mandy_pandy's review against another edition
4.0
Maddy is renovating an old mansion and turning it into a bed and breakfast. She's just ending her marriage after her husband has been cheating on her and she's focusing all her energy into opening her bed and breakfast. Rys is the interim police chief when he moves home to take care of his father. I enjoyed these characters and really was hoping for a HEA for Maddy and Rys. I enjoyed this book but thought it was a little slow and had so much going on it was hard to follow at times. I would've liked more Maddy and Rys. I still really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review **
** ARC provided in exchange for an honest review **
robinwalter's review
The author tried to cram too much drama in for my tastes - abusive father-cum-Alzheimer's victim, meth lab next door, surprise orphaned half-siblings. All of that and a distinct lack of entertainment or appeal in the third I got through
whiskeyinthejar's review
2.0
1.5 stars
****Full Review****
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
The town of Nugget is fairly remote, small, and surprisingly full of possibilities, Maddy hopes for just a little of those possibilities to come her way. After discovering that her husband has been sleeping with his cousin's widow and the added bonus of he was in love with the widow before even marrying Maddy, she hightails it out of dodge. Nugget just so happens to have an abandoned hotel, Maddy and her family is hotel mavens, so her and her brother moves there to not only return it to its former glory but hopefully Maddy too. Rhys on the other hand sees Nugget only as the rinky dinky town he escaped as soon as he turned eighteen. Now the father that was never much of one is showing signs of Alzheimer's disease and Rhys must find a way to deal with that, half-siblings coming out of the woodwork, being interim sheriff, and an attraction to his new neighbor Maddy.
The beginning of the book deals a lot with Rhys and his issues with his father; Rhys resents having to take care of his father when he feels this wasn't reciprocated when he was younger. I get what the author was trying to portray, anger issues, but the way it is written has Rhys coming off extremely callous because of the brusque writing. A couple times Rhys's father wanders off lost and confused, Rhys reacts with severe annoyance instead of understanding it’s the disease and his father isn't doing this on purpose to ruin Rhys day. Are Rhys's actions and feelings commonly found in the real world? Yes, but it doesn't mean I want to read about them in this type of genre book; it doesn't make you feel bad for Rhys, it’s all just very draining. Maddy wasn't that fun of a character to read about either, she doesn't send divorce papers until the second half of the book to her cheating husband. This makes it hard to invest in a relationship between her and Rhys. Maddy and Rhys also spend less time together than what I personally like to see in stories with this theme. They're neighbors, they find each other aesthetically attractive, and then they kiss with fireworks exploding over their heads.
The story overall was slow moving with a lot of subplots and povs for what I'm guessing will be following books. As a consequence this book falls to first in a series syndrome and it loses its focus on the main couple and what the reader originally wanted to enjoy. I've seen mentions that this is for people who like the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. The components are comparable, small town and wide cast of townie characters but quality and delight is missing in this one. I also have to question where a book is inspired by and plain written to be Lucky Harbor; Nugget has a "Lucille" down to her colorful clothing matchmaking ways.
This is a debut book and perhaps the author's style isn't for me. There is a story here but I'm not sure there is any entertainment factor.
****Full Review****
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review
The town of Nugget is fairly remote, small, and surprisingly full of possibilities, Maddy hopes for just a little of those possibilities to come her way. After discovering that her husband has been sleeping with his cousin's widow and the added bonus of he was in love with the widow before even marrying Maddy, she hightails it out of dodge. Nugget just so happens to have an abandoned hotel, Maddy and her family is hotel mavens, so her and her brother moves there to not only return it to its former glory but hopefully Maddy too. Rhys on the other hand sees Nugget only as the rinky dinky town he escaped as soon as he turned eighteen. Now the father that was never much of one is showing signs of Alzheimer's disease and Rhys must find a way to deal with that, half-siblings coming out of the woodwork, being interim sheriff, and an attraction to his new neighbor Maddy.
The beginning of the book deals a lot with Rhys and his issues with his father; Rhys resents having to take care of his father when he feels this wasn't reciprocated when he was younger. I get what the author was trying to portray, anger issues, but the way it is written has Rhys coming off extremely callous because of the brusque writing. A couple times Rhys's father wanders off lost and confused, Rhys reacts with severe annoyance instead of understanding it’s the disease and his father isn't doing this on purpose to ruin Rhys day. Are Rhys's actions and feelings commonly found in the real world? Yes, but it doesn't mean I want to read about them in this type of genre book; it doesn't make you feel bad for Rhys, it’s all just very draining. Maddy wasn't that fun of a character to read about either, she doesn't send divorce papers until the second half of the book to her cheating husband. This makes it hard to invest in a relationship between her and Rhys. Maddy and Rhys also spend less time together than what I personally like to see in stories with this theme. They're neighbors, they find each other aesthetically attractive, and then they kiss with fireworks exploding over their heads.
