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Whisper Lake #4.5
Where You Go
Historical romance author Olive St. Claire’s life was turning out to be much stranger than fiction. She's headed to Whisper Lake to go to her wedding...plot twist: she's not going to be the bride walking down the aisle. The woman wearing white this weekend was her cousin Bridgette, who was the familial equivalent of a frenemy.
After Liv’s fiancé broke off their engagement six months ago, she had to cancel her venue, caterer, DJ, and florist. Bridgette decided to take advantage of the fact that all of those vendors had a sudden opening and booked them all for herself. She’d even purchased Liv’s wedding dress off of eBay.
Liv had planned to attend the nuptials on the solo tip but when the chance to bring an unexpected plus one presents itself, she figures, she might as well bring a date to her own wedding.
Police officer Grady Caldwell had never lived in a small town. He’d heard his older brother, who had lived in Whisper Lake for nearly two decades, talk about the tight-knit lake community’s antics but had always assumed he’d exaggerated.
After being a Whisper Lake resident for less than a month Grady now knew there was no exaggeration involved. Over the past two weeks, he’d become the target of the Needlepoint Mafia, a knitting club run by three matchmaking dons who had set their sights on setting him up. Their “meet-cutes” were starting to interfere with his job and sanity.
When his brother’s soon-to-be ex-wife proposes a bait-n-switch dating situation that takes the heat off the mafioso cupids who are firing arrows at him on the daily, he decides it’s an offer he can’t refuse.
After Liv’s fiancé broke off their engagement six months ago, she had to cancel her venue, caterer, DJ, and florist. Bridgette decided to take advantage of the fact that all of those vendors had a sudden opening and booked them all for herself. She’d even purchased Liv’s wedding dress off of eBay.
Liv had planned to attend the nuptials on the solo tip but when the chance to bring an unexpected plus one presents itself, she figures, she might as well bring a date to her own wedding.
Police officer Grady Caldwell had never lived in a small town. He’d heard his older brother, who had lived in Whisper Lake for nearly two decades, talk about the tight-knit lake community’s antics but had always assumed he’d exaggerated.
After being a Whisper Lake resident for less than a month Grady now knew there was no exaggeration involved. Over the past two weeks, he’d become the target of the Needlepoint Mafia, a knitting club run by three matchmaking dons who had set their sights on setting him up. Their “meet-cutes” were starting to interfere with his job and sanity.
When his brother’s soon-to-be ex-wife proposes a bait-n-switch dating situation that takes the heat off the mafioso cupids who are firing arrows at him on the daily, he decides it’s an offer he can’t refuse.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2022
129 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Shawn
133 books1,848 followersNEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Melanie Shawn writes HEAs filled with sweet and sassy heroines, cinnamon roll alphas, casts of supportive *cough: meddling* friends and family who put the fun in funny, toe-curling combustible heat, and sugary sweet “aww” moments that will have your hearts and e-readers melting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 28, 2022
I can’t imagine how hard it was for Liv that her fiancé left her because he didn’t want her to stay with her grandfather who had dementia, then her spiteful cousin took all her reservations she had made for her wedding, including her wedding dress, and then Liv went to the wedding! It really helps when you have such good friends from when you were younger and had visited with Lviv’s grandparents. I laughed at how Grady and Liv met, it was unique! Grady was an officer, but in Liv’s imagination he was one of her hero characters in the books she wrote. I loved that Grady was fascinated with Liv too. Grady was such a great guy, and he was so helpful with his family. This is such a romantic book that I loved. I strongly encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
August 23, 2022
I can’t be certain, but based upon the About the Author section at the end of this book which no longer mentions both sisters Melanie and Shawna who originally comprised the writing duo with the pen name Melanie Shawn but only Melanie Shawn in the singular and the fact that one of them (I’ll assume Shawna) released a book, Heartbreak and Cupcakes under the pen name Shawna Renae the sisters are at least temporarily no longer writing together. Hopefully it was an amicable separation. Regardless, I can say that neither Heartbreak and Cupcakes nor this novella Where You Go, have suffered from their individual efforts.
Sometimes I feel a novella is the perfect length for a contemporary romance. There have been times I felt the author dragged out the story just to meet the required number of words to qualify as a full-length book versus a short story or novella. Just get to the happily ever after for Pete’s sake! This was one novella that even though it was slightly longer than usual for the category, I really would have liked to see go a bit longer. I just enjoyed this story so much I really didn’t want to see it end.
If you’ve read the blurb and your familiar with contemporary romances you already pretty much know how this story goes. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love but a failure to communicate or some other reason gives them something to overcome before they can live happily ever after. There is plenty of laughable moments, happy feels, some hot sex and just a little angst in this story because of course both Olivia and Grady are afraid to express their true feelings until the end of the story.
I loved the two main protagonists Olivia or Liv and Grady, two very good people trying to do the best they can taking care of those they love. Olivia is trying to be the primary care giver for her grandfather who suffers from Alzheimer’s and is quickly spiraling downward. Paying for his medical bills and care is keeping her broke and distracting her from finishing the final book in her historical romance series. Grady is trying to take care of his mother who is in an assisted living home due to an assortment of illnesses and helping his sister-in-law Chrissy and her children who were abandoned by his older brother. Their attraction in a very funny meet-cute is immediate and overwhelming. Even the secondary characters Olivia’s BFF Rasha and childhood friend Chrissy who also happens to be the female protagonist for the next book Stay With You were quality additions to the story. Grady’s mom was a sweetheart as a caring mom and Olivia’s biggest fan.
