Scarlett's Russell's life has imploded so she has run off to Vermont to visit an old friend. A night at the Gin Mill with some drinks involved was not supposed to lead to a one night stand. She certainly never intended to stick around in town. And the consequences of that little tryst were something she thought impossible. She is a sassy and smart city girl whose whole life is changing rapidly. 

Bull Eaton is widely known as a man with too many missed romantic entanglements from one divorce to some broken engagements. This silver fox is quiet, loyal, sweet, and a true romantic. He has been reluctantly trying his luck on dairy farmer dating apps but is ready to give up. He never expected a fiery visiting redhead to rock his world. And he went off to work the next morning like they planned. But when he finds out she is still around, that is not the only surprise about the situation. 

Now they are planning, cohabitating, and trying to muddle their way through their present circumstances while still dealing with old baggage and issues. These two do not even trust their own judgment so they are afraid to trust the other. The situation is precarious, has long term implications, and both have abandonment issues. 

This is a failed-one-night-stand, bun-in-the-oven, opposites-attract, sweet, funny, and sexy small-town romance. I loved that they are forty-ish. These two are so adorable together but also have scorching hot chemistry. But their fears and insecurities get in their way at times. I seriously wanted to shake some sense into them when their logic for how they dealt with things did not always make sense. They both had such a fear of failure and rejection that it made it hard to share their true feelings but that just made more issues. It is a heartwarming read with just enough angst and plenty of steam. I enjoyed visiting with some of the True North friends as well. 

Scarlett Russell just needs to remember who she is now that she is facing a divorce and the loss of her job due to her age. Visiting an old friend in Vermont gives her a chance to settle down for a bit before she decides her next move.

Bull Eaton has been burned by love. Three failed proposals, he has earned a reputation for being left at the altar that has him avoiding new relationships. When he meets Scarlett at The Gin Mill, he figures a one night stand is exactly what he needs to prove to himself that he can keep things no-strings with a woman.

Scarlett and Bull are both hurting from past relationships, and quickly find themselves facing a new challenge. Living together while they sort out what Scarlett’s next steps are seems logical, but brings with it a whole new set of challenges, including sorting out how to fix those pains caused in the past.

This was a thoroughly entertaining visit to the Busy Bean world. I loved the more mature characters and the way they faced the challenges that came their way. At times, their hesitation to trust and how they handled specific scenes was frustrating, in the end it was all worth it. Their reactions were at times hasty, but they also give time to let things settle before making decisions that can’t be undone. There was a great blend of light, fun scenes as well as solid emotion driven ones that kept me turning the pages for more of that blend.

“A coffee, black, no sugar, no cream, and a caramel macchiato with exactly five drizzles of caramel, fifteen pumps of vanilla syrup, whipped cream, and an extra shot.”

What the . . .

Thank God, I did not take that order. I don’t even know what that is. There’s a pause and I’m wondering what’s happening when Bull says, “You have a little something . . .”

I just want to die a slow death as I imagine him swiping at the corner of her lip or wiping off her nose and that sweet, tender touch will be all the spark she needs to want to pounce on this man behind me. Bull has these deep blue eyes and that silver speckled scruff, plus his hair that looks artfully streaked with gray. He’s just all around sexy and he doesn’t even know it about himself. Then, his touch. The soft strokes down my body and the delicate dips of his fingers, I just can’t—

“Have either of you seen Scarlett?” Audrey asks.

Frick.

“Scarlett?” Bull chokes behind me.

“Yeah, Scarlett. She’s our newest barista and I swear she was out here.”

“I didn’t see anyone,” Vermont Barbie states. “But then again, I’ve only been looking at Bull.”

Okay, that’s enough.

“Found it,” I say, popping up from behind the couch and holding my fingers pinched together like I’ve just found gold in them there wood floorboards.

“Scarlett?” Audrey blinks at me with those expressive eyes of hers . She’s a petite blond with a lot of power behind her personality. I slowly stand but find myself dizzy as I do and grip the back of the couch for support.

“Whoa.” I blurt, unable to stop myself as the room spins and my legs tremble. My skin runs cold, but I break out in a full body sweat.

“Scarlett, are you okay?” Audrey asks, rushing to the edge of the couch while Bull quickly stands to face me.

“I . . . yeah, I just think I stood up too fast.” However, that isn’t the full explanation because that rush to my head has now settled back down to my belly.

“You sure you’re okay? You look a little gray,” Audrey asks.

“I . . . excuse me.” Rushing around the couch, I fight the pull to look at Bull, as I disappear behind the counter, bypassing our waiting customers with one finger in the air, and then press out the door to the grassy area behind the building for some much needed fresh air. Once outside, I promptly bend forward and heave.

“Oh my God, are you okay?” Audrey says behind me and I close my eyes, embarrassed by my position in front of my boss. Audrey’s younger than me, but a good, business woman and kind-hearted. She took me on without any prior experience in the coffee industry.

“Yeah. Just something I ate, I think.” I honestly don’t know. It’s been a few weeks like this, nausea, fatigue, and then if I do get sick, which doesn’t always happen, I feel a million times better once I vomit. “I just have a little stomach bug, but I don’t have a fever. I’m so sorry about this.” I point to the grass which holds no evidence of how my stomach felt. “And that.” I nod toward the café.

Audrey’s brows crease as she examines my face. “What else is wrong? As far as how you are feeling?”

I consider it a second and then answer. “My boobs hurt. My back kills. And I had a tuna fish sandwich for breakfast the other day. I think there was something wrong with the mayonnaise.” Then I reconsider what I’ve said. That sandwich the other morning had been the best damn tuna fish in the world and the last thing I’d ever eat when it comes to a breakfast item.

Audrey’s lips slowly curl and her eyes spark like she knows something. “Scarlett, could you be pregnant?”

“What? No. Heaven’s no. Absolutely not. I . . .” I stare back at her, horrified at the notion. I’m forty-two. I’m recently divorced. I cannot be pregnant at this stage of my life.

“No. I am definitely not pregnant.”

True North World: The Busy Bean

L.B. Dunbar
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L.B. Dunbar has an over-active imagination. To her benefit, such creativity has led to over thirty romance novels, including those offering a second chance at love over 40. Her signature works include the #sexysilverfoxes collection of mature males and feisty vixens ready for romance in their prime years. She also loves to write stories about small-town romance (The Silver Foxes of Blue Ridge) and (Heart Collection). In the early years, she wrote rock star mayhem (The Legendary Rock Stars Series), MMA (Paradise Duet), and a twist on intrigue and redemption (Redemption Island Duet). She's had several alter egos including elda lore, a writer of romantic magical realism through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). In another life, she wanted to be an anthropologist and journalist. Instead, she was a middle school language arts teacher. The greatest story in her life is with the one and only, and their four grown children. Learn more about L.B. Dunbar by joining her reader group on Facebook (Loving L.B.) or subscribing to her newsletter (Love Notes).