I'm always fond of the Sutton Place series titles, and this was a fun and charming read. While I hate the term 'reverse age gap,' that's what most people would recognize this as, with the woman being older than the male lead. Living in a gossipy small town means everyone knows their business before they really have a chance to figure themselves out, and Stacey handles that with a deft hand. Really love how sensitively the widow's complicated feelings and familial relationships are handled.

This the 5th book in the “Sutton’s Place Series.” This is my first time reading a book by Shannon Stacey and I must that this was an enjoyable read with an older female and a younger male character a genre that I love reading. Laura is living in the small town of Sutton’s Place where everyone knows everyone business. She is a widow with children and a grandmother who is in her late 40’s. Laura manages the office of her son and nephew’s tree service. Riley is single and in his late 30’s and is the new employee at the tree service that Laura’s son Lane just hired as the new foreman. When Riley and Laura meet their attraction and chemistry for each other is off the charts. The two have to be careful as there are open ears and eyes on the watch. As the two maneuver around their budding relationship Laura is concerned about their age difference but for Riley age is nothing but a number. Riley and Laura are great together and Riley just has to convince Laura that they are meant to be.

How will Laura’s son Lane feel when learns of Riley’s romantic relationship with his mother, will Riley still have a job as foreman or will he get his walking papers?

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Harlequin Romance and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I've been reading Shannon Stacey for years and I always enjoy the enrichment of her characters. Her Younger Man is no exception. I'm not usually a fan of this trope but OMG it was amazing and I'm so glad Shannon wrote this story!

This is a good book. The two main characters are Laura and Riley. Laura works for her son’s tree service. Riley works for Laura’s son tree service. There is an instant attraction. Laura is older than Riley. They start dating. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

I was really excited to read this one because I tend to like an age gap where the woman is older if I am reading that trope. Unfortunately, I didn't really like the MMC's POV, he just rubbed me the wrong way.

This is a solid small town Harlequin romance. The middle age heroine originally married at 17, and I liked seeing her learn to build a life for herself outside of the the role of traditional wife and mother that she’d uncomfortably inhabited for most of her adult life. There was some trauma history but the story kept it light, with a lot of nuance. The small town gossip about the couple was intense, which wasn’t my fave, but I’m glad they didn’t sneak around too long before starting to tell her family. The hero didn’t have a lot going on in his personality but was sweet. Light steam and open door.

Found a new author in Shannon Stacey. A refreshing story about an older women and younger man. Can’t wait for her next book.

Age gap romance, and the Male MC falls first!! Sign me up. I felt left out from getting to know these characters since its not a full-on standalone read, but from the beginning of this read, I got the attraction, and fell in love with Riley too.... It was a sweet read.

Laura Thompson is a widow living with her adult son, daughter-in-law and grandchild. She meets the newest worker in the company she runs with her son and it's instant attraction even though he is much younger. Riley McLaughlin is new to the small town and the massive family connections it holds. Riley and Laura try to navigate this tricky situation and build a relationship.

I have really enjoyed this series, but this book was a bit of a miss for me. I didn't really like the premise.

After several heavy-on-the-mystery novels, I was ready for a palate cleanser and what better than a pleasant category romance. Shannon Stacey’s romances are low-angst, low-conflict, character-focussed, and heroine-centric. If this is your cuppa, then Her Younger Man is a pleasant read. To fill in the details, publisher Harlequin’s description:

Age is just a number

Riley McLaughlin knows he shouldn’t get involved with a coworker, especially when she’s also his boss’s mom. But widow Laura Thompson is everything he wants in a woman, and their age difference simply doesn’t matter. And though she’s drawn to Riley more than she’ll ever admit, Laura has never been one to jump headfirst into adventure. Town gossip has already run rampant—will Riley and Laura give them something to really talk about?

One of the things I like about Stacey’s romances is the working-class, or small-business-owning characters. Riley is a highly skilled tree-cutter and that’s how he ended up working for Laura’s son, who owns a tree-cutting business. Laura runs the “business office”. Their introduction, led by Laura’s son Lane, means insta-attraction. Their thoughts are a hoot: for Riley, he’s “stay away” because Laura is his boss’s mom and Laura’s is he’s too young, low-angst, low-stakes no-noes why they shouldn’t be together.

