Amy Knupp

Luke is the last single dad standing in the single-dad group in Dragonfly Lake. Ironically, of the original six he was the only one who wanted to find a partner and get married. He didn’t have tragic, sad memories or residual anger and bitterness over past relationships. He and his ex Jessie get along fine; things just didn’t work out between them but she is in their six-year-old daughter Addie’s life as much as possible. Fate found “the one” for the other five guys: Knox and show more Quincy, Max and Harper, Ben and Emerson, Chance and Rowan, West and Presley and they’re all living their happily-ever-afters but Luke is still wishing that “someone special” would magically appear to complete his little family. Prospects don’t look promising, though.

Magnolia is a character we’ve known for a while, too: the spoiled rich girl, mean, thoughtless, selfish until she refused to bend to her father’s will and was disowned without a cent. Now she’s desperately trying to rebuild and rebrand and redeem herself in the eyes of the Dragonfly Lake residents. She’s made some progress but it’s slo-o-o-ow. Far too many people still remember the old Magnolia and they don’t like her.

But Fate is on the move again. Luke is a farmer and is trying to expand operations by renovating his barn into a special events location. Magnolia is trying to build her business as a special events planner. They’re thrown together to make West and Presley’s Christmas Eve wedding one of those special events. The first big event for Magnolia and the first one at all for Luke and his barn, so stakes are high for both of them. Problem is, Luke hates Magnolia. With a passion. They were close in high school, had the beginnings of a relationship they kept secret. Luke saw a different side of Mean Girl Magnolia and treasured it. Magnolia felt seen and valued and desired by Luke. But things happened that destroyed their relationship. Luke was devastated and couldn’t forgive Magnolia. She couldn’t believe he wouldn’t even give her a chance to explain her side of the story. But that’s how it was and how it’s continued to be for years. And now they’ve got to make nice and work together for their best friends. The more time they spend together the more apparent that old attraction becomes but there might be too much hurt and anger to ever get past.

There’s a lot going on in Single Wish and as always author Amy Knupp just rolls it all out so smoothly and skillfully that you will be enchanted from the first page to the last. There are deception and betrayal, old secrets that are revealed, misunderstandings and disappointments, bitterness and stubbornness all standing in the way of any possible reconciliation. But there is also so much tenderness, reawakening of old feelings and habits, heat, desire, yearning – and a very adorable six-year old to keep everyone on their toes. Knupp’s cast of characters is well-defined, interesting, ranging from sweet and loyal to hateful and controlling. All the single dads and their children, the ladies they love and the rest of the folks from Dragonfly Lake we know and mostly love are there. And don’t forget Esmerelda the llama and her antics.

I was lucky enough to receive both advanced reading and listening copies of Single Wish. Best of both worlds, especially with talented narrators Erin Mallon and Ryan West on hand to bring all of Dragonfly Lake to life right before your eyes and years, especially Luke and Magnolia. Mallon and West make the hurt and hesitation – and the hope – feel real. Pacing, emotion, all just right. Single Wish is sweet, swoony, silly – and perfect. Single Wish is a must-read, and if you haven’t already read the previous books in the series and Knupp’s books before that you need to do that right away, too. I loved this book and recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

Single Chance starts out like one of those oh-so-romantic movies we all love: strangers see each other across the room and that’s it! You can practically see the hearts and flowers and little birdies floating between them. That’s how it was for Rowan and Chance. A little funnier, maybe, since they met at an 80’s themed New Year’s Eve party, but it already has your heart fluttering. They meet, they click, they spend a night. Both feel a little tingle and have a fleeting thought this show more could be so much more, but neither is in a place for anything serious or long-term, plus they don’t expect to ever see each other again. They enjoy every minute together, and then it’s just memories.

Except this is Dragonfly Lake. You never know what will happen, but it’s often magical. And surprising. Very surprising when Rowan and Chance discover they’ll be co-workers. The attraction is still burning hot, but it’s also still right place, wrong time. Rowan has come to Dragonfly Lake to finish grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother. She’s so wrung out from caring for her that she needs a break. She doesn’t have the emotional depth or energy to start anything new right now. Chance is the single dad to his very trying 14-year-old daughter Samantha. He lost his wife several years ago and they’ve been in Dragonfly Lake for 2 years. Sam is struggling and is a daily challenge. A sweet girl who doesn’t often show that sweet side anymore. Between trying to be both mom and dad and his job, Chance doesn’t have the bandwidth for a relationship either. But as Rowan and Chance spend time together on the job, they reluctantly realize that not only is that scorching hot physical attraction still there, they also like each other, a lot. They’ll just ignore it, and it will go away, right? Well, maybe, but they can’t ignore the fact that Fate has taken over and there’s a baby on the way.

