I think this is one of my favourite books in the series. It’s a cozy small town romance full of warmth and humour, slow-burn tension, secrets revealed, and, of course, a couple of appearances by our favourite llama, Esmerelda. This is book 5 of the Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series, but can be read as a standalone.
Luke and Magnolia had a budding romance in high school – 17 years ago – that suddenly turned sour, and now they can’t stand each other. But they’re forced to put their animosity aside and work together for the sake of their separate new businesses. Imagine the tension!
Working closely together forces them to confront what tore them apart as teens and realise those old feelings are still there. Even though they start to clear the air around 20% of the way through, the journey to rebuilding trust, admitting their feelings, and deciding to try again is slow — which, I thought, made the relationship feel all the more authentic. The tension was palpable, the chemistry sizzling, we had some conflicts putting road blocks in the way, and it made the slow-burn feel so real — I was hooked.
I loved the cosy small town setting of this story. We get to revisit our favourite characters from previous books and experience the strong sense of community you usually find in small town romance. Magnolia may have grown up in a cold, loveless home, but being disowned led her to find the love she deserved in her new found family. From older residents like Dotty and her knitting group, to Harper and her circle of friends, to Luke’s father and daughter who welcomed her with open arms – it was so heartwarming to witness. I also enjoyed the subplot involving her family secrets and her mother’s reappearance. The way that storyline played out was so satisfying.
If you love spicy slow-burn holiday romances in a charming small-town setting, heartfelt family moments, and lots of laughs, you should definitely check out this book.
