If You Love Me, the first hook in the Sugar Maple series by Ciara Knight, has the perfect amount of charm and quirkiness you love in a small town romance. Add in a pinch of humor, a dash of rivalry, and a teaspoon of cute baby animals (yes all puns intended) and you have the perfect recipe for a page turning HEA. I’m very much looking forward to the next installment of life in the small and charming town of Sugar Maple.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

It was a balm to the soul, this one.
I contained everything related to BAKING, which was a huuuge plus for me, who has an incredibly sweet tooth, and not surprisingly I was constantly dreaming about visiting the bakery.
The romance was really cute, low-angst for my frayed mind, I would recommend reading this one is you're in a mood for something easy, but funny and romantic.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This was a nice start to a series. While there were times when I was a little lost as to what was going on, it was never enough that I would put the book down to read another. I do look forward to the other four friends and to see if a healing process can bring all five of them together again.

Carissa is a baker. She puts her heart and soul into her baked goods. Drew Lancaster and his assistant have come to town to due a series. Hopefully it will breathe new life into the town that is filled with quirky but lovable people.

This is a sweet, clean romance that is written in a dual POV format.

If you love me by Ciara Knight

Sugar Maples needs the publicity and finance that an internet programme can bring them if successful. Carissa is the business selected to launch the series but though she lacks the confidence she is an extremely talented baker.

A lovely story about a small town and the characters who make it tick.

However the book is a slow burner involving some wonderful characters involved in small towns and the chemistry between Carissa and Drew the producer .

A real feel good leaving you with a warm fuzzy feeling.

I really, thoroughly enjoyed this sweet small town romance in Sugar Maple, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Carissa, is the local baker who was betrayed for a good friend 10 years ago. She has never completely healed from that betrayal. She has good friends in town who help to protect her from further hurt and disappointment. The problem is that she really hasn't been herself since then. She had one time been a golden girl who took chances and had great success. Now, she is a wonderful baker but she is stuck!

Drew Lancaster blows into to town in January determined to set up a photoshoot for an internet show. He is buttoned up and a little OCD. His first impression by the town's people isn't favorable. But, the more he sticks around and spends time with Carissa, the more relaxed he becomes.

Is it possible for these two flawed individuals to change for the better and become something more? If you like small town romance with wonderful characters, a clean and wholesome storyline and a very happy , romantic ending, you are going to thoroughly enjoy this story.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

I loved this book! Knight’s prose mesmerizes and I had to finish this in one afternoon. It had all the elements that I like: small town setting, wit, friendship, love, and wonderful characters. It was definitely a feel good book.
Many thanks to Author Collective 20 and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The mayor of town have 5 gals who were school friends get together to help save the town. I didn’t understand the premise of the reason for only these girls saving the town by getting the win for the tv contract to highlight the city when others are competing to win. I never knew where the other contestants from neighboring places. I loved the on and off attraction of the main characters. The background story of the history of the gals. Definitely worth picking up and reading.

Drew thinks Carissa's small home town would be the perfect setting for his boss's documentary. The town needs the publicity to survive, should be a match made in heaven. But with the little old ladies who "run" the town and the sweet baker Carissa clouding his vision it's touch and go if the tv series will survive. Lots of laughs and tears and the normal small town friendships and family rivalry makes this an enjoyable read. Lots of great characters for the future books. This is the first in the Sugar Maple series. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

What a charming read! Delightful beach reading. I love small-town romances. I really enjoyed this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was debating whether or not I would publish my review outside NetGalley (I only publish positive reviews), and while I do have a lot of positive things about this book, I felt like it just wasn't quite there for me as a whole. Let me explain...

If you picture a Hallmark movie, you'll get pretty close to how this book was written, but there was something missing in execution. I loved the town itself, the elder community was adorable, and the creation of the scene was perfect. I could picture the town, the people, and I thought it sounded like a lovely place to visit. All the characters were unique, and I wanted to learn more about them. I could see myself reading this book on a cozy afternoon with a cup of tea, maybe while on vacation.

That being said, the character development was just off. I felt like a lot was left out in the beginning, where we started with this weird rivalry among 5 friends, based on something that happened ten years ago. It seemed very juvenile, I was confused why these grown women were acting like they were teenagers, and ever after the conflict was explained, it felt very comical rather than genuine to me. The "villain" was overdone, in a way that felt fake rather than how someone would actually act in that situation. You had her paired with this other woman, who all of a sudden was fine with the heroine even when they were enemies not two seconds ago. And then towards the end of the book, there was a hint that not all was what it seemed with what the villain did ten years ago, but then it was forgotten and never actually wrapped up. Within a day they were reconciled and off to have a slumber party. I'm not kidding.

