More than Neighbors

I totally enjoyed Cam and Meredith’s story in More than Neighbors by the delightful Shannon Stacey, book one in her Blackberry Bay series. Cam Maguire is in Blackberry Bay to find out more about his past and the grandmother he never knew but who left him his cottage. Meredith Price returned to Blackberry Bay to be closer to her parents and get a new start on life for her and her daughter. It just so happened they share a property line being next door to each other. Cam is unattached and a workaholic by family standards. She’s a widowed single mom owned by a small dog. He’s been adopted by his grandmother’s cat. Meredith’s young daughter, Sophie, has found a friend in Cam and is always crossing over to his yard and his hammock. It’s the perfect place to cuddle up with her dog and read a good book. Though Meredith and Cam are totally different, almost opposites, the one thing they share besides the property line is a strong attraction. Cam thought he had all he ever wanted until Blackberry Bay convinced him he could have more. There are a number of things in this story that stood out. Meredith’s love for Sophie along with her encouragement of reading and making new friends before school started. Her daughter’s affection for Cam was contagious. Cam’s lack of knowledge of his biological father and grandmother made him question who he was. Cam’s grandmother’s journals shed much light on her as a caring and loving person who was cheated of being a true grandmother and ever meeting Cam. The love shared between Cam, Meredith, and Sophie. Cam making critical decisions that affected not only him but also Meredith, Sophie, and the status of his cottage without input from the ladies. Ms. Stacey wrote a wonderful, heartwarming story, filled with chemistry, life challenges, amusing banter, and charming characters that is definitely not to be missed. I highly recommend More than Neighbors to other readers and look forward to her next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

3.75 stars—MORE THAN NEIGHBORS is the first instalment in Shannon Stacey’s contemporary, adult BLACKBERRY BAY romance series. This is single mother/widow Meredith Price, and businessman Calvin ‘Cam’ Maguire’s story line. Told from dual third person perspectives (Cam and Meredith) MORE THAN NEIGHBORS follows the acrimonious relationship between single mother/widow Meredith Price, and businessman Calvin ‘Cam’ Maguire’. Approximately two years earlier Meredith Price’s husband died leaving her a widow and single mother to four year old Sophie. With no reason to remain in California, Meredith packed their bags, and along with her daughter returned to her home town of Blackberry Bay, New Hampshire where she will come face to face with her new neighbor Cam Maguire. Meredith had no idea her neighbor Carolina had passed away leaving her estate to her grandson Cam Maguire but Cam is a stranger to Blackberry Bay, a stranger who is searching for his roots in his grandmother’s home. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Cam and Meredith, and the fall-out as Cam’s time in Blackberry Bay comes to a close. Cam Maguire lives in New York, working for his father’s firm but struggles to find his place in the family. With the passing of his paternal grandmother, a woman Cam never knew, our hero found himself in Blackberry Bay searching for the truth about his family history. Meredith Price had hoped her move to Blackberry Bay came with the peace and solitude she was hoping to preserve but Meredith and Cam butted heads from the beginning, a friction that barely veiled a palpable sexual attraction that Meredith struggled to accept or ignore. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied. We are introduced to Meredith’s daughter Sophie, a smart child who is immediately taken with Cam Maguire, as well as Meredith’s parents Neal and Erin Lane, her high school friend Reyna, Carolina’s friend Tess Weaver, and Cam’s parents Melissa and Calvin Maguire. MORE THAN NEIGHBORS is a story of love, loss and second chances; a story of family, friendships, and moving forward. The premise is captivating; the romance is sweet and spicy; the characters are independent, colorful, and energetic.

Good