They say you should never judge a book by its cover. Looking at the cover of Hart’s Landing, the first book in your Hart’s Landing series, I initially anticipated a sweet, perhaps even a closed-door romance. While the story is sweet, it was not the kind of sweetness I expected.
I loved the Prologue and the style it was written in. It truly set the story up nicely. I also loved that you wrote the book from the perspectives of both Mila Ferguson and Everett McKean. It gave the story depth and a realness I wasn’t expecting.
Best friend/sibling is one of my favorite tropes in romance, and you handled the trope extremely well. Small town romances are generally not my thing, you know, with the whole nosy neighbors and all. I loved how you handled the nosiness, bringing a balance that made the small town charm endearing. The fact that Mila and Everett’s younger sister Gabi, had been friends for so long allowed Mila and Everett to really know each other, without it being awkward. It didn’t hurt that Everett was already head over heels in love with Mila the second he saw her again after ten years.
You made Mila and Everett’s love story passionate and realistic. Honestly, Everett is probably one of my top ten book boyfriends. He is truly perfect. He complimented Mila by bringing balance to her self-doubt and potentially chaotic life.
For me, the hardest part of the story was Mila’s narcissistic mother. Every time she was mentioned or showed up on the page, my enjoyment of the story plummeted, and the smile I had on my face disappeared. But I’m pretty sure that’s something you were anticipating, which means you nailed her villainess character very well.
I am already in love with the secondary characters. You have surrounded Everett with the best of best friends. I have a feeling that over the course of this series, Everett’s friends and Mila’s friends will all couple up. I’m looking forward to the other books in this series. I’m pretty sure the overall series arc has to do with an August night ten years ago, when the lives of Mila and her best friends changed. Finding out what really happened is something I’m really looking forward to.
All the best,
Kim
~ Favorite Quotes ~
“There’s no statute of limitations on reconnecting with old friends.”
“Love should not feel like a weapon that’s used against you.”
“Whether the moment is bitter or sweet, laughter makes it better.”
**Received an ARC from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
Rating: 4.5
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by: Melanie Harlow
Series: Hart’s Landing
Genre: Contemporary Small Town Romance
Release Date: May 12, 2026
Publisher: Entangled ~ Amara
Four friends made a promise to live one night like it was their last.
That night changed everything.
Ten years ago, Mila Ferguson fled Hart’s Landing with a devastating fire, a stolen kiss, and a shattered circle of friends in her wake. But when a crisis brings her home, Mila just wants to get in and get out, unscathed by her mother’s constant criticism and unseen by her former crush, Everett McKean.
Only...Everett is everywhere. The boy Mila once loved is now the town’s scorching hot, beloved mayor. And when he’s not serving his constituents or running the family farm, Everett is taking advantage of his second chance with Mila―the one who got away.
As Mila reconnects to her roots and opens her heart, she discovers that coming home again isn’t about where you’ve been―it’s about who you’re brave enough to become. But when old wounds threaten to open after questions emerge about what really happened the night Mila left, it’s that bravery that will finally set her free.
Sexy, heartfelt, and steeped in small-town charm, Hart’s Landing is a story of forgiveness, friendship, and finding the family who loves you no matter how far you wander.
Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. Her stories are about modern people falling in old-fashioned love, and her small towns feel like a warm, cozy hug. She lifts her glass to readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.
Places to find Melanie Harlow:
Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest | TikTok | Amazon Author Page
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