**My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Pop sensation Tara aka Shelby has recently lost her father and after the funeral is sent off to Whisper Creek for a month in order to decompress as the waining poster is a little on the edge and struggling with her grief.

Cooper is spending time at Whisper Creek after being on trial after having blown the whistle on some shady cop colleagues and one was a relative. Cooper is put on look after the special VIP task and finds that it is not as bad as he thought it would be, and his spicy senses soon ferret out her secrets and he finds himself wanting to help the star, meanwhile falling for the woman.

But the past catches up to our characters, for Cooper he faces morbid press as the case is reopened after new information is found and Shelbys management bring her back after someone has posted her and Cooper together and she has to deny knowing him.

But three weeks was enough for this couple to have a strong connection, for Shelby to have made real friends and for Cooper sister to help him realise that it is Shelby that her really wants now.

I enjoyed this book and the sweet coming together of two people who make each others lives whole.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I've enjoyed reading these books about Whisper Creek and the cast of lost souls that it collects. Shelby is hiding from her career as a popstar and Cooper is hiding from a detective case gone bad. While I'm not a fan of using a ruse to protect Shelby, it's clear that she needed it and I really enjoyed watching her get to know the area and the people. A good read!

This is a wonderful contemporary romance. Maggie weaves the tale of a country singer turned pop princess who is hiding out just trying to get by. This is a book in the Whisper Creek series. Shelby never expects to meet anyone who might make her happy, but you never know what will come your way in life.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story.The side characters were such an integral part of this story as well. This is the love story i needed to read at this time. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you

From the very first book in Maggie McGinnis’ Whisper Creek series, I’ve been hooked and love the fictional dude ranch that seems to cast a magic spell on those who visit making them fall in love or as some of its newer residents say, it is in the water. What I loved about Meant to Be is the hero is fairly new to the ranch after leaving his hometown of Boston and the police force after a series of events that not only cost him his job but his family and the heroine is a pop star whose roots are in country music and has suffered several big personal blows and whose professional career is on a downturn. Two lost souls find one another under the big sky of Montana, through their love of music, and a friendship that turns to more. I loved this sweet and emotional story.

Cooper Davis’ life has been turned upside down and one drunken night he threw a dart at a map and that led him to Carefree, Montana and the Whisper Creek ranch and for a city boy he has found he loves the slower paced country life, but more than that he loves the people who gave him a job and a home and have become his friends. So when he is assigned to be the buddy or “babysitter” to a celebrity guest that no one knows the identify for he isn’t exactly thrilled to be removed from trail rides and horse training, but for the people who gave him a chance he’ll do anything.

Since she was sixteen years old Shelby Quinn has been known at pop sensation, Tara Gibson and with each year that has passed she feels less and less like her old self and with her father dead, she has a huge hole in her heart. Fearing she’s at the breaking point her label and her assistant assigned by the label send her to Whisper Creek ranch for a month of rest and relaxation with the instructions to stay out of the limelight and out of trouble. What they didn’t tell her is to not fall in love with a sexy cowboy whose life is as messed up as her own.

If ever two people deserved some happiness in their lives it is Shelby and Cooper. Cooper impressed me with his ability to read Shelby and to know when to push and when to let her be and in doing so she began to trust him and let him in little by little. As their friendship grew so did their growing attraction, and despite Cooper knowing Shelby’s stage persona he fell for the broken young woman with far too much on her plate and far too people in her life she could trust. Shelby fell for the man who treated her like a princess, but also saw all the way to her country roots and encouraged her to do what made her happy.

There is a bit of drama, but the feelings these two have for one another never fade and figuring out a way to make it work between them means making decisions that while at times seem harsh are necessary.

I have loved every book in this series, but there was something extra special about Meant to Be making it a fast favorite in this series.

3.5 Stars - This story follows a teen pop singer Shelby to her retreat where she meets Cooper, a cop who is also in need of a break from what is going on in his life. The two meet and have pretty good chemistry. I enjoyed their banter and could feel the flirty tension start to grow between them. Shelby for me, was a bit over the top on somethings.. (example.. The not knowing how to boil water type of person). She doesn’t come across as unintelligent so for her to be that inept seemed far-fetched. Other than that she had a good head on her shoulders and I felt her and Cooper worked well together.

McGinnis is a new to me author, and I really enjoyed the inhabitants of Whisper Creek. Seemed like an intriguing place. I would be happy to go back and read their stories as well.

*I received and ARC from Netgalley*

~Paragraphs and Petticoats~

Been a while since reading it but the only thing I could say is that I really love it and I recommended this book to friends. It’s been one of my favorites books of that year and up to this days I still find it very very good. Would recommend.

