Review: Trouble in Loveland by Jennifer Peel

Trouble in Loveland by Jennifer Peel
Publication: May 1st 2015, 313 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: I received a copy in exchange for an honest review


Description: Charlee Jensen had what she considered the idyllic childhood growing up in a town named for that most prized emotion of all, Loveland, Colorado. At seventeen, her teenage crush, a man eight years older than her, marries and she naively thinks this is the worst thing that would ever happen to her. Then her parents divorce and her world crumbles. She finds herself being whisked away from her beloved home and estranged from her father.

Now eight years later, with two degrees that she never wanted in hand, and no job prospects, her father offers her a position with his CPA firm. With no other options available, Charlee accepts his offer and returns to the hometown she loved. While rebuilding her relationship with her father, she discovers that perhaps a romantic relationship is in the cards for her, with her old teenage crush, Ryan Carter, who just happens to still live next door and is now a partner in her father’s CPA firm.

Newly divorced and single dad, Ryan Carter, isn’t quite sure what to make of the girl next door, who’s all woman now. He finds himself having a hard time resisting this beautiful yet annoyingly charming woman, but their age difference and his complicated relationship with his ex-wife cause quite a bit of trouble for the couple. Ryan finds himself torn between keeping the peace with his ex-wife and mother of his child and his feelings for Charlee.

Can they successfully overcome their troubles in Loveland? Find out in this clean romance filled with sparks, humor, and of course, a little bit of trouble.

My Review: I am so glad that Jennifer Peel started writing because she writes exactly the kinds of books that I love and Trouble in Loveland is no exception--it's good, clean, romantic fun!

Who hasn't had a teenage crush and gone to great, and embarrassing, lengths to get noticed by said crush? Ms. Peel has a way of taking that emotion and throwing it right into a reader's lap. Charlee developed a crush on her new neighbor, Ryan, when she was a teen and nothing she did could capture his attention. Fast forward years later--she's back home, working for her dad and Ryan is still her neighbor. The only difference is, she has his attention, but can she keep it?

I love Charlee's voice, mainly because she's how I wish I could be. She speaks her mind; she knows what she wants and goes after it; she does what she wants and doesn't care what others think; and she's comfortable in her own skin. Her voice comes through loud and clear through this story. Although she comes across as very strong, she does have her vulnerable moments and I loved those just as much.

Ryan. Who hasn't had a "Ryan" in her life? He's gorgeous, successful, a great father to his preschool-aged son, and very endearing, yet seemingly unobtainable. Life has handed him some hard times and he's not as confident in his decisions as Charlee is. He's a little gun-shy and fickle, but with good reason. Although he did make some poor choices, I still really liked him because he was totally real and human. His son, Josh, stole the show! What a sweet, lovable boy!

I love a good, clean love story that explores conflict, emotion, and deals with real problems in a tender, yet sometimes humorous way, and Ms. Peel has a gift of tying this all together perfectly, yet realistically. I feel like I'm good friends with the characters and her books always leaving me eagerly wondering what she'll come up with next!

Content: clean romance (kissing, making out, talk of being a woman--cup size, etc); mild language (a few words); no violence or religious elements. Clean! 

 

 

About the Author:

I'm a fifth generation Colorado native who currently calls Alabama home. I'm the mother of three amazing children who have grown up way too fast. I enjoy the mountains, vacations at the beach, date night with my wonderful husband, late night talks with my kiddos, touring model homes, and pink bubblegum ice cream.

I grew up on the Western Slope in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. I learned to love the beauty of the outdoors, but not camping--unless staying overnight at the Marriott counts. I met my husband while living in Denver and then several years later we traded the beauty and majesty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for the art and culture of Chicago, Illinois. My family and I enjoyed living near this world class city, despite the crazy cold winters, but new adventures awaited in Northern Alabama--just six hours away from Orange Beach, Alabama. These three magical places (the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Chicago, and Orange Beach) are the inspired locations used in several of my books.    

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