Series:
Sutton's Place (Book 4)
Was she too much…
or his perfect match?
Over-the-top Molly Cyrs hardly seems a match for bookish
Callan Avery. But when Molly suggests they pose as a couple to assuage
Stonefield's anxiety about its new male librarian, his pretend paramour is all
Callan can think about. Callan's looking for a family, though, and kids aren't
in Molly's story. Unless he can convince Molly that she's not “too much”…and
that to him, she's just enough!
Good opposites attract story. Callen is the new librarian
in Stonefield - the young, attractive, and single MALE librarian. Some older,
more conservative residents aren't sure they are comfortable with that difference.
Molly, a lifetime resident of the town, suggests that she and Callen pretend to
be a couple to calm their fears and give them a chance to get to know him.
Callen is skeptical but goes along. Neither expected the genuine feelings that
resulted from their fake relationship.
I loved Callen and Molly. Callen is a self-proclaimed
book nerd, a little shy and buttoned-up. He came to Stonefield looking for a
place to make a home and future. He doesn't know what to make of the bubbly,
mermaid-sweater-wearing, conversation-challenging Molly. Molly is a bit of a
wild child, thanks to her ADHD. She wasn't diagnosed until she was an adult,
which made her childhood challenging. Friends and family often despaired of her
over-the-top personality.
I loved watching the relationship between Molly and
Callen develop. Poor Callen was bewildered by his first conversation with her,
but her empathy over his concerns about his job made him feel better. Surprisingly,
her wild idea of a fake relationship proved not to be so off-the-wall. With
Molly holding his hand and introducing him around at Sutton's Pub, he already
saw a difference in attitudes.
Watching Molly and Callen together was great. Molly's outgoing
personality helped Callen settle in at Stonefield faster than he would have
been able to do so on his own. She understands his worry about not making it
through his probationary period after he's committed himself to settle there
and is determined to ease his way. I enjoyed how it didn't take long for Callen
to adjust to Molly's quirks and that he thought about her constantly. Not only
did they quickly become true friends, but the fake part of their relationship
also didn't last long.
I adored how Callen used his book-nerd research skills to
read up on ADHD so that he could be the kind of boyfriend Molly needed. She
spent her whole life with no one else, friends or family, making that effort. I
ached for Molly when her mom would make thoughtless, hurtful remarks about
Molly being "too much," and her friends would shake their heads at
her impulses. Callen's accepting Molly just as she is greatly impacted her. I smiled
at their movie-night scene and Callen's understanding. I loved seeing how
intent both were on helping each other. Callen
and Molly found themselves thinking about what it would be like to make their
relationship real.
Then Callen's comment about what he sees as his future
runs up against Molly's greatest fear, and their dreams of a life together fall
apart. I hurt for Callen, whose dreams of a family with Molly turned to ashes.
He wants Molly in his life but fears growing to resent her over this one issue.
Meanwhile, Molly's fear of her ADHD creating problems in a family setting keep
her from seeing a positive outcome. I liked how both of them got a wake-up call
from comments by friends. Callen realizes that he has gained family through his
relationship with Molly. And a statement from her friend Chelsea reminds Molly
that things are far different than they were when she was a child. The depth of emotion as they confessed their
fears and feelings for each other warmed my heart and made me believe in their
future success. The epilogue was great, confirming my belief, and providing a
few laughs, too.
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