Loving Kate by Lara Van Hulzen
Silver Bay #2

Short, sweet, clean story. Kate “falls” for Jack at the beginning of the book…literally falls off of her bicycle and from there a romance begins with Jack pursuing Kate, dating her and helping her deal with her rather obnoxious ex. There were no surprises (for me) and I found it rather predictable. I believe this book will appeal to younger readers and perhaps older ones who are looking for a church going woman given a second chance at love with a church going man.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest review.

2 – 3 Stars

Loving Kate is warm, sweet, uplifting and generally a lovely story. While there is a strong Christian flavour to this story, it is not overpowering. Kate is a control freak with a capital C. Her shop is perfectly ordered as are her clothes, her hair and her life, though she also cares deeply for her family and friends. Men not so much - her ex-husband taught her they were not. to be trusted and she has no plans to test that theory. Jack is pretty much the opposite of Kate with his torn jeans and leather jacket. He's laid back and fun loving yet compassionate too, and e's just the man to teach Kate how to relax and enjoy life once again. Set in a small town on the California coast, Loving Kate is the sort of story that makes you feel good about people, and for me it worked really well.

Overall a good story, and one that kept my interest throughout. The only thing I felt was a little off was the issue of her ex. Never really explained why he kept calling and harassing her. I liked her and Jack together though, and found the romance between then growing and building them both up, especially Kate. Would recommend this book and author.

Kate is dealing with thing in her past that feels like it keeps pulling her in and pulling her down. When things go a miss she is left trying to pick up the peaces and wondering why everyone want to help her. Can she find it in her heart to trust again? Jack is back home and is loving living back in the small town of Silver bay, and when his sisters in laws, sister grabs his attention he sets out to show that she's amazing, beautiful and he needs her in her life. Will he be able to convince her or will her past continue to haunt her and destroy his chances?
So I grew up in a small town in southern California and the charming town of Silver Bay remind me so much of the small area I grew up in. I love how in this town when things go wrong everyone comes together and helps each other out. I love how in this story nothing was off limits with what was going on in Kate's past and I love how the author made each one of the characters feel like you could be friends with them and you could relate to them. I loved how in each book so far the author introduces a new character that you just want to know more about their story, I can't wait for more. In each book the author does end the story summing up everything how ever I was left wanting to much more the storyline was just that great. I loved how the author kept the story mostly clean and fun. This book is really amazing and if you are looking for a book thats a real pager turn that sucks you in and has you literally leaves you wanting more then grab this book and have fun.

Kate has left everything behind on the East Coast. Her abusive, controlling husband. The rigid, controlling life she led. Her nightmares and fears. All in the past, and if she’s leery of believing that they’ll stay neatly in the past… well, she has good reasons for those fears.

She’s making a brand new life in this lovely small California town of Silver Bay. She’s discovered a sister she never knew. She’s opened up an interior design business, doing exactly what she loves. She’s living life free of the constant fears she once felt every moment of the day. Here she can live again, and while she doesn’t need a man in her life ever again. Friends would be nice.

Jack first encountered Kate at Josh and Maggie’s wedding. A newly discovered sister for his brand new sister-in-law… and a woman he’d very much like to know, get her to let loose a bit, enjoy life. he didn’t know her entire story, but he did want to learn. The attraction was there, now he’d see where it went to.

Loving Kate is a touching, emotional story of one woman’s determination to rebuild her life after escaping an abusive marriage. It’s not easy to trust again, and her ex-husband is still playing his control games even when she’s no longer under his thumb. It will take a strong man to ease Kate beyond what she knew as normal into the possibilities that exist, especially between them.

Their story is tender where it needed to be, and yet firm in other areas. Jack is learning how to help Kate, there may be missteps along the way, not intended but until he has the entire story he doesn’t always know what minefield he walking onto. Theirs is a growing relationship from friendship to love in steps that Kate can handle. Oh, she’s stronger than she sometimes thinks but it will not be an easy journey for them. The love between a man and a woman is a gift given to each other – and that is what Kate has to learn to trust in. Jack is a strong man who knows when to use a gentle touch to help Kate live again, and believe in the possibilities that they could have in a shared future.

It’s not always easy to convey the nuances of an abusive relationship to someone on the outside. Lara Van Hulzen has approached this sensitive subject with respect, humor, and believably. You will get caught up in this couple’s journey, you’ll feel anger, sadness, rage, hope … and in the end, the love that heals and lasts a lifetime.

I would recommend Loving Kate to any Romance reader who enjoys a good solid story, relatable couples, secondary characters who add another level to the story, and definitely the “feels” that a good romance done well gives us all.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Loving Kate was a wonderful book about second chances and not judging someone based on what he or she is wearing or how he or she acts. Kate is a young woman who is living in Silver Bay, trying to rebuild her life. She has a little store and has sworn that she will have nothing to do with men-her last relationship ended badly and changed who she was as a person. Jack is back in Silver Bay and finally feels like he is home. All he wants is for people not to judge him because of his clothes.
When Jack helps Kate, after she falls off he bicycle (she was distracted by his motorcycle), they both feel a connection and have different responses. He wants her to loosen up and have some fun. He feels like she is too uptight, yet he sees that that isn't who she really is. Understanding that he will have to take things slowly, he vows to get her to open up and be there for her. She is attracted to Jack, but doesn't want to admit it to herself, so she keeps him at arms length.
When she finally agrees to go out on a date with Jack, she is apprehensive, yet excited. He wants it to be a surprise and she isn't happy about it. While enjoying their date, Jack gets a call and their date ends suddenly. The call wasn't about him; however, it was about Kate, who had shut her phone off. When Jack tells her that her store had a fire, she is understandably upset. He takes her to her store and realizes it could have been worse, but doesn't know how she can afford to fix the damage.
Thus starts a wonderful relationship, where Kate realizes that all men aren't like her ex-husband and that she can trust and rely on her friends. She tries to keep Jack in the friend zone, but stolen kisses and glances has them both realizing that this relationship could be something great, if she would let her walls down a little.
What happens when Kate's ex-husband shows up in Silver Bay? Can Kate really trust Jack? Can Jack support Kate enough to help her open up? Will Kate and Jack find happiness or will it all be taken away? Pick up Loving Kate today and find out.
I received a free copy, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.