A lovely, beautifully written story that focuses on a small-town and the romance that unfolds within it. 
This is book three in the series, however you can definitely read this book as a standalone novel.

Annie is determined to help Rose find her true love, but when it quickly backfires, she enlists the help of George. However there is one problem - they simply don't ;like each other. 

I really enjoyed this read from the start. The banter that was shared between the characters was fun and added extra layers to the story. 

An enjoyable, beautifully written read. I loved it!.

Quite a cute book of small-town romances. I loved the earlier books, so I was eager to get into this one in between my thrillers. Book 3 in the series but each could be read as a standalone romance, the author provided enough backstory. 
Annie wanted the eldest sister Rose to find her true love, but it backfired so she got George to help her out. But there was a problem, they didn't like each other. I loved their sarcastic banter, writing provided some laughs interspersed with the realities of their past life. There were enough emotions to make me get invested in the story and finish it in one sitting. 
Overall, a sweet read.

I received an eARC of The Perfect Hideaway by Alys Murray from Bookouture and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4 stars! An easy feel-good romantic read with a small-town backdrop. Definitely recommend!

4.5 Stars

“What a fantastically small thing—to be seen, really seen, by someone, and not have that person run screaming in the other direction.” This, at the heart of it, is what Emma is about, no? Which is what makes The Perfect Hideaway such a gorgeous retelling of the beloved Austen story.

This book, like the lead character Annie herself, swooped in unexpectedly out of nowhere and said HI. WE WERE MEANT TO BE FRIENDS AND WE’RE GOING TO KNOW EACH OTHER FOREVER. And y’all, this is 1000% true. I loved the Full Bloom Farm series as a whole, but my heart will forever be with Annie and this final installment. I absolutely adored her character arc throughout this series and while you could probably read this book on its own, I’d recommend reading the first two to get the full Annie picture. It’s completely worth it. It felt like the first two books were just setting us up for Annie’s (and George’s) story and it felt right that this series should end with her.

This was an unexpected delight for me.  Lately all romances novels have turned out to be filled with vapid and vacuous characters I have hated.  This book turned out to be the exception and I devoured it in one sitting.  Characters you fall in love with, terrific writing, and emotional depth all combine for a memorable romance.

3.5 Stars

The Perfect Hideaway is a quick, easy read – perfect for when you want a light, feel-good story where love triumphs in the end. This is the third book in the Full Bloom Farm series.  I have not read the previous two, but I felt it worked well on its own merits.

Annie Martin is a social media influencer who has swapped her Los Angeles lifestyle for the quiet little town of Hillsboro in the northern part of the state. Going to great lengths to maintain her happy, successful façade, she runs full tilt into George Barnett, an investigative journalist, determined to reveal the “truth” about Annie and her brother Luke. What starts out as a clash of strong personalities mellows into friendship and then deepens into love over the course of the book.  Not only do these two take risks in sharing their vulnerabilities around family, they also both have believed that they are unlovable and not worthy of meaningful relationships, pouring all their energies into their work. In that manner, the book is somewhat predictable, but nonetheless it is a heart-warming story.

My biggest issue was the pacing of the story line.  The first half of the book is spent exploring Annie’s low self-esteem resulting in extreme codependent behavior. There are allusions to her hidden past, but it became a bit tedious after a while.  Fortunately, the last half of the book has more depth in character development as the interactions between Annie and George become more authentic and realistic...even charming.  All the characters in the book are likeable and relatable. 

Based on this reading, I will definitely pursue the first two books in the series (The Magnolia Sisters and Sweet Pea Summer) to round out my understanding of the characters.

My thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing the opportunity to review a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet romance between Annie, a social influencer/matchmaker and George the local small town journalist. I believe I would have liked the story more had I read the 1st 2 books in the series, which I will go back and read now.  I enjoyed this story. Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the advance copy.

