GRR Reviews Wishful Romance Volume 1: Books 1-3 ( by Kait Nolan

Wishful Romance Volume 1 contains three novels that will be rated separately below. While the characters are nicely drawn, some of the decision process or the plot doesn't quite make sense.

Book 1: To Get Me To You -- Norah was betrayed by her fiancee and her company. She thought she closed the deal for the betterment of the town. She ended up doing the exact opposite. When she confronted her fiancee and his father, the company head, she was escorted out the door. She ended up in Wishful, MS, hoping to redeem herself. She fell for the town's charm, and Cam, the local hunk.  Cam needed to keep the big box store away from the town, and Norah was perfect. Together they mount to campaign to sway the town council, but Cam wasn't sure a city girl like Norah will ever stay in town...

I guess I don't quite understand a big box store can move in and just "destroy" local businesses with no gain. What happens to the big box store later? Closing a location cost $$$ too. 3/5

Book 2: Be Careful, It's My Heart -- Tyler ran the hardware store in town for several generations, and always performed in the town theater when there was a chance. But several years ago, her partner and boyfriend Brody, left town to pursue something else. She had not performed since. But now, the news of the theater may be closing for good (and possibly be bought and converted into something else) brought Tyler out of 'retirement' for one last-ditch effort to raise the money... just as Brody came back to town... as her co-star. What secret was he hiding this time?

Almost a deus ex machina, at least it kinda feels that way. But it works with that last-minute twist, but relied on her overhearing something that reached the wrong conclusion. 4/5

Book 3: Know Me Well -- Riley has been living alone for a while... she's very self-reliant, because her mother is always looking for a man to save her. Riley bought the town pharmacy, but she's forever juggling bills and barely staying solvent. She had a crush on Liam, her best friend's older brother, but Liam left to join the Marines. Now staff sergeant Liam is back, but Liam wants to fix things, which irked Riley to no end. When one disaster after another hit the pharmacy, and Riley's mom also asking for help (again after getting into a fight with her boyfriend while out of town), Riley is overwhelmed and will have to make some painful decisions...

Riley's independent to the point of abrasive, where ANY attempt to help... (heck, she doesn't even ASK for help, even in form of advice from the previous owner!) is rebuffed out of "principle". That's just... stubbornly masochistic. The part about her mother finding herself is good, but did she find herself? 3/5

All in all, call it 3/5 due to averaging.

Category: Contemporary / Collection

Primary Plot: N/A, collection. Charming collection of three small-town romances, but two were flawed while one's above average

Tropes: betrayal, small town, evil enemies, different worlds, performer, return, reunion, best friend's sibling, family drama

Overall Rating:  3/5