Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins: Review

I love novellas for the simple fact that sometimes I don’t feel like reading a full book. They are perfect for a change of category, pace, and even a change of trope. Especially when you review a lot of books like I do and did with this one.

I did not believe that I had read a Karen Hawkins story before. However, when I looked at her page on the publishers site, I realized that I sure did. She was included in the What Happens Under the Mistletoe compilation a few years ago that I really loved.

Here are my thoughts on this upcoming novella.

Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins
A Dove Pond eNovella
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication Date: June 17, 2019
ASIN: B07M5VB57M

ABOUT:
Young widow Sofia Rodriquez has just accepted the position of greenhouse manager for Ava Dove’s booming herbal tea business. Sofia is delighted to have found a job that will make use of her gardening skills and allow her to spend time with her son, Noah, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s. Adding to her joy is the charming farmhouse she’s renting on the edge of Dove Pond.

The only cloud on Sofia’s horizon is her next door neighbor, Jake, whose yard is a thorny jungle worthy of Sleeping Beauty. Soon enough, Sofia discovers that Jake himself is just as thorny and unpleasant as his yard.

After his fiancé left him, work-from-home IT whiz and game developer Jake Klaine has gone from Prince Charming to complete hermit. But Jake isn’t really alone; he’s living with a ghost: a (formerly) hairy man named Doyle who’s a fan of bad puns and who refuses to leave Jake’s bathtub. This is nothing new for Jake, as he’s been talking to ghosts since he was a boy. He finds real people harder to deal with, like the kid next door who won’t stop bugging him about the new game he’s developing.

Sofia and Jake know all too well that life isn’t a game. They’ve both lost the person they loved most. But under the watchful eye of the ghostly Doyle and Sofia’s new friend Ava, who has abilities of her own, Jake and Sofia decide to take a chance and let in an outsider. Soon they discover that, with a little magic, even the thorniest walls are no match for the innocent trust of a lonely child and the fierce determination of a woman wielding a razor-sharp pruner and a heart big enough to make even the most stubborn flower bloom.

Love in the Afternoon by Karen Hawkins Review

I have to say that I had some mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the story as it is so unique and original.

The author did a great job on some of the character development and I loved how Jake took to the child. This story is part of a series so I am not sure how much I have missed by not reading the first book.

What I didn’t love was how the ending was rushed and I felt the author could have spent some additional time developing the romance while still keeping this novella length. This is definitely an Insta-Love story so be prepared for that.

With the addition of some supporting characters, this was a sweet, clean romance! There are plenty of humorous parts, a few sad parts, and overall a pleasing read for a summer break.

3.5 stars

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.