Sweet twist on the lost love romance troupe. I wish we would have gotten to know a little more about the mother and grandmothers reasons for leaving town.

4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Kasey Stockton and Dreamscape Media for giving me the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review!
-
This book was so cute!! I absolutely loved this book so much.
If you love:
- second chance romance (with no annoying miscommunication)
- small town romances
- closed door / no smut
-
Then this is a book for you!
I found myself so engrossed in this book and was rooting for our two main characters the entire book
Kasey Stockton did an amazing job at making realistic and super likable characters, it's pretty hard to give all your characters defining traits but it was really well done in this book.
-
If you're looking for a super cute second-chance romance to have you giggling and kicking your feet this is the right book for you!

Who doesn’t love a good second chance romance? I’m such a sucker for an achy heart. Also, I think so many of us can relate to the feeling of wholeness that comes with a return home. To your family, your friends, to all the things that make one place feel so special.

This one ties all of that together in a neat little bow. June returns home to help her dad and find her new neighbor is her ex. In a small town, it's hard to stay away from one another, it's also really hard to stay away when you're magnetized to one another and are constantly wanting to be with the other.

There was heartache, past trauma, cozy small-town vibes, found family and dreams realized. Is there anything else you need? Here for it all and can't wait to read more about this wholesome town!

Thank you @Netgalley and @DreamscapeMedia for the advanced copy of this one, it gave me all the feels!

Love a good second chance romance. June and Tucker were high-school Sweethearts when June left town abruptly. 
Five years later, she is back to help her dad recover. She swears she is not staying. Slowly but surely, though, she becomes more comfortable in her old town. Will she end up staying for good?
I loved this small town, it felt so cozy and reminiscent of my hometown. 
I will say the blurb is a little misleading, she doesn't decide to stay until past 80%
I enjoyed both narrators, they did a great job.

'It turned out choosing the perfect look-good-in-front-of-your-ex-but-not-like-you-were-trying-at-all outfit didn't exist.'

I am such a simp for second chance romances like this. Tucker & June were High School sweethearts, but when fear crept in that June was repeating her parents mistakes, she ran away from their small town with nothing but a note left behind. That is until June's father has a major surgery, that leaves June wanting to return to the town for the first time in 5 years. (I love a female redemption arc story).

I LOVED how both June & Tucker carried themselves throughout the book. Once Tucker was willing to speak to her again, they had clear communication and set boundaries that needed to be set. UHGG why can't in all romance novels, the MC's just listen to each other like this and come to a place of caring instead of frustration????????? EVERYONE ELSE, TAKE NOTES!

The romance & chemistry in this was so so good. Even with their boundaries in place, they just can't help but gravitate towards each other again (hello, second chance romance), I really ate it up & almost want to start the book all over again to experience it twice.

The towns behavior in the beginning was wacky IMO, like I know y'alls feelings were hurt too, but move on ok? ok. Once they do move past it, I did kind of fall in love with the town & all the people in it.

'June was too easy to love for anything else to be possible.'

Rating: 4 ⭐️
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
How I Read It: 🎧

Synopsis
Tucker’s heart was broken when his ex-fiancé, June, left him and their small town of Arcadia Creek with little to no explanation, but then one day, she comes walking back through her door while Tucker is at her dad’s house helping her dad recover from a surgery. She’s as shocked to see him as he is to see her. Can they both get past and move on or will seeing each other again ignite an old flame?

My Thoughts
This book gave me tons of Sweet Home Alabama vibes! It was sweetly small town southern through and through. I loved the banter between Tucker and June. All of the town get togethers give you those warm fuzzy feelings, and the neighborly love and lifetime of friendships was felt throughout the book.

Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a heartwarming story that will make you laugh, smile, and want you packing up your things to move to a small town, this is a perfect book to pick up. 🎧 I listened to the audio of this book and it was a dual narration, narrated by Cara Swingline and Evan Sibley.