It was absolutely marvelous to be back in Dragonfly Lake with these two wonderful people. Chance is a member of the Single Dads Club and we’ve seen this lonely, good guy struggle for a couple of books now. Rowan is a new character and from the start you know she is something special. Favorite folks are back too and as delightful as ever: the Henry brothers and their wives, the rest of the single dads, the business owners, everyone. It’s like a giant family reunion where you get to catch up and also get acquainted with the new people.

Rowan is going to keep the baby. Chance is going to be a part of the baby’s life. It’s all new and misunderstandings and hurts happen. The other dads rally around Chance ,and Chloe, Presley and others become good friends to Rowan. And Sam is a pretty smart 14-year-old with a little Cupid in her! it’s a joy to be in the midst of this story. Author Amy Knupp has skillfully added and smoothly incorporated new people and new events to the wonderful world she has created in Dragonfly Lake.

I was lucky enough to receive both advance listening and reading copies of Single Chance. Knupp’s books are great to read, exquisite to listen to. Sebastian York has that rumbly, sing-song-y voice that makes you shiver. He captures Chance’s moods and emotions; makes you feel all his uncertainties and fears and his concern and growing love for Rowan. Emma Wilder shows Rowan in her grief and her surprise and her comfort around Chance, and also the strong woman within who isn’t afraid to stand up for what she wants and needs and to stand on her own two feet. The pace, the tone, the emotions – all perfect. I didn’t want to remove those earbuds. Amy Knupp is such a talented writer; you are always satisfied at the end of her stories. And I hope we never have to leave Dragonfly Lake and its charming occupants. I loved Single Chance and can’t wait to see what’s next. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

I was in heaven when I received both advance reading and listening copies of Single-Minded, and I stayed there right up until the very end. Single-Minded has everything: humor, heat, conflict. Romantic, swoony, hilarious, mysterious, unpredictable (except, of course, you do kind of know where all that heat is going), perfection. And to listen to two of the best narrators – Stella Hunter and Connor Crais – bring author Amy Knupp’s words to life – fantastic. To listen and read along is show more the best way to while away an afternoon – or to go straight through like I did, because there was no place to stop until I got to the starry-eyed ending.

I love Dragonfly Lake. Author Knupp has populated it with so many wonderful characters, and I’m hoping she writes a book about each and every one of them. All of the books set in Dragonfly Lake so far can be read standalone, but I recommend reading them all. The Henry Brothers first captured my heart and now four single dads have further entranced me. Each book adds depth, focusing on someone you’ve met before and taking you back to what have become your favorite places: the restaurants, the inn, the lake itself. All enticingly described by Knupp.

In Single-Minded we shine the spotlight on two already favorite characters: Presley Holiday, Chloe Henry’s best friend from business school, the bazillionaire who’s all about work, work, work, and West Aldridge, the single-dad contractor with the three adorable little girls and the locked tight, closed off heart who would do anything (or deprive himself of anything) to protect those little girls.

Presley bought a house in Dragonfly Lake, intending to do who knows what with it, but after a spur of the moment decision to quit her job based on health concerns and dissatisfaction with her boss, she’s decided to live in that house full-time. Needs some updating though; great location, great views, great bones but who wants to live in the ‘60s? She’s got the funds for a big remodel. That’s where West comes in. Needing a promotion to better provide for his girls, he’s determined to do a spectacular job. And he’s fully capable. What’s also spectacular, though, and what he’s not prepared for, is that the client is Presley. They met once, briefly, and there was that electric-handshake thing between them, but she was still a workaholic and he was still the grumpy, unavailable-for-much-fun single dad. Now, though, they are going to be spending a lot of time together and that electric handshake has crackled into a full-blown electric storm. You can practically see the sparks between them. Presley is open to a fling – why not? They’re both single, attracted to each other, what could be the harm. The harm could be West’s girls getting hurt when he makes another disastrous relationship decision that doesn’t work out. You see where this is going, right? Tension, tension, tension, tension. You start the countdown of how long they’ll last before they give in almost as soon as you read Chapter 1.

Amy Knupp does her always extraordinary job of bringing this story, this town, these people to life. And keeping us hugely entertained in the process. Laugh-out-loud moments and inner thoughts of Presley and West that will have you gasping for air. And then there are those moments that will have you gasping some more, although for a very different reason. It’s not just Dragonfly Lake in the summer that’s hot. These two are practically volcanic. And don’t forget sweet, romantic, touching, tender, thoughtful. The trifecta: silly, sexy, swoony. The plot scoops you up and moves along, transporting you to every special place in town and revisiting all those people you wish were your neighbors. There are surprises, unexpected revelations, change of heart, change of mind, hard decisions and you will love every minute of it.

