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michellef's review
5.0
Looking For Leroy is a clean contemporary romance novel by author Melody Carlson. Looking For Leroy is a second chance romance story.
The school was out for the summer and Brynna Philips, along with Jan Barton, headed out on a single girls adventure. Leroy Sorrentino was a vintner in Sonoma County, California.
This summer is the 140th anniversary of the Sorrentino vineyard. The last thing widower Leroy Sorrentino wanted was for his daughter, Gina, to quit college and become a vintner. However, Gina had her own plan.
I appreciated the clean writing of author Melody Carlson. Readers who have ever wondered what happened to their first love will appreciate Looking For Leroy. Looking For Leroy makes a great summertime read for all adult readers.
I give Looking For Leroy 5*/5*
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
The school was out for the summer and Brynna Philips, along with Jan Barton, headed out on a single girls adventure. Leroy Sorrentino was a vintner in Sonoma County, California.
This summer is the 140th anniversary of the Sorrentino vineyard. The last thing widower Leroy Sorrentino wanted was for his daughter, Gina, to quit college and become a vintner. However, Gina had her own plan.
I appreciated the clean writing of author Melody Carlson. Readers who have ever wondered what happened to their first love will appreciate Looking For Leroy. Looking For Leroy makes a great summertime read for all adult readers.
I give Looking For Leroy 5*/5*
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
readingwitherin's review
medium-paced
3.5
Thank you to Revell and Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Looking for Leroy tells Bree Phillip's story as she ends up going on a trip with one of her teacher friend Jen from school to try and find her lost love. Along the way, it becomes a mission of sorts of Jen's to find Leroy so that Bree can see what he looks like now and maybe just maybe restart a romance with him that ended abruptly years ago.
Overall this book was one I found a little frustrating at times because of how much back and forth was happening. Bree ends up potentially finding this Leroy and gets roped into working at this vineyard by the daughter of the owner and from there the book really takes off and I started to enjoy it more. I did like the owner's daughter Sophie and how kind she was towards Bree. I feel like we also saw Bree really shine when around Sophie and her family, she was the happiest we'd seen her in the entire book when around Sophie's children. When it came to the actual romance part of this book there was actually very little for a Melody Carlson book it was more of a will they won't they type thing going on. Bree was also going back and forth with staying or going constantly that she was like 'a ping-pong ball' (her own words) when it came to making the decision. The end of this book was sweet and it was nice to see some things resolved and to see Bree happy and thriving after all she had been through previously.
"Here's to a romance that was planted then forgotten many decades ago. May it blossom and growing, coming into beautiful fruition for many decades to come."
Looking for Leroy tells Bree Phillip's story as she ends up going on a trip with one of her teacher friend Jen from school to try and find her lost love. Along the way, it becomes a mission of sorts of Jen's to find Leroy so that Bree can see what he looks like now and maybe just maybe restart a romance with him that ended abruptly years ago.
Overall this book was one I found a little frustrating at times because of how much back and forth was happening. Bree ends up potentially finding this Leroy and gets roped into working at this vineyard by the daughter of the owner and from there the book really takes off and I started to enjoy it more. I did like the owner's daughter Sophie and how kind she was towards Bree. I feel like we also saw Bree really shine when around Sophie and her family, she was the happiest we'd seen her in the entire book when around Sophie's children. When it came to the actual romance part of this book there was actually very little for a Melody Carlson book it was more of a will they won't they type thing going on. Bree was also going back and forth with staying or going constantly that she was like 'a ping-pong ball' (her own words) when it came to making the decision. The end of this book was sweet and it was nice to see some things resolved and to see Bree happy and thriving after all she had been through previously.
"Here's to a romance that was planted then forgotten many decades ago. May it blossom and growing, coming into beautiful fruition for many decades to come."
prerana90's review
4.0
It’s official: Brynna Phillips is done with men. They only break your heart. But just when she makes this declaration, her friend Jan convinces Brynna to join her on a camping vacation in Sonoma Wine Country. As they wind their way toward their destination, spanking-new mini camper in tow, Brynna recalls her teenage camp romance with a boy named Leroy. How can it have been nearly 30 years ago? All she remembers is that Leroy was a genuinely good guy and that his family owned a vineyard—in Sonoma. She doesn’t even remember his last name. Jan insists they look for him, and the search begins.
Beyond the slim chance they’d ever be able to find him are questions that have haunted Brynna for decades, including What is the point of digging up the past? and Can Leroy ever forgive me for losing touch?
Like the cover of the book, the story is very descriptive and picturesque. I remember the time when we drove through California and Sonoma was very special. Especially the vineyards and the tours are unforgettable. The story of Leory brought all those memories back.