And then there was the hero. He was rude, over-the-top OCD with everything, and generally just a crappy person. He made this bet with his assistant and then proceeded to try to pretend to be nice to the heroine in order to get her to go out on a date. His character soon did a complete 180 when he rescues a kitten, and then all of a sudden he realizes his feeling for the heroine. It was like he was bipolar, not OCD, if we're trying to be stereotypical here. He was a jerk who treated people like they were inferior to him in the first half, and then in the second half he was a kitten-saving hero who just wanted everyone to be happy. Um, what? I did like his character in the second half, but it just didn't fit. There was no development - it was just one minute he was rude, the next he wasn't. No real explanation for the change.

Not a bad book but not a great book. It was just okay.

3 stars

If You Love Me by Ciara Knight is wholesomely sweet. Readers who enjoy a hallmark-ish plot line will love the first in the Sugar Maple Series.

Drew, an highly organized business man comes into Sugar Maple and meets his exact opposite, Carissa. The two form a friendship and appreciation for the other over baking and other small town activities. I don’t want to give you too many details, but this book will make you want to curl up with a cupcake.

Thank you Netgalley and Author Collective 20 for the ARC of this book.

Carissa does not want to face Ms boyfriend stealing Jackie. I know the feeling. She lives in sugar maple , Tennessee. Carissa is working with a group to help better the town. A mentor is trying to mend friendships. Carissa meets a handsome man Drew. It was a little confusing at first who Knox is to the job and what they intended. I love the name Knox. I love that Carissa owns a bakery. I loved that Drew used to be a soldier. I really liked Drew and liked the ending

Carissa and Drew don't start out on the best footing. Once she discovers his bet with Lori his assistant , the flour hits the fan (a bit of baking humor)!

It's a cute and charming love story set in a small southern town. The characters are wuirky, the setting is ideal, and the author's characterizes are spot on. You can imagine the Bakery, the seniors led by Davey, and the unusual group of friends. It's an underdog tsle; well told!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

Drew and Carissa’s romance. City boy and small town girl. Fun and light story made for an enjoyable read. Would recommend this book and author.

If You Love Me us a small town romance. I rely liked the book. It us perfect for a easy summer afternoon relaxing in your favorite patio chair, sipping sweet tea of lemonade. The boom is quick but satisfying read and I recommend it. I hope it becomes a Hallmark movie soon.

Drew is sent to small-town America to try to help his new boss try to fix his reputation. He demands order but learns quickly that this town is all but normal when he has to impress the crazy elders and his assistant tries to play matchmaker with the messy baker that he has to prepare for the television show they are there to film. Carissa is plain and that is the way that she likes and does things ever since her best friend and fiancé ran away together. So when she is told that the fate of the town is on her shoulders she freaks out a little bit. Drew tries to get Carissa to spend time with him but not fall in love so he can move up in the film industry but soon realizes that he's not sure that what he wants anymore and tries to get Carissa to open her heart to him.

If You Love Me is a small town romance and my first novel by Ciara Knight. The opening of the book throws a lot of information at you that you are left to try and figure out what is happening. Drew started out as a little overbearing and almost unlikeable but grew on me through the book. I liked the simple nature of Carissa. I did not like Jackie at all. The Sugar Maple series is about five women who were friends and need to participate in a television show to try and save their town which also helps to repair their friendships.

*ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review*

Carissa loves baking and owns her own shop but times are hard and she has to work with her friends including Jackie who Carissa's boyfriend left her for and now they are enemies and the atmosphere is awful. Drew is helping his friend and needs to work with Carissa and her friends but when they meet things do not go as planned. This story was brilliant and the characters were so well balanced and true to life and they worked well together, the elders were so funny and i found myself laughing at there antics. I have read many of Ciara Knight books and i have enjoyed every single one as they are well written and worth reading.
I Voluntarily Reviewed an Arc copy of this book.

Great heartwarming read, just a lovely book to feel warm, comforted and happy with. I love these books so much, they are my happy place, never underestimate the power of books. Small towns, simpler lives, community and happiness, we seek what we need in books and this supplies exactly what I need and love. Wonderful

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This is a small town sweet story, baked with all the ingredients needed for a good read. Romance and beautiful characters are nicely developed along the pages of the book
The pace is good and even if I was a bit confused with all the characters being introduced at the beginning, it got cleared after a few chapters into the story.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

If You Love Me by Ciara Knight is a short Hallmark novel. It is not the first I have read by this author but it the one most like a Hallmark movie. In fact it would make a great one to be shown right after months of Christmas movies before the Valentine one starts. The other books I have read felt more complete and the plot flowing than this one which is about one week in the life of these characters.

The clean romance is cute with a quaint town setting. The people are quirky. Some events are thoughtful such as the kitten saving, some are silly such as the meddling elders and some are over the top like the reality host Knox, but he doesn’t have a big part in the story. One last part the Tar and Southernized was meant to be touch in cheek I think but being a Southern, I found this insulting so I took a half star off for that.

The characters are likable especially Carissa Donahue and Drew Lancaster. Being a short novel it would have been wonderful if it had been longer so that these characters had been fleshed out more. At times it read a bit choppy with me wishing for more. Still it was a cute story with a cute kitten.

3.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.