Laura Pavlov

Okay, in case you’re wondering – yes, author Laura Pavlov has done it. She has given us the grown-up Cutler “Beefcake” Heart that we hoped for. From that adorably audacious little boy in the leather jacket and the shiny black shoes with the slicked back hair, with the incredible insight and the biggest, warmest heart ever to the man we’re now going to get to know. Of course he’s hot, handsome and charming; just think about his father Nash. Not just a pretty face, though, although show more the women are more than willing to stand in line. Cutler has also successfully expanded his father’s construction business in Blue Sky Bay, and he is the architect on all their projects there as well as back in Magnolia Falls. Close to his parents (his Pops & Sunny), loyal to his friends, well-known and well-loved in town – and still Gracie Reynolds’ best friend. Always has been, always will be. But it’s been hard lately. Gracie moved to France six months ago with her boyfriend to start her own design business. Cutler knew he would miss her, but this is different. They’ve never been so far apart, unable to communicate easily and instantly as they always have. He’s worried that her relationship with Gabriel will mean Cutler will be shut out. He’s not sure he could survive that.

As far as bad decisions go, this has turned out to be one of Gracie’s worst, at least in her eyes. Shortly after arriving in France seemingly-perfect artist Gabriel showed his true colors. Stronger than she gives herself credit for, Grace ended the relationship at once. However, she’s stuck in France with no money, no job, no idea what her future will be and too ashamed and humiliated at how foolish she was and how she’s let everyone down to share much of her story.

Even though Cutler feels Gracie’s pain as if it was his own, he’s relieved and glad that she’s coming home. He’s flying to Paris to help her pack up and get back where she belongs. Her old boss has rehired her – in New York City, which is a really long way from Blue Sky Bay – starting at the end of the summer and she’s going to stay with Cutler until then to get her feet back under her. No problem, they’ve been roommates before. Best friends forever, right, and that’s as far as their feelings for each other have ever gone.

Well, not exactly. And here we go. Author Pavlov has done such an amazing job with this book, portraying Cutler and Gracie’s friendship as solid and strong, always there for one another, always truthful and open with each other. Gracie’s confidence has taken a big hit, and she confesses to Cutler that none of her relationships have ever gone well, he already knows they didn’t last that long, and they were never truly satisfying for her. So who better than Cutler, who she’s watched for years as women flocked to him, to teach her – verbally, only words, of course – how to be basically a good girlfriend or an enticing woman.

“Only words” only lasts for a while, and then it’s real-life demonstrations. Just between friends, with an end date when Gracie goes to New York, no strings, just helping each other as they’ve always done. This is soooo good. So sweet, so tender, so romantic, so funny at times – and so obvious to everyone else what is happening here. But Gracie really does need to follow her dream, to stand up for herself and if there’s anything Cutler learned from his Pops it’s that you don’t stand in the way of the dreams of those you love.

My Forever Girl is delightful and has everything you could want in a story. From Cottonwood Cove to Magnolia Falls to Rosewood River and now Blue Sky Bay, the cast of characters just keeps growing and interconnecting and reminding us of all that’s gone before. Next Gen stories seem to be the new thing, but they are hard to get right without making just big versions of the quirky kids, making the parents (who we just enjoyed as hot young things) seem old and dull, or having only a very slight connection to the original series. Pavlov has nailed it, though. Gracie and Cutler and the rest have kept their basic personalities but grown into likeable adults. The parents still have that spark that made them so appealing and appear just enough to make it feel like coming home. And I dare you to read the “ROD 911” chapter without sobbing.

I received an advance copy of My Forever Girl from Valentine PR. To say I loved it is an understatement. It was perfect and I can’t wait for the next story in this series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

I could be sad – okay, I admit it, I am sad. Whisper Sweet Nothings is the last book in the Rosewood River series and I’m going to miss everybody. But author Laura Pavlov has proven again and again that when she ends one series and starts another it’s the smoothest transition ever: the first book in the new series feels as warm and familiar as the last book in the previous series. So many favorite characters come along and you already know so much of the who, what and where.

That said, show more Whisper Sweet Nothings really is the perfect story to wrap things up. Archer is the last single Chadwick. He’s been there supporting his brother and cousins as each of them met their true love and settled down for their happily ever afters. From the first time we met Emerson and her family when she moved to Magnolia Falls and fell for Nash Heart and his adorable little boy Cutler – the charming “Beefcake” who has more charm and savvy than most grown men – and traveled to Rosewood River we’ve enjoyed each and every love story: Easton & Henly, Rafe & Lulu, Clark & Eloise, Bridger & Emilia and finally Axel & Wren, the family has grown, but it’s still just single-dad Archer and his sweet daughter Melody. He insists he’s fine, not a monk but not interested in a relationship, no intention of putting his – or Melody’s – heart out there. He doesn’t want to make waves, let’s just take care of precious Melody and get through each day. But it’s time to make at least one wave: Mrs. Dowden has been Melody’s nanny for a long time, but now it’s unclear just who is taking care of who. Most of her day is spent dozing in the recliner or asking Archer to make her a sandwich. His family has been bugging him for a while now to replace her, let her retire and he’s finally agreed. But that means he needs to find a new nanny. He’s got a list of requirements and a list of candidates and agrees to interview the niece of the owners of the Honey Biscuit Café, a young woman who has just survived an ugly divorce, needs a change of scene to get back on her feet and continue her career as an author.

Ugly divorce is putting it mildly. Winnie’s ex-husband was her college boyfriend and they got married more or less because he thought “it was time.” Big mistake. He’s a lazy, self-centered, mean-spirited man who never grew up. Selfish, demeaning, greedy; spent all her income from her first two books. She’s proud of herself for finding the gumption to divorce him, but she’s still wobbly and coming home to Rosewood River feels like the right move. And she needs this job. But it doesn’t look like Archer is going to offer it to her.

Author Pavlov sets up the first meeting between them perfectly, and it’s not exactly a meet-cute. Car breakdown, rainstorm, falling in the mud, walking into town and by the time she gets there Archer has already decided she’s irresponsible, inexperienced, unqualified, undependable – and too young. He will not put Melody in this woman’s care. But Bridger pops in, stirs things up, Winnie has her say and it’s nothing but delightful from that point on.

She’s too young, she’s too young, she’s too young. Maybe if he says it to himself enough times Archer will stop noticing how beautiful – and capable – she is and be able to ignore how much she and Melody have already bonded. Sure. Winnie instantly fits – with Melody, with the rest of the family, especially the other women who are thrilled to discover their favorite romance author is sitting there having breakfast with them in the Honey Biscuit Café. And with Archie, as she calls him. Caring for Melody is easily shared between them, they talk, laugh and Archer discovers he loves coming home to her. But even though the attraction seems mutual, she’s too young, too young, too young – why would she want an old guy (he’s not that much older!), he needs to keep his head. Not easy and not happening.

As always, the extended Chadwick family never hesitates to butt in, through their group texts, uninvited visits, unsolicited advice. They all see what Archer is resisting: he deserves to be happy and this is his chance. It’s sweet and swoony, hot and sexy and oh, so funny. And author Pavlov gives us some more time with our favorite little man Beefcake. It’s risky when authors decide to do the ‘next generation’ thing, because finding your favorite romantic couples are now the old folks doesn’t always appeal, but Pavlov has done it flawlessly. Her next series will begin with Cutler, all grown up and working with his pops, best friends with the little girl he vowed to marry back when they were children. I am looking forward to seeing just how they go from best friends to ???.

I received an advance copy of Whisper Sweet Nothings and couldn’t have loved it more. Archer and Winnie grab your heart, all the favorite characters and locations are back (and maybe a big reveal about The Taylor Tea) with all the love and romance you could ever want. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

You already know when you visit Rosewood River you’re going to have a memorable time. Heartbreak and angst. Hope and redemption. Old friends popping up and reconnecting. And best of all: the return of characters you already love so much and the rest of the story about some who you didn’t know too much about or who were only mentioned in passing. I couldn’t wait to start reading author Laura Pavlov’s In a Heartbeat, and I was as enchanted as ever.

When it first sunk in who Wren show more Waterstone was I groaned: the sister of that *#@^%! Colin, the cheating ex-fiancé of Emerson, the guy who broke her heart and caused her to run away. (Of course, if she hadn’t run away to Magnolia Falls we wouldn’t have hers and Nash’s and Beefcakes’ story, would we? Silver lining.) But back to Wren. Grew up in Rosewood River. Now a premiere equestrian, decorated, at the top of her game, currently recovering from an injury but still on a path to the Olympics. And very best friends from childhood with Axel Chadwick, until – until they weren’t friends anymore. Wren has her reasons to hate Axel, some of them based on some very reliable (we’ll get to that later) information given to her by her brother Colin. She cut off all contact and never wants to see him again, doesn’t even want to hear his name, because the memories of their friendship are too sweet and the memories of his betrayal too painful. But we don’t always get what we think we want, do we?

Yes, Axel Chadwick is one of those Chadwicks. Cousin to the brothers and Emerson, close to his family. Devastatingly handsome, charming when he wants to be, one of the last eligible Chadwick men left standing. Not interested in that part, however. Keeps to himself for the most part, working his ranch and building much-in-demand custom horse trailers. Thoughts of Wren never far from his mind. He misses her. Doesn’t understand what happened. Just when he was about to tell her he wanted more than friendship she pulled away and has been angry ever since.

Fate has a way (fate, or author Pavlov) of stepping in, however. Wren’s controlling father has sold her horse Wrax - named for Wren & Axel - almost literally out from under her, claiming Wrax is too old and will prevent her from winning the Olympics. Wren is devastated; that horse is as important to her as Axel was. She can’t, and won’t, compete without him. She needs time away, to think, to plan the rest of her life. She accepts a job in Rosewood River through a temp agency, not knowing or caring who she’ll be working for, just needing to earn some money and continue her search for Wrax. Never imagining it’s Axel she’ll be working for, replacing the employee who managed the paperwork side of the ranch business.

He doesn’t want her there; she doesn’t want to be there. Except she’s so lost and hurt and desperate – and she’s Wren. So they’ll make it work somehow. The “somehow” part is where author Pavlov excels. Putting these two together again day-in-and-day-out, memories returning, anger returning, along with confusion and the revelation of some pretty serious misunderstandings. Wren’s father is determined to keep Wrax from her; Colin says he’s looking but just can’t find Wrax. Is Colin actually going to get a little redemption in this story? Read on.

In a Heartbeat just draws you in and wraps you up. The family is so close and caring. The brothers and cousins have their (often hilarious) group texts with some good advice hidden in them; the women circle around Wren and support her any way they can. It’s romantic, heartwarming, swoony and funny. Trust me, you’ll need a handkerchief when you learn of the song Axel wrote for Wren’s horse competition with “in a heartbeat” in it. And the other thing about Rosewood River: there are a lot of very affectionate couples there. And when I say affectionate, I mean some scorchy, steamy, sexy attractions and connections. Use that handkerchief to fan yourself through those parts!

I received an advance copy of In a Heartbeat and loved every word of it. All the people, all the feels, oh so satisfying. I recommend you read it, read the previous books in the series before the next one comes out; really, just read everything Laura Pavlov writes. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

‘Hashtag love you, mean it.’ Remember that phrase. And remember to have a hanky handy because the more you see it the more your emotions will bubble over.

How does author Laura Pavlov do it? Make every book feel like the best you’ve ever read, the best in the series, your favorite? And then write another one that makes you feel that way all over again. Plus, you can’t stop re-reading her books or your favorite scenes at least. And the characters? It’s one giant family of people show more connected to each other in all kinds of ways, each and every one your favorite person.

Love You, Mean It, the second book in the Blushing series set in Blushing, Alaska is my favorite ever. At least until I read the next book or go back to re-read the previous books. It is fantastic. We saw a lot of Violet in the first book in the series, You, Me, and Forever, and enough of Charlie to know that they seem to mix as well as oil and water. Always on each other’s last nerve, opposites in every way, never missing the chance to make a snarky comment to the other. However, there is a bit of flirtiness to the snark and some not-so-pure thoughts in both their heads. This could be fun.

At the end of book one Violet’s new home flooded and Charlie’s contracting company was renovating it. Charlie’s best friend Myles and Violet’s best friend Montana are a couple, so Charlie offers his guesthouse to Violet until her house is ready. Pretty close proximity for two people who can’t stand each other. Or two people who might not be able to resist each other.

Violet is co-owner with Montana of the Blushing Bride wedding planning business. Coming up with hashtags to theme each wedding is their specialty. Violet loves to plan weddings, even if the brides or their mothers are difficult or there are last-minute problems and hurdles to jump, but she doesn’t see that happily-ever-after thing for her own future. She’s not going to get married unless and until she finds someone where the hashtag ‘love you, mean it’ fits. She’s not holding her breath or crossing her fingers.

Charlie grew up in Blushing, knows everyone, loves it there. He’s been a single dad almost from the minute his six-year-old daughter Harper was born, and that’s how he likes it. Her mother never wanted a baby, visits only once a year on Harper’s birthday and takes no interest otherwise. But Charlie would do anything on earth for that little girl. So a relationship isn’t on his wish list, either.

Even though Charlie and Violet seem to have nothing in common and can barely stand to be around each other, as they spend more and more time together (the close proximity thing) little sparks appear. Harper just loves Violet, and the feeling is starting to be mutual. Things somehow get a little more comfortable each day. Those sparks might be flames. The flirting increases until it’s a friends-with-benefits situation. But is that really all it is?

It's Laura Pavlov and it’s this wonderful cast of characters – and some not so wonderful characters – so things aren’t going to go smoothly and just pop into place. Both Charlie and Violet have a lot of baggage. He’s never had a family and bounced from foster home to foster home. Her family is beyond difficult. He’s pleased and afraid at the same time about how attached Harper is becoming to Violet and his heart warms when he sees how Violet treats his little girl. But what if this casual thing goes bad and Harper’s heart is broken (as well as his own)? Violet has been unfairly blamed for everything by her wicked stepmother so feels guilty about everything bad that happens and is convinced she always messes things up so it’s better not to get involved in the first place. But this attraction is strong, so strong, and these are two have such big hearts – this has to work!

I received an advance copy of Love You, Mean It. Once I started reading I just couldn’t put it down. I loved every minute of it and am eager to see what author Pavlov has for us next in Blushing. The Alaska setting is beautiful, the weddings are a hoot, the romance tugs at your heart and the sexy, steamy parts are whoa. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it without hesitation. Read it right now and catch up with everything else this fantastic author has written if you haven’t already done so. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less