Somewhere You Belong

Carrington Cove, Book 1

By: Harlow James

Narrated by: Connor Crais, MacKenzie Cartwright

One letter changed my life. One night with him might change my forever. Inheriting a beach house in a small town you've never heard of is less than ideal.

Falling for the broody bar owner who hates me because he wants the house? Even worse.

I came to Carrington Cove for one reason: to renovate the home I knew nothing about, sell it, and get back to my life in D.C. and my multi-million dollar business. There was nothing on the agenda about falling for Dallas, the sexy former Marine who chastises me about my manners and withholds how to fend off the murderous geese on my property.

Fighting with him becomes our own messed up form of foreplay. But his tongue? Turns out it has other talents than just sparring with me verbally.

Our banter turns to moans in the dark, our arguments turn to learning more about each other, and the closer we get, the more I question whether I'm meant to stay here with the man I'm falling for.

Until one night, I realize that he and I share a connection neither one of us could have seen coming.

Would I leave this town feeling more lost in my life than ever before?

Or was it possible that I finally found somewhere I belong?

©2024 Harlow James (P)2024 Harlow James

A great beginning to a new series!

I was so beyond excited for this new release from Harlow and it did not disappoint!
When we first met Willow in the Newberry Springs series, I remember thinking ‘she would be a fun FMC’ and I’m so glad Harlow brought her to life in her own story. I loved her tenacity and fierce independence, but you could tell those were defense mechanisms to keep her heart safe. Until she walks into the bar in Carrington Cove and meets Dallas.
I’m always a sucker for a story about an ex-military character, and this was no different. They always end up being some of the most heartfelt and loving humans because of what they’ve had to endure, and Dallas is no different. He’s the grumpy and scruffy bar owner who has a thing for manners (didn’t think that was a thing, well it is!). He’s so intrigued by Willow and everything she does and as we all know, things change pretty quickly in small towns.
The chemistry and banter between Dallas & Willow was so so good! I love that they’re both grumpy and standoffish because the sass is amazing! I loved seeing them slowly break down each others walls and open up to the other about their pasts and their fears.
I can’t wait for the rest of the series and to follow even more chaotic and loving stories in Carrington Cove!

Surprising and emotional

I wasn’t prepared for how touching this book was going to be. When Willow learns that she has inherited a house in Covington Cove, her plan is to simply renovated, sell it, and never look back. But all of that changes when she moves into the sleepy town and starts to meet the locals.

Amazing story & narration

Wow! Somewhere You Belong by Harlow James was a fantastic book and the author’s storytelling was beautifully written that it will give you all the feels. I devoured this book right from the prologue and could not put it down. I loved Dallas and Willow, how fate brought them together and enjoyed how their relationship developed throughout this book. I also enjoyed Willow and Astrid’s friendship and that Willow was able to appreciate Carrington Cove and a place to call home. Connor Crais and MacKenzie Cartwright did an amazing job bringing this story to life. They were able to convey all the different emotions the characters were feeling without missing a beat. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook as it will bring you a whole other level of enjoyment.

Military Romance

The military romance between Willow and Dallas has angst, banter, and a hidden secret that brings them together. I’m excited to read the second book.

Love this book!

This was such a fun listen. I laughed, I cried, Dallas is such a great guy and I love the banter with him and Willow! Narration was fantastic!!

Such a swoony start to a new series

Two lost souls who don’t realize – or won’t admit – they are lost. Life is just fine, thank you very much. They don’t need anything. They don’t want anything. And they certainly don’t want anyone; relationships are neither necessary nor desired. Sure, life has thrown each of them a few curveballs, but they’ve handled it all, haven’t they? They’ve worked hard and become successful. So when they meet and take an instant dislike to each other, despite a little niggling attraction – physical only surely, nothing more – they each go their own way, considering it just an unpleasant little encounter, and don’t expect to ever see each other again. Except what we expect isn’t always what happens, is it?

Willow is the multi-millionaire owner of a very high-profile, successful company, projecting confidence and independence wherever she goes. Maybe a little over-confident and condescending at times, but she’s a woman who’s made it on her own and she knows what she likes and what she wants. She keeps the sadness and bitterness buried deep, well hidden. Her parents died when she was two years old, and sometimes she can’t help but resent the fact that they left her, that she missed out on so much. That they chose their careers over staying home with their baby daughter where they belonged.

