I've never read a Donna Alward book before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the synopsis drew me in, so I thought I'd take a chance, and I'm glad I did because this book has wonderful characters and lots of heart. Laurel has returned to her hometown after the ending of her marriage, and she is feeling fragile and untrusting of herself and others. Laurel has opened a new business, a nursery (the plant and flowers kind), and she's hoping for a new, fresh start, but when someone breaks in and vandalizes her property, she calls the police for help, but help comes in the form of someone she was hoping not to see ever again. The police officer is Aiden, the boy who hurt and humiliated Laurel in high school, who Laurel still holds a grudge against, so she wants nothing to do with him, but Aiden isn't having it, and he is determined to make Laurel forgive him. Laurel tries to resist Aiden, but his charm and friendliness begin to wear down her shields, and the two begin a friendship, which begins to grow into more. I love the small-town aspect of this book! The characters are fun and the town is charming; I just loved the kissing bridge, so cute! I also love second-chance love stories, and Laurel and Aiden's is a really sweet one. Laurel did get on my nerves a bit, but she's been hurt, so I get where she is coming from, and she is a big softy, who puts others before herself all the time, and she has some insecurities she needs to work through. Aiden is a sweetheart, and he is super charming! Laurel didn't have a chance to resist him! The romance is sweet with a bit of spice, Laurel and Aiden, definitely find themselves in some interesting situations. I also liked the added bit of mystery with the vandalizing, and the side story with George. I'm looking forward to reading more by Donna Alward, and definitely interested in reading the next in the series! I'd love to read more about the little town of Darling!

4.5 stars

My favourite quotes from this story:

'Sometimes the body remembered what the heart would rather forget.'

'Laurel wore her heart on her sleeve. It had been that way in high school, the other morning when she'd barely held back tears after the store had been robbed, and moments ago when she'd spoken about her husband ...'

'It's time I stopped caring about stupid stuff and focused on being happy.'

After her divorce, Laurel Stone moved from the city back to her small, neighbourly, peaceful hometown Darling, Vermont and ran the Ladybug Garden Centre for a fresh start. When the handsome copper haired police officer responded to her 911 call, Laurel felt conflicting emotions. Aiden Gallagher was the other five-year old in the photo of them kissing on The Kissing Bridge. The photo has been prominently displayed in the Town Hall and used to promote tourism for the past twenty-three years.
Laurel dumped a vanilla milkshake over Aiden's head after he humiliated her when they were seventeen. These past shared experiences caused tension and awkwardness between them.
Can Aiden and Laurel forgive each other and become friends?
Will Laurel make The Ladybug Garden Centre a success?
Will Laurel be able to leave the past behind and move forward?
Will she renew friendships and be happy in Darling?
Who is vandalizing the property in Darling?

This book is well written and the storyline flows seamlessly with several twists and turns to keep the reader interested and in suspense. Donna Alward has skillfully created many diversified inhabitants for the town of Darling. I enjoyed meeting and getting to know these likeable characters, especially Laurel, Aiden, Willow Dunaway, Moira Gallagher and George.

As this is the first novel in the Darling series, I look forward to reading the next two - Someone to Love and Someone's Baby.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys humorous romantic novels with a twist or is looking for a palate cleanser after some heavy reading.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author, Donna Alward for an ARC of Somebody Like You in exchange for an honest review.

This was pretty cute. I thought the dialogue got a bit too sappy/unrealistic after their fight (when Laurel was coming to terms with herself), but the story itself was solid. I loved the idea behind it, and if the author can maintain this level throughout the whole series, I can see it doing very well with contemporary romance readers that like the sweet, small-town stories.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.

I would like to continue the series. I have read some not-great reviews of the second book.. as much as I want to know what's going on with Ethan, reviews from other readers make him sound like he's a bit of a jerk - without the whole "redeemed" phase. The third book sounds great though, with Rory's story. I'd also like more info about George, which I hope we'll get in the next book.

