No Place Like You by Emma Douglas is a good fit for readers looking for a heartwarming story about second chances, friendship, and finding love in unexpected places.

Leah Santelli always knew that Zach Harper, son of a rock legend and her best friend's brother, was painfully out of reach. Then, on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Leah shocked herself by asking for--and receiving--the gift she wanted: one night of passion with Zach before he left town to pursue his rock star dreams. Now, years later, Zach is back in Cloud Bay to record his first solo album. His return could also be Leah's big chance to step up her own music career. But getting the producing credit she needs means spending long hours with Zach in the recording studio...and falling back into the habit of longing for him, for better or worse.

This was my first Cloud Bay book but I thoroughly enjoyed it and on to the other books in the series!

The prodigal son returns home in Emma Douglas’ No Place Like Home, the third book in her Cloud Bay series. After ditching his sister and their combined musical career when his late father got ill for another band, not showing up for a show with his new band at the family’s big music festival last year, and basically ignoring his family for years Zach Harper is returning home to lick his wounds after the lead singer of his new band decides to take a year off. Zach has plans to start a solo album, but knows that making amends to those he left behind will also come with his return. While he expects to have to grovel to his family, what he doesn’t expect is to mess up repeatedly with his sister’s best friend, and the girl he left behind years ago whose help he needs with his new album.

If I didn’t like the characters in these books so much I’m not sure I would keep reading this series because there seems to be some continuity issues with the books and manufactured drama is getting old. I’m going to address those issues first; in the first two books the town’s mayor, Angie, seemed to have it out for the Harper family at every turn and yet in this book she is never mentioned which I found to be ridiculous. Yes, she was somewhat put in her place in the last book, but to be completely missing in this one especially with the Cloud Fest musical festival on the horizon just seemed strange. Secondly, the way the big drama played out between Zach and his father’s former band mate at the last minute was just ridiculous and made no sense to be honest and it was unnecessary.

As for the romance in this book, there was little of it; yes, Zach and Leah spent time together but basically it was a friends with benefits arrangement and they never until almost the very end ever really talked about it being more. There was a lot of sex (which is fine) and a lot of them working on getting Zach’s album ready, but there was very little of them talking or sharing anything about their lives or plans. I get that they practically grew up together and knew each other well as children and teens, but they’ve had many years apart so it would seem logical for them to share their lives with one another, but instead we got the bare minimum, a blow up, he leaves, and then they are together professing their love. It was disappointing to not actually see them forming a relationship, just sex and then boom they are in love. There was a distinct lack of character and relationship development in this story.

I liked Leah and felt at least she was honest and proved time and time again to be forgiving and had great work ethic. I’ll admit I didn’t like Zach much because of what he did in the previous books, and after the stuff he pulled in this one; my opinion of him really hasn’t improved. Since it seems like they’ll be at least one more book, I’m hoping maybe we’ll see some growth in him.

I loved the first book in this series so much that I had really high hopes for this series, but unfortunately No Place Like You did not live up to my expectations and I was disappointed.

NO PLACE LIKE YOU - Emma Douglas

#3 in the Cloud Bay romance series

GREAT CHARACTERS! - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Zach Harper comes back to Cloud Bay after his band breaks up, and he's looking to make a splash with a solo album. Leah, a friend of the family and a long-ago one-night stand, is trying to start her record producing career, so she seeks him out. (Not to mention she's had a crush on him for years.) When they get together, magic happens.

Writing - 4 stars - Douglas has created a wonderful musical world in Cloud Bay. The Harpers have been big in the town since Gray Harper and his band Blacklight moved there years ago. Now the kids are grown up and also involved in the town, especially with CloudFest each year. The characters are charming and well-designed, and the setting has a solid base of music and romance.

Characters - 4.5 stars - This is where the story shone for me. Zach is the Harper we haven't met yet (well, except in a negative way when he dropped out of CloudFest in the first book). But now he's talented, gorgeous, and a man who's trying to do the right thing--putting family before music (unlike his dad). But he's also nervous about his career, and he makes mistakes. Leah has lived in Cloud Bay forever and has made a great career for herself as a sound engineer. Now that she's working with Zach, she's thrilled, but she's also wary since she knows he always leaves. She's strong and talented, but she's also vulnerable as far as Zach goes. They were great together--both powerhouses in their own right, but also making the same dumb mistakes that everyone does in a relationship.

Title - 4 stars - Good title. It's a play on the "no place like home" saying, but turning it into a romantic gesture.