Magical. That’s how this book left me feeling. It had a magical ending. A great feel-good romance that was full of exciting new love, magical moments, angst and a happily ever after. Book provided by NetGalley.

MEANT TO BE - Maggie McGinnis

#5 in the Whisper Creek romance series

GREAT DIALOG - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Shelby is sent to the ranch to recover from the death of her father and to be relax from the constant pressure of her career, all while she's gearing up to make a comeback in her pop singing career. She definitely didn't expect to find a home for herself.

Writing - 4 stars - As always, McGinnis draws me right in from the first page. It felt so comfortable to head back to Whisper Creek Ranch and sink into the peace and quiet of this beautiful setting. Plus there's always some clever repartee and fun moments, and I always find it very entertaining.

Characters - 4 stars - Shelby is sweet right from the start, and you know she's got a deep place that no one else gets to see. She was basically forced into the pop side of the entertainment world even though she's a country singer in her heart. So she's been pushed and prodded from an early age, and she needs to have time to find herself again. Cooper is a former cop who got set up and accused of some illegal activity. He's recovering from the trial and bad publicity, so he's been spending some time at the ranch. He's an honest guy, handsome (of course), and he has some musical ability, which makes him the perfect match for Shelby. Secondary character of Cooper's young sister Phoebe is great--she's funny and intelligent and made me laugh.

Title - 4 stars - The title's fine. I suppose they were meant to be at the same place at the same time so they could meet and fall in love.

Cover - 4 stars - Nice cover of a beautiful couple embracing. There's a bit of a western theme to put us in the right setting, but otherwise it's fairly typical of the romance genre.

Overview - 4 stars - Very enjoyable. I love the Whisper Creek setting, and these characters fit in there nicely. There weren't quite as many funny things that happened as in previous books, but the conversations were witty and fun, and I loved how Shelby slowly found her way to being a friend and a lover. As is usual with this series, there is a lot of romance rather than sexual tension. Although we know that they end up getting together, there are not the usual detailed descriptions that are common in this genre. In this book that was OK since the relationship between Shelby and Cooper was gentle and caring and didn't really need the full-on in-your-face scenes that you would normally expect. Very nice. I look forward to reading more in this pleasant series.

In this one with the help of Shelby and Cooper you are taken on a true romance that will have alot of road ahead of it. With the both of them having had a wrench in that ride called life when they meet up they both start giving us a ride. Gotta love those detectives too even if they are a ex one at that. I would also say we see how time will heal the soul as love begins to grow. Their banter and personalities will entertain also grabbing a chuckle a time or two. It is also safe to say you will not let go until you see it through with who or whom will be on top.

I LOVE Whisper Creek! Maggie McGinnis has created a fabulous series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for advancing me a copy of “Meant to Be” by Maggie McGinnis in exchange for an honest review.

A very sweet and clean romance is what the author delivers with “Meant to Be,” a story of two people both of whom are trying to deal with some very unfortunate events. The heroine, Shelby, is grieving over her father’s death which is heartbreakingly described, one of the features that I loved the most about the novel. I also liked the treatment of the effects of fame in celebrities, the weariness, the anxiety and even the paranoia. It’s interesting to read about the healing effects music has with the Shelby and the hero, Cooper.
“Meant to Be,” is a story that moved along at a steady rate; however, it was not a simple read. It’s one of those books you’d like to read at the beach. That’s not to say it wasn’t interesting because it was, especially the story about Shelby. I loved reading everything about her; who she was, her childhood, her relationship with her father and dealing with his death on top of which she’s always in the public’s eye with the paparazzi following her wherever she goes. Certainly, you can’t blame her for wanting to get away from it all. As for Cooper, I did find him intriguing as well, coming from a family of cops and having to leave the job he loved because of lies. While I liked both Shelby and Cooper, I didn’t think there was any chemistry between the two, I didn’t feel it. Again, a simple go-with-the-flow story. There is “angst” and I must say that the reason behind Cooper breaking it off with Shelby was ridiculous. Is this to add more drama to the story? To make it more romantic? I get the feeling I’m supposed to say “Ahhhhh, how romantic” or something along these lines when the two get back together. Nope, not doing it.

At the end of the day it's an okay read.

I loved the story just disappointed in the ending. Can't wait for the next story in this series

I love every visit to Whisper Creek, and this trip was no different! This book is about Tara/Shelby and Cooper. I felt immediately for Shelby, who loses her father at the beginning of the book. She has been plucked and dressed and treated like a Barbie doll popstar since she was younger. Her popstar identity is Tara, and her father was a country star. She heads out to Whisper Creek to unplug and grieve. Cooper is assigned next door to her to make sure she is protected. He was a cop who had to turn in his partner for being dirty and was implicated in criminal activity himself. Throw into this dealing with the press, and you have quite the storyline that keeps you guessing as to each step. Their unfolding relationship will require plenty of tissues, but what a journey you go on with them!!

As expected, there are great cameos/appearances by the other characters in the series, including a yoga class! I can’t wait to read more about these characters in the future!

Meant to Be is the fifth book in the Whisper Creek series by Maggie McGinnis. I don't know about you, but I'm so ready to move to Whisper Creek. Shelby needs to grieve, so she is in hiding, and Cooper is put in charge of watching out for her. Together, they are pretty darn cute. Watching them get to know each other was heartwarming. Of course, we see how characters from the previous books are doing too. I always like seeing how they are doing, and I seriously want friends like them. Like the other books in this series, this one was fun, and entertaining, and I'm about to go book my ticket to Whisper Creek.

I couldn’t finish this book, I like the author’s writing and have enjoyed many of their books before but this one wasn’t one I could get into. I will try again when the author’s next book is released as I am a fan of theirs.

It was very good to return to Whisper Creek again in Maggie McGinnis' fifth installment in this series, and it gets another 5-star rating from this reader.

In a series that features calendar-worthy cowboys, how nice to find one hero who wasn't really a cowboy at all, and how surprising that someone like myself, who studiously avoids reading pop-star/rock 'n roll romances, should become so involved in a romance featuring a pop-star-who-doesn't-really-want-to-be-one as the heroine, but that's exactly what happened in this instance.

Shelby Quinn, is a country singer at heart, just like her dad before her, but when she signed with LolliPop records she became pop icon Tara Gibson at the ripe old age of 16. Now that she's 28, her record sales are waning, she's sick of the teeny-bopper songs her music contract forces her to sing, but she's out of options and calls on her dad, a country music legend, to come and help her through this crisis. Sadly, his small plane crashes en route and he dies, leaving Shelby emotionally devastated. Her assistant/manager, Nicola, and her record label, decide to get her out of the public eye for a month to give her time and space to get herself together again, to finish the last 6 months of her scheduled tour and finish her last contracted album for them, which is how Shelby finds herself alone in a cabin at Whisper Creek Guest Ranch in Montana--the one caveat being that she steer clear of other people and especially the paparazzi.

Shelby is not entirely alone, however. There's a man in the honeymoon cabin next to hers, Cooper Davis, and he's certainly attractive, but Shelby can't quite figure out why he's not inside with his bride and instead is on her porch chatting with her. She soon learns that Cooper is single, an ex-cop from Boston, and he's been hiding out at Whisper Creek for several months, while the dust of the accusations against him in Boston clears, and he can return to his job. Although he was acquitted of any wrongdoing, his parents and former co-workers all turned on him for fingering another crooked cop, who was found guilty and is now in jail, and it was his own cousin, Raymond.

So, we have two disenfranchised, wounded, depressed and lonely souls who begin to slowly try to comfort one another. Technically, Cooper is charged with keeping an eye on Shelby and he hasn't a clue who she really is--he's only told that she's a celebrity who must remain anonymous. As they first begin to get to know one another, we learn that he's as sweet, kind, charming, funny and attractive as any fictional hero in recent memory, and he's just the kind of medicine Shelby needs.

Although they've only known each other for several weeks, their chemistry is soon off the charts and when Cooper learns he has to return to Boston because they've reopened the case against him based on fake evidence, what happens to and between these wonderful characters after that point made for an addictive, sweet, absorbing and heartwarming read. Ms. McGinnis' pulled out all the emotional stops in this novel and I absolutely loved it!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this novel and received no compensation to doing so.

Read this story with tears in my eyes but a smile on my face, it was unbelievable how the author hit just the right cord. I felt how much Shelby missed her daddy but I also felt how much joy their life together had brought her hence the tears and smile. Cooper was her balm to her soul and I loved watching their story evolve.

Maggie McGinnis did it again! I loved this story. There was enough Balance of real and romantic as well as fantasy. I fell in love with the characters she created and wanted to talk to them directly though the pages.
Thank you for another amazing story!

Loved this story!
Meant to Be by Maggie McGinnis was terrific! It was an easy read that I could not put down. The characters were well developed and the author guided the reader through all the emotions of each character. The story line flowed smoothly, and I loved the ranch setting. Overall, I just loved Shelby and Cooper’s story, and I highly recommend this book.