Somebody Like You
Darling, Vermont Series - Book 1

By Donna Alward
St. Martin's - February 2017
Contemporary Romance


Laurel Stone was back home, and she'd known she would run into Aiden Gallagher sooner or later. Once, they had been friends. She had even thought they might be more than friends, then she had learned the truth about him. But he was just one man who had simply betrayed her. She was recently divorced from another who had lied to her, stolen her dreams, and broken their marriage vows. Now she wanted to make a new life in her old hometown, and hopefully avoid Aiden. Unfortunately, when the garden center she opened was vandalized, Aiden was the officer who arrived.
Aiden had hoped that time might have eased Laurel's bitterness towards him, but it hadn't. She was just as acerbic as ever. Of course, they hadn't actually spoken since the incident, but they had been kids. He had been stupid. He regretted his part in hurting her, but she couldn't seem to get past his betrayal.
They had a history together more than teenage pranks, and one that the town wanted their help on. As kids, they had been photographed kissing on the Kissing Bridge. Now, they were being asked to recreate the scene. There was little that Laurel wanted to do less than to be the center of attention once again, standing with the first boy, now man, who had broken her heart, while pretending to be a happy newlywed.
Somebody Like You is a small town reunion romance full of emotion, family and friends, a dash of suspense, forgiveness, and romance. Aiden had been quite a jerk. There really isn't a kinder word to put to it. In fact, it seemed that when he was in a corner, he often didn't handle the situation properly. There had been Laurel while still a teenager, then there had been his ex-girlfriend whom he'd equally mishandled. He was older now, settled, an officer, and he knew that so much he'd done wrong had been due to the intense emotions he'd always felt for Laurel. Laurel had turned away from Aiden after their mishap and found love with another man. But that man had stolen so many dreams from her, and she is very hesitant to trust Aiden, who had hurt her so badly before. It was lovely to see them navigate the treacherous path to finally find their own Happily Ever After together.

very sweet second-chance romance with a small town setting. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author!

First, a confession. I cry at weddings (even my own, so many years ago). So, if there happens to be a wedding or two in this book, I may or may not have cried.
Laurel has returned to her hometown of Darling, VT to reopen the town nursery (plant kind, not child kind) after a devastating split with her husband Dan and then a divorce. Dan came out as gay. Laurel could have probably adjusted to that and wished him well but he did an unforgiveable thing to her. He admitted that he had been cheating on her. Now, Dan is coming to Darling to marry his new husband, Ryan. There’s a lot of drama around that, focused on how thoughtless he is about how Laurel might be feeling.
Standing by, ready to steady Laurel, is the boy she kissed as a five-year-old and had a very public fight with as a teenager, Aiden. Aiden is now a police officer. Slowly, the two of them find a place in each other’s heart. Very slowly. It takes the whole small town of Darling to get them to take the final step, and that’s what had tears drifting down my cheek, because it was never a sure thing, except for the fact that this is a romance novel and it’s supposed to end with an HEA. Getting there is the catch, and it’s not an easy road to travel.
There’s also a couple of secondary stories, one about a homeless man named George, who has secrets, and the other about vandals who are causing damage around town. When these two secondary stories merge all bets are off and many secrets come to light.
Donna Alward is such a romantic author. I can hardly wait to read the second and third books in this series. I won’t forget these characters easily, and I’m guessing Laurel’s best friend and possibly one of Aiden’s brothers has a romance coming their way. Read them all, starting here. You will love them.

One thing I love about a Donna Alward books are there is tons of love to be spread around. Aiden Gallagher knows he is going to have to work hard to make his Laurel see he is not the idiotic teenager he used to be. As Sheriff of Darling, VT he has a reputation to uphold but when it comes to Laurel he is more than the local officer. These two are crazy for each other yet because of the past are weary of the future. I loved that Donna Alward not only brought their story to life but also about George in this book. This is a series that not only brings this town to life but warmth, love and a happily ever after making you all gooey.

I have a new romance author! I'd read about Ms. Alward's books on some of the blogs I follow and they sounded appealing so when the chance to read this book, the first in a new series, came up, I said yes. I'm glad I did. I was caught from the first chapter and didn't want to put the story down. Alward's writing was engaging, warm, and straight-forward, it lured me in.

"Somebody Like You" is a second chance and a small town romance. We get to see both the good and the bad of small town living, such as the gossiping and paying attention to everyone else's business, homelessness, and the sense of community and willingness to help your neighbor.

Aiden humiliated Laurel and broke her heart in high school and she in turn humiliated him. Years later, she returns home where's he now a local cop. She has a hard time at first forgiving him for his actions and I worried that their past would be a big barrier. While it did cause some problems for them, they were adults and talked. They sat down and tried to work things out. It was interesting to see their different perspectives on each other. Once Laurel gets past her hurt, she can see the changes in Aiden, and how he's matured. He can see how Laurel has changed and the barrier she's put up as the result of her marriage and subsequent divorce. I was a little dismayed at how quickly Laurel got heavily involved so soon after her divorce; I'd have liked to see her spend more time on her own and putting herself back together before getting seriously involved again. That said, she does deal with the emotional fallout and Aiden helps her.

Their romance is sweet and thoughtful. They take care of each other, help each other, fight but make up, and work well together. The ending was a bit over the top for my liking but I'm not a fan of surprises or grand gestures. I did guess what was going on and kind of hoped that I was wrong, but Alward pulled it off and I was cheering them on. Alward created sympathetic, likable characters and I'm already looking at the different people going, "He needs a story and she needs a story and, ooh, what's his story? (I'm looking at you George!)" LOL I liked Darling, Vermont and the people in it. I want to know more and can't wait to spend time there again; fortunately the next book is out next month. Time to stalk NetGalley!

If you like sweet romances that aren't overly cute, with a little bit of steam, mature characters who make mistakes but own up to them, and small town settings pick up "Somebody Like You". It'll make you smile, and happy cry.

The Skinny
Darling, Vermont is known for their famous Kissing Bridge. Local legend says that a kiss on the bridge brings everlasting love.

Ethan Gallagher doesn’t think so. He kissed his bride on the Kissing Bridge and she died, leaving him to raise two young boys on his own. The loss is obvious, and the entire family pitches in to care for the boys due to Ethan’s firefighting schedule. He loves his boys, but not much else.

When his boys meet Willow by accident. Ethan is as surly to Willow as the Beast, and again when Ethan’s sister invites her to dinner with the Gallagher family. Ethan’s attitude and words cut like a knife, despite the cheerful smile and kind responses Willow tries to give. Willow left Darling and came back a very different person. She has had to work hard each and every day to love herself. She is putting her happiness into her business and being a good community member. When Ethan’s sister begs Willow to watch Ethan’s boys for a few hours, Willow is more than happy to accommodate…only to land in hot water with Ethan!

The Players
Willow – owner of The Purple Pig; does yoga and eats crazy healthy; practices mindful self-care
Ethan – a firefighter and recent widow; struggles to raise his two little boys
Hannah – runs the local realty office near The Purple Pig; Ethan’s sister and Willow’s close friend
Connor and Ronan – Ethan’s sons; Ronan remembers everything


The Quote

“I didn’t really peg you as the tattoo type,” he said, nodding at her arm.

Her stomach twisted into a knot. Her ink was rather personal, thought its meaning was well known. “I only have the one,” she remarked, keeping her voice light. “Though I’ve thought about getting another.”

“A semicolon in a flower. That seems kind of a weird choice, don’t you think?” He gave a little chuckle. “Did you study English or something?”

He didn’t know. She wasn’t sure why she was surprised. Not everyone understood the meaning behind the semicolon, she supposed. Did she want to explain? And if she did, did she want it to be here, sitting at her business, with the chatter of other customers around?

The Highs and Lows
WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS HEAVY SUBJECT MATTER NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

