What do you think?
Rate this book
Creek Water #2
The Move
When Lexi Blake was twelve years old, a fortune teller gave her the following cryptic message:
In your thirtieth year, once the dog jumps over you, your life will change in the most unexpected ways.
Lexi is thirty now and the following unexpected things have occurred:
•While walking through Central Park enjoying a beautiful fall day, Lexi eats dirt when a careless dog owner throws a frisbee at her head. A dog jumps over her.
•Lexi gets a promotion that pays less than her current job.
•Her crush announces that he’s engaged.
•Her apartment turns condo and she can’t afford the down payment.
In order to escape her bad luck, she takes a vacation to visit a good friend in Creek Water, Missouri. But as it turns out, fate has a lot more in store for Lexi Blake.
Will a good friend, an unexpected love interest, and a historic house have her scrapping her plans and moving to a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River? Find out in the delightfully funny rom-com that's sure to make you believe in happy endings!
In your thirtieth year, once the dog jumps over you, your life will change in the most unexpected ways.
Lexi is thirty now and the following unexpected things have occurred:
•While walking through Central Park enjoying a beautiful fall day, Lexi eats dirt when a careless dog owner throws a frisbee at her head. A dog jumps over her.
•Lexi gets a promotion that pays less than her current job.
•Her crush announces that he’s engaged.
•Her apartment turns condo and she can’t afford the down payment.
In order to escape her bad luck, she takes a vacation to visit a good friend in Creek Water, Missouri. But as it turns out, fate has a lot more in store for Lexi Blake.
Will a good friend, an unexpected love interest, and a historic house have her scrapping her plans and moving to a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River? Find out in the delightfully funny rom-com that's sure to make you believe in happy endings!
314 pages, Paperback
First published December 21, 2019
2272 people are currently reading
1308 people want to read
About the author
Whitney Dineen
66 books808 followersWhitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.
She's a USA Today Bestselling & multi-award-winning author of romantic comedies, non-fiction humor, thrillers, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017, 2019
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards and Top Shelf Book Awards, 2017
She's a USA Today Bestselling & multi-award-winning author of romantic comedies, non-fiction humor, thrillers, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.
She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.
Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards 2017.
Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019.
Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.
Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017, 2019
Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards and Top Shelf Book Awards, 2017
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
January 6, 2020
The Move is a story about Lexi Blake, who when she was younger saw a psychic who said that in her thirtieth year, when a dog jumps over her- her life will change.
The story is set in said thirtieth after said dog jumps over her. I won’t tell you how or why, but she goes to Creek Water, Missouri to meet her friend Emmie (the protagonist of the previous book, although this can definitely be read as a standalone like I did)
Along the way, she meets a handsome but infuriating man, an old house once part of the Underground Railroad and her life, as predicted, does change.
This book was fast paced, funny and romantic. It didn’t take itself too seriously, but it still managed to discuss some important topics, such as racism, slavery and the Underground Railroad.
The characters were all super unique and I LOVED Lexi’s dad, the eccentric artist. His antics legitimately had me laughing out loud at times. It was just ridiculous enough to be hilarious, but not over the top.
I loved the southern US small town feel, especially seeing things through the eyes of a native new Yorker.
The romance was why i picked up this book in the first place. What we did get of it, I was a huge fan- but I just wanted more! It was sweet and slow burn but also almost hate to love. My favourite! I loved Beau and was wishing we saw more of their romance.
The psychic element was interesting at the beginning, but I think it was overdone and became a bit ridiculous at the end. It became sort of a doctor who, time is circular kind of deal.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable book! I would recommend it if you are feeling like something light, funny and a little bit angsty.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!
The story is set in said thirtieth after said dog jumps over her. I won’t tell you how or why, but she goes to Creek Water, Missouri to meet her friend Emmie (the protagonist of the previous book, although this can definitely be read as a standalone like I did)
Along the way, she meets a handsome but infuriating man, an old house once part of the Underground Railroad and her life, as predicted, does change.
This book was fast paced, funny and romantic. It didn’t take itself too seriously, but it still managed to discuss some important topics, such as racism, slavery and the Underground Railroad.
The characters were all super unique and I LOVED Lexi’s dad, the eccentric artist. His antics legitimately had me laughing out loud at times. It was just ridiculous enough to be hilarious, but not over the top.
I loved the southern US small town feel, especially seeing things through the eyes of a native new Yorker.
The romance was why i picked up this book in the first place. What we did get of it, I was a huge fan- but I just wanted more! It was sweet and slow burn but also almost hate to love. My favourite! I loved Beau and was wishing we saw more of their romance.
The psychic element was interesting at the beginning, but I think it was overdone and became a bit ridiculous at the end. It became sort of a doctor who, time is circular kind of deal.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable book! I would recommend it if you are feeling like something light, funny and a little bit angsty.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!
January 12, 2020
I read 2 books today. Which hasn’t happened in a while. It feels decadent - like I’ve taken good care of myself today.
Unfortunately I didn’t love either read.
Let’s just put this right out there. I don’t think of Missouri as the south. A number of characters in the book had accents that made me think of Macon. Moultrie. Birmingham. Not Missouri. And why did the New Yorkers have no accents but the southerners sound like the cast of Hee Haw?
Despite liking the author’s writing style, I grew to rather dislike the hero. If he even was the hero. I’m not sure what was happening there. And the weird psychic stuff was too far.
Things kept happening to yank me out of the story. I actually googled audio of Missouri accents.
Anyhow. It was a miss. And a mess. All hat and no cattle as we say round here.
As always - thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to offer an honest review.
Unfortunately I didn’t love either read.
Let’s just put this right out there. I don’t think of Missouri as the south. A number of characters in the book had accents that made me think of Macon. Moultrie. Birmingham. Not Missouri. And why did the New Yorkers have no accents but the southerners sound like the cast of Hee Haw?
