My childhood friend. My biggest rival. The only man I’ve ever wanted.
If there were a prize for the most contented man in Copper County, I’d win it every time. I’ve got my business. My son. My family. My friends… and no romantic prospects, sure, but only because I don’t need any. My life’s great as it is. Seriously. Could not be better. I’m practically bleeding serenity over here.
At least until Jasper Wrigley shows up in Copper County after twenty years–as my son’s temporary hockey coach, no less, though the man could barely lace up his skates back in the day–and throws my carefully ordered life into chaos.
Once upon a time, magnetic, confident Jasper was my best friend and greatest rival, and his summer visits to town were the best part of my year. Our competitions were fierce. Our dares were thrilling. We talked about everything under the sun, and he made me believe in the possibility of a bright, hazy future somewhere just out of reach.
But then he left, and I grew up. Now the last thing I need is Jasper back in my space, provoking me, challenging me, and making me question… freaking everything.
Like whether my life’s as perfect as I claim. Like whether I’m as straight as I think. Like whether there might be something better than “contentment” out there for me if I’m brave enough to look for it. And whether the man who was always my greatest rival… might just be the love of my life.
I absolutely adored Watt and Jasper. The way they bantered and teased each other, challenged each other and the constant bets being made. They have a history dating back to their teenage years but didn’t reconnect until 20 years later. That history left some very complicated feelings between them leading to some minor misunderstandings and frustrations in the here and now. Their rivalry from the past is known by the all the town residents and Watt and Jasper have no inclination to stop it. As these two wonderful men start to build a new foundation to their friendship, based on more than teenage rivalry and misunderstandings, their feelings develop and go through stages until ultimately they accept their love for each other unconditionally and get their longed for HEA. I loved how they support and challenge each other to be the best versions of themselves and recognise each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Their love story had me invested from the very beginning and kept me engaged to the very end. An ending that left me with the biggest smile and happiest heart as I finished the final page. If you enjoy a small town romance with lots of baking, steamy and sweet moments, high school hockey coaching when the new coach can’t skate and knows nothing about hockey and a superb cast of secondary characters to keep things interesting then this book is for you.
Solid and steady Watt Bartlett runs an orchard, raises his son and is content living in Cooper County.
Jasper has returned to town after nearly 20 years away in LA. Determined to fix up his great aunt’s house and sell her collectibles, he takes a job covering the maternity leave of the hockey coach/history teacher. He plans to regroup, deal with the estate and retreat back to California, despite his ex-husband double-crossing him in the business they jointly owned.
Only two small problems. The whole town thinks they have always been rivals. And neither of them has processed a long ago kiss, or the unexpected end to their friendship that followed.
Filled with trademark May Archer humor and banter between characters, this story lovingly conveys the joy of falling for someone important to your story. Along the way, the characters make decisions and have interactions that alter the course of the tale but the pure dynamics of two souls settling together is what is paramount.
As always with an Archer romance, the townsfolk (Coppertians) make the story sing but Watt and Jasper give it its heart. 5 stars.
Best friends with a strong rivalry is how it all started. Jasper and Watt met as children and they had quite the complex friendship including a mutual highly competitive streak. The friendship was short lived due to life circumstances. When they are reunited twenty years later things haven’t changed all that much. The two are thrown together to coach the high school hockey team and their friendship with rivalry is reignited. What ensues is a sweet and funny path that allows them to learn about each other as adults. There is some low key angst as the two navigate their adult relationship and as their relationship deepens to love. A very sweet story with all there is to love about Copper County and O’Leary.