In a nutshell thanks to Chrissy, Grady accompanies Liv to her cousin’s wedding. They have a wonderful time during and after the wedding reception. But after a night of orgasmic love-making neither is ready to tell the other they want more than a one-night stand. Liv’s home is in nearby Chicago where she takes care of her grandfather and useless mother. Grady’s home is in Whisper Lake where he moved to take care of his mother and sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. Will they take the leap of faith and express their feelings? How will a relationship work when they live hours apart?
It has been a long while since I read the original Whisper Falls series which was a spinoff of the Crossroads series. The town is still very much a reproduction of a fairytale kingdom with the castle as the anchor. Many of the heroines from those earlier books were mentioned in this story but only Jessa and Mrs. Chen head of the Needlepoint Mafia make actual appearances in this story. Great novella. The only thing that would have made it better is if the author had given us Bridgette, Jordan and Olivia’s mother getting what was coming to them. I’m looking forward to Chrissy’s story and hoping to see more of Grady and Liv in it.
Sometimes I feel a novella is the perfect length for a contemporary romance. There have been times I felt the author dragged out the story just to meet the required number of words to qualify as a full-length book versus a short story or novella. Just get to the happily ever after for Pete’s sake! This was one novella that even though it was slightly longer than usual for the category, I really would have liked to see go a bit longer. I just enjoyed this story so much I really didn’t want to see it end.
If you’ve read the blurb and your familiar with contemporary romances you already pretty much know how this story goes. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love but a failure to communicate or some other reason gives them something to overcome before they can live happily ever after. There is plenty of laughable moments, happy feels, some hot sex and just a little angst in this story because of course both Olivia and Grady are afraid to express their true feelings until the end of the story.
I loved the two main protagonists Olivia or Liv and Grady, two very good people trying to do the best they can taking care of those they love. Olivia is trying to be the primary care giver for her grandfather who suffers from Alzheimer’s and is quickly spiraling downward. Paying for his medical bills and care is keeping her broke and distracting her from finishing the final book in her historical romance series. Grady is trying to take care of his mother who is in an assisted living home due to an assortment of illnesses and helping his sister-in-law Chrissy and her children who were abandoned by his older brother. Their attraction in a very funny meet-cute is immediate and overwhelming. Even the secondary characters Olivia’s BFF Rasha and childhood friend Chrissy who also happens to be the female protagonist for the next book Stay With You were quality additions to the story. Grady’s mom was a sweetheart as a caring mom and Olivia’s biggest fan.
In a nutshell thanks to Chrissy, Grady accompanies Liv to her cousin’s wedding. They have a wonderful time during and after the wedding reception. But after a night of orgasmic love-making neither is ready to tell the other they want more than a one-night stand. Liv’s home is in nearby Chicago where she takes care of her grandfather and useless mother. Grady’s home is in Whisper Lake where he moved to take care of his mother and sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. Will they take the leap of faith and express their feelings? How will a relationship work when they live hours apart?
It has been a long while since I read the original Whisper Falls series which was a spinoff of the Crossroads series. The town is still very much a reproduction of a fairytale kingdom with the castle as the anchor. Many of the heroines from those earlier books were mentioned in this story but only Jessa and Mrs. Chen head of the Needlepoint Mafia make actual appearances in this story. Great novella. The only thing that would have made it better is if the author had given us Bridgette, Jordan and Olivia’s mother getting what was coming to them. I’m looking forward to Chrissy’s story and hoping to see more of Grady and Liv in it.
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August 29, 2022
I’m so excited that we’re back in Whisper Lake with our friends and of course the Needlepoint Mafia. What a wonderful story and couple. I totally loved their ‘epic meet cute’ in Olive’s (Liv’s) words and with Officernotastripper. So many great things to love about this book. From their ‘meet cute’ to Chrissy volunteering Grady to help Liv out and her humming the theme of songs to tv series and I totally fell for Grady’s mom and her enthusiasm for life and everything that encompasses and thought it was very touching when Liv shared about who in her current work in progress gets the HEA and the additional news and you could just feel her giddiness in being let in on such a big secret. Personally, I feel like every Melanie Shawn book deserves more than five stars especially this one. It was great watching these two going from fake-dating or was it really fake-dating to what is going to happen next especially when it's time for her to leave and go back home to take care of her grandpa. I also really liked that that she was a writer who is writing a historical romance who’s in the middle of a fake-dating romance so to speak. It was perfect with the way this ended especially with Rasha giving her vote of approval and Grady stepping up to help Liv when reality hit. I especially loved the ending for these two especially when he shows up straight out of a movie scene. I’m definitely looking forward to Chrissy’s book and she more than deserves an HEA on steroids.
August 24, 2022
We are back in Whisper Lake with another great story about finding love when you least expect it.
