Stevie‘s review of The Road to Rose Bend (Rose Bend, Book 1) by Naima Simone
Contemporary Small Town Romance published by HQN Books 27 Apr 21
I tend to be rather ambivalent towards US-set small-town romances, but kept getting alerts for this one that featured the UK cover and so highlighted its multicultural aspects. Professional grant writer Sydney Collins grew up in the shadow of her older sister’s terminal illness and carries the burden of guilt that she was not able to donate a potentially life-saving kidney transplant, as well as feeling that her parents never loved her in the same way they loved her sister. After divorcing her older, dominating husband, Sydney had one last night of sex with him and fell pregnant. Now, she’s returned to her hometown for the first time in eight years because, while her childhood was unhappy, she believes that her baby’s life will be so much better there than in the city. And just as she’s plucking up the courage to approach her parents’ house, she encounters the big brother of an old friend, who gives her a rather mixed welcome.
Coltrane Dennison didn’t expect to see Sydney while he was visiting the graves of his wife and baby son, and is taken aback when he realises that Sydney is pregnant, especially as he also feels a spark of attraction – for the first time in two years – towards her. He is further disturbed when Sydney finds herself unable to stay with her parents and moves into an empty holiday property belonging to his parents, close to the one he’s living in while he decides what to do with the house he’s been unable to visit since becoming a widower.
Cole and Sydney try to make the best of their unwelcome proximity, even as they both enjoy being cared for by Cole’s extended family, and both involve themselves in local goings-on. Cole, as Mayor, has greatly increased the attractiveness of the town to visitors and is keen to provide even more facilities for the residents. Sydney is able to put her skills to good use in helping them obtain funding for the projects, and so the pair find themselves working together more and more. Sydney’s ex-husband hasn’t vanished completely, though, and after getting engaged to his new partner, he announces that he wants custody of Sydney’s baby because he believes himself to be in a better situation than her.
Realising that Sydney would look better to the courts if she were also in a relationship, Cole proposes and the pair end up in a marriage of convenience. Sydney soon finds herself falling for him, even as he seems to be distancing himself from her. Cole, meanwhile, is terrified of losing Sydney and her baby, and is being a bit useless at telling her so. Obviously the pair need to get their act together, if there’s going to be a happy ending.
While there were some aspects of this story that appealed to me all the way through, I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. Most of the background antagonists felt a bit too stereotypical, and Sydney’s ex-husband came across as alternately triggering and as a cartoon villain. I don’t think I’ll be picking up any of the other books in this series.
Grade: C
Summary:
Sydney Collins left the small Berkshires town of Rose Bend eight years ago, grieving her sister’s death—and heartbroken over her parents’ rejection. But now the rebel is back—newly divorced and pregnant—ready to face her fears and make a home for her child in the caring community she once knew. The last thing she needs is trouble. But trouble just set her body on fire with one hot, hot smile.
Widower and Rose Bend mayor Coltrane Dennison hasn’t smiled in ages. Until a chance run-in with Sydney Collins, who’s all grown-up and making him want what he knows he can’t have. Grief is his only connection to the wife and son he lost, and he won’t give it up. Not for Sydney, not for her child, not for his heart. But when Sydney’s ex threatens to upend everything she’s rebuilt in Rose Bend, Cole and Sydney may find that a little trouble will take them where they never expected to go.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
