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Ashton Family #1
Bittersweet
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.
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.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2023
259 people are currently reading
1,818 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Aarons
63 books2,986 followersAuthor 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
December 14, 2023
3 stars
I enjoyed getting into the first chapters of this book. The writing style was light footed and swift, the small town atmosphere was nice, there was electric tension between the leads, the h's backstory gave me some great feels and I got enticing vibes of the 'from the wrong side of the tracks' trope. Overall, it ended being a decent romance, with some family drama, some romantic angst and some danger from an enemy from the past. However, it had its weaknesses too:
Because the offer felt nevertheless sincere and had its good sides, I am still interested in the other books for the Ashton family (3 more siblings).
P.S. This is my 300th review on GR 🥳
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2023
3.5 stars! Bittersweet is the first book in Carrie Aarons new series, the Ashton Family. This is a small town (set in Pennsylvania), hate to love, neighbors romance! The heroine is a famous actress who returns home after her father’s death to sell his property. Her father was hated in town by everyone including the hero’s family, who lives next door and wants the land.
“It never felt right with anyone else because it was never supposed to be anyone but her.”
Cassandra is back home in Hope Crest after the death of her father. While they didn’t have a great relationship, and her father was actually disliked by everyone in town, Cassandra is back to quickly sell his house and land. But she finds the house in disarray and decides to fix it up before selling. On her first day there she runs into Patrick, the boy-next-door and from the town’s beloved Ashton family. Patrick had been stopping by to care for the pets and they sort of surprise one another. His dad wants Patrick to schmooze his way into Cassandra’s good graces so she’ll sell the land to his family.
Cassandra is a famous actress who has been contemplating her future with her career when she finds herself falling into life in the small town. Patrick’s family owns Hope Pizza and while their fathers hated one another, Patrick and Cassandra always kind of crushed on one another. Patrick is a serial monogamist, who was engaged twice, and just hasn’t “felt right” about anyone before. He and Cassandra easily fall into a steady relationship together, we even get some bunking up together/forced proximity when he comes to her rescue after an intruder. The romance did come pretty easy, but we get a bit of a romantic suspense element to the story as well!
Thanks so much to the author and Grey’s Promo for an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own! Bittersweet releases July 7, 2023.
“It never felt right with anyone else because it was never supposed to be anyone but her.”
Cassandra is back home in Hope Crest after the death of her father. While they didn’t have a great relationship, and her father was actually disliked by everyone in town, Cassandra is back to quickly sell his house and land. But she finds the house in disarray and decides to fix it up before selling. On her first day there she runs into Patrick, the boy-next-door and from the town’s beloved Ashton family. Patrick had been stopping by to care for the pets and they sort of surprise one another. His dad wants Patrick to schmooze his way into Cassandra’s good graces so she’ll sell the land to his family.
Cassandra is a famous actress who has been contemplating her future with her career when she finds herself falling into life in the small town. Patrick’s family owns Hope Pizza and while their fathers hated one another, Patrick and Cassandra always kind of crushed on one another. Patrick is a serial monogamist, who was engaged twice, and just hasn’t “felt right” about anyone before. He and Cassandra easily fall into a steady relationship together, we even get some bunking up together/forced proximity when he comes to her rescue after an intruder. The romance did come pretty easy, but we get a bit of a romantic suspense element to the story as well!
Thanks so much to the author and Grey’s Promo for an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own! Bittersweet releases July 7, 2023.
June 24, 2023
celebrity romance
enemies to lovers
Cassandra returns to her small town hometown after her father passes away & his home was left to her. Most of her hometown hated her father, so that hate is now sadly passed down to Cassandra.
Patrick’s family wants to try and buy the land that was left to Cassandra and because his family has always had problems with Cassandra’s dad- they also don’t like Cassandra (even though she’s a millionaire actress)
But - Patrick sees the good in Cassandra and they slowly start to create a bond.
This was a very well written enemies to lovers, celebrity/ small town romance but I truly had a hard time connecting with the story. Definitely not my favorite small town romance - but still a solid good book!
enemies to lovers
Cassandra returns to her small town hometown after her father passes away & his home was left to her. Most of her hometown hated her father, so that hate is now sadly passed down to Cassandra.
Patrick’s family wants to try and buy the land that was left to Cassandra and because his family has always had problems with Cassandra’s dad- they also don’t like Cassandra (even though she’s a millionaire actress)
But - Patrick sees the good in Cassandra and they slowly start to create a bond.
This was a very well written enemies to lovers, celebrity/ small town romance but I truly had a hard time connecting with the story. Definitely not my favorite small town romance - but still a solid good book!
