I've been such a fan of this series, yes it can be read as a standalone, but trust me, read the rest of the books! I've loved each book so far. And Bountiful has easily been thrown into my re-read category. Most of the time, after I finish a book I really love, I go back and re-read my favorite parts because I love re-enjoying those moments.
Zara runs the bar owned by her uncle, going day by day, serving drinks and fending off the constant flow of men's advances. Until one day, a sexy someone walks in and makes it known that he wants her. Zara (at the time) was still dealing with a bit of heartbreak of her own, the last thing she wants is to get into something serious, but the chemistry between these two is undeniable. As persistent as he is, he slowly breaks down the walls Zara has built and quickly turns into an explosive night. What was originally supposed to be just one night turns into a much longer affair riding out the remainder of the summer AND his vacation time. They both know there's a deadline, but it doesn't mean their feelings stop there. After his departure, Zara was left with a little piece of the man that rocked her summer; a precious baby.
Dave Beringer has already decided that he'll be a bachelor for life, a professional hockey player going through casual hookups and moving onto the next. Heading to Vermont during the off-season for a little vacation, running into the beautiful local bartender that he can't take his eyes off of. After that one night together, he wants more nights like that before he heads back to reality. After leaving at the end of his vacation, Zara never left his thoughts. And it's not until two years later Dave is back in Vermont for some downtime and he runs straight into the woman from that memorable summer and learns much more during their little reunion.
I think Bountiful might be my favorite in the series. Zara is just an amazing and strong character, she wasn't loud and boisterous, but her presence held a lot. SHE could say so much without verbally saying anything at all. Her inability to hide her feelings, I kind of love that because Dave was able to pick up on that instantly and he remembers every little detail about her. As much as I loved the many moments between her and Dave, I loved the moments of their little family. Nicole is absolutely adorable and you can't help but fall in love her. She steals her dad's heart in an instant and despite how quickly Dave had to wrap his mind around his new reality, he adapted so gracefully and became the father that he needed to be to his daughter. He took that role over with ease and everyone will just swoon over daddy and daughter time. It'll just tug at your little heartstrings! This one is definitely a #RSFave for 2017 and I recommend it to everyone!
read my review | on the blog.