This was a sweet and charming story and a great escape read.
Many thanks to BookBuzz and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
NOTE: This is book #10 in the series. I did not realize this until I opened the book as Goodreads did not indicate it was part of a series. However, I was able to pick up and continue the story. There are a lot of characters - FYI.

Gray Temple is not in a good space - suspended from the family law firm by his mom due to a pending lawsuit over a divorce settlement,. He moves to Konigsburg Texas to work for his brother at his wildly successful BBQ business, bartending on the side, and living in a cousin's old apartment. He is trying to figure out how to rectify the issue with the divorce settlement, he knows something went wrong and it was not his fault.

Amanda Sunderland is frustrated - she owns a local gardening store and she is down two employees. She is a single mom of a seven year-old and running herself into the ground, despite help from family. Now, the father of her child is trying to re-enter his life and she is afraid of the ulterior motive. When a friend suggests to Gray that Amanda needs help, manual labor may be the ticket to distracting him from his issues.

The more time they spend together, the chemistry between them is undeniable and eventually leads to something more. However, as they get deeper into this, what will happen if Gray goes back to Houston, does Amanda want a relationship, and then there is when her son goes missing.

I really enjoyed this book and will probably go back and read the series.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Amanda and Gray. Amanda owns a garden center and Gray is a lawyer who works at a family law practice who has been suspended. There is a mutual attraction. They each have issues but together they figure them out and fall in love.

So this is the book summary from the editor:

Gray Temple is an angry man. He’s been suspended from the family law firm over a disputed divorce settlement, and he’s hiding out in Konigsburg, Texas, working at his brother’s BBQ joint and living in his cousin’s old apartment. Even as he nurses his fury at the injustice of it all, Gray suspects he needs to pull himself together. He just doesn’t exactly know how.

Amanda Sunderland is a little angry herself. She’s short two employees at her garden store and trying to deal with the possibility that her son’s wealthy father may want custody for himself and his new fiancée. When Gray offers his services as temporary help, Amanda’s happy to grab him.

My thoughts:
Gray seemed really sweet for a man described as angry.
This whole book was just sweet. It was touching. I really enjoyed it. It was just like a Hallmark movie. Was it great? No. Will I read more in this series? For sure! The next time I need a sweet, happy every after I will pick up one of these books!

This is my first book of this series and I really enjoyed it. The story was a little predictable but still a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my opinion.

Two grumpy, dissatisfied people run headlong into each other and somehow connect. I love the characters and had so much fun reading Late Bloomer that I couldn't put it down! Definitely recommend!

This was a cute book with a slow burn love storyline. Gray is on suspension from his family law firm and that itself is very suspect. Amanda’s ex, Clive, is a popular country singer and wants little to do with Vic, his son. But, Clive has a new fiancé who wants children and maybe, just maybe can’t have a child of her own. She decides she wants to meet little Vic…. Is that all she wants or maybe more? .

This is my first time reading something by this author and it definitely won't be my last. Though I haven't read any of the books in the series, I had no trouble following the story, and it can easily be read as a standalone. The story flowed nicely and the characters were lovely. The story pulled me in right from the start. The characters were well-developed and endearing with realistic qualities which made them very relatable and you can't help but fall in love with them. The author did a really nice job of bringing the story and characters to life with her vivid descriptions and attention to details. Gray and Amanda were great characters and I enjoyed seeing them as a couple. Both are angry people and struggling with their own problems, but learn to work through their issues. The attraction and chemistry between them was definitely strong. It was quite the journey for them, however, before they arrived at their happy ending. The story displayed quite a range of emotions and had some seriousness and humor and lightheartedness, and the dialogue between the characters was witty and entertaining. This was a sweet story, full of heart and left me with a warm, fuzzy feeling afterwards and I had a really nice time reading it. The characters were well-developed and realistic and I enjoyed getting to know them and follow their story. The story was beautifully written and very entertaining. I would definitely like to read more by this author. Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining book and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Gray, Vic and Amanda made a wonderful almost family. Both Gray and Amanda had a lot to get thru but it was well worth the strength they offered each other. I'm sorry it ended so soon.

