Early Book Review: Blow: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens

Blow: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens Is currently scheduled for release on June 18 2019. While this book is part of a collection of love stories with connected characters, each can stand up well on its own. 

Millie Hart has made a career writing happy endings. While her real life is often less than enchanting, at least she has her stories, featuring strong, vibrant women ready for any challenge and men who stand in support of their dreams. Millie makes millions of readers swoon, but despite her agent’s deep objections, her new project is fueled by her intense drive to prove something. All she needs is four months in Bodega Bay. No meet-cutes, no kissing, just blissful silence. Drake Branch is happy to be alive. He’s healed, opened BP Glass Works with his best friend, and appreciates the value of his hometown. It’s been six years since the accident, and Drake has tackled every hurdle—mental and physical—to stand on his own. So, when he lets a struggling metalworks shop move in next door to his studio and the noise triggers old issues, Drake needs to crank the music—as loud as it will go. Millie rents the cottage mere steps from Drake’s studio to write a literary novel she hopes will finally gain her father’s approval and soon learns that away from her laptop, there are men who refuse to be edited out. Despite her neighbor’s insistence that she is an entitled tourist, Millie has been blown off most of her life and she’s not going anywhere this time. It is going to be one long summer unless Millie and Drake can learn that some books are more than their covers, one breath can change the shape of everything, and true family often shows up in unlikely places.
Blow: A Love Story is a love story that delighted me on several levels. I loved that Millie is a romance author and many of my favorite romance books and authors are mentioned outright or referenced in one way or another. That was such a fun element of the story, along with dealing with some of the assumptions and slights that are often aimed at the books, authors, and readers or the romance umbrella. On another level the story deals with characters facing down their demons, both physical and emotional, to allow themselves to love and trust beyond their comfort zone. I loved the slow movement from annoyance, to friends, to more. I loved the small town and family feels that are such an important undercurrent to the story as a whole. Most importantly, all of the characters felt real. They were all complex with their own flaws and great moments working towards a HEA not just for themselves, but for the people that are in their lives. This book brought all the feels, sometimes I was frustrated but other times I had a goofy grin on my face as I read, and other times I was ready to cry for what our couple had each been through to get where they could come together. The read was an engaging rollercoaster and I cannot wait for more from Ewens.

Blow: A Love Story is the third book I have read from this author, and it will certainly not be the last. I still need to go back and read the ones I missed, which I hope to do soon. 

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