CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE (Magnolia Sound #5) by Samantha Chase

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 10, 2020

Hunter Jones never thought that shared custody would be part of his life, but it’s the only way to make sure his son still has both parents in his life. But when his ex’s increasing unpredictability leads to a missed day care pick up, he’s not so sure shared custody is the best option anymore. Never mind that he’s now the one being accused of bad parenting by a total stranger.

Violet Drake has zero patience for poor parenting. There’s nothing that angers her more than seeing parents behave in the same irresponsible way her own parents did throughout her childhood. But after going off on a perfect stranger late to pick up his son, her conscience gets the best of her and she realizes she may have been a little harsh.

Violet is only supposed to be in Magnolia Sound for a short time to help out her best friend, so getting involved with a single dad is the absolute last thing she should be doing.

Their timing is all kinds of wrong, but sometimes you just can’t help yourself.

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REVIEW: CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE is the fifth instalment in Samantha Chase’s contemporary, adult MAGNOLIA SOUND romance series. This is fire fighter/ paramedic/ single father Hunter Jones, and travel agent Violet Drake’s story line. CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Hunter and Violet) CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE follows the building romance and relationship between is fire fighter/ paramedic/ single father Hunter Jones, and travel agent Violet Drake. Violet Drake is only in Magnolia Sound for a few weeks, awaiting the birth of her best friend’s child. Violet doesn’t do relationships having been raised in the foster system for far too long. Never one to set down roots Violet prepares for her next adventure but her unexpected friendship and relationship with fire fighter Hunter Jones forces Violet to reconsider her plans for the future, plans Violet struggles to need or accept.

Hunter Jones is a single father but has always wanted a happily ever after. Meting Violet Drake gives Hunter hopes for a future but Violet’s need to run, and stay on the move finds our hero battling between head and heart as he refuses to uproot himself from family and friends

The relationship between Hunter and Violet begins acrimoniously as Violet is quick to judge our hero. Late to pick up his son from daycare, Hunter is met by a judgmental stranger, a stranger who stirs something within our story line hero. Violet is constantly on the go; wanting to travel to avoid the potential problem of rejection and loss. A few weeks in Magnolia Cove and her developing relationship with Hunter finds Violet ready to run when Hunter suggests Violet stay and try to give it a go. The $ex scenes are all implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful secondary and supporting characters: Violet’s best friend, child care provider and former foster care ‘sister’ Katie, and her husband Brian, as well as Brian’s other Rose; Hunter’s father Dominic Jones, and his brothers Kyle, Dean (and Courtney) and sister Scarlett (In Case You Didn’t Know #3), and Hunter’s son Eli.

CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love. Hunter is a bit of a homebody that doesn’t like to travel claiming his first responsibility is his family and job. Violet, on the other hand, is a woman who struggles with demons from the past, and in this, Violet refuses to accept that she is capable of love, or of being loved in return, and therefore spends her time travelling the world yet her actions come across as selfish and self-involved. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is sweet-all of the $ex scenes are implied ; the characters are sassy and energetic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews

Sunkissed Days
Remind Me
A Girl Like You
In case You Didn’t Know
All the Befores 3.5
And Then One Day

Reviewed by Sandy

Copy supplied for review

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New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in NorthCarolina.