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Carrie Aarons
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Bittersweet: A Star-Crossed Lovers Small Town Romance (Ashton Family Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Carrie Aarons (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 480 ratings
The last place Cassandra Mauer ever thought she’d step foot again was Hope Crest, Pennsylvania. But once the world famous actress gets the call that her estranged father has passed, and his only living relative will need to settle his estate, she finds herself back in the small town that sent her running once upon a time.

Little do her dilapidated childhood home and her father’s affairs know, Cassandra was in need of a project exactly like this to distract from the glamorous life she no longer wants or recognizes. That is, until she bumps into the man whose family is considered Main Street royalty.

Patrick Ashton is the boy next door, a Hope Crest celebrity, and one of the heirs to the most famous restaurants on the East Coast. He has no problem reminding her just how much the town hated her old man … and in turn her for sharing his last name. But when he realizes she’s going to sell the land their two families have fought over for decades, Patrick might have to change his tune.

As he begins scheming to charm the woman the entire country wants to be or be with, she can’t deny the spark of chemistry between them still exists after all these years. The one that simmered in the shared woods behind their homes where no one else could see.

And when the danger that sent her fleeing as a teenager returns to seek revenge, she finds Patrick genuinely in her corner, despite his family’s objections. In the place she swore never to return, she might have just found the love and life she was searching for.

Except old wounds and unsettled scores might not let her keep it.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Ashton Family
  2. Print length
    284 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 7, 2023
  5. File size
    3.1 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 4 books in this series.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book definitely has a modern day Romeo and Juliet vibe, think the Hatfields and the McCoy's but in a picturesque Pennsylvania town. Bittersweet is a perfect mix of Hallmark (with its small town and Main Street Royal Family) and Lifetime (suspense, angst and revenge)." -Queen Bee Reviews

"The build up of several things had me on edge. I love the angst, the drama and unknown. Perfectly executed build up and release." -Amy Loves Reading

"This book is everything I look for in a small town series. I literally couldn't put it down." -Lizzie Loves Books

"This book was a fantastic and engaging read, and the perfect introduction to the new Ashton Family series! Cassandra and Patrick's enemies to lovers tale was sweet, dramatic, and dripping in suspense." -Nightbird Novels

"I love small town family sagas! The world building for setting up the series was phenomenal— great imagery, amazing characters, witty banter, drama, emotion, and more!" -JenJenBookFan

"Everything I want in a small town romance!" -BookedTilDawn

"One of my favourite things about the first book in a new series, especially one that follows a family, is that all the other books get set up so perfectly! I can't wait for all of Patrick's siblings books because I'm already invested." -Goodreads Reviewer

"The chemistry between Cassandra and Patrick is explosive and I really loved these characters. The mystery and suspense elements give this love story another dimension and it's just right." -Tales of Love, Life, and Murder

"I think I found my new favorite book by Aarons! This story had all the raw emotions and feels that I could not put this story down when I had it in my hands." -The Witchy Bibliophile

"Ugh this book has my heart. I am obsessed with the way Carrie writes. She draws you in and makes you feel like you are there with the characters." -OpeLookItsBooks

About the Author

Author of romance novels such as Fleeting and Love at First Fight, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. Her stories are fueled by vanilla lattes, meloncholy music, and copious amounts of candles.

When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in farm country with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0C5DQ272K
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (July 7, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 7, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B0C9SDLPCL
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 480 ratings

About the author

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Carrie Aarons

Carrie Aarons

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Author of romance novels such as Fleeting and Love at First Fight, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. Her stories are fueled by vanilla lattes, meloncholy music, and copious amounts of candles.

When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in farm country with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.



Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
480 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this romance book to be a great start to the series, with one review noting its suspenseful edge. They particularly enjoy Cass and Patrick's story, with one customer highlighting the absence of over-the-top drama. Customers appreciate the chemistry between characters, with one mentioning the famous actress/small town boy dynamic.