Grady Caldwell ,a former LAPD detective, moved to Whisper Lake to be close to his Mom who lives in a nursing home and to help his soon to be ex-sister-in-law and her four kids since his sleazy brother left them to fend for themselves.
Now a cop in the quiet town, he’s the target of the Needlepoint Mafia (older ladies who have become matchmakers).
When he’s advised that a car that has been stolen is now at the local inn, he’s sent to investigate. He never expected to be hit with lust and enchanted by the “thief”, Olive St Claire. Or so he thinks she’s a thief.
She too is shaken by lust, but she’s only in town for the wedding of her cousin and then will leave. The cousin that once Olive cancelled her wedding and venue, took advantage of the cancellations and planned her wedding .
Instead of going solo to the wedding, Ollive’s friend decides that Grady and Olive should fake a relationship and go together.
But did either really feel it to be fake?
This was another sweet, touching story about family, and finding true love when you least expect it. The characters where endearing as was the story.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Grady Caldwell ,a former LAPD detective, moved to Whisper Lake to be close to his Mom who lives in a nursing home and to help his soon to be ex-sister-in-law and her four kids since his sleazy brother left them to fend for themselves.
Now a cop in the quiet town, he’s the target of the Needlepoint Mafia (older ladies who have become matchmakers).
When he’s advised that a car that has been stolen is now at the local inn, he’s sent to investigate. He never expected to be hit with lust and enchanted by the “thief”, Olive St Claire. Or so he thinks she’s a thief.
She too is shaken by lust, but she’s only in town for the wedding of her cousin and then will leave. The cousin that once Olive cancelled her wedding and venue, took advantage of the cancellations and planned her wedding .
Instead of going solo to the wedding, Ollive’s friend decides that Grady and Olive should fake a relationship and go together.
But did either really feel it to be fake?
This was another sweet, touching story about family, and finding true love when you least expect it. The characters where endearing as was the story.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
August 23, 2022
Olive St Claire was headed back to Whisper Lake to attend her cousin’s wedding, which was her original wedding date. Liv has experienced an unhappy life the past six months dealing with a broken engagement, a cancelled wedding, and having to move in and take care of her grandfather, who has memory issues. With no real support system, her life has been challenging. Liv planned on attending the wedding solo but with a chance meeting of a local policeman, Grady Caldwell, seeing an old friend from her childhood, plus running into her “ex” the night before the wedding, makes for a fun adventure for everyone. Several characters from others series appear in the storyline plus many sparks fly and hot encounters makes the book a fun read! Loved it!
August 30, 2022
This was a great book by Melanie Shawn! This novella was a god length. I'm not usually a fan of Novellas because I find they are too short and often times rushed but in this case it was slightly longer than the typical novella style and it was perfect. Although it was so good I wouldn't complain if this book was longer.
This book had one of my favorite tropes which is fake relationship. Grady and Olive meet by chance and through a series of events end up attending her cousin's wedding together and pretending they are together.
The fact that her cousin stole her wedding after she called it off (date, venue and plans) can explain why Olive might have preferred not going to the wedding solo.
I loved the banter and chemistry between Grady and Olive. These two were exactly who the other person needed.
This was a sweet short read set in a small town that provided glimpses of the characters from previous books by this author. It's always great to see a small glimpse into how the lives of the characters in the previous books you read turned out.
This book had one of my favorite tropes which is fake relationship. Grady and Olive meet by chance and through a series of events end up attending her cousin's wedding together and pretending they are together.
The fact that her cousin stole her wedding after she called it off (date, venue and plans) can explain why Olive might have preferred not going to the wedding solo.
I loved the banter and chemistry between Grady and Olive. These two were exactly who the other person needed.
This was a sweet short read set in a small town that provided glimpses of the characters from previous books by this author. It's always great to see a small glimpse into how the lives of the characters in the previous books you read turned out.
August 27, 2022
Olive St. Claire is in Whisper Lake to attend her wedding…. well technically her cousins wedding, but it was supposed to be her wedding and when it was called off, her cousin took advantage of all the openings, and booked everything for herself including buying the same dress.
Police officer Grady Caldwell has recently moved to Whisper Lake to be there for his Mom and nieces and nephew, and is the current target of matchmaking of the Needlepoint mafia. When his sister in law suggests a fake relation to get the matchmaking ladies off his back, he is all in. Especially when the fake relation is with Liv, who he had a very awkward funny ‘meet-cute’ and the attraction he feels for her is very real.
This is an adorable read. I just couldn’t put it down, was hooked from the time Liv and Grady meet. It is a short read but packs the power of a full length novel. It is a sweet, cute and fun read with some amazing chemistry and a swoon worthy hero.
Police officer Grady Caldwell has recently moved to Whisper Lake to be there for his Mom and nieces and nephew, and is the current target of matchmaking of the Needlepoint mafia. When his sister in law suggests a fake relation to get the matchmaking ladies off his back, he is all in. Especially when the fake relation is with Liv, who he had a very awkward funny ‘meet-cute’ and the attraction he feels for her is very real.
This is an adorable read. I just couldn’t put it down, was hooked from the time Liv and Grady meet. It is a short read but packs the power of a full length novel. It is a sweet, cute and fun read with some amazing chemistry and a swoon worthy hero.
