Shaw Daly left Coopers Creek for the big wide world, studied Art and made it to the top in marketing and sales. She achieved more than she ever thought to, even owning a 19C triplex in San Francisco; but life is empty and she no longer get any sense of achievement from selling things people don’t need. When she goes home to Coopers Creek to have some down time she is lost and empty, with no purpose in life.

Apart from a few brief trips and a semester abroad, Kate Elkins is the exact opposite, small-town girl who loves her job teaching first grade and is firmly and happily part of a social and family network. Taking a year off to care for her ailing mother is a sacrifice, but Kate knows It is something she needs to do.

When Shaw and Kate collide in the local shop memories of her school-girl crush flood Kate and so the dance begins. Attracted and interested but aware it can only be short term, both women want to explore their feelings while resisting anything painful.

A light and enjoyable romance ensues, enough natural angst from the expected timeline, with some nice side-lines, particularly Shaw’s unexpected family history. Shaw has an internal journey to realising what’s important and must grow into her real self. The portrayal of Kate’s mother and her care is well done and sympathetically drawn.

A classic traditional romance, easy reading, good dialogue and loveable characters; saccharine sweet in places, the sub-plots and setting save it. The editing could have been tighter in places early on, but overall an enjoyable summer read.

As always another well written book from Missouri Vaun - sweet romance with very little angst, well developed and likeable lead characters and a little family drama to spice things up. My only issue is that the 'successful woman returns home and finds love' theme has been done so many times before - although this particular novel was very well crafted it could have done with a little extra something to make it stand out.

This is my first book by Vaun and I will be looking out for her past and future books based on how much I enjoyed this one. This is a traditional style romance - woman returns to small town, meets up with her friend's little sister who had a crush on her back in the day. This is not a fast paced book, but satisfying nonetheless - a really nice little romance.

For me this is a typical romance which in itself was very well written. My only issue with it was that it has been done before. Vaun for me is an excellent author. And this was a great read.

I say great read at the end of the book. My real issue was it took so long to get there. Recently I have had this problem where I feel the author is padding out a story. Maybe I'm being impatient. But something tells me I'm not because when I finish and think about it it all comes together.

It's a nice light readand easy to follow. It just took it's time.

Yes, I would recommend this book for a nice leisurely read.

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2320026803

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R344GL1C8ARBKA/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

It was OK. I was not into the storyline, characters chemistry was not felt. It's an OK book, light reading.

This novel was a departure for the author, whose publications range in subject from fantasy to historical fiction, but rarely into the standard contemporary. Shaw and Kate possessed a lovely rapport that was enhanced by the familiarity that they had with each other, their families and broader lives. Ms. Vaun captured well the difficulties that can arise when values and expectations for the future are divergent between two individuals that are falling in love. Shaw’s anxieties about commitment, however, do not prevent her from exhibiting a charming sweetness that was nice to encounter in a character.

Love at Cooper’s Creek is a sweet romance. Ms. Vaun creates a novel that is not only believable, but is also interesting. So many people are facing situations like the one presented in this plot.

The two main characters are Shaw Daily and Kate Elkins. Shaw is a top notch international business executive who is burnt out and questioning whether she should continue in her profession. She returns to her hometown in North Carolina to rest and decide what she wants to do. Kate Elkins is a public-school teacher who decides to take a one year sabbatical and return to the same small town to care for her mother who has dementia and failing health.

Shaw and Kate went to school together. Kate was a few years behind Shaw in school and had a major crush on her. Kate’s big sister was best friends with Shaw so Kate was able to dream about Shaw from a close distance. Shaw graduated from high school, moved away for work, travelled the world and was not aware of the crush. When Kate and Shaw meet again, the chemistry between the two is explosive.

The plot is solid. The pace is smooth and steady. As a reader, I was cheering for Kate and Shaw to end up together

This is a good romance to enjoy over a weekend. I rate this book 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

I was given this ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

Shaw Daily needs a break. Working non-stop is beginning to wear thin. She decides to go to the one place where she can truly rest and get recharged. Her Grandparents home in North Carolina where she spent her summers growing up. While her grandparents have passed the old home still stands.Kate Elkins a school teacher who loves her job but decides to take a years leave to look after her aging mother. She wants nothing more than to have a family of her own but life doesn’t always give us what we want. Shaw has no interest in having a family but she has an interest in Kate. Great read. Very enjoyable.

