will melt your heart. Mark and Cleo at first seemed like they were going to be enemies to lovers but there is also a touch of workplace romance as well. Cleo is very set in her ways that she will never expect people to love her for her again. Her parents have shown her that you can not depend on people no matter what you do to make them happy. I was really hoping by the end of the story she would have at least come to a better relationship with her mom and/or dad. Mark has an interesting relationship with his family as well. He works for his father and understands that their typical business model works but wants to incorporate small town bookshop visions into a small shop business plan. I love how these characters come together and not only fall in love but encourage each other to trust again in their lives. I can not wait to read the next book in this series after meeting Lizzie briefly.
Thank you to netgalley, Viv Royce and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to netgalley, Viv Royce and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 21, 2020
Just as free-spirited bookstore employee Cleo Davis faces closure of her beloved shop, the owner informs her it will continue as part of the successful Stephens chain. When the chain's risk assessor, the very reserved, very attractive Mark Stephens, enters the store to look over her business plan, Cleo clashes with him right away. Oil and water have nothing on them. Mark has always followed the rules. But the minute he steps into vibrant and spunky Cleo’s store, he knows he’s in trouble. One moment he’s in her “craft corner” painting bookends with kids, the next in a bidding war with Cleo at a charity auction. He can't deny that opposites attract, and Cleo’s vivacious personality has him rethinking his life in more ways than one. But when Cleo’s store officially becomes part of the bookstore chain, Mark will become her boss…and completely off limits.
This was a good read. It was a quick and easy read. I liked both characters. I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
This was a good read. It was a quick and easy read. I liked both characters. I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book
December 23, 2019
Matching books and maybe employees!
Bookseller Cleo Davis wanted to buy the bookstore where she worked but she didn’t have enough savings. Cleo hoped the risk assessor from the Stephens bookstore chain would decide the store was a fit for the company and she would be able to manage it for them. Mark Stephens checked out the stores that the company was thinking of buying for his father but when he met Cleo Davis he wasn’t sure the store would be a fit since they weren’t about pushing everyone to buy books but matched customers with books they would enjoy reading plus being a center of community activities.
Cleo was all about making people happy to find a new book to read and make her town a home and Mark had to figure out how they could be together without changing companies.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Bookseller Cleo Davis wanted to buy the bookstore where she worked but she didn’t have enough savings. Cleo hoped the risk assessor from the Stephens bookstore chain would decide the store was a fit for the company and she would be able to manage it for them. Mark Stephens checked out the stores that the company was thinking of buying for his father but when he met Cleo Davis he wasn’t sure the store would be a fit since they weren’t about pushing everyone to buy books but matched customers with books they would enjoy reading plus being a center of community activities.
Cleo was all about making people happy to find a new book to read and make her town a home and Mark had to figure out how they could be together without changing companies.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 30, 2020
A Valentine Proposal by Viv Royve is the second book in her Little Shops on Heart Street series. This is my first time reading the book in the series. I really enjoy the story and the small town.
In this book we meet Cleo the manager of the book store in Wood Creek. She was a lawyer but didn't find that to be a fit for her. When you moved to Wood Creek she found a place to all home. Now the book store she runs may need to close if the big chain of Stevens book does save them. Mark is the son of the owner of chain. He is the one look at the potential new book store that would join the chain.
Cleo is the free spirit to Marks business suit. When you put Cleo and Mark together you have spark. Cleo even helps Mark see what he looking for in his future.
I was really sweet small town story. I love the characters and how gave a nice feeling.
This a five a star read. I really loved it
In this book we meet Cleo the manager of the book store in Wood Creek. She was a lawyer but didn't find that to be a fit for her. When you moved to Wood Creek she found a place to all home. Now the book store she runs may need to close if the big chain of Stevens book does save them. Mark is the son of the owner of chain. He is the one look at the potential new book store that would join the chain.
Cleo is the free spirit to Marks business suit. When you put Cleo and Mark together you have spark. Cleo even helps Mark see what he looking for in his future.
I was really sweet small town story. I love the characters and how gave a nice feeling.
This a five a star read. I really loved it
December 12, 2019
Swoon! Was a wonderful story - guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Cleo is the bookstore manager that had put her all into the story and created a unique and welcoming environment. Mark is part of a book store chain interested in purchasing the store and turning it into a clone of other stores in the chain. The very idea of such a thing appalls Cleo and she sets out to show him the benefits of her approach.
While Mark is participating in the various events that Cleo has planned, he becomes enchanted with her, and her with him. However, Cleo doesn't trust it and Mark takes an unusual approach to proving his heart.
I loved this book and loved the characters. I found myself invested in their story and wanting them to get their HEA ending. Put this at the top of your TBR list. The author is on my must read authors' list.
While Mark is participating in the various events that Cleo has planned, he becomes enchanted with her, and her with him. However, Cleo doesn't trust it and Mark takes an unusual approach to proving his heart.
I loved this book and loved the characters. I found myself invested in their story and wanting them to get their HEA ending. Put this at the top of your TBR list. The author is on my must read authors' list.
December 22, 2019
A cute, quick read set at a small-town bookstore . Cleo loves working at Rook and is concerned a buyout by Mark's family's company.
I liked the uniqueness of the store and decorations that Cleo creates. The events she planned around Valentine's Day were fun, too. I would love to go to an event where I could make a new friend based on mutual literary likes.
Mark's change/growth over the course of the story was big, but didn't feel over the top. It was easy to see how and why his opinions began to change.
There was one side storyline with Mark's sister that I wish has been wrapped up, but I wonder if she will be featured in a future book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for an honest review.
I liked the uniqueness of the store and decorations that Cleo creates. The events she planned around Valentine's Day were fun, too. I would love to go to an event where I could make a new friend based on mutual literary likes.
Mark's change/growth over the course of the story was big, but didn't feel over the top. It was easy to see how and why his opinions began to change.
There was one side storyline with Mark's sister that I wish has been wrapped up, but I wonder if she will be featured in a future book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for an honest review.
February 19, 2020
This one just didn’t do it for me. It’s a novella, and I just felt like there was too much left out. I honestly checked once or twice to see if I had somehow skipped pages because there seemed to be big jumps that weren’t really explained. Cleo is fighting for the book shop she works at to remain the quirky, small town place it has always been, while Mark is sent to evaluate the store and integrate it into the chain of bookstores his family owns. One of the problems I sometimes have with novellas is that sometimes the story feels rushed, and that was definitely the case here. The characters actions were just confusing to me at times. I’m not sure I’d recommend this one.
December 4, 2019
Another fun and lighthearted romance from Viv Royce. I really enjoyed A Family by Christmas (the previous book in this series, though each can be read by itself), so I was pleased to have the opportunity to read this one. I was not disappointed. I love these slightly shorter romances, they are well written and so easy to read. None of the excessive drama that I find in some romances, but still plenty of plot. I’ll certainly be on the lookout for further books in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 14, 2020
This is a sweet story about helping two people to realize their dreams. Mark has become an emotionless workaholic. He doesn’t want to involve feelings and get his heart broken. Cleo is neglected by her parents and is now trying to forge a life of her own. These two meet and both are unwilling to risk their heart and getting involved. The story is Whitten in an easy and slow cadence that allows them both to figure out what it is they really want. They eventually find their way to each other and happiness.
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