A delightful romance that kept me turning the pages and made me a happily satisfied reader at the end. Highly recommend for a light, blissful love story.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Home At Summers End by Alys Murray is the concluding book in the Magnolia Sisters series which has been a delight to read. Each individual book has been a gorgeous love story. This book focuses on the eldest sister Rose, the one who always dreams of being swept of her feet by true love but has never had it. We see her now feeling the odd one out as she has no-one by her side.
Then there is Cole the actor who is aiming for stardom. He has just been unceremoniously dumped and feels upon reading the umpteenth script rewrite that the movie will end his career not sky rocket it. Rose comes up with a cunning plan to fool the town (and her family), along with helping Cole with his lines and make his ex jealous. The biggest issue comes when the lines begin to blur for them both, then Cole has a secret that could either break or make their 'business arrangement for good.
I always look forward to an Alys Murray book and this was no different. I picked up the book and was back there with Rose and her family. It was almost like I had never been away. I really enjoy the sisters and their characters. I always find an Alys Murray book a really easy, light hearted read.Every book has been a lovely sweet romance which takes me out of whatever is going on for me at that time. I loved Rose's plan and even had a little giggle at her subterfuge. Her determination to not be set up with dates really shone through. Another great read from Alys, she never lets me down.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the book to write this review today.

Book Description:

Rose Anderson is done with being known as “the nice one” in the small town where she lives. She’s done with playing third, fifth, seventh wheel at loud gatherings on her family’s flower farm. And most of all, she is done with the pitying looks she gets about her single status from the way-too-interested townsfolk.

Busy with her flower-arranging business, Rose has no time for a man, thank you very much. And it has nothing to do with the scars she still nurses from her last breakup. So when she meets Cole McKittrick, Rose gets an idea. But first she needs to get beneath his aloof exterior and convince him to agree…

Cole McKittrick is trying to keep calm. So what if he quit a steady job for a shot at his dream, was dumped and his move to Yokel County, California is bringing back childhood memories he’d rather forget? It’s all about perspective. He doesn’t want to get any more involved in this town than he has to be, so his first instinct is to push Rose Anderson and her intriguing idea away. But the woman won’t get gone, and then she makes him an offer he can’t refuse.

The two are soon neck deep in deception, playing up a starry-eyed romance in public while they clash wits and wills in private. But Cole has been hiding a big secret from Rose about his past. And when Rose finds out could it spell the end for their picture-perfect romance, or will she realize that he has taken over not just her home, but also her heart…?

A fun, charming romance about family and finding the one, perfect for fans of Robyn Carr, Debbie Macomber and Carolyn Brown.


BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Home At Summer's End' by Alys Murray.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 15th October 2020

This is the second book that I have read by this author. The first was 'The Perfect Hideaway' which I loved and gave a 5/5 rating. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it!!

This book is part of the 'Full Bloom Farm Series' and is the fourth book, but each book can also be read as a standalone. I didn't actually realise it was part of a series along with 'The Perfect Hideaway' so I'm excited to know that I will meet some of the characters again that I have already read about in 'The Perfect Hideaway' !!

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and interesting sounding blurb. I have also previously read a book by Alys Murray so that definitely helped me decide to read it also!! I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 23 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is written from third person perspectives and the main protagonists are Rose and Cole and it is set in California, USA 🇺🇸 . I always enjoy reading books written from several protagonists perspectives as it feels like I get to know the characters better and get a bigger picture of what is going on. The way it was written made me feel like I was right next to Rose and Cole and going through all the emotional turmoil with them. This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Rose and Cole. The fact that we get to see through the eyes of 2 of the characters is a bonus as it feels like we are not missing anything and let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters.

This novel is very smoothly written and flowed beautifully. It had me hooked from the first page to the very last. It's a very light hearted and beautiful story that will stay with you for long after you've finished. The descriptions were excellent and the locations beautiful. They made me feel that I was really in the storyline. The ending was perfect and I would love to read more of their story and lives. I am also looking forward to reading more books by Alys Murray who has made a new fan of me.

The storyline was filled was drama, tears, laughter, love and secrets, everything that makes the perfect romance. The whole booked flowed perfectly and I loved meeting all the characters from 'The Perfect Hideaway' again. I really enjoyed a nice and relaxing as well as uplifting readas a change from the typical crime thrillers.

The characters were all strong and well defined. I loved all their personalities, flaws and quirks and I feel that they all worked together perfectly in this book. I really enjoyed meeting Cole who was new in this book and getting to learn more about him. Cole has a great personality and I found him really likeable even with his flaws.

Overall a stunning, light hearted page turner that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Genres covered include Fiction, Romance Novel and Contemporary Romance.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as anyone looking for a light hearted and romantic page turner.

249 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon or free on kindle unlimited which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio:

Alys Murray is an author who writes for the romantic in all of us. Though she graduated with a degree in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and a Master’s in Film Studies from King’s College London, her irrepressible love of romance led her to a career as an author, and she couldn’t be happier to write these stories! Currently splitting time between her home state of Louisiana and London, she enjoys kissing books, Star Wars, and creating original pie recipes for all of her books. Tobey Maguire is her Spider-Man.

www.alysmurray.com
facebook.com/alysmurrayauthor
instagram.com/writeralys
twitter.com/writeralys

Buy Links:
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Apple: https://apple.co/3aoOsjG
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2PUvJmw
Google: https://bit.ly/3gYZnTA

Fun and flirty! Hopeful and heartwarming! This is the final book in Alice Murray’s delightful small town Romance Full Bloom Farm series. Rose has been reluctant when it comes to love, but now that everyone around her has coupled up she’s beginning to considerate. But that doesn’t mean she wants to deal with her mother and sister’s constant meddling. So when her BFF Annie, the biggest Meddler of them all, offers to set her up with someone who is in town to film a movie Rose thinks this is the perfect opportunity to get everyone off her back. Rose wasn’t anticipating being set up with a famous movie star but fortunately he has ulterior motivs as well. Rose and Cole come up with a plan they will fake date so people aren’t feeling sorry for Rose for not having somebody and Cole can make his ex jealous. What Rose and Cole never expected was to find a connection. So can a small town florist and a big-time Hollywood star find true love?

Love this series and it was so fun being back in this delightful small town. Rose is such a great character and I was thrilled to finally get her story. I love the fake relationship trope and it was done so well in this book. This was such a sweet story, but I am so sad to see the series end.

This book in emojis 💐 🎬 🍩 👙

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This is my 2nd read by this author and I really like her style. When I read her books, I feel like I step back in time a little to a time when things were less complicated & can sit back, relax and enjoy a simple, sweet love story.

That’s not to say the books are without drama and intrigue, because there is definitely that layered amongst the chemistry and romance between the two main characters, Cole and Rose. It is a straightforward plan: They will pretend to be in love to keep their family and the wider media off their backs. What could possibly go wrong? But it does go wrong, and in the best possible way…

Once again, the characters are likeable, their backstories believable and their developing relationship is lovely to follow.

Another enjoyable and cute read from Alys Murray!

I was looking forward to Rose's book after reading the previous book in this series. Rose is the one there for everyone, always the supporter, but that gives them the belief they can always give her their opinions, specifically on how she should be living her romantic life. Poor Rose is fed up and wants them all to back off. Scheming with the Hollywood hottie in town on a film shoot, Rose and Cole spend tons of time together to seem a "couple".

Now Cole is new in town and filming his movie, but wants his ex back. Yeah I couldn't get you there Cole. He is wrapped in the Hollywood hype and lifestyle and "thinks" he needs the trophy girlfriend to pull that off. Cole finds Rose fascinating, but knows she wouldn't be interested in someone like him. Same, Rose likes Cole but knows he wouldn't be interested in someone like her.

Love how these two interact and banter with each other. Written very fun and entertaining.

This is the last time I visit Hillsboro, California and have fun with the Anderson sisters and Annie.
We met the other sisters and Annie, rooted for them and had a lot of fun in reading this series but, as all good things, this is the end.
Rose is the “sweet” sister, the one who dreams about romance but never fell in love. She’s feeling “different” as she’s the one without a special one in her life.
And we meet Cole, the actor that hope that stardom is the next step in his career.
This is the start of highly entertaining, heartwarming, fun story that kept me hooked till the last page. It was the right book at the right moment because one needs some fun and hope in her life in this bleak times.
The author is a talented storyteller and I loved how she developed the plot and the characters, her descriptions of Hillsboro and how sweet the romance is. I rooted for Rose and Cole and couldn’t wait to read about their HEA.
The plot is fast paced, full of twists and turns and it kept my attention alive till the last page.
Even if I know this is the last book in this series I hope that there’ll be more in the future and we will meet again this lovely town and its quirky inhanitants.
It was a fun and entertaining read that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley, Alys Murray and Bookouture for the ARC of Home At Summer’s End. This is my personal review for the ARC.
Home at Summer’s End is the fourth book in the Full Bloom Farm series.
It is about Rose the only sister in the Anderson family to not have found true love yet. She has her own thoughts on love and she knows when the right one comes along; she will be all in for life!
I loved this entire series and was so happy to get the copy to fulfill my dreams of knowing what happens with Rose.
Cole comes to town to star in a movie being filmed in Hillsboro.
The chemistry between Rose and Cole jumps off the pages as I read the book.
Thank you Alys Murray for giving me this series about the Anderson sisters.

Rose owns a flower shop in Hillsboro. Cole is an actor, who is shooting a movie in the town. Cole meets Rose on a blind date, set up by Annie, Rose’s best friend. Cole and Rose decide to have a fake relationship. Cole wants to do it, to win back his ex-girlfriend. Rose does it to stop her friend and sister from meddling in her personal life. Can this fake relationship become a real one, as they get to know each other? I enjoyed this book. This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. You will want to go back and read her sisters and Annie’s story. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

I love this series and have been hooked since Harper’s story in The Magnolia Sisters. My affection for the Anderson family and the town of Hillsboro grew through Sweet Pea Summer and The Perfect Hideaway.
But I want to be clear that I have been avidly waiting for Rose’s story. Even though I can relate to May, I identify with Rose the most out of the main characters we’ve met. I especially had to laugh when Harper called her “Shakespeare” because that was my nickname (for a while) when I was growing up.
But I digress.
If you’ve read the rest of the series, you know what to expect – realistic characters in a bucolic setting with incidents, interactions, and events that all feel perfectly normal. The author has a talent for making the reader feel like they’re a townsperson of Hillsboro. Something is comforting in the familiarity of all of it.
Aside from sharing a nickname, I really dig Rose’s character. I like how she’s prickly on the outside but is also whip-smart and has a sharp sense of humor. The scheme she cooks up with Cole is something I would absolutely think of.
And Cole? Well, what can I say about him? He’s an actor without a lot of pretenses, who is much deeper than his good looks. We all hope that our movie crushes have that simpler nature on the inside, no?
I was a little bit unsure of his original reasoning for wanting to enter into the “romance” with Rose, because it seemed a little underhanded – and frankly naïve. But it was soon apparent that even his best-laid plans were going to be all screwed up.
As with other books, you know what’s inevitable, but the fun is getting there with the characters. I’m sad that this was the last sister (including Annie), but I’m really hoping that the author sees fit to give us another visit to Hillsboro.
I’m not ready to leave.

Adored this so much, the fake relationship becoming real, watching them warm to one another, it’s just so sweet, great writing, lovely and relatable characters, just a great romantic read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Home at Summer's End by Alys Murray is the 4th book in the Full Bloom Farm romantic series, and my first book by this author. This book made me relax visualizing sitting on the beach, listening to the water sounds. I found this book to be a quick and fun read, and look forward to reading more books by this author. I love the quirky people and situations in this book, and watching the characters grow. I recommend this book for people who enjoy pretend romances that become real.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A great read, the story of Rose and Cole.

They are set up by a mutual friend, and start on a fake relationship, both for their own reasons. It soon becomes anything but fake, but Cole is keeping a secret which could change everything, so what will happen when Rose finds out?

I hadn't read any of the other books in the series but don't think it mattered

As I’ve read all the three books about the Anderson sisters and their friend Annie before this, I’ve grown to love the small town Hillsboro and all its characters. Through all the other books, Rose comes across as being the nice one who doesn’t get into scrapes, except in The Perfect Hideaway where she challenges Annie by calling her bluff! That’s when I realized that there was more to Rose than met the eye.

It was nice to discover a Rose who is fed up of playing second fiddle to her sisters and Annie and decides that she needs to get her family off her back about her single status. She allows Annie to set her up with the visiting actor Cole, and both of them decide to pretend date for their own reasons. Cole wants to practice the art of romance to get it right in his upcoming movie and Rose wants her family to think that she’s dating!

This sweet, clean romance has the typical plot of fake relationships, but the characters are so wonderfully created that it is very different. Love for family and community, the warmth of a small town and the downside of everyone knowing everyone else are common themes in this series and make the books all the more enjoyable reading.

A sweet romance suitable for Hallmark. Another fake romance fail. Lots of self examination and growth on the part of both individuals. No intimate details, just some sweet kisses.

Home at Summer’s End by Alys Murray and is the final book in the Full Bloom Farm Series. It was an enjoyable story that I recommend. I was drawn to this story as it was well written and drew me in. This is Rose and Cole’s story. These two started out deciding to “pretend date” but end up having real feelings for each other. It is a romance story about opening your heart and finding your true love.

I received my advanced copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

Fake relationships never work out the way they're supposed to, but local beauty Rose and actor Cole are determined to do it right and not fall in love.

Well, I did it again and didn't start with the first book. Though, with a book series like this, it isn't strictly necessary to read them in order; they're more or less standalones, though it's still nice to know the background on the surrounding characters. In this case, Home at Summer's End is the last book of the Full Bloom Farm quartet. But I really wanted to read it because I found myself in Rose just from the book description. While I would have liked to have gotten to know her sisters and friend via the first three books, I can't say I was disappointed because Rose and Cole just drew me in.

The Plot: A Beautiful Fake Relationship

Rose Anderson is the oldest Anderson girl. As Hillsboro, California's resident nice girl, she's a romantic at heart who has been hurt by love, but that doesn't stop everyone in her life from believing she won't be fully happy without a man in her life. Cole McKittrick just quit a popular TV series and his Hollywood perfect girlfriend just dumped him, so he's glad for the escape to small town Hillsboro, where he starts filming an upcoming romantic movie in two weeks. The only problem is, he has no idea how to be a romantic lead, so a friend from Hollywood, who just happens to be Rose's matchmaking best friend, sets him and Rose up.

The rules are simple: they'll pretend to be in a relationship (with some strict ground rules) so Rose can get everyone out of her hair and Cole can get his ex-girlfriend back. It makes perfect sense to both of them since Rose will also be helping to mold Cole into the perfect romantic lead and teaching him all about romance. There's no way this could go wrong. After all, the rules are rigid.

Home at Summer's End is such a sweet romance. Not light and fluffy, not trope-y, not cute. Just sweet. Since Rose is an avid romance reader, she knows all about how fake relationships never, ever work out, so does her best to make sure hers is a success. I loved that the typical romance tropes were addressed throughout the novel and how hard Rose struggled to make sure they didn't fall into any of the normal traps.

It follows the standard pattern in a romance novel, but never shies away from casually dropping in how this is supposed to happen at this point in a relationship and that could never happen because this wasn't a romance novel. It somehow managed to transplant me as a reader from the pages of a book into the lives of two very real people. Written with a light, deft hand, Home at Summer's End managed to avoid everything I hate in romance novels (the formula, the tropes) and present a very sweet, very clean story about a couple who know they're not allowed to fall in love. The only quibble I had was that Rose's reason for everything felt a little weak and she blew up a little too much at the end (when things typically go south), otherwise I really enjoyed most of this book.

The Characters: The Sweetest Couple, and a Loving Family

Rose is the entire reason why I wanted to read Home at Summer's End. She's the nice one who is the only one not bothered by her single status. She has an amazingly loving, if amazingly meddlesome, family, but loves them anyways. Though she runs the family's flower shop, she's a bookworm at heart who has probably read every romance novel and who loves every romantic movie ever filmed. She's sweet and, as the oldest child, puts everyone else first, but is finally realizing she's kind of done with that, and this last setup with Cole will be her last. I loved that she's a romantic at heart, though past hurts have her carefully guarding it.

Cole is a man of two faces. As an actor he presents a carefully cultivated bio and face, one that may or may not be the truth. As a man, he just wants to prove himself while keeping his secrets close to home. He didn't exactly come off as a swaggering, good looking actor, but that's what made him charming. He was deeper than his actor persona, and the chapters from his perspective showed his depth and his ever-conflicting feelings about everything. I didn't find him to be especially swoon-worthy, but he did make me sigh a few times.

And then there's Rose's family and her best friend Annie. They're all cozily paired up and overzealously involved in Rose's love life, or lack thereof. But they all have hearts of gold and are perfectly charming. If a bit too overly involved. I loved how close they all were, how much they cared about each other and only wanted the best for each other. Annie and Rose's sisters Harper and May have their own significant others and their romances are hinted at throughout the book, but their stories are the first three in this series.

The Setting: A Small Town in Northern California

Home at Summer's End takes place in a small town in Northern California. Being from a big city in Southern California, I struggled to believe there could be a small town in California, but thinking of wine country helped. I just replaced the vineyards with Rose's family's sprawling flower farm. It was delightful and charming. I liked that it actually didn't feel particularly Californian, but was geographically placed close enough to Hollywood that it could be believable.

The small town charm is everywhere in this book. Everyone knows everyone else, but there's still a very secret pie recipe. There are only so many date spots, but Rose and Cole make the most of all of them. It was cute and cozy, though it never felt stifling. I loved that it was small, but there was still breathing space. There were enough eyes looking over Rose and Cole's shoulders, but it was possible for them to keep secrets close to their chests. Overall, a delightful location.

Overall: A Sweet, Clean Romance

Romance is far from my preferred genre, and I almost passed on this one, but I'm really glad I read it. I just saw so much of myself in Rose. It's rare for me to find that, so I couldn't let the opportunity to review this one pass me by. I'm so glad I did because it did its best to turn the typical romance tropes on their heads, and I honestly couldn't stop reading. Rose and Cole were beautiful and perfect, and I desperately want to reread their story because it was that sweet. Overall, Home at Summer's End is both probably a fitting end to the series and a really sweet, tender romance that failed to get my eyes rolling at the ridiculousness. While it does fall into the formula, the lines felt a little more blurred and I could almost believe I was reading the story of a real couple. I did like the ending, but, once that last quarter hit, it started to feel too predictable and I felt like I'd been tossed into the romance novel formula, which was a little jarring since the rest of the book had been a dream.


Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Link to post: https://thelilycafe.com/book-review-home-at-summers-end-by-alys-murray/

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC! This review is based completely on my honest opinion.

This book is the fourth and final book of the Full Bloom Farm Series. This is the second book I have read from this author, the first, Perfect Hideaway, which is book 3 of this series. This time, the book tells about Rose Anderson who is now the only single one in the family. She is happily running her flower shop and is creating perfumes with the flowers in her shack. Then meet Cole McKittrick, a famous Hollywood actor, who breezes into Hillsboro from L.A. for a movie shoot. Annie Martin sets the two of them together. Rose is not really interested in romance and Cole wants to act as if they are together, so he could get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Vivienne. So they fake that they are dating together and at the same time, Cole starts reading romance novels and Rose helps him with them. And soon, without realizing, they both fall for each other...

The story started out really good. The chapters were divided as Rose's parts and Cole's parts and there were some parts that were funny to read. The writing was good as well and I was drawn into the story, so the author did a good job making the reader go into the story. Both Rose and Cole's characters are quiet likable as well. This romance book is cheesy and warm and cozy to read as well. Only thing was the story was not very realistic but other than that, I enjoyed reading this book and couldn't really put the book down!

Sweet, small town romance💕

3.5-4🌟stars
This story struck me as more women's fiction than romance though the male lead also does his share of soul searching and emotional growth. Heroine Rose is stuck in a rut, hiding from her emotions and afraid to stretch herself toward any of her lifetime goals, including a career as a perfumier, love and a family of her own. She's got issues with her family and hopes an outsider can help solve them without putting herself out there too much to risk bursting her protective bubble.

The romance between Rose and visiting actor Cole was sweet, fine, but not really all that memorable. And I found the character of Annie, one of Rose's friends, pushy and annoying.

Maybe I would have enjoyed the story more if I had read the previous novels in the series about this small California town. But one thing struck me as really odd. The setting is California but several times the author describes Cole as having an American accent. Duh! Totally nondescriptive (we Americans, after all, can boast many dialects and accents but why even mention it?)!

Thanks to publishers Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

This is a very sweet and tender love story. Rose is trying to get her family off her back about finding true love, Cole is trying to win back the woman who broke his heart. They decide to pretend-date, but as the days go by they start to have feelings for each other, but neither of them are brave enough to tell the other. I love books which feature characters who have closed off their hearts, and it always warms my own heart when they let themselves be vulnerable. This is the fourth book in this series, but I haven’t read the others and it was great as a stand-alone.