July 1, 2023
Everything I want in a small town romance!
enemies/ families feuding to lovers
celebrity romance
one bed
small town romance
element of suspense
**available on KU
I loved how developed the whole world and town/ family and relationships were. The story was absolutely enchanting, and I can't wait for more. So happy I discovered this author and the start of a new small town romance series!
enemies/ families feuding to lovers
celebrity romance
one bed
small town romance
element of suspense
**available on KU
I loved how developed the whole world and town/ family and relationships were. The story was absolutely enchanting, and I can't wait for more. So happy I discovered this author and the start of a new small town romance series!
June 24, 2023
this actually slayed SO HARD!!!
the story, the characters, the COMMUNICATION GUYS!!! it was phenomenal and i didn’t just love the main characters, patrick’s family and all the side characters (except ya know…) we’re AMAZING! needless to say i need to dive into the rest of her books…i cannot wait for the next in this series.
the story, the characters, the COMMUNICATION GUYS!!! it was phenomenal and i didn’t just love the main characters, patrick’s family and all the side characters (except ya know…) we’re AMAZING! needless to say i need to dive into the rest of her books…i cannot wait for the next in this series.
May 29, 2023
Cassandra goes back to Hope Crest when she gets a call her estranged father has died and she has to take care of his falling apart house. She a famous movie actress, and she realizes that this is what she needs. Hope Crest didn’t like her father, because he was a troublemaker. The town didn’t give Cassandra a fair shot. Patrick Ashton and his family are royalty of the town. When Patrick and Cassandra see each other the attraction is intense but they fight it. Strange things start happening at Cassandra’s house and Patrick helps her. Can Patrick and Cassandra be together or is there just too much against them? Great characters and storyline Highly Recommended Amazing book. I love Patrick and Cassandra. Great supporting characters. There was humor and twist and turns. I love this new world and the people in it can’t wait for the next book
July 7, 2023
I have a good feeling about this series! I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be checking out the rest of the series when it releases. This was such a sweet story with lots of things I love in a small town romance! I didn’t expect the suspense element to the story but I really enjoyed that too.
I really liked Patrick and Cassandra together. I loved that they both harboured a crush on each other since they were young, it gave a second chance vibe. They had some great spicy moments too!
Lots of potential stories to look forward to🫶🏼
I really liked Patrick and Cassandra together. I loved that they both harboured a crush on each other since they were young, it gave a second chance vibe. They had some great spicy moments too!
Lots of potential stories to look forward to🫶🏼
November 26, 2024
I almost dnf this. Everything happens really fast is hard to process what is going on, the supposed suspense part of the story wasn't that interesting in honesty it was flat, a bit childish as it's more believable some 19 yo would do instead of a grown adult.
And sorry, but justifying the fast pace with "who the hell wants to wait when they’ve found the love of their life?” line was lame
And sorry, but justifying the fast pace with "who the hell wants to wait when they’ve found the love of their life?” line was lame
July 10, 2023
*4.5*
Tropes: enemies to lovers, celebrity romance, small town, childhood/second chance romance
Let's just start by saying I adored everything about this book and the small town vibes were amazing! I really enjoyed Patrick and Cassandra as a couple and felt like they had a natural and strong connection. They had me giggling and kicking my feet throughout the whole book and their communication was so refreshing.
I thought the mystery side plot was super interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I love when romance books have little side plots like that, it enhances the story that much more.
I also really enjoyed the Ashton family dynamic and how they put aside their differences and opened Cassandra with open arms. I'm super excited to see what other characters and couples we see in the next books in this series (especially Alana and Warren)!
Overall, I would highly recommend picking this book up if love a good small town romance <3
Thank you to Carrie Aarons and Grey's Promo for sending me an ARC of Bittersweet!
Tropes: enemies to lovers, celebrity romance, small town, childhood/second chance romance
Let's just start by saying I adored everything about this book and the small town vibes were amazing! I really enjoyed Patrick and Cassandra as a couple and felt like they had a natural and strong connection. They had me giggling and kicking my feet throughout the whole book and their communication was so refreshing.
I thought the mystery side plot was super interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. I love when romance books have little side plots like that, it enhances the story that much more.
I also really enjoyed the Ashton family dynamic and how they put aside their differences and opened Cassandra with open arms. I'm super excited to see what other characters and couples we see in the next books in this series (especially Alana and Warren)!
Overall, I would highly recommend picking this book up if love a good small town romance <3
Thank you to Carrie Aarons and Grey's Promo for sending me an ARC of Bittersweet!
September 14, 2023
Not gonna lie, I thought it would be really dramatic but it turns out to be good. I really like the writing style and my only complaint is that the Author introduced 2 Cats and 1 dog but didn't use them for the plot and not enough fur baby air time!!
