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Country Heaven offers a unique and heart-warming premise that immediately drew me in. The setup—where the MMC, a famous singer, hires a new cook for his tour bus—felt fresh and led to some delightful close-proximity moments. Add in the recipes and food descriptions, and I was completely hooked. Any book that combines romance with culinary charm is a win for me!
That said, I wish Tory’s decision to join the tour had been explored more deeply. A little more internal dialogue, like wondering if “this famous guy might be luring me away to murder me,” would have added some humour and realism to her choice.
Rye and his team aren’t exactly likable at the start—they’re rude and dismissive—but his growth throughout the story is one of the book’s highlights. The way the MMC works on himself before trying to win back the FMC felt genuine and gave the story emotional weight. Tory’s backstory was heartbreaking, and when she shared it, I cried—one of two moments that had me tearing up while reading.
The romance itself is steamy and reluctant in all the right ways. That first kiss? Perfection. However, some aspects didn’t sit well with me, like the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes, especially the line about the MMC “acting like a girl.” While it fits with his upbringing and the toxic masculinity he’s unlearning, it still made me cringe.
I also wish the book had addressed the parallels between Rye using Tory to improve his image and the way his parents manipulated him. It felt like a missed opportunity for some pointed commentary.
Still, Country Heaven was an easy, emotional read with great family vibes, a steamy romance, and satisfying character growth. It’s not quite on the level of Elsie Silver, but it’s definitely a story I’d recommend to fans of small-town romance and emotional journeys.
Tropes
You'll love this book if you enjoy:
🏡 Small Town
🎸 Rockstar Romance
💙 Friends to Lovers
👀 Forced Proximity
🤫 Fake Dating
🤠 Bad Boy
🎀 Good Girl
A big thank you to Hambright PR for the ARC.