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7 customers mention "Start"7 positive0 negative

Customers like the start of the book, with one mentioning it's a fantastic introduction to the Ashton Family series.

"...This is the first in the Ashton Family series, and it was a great kick-off...." Read more

"Carrie Aarons's has gotten her new series off to a great start!..." Read more

"Okay, now this was a nice start to the series. I loved how all the family came around and accepted Cassandra and looked past her father's actions...." Read more

"I was happy to hear this book is the start of a new series...." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story, particularly Cass and Patrick's romance, with one customer noting it has a suspenseful edge while maintaining a balanced tone without over-the-top drama.

"...This was an easy-breezy read, without any over-the-top drama that I find rather tedious to get through...." Read more

"...A lovely story and a great start to a new series." Read more

"...All the elements combine to create a wonderful story. I like how Cassandra goes through many changes. She is famous but lost...." Read more

"...I was absolutely consumed by this story, I couldn’t put it down. That's how amazing it was! Cassandra and Patrick just fit...." Read more

5 customers mention "Romance"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romantic elements of the book, with one customer noting how the author masterfully conveys longing, while another mentions feeling every emotion and torn decisions throughout the story.

"...THE. ANGST. Carrie Aarons is a master in delivering delicious longing and heartache in her reads, and this book is no different...." Read more

"Bittersweet is an amazing read. I really enjoyed this one. Cassandra is back in her childhood home town and is left with a mess from her late father...." Read more

"...All in all, Bittersweet was a noteworthy read, and it sets the bar for the rest of the Ashton Family series. This gets five stars." Read more

"...This book has angst, suspense, steam and a family you can’t help but love! Carrie Aarons kept me on the edge of my seat with this one!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Chemistry between characters"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the chemistry between the characters, with one mentioning the famous actress/small town boy dynamic.

"...romances in general and series starters in particular--main characters who have chemistry, witty banter and entertaining back and forth, notable..." Read more

"...I liked both characters, as they grew their relationship and accepted themselves for who they truly are. This was a great book!..." Read more

"Lovely story with great side characters !..." Read more

BOOKWORM REVIEW: Bittersweet by Carrie Aarons
5 out of 5 stars
BOOKWORM REVIEW: Bittersweet by Carrie Aarons
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥 I think I finally figured it out: Carrie Aarons' superpower is the ability to squeeze your heart with her words and have you wanting for more. Cassandra Mauer's life is filled with torn decisions. Growing up with parents who are complete opposites but equally unfeeling, she should be used to being in lose-lose situations. Yet, here she is at Hope Crest, the small town that had once shunned her simply for being related to her late father, trying to settle his estate and get some peace from her Hollywood life. Then Patrick Ashton appears at her door. Patrick Ashton is a member of Hope Crest's beloved family. They own one of the most famous Italian restaurants, and their tomato sauce business is gaining some ground. Cassandra's father and his home have been a stain on the boundary of his family's property, and there is nothing his family wants more than to bulldoze that dilapidated home to expand their fields. Now Patrick is being sent to convince Cassandra to sell to them at all costs. Their history does not make this mission easy. You see, Patrick and Cassandra are Hope Crest's own star-crossed lovers, except that they have only really loved from afar. Patrick is torn between his family and the woman next door, and Cassandra is still guarded as to what Patrick's intentions really are. THE. ANGST. Carrie Aarons is a master in delivering delicious longing and heartache in her reads, and this book is no different. The brilliant balance of pining and tension between Patrick and Cassandra will have you turning the pages to see what is next. From the get-go, she builds that fantastic sizzle that draws readers into investing in their romance. They themselves are so relatable that you feel every emotion and torn decision. THE. SPICE. I am so glad that this was not a complete slow burn, because that initial kiss had me screaming. The first time they gave into their feelings was like a balm to my romance-reading soul, and it just keeps getting better. This is the first in the Ashton Family series, and it was a great kick-off. Patrick and Cassandra have set the bar high for the rest of the family, but having read Carrie Aarons many times now? I know she will use her magic powers to draw us back into Hope Crest and make us fall in love all over again, and I cannot wait.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Filipino Bookworm
    5.0 out of 5 stars BOOKWORM REVIEW: Bittersweet by Carrie Aarons
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥
    I think I finally figured it out: Carrie Aarons' superpower is the ability to squeeze your heart with her words and have you wanting for more.

