3.5 stars
I was invested from the beginning wanted Starla to get her happy ending and Swayer turned out to be a great guy. I wasn't a big fan of Starla getting pregnant again and her leaving town at the end, the back and forth did get frustrating.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

More Than We Bargained for was a quick, fun read. If you enjoy quirky romances, this book is for you. As a reader, I fell in love with the characters and how the story unfolded. I also appreciated the representation of differently abled people and how the author showcased their struggles and triumphs.
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55886640-more-than-we-bargained-for" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="More Than We Bargained For (Timber Falls #4)" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605374870l/55886640._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55886640-more-than-we-bargained-for">More Than We Bargained For</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18433825.Fiona_West">Fiona West</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3764302696">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review<br /><br />More Than We Bargained for was a quick, fun read. If you enjoy quirky romances, this book is for you. As a reader, I fell in love with the characters and how the story unfolded. I also appreciated the representation of differently abled people and how the author showcased their struggles and triumphs.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/17743499-dawn-burbridge">View all my reviews</a>

I found it to be kind of predictable. It was just...okay. But I did like the writing so I wouldn't be opposed to reading something from this author again.

More Than We Bargained For is the first book I’ve read in the Timber Falls series even though it is book #4. However, that did not stop me from enjoying this book and story. I think reading the series in order would help understand background in some of the side relationships. But it is not necessary.

Starla was a fun main character who didn’t hide her flaws and pretend she was perfect. Her chemistry with Sawyer, the forest recluse, was sweet and natural. It didn’t feel forced for the sake of the story.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a fun sweet adult romance (closed door).

Thank you Netgalley and the author for an e-ARC of this book for an honest review.

Romances set in small-town settings are my thing and More Than We Bargained For fits that category. It is so cute!

Starla is going through a divorce, taking care of her two kids, while working as a librarian in the town. Sawyer is the sweetest and softest hero. He is SO smitten by Starla right from the start (I'm pretty sure there was *some* development in the previous books already). He donates brand new books anonymously every week at the library Starla works for but really it's just one thing he does to try to make her happy.

When something changes with Starla's living situation, Sawyer suggests an arrangement: Starla and her kids could live in the lodge by his cabin in exchange for Starla driving sawyer where he needs to go around town (since he recently had a seizure due to his multiple sclerosis and it’s not safe for him to be alone yet). They become close friends first then lovers. He also makes an effort to take care of and grow closer to her kids. Sawyer knows she is having a tough time so he just wants to be there for her. And on the other hand, Starla is also helping out Sawyer.

Such a sweet story. They supported each other in many ways. This is the first book I’ve read in this series but it was easy to follow. I never felt lost although I probably could have appreciated it more if I read the other books (which I’m definitely motivated to do so now).

Book four of the Timber Falls series a well written story with a very good storyline. Starla Moore and Sawyer Devereaux's story, he was one beautiful caring man, I enjoyed seeing their story come together. I would recommend this book.

More Than We Bargained For by Fiona West was a heartwarming story and the first book I read by this author. The story was charming with the small town and cast of characters. I appreciate the representation of Sawyer's MS, which was clearly well researched. We need to have more novels that represent disability and illness to normalize it within our pop culture. I always love a friends-to-lovers romance story, but this one seems a little off. I need to read more of Fiona West's novel because Timber Falls is a charming place to escape too.

Thank you to Fiona West, Tempest and Kite Publishing, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Friends to romantic partners, each struggle with their own personal demons in this enjoyably clean novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m going to be upfront and say that I have been STRUGGLING with this book.

It’s well written! The leads have chemistry! There’s pining and secret affection (which is my catnip)!

BUT. I cannot get past the fact that the heroine is pregnant with her estranged, cheating, douchebag of a husband’s third child. I just can’t.

This is not a slight against the author — I genuinely enjoy Fiona West’s writing and world building in this series. I just have had a few too many friends having to coparent with raging narcissists lately, so I’m going to shelve it for later.