October 21, 2023
Fun and cute read! I wish it was 100-150 pages longer. At some parts, I felt like it was super rushed. But I loved the history of Cassandra and Patrick, and being able to watch their love grow!
Read
September 2, 2023Sadly added this one to my DNFs. I just couldn’t get into it & honestly forgot about it. The turn off for me was the entire town hating the fmc. Just not my vibe - so sorry!
July 7, 2023
“You’re so goddamn beautiful, it hurts to look at you sometimes. Like I’m staring at the sun. At something I shouldn’t want to have because it’ll burn me.”
When Cassandra gets the call that her father passed away, she finds herself back in the town that sent her running. Even though Cassandra doesn’t want to deal with Hope Crest, this small town might just be what the doctor ordered. That is until she bumps into Hope Crest royalty, Patrick. It’s no secret that Patrick’s family dislikes Cassandra, thanks to the sins of her father, and what starts off as a scheme to convenience Cassandra to sell her land, quickly turns into something Cassandra and Patrick never saw coming….
Bittersweet is a captivating and intriguing small-town romance. From the moment Cassandra’s character was introduced, I found myself intrigued by her. It seemed like her father was a real piece of work, and it sucks that she was judged by her father’s sins. Returning to Hope Crest was the last place she ever thought she would be, but the more time she spends there, the more she starts to realize that she’s unhappy with the path her life is taking and is hoping this town will provide the answers and peace she needs. That brings us to Patrick. At first, he’s not happy that Cassandra has returned to town. While he’s never disliked her the way his family has, he never stood up for her either. At first, he agrees to his father’s plan of getting close to Cassandra in hopes of getting her to sell them her land. But, the more time he spends with Cassandra, he quickly discovers she’s not as evil as his family thinks she is. Soon he discovers that there’s more to Cassandra than meets the eye and finds himself powerless to stay away.
I really liked Patrick and Cassandra. They’ve had a connection since they were teens and even though it’s been ten years since they’ve seen one another, the connection is just as strong. The sexual tension just oozes off the pages and the enemies-to-lovers vibe will keep you begging for more. Naturally, the road to happily ever after isn’t an easy one for these two. Between family drama and feuds, to a romantic at heart that just hasn’t found the one yet, and suspense that keeps you on your toes, this book has it all. And I enjoyed every moment of Cassandra and Patrick’s journey.
Bittersweet is a fantastic read from beginning to end. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this small town and its characters. Cassandra and Patrick are couple goals and I couldn’t help but fall head over heels for them.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
When Cassandra gets the call that her father passed away, she finds herself back in the town that sent her running. Even though Cassandra doesn’t want to deal with Hope Crest, this small town might just be what the doctor ordered. That is until she bumps into Hope Crest royalty, Patrick. It’s no secret that Patrick’s family dislikes Cassandra, thanks to the sins of her father, and what starts off as a scheme to convenience Cassandra to sell her land, quickly turns into something Cassandra and Patrick never saw coming….
Bittersweet is a captivating and intriguing small-town romance. From the moment Cassandra’s character was introduced, I found myself intrigued by her. It seemed like her father was a real piece of work, and it sucks that she was judged by her father’s sins. Returning to Hope Crest was the last place she ever thought she would be, but the more time she spends there, the more she starts to realize that she’s unhappy with the path her life is taking and is hoping this town will provide the answers and peace she needs. That brings us to Patrick. At first, he’s not happy that Cassandra has returned to town. While he’s never disliked her the way his family has, he never stood up for her either. At first, he agrees to his father’s plan of getting close to Cassandra in hopes of getting her to sell them her land. But, the more time he spends with Cassandra, he quickly discovers she’s not as evil as his family thinks she is. Soon he discovers that there’s more to Cassandra than meets the eye and finds himself powerless to stay away.
I really liked Patrick and Cassandra. They’ve had a connection since they were teens and even though it’s been ten years since they’ve seen one another, the connection is just as strong. The sexual tension just oozes off the pages and the enemies-to-lovers vibe will keep you begging for more. Naturally, the road to happily ever after isn’t an easy one for these two. Between family drama and feuds, to a romantic at heart that just hasn’t found the one yet, and suspense that keeps you on your toes, this book has it all. And I enjoyed every moment of Cassandra and Patrick’s journey.
Bittersweet is a fantastic read from beginning to end. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this small town and its characters. Cassandra and Patrick are couple goals and I couldn’t help but fall head over heels for them.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
November 23, 2023
5 ⭐️
Thank you Carrie Aarons and Grey’s Promotions for the ARC!
Tropes:
✨ Romantic suspense
✨ Neighbors to lovers
✨ Small town
✨ Famous actress FMC
✨ Starcrossed lovers
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ "Our families hate each other"
I thank my lucky stars every time I read a 5 stars book and a really amazing romance and Bitrersweet was not an exception because it succeeded all of my expectations and made me believe in love once again.
