Love in Due Time, an all-new second chance romantic comedy from L.B. Dunbar is available now!
Naomi Winters will be forty—soon-ish—and she’s only been with one man. One night. One time. Long ago. She believes everything happens for a reason, and the universe spoke about Nathan Ryder.
Nathan Ryder isn’t the same man who hightailed his bike out of Green Valley eighteen years ago. As a rule breaker, women are one area he acts a fool. Case in point…the local librarian. He can’t get a read on her, but she’s one risk he’s willing to take. Again.
What do an eccentric librarian and a sexy silver biker have in common? More than you think.
The due date on their love might not be expired after all.
'Love in Due Time' is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Green Valley Library series.
REVIEW:
3.25 stars
***
This was a pretty good book, but it was not my favorite in the Smartypants universe. Love in Due Time by LB Dunbar is the first book in the Green Valley library series, which is a spin off of the Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid and part of the Smartypants Romance world. This book is Nathan and Naomi's story. Eighteen years ago, Naomi was a young adult with a free spirit. One fateful night she meets Nathan and they have a wild evening together, but the night ends in tragedy and forever changes both of their lives. Nathan leaves town and doesn't return for eighteen years. Now he is back in town as a single dad with two daughters, working as contractor. Now, Naomi is a Wiccan and a spinster librarian. She is picked on by many of the townspeople for being a witch and seems to have a lonely life. Nathan doesn't even recognize Naomi when he sees her again. But she recognizes him and he feels an attraction to her anyway. They begin a slow burn romance but have to deal with some issues with family, the town, the Iron Wraiths, the library and that fateful night they met.
I enjoyed this story. It was interesting and original. The writing was good, but I found the book too slow in parts. I didn't totally love Naomi and Nathan. I liked the idea of a witchy, quirky librarian, but she turned out to be pretty boring. Nathan was okay, but nothing special either. Together they had very little chemistry. I also did not love that Naomi was a near-virgin 40 year old (only having done it one time with Nathan only eighteen years ago). She was celibate, when he was definitely not, having had two kids at least two long-term relationships, being married and numerous one night stands. Also, he has a current f-buddy that he is involved with in town who is mentioned a lot on page, although he has no feelings for her. Naomi was pretty innocent about sexual stuff too, which I didn't really find cute at her age and intelligence. While she didn't immediately cave to him when he came back, she eventually did. I just didn't find it realistic or fair to have only been with one person, one time at her age. Naomi hasn't dated or kissed or done anything with a man in eighteen years. Nathan had a sense of pride that Naomi waited all those years for him and I found that a huge turn off. I did like the small town romance aspect, but I didn't think the town in the book felt like Penny Reid's version of town of Green Valley. It felt a little darker and more depressing. Still, I did like story in general. I also liked the librarian/library aspect and the glimpses of characters from the Winston brothers series.
Overall, I liked this book in general, while I didn't completely love it. Still, I was happy to that Naomi and Nathan were able to find happiness with each other. I like the idea for this series and I look forward to more from the librarians in the future!
“Naomi?” My hands cover her shoulders, holding her steady.
“This is all my fault.” Her eyes widen, the widest I’ve ever seen. Panic fills them.
“What do you mean?”
“I … I can’t believe this happened again.” Her hands come to my chest, and she gently pushes at me. “You have to get out of here.”
“What?” My brows pinch at the harsh tone.
“You need to go. I can’t be near you.” Her voice struggles to stay level.
Ouch. That stings a little.
“Why?” I take one step back under the force of her hands.
“I can’t be around you. This can’t happen.”
“Lady, what are you talking about?” My voice roughens.
“Bad things always happen after I’m with you.”
I stiffen, straightening to my full height. My arms cross and I glare down at her. Saying such a thing is just downright mean. Her head shakes as her fingers curl along the open edges of my work jacket. Suddenly, I feel like she’s tugging me to her instead of pressing me away.
What the …
“When I’m with you, something happens. Something bad.” Her breath catches. “Because we kissed, the library is closing.”