    Cassandra Mauer's life is filled with torn decisions. Growing up with parents who are complete opposites but equally unfeeling, she should be used to being in lose-lose situations. Yet, here she is at Hope Crest, the small town that had once shunned her simply for being related to her late father, trying to settle his estate and get some peace from her Hollywood life.

    Then Patrick Ashton appears at her door.

    Patrick Ashton is a member of Hope Crest's beloved family. They own one of the most famous Italian restaurants, and their tomato sauce business is gaining some ground. Cassandra's father and his home have been a stain on the boundary of his family's property, and there is nothing his family wants more than to bulldoze that dilapidated home to expand their fields. Now Patrick is being sent to convince Cassandra to sell to them at all costs.

    Their history does not make this mission easy. You see, Patrick and Cassandra are Hope Crest's own star-crossed lovers, except that they have only really loved from afar. Patrick is torn between his family and the woman next door, and Cassandra is still guarded as to what Patrick's intentions really are.

    THE. ANGST. Carrie Aarons is a master in delivering delicious longing and heartache in her reads, and this book is no different. The brilliant balance of pining and tension between Patrick and Cassandra will have you turning the pages to see what is next. From the get-go, she builds that fantastic sizzle that draws readers into investing in their romance. They themselves are so relatable that you feel every emotion and torn decision.

    THE. SPICE. I am so glad that this was not a complete slow burn, because that initial kiss had me screaming. The first time they gave into their feelings was like a balm to my romance-reading soul, and it just keeps getting better.

    This is the first in the Ashton Family series, and it was a great kick-off. Patrick and Cassandra have set the bar high for the rest of the family, but having read Carrie Aarons many times now? I know she will use her magic powers to draw us back into Hope Crest and make us fall in love all over again, and I cannot wait.
    Customer image
    Filipino Bookworm
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    BOOKWORM REVIEW: Bittersweet by Carrie Aarons

    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2023
    RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
    SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥
    I think I finally figured it out: Carrie Aarons' superpower is the ability to squeeze your heart with her words and have you wanting for more.

    Cassandra Mauer's life is filled with torn decisions. Growing up with parents who are complete opposites but equally unfeeling, she should be used to being in lose-lose situations. Yet, here she is at Hope Crest, the small town that had once shunned her simply for being related to her late father, trying to settle his estate and get some peace from her Hollywood life.

    Then Patrick Ashton appears at her door.

    Patrick Ashton is a member of Hope Crest's beloved family. They own one of the most famous Italian restaurants, and their tomato sauce business is gaining some ground. Cassandra's father and his home have been a stain on the boundary of his family's property, and there is nothing his family wants more than to bulldoze that dilapidated home to expand their fields. Now Patrick is being sent to convince Cassandra to sell to them at all costs.

    Their history does not make this mission easy. You see, Patrick and Cassandra are Hope Crest's own star-crossed lovers, except that they have only really loved from afar. Patrick is torn between his family and the woman next door, and Cassandra is still guarded as to what Patrick's intentions really are.

    THE. ANGST. Carrie Aarons is a master in delivering delicious longing and heartache in her reads, and this book is no different. The brilliant balance of pining and tension between Patrick and Cassandra will have you turning the pages to see what is next. From the get-go, she builds that fantastic sizzle that draws readers into investing in their romance. They themselves are so relatable that you feel every emotion and torn decision.

    THE. SPICE. I am so glad that this was not a complete slow burn, because that initial kiss had me screaming. The first time they gave into their feelings was like a balm to my romance-reading soul, and it just keeps getting better.

