#make your move heather garvin

[whimsyandbooks]

Make Your Move - Heather Garvin

I devoured this book in one day; it would have been one sitting if I didn’t have stupid obligations. Heather Garvin has written Abbie and Carson to be one of those book couples who would definitely get married, live a long happy life, and die together while holding each other’s hands. They’re that perfect, even if they’re just out of high school.

Carson is in Florida for a few weeks to help his Dad out with his Farrier business. Horrible, sweaty, Florida. Then he’ll get to go back to Tennessee, back to his regular life, back to his home. However, the more he gets to know Abbie Linley the more he’s not so sure where his home is anymore. 

Abbie Linley is one of those girls who’s content with her life, as long as she gets to be around horses. She knows her boyfriend, Seth, will probably break up with her at the end of summer when he goes off to University, and she stays home to help her mom with the Barn. She knows she’s out of his league and is just enjoying the ride while it lasts. And deep down, she knows he is a bad boyfriend.

That’s why, the moment Carson enters the barn for the first time, he becomes a catalyst for everyone.

And thank Heather Garvin he does because the buildup to the inevitable of this romance is pure perfection. From the moment Carson enters the picture, their connection ignites with an instantaneous spark. Carson's stark contrast to Seth serves as a strong reminder of what Abbie should seek in a partner—he shows her that money isn’t what determines ones worth. Meanwhile, Abbie's character resonates easily as her internal dialogue leads us to her conclusions about who she desires and why. Abbie and Carson’s witty and flirtatious banter made me fly through the pages, and left me stuck in smile mode. Garvin's skillful portrayal of their conflict resolution, although possibly unrealistic for college freshmen in reality, effortlessly suspends disbelief, allowing me to giggle like a schoolgirl at their playful, yet wise, exchanges. They held space for each other to make mistakes, to stumble and grow, while cherishing moments of vulnerability and nurturing their sweet connection. Together, they discover what love actually is.

This book has earned a place in my rainy day pile for when I need a feel romance featuring a slightly grumpy & sunshine couple, or a quick escape from a reading slump. I highly recommend this read!

[azuisreading]

“I want to try, Abbie. Let me.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[cathygeha]

REVIEW

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin

Perfect new adult romance for those who love horses, a solid romance, and happy ending.

What I liked:

* Abbie: strong, caring, loves her horse Sully, works hard, has a loving mother and a father who was there for her at the beginning of her riding career, beginning to question her relationship with Seth – with good reason, a good friend

* Carson: farrier, son of a farrier, in town to help his father out, quiet, strong, plans to return to Tennessee, protective, interested in Abbie but knows he is leaving, a good person, communicates openly, respects Abbie

* Abbie’s mother: strong, supportive, owns the ranch she and Abbie live on, divorced, caring, kind

* Carson’s grandfather: wise, friendly, outgoing, a good man, supportive of his grandson

* That there was no cheating on the part of the main characters

* The way Abbie began to see her current boyfriend, Seth, a bit more clearly

* The respect Abbie and Carson had for one another

* The competition and how it played out

* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing

* That there was a happy ending

What I didn’t like:

* Who and what I was meant not to like

Did I enjoy this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Probably – though New Adult is not my preference

Thank you to NetGalley and Tuskan Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

BLURB

I can do that. I can pretend it didn���t happen. But when he’s standing this close to me, I can’t deny I want to kiss him again. Abbie Linley loves her small-town life. Leaving for college may be the next step for her friends, but she’s not ready to walk away from the horses. She’d happily keep her world the same, but everything around her seems to be changing. Starting with her gruff, new farrier. Carson Daniels’s only job is to shoe horses, but he gets more than he bargained for when he shows up at the Linley’s barn. The last thing he needs is to get distracted by the owner’s beautiful daughter—even if she’s the only good thing he can say about Florida. It would never work. She has a boyfriend. And he’s leaving. Between his dry sense of humor and her ever-growing realization that her boyfriend isn’t all he’s cracked up to be, Abbie and Carson can’t seem to stay away from each other. Abbie thought she had realistic expectations about love. Carson went and raised the bar on all of them. She would never ask him to stay for her. He won’t ask her to go with him. But they’ll make the most of the time they have left. It’s only one summer, but maybe that’s okay—maybe they can put it all behind them. Or maybe it will fuel a love they could never forget. Grab a copy of Make Your Move and fly through this sweet and steamy summer romcom!

[azuisreading]

“I want you. I want you more than all of that.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“I just know I wanted to put it off as long as I could because nothing beats seeing you happy. Nothing.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

He stares down at me and swallows hard. “How’s your…” He points to my own face.

My eyes narrow. “How’s my cheek after you slapped me?”

His eyes dart around the party. “Can you keep it down?”

“No.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“I knew he was leaving,” I say as I turn back to the mirror.

“That doesn’t mean it hurts any less.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“I can’t dance,” I say desperately as he pulls me along.

“That’s okay.” He squeezes my hand in his. “I can.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“It’ll be fine.”

“Yeah,” I say as I follow him. “That’s what everyone says before they walk into a murder den.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

But we can’t always get what we want. Sometimes we have to take what we don’t want and make the best of it.

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“It will be fun,” I try to reassure myself.

Carson looks over at me, a dubious eyebrow raised. “You think?”

“Maybe.” I get up from the table and head back over to my pile of potatoes. “You probably won’t have to worry about it. It’s a couple of weeks away. You might not be here.”

“I’ll be here.”

“But you don’t even know the date—“

“I said I’ll be here,” he says, locking his eyes on me.

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“My life back home is a mess, Abbie. I’m the one who messed it up, and I’m the one who needs to fix it.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

Sometimes as much as you want something to work, it just doesn’t. Trying to force it will only delay the inevitable.

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“Or you could stay.” Carson’s voice sounds behind me, his arm reaching over my shoulder as he hangs his bridle next to mine.

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

“I stopped riding because it wasn’t fun anymore, but I thought if I went with you, it might be fun again.”

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.

[azuisreading]

It probably can’t compete with the trails in Tennessee,” I offer, assuming that’s what he was thinking.

Glancing over his shoulder, he smiles. “Not even close,” he says, and when he turns back around, he adds, “I wish I could show you.”

My heart flutters, but I do my best to brush it off. “Yeah.” Looking up, I take in the sunlit trees.

“But Florida has its beauty, too.”

I look at him. He has one hand resting on the back of the saddle as he looks back at me.

Make Your Move by Heather Garvin.