Release Day Review: 5 Stars for Love Around the Corner (Romano Sisters #3) by Amanda Weaver

The last thing Gemma Romano needs right now is her first love coming back home. She’s trying to keep her family’s bar from being bought up and developed into some glass eyesore, just like all the other family businesses in her beloved Brooklyn neighborhood.

Like it or not, she’s in charge of the Romano legacy, and she can’t afford to risk it—or her heart—on Brendan Flaherty. Not now and not ever again.

Brendan’s old neighborhood is changing fast, but some things are still the same. Gemma’s as devoted to her family, her neighbors, and the bar as she’s always been. And she’s still the one woman he can’t seem to forget.

Gemma’s determined to steer clear of Brendan at first. Not only did he break her teenage heart, but now he’s grown up to be a property developer—he’s the enemy. Staying away from him would be a lot easier if she didn’t find him so infuriatingly attractive. Their chemistry still burns as bright as it ever did. But their painful past is still there, too, and Gemma’s not sure she’s ready to risk her dreams, her business, or her heart on Brendan a second time.

This book is approximately 82,000 words

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise : all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

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“Weaver’s delightful reimagining of You’ve Got Mail is a satisfying treat for fans of enemies-to-lovers romance such as Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game.” —Library Journal (starred review), on The One I Love to Hate 

 

What I thought about Love Around the Corner

Gemma Romano has been taking care of her family and helping with the family bar for what seems like forever, but much like her sisters finding love and moving away, the bar seems to need life support as the business breaths the last gasps before things go into the red.

In spite of all of this, Gemma keeps a positive attitude. She's tenacious about her family and the business until her past walks into the bar one night.  Fourteen years ago, Brendan Flaherty walked out of her life and she hasn't forgiven him yet.  

Brendan is really an awesome hero in this story.  He's had his share of big bumps in his life, and he hasn't forgotten what he had with Gemma.  I loved how he woos her back.  Gemma can't resist him for long, starting out by playing  the old game of "let's just have a physical relationship" which all romance readers know usually ends up being so much more. Some love is just meant to be and I loved that about this couple.

Both Gemma and Brendan have a few more bumps in the road to get by together, like multiple hits to the already-in-trouble bar and Brendan finding out just how much of a snake his relative can be. When Gemma gets left out of a major decision she's quite upset about it with good right. There's just the right level of conflict that had me a bit choked up at the end. 

I adored Gemma and Brendan together, and I especially loved how the sisters came together to help Gemma work through what she needed to do. There are some strong non-family relationships here as well, with the long-time patrons and neighbors of the bar.  Love Around the Corner beautifully captures how hard it can be to accept letting go of the past for the promise of a future.  I just absolutely loved everything about this story.

An ARC was provided. This is my honest review.

 

About the Author

Amanda has loved romance since she read that very first Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel at fifteen. After a long detour into a career as a costume designer in theatre, she’s found her way back to romance, this time as a writer.

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A native Floridian, Amanda transplanted to New York City many years ago and now considers Brooklyn home, along with her husband, daughter, two cats, and nowhere near enough space.

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