Natalie waited for her mother and linked arms with her. “Nah. Let’s just have a nice mother-daughter night.”
“You mean mother-daughter-and-the-girl-who-got-away night?”

Set in a small town, this is a short book about a second chance romance. Back in town 17 years later with a daughter in tow, Sarah needed to get her life back in order. When she met Natalie, the girl she kissed in high school again, will she be a distraction or what she needed?

It was an easy, relatively angst free book with some sweet moments between all the main characters. 3.5 stars for me. Out of all the characters in the book, the dog Henry was the highlight and will have dog readers fawning over him.

I just reviewed Home by Kris Bryant. #NetGalley

As I was reading this book, it had the feel of a Hallmark movie and all the elements that made it entertaining...and a bit magical.

There was the divorced mom Sarah looking after her 6 year old intelligent daughter, Harley. She was trying to get her life back on track after divorcing her wife, Francine, who was the not so likable character created to add a little tension and jealousy to the story. After the divorce, Sarah moved back home to Oregon to live with her very loving and supportive aunt and uncle. Her love interest, Natalie, was the shy awkward often bullied teenager she kissed at a high school party. Adult Natalie also happened to be this town’s sheriff. After seventeen years, the attraction was still there between them. Added to this mix of characters were the aunt and mom scheming to get both women together since they knew about the kiss and how they never got over each other. But the glue that made this a perfect holiday and magical story was the ghost dog that ran all over their small town hiding and then searching for a new family that would take care of him. He was not only smart and lovable but also heroic.
Besides the romance, there was a very dramatic even that took place and showcased the tremendous support of the residents in this small community.

I enjoyed these characters and their interactions with each other. They had a playfulness about them that made you smile, especially when the aunt and mom wanted to know how the romance was progressing. I also loved how the author described this small town and its annual holiday traditions. She created a place that invited warmth and a sense of belonging.

There was one part of the story, however, that I would have liked a little more information not only because it piqued my curiosity, but it clearly shaped Harley perception of a family unit and Sarah’s role in this perception. It had to do with Harley calling Francine by her given name, not mama or mom, even though they were married when they decided to have a baby and divorced when she was six. Francine was living with them and having meals together since Sarah mentioned Harley got her good eating habits from Francine. I would have liked to see how Sarah explained this and why Harley considered Francine a family friend and not her other mom.

Overall, as usual with a Kris Bryant story, the writing was engaging with an entertaining storyline

An ARC was given for an honest review.

I have read many Kris Bryant's romances and I can say that I have connected with all of them except for this one. Before starting this one I read the Acknowledgments and Bryant mentioned this one started as a novella that turned into short book. I really wish that this was a novella instead because there really wasn't much special going on with this one. From what I gather after reading Home, it seemed to try to get across many of the bigger things in life but the details were still that of a novella. Not sure if I am explaining that well enough. I guess what I really want to express again is that this would have been better as a novella. I liked the mains and supporting characters well enough, I just needed more of everything a typical full length romance gives us. I did appreciate that the angst in this one is minimal and of course Bryant does a good job with the sex scenes. I think we all know that Bryant is a talented writer. Again this would have stayed better as a novella (have I mentioned that before :) ).

3 stars.

This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

This was a very quick, but enjoyable read. I really liked Natalie as a character and was rooting for her and Sarah. I would have liked for the book to be a little longer and to know more about the build up to the leads’ first kiss in high school and about what happened after. I liked the supporting characters a lot, including Ghost Dog. Overall, it was a well written book with good chemistry between the leads.

A sweet second chance romance about Nathalie, the sherrif in a small town, who bumps into Sara. The girl she shared a first kiss with in her teenage years. Sara has moved back home with her 6 year old daughter after a divorce and is trying to get her life on track.
I got a good feeling from this book, it has 2 main characters who are finding eachother, not a lot of problems just 2 regular people who meet again and find the love that's meant for them. There is also a dog (yay) and a cute child involved so basically if you are looking for a not too complicated feelgood romance you should definitely pick this one up!