❗️Of Note
📝This is book 2 of the Arcadia Creek series, but I don’t think you need to read the first one before diving into this one.
📝 This is a good pick if you’re not into spicy books and are looking for a clean love story,

Themes:
🏡 Small Town
💛 Second Chance
💛 Banter
💛 Small Town Romance

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC.

Cara Swingline and Evan Sibley were wonderful to listen to.

This was a cute story. A pallete (sp?) cleanser between many genres of books. I enjoyed it more than I anticipated once I saw it was a clean romance.

I enjoyed what I was able to read of this book. Unfortunately, the audiobook through netgalley stopped working at 30% but the first third of the book was really cute and I was excited to see where the book was going

my goodness! This book by @authorkaseystockton is so stinkin cute! With Sweet Home Alabama vibes and second chances this book will have you swooning and feeling like you’re right in the middle of a small Texas town!

lt wasn’t until after I’d finished the book that I realized it’s the second book in the series, with the third one scheduled to come out this fall! After falling in love with June and Tucker I can’t wait to read more from the Arcadia Creek series, and I suggest you do too!

I’m not usually a fan of second chance romances, but I really enjoyed this one. The reason for June leaving the town and never contacting anyone was a little weak, but understandable. I really enjoyed the audiobook. Both voice actors did a fantastic job. Full disclosure, I always listen to audiobooks at 2.5+ speed. Normal speed was just too slow for me. At 2.5 I was able to comfortably listen and understand the story fully.

A cute small town romance!
Tucker and June were engaged to be married when June decided that small town life isn't quite for her and suddenly moved away for college. 5 years later she returns back to Arcadia Creek to help her dad after he has knee surgery and runs into none other than her old flame Tucker when they realize old feelings are still lingering.

Overall this was a cute small town romace. As far as romance books go, I do think the characters could have had a little bit more chemistry and overall the book could have had a little bit more *spice* but who doesn't love a little happlily ever after?

The audiobook narrators voices felt a little old for how old the characters were suppose to be, but overall I enjoyed it!

I normally don't even like second chance romance, but I adored this one! Tucker is such a sweet man! June is such a relatable character! Their love is so pure, my heart just melted. I love the small-town family vibes from these books and hope that Colts story is next!

First thought: Loved this! If you’re looking for a book that makes you want to move to a small town asap this is the one. You will fall in love with Arcadia Creek and even more in love with June and Tucker. You will be shipping these two from the second she steps back in town. Binge worthy- be warned!

June ran away from Arcadia Creek when she turned 18 and left behind its residents, her dad and the love of her life. She never looked back she went to CA went UC Riverside and got a degree and now works as a graphic designer. She’s happy, she made it because she got out. But now her dad is having knee replacement surgery and she’s going to have to go back to Texas to the town she turned her back on.

Arcadia Creek is a tight knit community full of love and very protective of their own. It is the place Tucker loves and the place he had his heart broken. He has made a life for himself as a linemen and competes in roping on the side. Now years later June is back and living next door for who knows how long as her dad recovering. He didn’t realize his feelings would return this strong after so long but how can he forgive her, how could they move past how she left.

This story follows June and Tucker as they navigate learning to be friends again. It is about forgiveness, understanding and moving forward.

Literally Themes you’ll find:

* Friends to Lovers
* Small Town
* Second Chance
* He can’t Stay Away
* It’s Always Been You
* Dual POV
* Clean & Sweet

🧡🐾📚🧡🐾📚🧡🐾📚🧡🐾📚🧡

I am a sucker for small town second chance romance and so I was pulled into this story immediately. Sweet Home Alabama is one of my favorite romcoms of the early 2000s and this book gave me those same “coming home” vibes. I loved the history between June and Tucker and his inability to let her go even after having been hurt. For a romcom, this book had great depth as June and Tucker work through why she left and where she will go next. I also must say that Kasey managed to write plot points in that felt a smidge like triangles (which I hate) but it worked really well and the story wouldn’t have been the same without those parts. June’s dad and his side storyline was also a great addition.