The book is very much a sweet romance and surrounded by family. The ending of the book actually reminds me the last scenes from Fast & furious movies where the entire family sits and has food together.
It is a super easy read.
Qotd: What would you do if you find out about a lost friend?
Beyond the slim chance they’d ever be able to find him are questions that have haunted Brynna for decades, including What is the point of digging up the past? and Can Leroy ever forgive me for losing touch?
Like the cover of the book, the story is very descriptive and picturesque. I remember the time when we drove through California and Sonoma was very special. Especially the vineyards and the tours are unforgettable. The story of Leory brought all those memories back.
The book is very much a sweet romance and surrounded by family. The ending of the book actually reminds me the last scenes from Fast & furious movies where the entire family sits and has food together.
It is a super easy read.
Qotd: What would you do if you find out about a lost friend?
penn_and_paper's review
3.0
Brynna Phillips gets roped into joining a coworker for a summer camping trip. The trip takes them to a camp Brynna visited as a teen and she remembers a short lived summer romance with Leroy. After telling Jan the story, she is determined for Bryanna to reconnect. They go searching through Sonoma Wine Country. When Brynna finds his winery, things take an interesting turn.
Overall I liked Looking for Leroy. I love the idea of a second chance romance and the author's writing was good. The characters were well written and enjoyable.
I thought Gina's reaction toward Brynna would have gone in a different direction. She discovered her dad's past relationship with Bryanna before she showed up. I think influence from another character played a part in that.
Brynna's character was back and forth too much on her feelings and gave up easily throughout the story. As soon as she made the decision to do one thing, she changed her mind before the dust settled on the prior decision.
This is a good clean read. It mentioned prayer and God, which I liked.
Thank you Revell, Melody Carson and Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review Looking for Leroy.
Overall I liked Looking for Leroy. I love the idea of a second chance romance and the author's writing was good. The characters were well written and enjoyable.
I thought Gina's reaction toward Brynna would have gone in a different direction. She discovered her dad's past relationship with Bryanna before she showed up. I think influence from another character played a part in that.
Brynna's character was back and forth too much on her feelings and gave up easily throughout the story. As soon as she made the decision to do one thing, she changed her mind before the dust settled on the prior decision.
This is a good clean read. It mentioned prayer and God, which I liked.
Thank you Revell, Melody Carson and Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review Looking for Leroy.
robin_is_me's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
I’ve previously read four books by Melody Carlson, but this is the first one I’ve read that was not Christmas themed. I didn’t even read the synopsis first, I saw her name, and loved the gorgeous cover, and that was all I needed to know.
I think one reason her books appeal to me is they aren’t always about young twenty-somethings. Brynna and Leroy are closer to my age. Not that I don’t mind reading about younger characters, but I guess I just appreciate a good romance with characters a little easier for me to relate to.
Brynna and Leroy had met at a summer camp the summer before college. They spent all their time together, and after camp was over they wrote letters. Until Brynna wrote Leroy that she wasn’t going to write to him again. Now, some thirty years later, Brynna is an elementary school teacher, and divorced. One of her colleagues has planned a camping trip, and talks Brynna into joining her. Where do they end up the first night? At the same camp where Brynna met Leroy. As those memories come back she tells her friend, Jan, and Mike, who they meet at the camp, about Leroy, and Jan and Mike decide that Brynna needs to look for him.
Throughout the entire book, I pictured Leroy as Mark Harmon. You know, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. (From NCIS, for those of you who don’t know.) He’s a widower now, running the family vineyard with two of his daughters and his son-in-law. The story really got going when Brynna arrived at the vineyard, and found herself agreeing to take a job in the office, as Bree. That whole situation was almost a little ridiculous, but I still loved it. And loved Sophie, the daughter who hires her. They develop a wonderful friendship, and watching that happen was heartwarming. Since Brynna used her nickname with Sophie, and still carries her married name, Leroy, having only seen her from a distance so far, has no idea who she really is. It was amusing watching Brynna avoid him, though I began to wonder if their paths would ever actually cross!
Brynna and Leroy were both wonderfully written characters, as were Leroy’s daughters, especially Sophie. I saw a couple of reviews that described Brynna as being easily led or not having a mind of her own, but I disagree. Yes, her friends did push her into searching for Leroy, and pushed her not to give up, but when she truly did want to just give up, they supported her. And then she doesn’t give up, and I think she was actually very courageous to stay at the vineyard in the office job and face Leroy. If I were in her position, I don’t think I would have had the guts. Actually, I don’t think Jan could have even talked me into going on the camping trip with her in the first place!
The ending was, of course, a little predictable, as well as a bit abrupt, but the journey there is what matters, and it was an immensely enjoyable journey.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed it*
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