Series: Lovelight

Synopsis:

A grumpy farmer and a no-nonsense social media influencer have another chance at love in this charming romantic comedy.

Evelyn St. James isn’t the kind of woman you forget. Beckett Porter certainly hasn’t. One incredible weekend in Maine, and he’s officially a man distracted. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings, but Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh. Her hand pressed flat against his chest. Her smiling mouth at his neck.

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is…confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon. When Evie disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally move on.

But Evie, who has been feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly dissatisfied with life online, is trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy: Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with.

Review:

In the Weeds was a second chance romance set in an adorable small town.  I fell in love with these characters in Lovelight Farms, and was so happy Beckett got his own story.  This opposites attract, slow burn, forced proximity warmed my heart.  And I was so happy to be back with these characters I adore.

I look at her and all I seem to do is want.

Beckett worked at Lovelight Farms, and when he was away at a conference had a two night stand with Evelyn St. James.  Evelyn was a social media influencer, who oversaw the contest in the previous book.  After their awkward moments together, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

“I want more,” I tell her— another confession— my hand slipping down between us to brush the soft skin just below her belly button. “I want everything.”

This story started out with flashbacks from the past that were steamy.  We got to see how Evelyn and Beckett met, and how easily they clicked.  It was effortless when they were around each other.  And then we jumped back into the present, and Evelyn had lost her way in the world.  When her bestie asked where she was last happy, and it was Lovelight Farms, Evelyn booked a trip back there.  And crossed paths that same day with Beckett.

I don’t want to be her friend. I want to be more. I want us to be the people we were when we were away from everyone else. I almost say it, biting down on the inside of my cheek to keep the thought to myself.

I adored Beckett.  He was the strong, yet silent type.  The one you could always count on.  He was loyal.  Trustworthy.  And had the biggest heart ever.  But he was also that man who walked into a room and just made you sigh out loud.  Plus with a gaggle of kittens crawling on him, it was impossible not to adore Bennett.  Yet with Evelyn back, Beckett had a standoffish attitude.  And I got it.  This woman left him without a word.  Twice.  And it felt like he was waiting for her to do it again.

But that’s the thing about happiness, I guess. You can show whatever you want to the world and not feel a lick of it inside yourself.

Evelyn felt like she could finally be herself with Beckett.  He wasn’t looking to use her fame, like so many had tried in the past.  So when she decided to take a break from social media, and found herself bunking with Bennett, I was so happy for her!  She was determined to find her happiness each day, and that thought resonated so deeply with me.  It took a little while, but when she started to open up to Beckett.  Their talks were beautiful and hopeful.

I don’t feel ready to leave this place yet. For the first time in a long time, I’m content standing still.

While both of them couldn’t stop thinking about the past, and how good they were together, in the present they made each other smile.  And they started to find that connection again.  Their moments together were heartfelt and steamy.  And just like the fist book, I adored the found family in this series.  Stella, Beckett and Layla loved one another so deeply.  I adored every single banter, squabble, and hard time they gave each other.  Because underneath was so much love.  They would do anything for the other.  So the moment in the field, I was a crying mess.

“Beckett,” I say, a little bit dazed. His name lingers in the space between us. We don’t talk about it, he’s right, but I thought that was what he wanted. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Not enough,” he says, his eyes intent on my face. “’Cause I still think about kissing you all the damn time.”

Family dinners and sisterly love, hilarious phone tree moments, cute kittens, small town drama, flashbacks that made me smile, a scene that left me terrified, a beautiful date under the stars and all the longing filled the pages.  Even though this story moved slower than the first it was impossible not to feel everything these characters did.  Yet I wasn’t the hugest fan of the conflict.  I’m super picky about miscommunication, and this one didn’t work that well for me.  Yet it ended with a happily for now that warmed my heart and I loved the grand gesture!

Maybe this is what happy is supposed to be. A person, a place. A single moment in time.

PS I still adore Stella’s calendar idea!