The Perfect Hideaway (previously titled The Wildflower Promises) is the 3rd book in the Full Bloom Farm series set in the picturesque small town of Hillsboro and this book focuses on Annie Martin and George Barnett. 

Annie Martin has everything going for her. She's beautiful, rich and at the age of 25 years is a successful social media influencer. Plus, she loves matchmaking! After putting her matchmaking skills to successful use, for Harper (with her own brother Luke) and May Anderson, in the first two books, Annie now sets her sight on Rose the third Anderson sister; however, Rose proves tricky for Annie's skills as she isn't easily influenced by Annie's matchmaking efforts. George Barnett is a handsome journalist for the local paper who has had his mind set, for the past two years, to 'expose' the Martins truth as he is sure there is a dark, dirty secret hidden behind the siblings' success story. So when Annie comes to George with a proposition to help her out with the Rose issue, George agrees only if Annie gives him the scoop about herself and Luke. 

This is a sweet, heartwarming, clean romance about two people who, outwardly, appear to be confident and charismatic but are infact quite insecure; they are both loners each hiding an individual secret; a secret they believe that, if brought to light, will make everyone they know dislike them completely. It is only by gradually getting to know each other, through a bit of fun, flirting, laughter and tears, that they both realise they might have more in common with each other and could be the 'soul mates' they have been searching for. 

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Alys Murray for the e-Arc of the book. I haven't read the first two books of the series but it didn't affect my enjoying this third installment.

This is a Netgalley ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.

The Perfect Hideaway by Alys Murray is a sweet romance that definitely leaves the reader feeling light and happy. This is book 3 of the Full Bloom Farm series and I would recommend reading the books in order. There is some background that a stand alone reader would find confusing.

Annie is a friend of the Anderson sisters and she loves to meddle in their lives. She's an influencer and has a love to hate relationship with the town reporter, George. And honestly, could there be a name that screams nosy reporter better than George?? George is finagled into helping Annie with another of her "pet projects." Hijinks ensue and if this were a Hallmark movie I'd be all in for the entire two hours.

I'm hoping Alys Murray has one more book in the series for Rose Anderson. Fingers crossed.

Annie Martin with her looks, social media savvy, insta fame and brother who created an empire fell in love with the Andersons of Full Bloom Farm, as they did with her.  Now with her brother away on his honeymoon with Harper, youngest sister May off traveling the world with her man Tom: Annie’s focus has now turned to Rose and finding her a man. One thing that Annie does hide is her deep-down insecurities – never feeling like she can ‘be herself’ and need others. That becomes her Achille’s heel here in this story.  

George is a reporter for the local newspaper and determined to ‘bring down’ Annie’s brother Luke. For two years he’s chased down leads, trying to find the ‘dirt’ behind his empire.  Annie just might be the ‘in’ he needs – and when he tries to get her to ‘open up’, he’s shut down just as quickly. But Annie is nothing if not resourceful, and agrees to an exclusive interview with her, if George helps her find a match for Rose.  

These two are adorable together, even as neither really trusts the other fully. George is finding that Annie, just being her, brings light and smiles into his life, and he’s amazed at all of the ‘nevers’ she has experienced. From a first ‘date’ at a honky tonk bar to a miniature horse wedding, he’s falling hard for Annie, and he’s discovering that his desire to ‘uncover’ Luke’s business dealings and secrets is waning.  Perfectly fitting into this series, we get some background on Rose, a bit about Annie’s secrets, see her magic work on other new people and finally find the happy ending that is so deserved for both Annie and George.  

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.  

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://iam-indeed.com/perfect-hideaway-alys-murray/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

I’ve fallen in love with Alys Murray’s enchanting and emotional small town romances and she is back with another wonderful story full of hope and heart that touched my heart and kept me entertained and engrossed until the very last word: The Perfect Hideaway.

