Never Expected You

The whole time I was reading Let It Be Me, Love Unexpected Book 1, I wanted Stella's story. I wanted to know everything about her. Stella is back home trying to keep her father's vet practice alive while keeping everyone around her at an arm's length. Zach is back home and wants nothing more than to join the practice of the man who was always there for him. Stella and Zach really needed each other. Both need someone who can shoulder a load and still stand and both proved to be more than capable of doing just that. This book is sweet and endearing. I loved Zach so much. I really like Stella but her standoffishness kept me from connecting to her as much as I wanted to. I am really enjoying this series and am keeping my fingers crossed that Declan get his HEA! *This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

3.5 Stars! Never Expected You is based in a small town setting around Stella and Zach who grew up there, went away after school and both coming back home to settle down. Usually these small town settings are like the Hallmark channel where everyone is friendly and help each other out. While we did have that, I also like that the author threw a bit of reality into this one. Zach was bullied as a kid and the effects it had on him as an adult coming home was part of his struggles in his character. He enlisted in the army right out of high school. He's grown up into a very capable man. He's bigger, stronger and not that helpless boy anymore despite the memories that haunt him. Stella is the daughter of the town vet. She followed her fathers footsteps but not before getting her heart crushed by her ex-fiance who also happens to have been her mentor in her own veterinary studies. She's also dealing with her father's recent passing and the piling of debt from his veterinary practice. Both of our main characters are dealing with a lot of baggage. I love the storyline. I love how they meet, start working together and needing to rely on each other. The attraction between these two was there from the start but both resisted. Stella because she refuses to get burned again and Zach because he doesn't want mess up the business opportunity. Due to this, this was a nice slow burn romance. Zach's character is very charming and likable. Despite his baggage, he was more open and willing. Stella, not so much. She was closed up tighter than a vault. She was my only issue with the story. She was way too guarded, fighting even the small things. It was pretty frustrating as a reader and yet I still liked her. I just wish she fought a bit less. Overall this was a feel good, small town romance. We got to see characters from a previous standalone book and I wonder if we will get Declan's story. He was an intriguing side character that would make a great hero. ARC provided by NetGalley.