Series:
Love in the Valley (Book 1)
She was following the recipe but…
Maybe he was the something missing.
When Nick Reilly enters her cookie store, baker Zoe James
doesn't recognize the poor boy from school she used to sneak free cookies to.
But secret billionaire Nick remembers her kindness and offers his help when Zoe
is hit by a crisis. Suddenly, he's posing as her fiancé, baking treats and
falling for Zoe! Can Nick reveal who he is -- and convince Zoe they have the
right ingredients to create the relationship they both crave?
Sweet story with a bit of heat. All of her life, Zoe
wanted nothing more than to run her mom's cookie bakery, Auntie Jayne's Cookies.
She's recently purchased it, and it is all hers. As a single mom, Zoe's life is
taken up with her daughter Megan and the store. Her two attempts at
relationships failed, so she's pretty much written love off for the foreseeable
future. That changes when Nick Reilly returns to town.
Nick grew up poor and bullied before his family moved to
California when he was a junior in high school. He had a big crush on Zoe and
used to go to the cookie store whenever he had spare money. He's returned to
town after selling his company but keeps the details of his life under his hat.
He's tired of being seen as the poor kid who made good or someone's meal
ticket. It's almost a relief when neither Zoe nor anyone else recognizes him. I
loved Nick. He's a genuinely nice guy who doesn't flaunt his wealth. He's come
to Beaumont to exorcise the demons of his youth, make some better memories, and
then move on to figure out what he wants to do with the rest of his life.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Nick and Zoe
develop. She doesn't remember him, so she has no preconceived ideas about him.
This was important when she and Nick ran into each other at the wine bar that
night. I loved seeing them connect and how comfortable they were with each
other. It was sweet when he offered to walk her home and fortuitous because he
was with her when the fire department arrived at her house. I loved how Nick
stayed by her side and supported her then and the next day as she dealt with
all the issues. Seeing his support as she faced her mother's micromanaging was
especially heartwarming, though he didn't expect her to claim they were
engaged.
I loved seeing them spend time together. Zoe sees Nick
the man because she doesn't know his background or financial status. Though he
expects to leave town soon, he can't bring himself to leave as they get to know
each other. I liked how good he was with Zoe's daughter, Megan, who clearly
returned his affection. I especially enjoyed seeing how Nick's support greatly
improved Zoe's confidence. Zoe has often felt that she struggles for her
mother's approval for everything from her personal life to the cookie store. She
also tends to worry about what other people think, making her second guess
herself.
As time goes on, each realizes that their feelings are
growing. But Nick has no plans to stay in Beaumont, and Zoe's roots are deep in
its soil. When Zoe's jerk of an ex-husband spills the beans on Nick's identity
(and not in a nice way), Zoe is hurt and angered by what she sees as Nick's
lack of trust. I ached for them both as it drove a wedge between them. Both
have some trust and confidence issues to overcome, and I loved seeing how they
worked through them. The ending was sweet and emotional, and the epilogue was a
great wrap-up.
I loved the St. Louis area setting, with mentions of
things like the Katy Trail and the Blues hockey team. My husband and I have
been to several wineries in that area, so it all felt natural and familiar.
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