Annie Martin has shaken off the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and is thoroughly enjoying her new life in Hillsboro, Northern California, a small town where she truly feels like she belongs. The wonderful Anderson sisters have welcomed her with open arms and made her feel like she is one of their own and as the sisters all pair up, Annie thinks she can put her matchmaking skills to good use and find Rose the man of her dreams. Only thus far all of Annie’s match-making plans have been unmitigated disasters and when her latest attempt to pair Rose up ends up in a drenching, she realizes that it’s time to call in the big guns and enlists the help of local reporter and town grouch George Barnett. With his deep knowledge of all the town’s goings-on and his insight into the male psyche, George is sure to help Annie find Rose the man of her dreams. Only his help is going to come at a cost: a revealing exposé that details why Annie had swapped the bright lights of LA for small town life. Annie agrees, but does she know just what she has gotten herself into?

As the two begin to spend more and more time together, sparks soon start to fly between the two of them. Annie’s laugh and her joie de vivre and her gusto for match-making gladdens George’s heart and pretty soon, he begins to wonder whether rather than finding someone else the perfect mate, he has inadvertently ended up finding his own soulmate. Will George let down his guard and let Annie in? And will Annie find the courage to confess the secrets of her own past to a man who has come to mean the world to her?

Emotionally satisfying, engaging, heart-warming, witty and so utterly addictive I couldn’t put this book down, The Perfect Hideaway is another must-read contemporary romance by Alys Murray. George and Annie are two wonderful characters readers cannot help but warm to and fall in love with and their witty repartee, zingy banter and touching romance is sure to enchant and delight.

A superb tale of second chances, new beginnings and falling in love when you least expect it, Alys Murray’s The Perfect Hideaway is romantic escapism at its finest and fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery who haven’t discovered her wonderful small town romances yet, what on earth are you waiting for?

Favorite Quotes:

Looking at him was like catching sight of lightning striking an electrical grid. All sparks.

Her nameplate was actually covered in masking tape, and upon that was written Mynette Chen— Administrative Assistant/ Professional Badass.

I really didn’t think it was possible to be as dumb as you look, but here you are, proving it every time we speak.

If I ever felt real, I don’t even think I’d recognize myself.

Men are like ice cream. Nice to have, but not necessary for your overall health and happiness.

Man, I have to edit all of your work and you’ve been sending me more spelling errors than a kindergartener trying to write Faust.

What a fantastically small thing—to be seen, really seen, by someone, and not have that person run screaming in the other direction. But, like most small and beautiful things in this world, it was so rare.


My Review:

This was a sweet hybrid of enemies to lovers/small-town/contemporary romance/women’s fiction tale that was chaste enough for my elderly mother’s book club and still kept me entertained.  I was expecting the primary focus to be placed the last Anderson sister but was surprised to see her placed in a secondary role.  The main characters were at odds and distrustful of each other and wielded sharp banter and took witty and snarky bites at each other most of the way through. Although, they began to see a different side of each other after they called a truce and struck a deal to collaborate on a personal project, with humorous and amorous results that both were resisting.  George was using Annie to get information for a story, and being a journalist, he did not welcome or want to acknowledge any “inconvenient feelings,” snort.    

The writing was easy to follow, well balanced between emotive and amusing, and teased and prodded my curiosity to learn the buried secrets and private shame that was plaguing Annie.  I wasn’t on the bus for team George until the last few chapters, but he finally managed to win me over once he pulled his head from his nether regions, sometimes men deserve a little foot action to assist with the dislodging and I would have eagerly volunteered ;)  I admired and coveted Mynette Chen's clever nameplate and am busy making plans to create a similar one for myself.

Hopeful and happy. Flirty and fun. Alys Murray’s sweet small town romances will touch your heart and make you smile. This is the third book in the Full Bloom Farm series, but it can without a doubt be read as a standalone. Annie loves to make other people happy. Now that she has successfully made a love match for sisters Harper and May it is their oldest sister Rose’s turn. But Rose is not a willing participant in Annie’s matchmaking shenanigans. Not to mention that Annie seems to only set up Rose with her mortal enemies. Annie needing a little more insight into the small town dynamics Annie bribes news reporter George to help her out. George agrees only because he is convinced that there is a story to be told about Annie and her wealthy brother Luke.