But for what I did read? SO DANG CUTE.

This was my first book in the "series," which was before I knew it was a series. At first, I was a bit confused as I didn't know the characters, and it felt that it began in a familiarity that makes sense. After I realized it was a series but standalone, I was able to get into it more. When I was able to do that, I had so much fun! I thought the characters were fantastic, and the voice was easy to read and get into, especially for a romance. "More Than We Bargained For" is a sweet read that I would recommend to anyone.

A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and the author in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Content warnings: Cheating, death of an animal, slight financial abuse on part of ex-husband.

My rating: 5 out of 5 books

Highlights:
Sawyer Devereaux is a gift to this Earth and we do not deserve him
Pregnant/parent romances aren’t my first choice, so the fact that I greatly enjoyed this one speaks for it’s quality.
So many Star Wars references
Sawyer’s disability is a part of his story, but not its central focus.
Just a lovely small-town romance to curl up with.


That smile could charm the pants off a bear. If bears wore pants. She’d been reading a lot of picture books lately; possibly too many, if that was the best analogy she could come up with.

This year has been an emotional shitshow, so when I was offered the opportunity to review this lovely small-town romance I snatched it up! I grew up in a small town, and worked part time as a librarian during my A-Levels, so Starla’s encounters with the library patrons were hilariously familiar to me. I knew a few pages in that this was the perfect book for me to pair with a cup of tea, a blanket and my fluffiest slippers. Especially when Sawyer Devereaux started anonymously donating books to the library to make Starla smile.

Take note folks, that right there is romance. Ask my fiancée, books are my love language.

Starla has left her husband, it’s over, she’s done with Charlie and his infidelity and...she’s pregnant. In a small town where everyone knows everything and Starla faces the repercussions of taking herself and her children away from a ‘respectable’ home, things are looking bleak.

Enter Sawyer, the world’s loveliest recluse, who has a heart the size of the American continent and looks at Starla like she hung the moon and stars. Not that she notices. Everyone else does though. It’s lovely. Sawyer needs a ride to and from town for a while after his condition flares up, and has a spare cabin. Starla needs somewhere to live and has a car. It’s the perfect solution to a complex problem. Of course, add in the baby and two idiots in love and you have a very delicate situation.

There’s an element of right person, wrong time to their romance which is dealt with by both of them in such a realistic and respectful way - far from the constant pressure of ex-husband Charlie on Starla to do certain things and live a certain way, Sawyer steps back and lets Starla make her own decisions and respects them as hers. Honestly he’s too pure, he plays board games and makes tortillas with her kids.

The moments of small-town/small-mind mentality are challenged in the most badass of ways. Starla stands on a table in church to lay rumours to rest, and Sawyer steps up to give the town a scolding, and it’s delightful.

Honestly I just loved this book, and it was the perfect balm to a tough week in a tough year, and the ideal review to see it out. Massive thank you to the author, Fiona West, for bringing the series to my attention - I fully intend on reading all of them in my cosiest jumpers to fight the sad days.

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone, and thank you for bearing with me this year. I love and appreciate every single one of you, and I hope 2021 treats you better than 2020 has.

More than we bargained for
By Fiona west
Pub date 9 nov 2020
This is book four in the series. This is such a wonderful book I enjoyed so much you in the story with the characters and the writing style is beautiful written. The cover is stunning. This is my first time reading anything from Fiona west and it woun’t be the last I will definitely read the other books in the series. I loved where the main story was the library full of book and starla was a librarian and loved working there also struggling from a divorce and bringing up two children. And a new friends two romance beginning I loved how she cope with all the issues she was dealing with. I loved the friends two romance with sawyer and Starla. Starla is a lovely character that I enjoyed. I loved the story so much such a great read . ❤️🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first book by Fiona West and I was pleasantly surprised. More Than We Bargained For follows Starla, a librarian who’s going through a divorce and trying to navigate her life with two kids, and Sawyer, who’s been secretly crushing on Starla for years. After he suffers from a seizure at the library, Starla is determined to help him out as a chauffeur and as a thanks, she and her kids get to live next door to Sawyer.

