Cherry Falls Series Book 1 read in 2025
I found this book through the author in one of the book groups I'm in on Facebook. It's a sweet cozy read that's under 300 pages. I loved the small town vibes and the FMC's family is really close helping each other out (and often getting in the way).
Gabriel (our MMC) is a gruff police officer he's a newly single dad and looking for a Nanny to watch over his daughter Aura at night while he works. Gabriel's mom has been helping out a lot but her life is back in Italy, not Cherry Falls and while she's been wonderful she needs to get back to her own life.
Millie (our FMC) is a hard worker who has always dreamed of owning her own café and her dream is coming to life soon she has a soft opening of her business when she runs into Gabriel (this causes him to give her the nickname "Bumper" which he uses frequently throughout the rest of the book).
Millie overhears Gabriel interviewing the wrong person for the role of Nanny and decides to intervene, she offers herself to be his new nanny, he doesn't know if he should take this help from her as they didn't start off on the right foot but he needs someone and soon.
Millie and Gabriel both have been burned by past relationships. Gabriel's ex decided she couldn't handle being a mother and left without much notice and hasn't really bothered to reach out since. Millie had a overbearing ex that used to put her down and she really doesn't want to end up in that kind of relationship again.
Even though they both have walls up for various reasons they can't help growing closer together as they spend more time with each other and their shared love for Gabriel's daughter Aura. Can they find a way to open up and let each other in? Or will they miss out on what they could have together due to not being able to get over past hurts?
Some drama later in the book with Aura's birth mother and wanting to regain custody.
Have you read this book? What is your favorite "cafe" inspired romance novel?
*what I liked about this book:
- Small town hallmark movie kind of vibes
- likeable side characters (Millie's large family, Gabriel's mom and his work partner Josh)
- Cute baby
- MMC was broody (at first) but then more cuddly towards the FMC
- MMC --> sweet, handsome man in uniform
- Indie author --> first book
- Repeat sentences (could use some better editing, not hard to overlook and I know that it's harder as an Indie author to get editing help)
- Frequent and confusing time jumps, the soft opening of the shop was coming up soon... then it was still days away, later in the book several months get jumped and maybe the story didn't flow as well as it could have because of a bunch of bigger time jumps?
- If the FMC is starting a new business I didn't understand how she had the time to be a Nanny and try to run her shop... maybe just a bit too many things going on at once
- Millie is running a new business but has time to go with Gabriel and Aura to a water park (last minute), to Italy for a family vacation and later on to Costa Rica... when is she making her pastries for this shop? does she ever sleep?
- The 3rd act break up was a bit sudden they were just discussing the "L" word and he brings up a topic that Millie is flustered with then she just bolts and doesn't let him even finish talking to her about it when he tries to talk to her a few times later she ignores him and bolts again... how is he supposed to explain himself or how he feels if Millie won't let him speak at that point I felt she was the broody and unreasonable one and he was the sunshine.
*Enemies (sort of) --> More *Broody (MMC) *police officer (MMC) *sunshine (FMC) *some spice *Some adult language *single dad *dual POV *nanny *FMC business owner
*age gap *He falls first *forced proximity
*small town romance *Indie author *First book for this author
*Happy Ending
*miscommunication/no communication *frequent time jumps
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