Review: PLAIN JAYNE by Laura Drewry

Book Info:

Title: Plain Jayne
Author: Laura Drewry
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Source: eARC from publisher via Net Galley

Book Blurb:

In Laura Drewry’s funny, heartwarming Loveswept debut, a man and a woman learn the hard way that a little bit of love makes staying friends a whole lot harder.

Worn out from the long drive back home, Jayne Morgan can only smirk at the irony: Of course the first person she sees from her old life is Nick Scott. Once best friends, they lost touch when Jayne left town at eighteen, but nothing could keep them apart forever. Jayne has returned to take over her grandmother’s bookstore, determined to put all her bittersweet memories and secret disappointments strictly in the past—until, that is, Nick insists she bunk at his place.

Nick never did care what people thought about having a girl for a best friend—or the “scandal” she caused by showing up to his wife’s funeral four years earlier—so he’s got no problem with the gossips now. Jayne was always the one person he could count on in his life. Now Nick is starting to realize that he never wants her to leave again . . . and that being “just friends” isn’t going to be enough anymore.

 

Buy Links:

Random House  |  Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks

 

My Review:

 

The story in a nutshell…

After years away, Jayne Morgan returns to her hometown once more determined to take over her grandmother’s bookstore. Upon her return, she discovers that a lot of things have changed, e.g., the bookstore that no longer looks like a bookstore, and a lot of things that have not changed, e.g., her best friend Nick Scott.

 

What worked for me?

This was such an engaging story about these two people who have been best friends since kindergarten. Since kindergarten! To say that they have seen each other at their worst, have been through so much together than most people would have had, would be an understatement. This kind of setting requires a lot of history between our characters and I love how Laura Drewry was able to give this to the readers, sometimes in bits and pieces and sometimes in chunks. And she weaves it in a way that does really great things for the plot and character development.

For those who do not enjoy slow burn romance. Be forewarned. But for those who love this kind of build-up in a romance, then you’re in for a treat. Slow burn romance is this book’s tagline. As it is a slow burn, there are a lot of character moments in the story, which I really loved. And although the path to that happy ever after seems dim especially in the beginning, you should tag along for the ride of a lifetime with these two because the payback’s good.

I really like Jayne’s character. Life has really done a number on her, being raised by a grandmother who did not want her, her own mother died of OD when she was still a baby, having to deal with people who question her friendship with Nick. But I love how her character develops in the story. It’s as much about her journey as it is about the romance. Nick, on the other hand, you can’t help but like as well. He’s very devoted to Janye as her best friend. But sometimes, I just want to grab him and shake him until he makes some very important realizations.

There were a couple of heartbreaking scenes in this book but even though tears were forming in my eyes, my brain and my heart were full of gladness because the foundation the author has built for these scenes were really solid, grounded organically within the story.

 

What didn’t work for me?

I have nothing to say here other than that I would have wanted more from the ending. This is not to say that the ending wasn’t good or satisfying. It’s just that I really liked Jayne and Nick and would have wanted to read more about their happy ending.

 

My over-all take on it?

This was a great friends-to-lovers story. And if you enjoy slow-burn romance, then you’re in for a real treat. I honestly can’t wait to read more from this author. I like her writing style, her pacing, her tone. It was a very lovely read.

 

My Rating:

 

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the author/publisher in exchange  for an honest review. Yes, these are my honest and personal thoughts on this book.

 

 

About the Author:

The first book Laura ever owned was On the Banks of Plum Creek, which still sits up on the top shelf with the rest of the Little House series. She blames her mother for her book addiction because it was her mother who always had a couple books on the go at the same time, and who used to read and watch The Edge of Night at the same time.

Laura had been scribbling things for years before she decided to seriously sit down and write. It helped that she and her husband had just moved 700 km away from their families, it was the dead of winter and she was about 49 months pregnant with their second child, all of which gave her the excuse she needed to hunker down and get at it.

Her books have been described as “delightful,” “clever,” and “smart, sassy and refreshingly different.”

After spending eight years in the Canadian north, Laura now lives back home in southwestern British Columbia with her husband, three sons, a turtle named Sheldon and an extremely energetic German Shepherd. She loves old tattered books, good movies, country music and the Yankees.

Connect with Laura Drewry:

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |   Pinterest  |  Instagram