Series: Lilacwell Village #3 (Standalone)
Publication Date: 03rd August 2023
Genre: Contemporary Small Town Romance
3 Stars
One Liner: Mismatched expectations and styles
Note: This book is the last in the series. So the author tried to complete the tracks pending from the previous two books to provide a rounded and satisfactory ending to the series. However, this crucial information is missing from the blurb.
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Eva decides to start fresh and invest in her pottery career after a miscarriage and breakup with an unresponsive and selfish boyfriend. This decision takes her to Lilacwell, a gorgeous small town a few hours away from her home. She meets the mysterious Fitz, the local carpenter with handsome features and a possibly hidden past.
Fitz feels instant attraction towards Eva but needs to face his past before he can move ahead with her and get into a relationship. They need to help each other to find their HEA. Of course, the local community is more than happy to provide the necessary support.
We also get detailed insights into the lives of others and how some of them make the most important decisions of their lives.
The story comes in the third-person POV of multiple characters.
My Thoughts:
I’m always up for sweet small-town romance with adorable covers. Just look how beautiful it is! The premise is sweet too, and so are most of the characters.
I didn’t know this was a series when I requested it. Of course, that wasn’t really an issue. We get enough backstory to know what had happened in the previous books. However, I’m not sure if this book belongs to the central couple or all of Lilacwell.
There are multiple tracks, each dedicated to different couples. The ones from books #1 and #2 have a lot of space in this one. Other characters also get their POVs, which makes it more of a community book (needless to say, I didn’t expect this and didn’t know why until I read the author’s note at the end. By then, it was too late.). Soon, I adjusted my expectations.
The book introduces a character and provides their backstory before moving on with the story. While it helped the main characters, it felt a little too much for the side characters. Of course, it’s hard to say who the side characters are, as many get equal importance.
The writing is easy enough to read. The book begins with Eva’s story, which makes a strong impact. Unfortunately, the others don’t feel the same (even Fitz’s story pales despite being poignant).
My biggest issue is with the execution and timeline. Instant attraction is fine, but the rest of it feels surreal. I couldn’t connect with how Eva and Fitz’s relationship progresses. That’s because the bonding between them happens off-page and has to be assumed. The story begins when a side character is in her first trimester and ends when her baby is three months old. The issue isn’t with the time but how it jumps every few weeks and months, summarizing the most vital part of the lead couple’s relationship.
With such a tender premise, the book could have a tear-jerker or a heartwarming romance where two wounded souls come together and heal each other. Here, it’s pretty much on the surface. I think this is a case of mismatched reading and writing styles. The author’s writing style didn’t work for me. So I’d say this is a case of ‘not you, it’s me’. Readers of the series are likely to love this book.
To summarize, Together in Lilacwell is a rounded conclusion to the series and should be read in order if you want the right feel of it. It is a sweet and cozy romance with minor issues that get resolved fast. It’s a quick read, too. A good summer book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Canelo Escape, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #TogetherinLilacwell
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