#poplarfalls

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What a way to end the Poplar Falls series! After all the triumphs Sonia has been through with Ricky throughout the other five books, I’m so 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 that Sonia 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 found the happy ever after she truly deserved.

There were a few storms thundering her way but Foster was there with an umbrella and heart full of warmth… and 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚.

Similar to Elle’s story, I wasn’t really too interested in Sonia or her story. I read the book more-so to finish off the series. However, I actually enjoyed reading her story. If there was anyone who deserves a happily ever after, it’s Sonia.

Throughout the entire series, it’s been expressed how much she has given herself to a man who doesn’t appreciate her nor returns her love. Ricky is a taker who’s sucked Sonia dry until there was nothing left and she sworn off love.

Foster couldn’t be anymore perfect. Off the bat, they’re opposites yet one and the same. She’s outgoing and he’s more reserved. They both are withering a divorce, discovering life as newly singles while also subconsciously wanting to equally love and be loved in return. Their chemistry has been present from day one, regardless of their spouses at the time.

Their story seemed too short and a bit rushed. There were certain occurrences that I wished were more detailed and expressed, rather than grazed over and subtly mentioned. Still, the book was overall enjoyable and filled me with such bittersweet emotions now that Poplar Falls has come to an end.

[puresolacex]

“𝗜’𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿—𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲.”

It’s May 2024 and I’ve officially found a book that has made me sob this year! I’ve never resonated with a character more than I have with Charlotte. It’s easier to emotionally remain at the tip of the tallest tower and only give a man half of ourselves—the intimacy— instead of allowing them full access to our hearts. Though all we want is that one person who is willing to knock all the walls down and rebuild a house together, its terrifying; and instead, when it’s time to face the, “what are we?” we create chaos and run the opposite way. We fear the future because what we want may not be physically in the cards for us. However, there’s always that one man who still loves us through what we feel are flaws. For me, it’s my husband and for Charlotte, it’s Payne.

Kelly expressed the emotional turmoil of infertility so raw and precise. The walls Charlotte built to protect herself and the one she loved out of fear were true to her characters depiction. As someone who was told I’d struggle to get pregnant when I was eighteen, for years, I too felt wild and crazy when it came to relationships (29 year old me still can’t believe I birthed my son). I was fearful of not being able to give the man I loved a family and it was easier to engage in sexual relations rather than be serious and sustain a growing relationship.

It’s rare to read stories where a character struggles with fertility so it’s a breath of air to see this being discussed along with possible outcomes and the notion that one does not need to birth their own children to have a family.

Out of all the Poplar Falls books, Crazy Hearts definitely is the spiciest! I feel as if it couldn’t go any either way and fits Charlotte and Payne’s relationship dynamic perfectly.

[puresolacex]

“𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐈’𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐈’𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩.”

A few hours is all it took for me to read Fragile Hearts. I love that the Poplar Falls series is now following the “next” generation of girls, Elle and her friends. Out of the trio, Bellamy’s story is the one I looked forward to the most and it did not disappoint!

Amber Kelly does a wonderful job at taking romantic tropes and twisting them in opposite ways. I love LOVE second chance romances and though Bellamy and Brandt weren’t past lovers, they each had second chance at falling in love.

(𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 & 𝘼𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙤𝙣)

[puresolacex]

“𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐭 𝐮𝐬.”

I’m an absolute sucker for the he falls first, womanizer’s falling head over heels for a woman trope. Walker Reid is d 100% the “I can fix him” and make him change his ways book boyfriend…more so after seeing how Elle managed to wrap the playboy rancher around her pretty little finger.

I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive about reading this book. I had high hopes that the plot line would be amazing (it’s Amber Kelly duh!!!) but what made me weary was for the age-gap trope and the female main character, Elle Young.

With her appearances in the first two novels, I didn’t really care for her character. It wasn’t that I didn’t like her, her persona was just a little off-putting (again, not in a bad way). I simply response with older, mature characters; whereas, Elle is apart of the younger generation — early twenties (at least young to me). She’s cute— still innocent in the majority of areas of life when it comes to love and intimacy. There are moments where her immaturity comes to play so I’m just like eh, but after a reminder, I’m sure I was the same way when I was freshly twenty-one with my first love.

It was beautiful to see Elle grow into the adult woman she is. Any chance she gets, she’s constantly spewing to her brother Braxton and love interest Walker that she’s a grown woman. In the beginning, it was annoying. However, she blossomed and it was a delight to actually see her not be afraid to speak her mind, branch away from her sibling to be independent, and discover what it is she wants out of her life.

Amber Kelly always does tremendous at appealing realism to character development and experiences. Elle endured similar struggles any young adult would: fostering independence, discovering love and intimacy for the first time, seeking oneself and purpose in the world, and direction into furthering education and careers.

She’s a relatable character for young adults and her responses are realistic rather than fantasy mindsets. They’re practical and believable.

Walker Reid is the cliche womanizing rancher. He’s absolutely stunning, easy on the eyes, a massive flirt, and good with his hands (in more ways than one). He works hard on the ranch and even harder to care for his mom. He has everything a bachelor his age could want… so he thinks.

It’s not until Ellen where he finds himself looking at what’s beneath a woman’s surface besides a good lay. With Elle, he is wants more than a drunk fling after the bar. He wants to be better, regardless of the fact he feels unworthy of her. Still, he’s willing to make the changes throughout their developing relationship, even if it’ll cost him a rib or two.

[puresolacex]

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄

After being introduced to Dallas in Rustic Hearts, I already knew her vivacious and rambunctious spirit would continue to be my absolute favorite… and Myer?! He’s the golden retriever book boyfriend I never knew I wanted… until 𝐍𝐎𝐖.

(𝙁𝙪𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 & 𝘼𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙤𝙣)

[joyffree]

🎧 NEW AUDIOBOOK 🎧

CRAZY HEARTS is live in audio!!!

Narrated by Heather Firth, Audiobook Narrator and Noel Harrison, Narrator!

Listen here—> https://amzn.to/3Ju4UCJ

Blurb:

Who says you can’t wear boots with pearls?

I’ve always loved my life and career. That was, until my boss, best friend, and partner in crime fell in love during a trip to her hometown and made me become a bougie cowgirl. It only took a few visits to the sleepy town of Poplar Falls for me to understand the draw.

So here I am, fighting the two girls that live inside of me. One who loves the glitz and glamour of NYC and thrives in the fast-paced world of the Upper East Side. The other who longs to be wild and free in the laid back mountains of Colorado with the people who have become like family.

One in particular.

Payne Henderson was only supposed to be a fun fling, a hot man to scratch my cowboy itch. I didn’t realize I was falling so hard for him until it was too late to stop the ride and get off unscathed.

Now, I have a decision to make. Do I confess my love and reveal the stripped-down version of me, scars and all? Or do I let him go and head back to the comfort of my big city life?