Not Since You

Title: Not Since You

Series: Secrets of River Hollow #1

Author: Dulcie Dameron

Publisher: Independently Published

Genre: Christian Fiction, Romcom, Contemporary Fiction

Source: Library

My Review:

Not Since You is the first book in the Secrets of River Hollow series. I recommend reading them in order. This book is about Claudia, the second book is about Claudia's mother, Priscilla. Not Since You is my first introduction to Dulcie Dameron's books, and while I didn't love this story, I will try other books of hers.

Trigger Warnings: Cancer, death of a loved one, loss of a parent, assault

Read for:

🏍He pursues her

🏍Motorcycling male lead

🏍she's curvy, not skinny

🏍second chance romance

🏍small town romance

 What I didn't care for:

🏍Dorian coming on too strong to Claudia

🏍creeping villain who wants Claudia

🏍how Claudia's mom treated her at times

At one point Claudia thinks she wants to keep X's (not putting his name so it is not a complete spoiler) flirtatious game a secret to protect her reputation. I got so angry. It was not a game, he was rude and abusive. As such, it should never have been mentioned as a game. Hard stop.

Overall, it was an okay story and I want to see how the town and characters develop.

★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads): 

Sins and secrets are hard to keep hidden in a small town…

When Claudia Clark was involved in a tragic accident in high school, it set her on a devastating path toward heartbreak. For the past eight years, she’s carefully guarded her heart. With her business now thriving, she doesn’t have time for any unwanted distractions. She’s learned from her mistakes. But when the biggest one of all comes face to face with her again, she starts to question the belief she’s desperately clung to for so long.

Dorian Vance can’t get over his past—or the girl that it’s wrapped up in. So when a family emergency brings him back to the small town of River Hollow, he decides it's time to accept the truth and confront the girl he left behind. Unfortunately for him, she’s dead set on making him pay for his sins.

As sparks start flying and well-meaning townsfolk meddle in their affairs, Dorian and Claudia are forced to resurrect old ghosts that lay buried in a mire of guilt and shame. But as they find themselves in the center of a vengeful scheme, the hope and forgiveness they seek seem impossible to obtain.