Cassandra Mauer and Patrick Ashton’s families has always hated each other especially their fathers while Cassandra and Patrick has had a secret mutual attraction for each other. After Cassandra left the small town of Hope Crest, she hit it big in Hollywood and became a famous actress. But when Cassandra’s estranged father dies, she’s the sole heir of his big property back in Hope Crest, so she goes back to the small town for the first time in years. It’s there she reunites with Patrick and those childhood feelings start to come back while Patrick’s dad also wants him to charm Cassandra into selling the property to his family.
This book had me in a literal chokehold that's how incredible and great it was. The overall story was so interesting and filled with compelling characters, plot lines and dialogue. Easily one of the greatest and most beautiful love stories I have read all year. It was emotional, realistic, suspenseful, sweet, wholesome and wait for it… SPICY! Patrick’s dirty talk was chef’s kiss!!!
Cassandra and Patrick was definitely so meant to be and true soulmates if you ask me. They had me from the first moment and I was immediately obsessed with how angsty and beautiful their interactions were. Carrie’s writing was just so absorbing and it literally feel like you were getting sucked into the story and that you actually were there through the dialogue and overall writing. And the ending? I gasped so good and the suspense part of it was so well throughout. I can’t write this review without mentioning the epilogue, it was so wholesome and sweet and I was in tears that's how cute it was.
If you want an love story that has sexual tension and angst to die for and that makes you wanna cuddle up in a ball and fangirl over how cute the couple is together and because of how protective the guy is then Bittersweet is the book for you. Small town romances are just the way to my heart, it’s as simple as that.
Thank you Carrie Aarons and Grey’s Promotions for the ARC!
Tropes:
✨ Romantic suspense
✨ Neighbors to lovers
✨ Small town
✨ Famous actress FMC
✨ Starcrossed lovers
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ "Our families hate each other"
I thank my lucky stars every time I read a 5 stars book and a really amazing romance and Bitrersweet was not an exception because it succeeded all of my expectations and made me believe in love once again.
Cassandra Mauer and Patrick Ashton’s families has always hated each other especially their fathers while Cassandra and Patrick has had a secret mutual attraction for each other. After Cassandra left the small town of Hope Crest, she hit it big in Hollywood and became a famous actress. But when Cassandra’s estranged father dies, she’s the sole heir of his big property back in Hope Crest, so she goes back to the small town for the first time in years. It’s there she reunites with Patrick and those childhood feelings start to come back while Patrick’s dad also wants him to charm Cassandra into selling the property to his family.
This book had me in a literal chokehold that's how incredible and great it was. The overall story was so interesting and filled with compelling characters, plot lines and dialogue. Easily one of the greatest and most beautiful love stories I have read all year. It was emotional, realistic, suspenseful, sweet, wholesome and wait for it… SPICY! Patrick’s dirty talk was chef’s kiss!!!
Cassandra and Patrick was definitely so meant to be and true soulmates if you ask me. They had me from the first moment and I was immediately obsessed with how angsty and beautiful their interactions were. Carrie’s writing was just so absorbing and it literally feel like you were getting sucked into the story and that you actually were there through the dialogue and overall writing. And the ending? I gasped so good and the suspense part of it was so well throughout. I can’t write this review without mentioning the epilogue, it was so wholesome and sweet and I was in tears that's how cute it was.
If you want an love story that has sexual tension and angst to die for and that makes you wanna cuddle up in a ball and fangirl over how cute the couple is together and because of how protective the guy is then Bittersweet is the book for you. Small town romances are just the way to my heart, it’s as simple as that.
July 11, 2023
I always enjoy reading Carrie’s books and this one was really nice, Cassandra and Patrick’s story was very captivating and I loved reading how their relationship started changing and how Patrick couldn’t deny what he really felt for her despite the town and his family’s perception of Cassandra. The story is filled with drama, some suspense and steamy scenes so I devoured it in just a few hours.
Cassandra was a famous actress but she was tired of living that life so when her father died she moved back to his hometown where everyone hated him and in consequence hated her too. She wanted to fix everything so she could sold the place and move on but going back to Hope Crest made her realize that maybe that was where she was meant to be. She and Patrick knew each other since high school but thanks to her dad he always did like he didn’t know her. Now in the present they saw each other again and they couldn’t deny their attraction and the pull that was between them.
Patrick’s family and their business was well loved in their small town so everyone knew about them and how they all felt about Cassandra’s father. They wanted Cassandra to sell them her land so Patrick’s father wanted him to get close to her in order to do that. At first Patrick was still hesitant about Cassandra being in their small town but little by little he started getting closer to her and realizing she wasn’t like her father. The town’s people still treated Cassandra badly so Patrick was always trying to help her and being protective of her. He had some failed relationships but he really felt Cassandra was different and that she could be the one, they had undeniable chemistry from the start so I loved every interaction between them, especially their steamy scenes and how they always wanted to be together.
Cassandra was a wonderful heroine and people finally started realizing how amazing she was, it was nice reading how she started a friendship with Wilson and how everyone changed their perspectives of her. She and Patrick were perfect together and I loved how Patrick’s family started welcoming Cassandra into their lives and how they all treated her like their own family.
Patrick’s family was amazing too, I loved his interactions with his siblings so now I can’t wait to read more of their stories and see more of Hope Crest and its people.
Cassandra was a famous actress but she was tired of living that life so when her father died she moved back to his hometown where everyone hated him and in consequence hated her too. She wanted to fix everything so she could sold the place and move on but going back to Hope Crest made her realize that maybe that was where she was meant to be. She and Patrick knew each other since high school but thanks to her dad he always did like he didn’t know her. Now in the present they saw each other again and they couldn’t deny their attraction and the pull that was between them.
Patrick’s family and their business was well loved in their small town so everyone knew about them and how they all felt about Cassandra’s father. They wanted Cassandra to sell them her land so Patrick’s father wanted him to get close to her in order to do that. At first Patrick was still hesitant about Cassandra being in their small town but little by little he started getting closer to her and realizing she wasn’t like her father. The town’s people still treated Cassandra badly so Patrick was always trying to help her and being protective of her. He had some failed relationships but he really felt Cassandra was different and that she could be the one, they had undeniable chemistry from the start so I loved every interaction between them, especially their steamy scenes and how they always wanted to be together.
Cassandra was a wonderful heroine and people finally started realizing how amazing she was, it was nice reading how she started a friendship with Wilson and how everyone changed their perspectives of her. She and Patrick were perfect together and I loved how Patrick’s family started welcoming Cassandra into their lives and how they all treated her like their own family.
Patrick’s family was amazing too, I loved his interactions with his siblings so now I can’t wait to read more of their stories and see more of Hope Crest and its people.
July 7, 2023
Every time I get to read a new series, I'm excited to get to know new characters, a new setting and atmosphere. I'm a big fan of small town romances and Bittersweet will surely join the list of favourite towns.
This is the first book in Aarons' new series, the Ashton Family, set in the fictional town of Hope Crest in Pennsylvania. Cassandra is a famous actress who returns home after her father's passing to sell the estate. She encounters Patrick, the city's poster boy and son to the beloved Ashton family. He, amongst the rest of the town, held a grudge against her late father and in turn against her for sharing a last name. When Patrick finds out that the property their families have been fighting over will be sold, he engages in a mission to charm Cassandra.
Despite the longstanding family feud, there had always been a certain mutual attraction between the two protagonists. Cassandra finds herself back in Hope Crest, happy to escape her normal life but also contemplating her future. Patrick, on the other hand, is a serial monogamist who had been engaged twice, yet had never truly felt that spark with anyone. They easily fall into a steady relationship that will keep you reading, holds a suspense element to the story as well.
This setting is so well thought-through that it puts the book among Aarons' best works. I love her general attention to the characters and how well-rounded they're written. I've never had a big issue sympathising with them, and that also goes for Cassandra and Patrick. Bittersweet was a pleasure to read, as I've read so many books in the past where the characters failed to simply communicate. This one was chef's kiss. 4,5/5
[I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Carrie Aarons for this opportunity.]
This is the first book in Aarons' new series, the Ashton Family, set in the fictional town of Hope Crest in Pennsylvania. Cassandra is a famous actress who returns home after her father's passing to sell the estate. She encounters Patrick, the city's poster boy and son to the beloved Ashton family. He, amongst the rest of the town, held a grudge against her late father and in turn against her for sharing a last name. When Patrick finds out that the property their families have been fighting over will be sold, he engages in a mission to charm Cassandra.
Despite the longstanding family feud, there had always been a certain mutual attraction between the two protagonists. Cassandra finds herself back in Hope Crest, happy to escape her normal life but also contemplating her future. Patrick, on the other hand, is a serial monogamist who had been engaged twice, yet had never truly felt that spark with anyone. They easily fall into a steady relationship that will keep you reading, holds a suspense element to the story as well.
This setting is so well thought-through that it puts the book among Aarons' best works. I love her general attention to the characters and how well-rounded they're written. I've never had a big issue sympathising with them, and that also goes for Cassandra and Patrick. Bittersweet was a pleasure to read, as I've read so many books in the past where the characters failed to simply communicate. This one was chef's kiss. 4,5/5
[I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Carrie Aarons for this opportunity.]
