The Lumberjack Next Door

A Sweet Small-Town romance

By: Jo Chandler

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

He's a wounded warrior with demons he can't escape. She's a bookstore owner who speaks in movie quotes. And they belong to a meddling orange cat determined to bring them together.

Former Special Forces operative Alvin "Ace" Kealoha came to Collins Ridge to escape his past, not to build a future. Haunted by the teammate he couldn't save, he's sworn off connections—until he wanders into a quirky bookstore at four in the morning and meets a woman who sees beyond his scars.
Bookstore owner Piper Hagen has resigned herself to a life of literary adventures rather than real ones. Between her awkward social skills and her belief that no man could possibly be interested in her, she's content with her books, her cat, and her quiet small-town existence. But when her imperious feline, Mr. Snuggles, decides to adopt the brooding newcomer next door, Piper finds herself drawn into Ace's orbit.
As Mr. Snuggles forces them together through determined feline matchmaking, Piper's pop culture references and Ace's reluctant smiles create an unexpected connection. But when a crisis threatens everything Piper holds dear, Ace must confront the demons of his past to be the hero she needs in the present.
Can a wounded warrior and a shy bookworm find their happily ever after? In Collins Ridge, where second chances are as common as small-town gossip, anything is possible when love is on the line.

A sweet & emotional small-town romance featuring a cinnamon roll hero with a tragic past, a heroine finding her courage, an interfering cat, meddling neighbors, and a community that becomes family. Get all the feels in this neighbors-to-lovers, slow burn romance with only kissing, clean language and a happily ever after--guaranteed.

Tropes you'll love!

Wounded military hero
Small-town romance
Neighbors to lovers
Forced proximity
Cinnamon roll hero with a tortured past
nerdy/geeky heroine
socially awkward turtles
Trekkies
The best cat matchmaker in Montana!!
Found family
Hurt/comfort

Great cozy story - not a fan of virtual voice

I love the simplicity of the romance, the intensity of the warrior, the connection of the two characters, the quirky cat and movie/TV series references are really well done.

However, I dislike the virtual voices. They do not have proper reflection of the language, the cadence of their voices is off, not natural, and it takes away from the beauty of the story.