I've spent the past few months getting reacquainted with category romances and for the most part have been pleasantly surprised by how much I've enjoyed these books. They're longer than novellas so I have a chance to get to know the characters a bit better, but still short enough to be enjoyed in just a few hours, perfect for those times when I don't want to get involved in a lengthy story (in other words, when I know I have to get up early the next morning and don't want to be tempted to stay up late reading). "More than Neighbors" was among my favorites of these romances so far, featuring likeable characters and a charming New England setting that is rich with future story possibilities. I recommend this book for all fans of contemporary romance and look forward to my next visit to Blackberry Bay.
About "More than Neighbors"
The only thing they have in common is a property line!
He’s trying to uncover his past.
She’s hoping for a brighter future.
He’s trying to uncover his past.
She’s hoping for a brighter future.
Cam Maguire is in Blackberry Bay to unravel a family secret. Meredith Price has moved next door with her daughter. He’s unattached. She’s a widowed single mom. He’s owned by a cat. She’s definitely team canine. All these neighbors have in common is a property line. One they cross…over and over. And Cam thought he knew what he wanted—until his family’s secret changes everything.
Read an Excerpt from "More than Neighbors"
“So you’re staying for the summer, you said? Where do you usually live?”
“New York City, actually.”
Her hazel eyes widened. “Wow. That’s quite a change in pace.”
“It is, but I was ready to get away for a while.” “What do you do in the city?”
“I work for my dad,” he said, which wasn’t technically a lie, but wasn’t entirely accurate, either. “A lot of accounting and paperwork and boring stuff like that.”
She was cute when she wrinkled her nose. “I’m not a fan of boring math-related paperwork.”
A yelp from across the yard caught her attention and she turned to see Elinor swipe at the white puff-ball. Sophie was frowning and picked the dog up, turning her body so the cat couldn’t see him any-more.
“Your cat appears to be bullying my dog.”
“She’s not my cat. And you’re embarrassing your dog by even making that claim right now.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “If you don’t think cats can bully dogs, you don’t spend a lot of time on the internet.”
“She just wants the dog to know who’s boss, I guess.”
“It’s his yard,” she pointed out.
“She’s a cat.”
“Point taken.” A genuine smile lit up her face and made her eyes crinkle. “They’ll get used to each other. And speaking of that, now that I know you’re going to be my neighbor for a while, I should prob-ably introduce myself properly. I’m Meredith Price, and that’s Sophie and Oscar.”
“Calvin Maguire,” he said, extending his hand. “But everybody calls me Cam.”
As she shook his hand, he noted how soft the skin was and had to resist rubbing his thumb over it.
She tilted her head as she smoothly pulled her hand away from his. “How do you get Cam from Calvin?”
“My initials. Calvin Anthony Maguire.” His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “The fourth.”
“Interesting.”
“It was a better alternative than being Little Cal for my entire life.” He didn’t really want to open him-self up to more questions about his family, since they were the last thing he wanted to talk about. “Since Oscar’s from California, let me guess. Oscar de la Renta?”
She laughed. “Oscar the Grouch.”
“You’re kidding.” He looked at the dog again, who looked like the kind they put on the packaging of fancy dog food. “I don’t really see the resemblance, but maybe it’s a personality thing.”
“He’s actually named after Sophie’s favorite book at the time, and trust me, we spent days explaining to her why we couldn’t make his hair green.”
“He doesn’t bark a lot, does he?”
“I wouldn’t say he barks a lot.” She glanced at the dog before giving him a sheepish look. “It’s more like a really high-pitched yip.”
“That’ll be fun while I’m reading over spread-sheets,” he said, picturing spending his summer being harassed by a stubborn cat and a high-strung dog. “Maybe I should have packed my noise- canceling headphones.”
She looked startled for a second and then her eyes narrowed. “I have a child and a dog, so I guess you’ll just have to figure out how to make it work.”
“Maybe a muzzle?” he asked, but he wasn’t re-ally serious. Yipping dogs weren’t his favorite, but he wasn’t a total jerk.
She stared at him for a long moment before giving him an arch look. “I don’t know if I can find one in your size, but I can try.”
Cam chuckled, appreciating her comeback, but she didn’t even crack a smile. Maybe she hadn’t been joking. And maybe she’d thought he wasn’t, either.
“If you’ll excuse me, we just arrived and I have a lot to do.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said as she walked, and she held up her hand in what looked more like a dis-missive gesture than a wave.
That was fine. If she wanted to play that game, she’d find out he didn’t really care that much. She and her yipping dog could stay in her yard and he’d stay in his.
He had better things to do, anyway. Like learning more about Carolina Archambault, and figuring out how to convince her cat he was the boss.
My Review
Shannon Stacey's "More than Neighbors" was a sweet and heartwarming novel featuring likeable characters, an engaging plot with touches of humor and mystery, and a charming small-town New England setting rich with future story possibilities. Main characters Cam and Meredith seemed to have very little in common at first, but I enjoyed watching them get to know each other and slowly come to realize just how perfect they were for each other. Cam's friendship with Meredith's daughter Sophie was also adorable, and I loved how patient Cam was with Sophie and how he fell in love with her just as much as he did with her mother.
Meredith and Sophie had a tough time after the death of Sophie's father, Devin, but I really appreciated that Meredith was open to dating and possibly finding love again. I also appreciated that no "big secret" came out about her late husband after his death to make him look bad and Cam look better by comparison. I believe it's possible to love more than one person over the course of a lifetime, and a truly loving spouse, as Devin seems to have been, wouldn't want Meredith to be alone forever. Meredith's grieving process and choice to move on with her life was handled well IMO, and I didn't feel that her relationship with Cam moved too fast or was happening before she was truly ready for it.
Overall, I recommend "More than Neighbors" for all fans of contemporary romance and look forward to reading future books set in the charming town of Blackberry Bay.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
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