Dallas is the owner of Catch & Release, a popular bar and restaurant in Carrington Cove, and he has parent issues as well. He’s close to his widowed mother, but many things were left unspoken and unresolved when his father died. Nothing he did was ever enough to satisfy his father, to make him proud, including Dallas’ military service as a Marine. The bar is thriving but it’s his entire life, right down to the little apartment he lives in above the bar. Yes, he has his family and friends, and everyone in town knows him, but his boundaries are narrow.

Willow initially came to Carrington Cove intending to inspect and prepare to sell a cottage she unexpectedly inherited; she received a mysterious letter that brought some of her worst memories back. She had no plans to stay in Carrington Cove a minute longer than necessary, and her disdain for such a small town with small people clearly showed in that first encounter with Dallas. But the house, and the town, and the people – and one man in particular – start to grow on her. Until that mysterious letter detonates like a bomb, revealing secrets that no one wanted to know. Maybe there can’t be an HEA after all. Maybe some wounds are not meant to heal.

Harlow James has created a beautiful, enticing world in Carrington Cove and populated it with a delightful variety of residents - and one visitor that just might want to stay. They are characters with depth, emotion and intriguing, sometimes shocking backstories. The story is well written, perfectly paced and moves smoothly along, making you laugh out loud one minute, then groan in frustration at the block-headed stubbornness of some people, or feel sad when someone is hurting and it seems their pain will never be eased. And don’t forget the steamy swoony scenes. Dallas and Willow are quite the couple – when they’re not fighting.

Thanks to the author for providing both advance digital and audiobooks copies of Somewhere You Belong. Narrators Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright become Dallas and Willow: the tone, the pace, the emotion, the nuances – and the sexy parts. A previous series, The Ladies Who Brunch, made me a lifetime Harlow James fan. Somewhere You Belong, the first in the new Carrington Cove Series, continues the excellence and makes me eager to read (and listen) and find out about whoever is up next in book two. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Sweet Love Story

I received this book as and ARC/ALC for an honest review
MacKenzie & Connor were absolutely amazing. This is the first time I heard them together and their chemistry was the real deal. They really captured the characters so well.
Not just the main characters but the side ones as well.
"Who knew manners were your kink?" One of the reasons I love this book.
The story follows Willow who inherits a house in a beautiful town called Carrington Cove. She meets Dallas, an ex-Marine, who owns a restaurant and wants the house Willow inherited. First they keep fighting but then the sparks fly and take off from there.
This is the first book in a new series Harlow is doing. This book was wonderful and a great set up for future books. I loved the banter between Willow & Dallas but I absolutely loved Dallas's family. There are some heavy topics, but Harlow incorporates those topics, the banter, sexual tension and everything else in between so effortlessly. I also love how Harlow also made Covington Cove a character itself. If you are looking for an enemies to lovers, small town romance this is a great one to read or listen to. This is a great start to a series I can't wait to read.

Loved!!

Loved this book!! The Narrators made me feel every emotion the Characters did!! Highly recommend

The narration was top! And the story 🖤

Story: 10/10
Spice: 3/5
Spice Hierarchy: Spicy
Narration: 5/5

Willow inherits a house in the small town of Carrington Cove even though she’s never been there. She decides she wants to fix it up before selling it. On her first night she goes to Dallas’ bar and definitely leaves an impression. As a former Marine, Dallas is happy to be back home In Carrington Cove and owing the bar. But he has his eyes set on one particular house. The house Willow inherited.

She’s the billionaire and he’s from a small town. I loved that it was a change from the norm. Dallas loves his manners and as long as Willow says “please” that man will do anything for her 🤭 I loved the way Willow finally found a place where she belonged. Both Dallas and Willow have some past hurts that shaped them and their views on relationships. And while they grew and evolved those views, I really liked that it wasn’t one pushing the other to change. It was both of them being there for the other.

This story had some intrigue that added to the dynamics of the story that I just loved too. Yes, I was able to make some guesses but I still loved the way it built. The secondary characters were amazing as well and I can already get a sense for how these dynamics are going to play out for the rest of Carrington Cove.

The narration! It was dual style with Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright. And they were both so good! Connor delivers as Dallas at every point. Mackenzie portrayed each of Willow’s emotions with an incredible vulnerability.

Great New Series

I was excited to see this new series. Harlow James has become one of my new favorite authors. Anticipating the rest of the series!