August 28, 2022
After Liv's wedding was cancelled, her cousin took advantage of the cancelled venues and booked them for herself. To make matters even worse, she even bought Liv's wedding gown off of Ebay. Liv feels an obligation to go even though Bridgette stole what should have been her wedding.
Grady moved to Whisper Lake to help out with his mom and sister-in-law after his brother abandoned them and his kids and moved out of the country. What starts as a date to a wedding and then a fake long distance relationship soon takes a life of its own.
I loved this novella. This was one of the best meet cutes I have ever read. The chemistry between the two characters also amazing. Between the Needlepoint Mafia up to their old antics of matchmaking and the introduction of new characters in Whisper Lake I am impatiently waiting for the next in the series.
Grady moved to Whisper Lake to help out with his mom and sister-in-law after his brother abandoned them and his kids and moved out of the country. What starts as a date to a wedding and then a fake long distance relationship soon takes a life of its own.
I loved this novella. This was one of the best meet cutes I have ever read. The chemistry between the two characters also amazing. Between the Needlepoint Mafia up to their old antics of matchmaking and the introduction of new characters in Whisper Lake I am impatiently waiting for the next in the series.
August 25, 2022
Super cute novella by Melanie Shawn. Liv goes to Whisper Lake for her cousins wedding, that is on the same day and location of Liv’s canceled wedding. After Livs ex shows up at the rehearsal dinner with a date Livs old friend Chrissy comes up with the idea of her former brother in law being her fake boyfriend. Enter Grady, Grady moved to Whisper Lake a few months prior to be closer to her mom and sister in law niece and nephews after his brother left his family high and dry. This was such a cute book.
August 25, 2022
Olive and Grady are so cute together. We travel back to whisper lake for this couple HEA. I love whisper lake and the needlepoint mafia ladies are hilarious. Olive is a romance author that ended a 10 year relationship but gets to go to her wedding all the same thanks to her cousin hijacking all her vendors. Grady the newest member of the police department. The chance meeting between the two end with a fake relationship. Now if only Grady could figure out how to change that to a real one. Loved these two.
August 25, 2022
Where You Go is a sweet heartfelt romance. I wasn't sure where the authors were going to go with this. I was afraid the story was going to focus too much in the cousin. I'm so glad the authors choose to focus on Grady and Olive. Their meet cute was perfect for this couple. They connected so well together. In and out of the bedroom.
I love that she was a writer! It makes the story so much more!
It was a short read but really leaves you wanting more.
I received a copy of the book for a honest review.
I love that she was a writer! It makes the story so much more!
It was a short read but really leaves you wanting more.
I received a copy of the book for a honest review.
August 25, 2022
I was so excited to return to Whisper Lake! I loved reading the original 4 books in the series and this was an excellent addition. I was so engrossed in the story that I finished it in literally just a couple of hours. I really appreciated the fact that the author got straight to the point and there was no additional drama with Liv's ex. Nor was there any self-sabotage between the main characters. It was sweet, funny, and had a great ending. I'm also thrilled that Chrissy's story is coming soon! Great book, great series, amazing author.
August 30, 2022
Loved returning to Whisper Lake and the Needlepoint Mafia! It takes a really strong person to attend a wedding that they planned from start to finish and when their engagement ended, their cousin picked up all the pieces – including the wedding dress! Add your ex-fiancé and his date attending the wedding and how can things get worse? Lucky for Liv St. Claire, her old friend Chrissy suggests her brother-in-law attend as Liv’s date. If only the night before, after a bottle of wine, he arrested her and she thought he was a stripper! Great, fun mega-novella!
August 24, 2022
This book was a super spectacular fake relationship turned to soul mates!! Romance write Olive meets hot cop Grady in a meet cute romance way!! You will laugh, swoon and fall in love with this couple!! I could not put this book down once I started!! You will enjoy smoking hot love scenes from this couple and drama from start to finish!! Many hurdles to cross to get their HEA but you will enjoy every minute of this book!! Go grab a copy and curl up some where and enjoy this story in the Whisper Lake series!!
August 24, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
It's a special love story
that is a feel-good, moving,
& sexy romance.
Liv & Grady, meet under the funniest circumstances.
Their connection is undeniable.
You will love Liv & Grady!
And enjoy the great characters
& small town charm.
I can't wait Chrissy's book!
A Must Read!!
It's a special love story
that is a feel-good, moving,
& sexy romance.
Liv & Grady, meet under the funniest circumstances.
Their connection is undeniable.
You will love Liv & Grady!
And enjoy the great characters
& small town charm.
I can't wait Chrissy's book!
A Must Read!!
August 25, 2022
Oh my heart! I loved this! I didn’t want it to end. I want my own Grady. I love this man, and Livs reaction to him. Their chemistry is off the charts. Livs and Grady’s back stories are heartbreaking, Liv looking after her grandad and surviving a bad break up and Grady stepping up for his family when his brother leaves. I loved the fact he read romance novels to his mom.
Brilliant from start to finish.
Brilliant from start to finish.
August 30, 2022
Liv and Grady will have you swooning HARD! This is just a very enjoyable, fun, delightful (mega-) novella that will leave you with all the warm and fuzzy feelings. The sparks are flying off the pages. I was hooked from beginning to end and I still can't let it go. This story just made me happy and I loved everything about it!
