Welcome to Valentine Valley—where broken hearts come home to mend, and true love may lie just across the range . . .

Emily Murphy never thought she’d return to her mom’s rustic hometown in the Colorado Mountains. But after her marriage in San Francisco falls apart, leaving her penniless and heartsick, she returns to her old family home to find a new direction for her life. On her first night back, though, a steamy encounter with handsome rancher Nate Thalberg is not the fresh start she had in mind . . .

Nate has good reason not to trust the determined beauty who just waltzed into town—he’s no stranger to betrayal. Besides, she’s only there to sell her family’s old property and move back out. But as Nate and Emily begin working side-by-side to restore her time-worn building and old family secrets change Emily’s perception of herself, both are about to learn how difficult it is to hide from love in a place known far and wide for romance, family ties, and happily-ever-afters: a town called Valentine.

Review

A Town Called Valentine is a lovely contemporary romance debut full of heart.

Emily Murphy has been through too much. She is divorced, broke, and has realized that she had abandoned her true self to be a wife. She doesn’t have any direction. After the death of her mother and her divorce she decides to go back to college. To be able to afford it she needs to sell the property she owns in Valentine Valley…fast.

I really liked Emily. She is struggling and doesn’t have a definite direction in the beginning of the book, but she blossoms so much throughout the story. She learns who she really is and learns what she really wants. There are times when she falters and makes mistakes, but she owns up to them and moves on.

Nate Thalberg tries to be everything for everybody. He doesn’t want to get involved with Emily, but can’t help the attraction between them. Nate tries to keep his distance for a time and then decides that he can’t be around her and not be with her.

I enjoyed the romance between Nate and Emily. It moves very slowly, but I think that fit the characters perfectly. Emily had been through a lot and wasn’t ready at the beginning of the book to start something with Nate. Nate also has his own romantic hang-ups.

Like most romances set in small towns, the secondary characters add so much to the story. Nate’s family and the other merchants in town keep the story moving and add much needed advice for Emily and Nate. I hope that we get to visit Valentine Valley again and find out what happens with the other characters.

Reviewed by Carrie