Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Blake's endearing and believable second Clover Lake romance (after Dream On, Ramona Riley) puts the enemies-to-lovers and forced proximity tropes to excellent use. April Evans is still reeling from the betrayal of her cheating ex-fiancee, Elena Watson, who left her for beautiful younger artist Daphne Love three years ago, when she's forced to permanently close her failing tattoo parlor. So she's grateful for the stability afforded by a summer job as an art teacher at Cloverwild, an elegant resort that also offers her and her co-teacher room and board in a quaint cabin on the property. Then she learns that her new roommate is none other than Daphne. Though Daphne, who has recently been cheated on and dumped by Elena herself, has no idea who April is and can't understand her hostility, April sees fit to take out years of anger and hurt feelings on the other woman. Meanwhile an amazing opportunity that will allow only one of them to display their paintings in a renowned London museum cements them as professional rivals as well. It's an absolute delight to watch the relationship between these endearingly flawed and dynamic characters gradually evolve as they put aside their differences and bond over their shared love of art. The result is a well-paced, tension-filled sapphic romance that doubles as a celebration of personal growth and healing. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
April Evans is falling apart. Her tattoo shop has been running in the red for two years, and she can't afford the mortgage on her home. She hasn't dated since being cheated on and dumped by her ex-fiancée. When the local resort, Cloverwild, asks April to co-teach art classes over the summer, she jumps at the opportunity, closing her business, subletting her house, packing her cats, and moving into a cabin at the resort. Then she finds out her roommate for the summer will be Daphne Love, the younger woman her ex-fiancée chose over April. Daphne has led a sheltered life, going from a strict evangelical upbringing to living with an older lover. When that relationship ends dramatically, Daphne runs to a teaching job at Cloverwild to mourn what was. Finding out she was the other woman in April's relationship horrifies her and explains why April seems to hate her. April's hate quickly turns to empathy, however, then to attraction, and maybe more. VERDICT Blake's second "Clover Lake" book (after Dream On, Ramona Riley) features a queer slow-burn romance and found family. Readers will cheer on the protagonists as they struggle to rebuild their lives and accidentally fall in love.--Heather Miller Cover
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
After agreeing to teach art at a New England resort for the summer, two cabin mates realize they have the same ex in Blake's latest queer romance. One could say April Evans has been grumpy lately--not only did her best friend, Ramona, move across the country, but April had to close her failing tattoo parlor and rent out her home to pay the mortgage. The one bright spot is her upcoming gig at Cloverwild, a new resort in Clover Lake, New Hampshire. In exchange for free housing over the summer, April will teach an art class and hopefully regain some of her spark. April can't attributeall of her grouchiness to recent events, however; some credit must go to her former fiancée, Elena Watson. Three years ago, Elena abruptly dumped April for an art student 10 years her junior, leaving her heartbroken. Now in her 30s, April hopes to use this summer as a fresh start, until she learns that her co-teacher and cabin-mate is none other than Daphne Love, Elena's other woman. At first glance, Daphne is everything April isn't, and it's obvious that she has no idea who April even is. At 25, Daphne is young and inexperienced, having grown up in a strict Baptist family that rejected her and then spent her early 20s practically trophy-wifing for her ex, Elena. She hopes this new teaching job can help her mature, and it would be great if her roommate didn't inexplicably hate her. As April and Daphne teach together and compete for a lucrative art exhibit in London, they can't help but grow closer in spite of their shared past. Blake's new Clover Lake title explores two scorned lovers learning to trust again, crafting vulnerable, real relationships with a fair share of steamy moments. Sasha, their free-wheeling, good-time friend, is a standout character, and fans ofDream on, Ramona Riley (2025) will be glad to see Ramona and Dylan's romance take the next step. A cozy black cat/golden retriever romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