Late Bloomer is the tenth book in Meg Benjamin’s Konigsburg series. Attorney Gray Temple came to Konigsburg to seek solace as well as time with family members. His brother Harris, a recovering attorney, has a premier bar-b-q restaurant in town where Gray is helping out, or getting in the way, to fill his empty hours. He’s living in his cousin’s barely furnished apartment over her bookshop. Gray is angry at his hiatus from his family’s law firm, at his mother for first putting him in an awkward position then taking her sleazy boyfriend’s word over his. Gray must keep his anger in check, and the only way to do that is to keep busy and wear himself out.

Amanda Sunderland has taken over her family’s garden center business and is raising her 7 year old son, Vic. She is short two workers and worried about the rumblings Vic’s wealthy father and his fiancé are making about her child. When Gray volunteers to help her out at the garden center she is quick to make it so. But it is more than the help that interests her.

As Gray spends his days at the garden center and nights trying to figure his way out of his legal dilemma, he slowly acknowledges his attraction to both Amanda and Konigsburg. As the relationship grows with Amanda and Gray life seems to be running smoothly. Then, Vic and his young friend Daisy Toleffson disappear, bringing out the community in their search.

This is a lovely story of second chances and community support. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

Late Bloomer may be the tenth Konigsburg, Texas Book 10 by Meg Benjamin but these characters are my favorite ones now. While I didn’t understand Gray Temple’s mother, I understood him, thinking he was a very patient man. Thank goodness for his brothers. I loved Amanda Sunderland and her son Vic. Gray, Amanda and Vic all have some family issues that could have gotten them completely down but each on trudged on to making the best out of each day.

As for Konigsburg, Texas it is a small place that is growing. However, don’t talk about anyone cause the one you are speaking with is probably related to them. Quite a few cousins, aunt, uncles, and marriages going on there. What meddlesome fun they all are. Need a place to belong then this is the one for you. Where best friends go along to protect even when it could be dangerous. Go to Konigsburg, Texas today with Late Bloomer.

4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A bit of a slow story, part of a series which is set in Konigsburg about a large family, this book is Amanda and Grayson’s story. Nice small town romance.

Nothing like a cute love story to strengthen your belief in love. I enjoyed reading Gray and Amanda enjoy the process of a relationship. It felt authentic and not forced. Typical books write a huge blow up that pulls them back together after months apart and sometimes a “regular” love story is just want you want because it’s not so regular but absolutely nice! But with the drama brewing in Houston for Gray and the pull of a successful career, will even a nice love story be enough to keep he and Amanda blooming?

Just the right amount of steam along with some issues that need resolving but Gray and Amanda do their best with what they have.

This was a book I won’t forget. It had engaging characters and the storyline flowed. It was a little slow to get started for my taste but overall entertaining. I’m excited to branch out and look for more books by this author.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to read this good book. All opinions are my own.

This is a quick read...a novel written by a talented and gifted author. Although the story moves slowly at times, it comes to a satisfying end. The characters are likable...some not so much...enjoy...This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. I suggest spending an afternoon curled up in a comfy chair, immersed in this story of characters who come alive on the pages.

Engaging romance. Finding the joy of small towns. Adorable children. Interesting variety of characters, some of which are lawyers or formerly were. Lots of extended family relationships. Wildflowers. I did skip over the intimate details. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

This book is a winner! I love the Konigsburg series, and particularly
enjoyed this novel. Gray is a lawyer temporarily (hopefully) unable to
practice. He escapes to Konigsburg and fills his time helping his
brother along with other odd jobs. Amanda owns a garden store with a
staffing problem. Gray is the answer to her prayers and is immediately
helpful. When something more seems to spark between them, neither is
sure what it means or how it changes things.

I loved the characters, especially Gray, who, though he is a very
successful attorney, has yet to fully come into his own and become part
of a community. Before long is Konigsburg, he finds himself immersed in
the community. For a man who never knew his neighbors, this is a
drastic change, but one he wants to embrace.

If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. This is a stand alone
novel, however, it's so good that you really owe it to yourself to read
them all. The author is on my must read authors' list.