August 27, 2022
This book was a super spectacular fake relationship turned to soul mates!! Romance writer Olive meets hot cop Grady in a meet cute romance way!! You will laugh, swoon and fall in love with this couple!! I could not put this book down once I started!! You will enjoy smoking hot love scenes from this couple and drama from start to finish!! Many hurdles to cross to get their HEA but you will enjoy every minute of this book!! Go grab a copy and curl up some where and enjoy this story in the Whisper Lake series!!
August 29, 2022
Olive and Grady's story was adorable from the beginning. You could tell as soon as they met that sparks would fly. From Olive's bridezilla cousin, meeting up with an old friend who happens to be Grady's sister in law and the "mafia" of Whisper Lake, it was a great story - I wish it was longer is my only complaint!!
August 30, 2022
Olive and Grady are so cute together and I just LOVED their initial meeting. Both of them are in Whisper Lake for obligations but I love how the backstory to both of them is woven throughout the story. I'm so happy that they got their HEA and can't wait to see more of them in other books.
August 27, 2022
I am so in love with this book. Olive and Grady were perfect for each other. Their story was sweet, cute and funny. I loved the story line and I love this small town. It is filled with fun, wonderful and sometimes meddling people! It was just one of those books that once you pick it up you will not be able to put it down. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 27, 2022
I LOVED Liv and Grady’s story! They shared a love for family who needed them. Grady was amazing at being a brother when he didn’t need to be. Liv was trying to care for her grandfather with Alzheimer’s. When Liv needed a date to help her through the wedding her cousin basically absorbed, Grady saved the day. The meet cute was epic!
August 27, 2022
Highly entertaining, heartwarming, sweetly sexy, laugh out loud fun and engaging adventure filled with lots of witty banter, interesting charters and thrilling passion... a page-turner from beginning to end. Loved this emotionally thrilling roller-coaster journey that was so hard to put down.
January 1, 2023
Great to be back at Whisper Lake. Grady and Liv were love at first sight and what a first sight meeting! Liv was struggling with an unexpectedly ending to a long term relationship. She was also caring for her grandfather who had Alzheimer’s. Visiting Whisper Lake for a wedding led to “hot cop” and some pretty spectacular moments. Another great addition to this series.
June 9, 2023
Life is not a Romance Novel
Olive St. Claire is a romance novelist.
She gets in her grandfather's '57 Chevy Bel Air and drives about a four-hour trip to Whisper Lake, but desperate times call for desperate measures. This car was his pride and joy, spending years restoring and upgrading it. I am imaging this car with a two-tone paint job; a bright red and white and shiny chrome. Olive is enjoying driving through the countryside thinking what a difference from the crowded city she just left some hours ago. She gazed at the rolling green pastures, trees blowing in the wind, bright blue skies that were filled with big fluffy clouds that looked like cotton.
This book had so many funny parts to it other than Olive's cousin moving in and taking over where she left off. She should have cut Bridgette out of the flock for stealing her ex and the whole wedding Olive had planned. And then she didn't even marry Jordan and he brings along a friend (who ever that was) and "WHO IN THE HELL IS STEW?" Where did he come from? All of this happened in six months.
I love the sense of humor Rasha has when it comes to Olive. "You're going to that effing wedding, aren't you?" Why would she subject yourself to attending something like that - straight out of horror film. Even her Aunt Faye and Uncle Gene were somewhat embarrassed by the situation. You would have thought they would have stepped in and talked her out of taking over Olive's wedding and then having the gall to buy her wedding dress on top of it. "Some nerve!"
But things start to heat up when a sexy cop shows up at the B&B Olive was staying at to arrest her for driving a stolen vehicle! "Officer, you're not a stripper? This is a misunderstanding!" And this is where everything starts with Grady and Olive. She didn't put anything past Rasha; she was going to make sure Olive got what she should have had, if she came to her anti-bachelorette party. But she was a no-show!
Grady Caldwell - a man in his thirties and single and Whisper Lake's finest. He has the look of a Greek Gladiator with a chiseled face, light brown hair, something Olive could see herself funny her fingers through, a strong jaw that looked like it could have been carved out of stone and was peppered with stubble that screamed sexy Adonis. His lips reminded Olive of cotton candy that would melt in her mouth.
Grady is back in uniform patrolling a sleepy five-thousand resident town that has put itself on the map - something out of the fairytales. He spent over a decade working his way up to detective in the major crimes division of the LAPD. He was next in line to be promoted to lieutenant when he resigned and moved half-way across the country to a town with a population smaller than his first post. His mother Sylvia Caldwell was the reason for his major life change, and she was worth it.
Living in Whisper Lake felt like he moved to another planet. This was a small town you could get anywhere in less than ten minutes. Another thing about being new in a small town was the shenanigans and all of those busy bodies trying to play matchmaker. Grady didn't know what to make of it when he a call at the station there is someone prowling around someone's property only for it to be a "false alarm" and finds himself staring at an elderly woman in nothing but a towel.