Cover - 5 stars - The covers for this series are always gorgeous scenery shots, making us want to head to Cloud Bay immediately to enjoy the beauty. I'm not quite sure why there's a campfire on the cover because I don't think Zach and Leah indulged in one, but the beach setting is right and the colors really draw the eye.

Overall - 4 stars - This would have been a nice ending to a very enjoyable trilogy if Douglas hadn't left us with a cliff-hanger right at the end. Zach and Leah are both great characters with a wonderful camaraderie and working relationship. And it was great to revisit with Faith and Mina and other characters from previous books. I love the music-basis to the stories in this series and particularly relate to the quiet, laid back atmosphere of this small town. Very nice book, very nice series, and I will look for more from this author.

Did not download this before it was archived.

I wish there was a way to remove these titles that we did not download and were accidentally added to out queue. This book was published two years ago and it will not drop off and is affecting my percentage as a result.

Another book in the series about Grey Harper and his musical family. Living in Cloud Bay, everyone knows everyone and what is happening to everyone. Leah works in the Harper sound studio helping musicians produce their songs. Grey’s son, Zach, is Leah’s Kryptonite and he has returned to Cloud Bay.

At Leah’s 18th birthday party, the only gift she really wanted was a night with Zach. When she got the courage to ask, he said yes. She knew it would be a one-time fling. But when he comes home to record his first solo album, all her resolve to remember it was only once goes out the door.

The rest of the family, Faith, Mina, Lou and friends and family, all hope for the best as they know Zach and Leah make each other happy. But like all love stories, they two of them have to figure that out for themselves.

The setting of the story is vividly described making the book all that much better to read. Between a wonderful small island town and the love story itself, it was a hard book to put down.

Leah has been in love with her best friends brother for most of her teenage years so when she got a chance to be with him she took it and then he left.
Zach is the son of a famous rock star and now that he and his band have hit the road Zack is famous to but the band is taking a break and Zack wants to record his own songs. Leah want the chance to produce those songs to make a name for herself and if Zack’s album is good it will get her foot in the door. Leah has always had feelings for Zack so when she approached him with her producing ideas and her no strings attached affair but he turned her down flat. Finally she gets Zack to agree to both but for how long and will he bail as soon as he is finished, Leah hopes not but he has left before she just hopes he doesn’t take her heart too.

Leah Santelli always knew that Zach Harper, son of a rock legend and her best friend’s brother, was painfully out of reach. Then, on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Leah shocked herself by asking for—and receiving—the gift she wanted: one night of passion with Zach before he left town to pursue his rock star dreams. Now, years later, Zach is back in Cloud Bay to record his first solo album. His return could also be Leah’s big chance to step up her own music career. But getting the producing credit she needs means spending long hours with Zach in the recording studio…and falling back into the habit of longing for him, for better or worse.

Zach used to believe that a man must put his past behind him. But coming back home for Cloud Bay’s famed music festival has allowed him to finally make amends with his family and, much to his surprise, reunite with Leah. He might have left her once but now it seems he can’t stay away. Trouble is, even though the heat between them burns hotter than ever, Leah has old wounds in need of healing before she can give Zach a real chance. Can he find a way to convince her that they can make more than just great music together—and that she’s the one that he wants for all time?

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REVIEW

This was really interesting to me...I enjoyed it!! I usually don't like books about rock stars or music in general - I don't know why, but it just doesn't interest me. I'm not very musically inclined so maybe that has something to do with it. However, I loved the storyline and I really loved Zach. He was an awesome hero and he had some upstanding qualities. At times I felt like Leah and he didn't really mesh well, but then they got their stuff together and it worked out. I would definitely read a book by this author again.

Unfortunately, I am no longer interested in reviewing this book on my blog. Thank you for this opportunity.

**My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**

Zach Harper finally comes home in this book much to everyone's surprise, but only so that he can work on his solo album, however the only one willing to produce the album for his is Faith's best friend Leah Santelli.

Leah and Zach have been together once before when Leah propositioned him on her eighteenth birthday, however working on the album has the chemistry zinging between them again now that she is single.

After a hashed out friends with benefits agreement the pair make music not only in the studio but and Zach's house too.

No surprise that it is Zach who ends thing between the pair when he gets a better offer, but after a few weeks it no longer feels that way. It is Zach who has to make his apologies and win Leah back, but after Cloudfest we get a surprise ending that i hope means that we will get a forth book in the series.

I really love this series and have enjoyed all three books so far, i really do hope we get another book in the series.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO NO PLACE LIKE YOU?
No Place Like You by Emma Douglas appealed to me because I am a SUCKER. That’s right! So, I was sold on giving this book a shot because I was told that it is a small town romance. Then, I was told there’s a musician involved. And there’s some regrets. OF COURSE, I needed to give this book a chance. I went for it on audiobook because it was kind of short when you listen to it at 2x speed. Also, because it’s one of those outstanding books on my Netgalley queue and I am taking that queue pretty seriously these days. Also, I find following along with contemporary romance audiobooks very easy to do.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
No Place Like You by Emma Douglas follows two people who have a history – Leah Santelli and Zach Harper. Leah had a crush on Zach, her best friend’s brother all through high school. The crush culminates in them hooking up at Leah’s graduation party, if I recall correctly. It doesn’t pan into anything more. Zach goes away to become a musician and a huge deal. Leah stays on Cloud Bay and becomes a producer. Zach then returns to Cloud Bay and the two begin to orbit each other as Leah helps Zach record. Of course, this is one of those second chance romances and I think we all know how it plays out.

HOW DID I LIKE NO PLACE LIKE YOU?
So, I haven’t actually read any of the other books in the Cloud Bay series before. Although, my co-blogger Allison has read one. Anyways, I am kind of wondering now if that has factored into my enjoyment of this book. On the whole, No Place Like You is not my favorite. I did not really care all that much about the characters, or even about the setting. Like, I typically enjoy books about musicians too. However, this was not the book for me. Maybe that’s due to listening instead of reading? Who knows.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook is narrated by Nina Alvamar. Ultimately, the narration is forgettable, much like a lot of this book. I will say that if contemporary romances are your wheelhouse, do not discount entirely based on what I am saying. Please know I am approaching this series from starting in the middle and am 100% a mood reader. I did find this book hard to pay attention to and hard to really care about in the end.

Leah Santelli had been in love with Zach Harper since she was a teenager. Her one wish on her 18th birthday was to have a one-night stand with Zach, which he agreed to. Then he left and her heart was broken. Now, more than 10 years later, Zach is back in town for a while and Leah wants to produce his music but things are awkward between them, so she proposes a no-strings fling for the time that Zach is in town. But, as they spend more time together, those old feelings resurface and Leah is sure she won't survive when Zach leaves again. Is it possible for them to have a happy ever after ending or will things be status quo and Zach will ride off into he sunset for the good of his career? Can love conquer all?

This was a beautiful story of love and how we can depend on the one we love to be our support and strength at times when we need it. My one criticism of the book were the dropping of f-bombs. While I realize some people use that in their daily language, I do not, and I find it offensive. The story was great but I wouldn't recommend the book to friends of mine because of that particular reason.

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit disappointed in this book. I usual love books about second chances and I'm a sucker for a good rock and r0ll story, but I had trouble connecting with this one., probably because I felt the characters were just using each other for their own selfish purposes at first. I'm not sure it ever transferred into a legitimate romance. I wanted something that had real romance, right from the beginning.

Well written and an enjoyable story. I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

This was a new author for me. I thought that the story was very well written and had very interesting and likable characters. The story drew me in and held my interest right up until the last page. It was a sweet romance that was very enjoyable. I would definitely read more from this author.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it. The story gives just the right amount of humor, angst, and you're wondering how long is it going to take these two to see what is right in front of them. I also enjoyed the small town feel where everyone knows you.

My first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I'm drawn to rockstar/musician romance books and this one had all the feels. Sigh. Zach is swoony, a great book boyfriend. I'm so glad I picked this book up!

No Place Like You by Emma Douglas is the third book in the Cloud Bay series. I actually read the second book and did not realize, until writing this review, that this is the third book, so one would have no trouble reading this as a standalone novel. This was an enjoyable story and if you are looking for a fun, quick read, this book is a great one to pick up. Leah and Zach are in the music industry, so it would be especially enjoyable to readers also into making and producing music. Not that it goes into any detail about making music, but rather for the setting and topic.

So I definitely read the books out of order which definitely reflected in my review of the second book. When I realized what I'd done, I had higher hopes for this book, but I just don't think these books are my cup of tea. It's a sweet romance, but the pacing is just slow and the over storyline always seems to fall flat.I don't think the writing is bad, I just don't think these books were for me.

Sweet and sassy Leah, aloof but kind Zach...I liked watching their attraction grow and develop.