A Place to Belong, Abbie Williams

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Women's Fiction, Romance

* sigh * women's fiction, I seem to have been moaning about this genre for ages now. Its 2020, men write romance, men read romance, lets stop with the sexism.

Anyway, while reading this it had the feel of one in a series of connected books. The way the characters were intertwined, the places, and I checked – yes, Shore Leave Cafe series has many of these characters. It didn't matter that I hadn't read any of the books, this story was perfect and complete. I have downloaded the first book though, its on KU and I love Abbie's writing style.
I adored Wy and Millie. They were so clearly in love with each other though neither were open about it until finally, they told each other how they felt. They had a few short days of happiness before the axe falls. I cold see that one coming, but it was so well done that I didn't mind.
I so felt for Wy, he was trapped, stuck, didn't want to disappoint his family, wanted to do what was right, but it brought him heartache all round. He finishes his studies, lives his life as best he can, but never forgets Millie, always wishes it was her in his life. Still, he tries, he tries so hard, but he doesn't have a happy life. Hannah was a great character, sadly there are people just like her and I do love to see them crop up in a story,. Her actions were so very real, and show how easily lives can be spoiled by a thoughtless action. She wasn't happy either, even though she had what she wanted.
Millie, she's devastated when Wy leaves, understands why, but it leaves a hole in her heart. She tries to get past him but he's always there in her head, won't leave her.
Its heart breaking, you can feel how much they love each other, how good they would be together, and yet they're stuck, hundreds of miles apart, and no hope of a future. Millie too tries to move forward but can't.
Much of the book is about them being apart, always loving each other but with no contact for years, and yet the love in their hearts is so strong no-one else stands a chance. I was heartbroken for them both, this scene gets played out in real life too often, and its not happy for anyone. I so wanted something to happen for them to be together, was almost holding my breath at times, and gutted when they were still apart. I don't usually like romances where the main characters spend much of the novel apart, but it works here, and I loved this story.
I loved the equine parts too, I've also studied Parelli and adore horses, so I understood Millie so well.

Stars: 5 A fabulous romance, with realistic characters and a heartbreaking story line.

Arc via Netgalley

~ ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~

I was tempted to DNF this book due to so many characters. However, pushing through, I have come to adore Wy and Millie, sooo in love with each other.
They were very realistic characters – at some point I was seeing myself in Millie’s place, how I used to overthink every little gesture form the side of my adolescent love interest. Is weird to see that I was not the only one thinking that way.

All in all, if you look for angst this is the heartbreaking story for you.

Millie is from Minnesota and is a waitress. Millie waits on a group of flirty out of town frat boys she only has eyes on her crush wy though. Wy is her younger cousins uncle. Wy is six years older. Millie has a younger brother Henry. Aunt Jilly and cousin are have a high level of insight and flash's of future . Millie wants wy to be her first although the age difference.Millie also has brothers James,Brantley and sister Lorie.Millie is not close to her bio dad. I have mixed feelings about the fact that wy is related to Millie in extended way .wy is studying to be a vet which is career choice I love in books. I loved the shared interest in books.