    This is the first in the Ashton Family series, and it was a great kick-off. Patrick and Cassandra have set the bar high for the rest of the family, but having read Carrie Aarons many times now? I know she will use her magic powers to draw us back into Hope Crest and make us fall in love all over again, and I cannot wait.
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  • Beckyrae99 (Becky Wise)
    4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Bittersweet is an amazing read. I really enjoyed this one. Cassandra is back in her childhood home town and is left with a mess from her late father. Cassandra is a sweetheart who is trying to escape the Hollywood life for good and prove she is nothing like for father. Somethings are not forgotten and Cassandra faces push back from almost everyone she encounters in her return. Patrick has had a thing for Cassandra for years. He is a runaway groom who cannot pull the trigger and the only one he wants is the one his family hates. I love the chemistry between Patrick and Cassandra as they grow closer when things start to get out of hand. A little danger surrounds Cassandra as she tries to figure out who and why she is a target. I love how protective Patrick is of Cassandra and how he shows everyone how different Cassandra is from her father. You will just fall in love with the Ashton family. I cannot wait for more to come.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Casey
    3.0 out of 5 stars Cute & easy-to-read small town romance!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023
    3.5!

    [ small town | h@te-to-love | neighbors to lovers | famous FMC | feuding families | forced proximity | romantic suspense element ]

    This was a really cute and easy-to-read small town romance! I enjoyed Cassandra & Patrick’s relationship, as well as their characters in general. Cassandra is a strong FMC who doesn’t take any sh!t and knows what she wants out of life, and I absolutely loved seeing it! Cassandra & Patrick also communicate well with one another, and they felt very mature to me which is a huge plus in my book. And because the two characters knew each other in high school before she moved away, there were also some second chance vibes (but not entirely second chance) going on too, which I liked.

    The only thing that bothered me was that it was a very fast-burn. I’m typically the kind of person who doesn’t really mind insta-love/attraction as long as I feel the connection or see the reason for it, but I have to admit that aspect blindsided me a bit in this book. Albeit, this book is definitely on the shorter side (~280 pages), so the way it was written is understandable. But I still would’ve loved to see some more development to feel more of a connection to the characters because the overall story was so great!

    Nevertheless, this was still a cute and quick small town read that I would still recommend. There was also a romantic suspense plot that I wasn’t expecting, and I LOVE that stuff so naturally I ate it up! This was a good first intro book to a new series, and I’m already so excited for all the other siblings’ books — yes, it follows a small town family! — that were set up so perfectly with the crumbs in this book! This was my first Carrie Aarons book, and it certainly won’t be my last.

    Thank you so much to Carrie Aarons & Grey’s Promotions for an ARC of this book 💌
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Leyendo Forever
    4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of characters are making me wish their books get out ASAP!
    Reviewed in Mexico on July 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    3.75⭐️

    It’s no secret how much I like Carrie Aaron’s books. Her writing style, the characters, the love stories are always unique and enchanting.

    I liked this book. It was entertaining and the couple’s story provided angst and some push & pull I enjoy reading. Also, many secondary characters are making me wish for their books to be published ASAP. (August & Evan are promising and amazing unrequited love story!)

    Rating this was hard because even though I devoured the story, I just kept for something to happen. I felt that some parts were rushed and some others were about to provide a strong emotion, but then they fell a bit flat. 🤷🏻‍♀️

    It’s just that I’m so used to incredibly deep connections among the couples that, this time, I sort of didn’t experienced it.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars great book
    Reviewed in Australia on January 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book, easy to read and kept me interested. Can’t wait for the next one in the series
    Report
  • Vivien
    4.0 out of 5 stars Hoping for love !
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    When Cassandra Mauer returns to her home town to settle her father's affairs after his death, she meets Patrick Ashton. A man she craved in childhood but never interacted with. When strange things start happening, Patrick is the only person she can turn to for help. The chemistry between them is hot and the attraction is high. Can they overcome the troubles that seem to plague them or will they be torn apart?
    This was a great read of two souls finding their mates and finding a HEA they both deserved
    Report

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