July 14, 2023
3.5!
[ small town | hate-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 💌
[ small town | hate-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 💌
July 5, 2023
I'm absolutely in love with Cassandra. Her life was not an easy one. She was bullied in high school, which has left permanent scars. But now her father has died, and she returns to the small town where he lived and is forced to settle his affairs. She was hoping she'd go unnoticed but
Her childhood comes through her house in a form of handsome Patrick.
Patrick is in shock when he sees her standing in her father’s house. He thought he forgot all about her but coming face to face with her, emotions, and guilt that he thought were long gone, resurface. Spending time with her, he sees she is so much more than he ever thought. Time is of essence for their newly found relationship, so Patrick is trying to make her see just how much he wants her with him.
But trouble is following her around and if they want to make it to HEA, they're gonna need to step up and not let anything tear them apart. The sweetest part of the book was when the whole family came to protect her. It was really a cycle for this small town.
Her childhood comes through her house in a form of handsome Patrick.
Patrick is in shock when he sees her standing in her father’s house. He thought he forgot all about her but coming face to face with her, emotions, and guilt that he thought were long gone, resurface. Spending time with her, he sees she is so much more than he ever thought. Time is of essence for their newly found relationship, so Patrick is trying to make her see just how much he wants her with him.
But trouble is following her around and if they want to make it to HEA, they're gonna need to step up and not let anything tear them apart. The sweetest part of the book was when the whole family came to protect her. It was really a cycle for this small town.
July 8, 2023
“𝙄𝙩 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧.” 🌸☁️🕊️
🤍🤍🤍.5/5
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆:
🫶🏻 Enemies to lovers
🫶🏻 Small town romance
🫶🏻 Celebrity FMC
🫶🏻 Neighbours romance
🫶🏻 Forced proximity
🫶🏻 Forbidden romance
🌸 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 (𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓-𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆):
This book is the first in the Ashton Family series, and it was a strong opening! Cassandra is a famous actress returning to Hope Crest to settle her estranged late father’s estate, despite never wanting to return thanks to being shunned by the town for her dad’s bad reputation. Patrick, the boy-next-door and town royalty, is tasked with schmoozing Cassandra to convince her to sell the land to his family. But things aren’t ever that simple now are they 😇.
The characters in this book were super likeable and there was a decent amount of romantic suspense. I felt there was a bit too much telling v showing at times, hence lowering the rating by 0.5, but overall a good book!
Thank you to the author & Grey’s Promotions for my eARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
🤍🤍🤍.5/5
𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆:
🫶🏻 Enemies to lovers
🫶🏻 Small town romance
🫶🏻 Celebrity FMC
🫶🏻 Neighbours romance
🫶🏻 Forced proximity
🫶🏻 Forbidden romance
🌸 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 (𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒓-𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆):
This book is the first in the Ashton Family series, and it was a strong opening! Cassandra is a famous actress returning to Hope Crest to settle her estranged late father’s estate, despite never wanting to return thanks to being shunned by the town for her dad’s bad reputation. Patrick, the boy-next-door and town royalty, is tasked with schmoozing Cassandra to convince her to sell the land to his family. But things aren’t ever that simple now are they 😇.
The characters in this book were super likeable and there was a decent amount of romantic suspense. I felt there was a bit too much telling v showing at times, hence lowering the rating by 0.5, but overall a good book!
Thank you to the author & Grey’s Promotions for my eARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
July 7, 2023
*4.5 Stars*
I’m in my small town era and I am in love with the Ashton Family!
This story has all the Romeo/Juliet, Hatfield/McCoy, vibes but with a happily ever after! I love a small town story with an added suspense factor. Cassandra and Patrick's romance was not an easy one but watching them get stronger as things continued to happen was perfect. The whole Ashton family and even the town of Hope Crest came together to make sure things were taken care of and everyone was safe.
I am already in love with the whole Ashton family and can't wait to watch them each get their happily ever afters! The next book can't come soon enough!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
I’m in my small town era and I am in love with the Ashton Family!
This story has all the Romeo/Juliet, Hatfield/McCoy, vibes but with a happily ever after! I love a small town story with an added suspense factor. Cassandra and Patrick's romance was not an easy one but watching them get stronger as things continued to happen was perfect. The whole Ashton family and even the town of Hope Crest came together to make sure things were taken care of and everyone was safe.
I am already in love with the whole Ashton family and can't wait to watch them each get their happily ever afters! The next book can't come soon enough!
Grateful to have received a complimentary ARC copy to honestly review.
