Jennifer Gracen

Okay: there is going to be two sides to this review. The reviewer, the everyday person who read this book, thought it was a cute story, well written and nice to read a book in a series without having needed to read the other three (would like to, though.)

The flip side is the American girl who moved to Dublin, fell in love, and then fell out of love, and this book pierces my heart and insides repeatedly and harshly. I have stayed at a BnB after going to he kiss the blarney stone; traveled to show more other European countries with my Irish love... etc etc. I couldn't help but cry throughout this book with vivid memories, and could not separate the two sides.

It's a great book; Gracen is a good writer. I just did not expect the fantastically well written to hit me that hard. show less

You know those books where you can’t help but silently cheer for the characters because you just fall in love with them so much? I was silently cheering on Lydia and swooning over Sam the whole time I read Autumn Getaway. It is one of those books that makes you feel better for having read it. I think all of my girlfriends who are recently divorced and just getting back into the dating game HAVE TO READ this book. It gives so much hope. As a mom with a preschool aged child, I could show more empathize with Lydia’s predicament. It is so hard to put yourself first when you have a small child. Gracen does a wonderful job creating the visuals for the manor and the grounds in this book. I was literally transported in my head to each place as she described it. Such a sweet and fun book. If you need a little hope in your life and a belief that second chances can happen for the romantic in us, read this book. I can’t wait to read more from this author. show less

Ms. Gracen picked one of the most eerily beautiful places in the world for the setting of a haunting tale of love, loss and new beginnings. No backdrop could have been more perfect. Standing amid the ghosts of heartbreaks past and hopes restored, Colin and Maggie set about rebuilding their lives. Maggie is a drifter. Haunted by loss, her way of coping is to roam. Her adventurous spirit, has never steered her wrong, until she discovers the beauty of Ireland and ends up losing more than she show more bargained for. Colin gave up on his dreams in order to face his future, will fate bring his world full circle and give him the adventure, he never thought he'd have? The characters are more mature, but the issues are no less realistic and the romance borders on ecstasy. show less

3.5 stars

Dane Harrison is opening a new hotel, his favorite, most luxurious property yet. He likes perfection and the bar and lounge of the hotel must have the best singer on stage. After weeks of hunting for a smart, confident, sexy, and successful singer, Dane thinks he may just have to give in and take a second choice from the long list of women he's watched every evening. On a tip from his sister's friend, Dane travels to Long Island where he sees his dreams come to life in the form of show more Julia Shay. Not only is she everything he wanted in a singer, something about her is just drawing him in, the chemistry is off the charts. Julia wants nothing to do with rich hotel owner Dane, she's had enough rich men to last her a lifetime, but his job offer is one she can't refuse. With her best friend playing piano by her side, Julia makes a huge positive change in her life. When their chemistry comes between the job, Julia and Dane decide to have some no-strings attached fun.

Oh man, I would happily take a Dane Harrison of my own. I loved driven Dane, he sounded handsome, smart, and most of all, sensitive. He seemed to be the perfect man, even if he sometimes lost his temper and went a little alpha male. I enjoyed reading from his POV, because he really seemed to enjoy his family, his career, and his experiences with women. Charlotte on the other hand, while she's been dealt a rough hand, was sometimes hard to handle. I loved her as a character, especially at her age. I think she was incredibly well written, however it drove me nuts how against help and love she was. At times, I thought she had given in, only to throw walls up again. The push and pull was nuts, through out their entire relationship, however I ended up and enjoying their dialogue. At times snarky, sometimes funny, and always sexual, it was never boring when the two were together. The minor characters of best friends and family members, and even other hotel employees, really brought a lot of life to this novel. Gracen does a great job of writing unique voices into every character.

There's some complex drama to this book, some of it believable, some of it not, and some felt very forced. There were parts that I just wanted to say, "oh come on!" The entire book really focuses on the relationship growth between Dane and Julia, and while I loved that, it was really hard to make room for the other things taking place in their lives. I sort of felt like some things that would've been good to have more detailed were left out in order to allow Dane and Julia just a little more time together. Don't get me wrong, I loved their time together, but it kind of felt like personal life stopped for both characters.

I enjoyed this book; I liked the maturity of the characters, the dynamic of an older women and younger man, and the on-fire chemistry the two main characters shared. I really look forward to reading more of the Harrisons in book two, especially if the younger sibling is anything like Dane. show less