Thank you Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-Op for an opportunity to read an early copy for an exchange for a honest review!! This was just the right pick me up - an inspirational/hopeful story about leaving as a young adult and figuring out your life. Emphasizing how much people and settings change can alter what you thought you knew, but to trust your gut and your heart, like our fmc Gemma, who was constantly torn between what she thought was the right thing for her and what she wanted.

I think I personally liked this book a lot because of the culinary ties as well. As someone with aspirations to work in a kitchen and does her best creating meals the around her, I felt that connection to Gemma of passion.

Summer of Sunsets had the hallmark town vibes, with the close knit community and remembering what it means to live in the moment and not take things for granted. I loved that Gemma was so ambitious, though still scared. It is realistic - Gemma being thrown curveballs and disappointments, but still being able to realize she needs to make the best out of her opportunities! Queue Hannah Montana’s song “you’ll always find your way back home?”

I will post this review on Amazon (link attached below) when it is released to Kindle Unlimited (05/06)

Summer of Sunsets was a really sweet and charming read. It was set in the small town of Falls Hollow and had all of the small town feels you’d expect. I liked the story, but it was really slow. There was a lot of repetition and it felt drawn out at times. I liked the characters and the growth over the course of the book, though. That helped make up for some of the things I didn’t care for. The ending was my favorite part of the story. I didn’t see it coming and I was pleasantly surprised.

I was given an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

This is a charming small-town women’s fiction with a romance subplot. The pacing was a little slow for me.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This was a sweet romance novel for those who are fond of small town romances as well as those who like foodie based plots. This novel follows a chef who lost her job in California and follows her back to her hometown. The novel depicts her struggle between wanting to leave to another big city or following her heart and take a chance on a blossoming new love. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely read another. I am very excited to learn that there will be a sequel t this novel so readers will be able to return to Falls Hollow and visit with the characters from this book. There were also a few surprises that kept me interested throughout the book.

Thank you to Net Galley, Indie Girl Press and most of all J. Collette Smith for a very enjoyable read.

i loveeee a slow burn romance
i love a main character who is strong willed and has drive and determination!
A cute summer read!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•

{𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰: Book 1}

“𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝’𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚒𝚝.”

⛵️ Release Date: May 6, 2025 ⛵️
.
.
.
This was such a cute, feel-good book with the best small-town vibes! The characters were very easy to connect with, and I enjoyed following along on their journeys towards rebuilding homes and hearts in this sweet story!

Gemma Cooper, a renowned chef from L.A., found herself down on her luck after a bad review sent her career (and her relationship) spiraling. With no other place to go, Gemma headed back to her roots in Falls Hollow, Texas. Once there, she discovered that her grandparents’ lake house, which she had inherited, was in dire need of a fix-up, and that’s how Cole Michelson ended up on her doorstep at ten in the morning.

As the local contractor, Cole’s schedule stayed fully packed with jobs, but when the Coopers’ granddaughter showed up and needed help to fix up her house, Cole found he couldn’t bring himself to say no. The beautiful relationship that ensued was positivity heartwarming as both Cole & Gemma worked to let down their guards and heal from past heartbreaks so that new love could find a home within their hearts ♥️

Gemma’s journey towards rediscovering her passion and skills in the kitchen, which she seemed to have lost after losing her job, was such a pleasure to witness. The food descriptions were perfect and made each dish sound incredibly succulent and delicious! I love how everything worked out with the café in the end 🥹

The wholesome small-town vibes, reminiscent of a Hallmark film, found in this story were incredibly ✨charming✨ and would make any reader feel right at home within the pages of this book!
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. All options listed are purely my own.

This book felt like coming home. It's such a sweet read. I love the characters, the town, the house, the love story. All of it. It's pretty special when a book can make you feel lighter and inspired. I can't wait for J. Collette Smith's next book. Thank you to #NetGalley and #IndieGirlPress for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Gemma tenía la vida perfecta: un trabajo que amaba como chef, un prometido y un futuro brillante. Sin embargo, todo se derrumba cuando pierde su empleo, luego recibe una crítica devastadora de un famoso crítico gastronómico, su prometido la deja y su abuela fallece. Desesperada y bloqueada en la cocina, Gemma decide regresar a su pueblo natal en Texas para hacerse cargo de la herencia que le dejó su abuela: una casa junto al lago.

Al llegar, descubre que la casa necesita más reparaciones de las que pensaba, y es entonces cuando conoce a Cole, un atractivo y enigmático contratista. Aunque la última cosa que Gemma quiere es una relación, la conexión instantánea entre ambos es innegable. Ella está en el pueblo solo temporalmente, hasta encontrar trabajo y regresar a la ciudad, mientras que Cole está feliz en su tranquila vida rural.

A medida que Cole y Gemma comienzan a trabajar juntos, las barreras emocionales de ambos empiezan a desmoronarse. A pesar de que Cole ha sido herido por el amor en el pasado, y Gemma busca reconstruir su vida y su carrera, tal vez el trabajo más grande que ambos tengan que hacer sea reconstruir sus propios corazones.





Un lástima que Cole no tenga povs.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A charming small town romance. Gemma is a chef who returns home to decide what to do next with her life. Her parents have taken over her grandmas cafe but it’s just not the same without the original recipes. And Gemma can’t cook because ever since a bad review and her fiancé leaving left her scrambling away from the city. But Gemma pulls her sleeves up and is determined to make a difference, with the help of local contractor Cole. Will more come together than just the renovations?

There’s just something very comforting when reading about small towns—The family closeness, the friendly neighbors, guys who are perfect gentleman. I enjoy these books so much and it’s a perfect summer read.

Gemma Cooper is a chef who returns to Falls Hollow after losing her job and fiancé in the same week in LA. Her whole world just got flipped upside down and she has to figure out what comes next. First, she needs a lot of work done with her lake house she inherited from her Grandmother. (Cue attractive contractor Cole Michaelson). Second, her family’s cafe hasn’t been doing too well and her grandmother’s recipes are nowhere to be found. Gemma also has been losing her touch in the kitchen and can’t find a new job until she gets inspired again.

Is the cafe able to be saved? Will Gemma have to move again for a new job? Is Cole able to open up to Gemma after also going through a heartbreak himself?

I’d definitely recommend this heartwarming novel and it’s so true that home is really where the heart is.

I really enjoyed this summer romance set in Texas. I loved that Gemma was a chef and all the recipe and all the food the cook incorporated. The characters were easy to relate to and you found yourself rooting for the them and the community. Overall a great read for me!

If you're a food lover whose mouth waters at the mere mention of different flavour combinations, this book is definitely for you. I found myself drooling over dish descriptions more than once. But let's start from the beginning.

TROPES:
• Small town
• Slow burn
• Family bonds
• Closed door romance

After receiving a bad review, getting fired from her chef position, and breaking off her engagement, Gemma Cooper decides to take a break from the Los Angeles life she worked so hard to build. She returns to her small hometown, Falls Hollow, hoping for peace. But what she finds is far from what she remembers. Her recently deceased grandmother's house is falling apart, and the family restaurant, once run by her grandparents and now in her parents' hands, is struggling after losing Grandma Gram's original recipes.

Determined to restore both the restaurant (and the now nearly abandoned town) to their former glory, Gemma embarks on a journey to recapture her lost culinary inspiration while overseeing the renovation of her lakeside home. And leading those renovations? A charming contractor who doesn't take long to steal her heart.

Gemma is a compelling character: determined yet knowing when to step back for the sake of those she loves. Cole is the classic golden retriever hidden behind a Doberman exterior. Still nursing wounds from his past relationship, he's initially wary of Gemma, coming across as serious and guarded. But his defences quickly drop, revealing the kind, helpful, and playful man underneath.

The story unfolds in the third person from Gemma's point of view, which works well for the narrative. The characters feel authentic, and if Café des Amis actually existed, I'd already have a reservation.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻

This was an absolute 5 STAR read for me! I loved the premise behind the story, the characters, the setting and the delicious sounding food.

Gemma has unfortunately boarded the struggle bus. Her fiance has left her, her job has ended, she receives a terrible food critic review..and all of this has changed her ability to cook. Her one true passion.

With these changes, she heads home to Texas to the home she inherited from her grandparents. She reconnects with her parents who have been managing the local restaurant started by her grandparents many years ago. Once home, she knows that her grandparents house has been neglected and needs some work. Enter swoonworthy Cole.

Cole doesn't have the time to take on the project but he can't deny Gemma, feeling like he owes it to her due to the support her grandparents provided him when he started his business. All this working closely together leads to some intense feelings but both of them are dealing with issues from the past that makes them hesitate to move forward.

Summer of Sunsets is a slow building romance with a heartfelt family, close knit community and outside forces trying to cause more issues.

Food is magic. Food is love. Food is a language all of its own.

Thank you to J. Collette Smith and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.