A River Connects Us (Crescent Pass #3) by Allie Winters 
Series: Crescent Pass #3
Published by Self Published on January 30, 2025
Genres: Contemporary
Format: eBook
Source: Author
I received this book for free from Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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- Grayson -
Going dateless to my brother’s wedding? Not an option—at least, not according to my mom, who’s made it her life’s mission to remind me I’m still single. Enter Abby, my sister’s best friend and the only girl in my hometown who understands my mom’s brand of chaos. All we have to do is act like we’re into each other during the week I’m in Crescent Pass, and then I can escape back to my life in Seattle.Except, Abby’s not who I remember. She’s funny, easy to be around, and beautiful in a way I can’t ignore. And when things take a turn toward heated territory… I might not be pretending anymore.
- Abby -
Here’s the thing about unrequited love: it’s quiet, it’s painful, and it definitely doesn’t include your longtime crush asking you to be his fake wedding date. But that’s exactly what happens when Grayson—the guy I’ve secretly loved for years—needs a stand-in to survive his mom’s matchmaking schemes.I have only a week with him before he returns home, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up. But stupid me puts my heart on the line, wanting everything but too afraid to ask for it. The closer we get, the more he looks at me in that way that makes my heart pound, I can’t help but wonder… What if this could be something real?
This is perfect if you are looking for a simple romance.
When Greyson, the eldest Greyson, finished college, all he wanted was to leave the tiny town of Crescent Pass in his rearview and looking at for bright lights of big city Seattle. Every so often he returns to Podunk City to see his family usually popping in for a quick holiday visit.
Greyson only wanted a fake date to his brother Owen’s wedding to keep his mother and her need to micromanage his life at bay. As he rushes through is mental rolodex of Podunk locals, he gets a call from his sister. That get’s Greyson thinking, if Kristen’s childhood BFF Abby Walsh is still single, she might just be willing to help a guy out since she is well aware just how insistent his mother can be. If she doesn’t agree, it’s going to be a really long week while his mother throws possible dates at him.
Not everyone is willing to believe that Greyson and Abby are suddenly in this budding romance, at least until Greyson really starts spending time with his family and doing all those things he enjoyed when he was younger. Those quick holiday visits are usually packed with eating and the usually holiday trapping. This is the first time since he left that he has kicked back and really talked with his family and enjoyed the more laid back lifestyle that Crescent Pass offers.
Even more confusing is spending time with Abby. Greyson never really noticed Abby other than the friend who was always with his sister. Spending time with her alone, he enjoys her sense of humor and can appreciate her on an individual level. When sparks begin between the two of them, Greyson is torn between his life in the city and his sudden desire to return home and set down roots.
THOUGHTS:
I said this before with Book 2, sometimes you just need to read a sweet romance without all the complicated plotting. Here Abby has always had a crush on her best friend’s brother so she is more than willing to be Greyson’s fake date. Greyson being the older brother, never really noticed Abby but after spending time with her alone, without his sister between them, he finally see the grown up woman she has become and he find himself interested in her for more than a fake date.
The obvious drama here as they spend more quality time together and a wedding week fling starts to develop into strong feelings, is the fact that they live hours away. So will his feelings for Abby and his new found appreciation for his Podunk City, make Greyson finally want to return home. It was nice after a few large world-building fantasy stories to just sit with a quiet romance and worry about will they or won’t they.
The Crescent Pass series and Taylor family make a perfect break with their sweet romances.
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