Both Starla and Sawyer are easily lovable characters with a lot of depth. Their relationship starts out as a genuine friendship but soon develops into something bigger. You see them slowly falling in love and you can’t help but root for them because they’re so adorable. They had amazing chemistry and all of their scenes together were nothing but perfect. Though as much as I enjoyed the romance, I loved how it wasn’t the only thing going on. There was Sawyer struggling with serious health issues and rediscovering his passion and his love for life, and Starla dealing with her ex-husband and following her own dreams. I also loved the dynamics between all of the characters, especially seeing Starla care for her kids and Sawyer opening up to them.

The ending was so wholesome and satisfying, and I can’t wait to check out the rest of the series!

This was a cute read. I enjoyed it very much. I didn’t agree with some of the decisions Starla made. It seems they just caused her more issues.

“You belong with us,” she repeated more firmly. “On good days. On crap days. All the days.”

Starla is just trying to make it. Perpetually late. On the cusp of being a divorcee with two children, she is always taking care of everyone else and leaving herself as an afterthought.

Sawyer is simply trying to make it through each day. He’s given up his biggest dreams, not by choice - and he finds the smallest things he can in his life to spark moments of joy, and more importantly, what brings joy to Starla.

“More Than We Bargained For”, is book four in The Timber Falls Series by Fiona West. It is a small town friends to lovers romance, set in a small town in Oregon. It brings the unlikely friendship of Starla and Sawyer together. They each have something that the other needs, and by that it helps ground the other. Starla struggles with identifying who she is without her ex-husband by her side anymore. while Sawyer can’t grapple the idea of even formulating a plan for what his future will look like. They were what they didn’t realized they needed. To heal.

If you’re looking for something cute, clean with small town fun, this is an easy afternoon read.

This one was sweet. The main character, Starla, is a sweet and flawed mother of two in the middle of a divorce. Her small-town love is Sawyer. He's the perfect forest hermit, romantic trope. He's also very sensitive, which is nice to see in a motorcycle-fixing, former surgeon. Starla and Sawyer's romance is a slowburn and also open-door. I wanted things to heat up a little more, but their relationship was very sweet. I appreciated how Sawyer just was very patient and honest with Starla. The best thing about this book is the way it dealt with Sawyer's multiple sclerosis. There are a few passages that talk about his own internalized ableism. Very well done. Overall, I would recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this read. I hadn't read the previous books but I understood this as a standalone which was nice. If you haven't read the others, it shouldn't stop you picking this one up.
It's a simply written and easy to follow story. I love a good romance and this ticked the boxes, if a little too fluffy...
The characters were great and I found myself cheering them on... it was overall a good read.

More Than We Bargained For was provided to me as an ARC through NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions remain my own. This book is book 4 in a series, but can be understood as a stand alone. I have not read any of the other books in this series. I feel there were maybe a few small things I may have missed out on, but overall it did not impact the main storyline. This book follows Starla a recently separated mother and Sawyer who is attempting to readjust to life after recent health issues. They end up in a position where they can help each other out, and of course romance blooms. The description tells you up front that you get a happy ending. This was a little too fluff for me, but overall an ok read.

An easy and sweet read. Starla is lucky to get a Sawyer. True life may not be this simple. Never the less, a happy ending. Wonder if Sawyer's MS condition further deteriorated. Also whether their love stood life's tests wrt his disorder.

You know that feeling when that supporting character who's been around the entire series, and who's been dealing with a bad hand for a while, FINALLY has his happy ending? because that's what i'm feeling now.

This book followed the same formula as the previous ones and with success; clean, easy-to-read writing, a compelling story, a closed-door romance, characters that go straight to your heart, and a happy ending. I just feel that I would have liked a little more development in their relationship, not something so fast.