Searching for Love (Bradens & Montgomerys)

Searching for Love
by Melissa Foster
Release Date: July 29, 2020
Publisher: World Literary Press
Book #6 in the Bradens and Montgomerys series
Part of the larger Love in Bloom series
Number of Pages:  425
Kindle Edition
Source:  Pre-ordered through Amazon
Contemporary Romance M/F
Rating:  XXX
Read 8/2/20 to 8/8/20

Zev Braden and Carly Dylan were childhood best friends, co-explorers, and first loves. Their close-knit families were sure they were destined to marry—until a devastating tragedy struck, breaking the two lovers apart. Over the next decade Zev, a nomadic treasure hunter, rarely returned to his hometown, and Carly became a chocolatier and built a whole new life across the country. When a chance encounter brings them back into each other’s lives, can they find the true love that once existed, or will shattered dreams and broken hearts prevail? Find out in Searching for Love, a deliciously sexy, funny, and emotional second-chance romance.

I’ve read close to 70 books by this author with most of them being 4 to 5-star ratings from me. Every once in a while, I just don’t connect the same way with her characters or with the story as I usually do. I’m never totally disappointed, her stories are always great. I just sometimes have to go with a 3-star rating (which is still good!) because there is a little of the magic missing. That’s what happened with this story. I liked the characters, I liked the premise, but it wasn’t meshing the same way in my brain as usual.

Zev and Carly have known each other most of their lives. They’ve spent the last 10 or so years apart. Like, really apart. No contact, not even asking their families about each other. There was a tragedy in their lives (as well as Zev’s brother’s life, which led to his amazing story in Anything for Love) that tore them apart. I’m a fan of the second-chance romance trope, and enjoyed that aspect of this story. When Carly and Zev first meet up again and start slowly feeling each other out I was all in. There were butterflies and anticipation as to what would happen next.

As I was reading this story and felt my mind wandering over and over, I tried to pinpoint why it wasn’t holding my attention. I love all of Carly’s friends and can’t wait to read more about them, especially the Whiskeys whose relatives in the east hold a special place in my heart. There is adventure, fun, and love. What was my problem? All I can come up with is that it seemed a bit repetitive. I enjoy finding out about a couple’s past when reading about a second chance, but there seemed to be a bit too much rehashing after a bit. Too much telling and not enough showing.

Again, a 3-star rating is not bad. It’s just not what I’ve come to expect from Melissa Foster. I still laughed and cried. I still rooted for these two to figure it out. And I’ll still be coming back for more.

3 stars