I listened to this on audio and loved both narrators. I love dual point of view stories and the choice to use a male and female narrator is never going to go wrong for me.

This audiobook publishes on March 19th and I highly recommend it!

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook from NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Kisses

Troupes & Themes:
- Second Chance
- Small Town
- Clean & Sweet
- Dual POV

June skipped town five years ago, leaving Tucker's heart shattered. Now she's back in Arcadia Creek and says she's here to stay. But old wounds don't heal as smoothly the second time around.

Sweet, clean, second chance romance. My first Stockton novel and first visit to Arcadia Creek, but not my last. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Although this is book two in an interconnected series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I did not feel as though I missed anything by not reading book one. I enjoyed the setting and community of Arcadia Creek. The pacing was great, and I appreciated the fact that even though June and Tucker had been engaged previously, their reconnection wasn't instant and forced, it was realistic and took place over a few months. I also loved the bookish content, including the family bookstore and June's career.

Thank you, @netgalley and @dreamscape_media , for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

This was my first book by Kasey Stockton and wow! This was SO much fun. Witty banter, fun characters, a dreamy small town setting, and a cute plot! I couldn’t have asked for more in a rom-com. I laughed out loud so many times and other scenes had me smiling giddily. I will definitely be going back and reading her other books. Here Kasey… take all the stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Swooooon 🩷 oh and the narrators were 😘🤌🏼

Second chance romance between high school sweethearts. The audio narrators did a great job of being the story to life.

I received this audiobook from Netgalley for an honest review.

To begin my review, I'll begin with the narration of the story. I felt like the female narrator did a great job. I could understand her and I didn't feel like there was any weird swallowing or stuffy nose noises I've heard from previous narrators. She did a great job, however, the main character is from Texas. I kind of felt like at times there was a hint of an accent and then not at other times. The male narrator was a little harder to like, only because at times he sounded very monotone and didn't have a lot of range in his tone. As the book went on, I do feel like it got better.

As for the story, I really enjoyed this audiobook. June left her small town in Texas, along with her father, future husband, friends and all those in her small community. She returns five years later to help her father after knee surgery, only to find that her ex-boyfriend and community members haven't forgiven her for leaving all those years ago. Tucker had his heart broken when June left him without even an explanation and now that she's back in their small town and is her father's neighbor, he realizes he might not be as over her as he thought he was.

I really enjoyed this story because it didn't feel rushed. It takes place over about 2 months or so, but right away both characters know their feelings for the other are still there. I liked how Tucker was trying to prove that he wasn't the same guy June left and how June was trying to keep her distance and not force things between them. Their story was great and I really loved it. Something about the story that really annoyed me was the rest of the town. They all disliked June for what she did, which I can understand being hurt, but did no one really think to wonder why she left or what she must have been going through in order to leave the people she loved behind. I liked that the fact that both her ex's family and her could have called each other and that it wasn't just June should have called them was acknowledged. Both parties also take responsibility and realized their mistakes. However, I don't think June should have had to apologized to the WHOLE TOWN. I am from a small town and understand that everyone knows each other and cares for one another, but it wasn't their business. June should have apologized to her father, Tucker, her friends and maybe even Tucker's family, but I think the whole town was excessive. Overall, I did love this book and would recommend it. It is light-hearted book and easy to follow.

Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6304905151

I love a good small town romance book. This was my first Kasey Stockton book. I got the audio on Netgalley, not realizing its book 2 in an interconnected series. However, I didn't feel like I missed out on anything, not reading the first one beforehand. That may change once I go back and read that, lol. The gossip in this community is everything you would hope for in a small town. Cara Swingline and Evan Sibley did an amazing job telling this story. If you are in the mood for a sweet love story then this is for you. I like my books a little more spicy but this was a good palate cleanser.

Tropes:
Small Town Romance
Second Chance
Closed Door - just kissing scenes

This was the most adorable, heartwarming second chance romance I’ve read in a pretty long time! I loved this author’s writing. I was captivated right off the bat!