Getting arrested by an "Officer Not a Stripper," thinking that getting arrested for having a stolen car and then trying to bribe him couldn't get any worse. After approaching her about the car, he comes back to the room stating: "Miss St. Claire, I ran your information and you do have a bench warrant in Chicago for unpaid parking tickets. Okay! She could be spending the night in the slammer.
This is all I am going to let you in on Grady and Olive, their families, and any disfunction that's written in the story. Things move pretty fast in the few months they have known each other. Happy reading.
Olive St. Claire is a romance novelist.
She gets in her grandfather's '57 Chevy Bel Air and drives about a four-hour trip to Whisper Lake, but desperate times call for desperate measures. This car was his pride and joy, spending years restoring and upgrading it. I am imaging this car with a two-tone paint job; a bright red and white and shiny chrome. Olive is enjoying driving through the countryside thinking what a difference from the crowded city she just left some hours ago. She gazed at the rolling green pastures, trees blowing in the wind, bright blue skies that were filled with big fluffy clouds that looked like cotton.
This book had so many funny parts to it other than Olive's cousin moving in and taking over where she left off. She should have cut Bridgette out of the flock for stealing her ex and the whole wedding Olive had planned. And then she didn't even marry Jordan and he brings along a friend (who ever that was) and "WHO IN THE HELL IS STEW?" Where did he come from? All of this happened in six months.
I love the sense of humor Rasha has when it comes to Olive. "You're going to that effing wedding, aren't you?" Why would she subject yourself to attending something like that - straight out of horror film. Even her Aunt Faye and Uncle Gene were somewhat embarrassed by the situation. You would have thought they would have stepped in and talked her out of taking over Olive's wedding and then having the gall to buy her wedding dress on top of it. "Some nerve!"
But things start to heat up when a sexy cop shows up at the B&B Olive was staying at to arrest her for driving a stolen vehicle! "Officer, you're not a stripper? This is a misunderstanding!" And this is where everything starts with Grady and Olive. She didn't put anything past Rasha; she was going to make sure Olive got what she should have had, if she came to her anti-bachelorette party. But she was a no-show!
Grady Caldwell - a man in his thirties and single and Whisper Lake's finest. He has the look of a Greek Gladiator with a chiseled face, light brown hair, something Olive could see herself funny her fingers through, a strong jaw that looked like it could have been carved out of stone and was peppered with stubble that screamed sexy Adonis. His lips reminded Olive of cotton candy that would melt in her mouth.
Grady is back in uniform patrolling a sleepy five-thousand resident town that has put itself on the map - something out of the fairytales. He spent over a decade working his way up to detective in the major crimes division of the LAPD. He was next in line to be promoted to lieutenant when he resigned and moved half-way across the country to a town with a population smaller than his first post. His mother Sylvia Caldwell was the reason for his major life change, and she was worth it.
Living in Whisper Lake felt like he moved to another planet. This was a small town you could get anywhere in less than ten minutes. Another thing about being new in a small town was the shenanigans and all of those busy bodies trying to play matchmaker. Grady didn't know what to make of it when he a call at the station there is someone prowling around someone's property only for it to be a "false alarm" and finds himself staring at an elderly woman in nothing but a towel.
Getting arrested by an "Officer Not a Stripper," thinking that getting arrested for having a stolen car and then trying to bribe him couldn't get any worse. After approaching her about the car, he comes back to the room stating: "Miss St. Claire, I ran your information and you do have a bench warrant in Chicago for unpaid parking tickets. Okay! She could be spending the night in the slammer.
This is all I am going to let you in on Grady and Olive, their families, and any disfunction that's written in the story. Things move pretty fast in the few months they have known each other. Happy reading.
August 31, 2022
I loved Olive and Grady’s story in Where You Go by Melanie Shawn, book 4.5 in the Whisper Lake Romance series. Olive St. Clair loved the summers she spent as a child at her grandparent’s cabin in Whisper Lake, making lifelong friends. Now an adult, romance writer Olive has had her life upended during the past six months. Her fiancé left her because he didn’t want her to move in with her grandfather, to care for him after his dementia diagnosis, causing her to cancel her wedding. Then her spiteful cousin took advantage of the situation; all of the reservations Liv had made for her wedding, same date, same venue, same caterer, photographer, florist, and even buying Liv’s dress on eBay. With no real support system, her life has been challenging, to say the least. On what was her original wedding date, Liv is heading to Whisper Lake to attend the wedding, solo. A chance meeting of a local policeman, Grady Caldwell, seeing an old friend from her childhood, plus running into her “ex” the night before the wedding, makes for a fun adventure for everyone. The meet-cute between Grady and Liv was unusual and hilarious. Grady was checking on the driver of a car reported stolen while Liv’s imagination ran wild, visualizing him as one of the hero characters she created in the books she wrote. When Liv’s ex appears at the rehearsal dinner with a date, Liv’s old friend Chrissy comes up with the idea of her former brother in law being her fake boyfriend. Enter Grady, once again. Grady moved to Whisper Lake a few months earlier to be closer to his mom and sister-in-law, niece and nephews, after his brother left his family high and dry. What started as fake was soon becoming all too real. The attraction between Liv and Grady was magnetic and the chemistry was sizzling as well as off the charts. With the two of them living a fair distance apart, needing to live near family members, they had their work cut out for them as they figure out how to be together, in the same city, and the same house.
