Win Me Over is the second book in the Hearts and Crafts series by Nicole Michaels. I have not read the first book in the series (Start Me Up) but, did not get the feel like I was missing anything. Set in a small town, the air of this book is filled with the warmth of fall, the sense of good people, a hint of strong connections, and just a dash of romance.

The main characters of Win Me Over are Callie and Bennett. Callie is the owner of the local bakery and is the new high school dance coach while Bennett is a retired NFL player and the high school football coach. They are paired together to do a charity dance off and from the moment they meet the sparks between them fly. Both of them have their walls but everyone can see the sparks between them. Will they give into the romance?

I liked the character of Callie. She’s a strong independent woman who has worked hard to get where she is. She owns her own bakery and is her own boss. She also participates in a lifestyle blog two of her best friends; and is a born performer and teacher. Likewise, I liked the character of Bennett. He was sweet but stubborn and had obviously been through alot in his past due to his football injury. He’s actually a bit introverted and usually just keeps to himself. He is slow to trust people but finds himself opening up to Callie in an unexpected way. Their romance is a slow burn but is filled with chemistry and easy banter.

While I liked their romance, I never really got overly excited about it throughout much of Win Me Over. There were a couple of parts where I felt like there was too much drama being added. Bennett had a tendency to make things all about himself – even things that actually involved other people – and that was a turn off to me as a reader. Callie really has the heart of their relationship and there were times when I wondered if he really deserved her. In fact, there is a scene where he basically deserts her with limited explanation. That was just…ugh….did not work for me. Maybe there are more moments in the next book in the series (Draw Me Close) where it is shown why they are so good together? For now, I’m only half feeling it but, as always I’m a bit of a sucker for a small town romance.

WIN ME OVER - Nicole Michaels

#2 in the Hearts and Crafts romance series

A LITTLE DIFFERENT ROMANCE - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Callie is determined to be an independent woman after watching her mother fawning over men her whole life. But when Callie meets Bennett, she starts to wonder if they could have something serious.

Writing - 4 stars - I liked this book, but I'll admit that it took me a while to be drawn into the story. It was nice, it was pleasant, but it wasn't compelling in any way. That being said, what I did like very much was that it wasn't your typical romance from start to finish. There wasn't the total happily-ever-after throughout, with no surprises. This was a sweet romance, but with a dose of reality. Very nice.

Characters - 4 stars - I wasn't too sure about Callie at first, but I liked how she was open to new ideas and possibilities. She's a strong, independent, and talented woman, with a tight circle of friends. And, despite her somewhat uncomfortable relationship with her mother, I loved that she was able to face the reality of their relationship and recognize the good things there. Bennett, a former NFL player, is basically a nice guy who is always looking out for "his boys." He's handsome, kind, and willing to try something new. But he certainly has some demons that he gives in to, and that made him a lot more realistic and vulnerable. Their relationship developed slowly and carefully, which made sense because of their personalities. But I loved the slowly-dawning recognition that they belonged together.

Title - 4 stars - It made sense because both of them were fairly gun-shy about a relationship, so they each needed to win the other over. And, of course, the competitive nature they both have fits into the title also--always wanting to win.

Cover - 4 stars - The cover is typical for this genre, with an attractive and happy couple. But the bright color catches the eye.

Overall - 4 stars - Overall, this was a warm and friendly romance. But what made it special was the blending of romance and reality that made it much more relatable and the characters much more approachable. There were some slow moments, especially at the beginning, but eventually I embraced the slow forward motion and ended the book feeling warm and cozy and very satisfied with a pleasant romance. The characters were great.