Inner conflict defines Laura’s “conflicted” feelings about being with Riley. Thankfully, after Laura’s initial doubts, it wasn’t about his “youth” (39 to her 48). I enjoyed Laura’s determination to be with Riley on her terms: she was a teen mom and wife and, while she loved her husband, it was a traditional, rigid gender-roles marriage. She mourned Joe, but she also found, in the past ten years of widowhood, how much she likes running her life. On the one hand, being with Riley is part of her Laura-for-Laura ethos; on the other hand, commitment may bring her back to where she was with Joe.

The HEA leaves Laura with what she wants, which, frankly, makes Riley too perfect a hero. I liked him: he was funny, endearing, affectionate, and honest. Games aren’t played and misunderstandings don’t occur. When Riley and Laura reconcile post-dark-moment, they’re open, vulnerable, and honest. But we don’t know much about Riley: we don’t have a sense of what kind of life he’s led (other than being part of a close, loving family). Shouldn’t a 39-year-old character have life experience?

Stacey delivers this mild-mannered romance in serviceable prose, with occasional nice banter between Riley and Laura, and the amusing say-so of many, many secondary characters, past romances’s couples, family, friends, neighbours. Everyone is in on the act, which makes for constant explanations of who’s who, bogging down the romance.

In the end, Stacey reinforced the genre’s theme: impediments to the HEA may be overcome by telling the other person you love them and making a public commitment. Moreover, the small-town romance shows how friends’, family’s, and neighbours’ encouragement, acceptance, and affection are part of a fulsome HEA. Stacey’s romance is flawed; it doesn’t break any ground, but it is satisfying. Miss Austen and I agree, Her Younger Man is “almost pretty,” Northanger Abbey.

Shannon Stacey’s Her Younger Man is published by Harlequin. It was released on July 25. I received an e-ARC from Harlequin, via Netgalley. This does not impede the free expression of my opinion.

Riley is new to this tree company and this town, and has an almost instant attraction to his boss's mom. There's an age difference between Riley and his boss, and that doesn't seem to be an issue.

Laura has been a widow for a while, and also feels the spark with Riley. The age difference seems to be an issue at the start (but it's less than 10 years. It's not that huge of a difference.)

They eventually decide to act on this attraction and keep things under wraps. In the end they need to decide whether this is worth fighting for or go back to ignoring it, while working together?

I wanted to love this book but it was difficult. I felt Laura had a lot of growing up to do, despite being the "older woman." Riley was fine, but I had a difficult time connecting to him. I've loved the other books in this series, so I'm bummed this one was harder for me.

Good age-gap romance. Laura is the office manager for the family tree business. At 48 and a widow, she enjoys spending time with her granddaughter and living the independent life she didn't have while she was married. While her marriage wasn't unhappy, everything revolved around her husband. Growing up as a preacher's daughter, she was raised to put others first - husband, children, friends, etc. - and now she can do things that make her happy. But is she ready for a relationship with a younger man?

Riley has been hired by Lane, Laura's son, to be a foreman in the family tree business. At 39, he's happy with his bachelor status. Then he meets Laura, with whom he is immediately smitten.

I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Though equally attracted to Riley, Laura is a little slow in recognizing that he is doing more than a little light-hearted flirtation with her. He wants to get to know her better. As they start spending time together, Laura is disturbed by the number of people who comment on her "fling" with a younger man. Riley worries a bit about his boss's reaction to Riley dating Laura. It isn't long before they realize there is more than flirtation between them.

I loved how the age difference didn't bother Riley at all. He sees Laura for the wonderful, sexy woman that she is. He treats her with love and respect and encourages her to do what makes her happy. Laura takes a little longer to accept the feelings that are growing for Riley. She is so accustomed to paying attention to other people's wishes and opinions that following her desires is a little more of a challenge.

When Riley and Laura move their relationship out of the shadows, they must deal with the reactions of others. Riley's conversation with his bosses, Lane and Case, is awkward and amusing as they realize he is serious about his feelings for Laura. It's hard to talk about your girlfriend with your friends when she's their mother/aunt. He also endures vocal disapproval from his mother. I loved the encouragement and approval Laura received from her daughter-in-law and laughed at the good-hearted teasing she endured. I was less happy at the lack of support from her best friend and wanted to shake her for raising doubts in Laura's mind.

It was great to see that Riley wasn't about to let others destroy the best thing that happened to him. He has a good head on his shoulders and uses it to help Laura work through the doubts that plague her. His support of her independence goes a long way toward easing her fears. I loved seeing Laura finally stand up for what she wanted.

The epilogue was terrific as it showed their lives two years later. It isn't a traditional one, but they are clearly happy. I laughed out loud at little Becca calling Riley "Gramps" and how much he loved it.

