I started off enjoying this...and then, somewhere around 30% I stopped caring. I kept reading hoping that my feelings would change...hoping that I would believe the chemistry between our MCs. Sadly, I didnt. The constant self doubt, denial and second guessing became irritating. It ended as any cozy romance can be expected so there's that. At least there was a payoff for all my perseverance.

3 sweet and short stars!!
Cleo is fighting for the book shop. Mark is sent to evaluate the store because his family business is going to take it over. Sounds a lot like "You've Got Mail", because that is what it reminded me of!

This was a fun book. I am going to promote it on a few podcast episodes - valentine's, contemporary romance episodes.

I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 stars

I was originally interested in this book because it seemed like it would be a really cute winter read especially around Valentines Day considering the title of the book. I did read most of this book around that time and ended up putting it down as I was in a reading slump for quite some time but finally picked it back up to finish. I had no problems when I picked it back up and still remembered the majority of the book so I wasn't confused at all when I began to read again.

If you are looking for a cute, almost insta-lovey, short book to read then this is definitely a good one to pick up. For me personally, I didn't really enjoy the fact that it felt really insta-lovey. They were both pretty intrigued with each other after just the first meeting even though he was at her bookshop to see if his family's company could help the bookstore out financially and take it in as part of their chain. The romance was quite cute and enjoyable and I loved the little "dates" that they ended up having which were part of her bookstore programs/community programs that were set up for Valentine's Day. In the background of the book there was a little bit of drama going on between each family and I don't feel like they were fully resolved at the ending even with the epilogue. Coming from a very small town myself though I do like how the author described the smaller town life. It really is all about the community coming together and a lot of spaces are more than just shops but places to catch up and unwind from different events in the day as well as community involvement in general.

I just really enjoyed this book. It was just really easy to get lost in this book. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

This book was a Hallmark movie come to life, but not in a way that made me love it. It felt like I'd already seen this movie. It was an adorable premise and a perfectly lovely book, but it probably won't be one I recommend to many people. The characters felt two dimensional to me which is why I kept coming back to that movie feeling.

Just as free-spirited bookstore employee Cleo Davis faces closure of her beloved shop, the owner informs her it will continue as part of the successful Stephens chain. When the chain's risk assessor, the very reserved, very attractive Mark Stephens, enters the store to look over her business plan, Cleo clashes with him right away. Oil and water have nothing on them. Mark has always followed the rules. But the minute he steps into vibrant and spunky Cleo’s store, he knows he’s in trouble. One moment he’s in her “craft corner” painting bookends with kids, the next in a bidding war with Cleo at a charity auction. He can't deny that opposites attract, and Cleo’s vivacious personality has him rethinking his life in more ways than one. But when Cleo’s store officially becomes part of the bookstore chain, Mark will become her boss…and completely off limits.
This was a good read. It was a quick and easy read. I liked both characters. I look forward to reading more from this author. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This is a lovely, heartwarming, contemporary romance set in a delightful community and a great easy read story to escape into.

Cleo Davis is dreading the bookstore where she works being taken over by the Stephens chain. She’s innovative, hardworking and community orientated, something the potential new owners may well not appreciate. She’s also somewhat rebellious, having given up a potentially lucrative career working with her parents to follow her own path. When Mark Stephens arrives to evaluate the bookstore, they immediately clash -well, that’s after she crawls out of the book castle! He’s always followed the rules for business set by his father but Cleo challenges him, making him rethink his choices, remember his past and even to have fun. Will their mutual attraction lead to anything more? Should it, as he may become her boss? What will happen if his firm don’t take over the bookstore- or if they do?

This fun read explores parental aspirations and pressures on their offspring. It is about life choices, daring to follow your dreams despite parental antagonism to you doing so. It is a story of working together with the local community, friendship and love, one which I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in highly recommending.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

I received an ARC through NetGalley provided by the publisher.

Synopsis:
Just as free-spirited bookstore employee Cleo Davis faces closure of her beloved shop, the owner informs her it will continue as part of the successful Stephens chain. When the chain's risk assessor, the very reserved, very attractive Mark Stephens, enters the store to look over her business plan, Cleo clashes with him right away. Oil and water have nothing on them.

Mark has always followed the rules. But the minute he steps into vibrant and spunky Cleo’s store, he knows he’s in trouble. One moment he’s in her “craft corner” painting bookends with kids, the next in a bidding war with Cleo at a charity auction. He can't deny that opposites attract, and Cleo’s vivacious personality has him rethinking his life in more ways than one.

But when Cleo’s store officially becomes part of the bookstore chain, Mark will become her boss…and completely off limits.

Review:
This is a perfect winter day read. The book was a great read for curling up with a sweet novel and some alone time. The characters were very likable and after several near misses find each other what we wish we could all find in our significant others. I really enjoyed this one!

This one just didn’t do it for me. It’s a novella, and I just felt like there was too much left out. I honestly checked once or twice to see if I had somehow skipped pages because there seemed to be big jumps that weren’t really explained. Cleo is fighting for the book shop she works at to remain the quirky, small town place it has always been, while Mark is sent to evaluate the store and integrate it into the chain of bookstores his family owns. One of the problems I sometimes have with novellas is that sometimes the story feels rushed, and that was definitely the case here. The characters actions were just confusing to me at times. I’m not sure I’d recommend this one.

Such a cute Valentine's Day romance. Loved this one!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A cute read just in time for Valentine's Day. Think small town strong heroine meets equally strong male. Both kind of have the same want but since his company is taking over the small town bookstore he feels like he needs to push back on her quaint store.
I really enjoyed the meeting between these two and how the story progresses. It was told from both POV so you got that over arcing thought process.
The only part I didn't like was how it sometimes changed who was speaking right in the middle of a chapter and it took a minute to figure out where in time and who was talking.

If you are a fan of You’ve Got Mail movie, then this book is right up your alley. The story is sweet and a bit predictable. It was an easy rom com book with minimal steam. I really thought Mark was such a sweet heart and lovable character. A perfect book if you are in the mood of a light read.

This novel read exactly like a Hallmark movie; it was sweet, wholesome and a pleasure to read. I finished this novel in a day; it was a fast and easy read for me. My only real complaint with this novel is how often Cleo’s parental problems kept coming up; how disappointed her parents are that she’s not following into their footsteps, that they’re not supporting her, etc. Overall it was a fun read, exactly what I needed to get out of my slight reading slump.

Oh goodness I loved this book, the patience required as the misunderstandings and wrong assumptions are made by both characters was nail biting and I did actually shout at them during one scene. It's a really excellent 'feel good' book about being yourself first and then finding someone who respects and encourages you. It's about family and growth and lots of little things in life.
A real triumph and perfect reading for February!

A Valentine Proposal by Viv Royve is the second book in her Little Shops on Heart Street series. This is my first time reading the book in the series. I really enjoy the story and the small town.

In this book we meet Cleo the manager of the book store in Wood Creek. She was a lawyer but didn't find that to be a fit for her. When you moved to Wood Creek she found a place to all home. Now the book store she runs may need to close if the big chain of Stevens book does save them. Mark is the son of the owner of chain. He is the one look at the potential new book store that would join the chain.
Cleo is the free spirit to Marks business suit. When you put Cleo and Mark together you have spark. Cleo even helps Mark see what he looking for in his future.

I was really sweet small town story. I love the characters and how gave a nice feeling.
This a five a star read. I really loved it

Just an absolute delight and didn’t want the book to end. Had me laughing out loud! What a refreshing read… Excellent... If you need a feel-good, a bit of drama, funny, witty read, this should be it!’ First book I’ve read by this author and I loved it. Definitely be on the look out for future and past books by this amazing author. Happy reading!

If Hallmark Channel made Valentine's movies like they make Christmas movies, this would fit right in. It's got all the elements for a sweet and adorable romance: quaint small town, holiday festivities, quiet yet capable heroine and a hero who has come to shut down the town bookstore. I appreciated the dual viewpoints in the book although the way the author handled private musings did leave me confused more than a few times: was it Mark or Cleo?

Overall, a fun read for the Valentine season.

I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This was a very sweet story with a clean romance and some of the storyline reminded me of the movie “You got mail”.

Cleo works in a bookshop in the little town of Wood Creek. She has taken on all of the creative responsibilities and runs the shop very easygoing and knows how to run a shop in a small town. Unfortunately the owner hopes to sell the shop to a big bookstore chain and the appraiser is Mark Stephens who comes to town to see how the shop is run and if there is a possibility of buying it.
Cleo and Mark has very different opinions of how to run a bookstore but she talks Mark into waiting and seeing how her Valentines campaign goes and if it attracts more costumers. There are three events and he decides to come to them all and they slowly become closer and closer and he slowly figures out that he is not the person he wants to be. But how can he change his life for the better and is she willing to relinquish some of her control and trust that he only wants what is best for her?

Sometimes I was truly irritated with both of the characters but mostly her. She was supposed to be this brave, creative, sweet, strong woman but a lot of the time she just seemed sad and bland.
He at least decides that he wants to change his lifestyle and that he is open to a relationship with her.
I liked the small town Wood Creek and the little shop street called Heart Street. The side characters were also very sweet and I look forward to reading the next book in the series of “The little shops on Heart Street”

I got this book from Entangled Publishing and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Entangled and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Valentine Proposal
By: Viv Royce

*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟.5
I love a good romcom and/or chicklit story, and that's what I got from A Valentine Proposal. Cleo and Mark are at odds but attracted to each other. You can probably imagine how this story, essentially, goes because it's approaching formulaic. Don't get me wrong-it's a delightfully adorable read with warm moments and humorous moments. Cleo owning a bookstore was a nice touch for us (aren't we all?) bookworms. I enjoyed reading this story and do recommend it for romcom fans, but there are no big surprises here. Overall, it's a light easy read.