   This was a whimsical enemies to lovers story. Both Annie and George were likable characters with tragic passs. I loved their chemistry, their banter, and their tender moments. I was really hoping they could both put down their walls and find love. This was a delightful story that just made me feel good!

this book in emojis  💐🐐 🐶 🌳 📰 📱

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This is the third book in this series which is based in the small town of Hillsboro in Northern California. It is here that the Anderson sisters live and they have welcomed Annie Martin into their lives, though her matchmaking can get a bit much at times as she's so obvious about it all. However, with two of the three sisters now married, there's only Rose left for her to work her magic for . . . . and Rose isn't going to be quite as easy!

Annie is also lonely as her brother is off on honeymoon. That's why she decides to involve George Barnett, he's a local reporter who really wants to dish the dirt on her and her brother, so bribery to get him to help works well. Actually, maybe it works too well? As these two adversaries try to control everything around them, getting to know each other actually breaks down their personal barriers and mutual attraction grows between them. Can they learn to trust and love each other or will her secrets and his drive to find the story get in the way?

This is an enemies to lovers romance with great characters and plenty of surprises along the way. Annie is so insecure in her friendships and self belief whilst George just doesn't trust anyone. They make a great if reluctant team and the growth of their relationship, complete with interference from others, make this a very bumpy journey with so many obstacles to be overcome en route. It is a heartwarming addition to the series and definitely showed a different side to Annie from how she was portrayed in earlier books. I can't wait to read Rose's story and catch up on what has happened to her sisters and Annie in future.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

The Perfect Hideaway is the third book in Alys Murray’s Full Bloom Farm series, and although part of a series can be read as a stand alone. I have previously read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them so I was excited to read Annie’s story. 

The Full Bloom Farm series focuses on the lives of the Anderson sisters and their parents' flower farm, with Annie being the much loved friend who has honorary sister status. In the first two books you get glimpses of Annie’s character and from these I definitely wanted to know more about her. 
Having already had glimpses of Annie in the previous two books I knew that she had a bubbly personality and was an instagram star who had moved from LA to Hillsboro. I found Alys’ descriptions of the ups and downs of Annie's career choice to be refreshingly balanced. 
Now that two of the Anderson sisters have found there happily ever after Annie decides that she needs to help Rose find the love of her life. A plan that Rose is totally not on board with and when Annie realises she may need some help she decides to enlist the help of George, a local reporter who wants to do an expose on Annie and her brother. This is definitely a case of keep your friends close and your enemies closer. 
As the two bumble through trying to matchmake Rose with any single male in the local area the spark of attraction between the two slowly begins to ignite. Both Annie and George believe they are not worthy of being loved for who they are, leading to Annie trying to be everyone’s friend and George being a bit of a loner. As they learn to trust each other and share their secrets they both learn that they are worthy of being like and loved. However misunderstandings lead to Annie feeling betrayed by George and he has to pull out all the stops to try and win her back. 
 
All of the characters in The Perfect Hideaway are well defined and I really enjoyed the depth that their personalities and interactions with Annie and George added to the story. As with the previous two books the descriptions of the surrounding landscapes were glorious and I could really picture the town of Hillsboro.
Overall this is a wonderful read for a summers afternoon, a light hearted and heartfelt tale of finding love in the unlikeliest of places.