This is only my second book by Vaun, but I have really enjoyed the two I have read. Vaun wasn't really on my to read list because I am not a fan futuristic or sci-fi type novels. Every once in a while a dystopian novel will find its way on my to read list, but typically it just doesn’t' happen. However, I may be willing to give her other books a shot because the two I have read I have really enjoyed. I love books set in the South. I also love well written butch characters. This one checks them both. I liked Shaw, and thought she and Kate were perfect for one another. Vaun wrote this one in such a way I really did buy into the forever with these two. Secondary characters were enjoyable and memorable. For me this one was 5 stars.

Shaw is a corporate bigwig who decides to chuck everything (at least for awhile) and go back to the only place that's ever felt like home to her, Cooper's Creek in North Carolina.

Kate is also going through some change in her life. SHe's a teacher in Cooper's Creek who is taking some time off to help her Mom who is getting up there in age and needs more care since she had a stroke. She also moves in with her Mom.

The two women bump into each other in the general store, and while as kids they knew each other (Kate's older sister is Shaw's age), they hadn't had a lot of time together as adults. But, soon, through a confluence of events they start getting closer. But, Shaw's plan is to go back to her corporate life, and so there's that push and pull.

I really liked the characters, but, my favorite part of the book was how tightly it was plotted. There was stuff at the end that directly referred to stuff from the beginning, and that doesn't always happen in the novels I've read. Very cool!

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.

This book was super insta love. Like they looked at each other once and then they were in love. I get that Kaye has had a crush on Shaw since she was a kid, but it didn’t feel super believable that they would fall in love that fast. Also if Shaw is Kate’s older sisters friend, why doesn’t she once reach out to her the entire time she is in town. Miriam and Shaw never once have a conversation that was just the two of them, which seems odd if they were close friends which the picture of them together suggests. Overall very inconsistent writing, not very logical, and the overall plot was non exskstent. I honestly don’t know what this book was uploaded to be about. L8ke what was the moral???????

I enjoyed this as much as you can enjoy an average romance, the characters were nice enough, no real angst, i will say it was borderline boring for the most part, the sex was ok and they did have nice chemistry going on, it did turn all kinds of cheesy by the end, all mushy and gooey but as i said an average predictable romace!

3.5 stars

Burned out and emotionally fragile, Shaw Daily walks away from her corporate job and returns North Carolina. Her grandparents home is filled with happy memories. She needs time to reevaluate her life and the direction her career has taken.
Kate Elkins takes a leave from her teaching job and returns to Cooper’s Creek to care for her aging mother who is struggling with the early stages of dementia. As a young girl she had a crush on her sister’s friend Shaw. Seeing her once again rekindles those old feelings, feelings she tries to ignore while her priority is her mother.

I enjoyed this traditional second chance (sort of) romance. Vaun has a beautiful way with words which easily transports the reader to a rainy night in North Carolina. You can feel yourself slowing to the pace of a lazy day on the porch listening to the night sounds of the frogs and cicadas, so peaceful. Layered over this placid setting are the raw emotions felt by Shaw involving her past relationship with her mother and Kate’s turmoil at choosing to pursue a woman who may be gone the next week while she is forced to remain caring for her mom. I loved the butch/femme dynamic and the baby steps approach both women took as they felt their way through this growing bond.

I enjoyed sinking into the scenes and soaking up the southern charm and the mysteries to be solved. I will add Missouri Vaun to my must read list and will tackle her back-list when I get the chance.

ARC received with thanks from the publisher via NetGalley for review.

3.4 stars. I didn't love it but I liked it. Even though it's pretty short, it gets a tad bit too repetitive for my liking. Could've used more locations and more variety in how the characters process their situation.

The friends group introduced in the beginning of the book disappeared completely. Chekhov's gun didn't go off even though there was a promise of some hetero related drama. I guess secondary cast is undeveloped in general, they're basically there to move the plot forward.

And I didn't really connect with any of the main characters. I hate when that happens even though the book is technically well written.