Read
July 21, 2023This will be a series to watch!! I loved the small town setting, family aspect, & the close knit town with all its uniqueness 🥰
I feel like so many of my favourite things were wrapped up in this one book 👏🏻 small town, suspense, sweet & steamy moments, the perfect secondary charters (who I hope all get books of their own 😉), feuds, enemies to lovers, & even a dash of celebrity 🥰😍
AND a strong female main character!! Cassandra was fierce & sweet, strong & sensitive. And Patrick was the perfect mix of kind, caring, & protective 🙃
If you are in the mood for a new small town series with some fun characters, BITTERSWEET is OUT NOW!!!
Thank you so much @authorcarriea & @greyspromo for sending me an early copy 💗
I feel like so many of my favourite things were wrapped up in this one book 👏🏻 small town, suspense, sweet & steamy moments, the perfect secondary charters (who I hope all get books of their own 😉), feuds, enemies to lovers, & even a dash of celebrity 🥰😍
AND a strong female main character!! Cassandra was fierce & sweet, strong & sensitive. And Patrick was the perfect mix of kind, caring, & protective 🙃
If you are in the mood for a new small town series with some fun characters, BITTERSWEET is OUT NOW!!!
Thank you so much @authorcarriea & @greyspromo for sending me an early copy 💗
July 11, 2023
3.5 stars
If you like an enemies to lovers, small town romance this is for you!
The main thing I absolutely loved in this book was the communication between the two MCs. They actually listened to each other rather than running off and not talking about their feelings.
I liked the suspense that the plot had, although I thought it was quite obvious what was going on and was a little annoyed that the characters were so oblivious.
I did enjoy this book but for some reason didn’t connect with either of the characters. I will definitely be reading more by this author despite that though.
Thank you to the author and Greys promo for sending me this ARC to read.
If you like an enemies to lovers, small town romance this is for you!
The main thing I absolutely loved in this book was the communication between the two MCs. They actually listened to each other rather than running off and not talking about their feelings.
I liked the suspense that the plot had, although I thought it was quite obvious what was going on and was a little annoyed that the characters were so oblivious.
I did enjoy this book but for some reason didn’t connect with either of the characters. I will definitely be reading more by this author despite that though.
Thank you to the author and Greys promo for sending me this ARC to read.
July 9, 2023
A very famous actress returns to her childhood town, where she was always considered a plague due to who her father was.
I felt so bad for her, all the wrong they did to her and everything she went through is not her fault, she is paying for her father's mistakes. So with his death, he returns to town to put the house up for sale.
He is reunited with the next-door neighbor, whose family also hated his father and are considered royalty. Patrick always had a thing for Cassandra, but he would always pull away because of her father.
The characters, the romance, the intrigue give this book a great touch. I am looking forward to reading the next book.
I felt so bad for her, all the wrong they did to her and everything she went through is not her fault, she is paying for her father's mistakes. So with his death, he returns to town to put the house up for sale.
He is reunited with the next-door neighbor, whose family also hated his father and are considered royalty. Patrick always had a thing for Cassandra, but he would always pull away because of her father.
The characters, the romance, the intrigue give this book a great touch. I am looking forward to reading the next book.
July 8, 2023
Thought this was a solid start to a new small town romance series.
Would love to have read it in the fall, with all the vibes it was giving.
Loved the little pizzeria the Ashton family owned. Thought it was a cute unique touch.
This was a cute second chance, celebrity romance with a little bit of suspense at the end and I had a fun time reading it.
I felt it a tad hard to connect to these characters and wish we would have gotten more interactions from their past. It also felt a little slow at times but still a great read!
Would love to have read it in the fall, with all the vibes it was giving.
Loved the little pizzeria the Ashton family owned. Thought it was a cute unique touch.
This was a cute second chance, celebrity romance with a little bit of suspense at the end and I had a fun time reading it.
I felt it a tad hard to connect to these characters and wish we would have gotten more interactions from their past. It also felt a little slow at times but still a great read!
July 12, 2023
Wow!
Cassandra and Patrick had me hooked from the very first page. I loved this story hard and it had me feeling all the emotions.
I loved how these two explored their feelings for one another. That instant attraction which has actually been there for many many years!
I loved how Patrick saw through all the stigma that surrounded Cassandra due to her fathers history and past mistakes.
What a wonderful story to kick off a new series from Carrie Aarons.
Lots of potential for future story lines with the secondary characters.
A lovely 5 star enjoyable, romantic read!
Cassandra and Patrick had me hooked from the very first page. I loved this story hard and it had me feeling all the emotions.
I loved how these two explored their feelings for one another. That instant attraction which has actually been there for many many years!
I loved how Patrick saw through all the stigma that surrounded Cassandra due to her fathers history and past mistakes.
What a wonderful story to kick off a new series from Carrie Aarons.
Lots of potential for future story lines with the secondary characters.
A lovely 5 star enjoyable, romantic read!
July 8, 2023
⭐️4.5/5
Ahhh this was sooo good. Read it in one sitting. I love love this author but especially when she writes small Town romances. They just hit different. They make me want to move to one. Patrick is on another level dreamy and Cassandra is adorable. They’re literally a non problematic couple just suck in small town gossip and a family feud. Hehe. The pizzeria aesthetic in the small town made it too.
Ahhh this was sooo good. Read it in one sitting. I love love this author but especially when she writes small Town romances. They just hit different. They make me want to move to one. Patrick is on another level dreamy and Cassandra is adorable. They’re literally a non problematic couple just suck in small town gossip and a family feud. Hehe. The pizzeria aesthetic in the small town made it too.
July 19, 2023
This was a super fun read with great characters and a wonderful small town feel. I loved the Ashton family and all their hijinks. Spice and chemistry were both amazing, and this was super enjoyable. *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2023
Bittersweet by Carrie Aarons
You guys are going to love this one. It is an enemies to lovers and it is filled with a bit of drama and a town who hates Cassandra thanks to her father. She is a Hollywood actress yet she is not very likes back at her hometown because of how her father was. Now she is back in town to close his affairs after his death. Now the towns very well known and liked Patrick is entering the house her father lived in feeding the animals left behind. Will these two get around their hate for the other? I like the fact that they start to get to know each other as the house is being fixed. I thought it was good of him to once he found who she really was that he fought to change the town’s people minds about her. Which by the way I get it her dad was a jerk but I thought it was sucky that they passed on their dislike to her. In all I really enjoyed this book this author always does an exceptional job at making us feel like we are going through the journey right along with the characters. It’s a book you should read and I highly recommend
You guys are going to love this one. It is an enemies to lovers and it is filled with a bit of drama and a town who hates Cassandra thanks to her father. She is a Hollywood actress yet she is not very likes back at her hometown because of how her father was. Now she is back in town to close his affairs after his death. Now the towns very well known and liked Patrick is entering the house her father lived in feeding the animals left behind. Will these two get around their hate for the other? I like the fact that they start to get to know each other as the house is being fixed. I thought it was good of him to once he found who she really was that he fought to change the town’s people minds about her. Which by the way I get it her dad was a jerk but I thought it was sucky that they passed on their dislike to her. In all I really enjoyed this book this author always does an exceptional job at making us feel like we are going through the journey right along with the characters. It’s a book you should read and I highly recommend
July 7, 2023
Carrie Aarons is giving us a new series, Aston Family, and the first book is Bittersweet. This was a celebrity, enemies to lovers small town romance and I loved it. Cassandra is back home to take care of things after her father’s death in a town that hated them. She is a famous actress and in need of something different and so finds herself taking care of her family home. Patrick and his family are well-liked and known in town and her next-door neighbor. He has no qualms reminding her she is not wanted in town, but now wants her land.
There was always something between them in the past, but now that she is back, their chemistry is undeniable. Cassandra was so much more than others saw and I loved that Patrick began to see that. Their journey was not easy and add in some suspense, and you will be captivated from start to finish. Another great read from this author and I am so excited to see what comes next in this series!
Happy reading!
There was always something between them in the past, but now that she is back, their chemistry is undeniable. Cassandra was so much more than others saw and I loved that Patrick began to see that. Their journey was not easy and add in some suspense, and you will be captivated from start to finish. Another great read from this author and I am so excited to see what comes next in this series!
Happy reading!
July 10, 2023
I really enjoy small town romances. There is a lot to love about this book; second chance at love, enemies to loves, famous actress/small town boy and protective alpha man. All the elements combine to create a wonderful story.
I like how Cassandra goes through many changes. She is famous but lost. Rich but unhappy. Patrick is the eternal monogamist; a man who has been engaged more than once, but never made it down the aisle. They both desperately want that love that can't be denied and that will last a lifetime.
They reconnect after many years, and the drama behind their reunion makes for a great story! I liked both characters, as they grew their relationship and accepted themselves for who they truly are. This was a great book! I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in this series on the Ashton Family. I can already tell they will be good!
I like how Cassandra goes through many changes. She is famous but lost. Rich but unhappy. Patrick is the eternal monogamist; a man who has been engaged more than once, but never made it down the aisle. They both desperately want that love that can't be denied and that will last a lifetime.
They reconnect after many years, and the drama behind their reunion makes for a great story! I liked both characters, as they grew their relationship and accepted themselves for who they truly are. This was a great book! I’m looking forward to the rest of the books in this series on the Ashton Family. I can already tell they will be good!
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