Melanie Shawn wrote a wonderfully moving story filled with sexual chemistry, clever dialogue, and endearing characters that is not to be missed. I highly recommend Where You Go to other readers and look forward to the next story in the Whisper Lake series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Melanie Shawn wrote a wonderfully moving story filled with sexual chemistry, clever dialogue, and endearing characters that is not to be missed. I highly recommend Where You Go to other readers and look forward to the next story in the Whisper Lake series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
September 21, 2022
Even when you want to scream, at life’s way of throwing, the worst kind of people in your path, and yet, you keep smiling. Not to mention you even attend your canceled-then-hijacked, envied wedding event, location, and your wedding dress included, which she bought off eBay. You do it, even if it is your, own spoiled cousin's wedding.
Liv had picked Whisper Lake because her, granddad had a writing cabin there, and in the summers she would go there, to be with her grandparents. She loved it there. She spent endless hours, in the library reading. She stopped going when she was fourteen, when her grandma passed, her granddad stopped going, too. The castle and all its many, stories had spurred on Liv’s own, romance writing career. She wanted, to hold her wedding there because she, felt the closest, to her grandma there.
Going to this wedding, solo is going, to be hard. Especially, when, Liv knows she is leaving behind so, many struggles in order, to go. Her granddad, has the early onset, of Alzheimer’s disease. The nurse is doing her best, but her granddad is getting more, and more difficult, to control. Not to mention, her mom, who doesn't want to be called ‘mom.’ Her mother is no help, at all, she is more trouble than, she is worth.
When Liv arrives she feels in awe of the town, and all the changes. Once she is checked in she has time to relax, and write since she has the final book, in her romance series, to finish. Before you know it, she had downed, a whole bottle, of Merlot. In most cases, that would be fine, but when her granddad, earlier in the day, reported his car missing, it now creates a problem, for her.
Especially, when she ass-umes the officer that knocks, at her door at midnight, is a sexy stripper cop. And, well with her friend, Rasha’s sense of humor, it’s possible. Just not this night. Which is bad, and good. Bad because, he is a real cop, and he took her in. Good, because they are both attracted, to one another, leaving them open, to possibilities.
This is a really good book, about two people who love their families. Unfortunately, each has family members that are ill, and their hearts ache, for them. They also have those bottom feeders, that take from their families, depleting them of love, money, time, and energy. These two characters love each other, against the odds, and they find a way to make it work.
Liv had picked Whisper Lake because her, granddad had a writing cabin there, and in the summers she would go there, to be with her grandparents. She loved it there. She spent endless hours, in the library reading. She stopped going when she was fourteen, when her grandma passed, her granddad stopped going, too. The castle and all its many, stories had spurred on Liv’s own, romance writing career. She wanted, to hold her wedding there because she, felt the closest, to her grandma there.
Going to this wedding, solo is going, to be hard. Especially, when, Liv knows she is leaving behind so, many struggles in order, to go. Her granddad, has the early onset, of Alzheimer’s disease. The nurse is doing her best, but her granddad is getting more, and more difficult, to control. Not to mention, her mom, who doesn't want to be called ‘mom.’ Her mother is no help, at all, she is more trouble than, she is worth.
When Liv arrives she feels in awe of the town, and all the changes. Once she is checked in she has time to relax, and write since she has the final book, in her romance series, to finish. Before you know it, she had downed, a whole bottle, of Merlot. In most cases, that would be fine, but when her granddad, earlier in the day, reported his car missing, it now creates a problem, for her.
Especially, when she ass-umes the officer that knocks, at her door at midnight, is a sexy stripper cop. And, well with her friend, Rasha’s sense of humor, it’s possible. Just not this night. Which is bad, and good. Bad because, he is a real cop, and he took her in. Good, because they are both attracted, to one another, leaving them open, to possibilities.
This is a really good book, about two people who love their families. Unfortunately, each has family members that are ill, and their hearts ache, for them. They also have those bottom feeders, that take from their families, depleting them of love, money, time, and energy. These two characters love each other, against the odds, and they find a way to make it work.
June 6, 2023
Olive and Grady
Olive was on her way to Whisper Lake, where her cousin was getting married. Only Rasha, her best friend, didn't think it was a good idea. After all, her cousin had shaghide not only her wedding day but her wedding venue, caterer, and everything else, including her wedding dress, when Jordan had called off the wedding because Liv refused to put her grandad in a nursing home! She was all checked into the Princess and the Pea B & B, and had just finished the last drop of the bottle of wine when there was a loud knock at her door. 😳 Who on earth could be knocking on her door at midnight? Only one way to find out is to answer the door. Imagine her surprise when there's a policeman at her door. Her first thought was that Rasha had ordered her a hot stripper, but man, this guy was staying in character! Then he informed her that the car she was driving was reported as stolen and she had to go with him to the police station. She tried to explain it was her grandad's, and she was legally responsible for him and how he has alzeheimers and how she had not only told him but also left him a note. When he took her back to her room, she thought about inviting him in but knew that would be a mistake. The next day, what she did regret was not getting his number or, for that matter, his name! Now, she had to fill her day before the rehearsal dinner. When she goes to the diner, she gets a pleasant surprise. Her waitress is none other than a woman she hadn't seen in 20 years, Chrissy! As they are talking, Chrissy tells her she can meet her at Lanterns at 6pm, that way, Liv isn't alone. After their first drink, what the hay?! What is her ex doing there, with a +1?? Then Chrissy's "brother" shows up. Guess who it is? Will Liv have a good time at the wedding that should have been hers? If so, why? How does she shock, Grady? Only one way to find out is to read this great story by Melanie Shawn. You won't be disappointed!
