Photographer Natalie Haven
and musician/songwriter Asher McCoy had been best friends ever since Asher's family moved to the small town of
Havenbrook, Mississippi when he was in the first grade. They remained close even though they both left town after high
school to pursue their careers, talking or
texting nearly every day and seeing each other whenever possible. Naturally, Nat was the
first person Asher called when faced with an unexpected tragedy, and she immediately rushed to his
side. She wasn't thrilled at the prospect of an extended stay in
Havenbrook, which had always felt more like a prison than her home, but
she'd do anything for Asher - even enter into a fake
marriage so that he could retain custody of his late sister's kids. It was
only supposed to be temporary; as soon as Asher's guardianship was
assured, Nat would be free to resume her adventures around the globe.
However, the more time they spent together, the more it started to feel like they were a real family. Would Nat really be able to leave Asher and the kids behind?
Asher and Nat were both incredibly likeable, three-dimensional characters, and I loved them as a couple. They just seemed to fit together, probably because they had been friends for so long and knew each other inside and out. Their biggest challenge was figuring out how to balance stability for Asher's niece and nephew, June and Owen, with the demands of their careers and Nat's need for adventure. They made things harder on themselves by avoiding having a tough conversation and instead assuming that they already knew what the other wanted, but luckily for them, their mutual best friend Nash refused to let them give up on their marriage without a fight.
Asher and Nat were both incredibly likeable, three-dimensional characters, and I loved them as a couple. They just seemed to fit together, probably because they had been friends for so long and knew each other inside and out. Their biggest challenge was figuring out how to balance stability for Asher's niece and nephew, June and Owen, with the demands of their careers and Nat's need for adventure. They made things harder on themselves by avoiding having a tough conversation and instead assuming that they already knew what the other wanted, but luckily for them, their mutual best friend Nash refused to let them give up on their marriage without a fight.
Overall, "Small Town Pretender" was a sweet, heartwarming story with the perfect amount of steam, and I highly recommend it for all contemporary romance readers. It was the first book I've ever read by Brighton Walsh but certainly won't be the last.
*Review copy provided by the author via Wildfire Marketing Solutions. All opinions expressed are my own.
About "Small Town Pretender"
Asher McCoy can win over a crowd with a husky note and a strum of his guitar, but proving to a judge he’s responsible enough to gain custody of his niece and nephew? Not so easy. His big idea—a fake marriage. And who better to play his doting bride than his longtime best friend? He just needs to get her home first...
Natalie Haven couldn’t get away from her suffocating hometown fast enough. For years, she’s fluttered around the globe as a freelance photographer. And if that unconventional job pisses off her daddy? Well, all the better. But when her best friend sends out an S.O.S., she heads back to the one place she swore she’d never land.
Except a fake marriage means a not-so-fake living arrangement, including only one bed. Nat's witnessed enough women fall for Asher’s charms, but she refuses to be one of them. Because permanence isn’t in her blood. Not even for him.
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