cassire's review against another edition
4.0
There is just something special about a Melanie Harlow book. There are always strong vibes of family and community. It’s going to pull on your heartstrings and make you flush from the sexiness. They are always magical journeys. Tie Me Down was no exception. You have a single mom coming home to sell her old family home. She stays with her hot farmer friend with an aging dad. Stuff happens. If you have never read a Melanie Harlow book, I recommend you add a handful to your TBR.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
meghanlew_'s review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beatricelangevin's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kfriend's review against another edition
5.0
Cue the waterworks! No one tenderly squeezes my heart like Melanie Harlow. What a sweet and sentimental finale to this swoony and heartfelt series! I have ALL the feelings. I could not love these charming Bellamy Creek characters anymore - I'm so enamored by each and every one of them, and while saying goodbye is bittersweet, Tie Me Down is the perfect "full circle" story to wrap up this spectacular series.
Melanie saved our must complicated and emotionally stunted hero for last- the mysterious Beckett, our lone standing bachelor in the tight knit group of childhood best friends (now old men baseball buddies). Even from the other stories, I could tell Beckett was the stoic and pragmatic one of the bunch. The more quiet, introspective friend. His baggage was never as loud, or transparent, as his best friends, but underneath the surface of this hard working family man lies a slew of unresolved emotional complexity. Despite incredible career success, he uprooted his life to care for his ailing father and take over his family’s farm, and somewhere along the way he resigned himself to a life where he shows up for everyone, but convinced himself that no one hangs around long enough to show up for him. He doesn’t understand, or potentially even believe in love, but he does know that he forever regret never pursuing the girl next door, Maddie. The girl now, years later, newly single and staying with him while in town with her scene-stealing son.
Melanie doesn’t make their story easy- this is perhaps the slowest burn, most challenging yet- because just as Beckett has turned away from love, so has Maddie. She’s hesitant and insecure, weighed down by years of making pretty painful mistakes when it comes to men. Both characters have enough incentive to hold back given their own past pains, but the risk of ruining their friendship, the one stable thing they both feel like they have, makes them even more reluctant to cross that line and give into their mutual pining. And pine they do- lordy. While I loved these two together, and really loved this story, I felt their connection had a more subtle spark than the others in the series. A lot of this is just because of how tight laced they both are- they are both reluctant and horrible communicators, and I think in part there was a reliance on a chemistry that pre-existed this story’s pages- one that we get glimmers of but not quite enough for me to feel their emotional chemistry in the present. We have a lot of push-pull, and steamy friends with benefits of attraction, and I wanted just a smidge more of that Melanie Harlow emotional swoon factor. We do get there- and as always she delivers a sweet and heartfelt finale, it just too a bit longer to get there on this one.
The secondary characters in this one also really shined brightly- Maddie’s son is beautifully created and told (and I appreciated Melanie Harlow featuring a child with an identity rarely represented in romance novels), and Beck’s dad is endearing and incredibly catalytic to his journey. Melanie also brilliantly weaves in the other characters- bringing this story full circle in a really powerful and bittersweet way. This story began with the friendship of four small town men, and in this book we get the most of their familiar connection that we’ve gotten yet. They show up for each other in a really powerful way that not only help propel Maddie and Beck's story but also give us some closure to this much beloved series. The moments with the core group of guys are nothing short of magic- beautiful, sincere, nostalgic magic.
I have simply adored this series- and I’m not ready to say goodbye. I’ve loved every book so dearly- these men, and their amazing women, have brought so much joy, so much charm, so much heart. Tie Me Down doesn’t conclude as my favorite of the bunch, but it still shines with that Melanie Harlow magic. While each couple has had their own journey, and their stories had their own tone, ultimately the stories of Bellamy Creek are all about one thing- about the unexpected magic of love. How love can’t be rushed or forced- how love comes in the places you least expect, when you least expect it. But even more so, Bellamy Creek’s stories are about how love is also about CHOICE- choosing it, pursuing it, being brave enough to give into it, being courageous enough to take a risk, even when you have experiences that tell you otherwise. Some things never change- but sometimes, they do. When you want them to- when you love something, or someone, enough to change them. I’m so in love with this world, these characters, and this series- and I hate saying goodbye, but what a gentle and loving conclusion. Looking forward to what is next!