Otherwise it's a pretty sweet butch x femme story, quick n' light read.

Love at Cooper’s Creek is a charming romance about finding home and finding love through forgiveness. Shawn Daily is confident and polished in the corporate world, but something seems off. She needs perspective so she takes a leave of absence from her job and returns to her grandparents’ home in Cooper’s Creek, North Carolina. Kate Elkins is a first grade teacher who brings an air of positivity and comfort to every aspect of her life. He mother has recently had a stroke so Kate decides to take a yearlong sabbatical from her teaching position. While out getting groceries for her Mother, Kate literally bumps into her childhood crush, Shaw. The story follows their journey over the three weeks that Shaw spends in Cooper’s Creek.

While many “small-town romances” seem overly saccharin, Love at Cooper’s Creek works because there is a serene strength underneath this love story. There is a slow simmer to the romance and it is perfectly paced to keep you turning page after page.

The story is told in the third person, moving between Shawn and Kate’s point of view. Shawn is untethered and uncertain and the story focuses more on her growth. Kate is just as much of a guiding force in the narrative. She represents the family that Shaw never had and didn’t really know she wanted. The two women are very different in many ways, but they compliment each other perfectly. Together they make sense.

The writing style is easy and generous in a way that made me feel like I had been to rural Cooper’s Creek. The dialogue felt natural with a sense of southern sensibility to it without being a cliché. I enjoyed getting to know both Shaw and Kate and I loved watching them interact.

I really enjoy this author’s work and this book certainly did not disappoint.

A beautiful romance between a burned-out business exec who wants to reconnect with the roots of her childhood and a teacher who puts her life on hold to care for her mother.
The descriptions of the setting are absolutely beautiful, engaging all the senses and drawing the reader into the narrative. The two characters are very well developed and the internal and external conflicts they have to face are convincing. The attraction between them is almost palpable.
I haven’t been a fan of Missouri Vaun’s previous books because they always ended too soon without a satisfying resolution, but this book finally delivered completed story and character arcs.

Really enjoyable book. Well written, very likeable lead characters with a good supporting cast and some steamy sex scenes to spice things up! The first book I’ve read by Ms Vaun, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

This ended up being a really sweet romance. I’m a fan of Vaun, I like the way she writes. I believe this is the first time I have read a romance by her that actually took place in current times. Everything else has been futuristic, fantasy or historic fiction. And while I really enjoy her versatility and imagination, she did well writing this more traditional romance.

The story is about two women who reunite in rural North Carolina. They were never lovers, but Kate always had a crush on Shaw. Shaw is very successful and living in San Francisco. But something isn’t working in her life. She can’t put a finger on it but knows she needs to go home to North Carolina. Kate moved into her mother’s house that is a neighbor to Shaw’s property. After a stroke Kate’s mother really needs someone to help take care of her. As both women spend more time with each other, a mutual attraction develops. Both Shaw and Kate know Shaw will be returning to San Fran soon; is that enough to stop either of them from wanting more?

As I said above, I like the way Vaun writes. Something about it is comfortable to me. But I have to be honest; I was having trouble really getting into this story. I thought it was perfectly nice, but I was getting a bit bored. That little ADD reading devil I have was tapping me on the shoulder trying to steal my attention away. I was finding certain things to be a bit repetitive, especial some of the inner character thoughts. I didn’t really notice what changed, but about 40% in or so, I suddenly really started enjoying the read. I was able to flick that devil off and just get immersed into this sweet romance. From that point on I starting liking this book more and more. And now that it’s over I have a smile on my face and I’m glad I read it.

The romance definitely helped to win me over. While it was a little slow to develop, in the end I thought it went at the right pace. I was able to see and feel genuine chemistry and I enjoyed some decent sex scenes. I also was happy there was no real manufactured angst. While I do like some angst, this was the kind of book that didn’t need forced angst and I’m glad it didn’t have it.

If you are looking for a sweet traditional romance, that also tackles some emotional topics well, absolutely give this book a shot. Vaun is definitely an author I keep an eye out for and I don’t expect that to change any time soon.

3.5 stars
This was an on okay read. I've read more interesting work from Ms. Vaun. This was good but run of the mill. Nothing extraordinary.