It was fine. Very small town, nosey attitudes. I like an younger man/older woman romance and this one has the MMC falling for his boss’s mom who happens to be the office manager in the company. It flipped from her POV to his randomly from paragraph to paragraph. Nothing memorable, a lot of side characters, the romance was ok. I liked Laura finally learning how to prioritize her own happiness.

Laura can’t deny her attraction to Riley, the hot new employee at the family business. He’s nearly a decade younger than her, and she’s gotten used to the freedoms widowhood has given her. But there’s nothing wrong with a little flirtation, until it becomes something more and their secret romance becomes too heavy of a secret to keep. Even if the revelation could scandalize Laura’s adult son, who happens to be Riley’s boss.

The Sutton Place series is my happy place. I adore the world of this close-knit town. The things that keep the couple apart revolve around others’ opinions of their relationship and how Laura and Riley’s romance affects their relationships with them as individuals. Neither Laura nor Riley spend much page time worried about the appropriateness of their attraction, which is refreshing, because few people would blink at such an age difference if the man was older than the woman. Another thing I loved was that Laura’s graying hair wasn’t a turn off. I hope to see more Gen X Harlequin heroines.

In other books in this wonderful series, the spotlight focused on the bonds between the female characters. I really liked how in this one, the male relationships got the opportunity to shine. I loved how characters from earlier books (especially Molly and Callan, the couple from the excellent previous installment) had page time.

All clues lead to the series continuing, and I hope that is the case because I crave more of this wonderful world.

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

Thanks to Harlequin Enterprises ULC for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

If you like insta like (or instant must have her kind of guy) - then Riley is for you. For me personally, I am more of a slow burn/ enemies to lovers kind of girl. So in that aspect, I didn’t love how fast Riley jumped in. Laura’s conflict was a bit predictable to me, but also the conflict makes sense SO I get it. I do love that he is younger, I feel like that isn’t written a lot, so it was a nice change. Also, while it’s not necessary, I’d recommend reading the sons book first. Shannon Stacy does an amazing job at weaving couples and families into longer series. So while you’ll get the gist, you miss out on a lot of little tiny details. Side note: read her Kowalski family series if you haven’t already! It’s such a good small town series and I love how she connects all of the books!

Riley and his attitude about being the younger one in his relationship are something I wasn’t expecting. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, a brain in that head, and a heart that wants Laura. He doesn’t care what people may think, or what they may say. He just cares about Laura and what she wants.

But Laura? Yeah, she’s got a lot of unlearning to do. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. She’s used to living for others. Spouse, kid, friends, family, work, town. All for others. So when people make unnecessary comments about her relationship, she takes them to heart. And when someone who should definitely know better and keep her stupid opinions to herself doesn’t, it’s unsavory food for thought in Laura’s mind.

Luckily, one of them is smart. Well, they both are, but one is willing to fight for them because they see exactly who and what they want, what old fears may need to be addressed, and the future they can easily have together. So enjoy this not-the-same-type-of-age-gap story of love and expectations we put on ourselves, and how to unlearn them to truly be ourselves.

He’s falling for his boss’s daughter? No, wait: for his boss’s mother?!?That’s an unusual twist.At first people see it as a fling that she is having with a younger man- she’s a cougar! And that hurts.They try to hide their feelings, and themselves, away. However, when it starts to look like a forever-bond some people just seem more hurt and angry. But their love grows strong enough to come out in the open. And, oh yeah, there’s some nice sexy bits thrown in there for our reading pleasure.

This was a nice book, nothing fancy,but an easy read. My brother married a woman 10 years older than him and my aunt married a man about 16 years younger so I have first hand knowledge about how these relationships can work out so well.It was fun reading about it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Enterprises ULC for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.