Narrator Stella Hunter hardly needs introduction. I am thinking of seeing if she reads a grocery list or something on her website so I can listen to it in between books. All of Presley’s personality shines through in Hunter’s performance: her drop in self-confidence when she realizes she’s achieved all the goals she once set and has to figure out what to do with the rest of her life, her concern over her health, her inability to relax, her instant attraction to West and then her surprise (and initial dismay) over realizing she could actually be falling for this man – and his daughters. Hunter is masterful as always, and Presley appears complicated and vibrant because of it. Connor Crais is the perfect balance as West. Crais’s deep, rumbly voice shows the often gruff, ex-military man, lots of friends but lots of rules, but then reveals the inner West who is often overwhelmed and worried, smitten with Presley and downright scared about it, so forceful and tender and romantic your heart will throb. Such a strong performance, and Hunter and Crais together? Incredible.

Amy Knupp has written many, many books that have given me many, many hours of reading and listening pleasure, and Single-Minded is right up there at the top. I loved this book and recommend it without hesitation, and I think there is even one more single dad left! I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

I am going to move to Dragonfly Lake and never, ever leave. The small town that author Amy Knupp has created has got to be the most wonderful place in the world. With each new book and new series, she expands on beloved characters, giving us a look back to see how their happy-ever-afters are progressing, introduces new characters we love at once, and focuses on a couple of special people for us to watch and cheer on to what we hope, hope, hope will be their HEA. In Single All the Way, book 2 show more in Knupp’s Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series, the extra special people we get to spend time with are Ben and Emerson.

Ben is the Dragonfly Lake vet with the llamas. Emerson is the owner of a hair salon in town. They’ve known each other forever, have both lost spouses, are both now single parents. Ben had feelings for her back in high school but when Ben’s best friend Blake and Emerson got together Ben did what good friends do and never spoke about his feelings. Shoved them back where they belonged. Except now that they’re roommates in Ben’s house, keeping those feelings shoved down isn’t quite so easy. They both have had good lives, mostly. Ben’s marriage was good for a while, but his wife Leeann was sadly and tragically a woman who just couldn’t be happy and she took her own life. Emerson and Blake were happy, except that he was gone so much for the military she often felt like a single mom already. Ben and Emerson may have had some hard times but they don’t regret their choices because they each have children that mean everything to them.

Emerson has to suddenly move and needs to find a temporary place to stay. Ben has the space, Emerson’s a friend in need, and it’s the least he can do for his best friend’s widow. Emerson is grateful, the children are starting to bond in their own way, and having another adult – plus Ben’s feisty grandmother Berty – around to help out is something she’s never had and could get used to. But try as she might to tamp them down, Emerson is starting to have some inconvenient feelings for Ben, and that Friend Zone is getting harder and harder to stay in.

What follows is page after page after page of joy. It’s not all sweetness and light, but there is an awful lot of sweetness, tenderness, romance. The feelings get harder and harder to contain, and Ben and Emerson decide they are adults and adults can do adult things (steamy, swoony things) on a temporary basis, but there is a lot more at stake and a good amount of fear and hesitation, especially on Emerson’s side. But Ben can be a pretty persuasive guy (not to mention oh so sexy) and is determined to show Emerson a holiday full of holiday spirit as her partner in Christmas mayhem. And show her temporary does not have to stay temporary.

There are serious scenes, sexy scenes, heartwarming scenes and funny, funny scenes - with llamas and kids and the other single dads of Dragonfly Lake giving Ben a hard time and Emerson’s friends doing the same to her. Dragonfly Lake is bursting with holiday merriment, catching up with old favorite characters is fantastic, families are growing, love is in the air – why would you want to be anywhere but Dragonfly Lake?

I was lucky enough to both read an advanced copy of Single All the Way and listen to talented, always entertaining narrators Patrick Zeller and Stephanie Nemeth-Parker perform the audiobook. Zeller makes Ben vulnerable and hesitant but strong and protective and so full of love at the same time, and that sexy voice in the sexy scenes will make you shiver. Nemeth-Parker’s Emerson is fragile and strong, afraid but aware some things are too good to pass up, and a sensual woman with Ben. I thoroughly enjoyed Single All the Way and cannot wait to see which single dad is front and center next. I can’t recommend this book strongly enough – and you should always listen and read along. These stories are meant to be listened to but seeing the words on the page tugs at your heart. I received a free book. I voluntarily leave this review. All opinions are my own. show less