--The Subject Matter. There are two heavy subjects that come up in the book. The first is in relation to the quote I picked out for the book to share above. A semicolon is a very well-known mark, and has now become a stamp forever as a reminder and as hope for many people who battle depression or other mental health issues. If you want to find out more about what the semicolon means, there is an entire project dedicated to it. I encourage you to read about it here. The second heavy subject revolves around a woman’s right to choose for herself and her body, which is somehow a controversial topic in what is supposed to be such a progressive time.
--Willow. She has suffered quite a bit. She is not the girl she left behind, and every day she focuses on being happy and harmonious. She happily is the face of healthy eating in Darling, and she takes care of her people. She goes out of her way to be courteous and nice to others, because she knows what it is like to live a lie to the outside world. Willow is a very flawed character, with a background of darkness. Now in Darling, she is a ray of sunshine to many, but Willow’s past keeps her grounded and keeps her going. As a result, she tries to be as open and honest as possible.
--Ethan. He is a surly old bear! I could understand his frustration with the universe, but he chose to take it out on Willow in about 84758475 ways. It is difficult to be in a hard situation and be faced with someone who has everything you want: happiness, real and pure and true. The character growth he experienced from purposefully making fun of Willow’s hard work to practice self-love and care to wanting to get to know her, seeing how he sons come to like and enjoy Willow slowly brings Ethan out of his shell. However, Ethan is not one to mince his words…but he also lacks tact and the forethought to think before he speaks, which drives a wedge between Willow and him. I also like this realization from Ethan:
-----"He blinked back tears, wondering at the odd sensation of grieving for his actual grief. Because the absence of heartbreak had to mean he was moving on. It was a sad, complicated feeling."
--Willow’s Choice. Willow and Ethan slowly grow close to one another, neither wanting to admit what they have. But life takes its natural course, and all of the reason behind Willow’s semicolon tattoo forces her to make a different choice at this point in her life – not the choice she made before. Not the choice Ethan wants her to make. Willow chooses not to allow someone else to force her into making a choice she does not want, so she chooses her own path. When an innocent bicycle collision happens in front of her store, it propels Willow into an entire situation she and Ethan are not prepared to handle. On the flip side, as Ethan points out to Willow, she has also robbed him of his right to choice in the matter. It is a fine and delicate line, and in the end, Willow made the best decision for herself. She kept Ethan in mind, but also gave him the choice to walk away.
The Ending. The ending wasn’t as satisfying as I was hoping it the last little hill of build-up lead me to believe in. It was alright, but I was building up higher hopes in my mind, I suppose. Willow is such a strong, inspirational character that I wanted the world for her.

The Take-Away
This book brought a lot of personal stuff to the plate that most romances don’t. It explored two topics I still consider taboo in our country, and they were both approached with beauty and grace, just like Willow. I think both of these issues – and the outcomes – are very representative and speak volumes to women in our country today.

Laurel Stone has recently returned to her home of Darling, Vermont after a rather nasty (and interesting) divorce. Wanting to settle down and grow roots exactly where she grew up was exactly what she has always wanted to do. And she is in charge of her own destiny, so that’s EXACTLY what she is going to do.
Aiden Gallagher is a police officer, and kinda high school sweetheart of Laurel, in quiet Darling. Having had a mishap in high school through a bet with Laurel has led to many regrets that Aiden had not really had a chance to ever fix; that is until Laurel moved back to town. Now to find out a way to make up for the childish bet he followed through on the girl he had the biggest crush on in school…the one who got away….
A police call made when Laurel comes into her business, The Ladybug Garden Center, has the one and only Aiden coming to check it out (and hopefully to her rescue). Aiden would like nothing more that for the town’s infamous photo on their Kissing Bridge, of the two of them at five years old kissing sweetly, to be recreated. Laurel isn’t so sure, even when pushed into it. Will dragging up the past, when it hurt her so much, help the future with the ever so sexy Aiden, or cause even more hurt and problems?
This was a really sweet read. Sometimes, Aiden came off as a typically jerky man, but for me, it made me feel like this book was more real (what man is perfect and says the perfect, romantic thing 100% of the time??!!). I loved the chemistry between the two, the towns pushing the inevitable, and the family meddling (all knowing what would eventually happen). Redemption at it’s finest in this one!

A second chance romance in a small town setting of Darling, Vermont. Loved the rekindling of the romance between Aiden and Laurel, they soon found the sparks were still there after failed relationships. I really enjoyed the story of the kissing bridge, from when they were five years old and how the city wanted to update their picture. With a little added mystery of a robbery, it makes for a perfect read. I highly recommend this book, can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Starting over is awkward. Moving back to your small hometown where everyone knows each other's secrets is embarrassing, especially when your life has provided fodder for twenty small towns, not just one. And last, running into the boy that broke your heart in high school and realizing he knows your humiliating story?

Almost enough to make you consider hiding out somewhere.