Olive was on her way to Whisper Lake, where her cousin was getting married. Only Rasha, her best friend, didn't think it was a good idea. After all, her cousin had shaghide not only her wedding day but her wedding venue, caterer, and everything else, including her wedding dress, when Jordan had called off the wedding because Liv refused to put her grandad in a nursing home! She was all checked into the Princess and the Pea B & B, and had just finished the last drop of the bottle of wine when there was a loud knock at her door. 😳 Who on earth could be knocking on her door at midnight? Only one way to find out is to answer the door. Imagine her surprise when there's a policeman at her door. Her first thought was that Rasha had ordered her a hot stripper, but man, this guy was staying in character! Then he informed her that the car she was driving was reported as stolen and she had to go with him to the police station. She tried to explain it was her grandad's, and she was legally responsible for him and how he has alzeheimers and how she had not only told him but also left him a note. When he took her back to her room, she thought about inviting him in but knew that would be a mistake. The next day, what she did regret was not getting his number or, for that matter, his name! Now, she had to fill her day before the rehearsal dinner. When she goes to the diner, she gets a pleasant surprise. Her waitress is none other than a woman she hadn't seen in 20 years, Chrissy! As they are talking, Chrissy tells her she can meet her at Lanterns at 6pm, that way, Liv isn't alone. After their first drink, what the hay?! What is her ex doing there, with a +1?? Then Chrissy's "brother" shows up. Guess who it is? Will Liv have a good time at the wedding that should have been hers? If so, why? How does she shock, Grady? Only one way to find out is to read this great story by Melanie Shawn. You won't be disappointed!
September 5, 2022
I enjoyed this read. It had fantastic characters and a great story line.
I love going back to Whisper Lake. A small, sweet town where everyone knows everyone and knows everything going on in town.
Olivia (Liv) is in town for her wedding, not wedding. Liv came to Whisper Lake this weekend to attend the wedding of her cousin. Problem is, this was supposed to be Liv’s wedding. Liv’s DJ, wedding venue, flowers, even Liv’s wedding gown. After her fiancé called off the wedding 6 months ago, Liv’s cousin Bridgette decided it would be a great idea to use all of Liv’s wedding cancellation ‘s for her own wedding. She even bought Liv’s wedding dress off eBay.
Grady is the newest member of the Whisper Lake police force. He moved to Whisper Lake to be closer and help care of his mom who is in an assisted living facility. After Grady’s brother took off leaving his family and mom high and dry, Grady was left to pay for his mom’s bills.
One night while out with his buddies, he ran into his sister-in-law Chrissy. Chrissy was friends with Liv. After Chrissy heard why Liv was in town and the whole situation behind it, she asked Grady if he would play fake boyfriend and be Liv’s plus one to Bridgette’s wedding. Grady was more than happy to oblige.
What starts out as a fake boyfriend and a date to a wedding Liv does not want to attend leads to so much more. One night of being in the presence of a beautiful woman named Olive is no where near enough for Grady. Fake boyfriend or not, he intends to find out more about Liv and to get under her skin like she has gotten under his.
This is a must read to get all the juicy details. Of course, there is a HEA and plenty of sexy time.
I love going back to Whisper Lake. A small, sweet town where everyone knows everyone and knows everything going on in town.
Olivia (Liv) is in town for her wedding, not wedding. Liv came to Whisper Lake this weekend to attend the wedding of her cousin. Problem is, this was supposed to be Liv’s wedding. Liv’s DJ, wedding venue, flowers, even Liv’s wedding gown. After her fiancé called off the wedding 6 months ago, Liv’s cousin Bridgette decided it would be a great idea to use all of Liv’s wedding cancellation ‘s for her own wedding. She even bought Liv’s wedding dress off eBay.
Grady is the newest member of the Whisper Lake police force. He moved to Whisper Lake to be closer and help care of his mom who is in an assisted living facility. After Grady’s brother took off leaving his family and mom high and dry, Grady was left to pay for his mom’s bills.
One night while out with his buddies, he ran into his sister-in-law Chrissy. Chrissy was friends with Liv. After Chrissy heard why Liv was in town and the whole situation behind it, she asked Grady if he would play fake boyfriend and be Liv’s plus one to Bridgette’s wedding. Grady was more than happy to oblige.
What starts out as a fake boyfriend and a date to a wedding Liv does not want to attend leads to so much more. One night of being in the presence of a beautiful woman named Olive is no where near enough for Grady. Fake boyfriend or not, he intends to find out more about Liv and to get under her skin like she has gotten under his.
This is a must read to get all the juicy details. Of course, there is a HEA and plenty of sexy time.
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