Despite liking the author’s writing style, I grew to rather dislike the hero. If he even was the hero. I’m not sure what was happening there. And the weird psychic stuff was too far.
Things kept happening to yank me out of the story. I actually googled audio of Missouri accents.
Anyhow. It was a miss. And a mess. All hat and no cattle as we say round here.
As always - thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to offer an honest review.
March 31, 2020
Normally, I would have stopped reading this book much earlier than I did but I’m trying nowadays to not immediately dnf a book because there’s one aspect of it that irritates me. After this book I might have to return to my initial policy.
My first minor irritation was that the heroine, a 30 year old woman, was waiting for her crush to ask her out and was sending pheromones his way to push him in that direction. She was then hurt and surprised when it turned out he had had a girlfriend for one year who was now his fiancé. Well, no kidding, did you expect him to magically get a whiff of your pheromones and immediately understand that he HAD to ask you out? As opposed to oh I don’t know, you asking him out yourself? What was it exactly that was stopping her from making the first move again? I honestly couldn’t tell you. However, in an effort to be more tolerant I shelved that issue.
Then the heroine’s mother’s staunch feminism was treated as a punchline. And while there was no overt anti feminism (at least in the portion that I read), there seemed to be a slight suggestion in the tone of the writing, that feminism was an overreaction. I think it would have been one thing for the heroine to have more traditional views of marriage than her mother and want more traditional things without her mother’s views being treated as faintly ridiculous.
Also before going to Missouri, her mother directly tells her to “watch out for racists”( I want to add that this neither read as sarcastic nor tongue in cheek). What? Who says that? As someone who left her predominantly black country at 17 to live in a predominantly white country, my mum certainly never told me to watch out for racists. And now I feel cheated. After reading that line it became increasingly clear to me that this book was not written by a person of color because it seemed like an outsider’s approximation of the kind of conversations that people of color have with their parents before moving to places where there are fewer people who look like them. Or maybe all caricatured biracial NYU gender studies professors tell their daughters to “watch out for racists”. How would I know?
Despite all this, I still persevered.
Then finally our intrepid heroine gets to Missouri and meets the hero’s mum, who immediately tells her to distract the hero from his girlfriend(who just had a miscarriage!) by showing some boob. And guess who just went along with this idea, to the point of shopping with the mum for a whole new sexy dress? You guessed it. Our heroine (I can’t for the life of me remember her name). This. This was finally the point where I threw in the towel. I realized that I was firmly in crazy town and it was only going to get worse from here. So I finally did the responsible thing and dnfed the book. I mean this is probably my longest review and I barely got 40% into the book. I would probably have written a 300 page review if I had had to finish reading this novel.
My first minor irritation was that the heroine, a 30 year old woman, was waiting for her crush to ask her out and was sending pheromones his way to push him in that direction. She was then hurt and surprised when it turned out he had had a girlfriend for one year who was now his fiancé. Well, no kidding, did you expect him to magically get a whiff of your pheromones and immediately understand that he HAD to ask you out? As opposed to oh I don’t know, you asking him out yourself? What was it exactly that was stopping her from making the first move again? I honestly couldn’t tell you. However, in an effort to be more tolerant I shelved that issue.
Then the heroine’s mother’s staunch feminism was treated as a punchline. And while there was no overt anti feminism (at least in the portion that I read), there seemed to be a slight suggestion in the tone of the writing, that feminism was an overreaction. I think it would have been one thing for the heroine to have more traditional views of marriage than her mother and want more traditional things without her mother’s views being treated as faintly ridiculous.
Also before going to Missouri, her mother directly tells her to “watch out for racists”( I want to add that this neither read as sarcastic nor tongue in cheek). What? Who says that? As someone who left her predominantly black country at 17 to live in a predominantly white country, my mum certainly never told me to watch out for racists. And now I feel cheated. After reading that line it became increasingly clear to me that this book was not written by a person of color because it seemed like an outsider’s approximation of the kind of conversations that people of color have with their parents before moving to places where there are fewer people who look like them. Or maybe all caricatured biracial NYU gender studies professors tell their daughters to “watch out for racists”. How would I know?
Despite all this, I still persevered.
Then finally our intrepid heroine gets to Missouri and meets the hero’s mum, who immediately tells her to distract the hero from his girlfriend(who just had a miscarriage!) by showing some boob. And guess who just went along with this idea, to the point of shopping with the mum for a whole new sexy dress? You guessed it. Our heroine (I can’t for the life of me remember her name). This. This was finally the point where I threw in the towel. I realized that I was firmly in crazy town and it was only going to get worse from here. So I finally did the responsible thing and dnfed the book. I mean this is probably my longest review and I barely got 40% into the book. I would probably have written a 300 page review if I had had to finish reading this novel.
January 12, 2020
I had previously never read anything of the author’s work, so this came as a sweet surprise courtesy of NetGalley. I liked Lexie Blake from the moment I met her, she seemed real somehow.
I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in one day.
Lexie Blake’s life takes a prompt turn when she is told that due to economical difficulties at work, she’s being transferred to Atlanta. At the same time her rental apartment is no longer for rent but for purchase. Lexie does not know how she’ll afford it, and on top of that her crush (aka her neighbor) has declared that he’s engaged. To give herself time to breathe and decide on what to do next, Lexie goes on vacation to Creek Water to visit a friend. What she doesn’t know is that her life will change for the better, in ways she could’ve never have anticipated,
This was a very fun read. The characters felt real and I liked the fact that there was some history between the pages.
I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in one day.
Lexie Blake’s life takes a prompt turn when she is told that due to economical difficulties at work, she’s being transferred to Atlanta. At the same time her rental apartment is no longer for rent but for purchase. Lexie does not know how she’ll afford it, and on top of that her crush (aka her neighbor) has declared that he’s engaged. To give herself time to breathe and decide on what to do next, Lexie goes on vacation to Creek Water to visit a friend. What she doesn’t know is that her life will change for the better, in ways she could’ve never have anticipated,
This was a very fun read. The characters felt real and I liked the fact that there was some history between the pages.
April 18, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc! This has in no way influenced my review.
I really loved this one! The writing style was great. I couldn't stop reading and finished this book in 1 day.
I loved the characters and their interactions. Emmie's family is great and I loved reading about them. They are so lovely. I truly love big families. Lexi and Beau were great as well, although they could have communicated better. I'm not a big fan of that trope.
I also love reading about small towns and that's why I enjoyed this book so much. It had everything I like.
It was a bit messy though and I didn't really like the psychic stuff, but that's more my taste than the book. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author.
I really loved this one! The writing style was great. I couldn't stop reading and finished this book in 1 day.
I loved the characters and their interactions. Emmie's family is great and I loved reading about them. They are so lovely. I truly love big families. Lexi and Beau were great as well, although they could have communicated better. I'm not a big fan of that trope.
I also love reading about small towns and that's why I enjoyed this book so much. It had everything I like.
It was a bit messy though and I didn't really like the psychic stuff, but that's more my taste than the book. I'm looking forward to reading more of this author.
September 25, 2020
ההמשך של "The Event" והספר השני בסדרת קריק ווטר ומשפחת פרות'ינגהאם. הפעם הספר מדבר על לקסי, החברה של אמי, גיבורת הספר הראשון. לקסי היא ילידת ניו יורק, בת לניו-יורקרים מושבעים - אבא אמן ואמא מרצה ללימודי מגדר, עם שורשים אפרו-אמריקנים, יהודיים ובריטיים. בגיל 30 לקסי עומדת בפני פרשת דרכים - היא נאלצת לעזוב את דירתה השכורה שעומדת למכירה, בעבודה התפקיד שלה מבוטל ומציעים לה לעשות רילוקיישן לאטלנטה לתפקיד בדרג נמוך יותר, והשכן בו הייתה מאוהבת בסתר, מתארס. היא מחליטה לנצל את ימי החופש שצברה ולבקר את אמי בקריק ווטר, מיזורי, כדי לקחת הפסקה ולחשוב מה הלאה. בקריק ווטר היא תמצא שורשים משפחתיים שלא ידעה עליהם, קריירה חדשה וגם אהבה.
ספר חמוד ביותר (קצת שמרני). נהניתי לקרוא ואני ממשיכה הלאה לספר השלישי בסדרה, שעוסק בבת הדודה של אמי, אמיליה.
בספר מוזכרת ה-"Underground Railroad" שעסקה בהסתרה של עבדים אפרו-אמריקנים, וזה עשה לי חשק לקרוא את הספר שיצא על כך.
(כל הסדרה היא במחיר ממש נמוך לקינדל, ממליצה לחובבות וחובבי הרומנטיקה)
ספר חמוד ביותר (קצת שמרני). נהניתי לקרוא ואני ממשיכה הלאה לספר השלישי בסדרה, שעוסק בבת הדודה של אמי, אמיליה.
בספר מוזכרת ה-"Underground Railroad" שעסקה בהסתרה של עבדים אפרו-אמריקנים, וזה עשה לי חשק לקרוא את הספר שיצא על כך.
(כל הסדרה היא במחיר ממש נמוך לקינדל, ממליצה לחובבות וחובבי הרומנטיקה)
January 10, 2020
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *
The Move is a humorous, pick-me-up rom-com, great as a holiday/beach read! Centering on Lexi, a life-long New Yorker, who is told by a fortune teller that her life will change drastically when she is thirty. Through a turn of events, she ends up in Creek Water, Missouri.
The characters are sweet and engagingly written, and while the narrative does touch on some more serious issues (miscarriages, slavery), the tone is still overall light and funny.
However, this is a veeeeeeeery slow-burn romance, and I would have liked a little more of this aspect!
The Move is a humorous, pick-me-up rom-com, great as a holiday/beach read! Centering on Lexi, a life-long New Yorker, who is told by a fortune teller that her life will change drastically when she is thirty. Through a turn of events, she ends up in Creek Water, Missouri.
The characters are sweet and engagingly written, and while the narrative does touch on some more serious issues (miscarriages, slavery), the tone is still overall light and funny.
However, this is a veeeeeeeery slow-burn romance, and I would have liked a little more of this aspect!
January 10, 2020
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *
The Move is a humorous, pick-me-up rom-com, great as a holiday/beach read! Centering on Lexi, a life-long New Yorker, who is told by a fortune teller that her life will change drastically when she is thirty. Through a turn of events, she ends up in Creek Water, Missouri.
The characters are sweet and engagingly written, and while the narrative does touch on some more serious issues (miscarriages, slavery), the tone is still overall light and funny.
However, this is a veeeeeeeery slow-burn romance, and I would have liked a little more of this aspect!
The Move is a humorous, pick-me-up rom-com, great as a holiday/beach read! Centering on Lexi, a life-long New Yorker, who is told by a fortune teller that her life will change drastically when she is thirty. Through a turn of events, she ends up in Creek Water, Missouri.
The characters are sweet and engagingly written, and while the narrative does touch on some more serious issues (miscarriages, slavery), the tone is still overall light and funny.
However, this is a veeeeeeeery slow-burn romance, and I would have liked a little more of this aspect!
May 18, 2020
Welcome back to Creek Water, full of small-town charm readers will love.
Read full review in the 2020 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2020 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 11, 2021
I couldn't wait to dive into book 2 after book 1!
New Yorker Lexi Blake seems to have it all right now. But when she was a child, a psychic had predicted that when she'll turn 30, a dog will jump over her & her life will change in unexpected ways.
True to the prediction, lexi finds herself in such predicaments. Her apartment is being converted into a condo, her next door crush is engaged & a job promotion & relocation to Atlanta is announced with even less money.
In order to escape her bad luck, she takes a vacation to visit Emmie(from book 1) to Creek Water.
And Boy, does her life take her into unexpected scenarios.
Starting from her hilarious & crazy-uptight parents who tell her not to go alone to a place they've never heard before which I quote was 'Not on this earth'.
We get to meet the lovely Frothingham family who are hell bent on matchmaking Lexi with Beau(Emmie's cousin) who may or may not be dating the town's nastiest & nosy woman's daughter.
Lexi & Beau's attraction sparkles from the first meet itself which leads to very satisfying slow burn.
What starts out as a regular romcom, dives into much more secrets, plots, magical inheritances & interesting turns.
I loved the southern charm, the family dynamics, the hilarious matchmaking scenes. Top it all, Lexi's dad also moves to Creek Water out of the blue in order to follow his creative & artistic calling, which results to so many hilarious conversations with her mother.
Loved every aspect of it. Can't wait to dive into book 3 asap!
New Yorker Lexi Blake seems to have it all right now. But when she was a child, a psychic had predicted that when she'll turn 30, a dog will jump over her & her life will change in unexpected ways.
True to the prediction, lexi finds herself in such predicaments. Her apartment is being converted into a condo, her next door crush is engaged & a job promotion & relocation to Atlanta is announced with even less money.
In order to escape her bad luck, she takes a vacation to visit Emmie(from book 1) to Creek Water.
And Boy, does her life take her into unexpected scenarios.
Starting from her hilarious & crazy-uptight parents who tell her not to go alone to a place they've never heard before which I quote was 'Not on this earth'.
We get to meet the lovely Frothingham family who are hell bent on matchmaking Lexi with Beau(Emmie's cousin) who may or may not be dating the town's nastiest & nosy woman's daughter.
Lexi & Beau's attraction sparkles from the first meet itself which leads to very satisfying slow burn.
What starts out as a regular romcom, dives into much more secrets, plots, magical inheritances & interesting turns.
I loved the southern charm, the family dynamics, the hilarious matchmaking scenes. Top it all, Lexi's dad also moves to Creek Water out of the blue in order to follow his creative & artistic calling, which results to so many hilarious conversations with her mother.
Loved every aspect of it. Can't wait to dive into book 3 asap!
April 15, 2023
This was a fun New York City girl visits her friend in small town Missouri, falls in love with an old house and decides to turn it into a B&B women's fiction/romance. I loved that Lexi's parents play a big role in the story (her father even comes down and falls in love with the town too). There's a romantic storyline with a hot real estate agent who recently lost a baby and a great cast of secondary characters. Full of Southern small town charm and recommended for fans of authors like Sarah Adams or Savannah Scott and good on audio narrated by Tiffany Morgan. (This is also part of a series but works as a standalone).
March 10, 2020
Dnt at 40%
April 11, 2020
Cute number 2 :)
January 25, 2020
4.5 stars!
Lexi Bake is a thirty year old professional and life-long New Yorker who seems to have it all. However, her neighbor that she has been crushing on for years announces his engagement, blindsiding her completely. If that isn't bad enough, her apartment is being converted to a condo and there is no way she can afford the hefty price tag. To add even more to Lexi's plate, her job is forcing a relocation to Atlanta, disguised as a "promotion", where she will be making less money. Lexi decides to take her accrued vacation time to visit her friend in the small town of Creek Wood, Missouri. There, she discovers what she truly wants from life and enters a slow burn romance with Beau, her friend's cousin.
While all of that seems like a typical plot line, I was very engrossed in the touches of magical realism featured from the start of the book. Lexi saw a fortune teller at a young age and the predictions seem to come true from the very start of this book! The author has a good deal to convey about predestination, fate and the role of community in one's life. I found this to be both delightful and thought provoking.From the synopsis, I had assumed this would be a run of the mill contemporary romance with a hint of comedy and expected a decent, 3 star book. I was so pleasantly surprised and could not put this book down! I want to read more from this author, and cannot wait to continue along with this series. While this is the second volume in the series, they can be read as standalone novels, as they follow companion characters and not a linear timeline.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the author for an ebook of this title for review!
Lexi Bake is a thirty year old professional and life-long New Yorker who seems to have it all. However, her neighbor that she has been crushing on for years announces his engagement, blindsiding her completely. If that isn't bad enough, her apartment is being converted to a condo and there is no way she can afford the hefty price tag. To add even more to Lexi's plate, her job is forcing a relocation to Atlanta, disguised as a "promotion", where she will be making less money. Lexi decides to take her accrued vacation time to visit her friend in the small town of Creek Wood, Missouri. There, she discovers what she truly wants from life and enters a slow burn romance with Beau, her friend's cousin.
While all of that seems like a typical plot line, I was very engrossed in the touches of magical realism featured from the start of the book. Lexi saw a fortune teller at a young age and the predictions seem to come true from the very start of this book! The author has a good deal to convey about predestination, fate and the role of community in one's life. I found this to be both delightful and thought provoking.From the synopsis, I had assumed this would be a run of the mill contemporary romance with a hint of comedy and expected a decent, 3 star book. I was so pleasantly surprised and could not put this book down! I want to read more from this author, and cannot wait to continue along with this series. While this is the second volume in the series, they can be read as standalone novels, as they follow companion characters and not a linear timeline.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the author for an ebook of this title for review!
December 30, 2019
I wasn’t ready to get hooked from the first pages of this story, but I did. I loved that it had just a bit of “woo-woo” going on, nothing too out there, just someone with “the sight” when Lexi (Alexis Blake) was a child that changes the direction of what she perceived her life was to be. It was fun!
As I said above, Lexi was given a prediction by someone her grandmother knew, that in her thirtieth year, her entire life would change. And boy howdy, does it. What starts out as a job crisis of faith and commitment turns into an extended vacation to visit her friend Emmie, which turns into a move to Emmie’s small town. From New York City. To (what her New Yorker friends and family call) ‘not on this earth’! Too funny. But move Lexi does and falls in love with small town life, if she ever gets to settle in that is. There is much drama (the good to read kind) and she meets someone that she falls for immediately, Beau (Beauregard Frothingham), cousin to Emmie however he is not really available...or is he?
I don’t want to give too much of the story away but the southern family dynamics are hilarious. And Lexi’s New York City parents? They are quite the trip and play a big part in Lexi’s past and future. I loved her dad, sometimes her mom was a bit too set in her ways, but they both adore Lexi. BIG things happen to Lexi during her visit with Emmie and I couldn’t wait to finish reading Lexi’s and Beau’s story. I will say, though, that although I loved the entire book, and how it ended, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt – not that the story was short, but to me, the ending came about very quickly. I DID love how it ended; I just thought I had missed something. Still recommend it as I loved it and maybe it will not be the same reaction from other readers. Fun story, too-real families, crazy relatives, and some very interesting across-time ties. Love this book and the previous one!
As I said above, Lexi was given a prediction by someone her grandmother knew, that in her thirtieth year, her entire life would change. And boy howdy, does it. What starts out as a job crisis of faith and commitment turns into an extended vacation to visit her friend Emmie, which turns into a move to Emmie’s small town. From New York City. To (what her New Yorker friends and family call) ‘not on this earth’! Too funny. But move Lexi does and falls in love with small town life, if she ever gets to settle in that is. There is much drama (the good to read kind) and she meets someone that she falls for immediately, Beau (Beauregard Frothingham), cousin to Emmie however he is not really available...or is he?
I don’t want to give too much of the story away but the southern family dynamics are hilarious. And Lexi’s New York City parents? They are quite the trip and play a big part in Lexi’s past and future. I loved her dad, sometimes her mom was a bit too set in her ways, but they both adore Lexi. BIG things happen to Lexi during her visit with Emmie and I couldn’t wait to finish reading Lexi’s and Beau’s story. I will say, though, that although I loved the entire book, and how it ended, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt – not that the story was short, but to me, the ending came about very quickly. I DID love how it ended; I just thought I had missed something. Still recommend it as I loved it and maybe it will not be the same reaction from other readers. Fun story, too-real families, crazy relatives, and some very interesting across-time ties. Love this book and the previous one!
January 13, 2020
A totally delightful story. When Lexi turned thirty, her life changed drastically I can’t wait for more.
January 19, 2020
**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**
Title The Move (The Creek Water Series #2)
Author Whitney Dineen
Description from Amazon
When Lexi Blake was twelve years old, a fortune teller gave her the following cryptic message:
In your thirtieth year, once the dog jumps over you, your life will change in the most unexpected ways.
Lexi is thirty now and the following unexpected things have occurred:
•While walking through Central Park enjoying a beautiful fall day, Lexi eats dirt when a careless dog owner throws a frisbee at her head. A dog jumps over her.
•Lexi gets a promotion that pays less than her current job.
•Her crush announces that he’s engaged.
•Her apartment turns condo and she can’t afford the down payment.
In order to escape her bad luck, she takes a vacation to visit a good friend in Creek Water, Missouri. But as it turns out, fate has a lot more in store for Lexi Blake.
Will a good friend, an unexpected love interest, and a historic house have her scrapping her plans and moving to a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River? Find out in the delightfully funny rom-com that’s sure to make you believe in happy endings!
Release Date January 1, 2020
Initial Thoughts
I will be part of the Book Blitz for The Plan by Whitney Dineen in March and I saw that The Move was available on NetGalley so I decided to apply. I didn’t have too many thoughts going into this book but, I knew it looked like a cute rom-com.
Some Things I Liked
BERTIE. Bertie 👏 is 👏 my 👏 spirit 👏 animal 👏 . I loved Bertie and his free spirit. He was an amazing character and I want to read so much more about him. He added so much whimsy and fun to to the story.
NYC. I loved Lexi’s take on the Big Apple from a native’s POV. As a Jersey girl who commutes into midtown every day, I loved her descriptions of Central Park, life in the city, and life growing up there.
Unconventional families. I loved the family dynamics represented by both Lexi and Beau’s families in this story.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The romance plot felt a bit rushed. Lexi and Beau have this undeniable chemistry but they try not to interact. Then, *poof*, they’re in love? It was a little unresolved for my taste – but they were sweet together, nonetheless.
Series Value
I read this series out of order – I started with #2. There are spoilers for the first book, but the plots are relatively independent. I think I could read book 1, despite knowing the final outcome, and still enjoy it.
Also, I would continue with this series. Book 3 is also a new story with a new main character but I’m sure there will be spoilers for books 1 and 2 in the next installment as well.
Basically, my recommendation is if you think you’ll want to read them all, read them in order. If you just want to read one, the order doesn’t matter.
Final Thoughts
This was a cute story. It was super clean and is perfect for fans of adorable romances (with no mature content). While the main character is 30, I think this would be a perfect book for fans of contemporary YA who want to break into adult fiction.
Also, if the real estate prices are even close to real, I’m seriously considering a move to the south (just kidding – but wouldn’t that be fun to blog about 😉).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Make or Break at the Lighthouse B&B by Portia MacIntosh – this book is coming out on February 14th (review to come a bit closer to that date), but if you enjoyed the wit, romance, and ideas of starting over in a new place, try this rom-com by Portia MacIntosh.
The Plan by Whitney Dineen – this is the next book in the series. If you liked the writing style and Creek Water as a setting, try this book out.
Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters – if you liked the themes of re-discovering yourself that Lexi experiences in The Move, try this book by Victoria Walters – the sequel is coming out in February.
Title The Move (The Creek Water Series #2)
Author Whitney Dineen
Description from Amazon
When Lexi Blake was twelve years old, a fortune teller gave her the following cryptic message:
In your thirtieth year, once the dog jumps over you, your life will change in the most unexpected ways.
Lexi is thirty now and the following unexpected things have occurred:
•While walking through Central Park enjoying a beautiful fall day, Lexi eats dirt when a careless dog owner throws a frisbee at her head. A dog jumps over her.