Laurel's home in Darling, VT. Now she's not only having to deal with a rash of petty crimes at her gardening shop, she's having to face off with her nemesis, Aiden. The fact that he's a cop would be funny any other day. Having to deal with him totally sucks. She's also remembering how hot he is and how crushed she was by his deception.

She'd thought he really liked her.

Aiden is just as bewildered as Laurel by the crazy chemistry and unspoken feelings stirred up by seeing her again. It'd been nine years since she'd realized their date was a bet and had emptied a milkshake over his head in the cafeteria. He'd never met anyone else who confused and enchanted him all at the same time. Was there a chance of making their friendship work?

Or maybe turning that friendship into love?

Great small town story with broad appeal. Love some of the secondary characters and hope to see them in their own books soon! Thanks

What a great way to start a series. Somebody Like You is a sweet yet sexy second chance romance that will leave you smiling.

Laurel Stone has moved back to her hometown after a failed marriage. She just wants to try to rebuild her life and do her thing. But that's not going to happen because she lives in a small town, where everyone needs to be in everyone elses business!

Aiden Gallagher is an officer with the local police department and the one half of the famous picture that set on the kissing bridge. So when the town wants to recreate the famous photo, it's going to take a lot to talk Laurel, his other half in the photo, to take part.

The tension between Aiden and Laurel is palpable. And probably well deserved, since he broke her heart all those years ago. But can all be forgiven and is the myth of those that kiss on the bridge, find their forever love true?

This book has two of my favorite things -- #1 Small towns and #2 Second Chance Romances. And both are home runs in this book. I love the dynamic of the small town and having grown up in one myself, I can totally relate to every one knowing your business and wanting to help out.

The good news is there are more books to come and they definitely will be on my TBR.

Laurel Stone has returned home to Darling in Vermont to start a new life for herself since everything has gone wrong with her old one. Just when she thought her future had involved babies and a family home, her husband Dan told her he was gay and had fallen in love. Now divorced, Laurel is back in her childhood town, determined to make a go of her new business, The Ladybug Garden Center, and to forge ahead with her future, with the help of her parents and her old friend Willow. Now if she could only avoid Aiden Gallagher, the first boy to ever break her heart, everything would be great. For Laurel has learned the hard way that she cannot trust love or her own judgement and is better off on her own.

Aiden Gallagher, now the local cop, is shocked by his reaction to seeing Laurel again. He had wanted her all those years ago but let immaturity destroy any chance he had. But now here she is and she still sets his blood on fire. When she needs his help with some vandalism, Aiden is more than happy to accommodate. But the more time they spend together the more sexual tension simmers between them. And when the town council wants them to recreate a kiss from when they were children on The Kissing Bridge, will this be the push they both need to take a chance?

With passion, family, friendship, and a community that I would love to live in, SOMEBODY LIKE YOU by Donna Alward is the perfect start to this mesmerising new series. All of the characters make Darling such a compelling place and I cannot wait to see whose story is next (I'm hoping for Willow's!). Laurel and Aiden are great characters because they are so real, with real problems, real insecurities, and real emotions and fears. The novel is perfectly paced - never lagging or dull - and I literally could not put this book down until it was finished (I blamed Donna Alward when the ironing wasn't done 😃) SOMEBODY LIKE YOU by Donna Alward is just one of those books that swallow you up heart and soul, and gives you all of the feelings. A fantastic read!!!

Somebody Like You is the first in a new series by her, Darling, VT and I am so glad I read it. It’s a contemporary romance which features a second chance romance, something which is becoming a bit of a favourite of mine. She manages to tick all the romance boxes on this one, for me. It’s such a great contemporary romance which is actually a bit tamer than some when it comes to the sex side. I love a steamy romance as much as the next girl, but I do appreciate having a bit of a tamer read from time to time and this one definitely follows the path of having a bit more story.

I will begin by saying I was nervous I wouldn’t like it because Laurel was a bit more closed off than I liked. She had reason to dislike Aiden and men in general, but her excuses for being single and not getting into anything serious wore thin for me. Luckily, Alward is excellent at developing characters and convinced me that Laurel was justified in her reservations. She has been burned by Aiden before. He betrayed her trust when she believed them to be friends and she is determined to stay as far away from him as possible. Obviously, this being a romance, that doesn’t happen. Instead, they are continually thrust together with break-ins to her shop leading him to be the officer to write it up, to the re-enactment of that dreaded bridge kiss from their childhood. Each time they are together you can see the chemistry between them. Laurel and every other character close to him judge Aiden far too harshly. He is not the foolish teenager he once was and few seem to realise it. I really enjoyed Aiden growing into himself and the man he is. It was great seeing people take him seriously for once.

I have to say, the highlight of this book wasn’t the romance, though. I adored the character of George, the homeless man who is around town who Aiden is determined to help. He was a character that a real backstory I want to know more of. I just hope we get to see more of him in future books because he is someone I want to know about. Whilst we find out bits this time around, there is certainly a lot more to come for him (I hope there is, anyway).

In the end, this was an unexpectedly enjoyable romance read for me. I know I would like it, it’s a romance after all, but I hadn’t known how much. I think it’s because I was surprised by the depth of the characters and the secondary characters. I also got a story I wasn’t expecting with a second chance romance which takes a path I didn’t expect. I recommend it to anyone who wants a bit more story in their romance. It’s not got too much story, but it’s definitely a bit opposite to another romance I’ve read lately. It’s an easy going read that isn’t all drama, it’s relatable and I liked that.

A quick and easy romance read with a unique plot foundation.

Laurel has returned to Darling, VT, following a devastating revelation and divorce and has opened a nursery. After a horrific act of vandalism, she reencounters Aiden, a man with whom she has a significant history, not the least being of the two of them kissing on the town's famous Kissing Bridge at age 5. Asked to recreate the photo twenty years down the road, and Laurel and Aiden must come to terms with their painful past and look forward to their potential future.

Unfortunately, for me, the novel fell far short of its interesting premise. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of this book was that I realized a third of the way in that I didn't like either of the main characters, and this persisted for the rest of the story. Laurel is a woman who has a problem where she allows herself to be trodden for the sake of others, and she never grows from this, never takes a stand for herself. Aiden constantly is presented as a good man, but there seems to be no evidence when it comes to his actual actions. He also seems to steamroll Laurel despite saying she should stand up for herself.

I struggled to get through the rest of this book, and I unfortunately didn't enjoy most of it. The plot felt rushed, the romance contrived, and the characters one-dimensional.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Aiden Gallagher was only five years old when he appeared in a photograph on the Kissing Bridge. The town of Darling, Vermont, has used Aiden’s image on the famed bridge—local legend has it that a kiss there results in everlasting love—as part of its tourism campaign. Now, twenty years later, Aiden is asked to recreate the moment with the woman he once kissed: Laurel Stone.

Recently divorced, there’s nothing Laurel wants less than to pretend happily-ever-after with Aiden. As teenagers, their romance was no fairy tale—and Laurel has never quite forgiven Aiden for breaking her heart. But now that she is back in her hometown, and keeps bumping into police officer Aiden, Laurel can’t deny that there’s still a strong flicker between her and her old flame. Could it be that the Kissing Bridge is working its magic on Laurel and Aiden—and that all true love ever needed was a second chance?

I'm a giant Donna Alward fan and I've found that every book she writes I like. The next one more than the first one. Aidan was an awesome hero and I want one of him for myself. The reason that women like me read these books are because authors like Ms. Alward know how to write romance. Not erotica but real romance. This had sweet build up and sometimes it was bumpy. I liked that. I like small town police stories that have folk lore behind them...it brings back memories of childhood and that makes for a 5 star read. Aidan could cuff me and put me in the back of his police car any day and I wouldn't really mind....as a matter of fact - I might give Laurel a run for her money!! She was great as a heroine but I would have rather knocked her to the side to take her side...wink wink!!

Get this book, because it is worth the time and effort to read!

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on Netgalley for a honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

Laurel is trying very hard to please everyone while ignoring her own needs. She thinks the last thing she needs is Aiden. I think many of us can identify with Laurel. As women we often think our job is to fix everything thing and keep everyone happy. I think that Laurel did an outstanding job of that but she did need Aiden to show her how to do what she needed for herself. I loved how supportive he was and how their story came to a very nice and surprising HEA. A great start to a new series. I have already read book two and am looking forward to book three.