This book is a slow burn and when I say slow I truly mean slowwww! There is talking about god and having faith so if you aren't a big fan of that then I suggest you not read this book since you'd have to skip through some parts (like I did). Hearing Paul talk about his family had me crying, this poor old man went through the worst of everything. ( )

And Then There Was You by Nancy Naigle
Chestnut Ridge #1. Contemporary romance. Inspirational.
Natalie Maynard comes home from vacation to find everything she owned stolen and gone. She thought she had a loving relationship but in fact had been love bombed by a swindler. After working with Detective Randy Fellowes for months with little progress, she moves to a small fishing cottage in Chestnut Ridge. There she reconnects with townspeople and starts to heal.

An explosive beginning leads to a heartbreaking loss, gradual recovery and rebuilding love.
Occasional Christian overtones. It’s a touching and emotional path of fabulous friends, healing, and found family.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. ( )

And Then There Was You by Nancy Naigle is the first book in a new series set in Chestnut Ridge. Natalie is a young widow who has been conned by a new boyfriend. Swindled out of her life savings, her home, and everything she owns she retreats to her husband Jeremy’s hunting cabin deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Chestnut Ridge.

Natalie is embraced by the community, everyone immediately welcoming her as Jeremy’s widow. So many people seem to know who she is, and clearly loved her husband. She gains her confidence, gets a job, she meets more people . Meanwhile, Detective Randy Fellows is still investigating her case, determined to bring this man to justice. Is his interest in Natalie something more than professional, and how can he possibly expect to gain her trust after all she’s been through?

I was immediately drawn to the book by its location. I’m a desert dweller now, but I was born and raised in Virginia, raised my own family there. The mountains are beautiful, and hold a deep sense of beauty and peace. I loved how the author used location as its own character so beautifully. I love the inclusion of the fairy stones. My grandmother gave me mine when I was very young. There were a couple of plot holes, what seemed like inconsistencies, but since this was the first book in the series so those may be worked out or explained in later books.

This is a fantastic pick for you if:

⛰️ You love small town romance.
⛰️ You wish every Hallmark movie was also a book.
⛰️ You love a FMC who finds love and confidence.
⛰️ You enjoy wholesome, clean love stories, with a dash of faith.
⛰️ You love an outdoor, mountain setting.
⛰️ You love getting in on the first book of a new series.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press @stmartinspress Nancy Naigle @nancynaigle and Netgalley @netgalley for the advanced copy. ( )

I voluntarily agreed to read and honestly review this book.
I LOVE Nancy Naigle books. They are the perfect read when you want something sweet and cozy. Plus, there is always a lesson or bit of advice that you come away with at the end of each story. ( )

When widowed Natalie discovers she was the victim of a scammer, she feels as if all is lost. However, the loss of her lifestyle forces her to turn to other resources in her life. Natalie goes on a journey of discovery about her departed husband's life, and finds not only a home but also a family and many friends that she never knew about. Along the way, Natalie also discovers new love after her loss, and finds that life holds many surprises.

This book is not only a romantic story, but also contains a warning about being preyed upon by scammers who target single and widowed women. The story is a clean one, without violence, descriptive intimacy, or strong language. It is full of likeable people. I would liken this story to a good summer time or beach read. It is listed as first in a series.

I received this novel from NetGalley and from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )