Another installment in the Chance Creek series. I liked the story but...The reality show seemed a weird setting. I just wasn't a fan of that. I liked the characters themselves but deliberately setting up the show to go in one direction, and the high level of manipulation was just not super fun to read. Although to be fair, I don't like reality television shows at all. I don't watch them. I am glad that Bella gets to save her furry friends, but as a vet I would have thought that she would be at least a bit more practical. I love animals, but even I can see that an overpopulation is a problem.
I read it, I liked it, but only marginally. It isn't something that I would go out of my way to read again. that said, I liked the writing and the author's voice, so I will (and have) read more from Ms Seton.
There are three books included in this collection, but as the stories are all connected I am just going to take it as a whole. I truly enjoyed reading these stories. The complicated (beyond belief) family dynamics were some of the most interesting parts. Of course the installments are all very compressed, and so you have to be willing to accept that people would meet and decide to marry within a month or less. Also, and not necessarily in a bad way, the aspect of money- the need for it and the desire for more played a large part in the story as a whole. I understand that it was an important aspect, but making life decisions based on financial gain doesn't always sit well with me. It works here because it isn't the focus, so that is good. I wish there would have been more information on Aria's history and what she was actually doing with her time away from home, but perhaps that will show up later in another story. There is no shortage of chemistry and connection between the main characters in their respective stories. Although in the second book, Claire is really distracted and there doesn't seem to be a lot of development there, but as they have know each other for such a long time, it works.
Complicated! How nice it is to read about characters that actually feel real. I loved that both Curt and Erica have a ton of baggage and still find their way to a HEA ending. I have to say that I was totally not expecting Erica's backstory and I liked that. I loved the chemistry and interaction between the characters. Curt was a good man, he took care of his family and that just made the whole situation with his parents more interesting. Once they both decided not the let the past and other obstacles interfere they found their happiness.
I listened to the first few books in the series on audiobook, and really enjoyed them. When I saw that there was a novella about what happened after the HEA I was happy to get the chance to read it. Most of the time I find myself wishing to know what happens after and how everyone is doing; especially if the characters are as engaging as Ms Harrison's. I loved hearing the point of view from the peanut. The details in any story are important, and even though the story was short I did not feel short-changed. It is a great addition to the Elder Races series.