I stare at her. She can’t be serious, but I see the hysteria in her eyes, like a rabid, trapped animal. She actually believes what she says.
“Well, we didn’t kiss,” I remind her, my tone stern and condescending. “I kissed you, remember? And you didn’t kiss me back, so I don’t think it counts.”
She glares up at me, her fingers still gripping my open jacket. Her shoulders fall, her head lowers, and it’s as if I can visibly see her relax, like water cascading down a building, washing over her.
Exhale. Settle.
Exhale. Calm.
“I didn’t kiss you back?” she questions and then her head pops up again. She nearly shrieks with the hesitant realization. Commence inhaling, like she’s winding up again. Full steam ahead.
“I didn’t kiss you back,” she repeats, her excitement growing. Another exaggerated inhale.
“I didn’t kiss you back!” Now, she’s just downright gloating, and the engine’s ready to blow.
“You don’t have to sound so pleased,” I murmur. I glance up and notice Mrs. MacIntyre watching us through the window of the librarian’s office behind the check-out counter. Her eyes narrow and I’m certain we’re making too much noise for her liking.
“I … I’m so relieved,” Naomi admits, her head falling forward, her fingers loosening on my jacket. Then her face turns up again. Her lids lift, slow and lazy. Her mouth curls in sweet relief, and she pulls herself up on her toes by the open edge of my jacket and does the damnedest thing. She kisses me.
I enjoyed this story. It was interesting and original. The writing was good, but I found the book too slow in parts. I didn't totally love Naomi and Nathan. I liked the idea of a witchy, quirky librarian, but she turned out to be pretty boring. Nathan was okay, but nothing special either. Together they had very little chemistry. I also did not love that Naomi was a near-virgin 40 year old (only having done it one time with Nathan only eighteen years ago). She was celibate, when he was definitely not, having had two kids at least two long-term relationships, being married and numerous one night stands. Also, he has a current f-buddy that he is involved with in town who is mentioned a lot on page, although he has no feelings for her. Naomi was pretty innocent about sexual stuff too, which I didn't really find cute at her age and intelligence. While she didn't immediately cave to him when he came back, she eventually did. I just didn't find it realistic or fair to have only been with one person, one time at her age. Naomi hasn't dated or kissed or done anything with a man in eighteen years. Nathan had a sense of pride that Naomi waited all those years for him and I found that a huge turn off. I did like the small town romance aspect, but I didn't think the town in the book felt like Penny Reid's version of town of Green Valley. It felt a little darker and more depressing. Still, I did like story in general. I also liked the librarian/library aspect and the glimpses of characters from the Winston brothers series.
Overall, I liked this book in general, while I didn't completely love it. Still, I was happy to that Naomi and Nathan were able to find happiness with each other. I like the idea for this series and I look forward to more from the librarians in the future!
Download your copy today!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kwBn29
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2m24uuN
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/LoveinDueTime
Nook: http://bit.ly/2kv2FpK
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kx2n1t
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2m2Wytn
Amazon Print: https://amzn.to/2ku1o2d
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2kwPLr8
Excerpt
About L.B. Dunbar
L.B. Dunbar loves the sweeter things in life: cookies, Coca-Cola, and romance. Her reading journey began with a deep love of fairy tales, medieval knights, Regency debauchery, and alpha males. She loves a deep belly laugh and a strong hug. Occasionally, she has the energy of a Jack Russell terrier. Accused—yes, that’s the correct word—of having an overactive imagination, to her benefit, such an imagination works well. Author of over two dozen novels, she’s created sweet, small town worlds; rock star mayhem; MMA chaos; sexy rom-coms for the over 40; and intrigue on an island of redemption. In addition, she is earning a title as the “myth and legend lady” for her modernizations of mythology as elda lore. Her other duties in life include mother to four children and wife to the one and only.
Connect with L.B. Dunbar
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kkGqTy
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzEmHo
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2kvIEiS
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2k1Rk0d
Website: https://www.lbdunbar.com/
Connect with Smartypants Romance
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK
Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment