*I received a free copy of [title] from [publisher] via Author. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *Pretty as a Peach is the fourth book in the Sex and Sweet Tea series, but the first I have read. And because I wanted more - I went one-clicking my way through the first three books ;)
Story:
Pretty as a Peach was such a cute romance, I was swooning as I read about Colt and Darby. Their trials and tribulations made me love them so much - even when Colt was acting like a dolt in the beginning. Two neighboring farms, where Colt was struggling to make ends meet. And Darby fleeing a horrible marriage, with her little daughter in tow. Darby's idea of how to work a farm was also completely opposite from Colt's, and that sure made things interesting.
Pretty as a Peach follows Colt and Darby, and the prior books (which I have read since I received this one) follow Colt's siblings. The whole Mancinkus clan is the kind of close-knit family I adore reading about. Their small town of Whynot is probably a little too small for me - but the feeling of belonging Darby found by moving there was very strong.
There is a bit of suspense in Pretty as a Peach too, but on the outlines of the main plot. Darby's soon-to-be ex is a tool! And he's not understanding in the least. He will stop at nothing to get his trophy-wife back home where he thinks he belongs.
The strong family ties between Colt and his family, and how including the whole town is of Darby and her daughter made Pretty as a Peach even better. If you're a fan of small town romances, with character-driven stories, and lots of food references - you know where to go to exercise your one-click finger ;)
Characters:
Colt is the youngest Mancikus sibling, but he just might be the most strong-minded one. He's not afraid of hard work. And he always helps out in town when he can. Darby is a thorn in his side, though. At least when he thinks she's not a real farmer.
Darby has fought against her husband's psychological abuse for years. And finally, she found a way to leave him behind. Nothing was going as smoothly as she had hoped, though.
The whole Mancikus family is just made of awesome! I want them to adopt me.
Writing style :
Pretty as a Peach is written in first person, present tense. As chapters follow either Darby or Colt, I got a good sense of them as characters. There were many humorous dialogues, and I could not stop laughing in some places.
Feels :
Everything about Pretty as a Peach made me feel good. When things were difficult, the characters got together to work things out. The romance was swoony, and I loved both how animals were included, and how Darby took such good care of her daughter.
I have a moment of great weakness, and I consider the possibility of returning to Mitch. To give up all my hopes and dreams so my daughters can have her friends and her horse. I think about how it wouldn't be so bad to endure his verbal abuse, crazy possessiveness, and constant shaming.
This is all kind of weird. Ten minutes ago, this woman was as close to a mortal enemy as I had, and now she's offering me help on starting a vineyard.