Book Review-Trails of Love

Melissa Foster

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

First Impressions

Trials of Love is the third book in the “Bradens + Montgomerys: Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls” Series. And this story is a bit different from some of the regular Melissa Foster novels. This series has books that can either be a big hit or a miss or don’t quite hit but are solid stories. And this is the later of those options. I did do this one in audio and it was just fine in narration, but the story didn’t quite meet up expectations not like the first two books, at least for me personally. I think part of it was how unconventional this story turned out to be and while the ending was truly brilliant and heartfelt …..it took some stumbling blocks before we got to the ‘goods’ of the story and it was my faith in the author that kept me with this series. This story is just a calm and easy romance, there isn’t hardly any conflict and that only exciting thing is the characters and those elements just wasn’t what I go after.

 “You’re worth the risk, sunshine. No mathematical equations necessary.”

Book Evaluation:

Plot: 3/5
World Building: 4/5
Cover: 5/5
Hero: 4/5
Heroine: 3/5
Intimacy Level: 4/5
Relationship Building: 3/5
Heart & Feels: 3/5
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 3/5
Page Turner Level: 3/5
Narration: 4/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall View: 3.5/5

The Main Protagonists

The Hero: Graham

The Heroine: Morgyn

A compass, so you never lose your way. A heart, because we’re in Romance, Virginia, and a sun, because it’s you, sunshine.

What I Loved

Trails of Love had some redeeming qualities to the story. The first off is the family dynamics. You really see some stronger family connections in this. This family and the friendship connections that we see are heartfelt, fun banter in their dialogue with each other and very unqiue dynamic in these families that somehow are so unifying and accepting of each other. The hero of the story Graham was truly the HEART of this story and it is one of those stories where the hero does carry the story in its substance. He is hardworking, devoted to clean energy efforts and working hard for those struggling. He is smart with money and responsible but also loves the open skies and limited spaces and doesn’t want to be confined too much. He balances out Morgyn who is completely opposite from him in some respects but in the important factors they really click well together. There is a cozy nature to their whirlwind of a romance. There isn’t much conflict ….this is more quiet and subtle and sometimes its refreshing to just relax with a story and not having to worry about drama within the relationship. So if that is what you arelooking for, you will find it with this one here. And another element I really loved was the third act that develops into the ending. Seeing how these two work through issues, fears and misconceptions was truly fabulous to see in a romance. They communicate with each other honestly and have an open nature with each other. We also see the passions that Graham has and what he wants to do for the world …..Morgyn wants to be there by his side through it all. The desire to travel, to serve others and give to community is what they both have purpose in and it was truly captivating to see characters like that. Its honestly RARE in romance. I hardly ever see characters that are so committed to healing the worlds hurts and are willing to do hard work to help those suffering. And it was this element to their romance that really SUNG BEAUTY TO MY SOUL.

She was dizzily happy, unable to hold on to a single thought past how good it felt to want someone that badly and be desired just as strongly .”

What I Struggled With

This is honestly something I wish I had been better implemented but I will be honest Morgyn’s character was so strange and it was really how it was written. Normally Foster is better with unconventional heroines who are different but I couldn’t connect with Morgyn hardly at all at least not until later in the book. And the biggest red flag that many readers will struggle with in this book is the lack of any chemistry or spark between these two. You didn’t FEEL their connection at all. It was just suddenly there. It went from casual fling to somehow love and devotion and you just didn’t see that journey or even feel it or how they even had chemistry enough to be phsyical with each other. Which was actually shocking to me with this being a Melissa Foster.

Narration

The narration for this book was actually pretty solid. Nothing to dream about or anything, but it was very solid and the voices were likable to listen to.

Overall Thoughts

Trials of Love while not quite meeting all the expectations will still deliver on the heart that Melissa Foster is so talented at delivering in her beautifully written romances…..A cozy easy romance that you can relax into!

“There are only three things you can count on in this world. The sun will rise and set, family will always have your back, and when you find your soul mate, who you are will change forever.”

Book Details

Title: Trails of Love

Author: Melissa Foster

Series: The Bradens & Montgomery’s, Pleasant Hill-Oak Falls #3

Publication Date: January 9 2019

Publisher: Self Published

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Narrator: Aaron Shedlock, Virginia Rose

Length: 7 Hours + 58 Mins

Tropes/Character Types: Unconventional Heroine, Business Owner, Self Made Hero, Small Town, Instant Love, Sassy Heroine

Spice Level:

Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

POV: Duo POV

Music Song That Is Themed After This Book: Big Plans by Why Don’t We

Fall in love with Graham Braden and Morgyn Montgomery in USA Today Bestseller TRAILS OF LOVE.

When Graham Braden travels to Oak Falls, Virginia to attend the wedding of his buddy Reed Cross to Grace Montgomery, he sticks around to help with renovations to Reed’s new theater. The last thing he expects is to be asked to assess and possibly invest in Grace’s sister Morgan’s business endeavor. Graham is a careful, keen businessman, and Morgyn is impulsive, disorganized, and more interested in the energy flow in her eclectic retail shop than in the accuracy of her records. While Graham isn’t ready to open his pockets to the sassy, sexy business owner, he may be ready to open his heart.

The Bradens & Montgomerys are part of Melissa’s Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. All Love in Bloom novels are written to stand alone and may also be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right into this fun, sexy romance.