*** An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. ***

I downloaded this novella knowing it was written by a reliable veteran BSB author, but I didn’t realize how much I needed this book until I got to the glorious end. Sorry, no spoiler and you’ll have to get your own to find out just how good it is. The whole story is good, and what I mean is good feelings. This story is about second chances at love for many different reasons, and each character is given that chance because of one word - hope. Like I said, I didn’t realize how much I needed this book with the world full of negative headlines and our nation in such turmoil. I got my own second chance to step out of the cesspool and remember what we’re doing here in the first place - love each other. For that, I am grateful. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'Few books, even those that may be adequately written, are cliche's of form which conforms to cliche's of expectation..Understand while you as a writer may be talented, you may not be quite as good yet...'

What's a narrative with no valid context, distal emotions, meh chemistry and average execution? Well, I think it's consider as just a simple story because that's how 'HOME' turned out to be from my standpoint. Okay, that statement might come across a bit too critical but having being such an avid fan of most of Ms.Bryant's books, the storytelling does not compare to her other books -- so to her fan base and interested readers, be enthused then share your own perspective.
As to what i think the storyline really hit on --- I do come away with Ms.Bryant trying her best to show that there are many sides to being in any relationship once it's healthy, each have good communication skills, trust etc. because it does eventually involves two understanding parties. Like having one of the main characters along with her young daughter, try to navigate her subjective lifestyle from an unhealthy married to a much better loving relationship -- reacquainting with her childhood girlfriend. There are obstacles to overcome, but readers will notice that they both got whatever help and advise needed in order to move forward.
This book was a brisky read for me only because i could not connect with either the characters or storyline, that said, interested readers should not let my somewhat short interpretation be this holy grail of negativeness. Snatch it and enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an early review copy of Home. According to the acknowledgements, this story was intended to be a novella, a Thanksgiving story following on the heels of Kris Bryant's Tinsel from 2019. (Tinsel certainly set a trend, as I notice lots of my favorite authors have Christmas novellas this year.)

It seems as if every new book of Kris Bryant's I read becomes my favorite, in some way. This was on the shorter side, about 4 hours to read, and honestly I could've gone a couple of hours more and not been sorry. The small town settings and the two leads, Natalie and Sarah, really set this book apart. Natalie is the sheriff of the town, while Sarah spent a few years in high school there but moved away for college. They shared one kiss in high school and it certainly changed Natalie. When Sarah moves back to town with a 6-year-old daughter after a divorce to regroup with her aunt and uncle, sparks fly. But because Sarah isn't sure if she wants to make her home in Spruce Mountain permanently, she tries to move slowly with Natalie, rather than hurt her when she inevitably leaves.

There's another special character, Ghost Dog, a stray whom Natalie finds and takes in while she looks for the owner. Then all of a sudden you find yourself in the second half of the book and the action really starts. I refuse to be "that Karen" who spoils the absolutely brilliant ending, but suffice it to say it's a huge wow moment.

For something that could have been a throwaway, this book is a game changer, one that will stay in my mind for quite some time.

Sheriff Natalie is happy with her life in small town Spruce Mountain Oregon she has a great relationship with her mom. She is shock to see Sarah the one girl who gave her an amazing kiss at the party back in town she never thought she see her again.

Sarah moves back to town with her six year old daughter Harley to live with her Aunt Judy and Uncle Bob as she figure out getting her life together. Sarah never thought she sees the girl she share a amazing kiss with turn out to be even more beautiful an amazing.

Sarah and Natalie weren’t really friends but they share an amazing kiss that neither had forgotten as they build a friendship they can’t deny the chemistry between them and wonder if they can be something more.

Cute romance with little to no angst I love how the dog which Natalie calls him Ghost Dog seems to there one minute and then not I like how it’s seems he chose Natalie even though he is skittish around others. This would make a great Hallmark movie.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.