When I saw the blurb for Home, I thought I would immediately fall in love with the book. Second chance romance and a stray dog! And an adorable kid! Unfortunately, none of what I had hoped for was actually there.

I mean, yeah, the two women shared a kiss when they were seventeen but they had no relationship or history together beyond that kiss. Yet they each never forgot it and one of them measured each first kiss since by that standard and thought about the other for that long? I wanted to buy it but couldn't.

The sweet dog story arc was nice until, for me, it went too far.

I think I expected too much and set myself up for disappointment. I will say that the tension-building part that was used to solidify the family was different and interesting. But beyond that, I was mostly left wanting more.

2.5 with a round up to 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and BSB for the ARC! ( )

Sometimes you can go home again

Great dialogue and lovable characters in a second-chance/friends-to-lovers smalltown romance.

If that sounds like your jam, you'll probably enjoy this book. I certainly did.

Very recommended. ( )

Ah, what a story. The story of Natalie and Sarah, not to mention Harley, and the coolest dog ever.

Natalie is the Sheriff in her hometown. When she was in high school one of her classmates, Sarah, kissed her at a party and then just left town. Well, Sarah is back and she and Natalie run into each other again and sudenly those old feelings resurface.

They've both changed. Sarah has a (cute) kid, Harley. And Natalie is trying to find a ghost dog that she just can't seem to keep hold of for more than twenty seconds of sseing him. They get closer (because of the dog and the kid) and I have to say that while there is some relationship drama, it seemed like significantly less than in most lesfic romances. It was delightful.

It was such a fun read. A relaxing read, and then the end. I mean, there was the end of Natalie and Sarah (and Harley's) story, but, then there... was more, and it was perfect. And I may or may not have added a half a star just for that extra ending. It was perfect.

Mmm... I did have one small problem with it though. When Mary tells Sarah during her library interview that, as a librarian she can read all she wants as long as it doesn't get in the way of her work. No. Yeah... no. Think of it this way. Teachers get so many kudos for 'grading papers at home'. Reading actual books, books that librarians need to read to keep up with the profession, do book groups, be able to do Reader's Advisory, etc. That's the equivalent. Not a close equivalent, but, the exact equivalent. We read at home because when we are at the library there is either a patron in front of us who needs us, (or two, or four, or six), or we are setting up a program, planning a program, fixing something that's gone wrong with the tech (or the programs), dealing with patrons who aren't in front of us, dealing with politicians who believe that all we do is read all day (so why do we need money then). Etc. Etc.

Once I got through that little hiccup in the book though, it was a fun read.

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