Sweet book with underlying messages.

Older woman, by 9 years, further complicated by the fact she’s his boss’s Mom. Plus it’s a small town and the gossip abounds. It takes a strong personality to get beyond these obstacles. I enjoyed this book even though I hadn’t read the others in the series.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Loved returning to Sutton Place for Riley and Laura's story. She had a strict upbringing as the daughter of a preacher . Her mother died when she was 12 of an overdose, combination of pills and alcohol. When she found herself pregnant at 17 she married and was in the relationship until her husband died. But he was old fashioned and everything was his way. Now at 48 she's enjoying doing things when she wants.

Riley's still single at 39 but comfortable with all ages. He's hired on to the family Tree business and Laura runs the office. The attraction is instantaneous, but worries on both sides due to a variety of factors has them approaching a relationship a bit reluctantly.

After a few dates they decide to tell his boss, Laura's 30 year old son. Then they start attending events together as a couple in their small town and weather the judgement of townspeople. But at a barbecue with his family things come to a head. Can the 9 year she difference come between them or can they approach the future together?

You're going to want to read this story of love, second chances, and the importance of chasing your dreams to find out. A perfect beach read.

Although I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

My rating: 4-stars.

The reverse age gap troupe is one of my favorite sub-genre romances to read. I was browsing NetGalley and the title alone grabbed my attention. I read the synopsis and submitted my request to read and review Her Younger Man by Shannon Stacey.

Since the book was written for Harlequin, I knew it would be a nice and romantic read. In my opinion, it was that. Ms. Stacey wrote a nice and romantic book. It was well written and she told Riley's and Laura's story beautifully. I like to read a book where the mfc is strong and independent on her own. She's also compassionate and loving toward the mmc. I also like the mmc to treat the mfc with respect and value her. I feel like the book had all those aspects and I appreciate that. I also appreciate that the author wrote the story with an older mfc as it's a nice change from reading 20-something and 30-something years old mfc. Older females deserve love too.

In praise of younger men...

I really liked Her Younger Man. Women really should date younger men. Riley just started a new job at a tree service and the boss is Laura. He is instantly smitten by her. Laura is crushing on the new Harley riding employee as well, but she a bit older (just nine years, he's 39), she's a mother to an adult son and a grandmother (she was a teen mother). Her first marriage left her with doubts about marriage and for a time, Riley and Laura sneak around, but you know thats not gonna work for long.
I really liked how well Riley and Laura communicated (thank you for making them adults, who you know, talk). Can they create a relationship that works for the both of them?
Highly recommend.

It was a surprise to me when I saw that Laura was going to get a book in this series. It’s not something that I usually see in a romance series. You see, Laura is the mom of one of the MMC from a previous book. She is the best friend of the mom of most of the MFCs. I mean, the title of the book says it all.

Laura has led her life pleasing others. She comes from an abusive home and always walked on eggshells to ensure her father wasn’t upset. While her marriage wasn’t bad, she did find herself bending to what her husband wanted. His shows, his food preferences, his choices. (To be fair to her long-deceased husband, it doesn’t seem she ever tried to speak up about her wants and needs. She was used to going along with what was decided.) Upon their first meeting, Laura and Riley have an instant connection. For once, Laura wants to do what makes her happy. Yet that people-pleaser mentality is ingrained in her and it is very hard for her to override the intrusive thoughts.

There seems to be so much more to explore when the age gap consists of an older woman instead of an older man. Laura is a grandma and has no desire to become a mom again. Riley hasn’t had kids yet, is that going to bother him? Things along those lines are never addressed when the MMC is older. The author did a great job of incorporating the thoughts and fears of Laura as well as Riley.

I was rooting for Riley and Laura and adored how comforting their relationship felt. It seemed both characters were truly themselves with one another in ways they weren’t with other people. I didn’t feel fire with them, but there was definitely a smoldering. When they were struggling through figuring it all out, I had that hollow feeling in my gut. Plus, I loved watching their friends and families come to accept their relationship at different speeds along different paths. But love does conquer all and it works out in the end.

Her Younger man is a well written romance. I enjoyed the plot and the character dynamics. I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I loved Laura and Riley's story! They connected immediately, and it was so sweet. I loved their dynamic and their conversations. Riley treated Laura so well, exactly as she deserved. I loved every page.

Riley and Laura rocked the younger man thing! The guys all have a good relationship even being Riley’s bosses. Fun read.