I love this series and was happy to read the story of Annie and George.
There are  some story you don’t you need to read because I thought I was going to read a heartwarming and uplifting story, laugh and and root for the characters. The story is heartwarming and uplifting, it made me laugh and root for the characters but it also moved me to tears because it’s the story of two hurt and lonely people who meet and change their life.
What I didn’t expect was to be me moved to tears by their solitude and their need to meet someone special.
Annie and George are two great characters, well thought and realistic. Their sufferance and their personality are well described and you cannot help loving them and feeling for them.
Even when you are laughing at their antics or appreciating the lovely setting and the humour.
This is book is perfect for any Hallmark movie lover but there are multiple layers that makes it more complex than what I expected.
I strongly recommend it because it’s an excellent read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Loved reading this book. Annie is known for being a matchmaker but could  someone be doing the same to her. I highly recommend this book.

An entertaining diversion

[This is Book 3 in the author's Full Bloom Farm series, but it also works just fine as a standalone]

Annie is a woman who believes her job & background require her to appear perfect. George is a bitter curmudgeon who thinks Annie is superficial - and hiding something. He's a news guy looking for a story on how Annie & her brother have cheated or exploited others to get their wealth, cuz he's just sure that's what they're hiding.

It's a sweet lighthearted story, outside of the main conflict itself.  The main characters start out as stereotypes, but by the time the story reaches its denouement, the stereotypes have been fully fleshed out & you realize how much more there is to their appearances. The middle could have used a slightly snappier pace, but the ending makes it all worthwhile

RATING:  a light PG
POTENTIAL CONTENT ISSUES
*Clean romance level:  sweet kisses, nothing graphic

*Language:  minimal; a half dozen uses of d--n & h-ll

*Religion:  secular, 3 casually indifferent (ie in vain) uses of God's Name, sadly & unnecessarily, but none as curses, fwiw

*Now requisite token gay couple as minor characters

This was a nice enjoyable read, pleasant characters, nice story, I just had issues getting into it. It seemed slow and stilted for a lot of the start, but it seemed to change pace just before halfway and improved a lot, a lot more seemed to happen, I did enjoy it, but If the pacing issues were sorted it would easily be a 4 star read.

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

Alys Murray’s latest book, The Perfect Hideaway, is now available as the third book in the Full Bloom Farm Series. If you haven’t started this series, check out The Magnolia Sisters and Sweet Pea Summer first.

I was really looking forward to The Perfect Hideaway because Annie Martin is my favorite character from the other two books. This book was everything I’d hoped for and more! The earlier books gave some inklings that Annie was more complicated than the Anderson sisters, or the rest of the town, gave her credit for and in this one we find out why (but don’t worry, no spoilers here).

Social media influencer Annie Martin has decided to leave Los Angeles behind and move to Hillsboro in Northern California full-time. She’s fallen in love with the small town and adopted the Andersons as her own family, but not everyone in town is ready to welcome her with open arms.

Surly local newspaper reporter George Barnett is certain there’s more to Annie and her brother Luke than meets the eye. Ever since they came to Hillsboro, he’s wanted to find out more about their past so he can write an expose that catapults his career to new heights. In his experience, rich people usually leave behind the bodies of all the people they’ve stepped over to get where they are and he’s convinced the Martins are no different.

Annie knows George has been digging around trying to get dirt on her brother, and she’s not about to let him hurt the most important person in her life. So, she offers herself up instead…even though she has more to hide than her brother. That’s because the only dirt that exists on Luke was really all her doing.

In exchange for the exclusive, George agrees to help Annie with her efforts to find a match for Rose, the only Anderson sister she hasn’t already tried to help steer toward love. He’s only in it to get the scoop on the Martins…or is he?

What begins as two people pursuing separate agendas begins to become more personal over time. I love the dichotomy of Annie’s bright, sparkly personality paired with grumpy, skeptical George. Beneath all of their banter is an undercurrent of attraction, but they’re each hiding secrets from their past they’ll have to reveal if they want to go any further.

This was my favorite so far in the Full Bloom Series! Go ahead and grab The Magnolia Sisters and Sweet Pea Summer, if you haven’t already, and then dive into this charming small town romance set amidst the backdrop of beautiful Northern California.