•Lexi gets a promotion that pays less than her current job.
•Her crush announces that he’s engaged.
•Her apartment turns condo and she can’t afford the down payment.
In order to escape her bad luck, she takes a vacation to visit a good friend in Creek Water, Missouri. But as it turns out, fate has a lot more in store for Lexi Blake.
Will a good friend, an unexpected love interest, and a historic house have her scrapping her plans and moving to a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River? Find out in the delightfully funny rom-com that’s sure to make you believe in happy endings!
Release Date January 1, 2020
Initial Thoughts
I will be part of the Book Blitz for The Plan by Whitney Dineen in March and I saw that The Move was available on NetGalley so I decided to apply. I didn’t have too many thoughts going into this book but, I knew it looked like a cute rom-com.
Some Things I Liked
BERTIE. Bertie 👏 is 👏 my 👏 spirit 👏 animal 👏 . I loved Bertie and his free spirit. He was an amazing character and I want to read so much more about him. He added so much whimsy and fun to to the story.
NYC. I loved Lexi’s take on the Big Apple from a native’s POV. As a Jersey girl who commutes into midtown every day, I loved her descriptions of Central Park, life in the city, and life growing up there.
Unconventional families. I loved the family dynamics represented by both Lexi and Beau’s families in this story.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The romance plot felt a bit rushed. Lexi and Beau have this undeniable chemistry but they try not to interact. Then, *poof*, they’re in love? It was a little unresolved for my taste – but they were sweet together, nonetheless.
Series Value
I read this series out of order – I started with #2. There are spoilers for the first book, but the plots are relatively independent. I think I could read book 1, despite knowing the final outcome, and still enjoy it.
Also, I would continue with this series. Book 3 is also a new story with a new main character but I’m sure there will be spoilers for books 1 and 2 in the next installment as well.
Basically, my recommendation is if you think you’ll want to read them all, read them in order. If you just want to read one, the order doesn’t matter.
Final Thoughts
This was a cute story. It was super clean and is perfect for fans of adorable romances (with no mature content). While the main character is 30, I think this would be a perfect book for fans of contemporary YA who want to break into adult fiction.
Also, if the real estate prices are even close to real, I’m seriously considering a move to the south (just kidding – but wouldn’t that be fun to blog about 😉).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Make or Break at the Lighthouse B&B by Portia MacIntosh – this book is coming out on February 14th (review to come a bit closer to that date), but if you enjoyed the wit, romance, and ideas of starting over in a new place, try this rom-com by Portia MacIntosh.
The Plan by Whitney Dineen – this is the next book in the series. If you liked the writing style and Creek Water as a setting, try this book out.
Coming Home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters – if you liked the themes of re-discovering yourself that Lexi experiences in The Move, try this book by Victoria Walters – the sequel is coming out in February.
January 16, 2020
The Move by Whitney Dineen ⭐️⭐️💫
•
The idea of this story was so cute! A vague psychic foreseeing as a child tells Lexi that in her 30th year of life she will see many changes. When that year is upon her, she loses her apartment and has an unwanted job change. She finds herself visiting Missouri from her home in NYC where those many changes come to fruition in what is described as a truly idyllic setting.
While I wanted so much to love this one. I didn’t feel any real romance connection between the main characters. There were some lovely supporting characters (her Dad was hilarious) but I felt like they were under developed and had unresolved issues. In the beginning there was some definite bad talking of Missouri (and the rest of the country) by Lexi’s parents which just sat wrong and a little hurtful to me given that my family is from St Louis. Overall, I loved the idea of this book but it fell a little short for me personally.
⚠️: Miscarriage, slavery, racism
•
The idea of this story was so cute! A vague psychic foreseeing as a child tells Lexi that in her 30th year of life she will see many changes. When that year is upon her, she loses her apartment and has an unwanted job change. She finds herself visiting Missouri from her home in NYC where those many changes come to fruition in what is described as a truly idyllic setting.
While I wanted so much to love this one. I didn’t feel any real romance connection between the main characters. There were some lovely supporting characters (her Dad was hilarious) but I felt like they were under developed and had unresolved issues. In the beginning there was some definite bad talking of Missouri (and the rest of the country) by Lexi’s parents which just sat wrong and a little hurtful to me given that my family is from St Louis. Overall, I loved the idea of this book but it fell a little short for me personally.
⚠️: Miscarriage, slavery, racism
June 6, 2022
I am sure there is an audience for this book, but it isn't me. The synopsis was interesting and the premise had good bones
“In your 30th year of life, after the dog jumps over you, your whole world will change in the most unexpected ways. In 3 days, Lexi lost her job, her place, and the guy she’s been crushing on. So what does she do? Move to Small Town America.
At first, the character struck me as witty and relatable, but, after a few chapters, her babbling gets on your nerves. And, to top it off, there are 56 chapters in this thing. Why so long? Most of it was a lot of nonsense and adopting the Southern life.
I almost quit reading cause I didn't like the main character for the first part. Hang in there, the rest is a fun concept and interesting read with an interesting take on social changes from underground railroad to today. No raunchy sex scenes.
“In your 30th year of life, after the dog jumps over you, your whole world will change in the most unexpected ways. In 3 days, Lexi lost her job, her place, and the guy she’s been crushing on. So what does she do? Move to Small Town America.
At first, the character struck me as witty and relatable, but, after a few chapters, her babbling gets on your nerves. And, to top it off, there are 56 chapters in this thing. Why so long? Most of it was a lot of nonsense and adopting the Southern life.
I almost quit reading cause I didn't like the main character for the first part. Hang in there, the rest is a fun concept and interesting read with an interesting take on social changes from underground railroad to today. No raunchy sex scenes.
January 6, 2020
During Lexi Blake's 30th year, she's strolling through Central Park when a frisbee-throwing dog owner shouts "Incoming!", causing her to duck. After his dog jumps over her in pursuit of the frisbee, the fulfillment of the prophecy bestowed upon her by a psychic many years ago begins. Almost immediately, she experiences drastic changes in her life and decides to use her five weeks of accrued vacation to visit her friend, Emmie, in Creek Water. Cue the appearance of a handsome, brooding cousin that may or may not be entwined with another woman, a historic house that was part of the Underground Railroad, and family drama that is both hilarious and charming.
I absolutely loved Lexi and her spirit. Other than seeming a bit man-crazed at the beginning (as most single women are), she had a great head on her shoulders and knew how to go after what she wanted. I loved the interactions between her, Clovis, and Myrah, and the letter she received was a strong reminder of how far we've come as a society. Bertie, Lexi's artist father, was absolutely hilarious, and I enjoyed every moment that I spent reading about him. Beau, the handsome, brooding cousin, ended up proving himself to be quite intuitive and I appreciated his efforts to help others.
Unfortunately, I didn't love everything about this book. While the psychic component at the beginning was cute and great way to establish a plot, I felt it was taken a bit too far. Also, the story felt rushed near the end. In an attempt to prevent spoilers, I'll just say that I wish that we would have had a few more chapters between the final chapter and the epilogue. There were several characters that I became invested in and would have liked to have experienced their storyline come to a resolution other than simply being told.
All of this being said, I'm sure I'll pick up the third book in the series to witness Beau's sister, Amelia, take her shot at love. Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the eGalley!
I absolutely loved Lexi and her spirit. Other than seeming a bit man-crazed at the beginning (as most single women are), she had a great head on her shoulders and knew how to go after what she wanted. I loved the interactions between her, Clovis, and Myrah, and the letter she received was a strong reminder of how far we've come as a society. Bertie, Lexi's artist father, was absolutely hilarious, and I enjoyed every moment that I spent reading about him. Beau, the handsome, brooding cousin, ended up proving himself to be quite intuitive and I appreciated his efforts to help others.
Unfortunately, I didn't love everything about this book. While the psychic component at the beginning was cute and great way to establish a plot, I felt it was taken a bit too far. Also, the story felt rushed near the end. In an attempt to prevent spoilers, I'll just say that I wish that we would have had a few more chapters between the final chapter and the epilogue. There were several characters that I became invested in and would have liked to have experienced their storyline come to a resolution other than simply being told.
All of this being said, I'm sure I'll pick up the third book in the series to witness Beau's sister, Amelia, take her shot at love. Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the eGalley!
August 9, 2020
Fun
My second book by this author and although it is a Series it works as a stand alone. It was light, airy and fun and just what I needed after previously reading a very emotional book.
My second book by this author and although it is a Series it works as a stand alone. It was light, airy and fun and just what I needed after previously reading a very emotional book.
March 28, 2024
I had just as much fun with this second book as I did with the first.
It's a charming little story about just sometimes when everything seems to be going wrong, it's just life nudging you in the right direction.
It's a charming little story about just sometimes when everything seems to be going wrong, it's just life nudging you in the right direction.
October 1, 2020
I really liked it, the background, the characters and the stories around them.
July 28, 2022
I don't know why I read this but okay
October 28, 2024
Just as sweet & heart-warming as the first!
January 23, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley a d the publisher for this ARC in Exchange for am honest review
First time reading this author and yes I started in book 2.
I liked it. It was cute and shows how life sometimes works itself out just the way it’s meant to be
Book 1 is Emmys story - Emmy is Lexie’s best friend Emmy moves back home and in book 2 - the Move, Lexi finds her life at a crossroad and decides to take vacation to spend time with her friend and decide what she wants to do career wise - does she move to Georgia with a paycut and still with her job? Time in Missouri with Emmy should help clear her mind
Unforeseen events: old prediction comes true. She’s 39 and a dog jumped over her. Her apt is going condo and she cant afford it and a promotion at work is a paycut and move to Atlanta ; cue in sexy best friends Cousin and his girlfriend and lastly a mansion up for sale at a ridiculous price.
Yeap her life has turned upside down
At the end she get the house, the boy and an new career and we see all these events for foretold by a psychic.
Hmmm 🤔 cute read and really love drama.
First time reading this author and yes I started in book 2.
I liked it. It was cute and shows how life sometimes works itself out just the way it’s meant to be
Book 1 is Emmys story - Emmy is Lexie’s best friend Emmy moves back home and in book 2 - the Move, Lexi finds her life at a crossroad and decides to take vacation to spend time with her friend and decide what she wants to do career wise - does she move to Georgia with a paycut and still with her job? Time in Missouri with Emmy should help clear her mind
Unforeseen events: old prediction comes true. She’s 39 and a dog jumped over her. Her apt is going condo and she cant afford it and a promotion at work is a paycut and move to Atlanta ; cue in sexy best friends Cousin and his girlfriend and lastly a mansion up for sale at a ridiculous price.
Yeap her life has turned upside down
At the end she get the house, the boy and an new career and we see all these events for foretold by a psychic.
Hmmm 🤔 cute read and really love drama.
January 27, 2020
This book was sent to me in ebook form by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. As always with NetGalley, the cover and description are what really drew me to this book!
This book was such a great follow-up to the first book in this series. It dealt with serious topics such as racism, slavery, miscarriages, and nonconventional relationships, but in a way that was respectful, funny, and still romantic. (This book also excelled because it can be read as a stand-alone even though it is part of a series.)
This book focuses on Lexi and Beau. While I would have LOVED to have seen more of their relationship and the romantic spark that was clearly there, I did enjoy the sweet moments they had. The character development was also strong in this book. I loved how Lexi's parents' romance was played out and the character growth they both experienced. (And I just really really like Lexi's dad Bertie. He was eccentric and his meditation mishaps were hilarious.)
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the next book in this series and learn more about Amelia. I definitely recommend this series, and this author, to others.
P.S. I personally didn't enjoy the psychic elements of this book, but that is a personal preference. If you're like me and don't like such elements in books, I still wouldn't recommend that you pass this book by. While it got repetitive towards the end, the author took it in more of a Doctor Who direction instead of a true psychic direction.
This book was such a great follow-up to the first book in this series. It dealt with serious topics such as racism, slavery, miscarriages, and nonconventional relationships, but in a way that was respectful, funny, and still romantic. (This book also excelled because it can be read as a stand-alone even though it is part of a series.)
This book focuses on Lexi and Beau. While I would have LOVED to have seen more of their relationship and the romantic spark that was clearly there, I did enjoy the sweet moments they had. The character development was also strong in this book. I loved how Lexi's parents' romance was played out and the character growth they both experienced. (And I just really really like Lexi's dad Bertie. He was eccentric and his meditation mishaps were hilarious.)
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read the next book in this series and learn more about Amelia. I definitely recommend this series, and this author, to others.
P.S. I personally didn't enjoy the psychic elements of this book, but that is a personal preference. If you're like me and don't like such elements in books, I still wouldn't recommend that you pass this book by. While it got repetitive towards the end, the author took it in more of a Doctor Who direction instead of a true psychic direction.
January 26, 2020
Nice contemporary story with a touch of magical realism.
When Lexi's life takes an unexpected turn, involving a job change she didn't want that turns everything upside down, she decides to take a break from big city life and make the most of her vacation by visiting her friend in small town Creek Waters.
While she never saw herself as living in a rural setting, she finds several reasons for wanting to stay, and believe it or not, love is not necessarily the most prominent of them.
It's a novel about finding roots (and love) and although I'd have loved to have the romance developed in more detail, the concept of fated mated juxtaposed in a contemporary setting makes it work. There are a bunch of hilarious and quirky side characters who add flavor and depth to the narrative. The historical references were new to me as a non-American reader so it was definitely a welcome cultural bonus.
When Lexi's life takes an unexpected turn, involving a job change she didn't want that turns everything upside down, she decides to take a break from big city life and make the most of her vacation by visiting her friend in small town Creek Waters.
While she never saw herself as living in a rural setting, she finds several reasons for wanting to stay, and believe it or not, love is not necessarily the most prominent of them.
It's a novel about finding roots (and love) and although I'd have loved to have the romance developed in more detail, the concept of fated mated juxtaposed in a contemporary setting makes it work. There are a bunch of hilarious and quirky side characters who add flavor and depth to the narrative. The historical references were new to me as a non-American reader so it was definitely a welcome cultural bonus.
January 1, 2020
Change is the watchword for a heroine ready for her foretold future😊
👍👍 I loved how this book folded so well into the small-town world of imaginary Creek Water, Missouri created in The Event, the first book in the series, but the flavor of the plot is so different. Yes, Author Whitney Dineen gives us her signature zany characters; in this instance heroine Lexi's artist father Bertie is odd behavior personified. Lexi's odyssey to her BFF Emmie's hometown becomes the lynchpin for the total reshaping of her future (and that of her parents). Three born and bred NYCers suddenly discover that life does not start and end in the Big Apple 🍎!
💏 The romance is gradual and sweet rather than saucy and the villains of the piece like downer Cootie and Lexi's boss do not get the last laugh. In the meantime, a heap of huggin', feastin', joy makin' living is goin' on. I love The series and will keep reading when the next book comes but The Move is a complete, standalone story with its own HEA(s).😊
The author is a favorite of mine, a go-to author for humorous, flawless writing that flows easily and feels optimistic and upbeat.
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout but also purchased it for my library; this is my voluntary and honest review.
👍👍 I loved how this book folded so well into the small-town world of imaginary Creek Water, Missouri created in The Event, the first book in the series, but the flavor of the plot is so different. Yes, Author Whitney Dineen gives us her signature zany characters; in this instance heroine Lexi's artist father Bertie is odd behavior personified. Lexi's odyssey to her BFF Emmie's hometown becomes the lynchpin for the total reshaping of her future (and that of her parents). Three born and bred NYCers suddenly discover that life does not start and end in the Big Apple 🍎!
💏 The romance is gradual and sweet rather than saucy and the villains of the piece like downer Cootie and Lexi's boss do not get the last laugh. In the meantime, a heap of huggin', feastin', joy makin' living is goin' on. I love The series and will keep reading when the next book comes but The Move is a complete, standalone story with its own HEA(s).😊
The author is a favorite of mine, a go-to author for humorous, flawless writing that flows easily and feels optimistic and upbeat.
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout but also purchased it for my library; this is my voluntary and honest review.
January 11, 2020
Absolutely adored this book!
The author had me smiling from ear to ear with the typical southern banter, over the top chivalry, and the fun southern twang in the characters talk!
Creek Water is explained in such detail that it really does make the reader wish they lived there. It’s got all the perfect shops, the beautiful Mississippi, and the wonderful small town feel everyone loves.
Lexi’s story is a whirlwind. She’s in the middle of jobs and is losing her home when she decides to go visit her friend. It’s not until she gets to town though when things start to really go a bit wayward. She’s thrown a loop at every turn and she’s not sure how to feel about this amazing new guy she’s met either.
The Move was such a fun and cute book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, laughed more than I expected, and now wish I could hop into the pages and move right in!
The author had me smiling from ear to ear with the typical southern banter, over the top chivalry, and the fun southern twang in the characters talk!
Creek Water is explained in such detail that it really does make the reader wish they lived there. It’s got all the perfect shops, the beautiful Mississippi, and the wonderful small town feel everyone loves.
Lexi’s story is a whirlwind. She’s in the middle of jobs and is losing her home when she decides to go visit her friend. It’s not until she gets to town though when things start to really go a bit wayward. She’s thrown a loop at every turn and she’s not sure how to feel about this amazing new guy she’s met either.
The Move was such a fun and cute book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, laughed more than I expected, and now wish I could hop into the pages and move right in!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews