The Bachelor Contract is a sweet read. You will just love May/Mabel and Austin so much. May never wanted to return to her hometown and she has her reasons. As you read you will understand why but there is only one family she truly wants to be around. May doesn't believe in love and relationships lasting with her experience with her parents. She has everything she needs with her daughter Caroline and now it's time to find the closure with her family home. Austin comes from a big loving family. The last thing he wants is to fall in love and his contract with his brother makes it clear. Austin has had feeling for May for years and May has had feelings for Austin since they were kids. I love how sparks start to fly as they grow closer with her renovation. You will just love Austin and the entire Merrick family. This one has so many sweet moments that will steal your heart and ease those little heavier ones. I love Austin and May together so much. I cannot wait for more from the Maple Hills series to come.

The Bachelor Contract by Victoria James, book two in her Maple Hill series, is a heartwarming, sweet and romantic story where two lifelong friends find forever with each other. The story highlights the need for family of the heart, and forgiveness for your well being.

Years ago, May Peterson lived next door to the Merrick family. While her family life was difficult and she felt unloved, the Merrick’s took her under their wing, filling her with a love. Callie, their daughter was her best friend, and Austin, one of the elder brothers, became the boy she crushed on. Not only because he was cute, but because every weekend he would come and sit with her on the swing in her house and shared her fears and secrets. May has returned along with her adoptive child, Caroline, hoping to restore and sell her childhood home, and start a new chapter of her life, far away from Maple Hill; putting those awful, heartbreaking memories behind her. The Merrick brothers work in construction with Austin being the one in charge of renovations for May’s house. Austin is living the life he thinks he wants, when May and Caroline open up a different option for him; that the crush would become more than that. They are both interested in seeing if this attraction can develop into more; but she is only planning on staying in town a few weeks to sell her home. Just when things seem to be going their way, an unexpected event might destroy this already fragile relationship.

This is a story about family or lack of; about finding love and realizing that trusting someone with one’s heart is the great joy one might experience. It’s also a reminder that events in a person’s childhood, will affect the adult they become. The story was engaging with wonderful characters; at times heartbreaking, but also heartwarming. I highly recommend The Bachelor Contract to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

So the plot was well thought out but failed in the execution. I think the author had some great ideas for some heavy angst particularly surrounding Mae's family but she failed to deliver. Overall the characters felt flat and I actually felt no chemistry whatsoever between Mae and Austin.

There were times when I felt like this was a continuation in a series, like the characters had already been introduced and we were supposed to know them but I don't think that is the case. The previous book didn't feature Mae as far as I know,

This book had potential and it was an okay read but I think the author could do better.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mya is back in Maple Hill to renovate and sell her mother's house and start a new life with her adoptive daughter. She is looking for closure trying to left behind all the hurt of her childhood. But what if Maple Hill is where she belong and where she caj dind love, happinness and a family of her own? Sweet.

Years ago, May Peterson lived next door to the Merrick family. While her family life was tragic and she felt unloved, the Merrick’s took her under their wing, filling her with a love. Their daughter was her best friend, and Austin, one of the oldest brothers, became the boy she crushed on. Not only because he was cute , but because every weekend he would come and sit with her on the swing in her house and shared her fears and secrets.
Now May is back with her adoptive child hoping to restore her family home, sell it and never return to Maple Hill.
What neither expected was that the crush would become more than that. But will May realize that she is truly worthy of love and let go of the past? Can she trust Austin to love her for the woman she is? Will he be able to love her child? Can she stay in a town that holds many heartbreaks?
When things seem to be going their way, an unexpected event might destroy the fragile relationship.
This is a story about family or lack thereof . About finding love and realizing that trusting someone with one’s heart is the great joy one might experience.
It’s also a reminder that the events in a person’s childhood, will affect the adult they become.
The story was engaging with wonderful characters. At times heartbreaking, it was also heartwarming. Also know that if like me, you didn’t read book 1, this one is definitely a stand alone.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Entangled Publishing and Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

THE BLURB:
New mom May Peterson can’t believe she’s back in her hometown. She has eight weeks to fix up, and sell, her childhood home. Just enough to say hello to her best friend and goodbye to her painful past. But in the warm, tightly-knit community of Maple Hill, it’s impossible to avoid anyone—especially the cute “boy next door.” And while May is definitely over the idea of love, his irresistible smile still makes her toes curl…

When they were kids, Austin Merrick only ever saw May as his sister’s best friend. Over time, they’d become friends, sharing late-night chats over cheddar popcorn. Now May Peterson has returned with an adorable baby that quickly wraps him around her little finger. But after seeing the damage a broken heart can do, Austin and his brother made an agreement: to never, ever fall in love. No marriage. No kids. Ever.

Now they’re working together to fix up her old home, and sparks of attraction are making it almost impossible to keep to their no-romance rules. But when it comes to love, hearts never play by the rules…especially when it comes to finding “the one.”

MY REVIEW:
A predictable plot mostly focused on May as she creates the life that she always wanted but felt she was denied by her parents.

The writing stlye is very awkward in areas, and in other areas, it reads like a sequel. I feel this would be improved with more editing and development of overall plot.

There is an awfully sexist section during the baseball game at the end of the book, and for this alone I have deducted a star.

RATING:
3/5

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

This is a very sweet and romantic story where two lifelong friends find forever with each other. May has finally settled on the life she wants and returns to her hometown to settle her affairs. Austin is living the life he thinks he wants when May and Caroline open up a different option for him. The story emphasizes the need for family of the heart, and forgiveness for your well being. The author has created a plot the inspires while it entertains. Turning the pages will leave you feeling great. This is a story to be cherished.

This was a cute story. I really liked how May didn't put off what she wanted in life and decided to adopt a baby on her own. I especially loved how good Austin was with the baby.

I liked the best friend's brother trope in this one especially since they were actually friends too.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

The Bachelor Contract is about overcoming one's past to realize their self worth for a bright future. Victoria James wrote this wonderful, wholesome story with romance, self-love, bravery, & family that many will enjoy reading. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC & I look forward to reading more of Victoria James' book soon.

Thank you Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is a very pleasant read. It moves along nicely to a predictable ending. May returns home after ten years to sell her childhood home and encounters her friend Austin. May was adopted and had a very difficult upbringing with a father that did not want her and a mother who became a drunk. It goes through her struggles and how she ends up creating a life that she always wanted as a child.

The Bachelor Contract by V. James is the second book in the Maple Hill Series. For best reading experience I recommend to read the books in order.
Austin Merrick vowed to never fall in love, he belives this heartbreak he just doesn't need.
Mable Peterson is back home after years away, and she brings her daughter, Caroline.
A sweet story, well written, intriguing, a slow burn.

After seeing what a mess his brother Cooper was after the death of his sister-in-law, Austin Merrick made a pact with his brother Brody to never fall in love. The loser gets the opportunity to name the winner's first born child.

Mable (May) Peterson hasn't returned to her small home town of Maple Hill since the death of her mother ten years ago. Now, May has a daughter of her own and a desire to close the door on her horrible past. She is in Maple Hill to sell her childhood home and start a new chapter of her life far away from the life she once knew.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Victoria James has hit the ball out of the ballpark with 'The Bachelor Contract'. Every time I read a new story by James I am more amazed at the depth of her writing. This book hits on some very painful and tragic life situations. Both May and Austin are like minded in regards to relationships, neither wants a committed relationship but they both came to that conclusion from very different perspectives. In the opening chapter of the story my heart ached for the Merrick family and the loss of a dear and valued family member. At the same time I adore the person May became in life and the strength and persaverance it took for her to get beyond her childhood. James was able to write a story with the perfect balance of tragedy, hurt, happiness, and love. My favorite quote from the book was from Austin's brother Brody, 'I, too, have been concerned about Austin's hooliganism lately.' What an amazing word....hooliganism.

I am in awe of what Victoria James has the capacity to create and look forward to the next great James story.

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May is returning to her hometown to get her mother's old home sold. She grew up next door to Merrick family and Callie was her best friend. May's home life was really bad, and Travis sometimes would come over and sit with her on the front porch swing. They really seemed to connect; before she left town, she confessed she loved him.
Travis and his brother Brody have a contract to never get married. When shows up in town and the brothers are doing the remodel on her old home, they spend a lot of time together. Travis needs to realize he really does love May, and she needs to get over the problems she had growing up in Maple Hill.

May Peterson comes back to her hometown she fled ten year before. She is returning to sell her childhood home she inherited from her mother. Her best friend Callie and her family welcome her back with open arms. Callie Merrick’s family was always a second home to May. The brothers work in construction and brother Austin is in charge of renovations for May’s house before selling. Of course May had a crush on Austin since she was twelve. They use to hang out and talk but he was too old (4 yrs difference) for it to be anything more in the past. Now they are both interested in seeing if this develop into more but she is only planning on staying in town a few weeks to sell her home.

There is other drama happening in what appears to be a light childhood friends to more, kissing only romance. The Merrick’s are a wonderful family but they have no boundaries and are in each others business in a loving way. There are some trigger warnings for suicide, death of a family member, cheating, unexpected pregnancy, and adoption (telling a child they aren't wanted). The story is drama filled and at times I wondered if it was a sequel because of some interactions alluded to past moments like I should already know about them. But I couldn’t find this tying into other books by the author.

Near the end is a scene during a baseball game. I dropped my score a half star because of it alone. <spoiler> The set up was absolutely ridiculous. May ends up having to sub on to the opposing team and somehow, making no sense at all, she is their pitcher. Realize she has managed to grow in her ten years away, become educated and successful in her field, adopt a child on her own and can even have grace in dealing with her past bullies. But no, Austin decides the only way she can be a hero and get acceptance in town is if he throws the game. I was appalled at the misogyny of him thinking he needs to save her. </spoiler> And the dialogue between the two was weird. No one speaks like that.

So even thought there’s a HEA the ending left me feeling sour. Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review. (2.5 Stars)

2.5 Stars The Bachelor Contract is a second chance, friends-to-lovers closed door romance. May has returned to her small hometown on the shores of Lake Erie ten years after she left. Neglected and abused as an adopted child, she often sought refuge at her best friend Callie's house right next door. Callie's family, the Merricks, always saw May as one of their own and gave her the love her parents didn't. As a teen, May fell in love with Callie's older brother Austin after May and Austin would sit out on her porch swing and talk long into the night, unbeknownst to everyone else. May declared her love for Austin, but when he didn't return her feelings and May's adoptive mother died by suicide, May fled town for good. Austin and his brother Brody swore that they'd never get married or have kids after they both saw their older brother Cooper fall apart after his wife's death. Now that May has returned to town, with her adopted six-month-old daughter Caroline, Austin is seeing her in a new light and reconsidering his commitment to the so-called "bachelor contract."

Honestly, this book was just okay. The characters were sweet and I loved the love that the Merricks had for May, treating her like their own daughter. But the dialogue was a bit strange at times. Sometimes I thought to myself: "That's not what normal humans sound like when they're talking." Or other times it seemed like when May and Austin were having a conversation that they were talking about two very different things. The dialogue was awkward and unnatural; not fun banter like I think the author was going for. Overall, it was a fine book, but not one I'll really remember.

I LOVED this book!!! One thing you can count on from this author is a heartfelt romance that makes you feel. This book is no exception and featured May a young woman with a horrible childhood, and Austin, a guy with the perfect family. They were friends as kids, then, when they are thrown back together again as adults, they have the opportunity to figure out if there's anything more there. But May is on a time limit of just a few weeks and has no intention of ever returning to her hometown again. What follows is a heartwarming romance with characters that I fell in love with and felt invested in, wanting them to get their HEA ending. They came alive on the page - almost as though I had a seat at the Merrick dinner table...

Fans of the genre will love this book. Put this one at the top of your TBR list. The author is on my must read authors' list.