The story overall was slow moving with a lot of subplots and povs for what I'm guessing will be following books. As a consequence this book falls to first in a series syndrome and it loses its focus on the main couple and what the reader originally wanted to enjoy. I've seen mentions that this is for people who like the Lucky Harbor series by Jill Shalvis. The components are comparable, small town and wide cast of townie characters but quality and delight is missing in this one. I also have to question where a book is inspired by and plain written to be Lucky Harbor; Nugget has a "Lucille" down to her colorful clothing matchmaking ways.
This is a debut book and perhaps the author's style isn't for me. There is a story here but I'm not sure there is any entertainment factor.
epreece229's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely on the lower end of three stars for me but there was some good condom use so I went for it.
I didn't love that Maddy Breyer, in town nursing a broken heart and trying to renovate an old mansion into a new hotel, jumped into a relationship with Rhys Shepard, in Nugget to deal with a father who never loved him and, in fact treated him like dirt. Plus, there were just SO MANY issues that kept cropping up.
I would probably have read the second book anyway but it was already in my library queue so... We'll see how it goes.
I didn't love that Maddy Breyer, in town nursing a broken heart and trying to renovate an old mansion into a new hotel, jumped into a relationship with Rhys Shepard, in Nugget to deal with a father who never loved him and, in fact treated him like dirt. Plus, there were just SO MANY issues that kept cropping up.
I would probably have read the second book anyway but it was already in my library queue so... We'll see how it goes.
katherineep's review against another edition
3.0
I love a good small town romance and Stacy Finz's newest did not disappoint. I liked that this isn't one of those small town impossibly full of boutiques and fancy stores. Nugget is struggling to survive and beginning to figure out that they need to do something different to keep going. While both Maddy and Rhys are both interesting characters who make rational decisions but for the most part this reads more like a fiction. To me this wasn't a problem as I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and the town. I also liked the history aspect as Maddy tries to pull the history of the area including the Donnor Party into her Inn. I'm really looking forward to Clay's book!
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/10/going-home-review.html
Full Review: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot.com/2014/10/going-home-review.html
allingoodtime's review against another edition
4.0
Very sweet story. I love the character of Rhys, the hero. He's a bit prickly at first...with good reason. He's really just a softy, and not even that deep down. You just have to scratch the surface.
As for the heroine, Maddy, I loved her will-power and strength. So many women make the mistake of not respecting themselves enough to know when to say bye. She stood firm and, although she talked to her ex-husband, never waivered.
Some of the town made me want to tear my hair out. I know that's how it can be in a tight-knit community though. And isn't it always the women that see reason and make positive changes in everyones lives? The ladies of Nugget, for the most part, are truly the backbone of the town.
There were many side-characters in this book I would love to see more of...Clay and Colin just to name a couple.
One thing that bugged me was some of the idioms. It could be a totally regional thing. But sometimes when a character would say or think a common saying it would be just a little off of what I'm used to hearing and reading. Like I said, it could be a regional dialect type of thing. Nothing major.
As for the heroine, Maddy, I loved her will-power and strength. So many women make the mistake of not respecting themselves enough to know when to say bye. She stood firm and, although she talked to her ex-husband, never waivered.
Some of the town made me want to tear my hair out. I know that's how it can be in a tight-knit community though. And isn't it always the women that see reason and make positive changes in everyones lives? The ladies of Nugget, for the most part, are truly the backbone of the town.
There were many side-characters in this book I would love to see more of...Clay and Colin just to name a couple.
One thing that bugged me was some of the idioms. It could be a totally regional thing. But sometimes when a character would say or think a common saying it would be just a little off of what I'm used to hearing and reading. Like I said, it could be a regional dialect type of thing. Nothing major.
abdem3's review against another edition
*ARC provided by NetGalley*
Going Home is Stacy Finz's debut novel and a great debut it is. Rhys Shepard finds himself moving to Nugget, his hometown that he hated and never felt welcome in order to take care of his ailing father. He ends up taking a leave from his job with the Houston PD and taking a temporary job as the chief of police in Nugget.
Maddy Breyer finds herself in Nugget struggling to find herself after finding out her husband has been cheating on her. Maddy and her brother are going to open an inn but soon find that the residents of Nugget may be welcoming their new police chief home they most certainly still see her as an unwanted outsider.
Rhys and Maddy find them selves being drawn to one another but can anything come of this with Rhys leaving soon and Maddy going through a divorce?
I truly enjoyed this book and can not wait to read the next one.
Going Home is Stacy Finz's debut novel and a great debut it is. Rhys Shepard finds himself moving to Nugget, his hometown that he hated and never felt welcome in order to take care of his ailing father. He ends up taking a leave from his job with the Houston PD and taking a temporary job as the chief of police in Nugget.
Maddy Breyer finds herself in Nugget struggling to find herself after finding out her husband has been cheating on her. Maddy and her brother are going to open an inn but soon find that the residents of Nugget may be welcoming their new police chief home they most certainly still see her as an unwanted outsider.
Rhys and Maddy find them selves being drawn to one another but can anything come of this with Rhys leaving soon and Maddy going through a divorce?
I truly enjoyed this book and can not wait to read the next one.
More...