<4.5 stars>
Melanie saved our must complicated and emotionally stunted hero for last- the mysterious Beckett, our lone standing bachelor in the tight knit group of childhood best friends (now old men baseball buddies). Even from the other stories, I could tell Beckett was the stoic and pragmatic one of the bunch. The more quiet, introspective friend. His baggage was never as loud, or transparent, as his best friends, but underneath the surface of this hard working family man lies a slew of unresolved emotional complexity. Despite incredible career success, he uprooted his life to care for his ailing father and take over his family’s farm, and somewhere along the way he resigned himself to a life where he shows up for everyone, but convinced himself that no one hangs around long enough to show up for him. He doesn’t understand, or potentially even believe in love, but he does know that he forever regret never pursuing the girl next door, Maddie. The girl now, years later, newly single and staying with him while in town with her scene-stealing son.
Melanie doesn’t make their story easy- this is perhaps the slowest burn, most challenging yet- because just as Beckett has turned away from love, so has Maddie. She’s hesitant and insecure, weighed down by years of making pretty painful mistakes when it comes to men. Both characters have enough incentive to hold back given their own past pains, but the risk of ruining their friendship, the one stable thing they both feel like they have, makes them even more reluctant to cross that line and give into their mutual pining. And pine they do- lordy. While I loved these two together, and really loved this story, I felt their connection had a more subtle spark than the others in the series. A lot of this is just because of how tight laced they both are- they are both reluctant and horrible communicators, and I think in part there was a reliance on a chemistry that pre-existed this story’s pages- one that we get glimmers of but not quite enough for me to feel their emotional chemistry in the present. We have a lot of push-pull, and steamy friends with benefits of attraction, and I wanted just a smidge more of that Melanie Harlow emotional swoon factor. We do get there- and as always she delivers a sweet and heartfelt finale, it just too a bit longer to get there on this one.
The secondary characters in this one also really shined brightly- Maddie’s son is beautifully created and told (and I appreciated Melanie Harlow featuring a child with an identity rarely represented in romance novels), and Beck’s dad is endearing and incredibly catalytic to his journey. Melanie also brilliantly weaves in the other characters- bringing this story full circle in a really powerful and bittersweet way. This story began with the friendship of four small town men, and in this book we get the most of their familiar connection that we’ve gotten yet. They show up for each other in a really powerful way that not only help propel Maddie and Beck's story but also give us some closure to this much beloved series. The moments with the core group of guys are nothing short of magic- beautiful, sincere, nostalgic magic.
I have simply adored this series- and I’m not ready to say goodbye. I’ve loved every book so dearly- these men, and their amazing women, have brought so much joy, so much charm, so much heart. Tie Me Down doesn’t conclude as my favorite of the bunch, but it still shines with that Melanie Harlow magic. While each couple has had their own journey, and their stories had their own tone, ultimately the stories of Bellamy Creek are all about one thing- about the unexpected magic of love. How love can’t be rushed or forced- how love comes in the places you least expect, when you least expect it. But even more so, Bellamy Creek’s stories are about how love is also about CHOICE- choosing it, pursuing it, being brave enough to give into it, being courageous enough to take a risk, even when you have experiences that tell you otherwise. Some things never change- but sometimes, they do. When you want them to- when you love something, or someone, enough to change them. I’m so in love with this world, these characters, and this series- and I hate saying goodbye, but what a gentle and loving conclusion. Looking forward to what is next!
<4.5 stars>
mishkachane's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
faithl7979's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
noureenahmed10's review
4.0
3.75-4 ⭐️
Honestly I neither LOVED nor disliked their love story but that’s what i am talking about the actual romance is fun and enjoyable but what i really loved about this book and that made it worth the read for me is the friend group and the found family trope and how u can clearly see how much they all care about and love each other. The bond the 4 guys have is just unbreakable it’s so heartwarming.
Honestly I neither LOVED nor disliked their love story but that’s what i am talking about the actual romance is fun and enjoyable but what i really loved about this book and that made it worth the read for me is the friend group and the found family trope and how u can clearly see how much they all care about and love each other. The bond the 4 guys have is just unbreakable it’s so heartwarming.