The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor by Anna J. Stewart

Posted March 21, 2021 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Heartwarming, Owned or Purchased, Series / 0 Comments

Can people truly change?


Two things keep Holly Campbell grounded: her precocious son and preserving her forty-year-old family diner in the face of expansion and change. She doesn’t need a blast from the past like Luke Saxon, who’s back in Butterfly Harbor after more than a decade away.

The hard-luck kid who nearly destroyed her family, leaving her to pick up the pieces, is taking over as sheriff. She can’t trust him, even if Luke’s ideas for the town’s upcoming anniversary seem to show he’s trying to give back to their community.

Has Butterfly Harbor found its unlikely savior? And has the widowed single mother finally found a man she can believe in, rely on…and love?

Titles in the Butterfly Harbor series include – The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor – Recipe for Redemption – A Dad for Charlie – Always the Hero – Holiday Kisses – Safe in His Arms – The Firefighter’s Thanksgiving Wish – A Match Made Perfect – Bride on the Run – Building a Surprise Family  – Worth the Risk – The Mayor’s Baby Surprise –

Title:  The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor
Series:  Butterfly Harbor
Author:  Anna J. Stewart
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Publication Date:  December 1, 2015
Rating:  4.5 stars

I mistakenly thought that I could go back to the first story in the Butterfly Harbor series and get the general feel of this series since I had purchased the recent release of Bride on the Run without realizing that I hadn’t started the series.  Yeah, the blurb was that good that it drew me in without double-checking myself.  My intention had been to go back and slowly get caught up while keeping up-to-date on the newer releases — yeah.  Right.  I was hooked by the first story, The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor, and came to realize that each story builds somewhat on the previous ones, so a slow catch-up was not in my future.  I needed to continue and did so with a week-long binge-read a few weeks ago.  I regret nothing.  I’ve fallen in love with these characters, the real battles and issues they each face in their own ways, and the community that Butterfly Harbor truly represents.  This series is so good, if you haven’t discovered it then please check it out for yourself.

Luke is returning to Butterfly Harbor a far different man than the teenager who had left years ago.  Second chances will do that for you, take something bad and turn it around into a life well-lived with purpose.  Now, Luke is hoping for another second chance from the residents of Butterfly Harbor as he takes on the difficult job of finishing out the local sheriff’s term as he heads into a somewhat forced retirement from the position by the new mayor.  He owes so much to Jake, only he knows that Luke isn’t here for the long term but he couldn’t say no to Jake.  Facing the good folks of this small town won’t be the easiest task, but it’s also not the worst thing he’s had to deal with.

To say that Holly wasn’t thrilled to learn that Luke was the man taking over her father’s job would be the understatement of the century.  She’s angry and not afraid to let Luke know exactly what she thinks of him and his return.  Unfortunately, Holly’s son Simon was there when angry words were said – and Simon is the most precocious, wise beyond his years, crazy schemes trouble finder you’d ever encounter.  And he takes his mother’s words to heart.

The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor is exactly what I search for in the opening story of, what has become a long series.  Yes, we have a slow-growing romance between Luke and Holly, but there is so much more here.  Second chances, perhaps several of them.  Redemption.  Forgiveness.  Learning from past mistakes.  Redefining the future.  Allowing love to flow between two supposed enemies, an action that will change lives forever.  And the uniqueness of a small harbor town that beautiful butterflies flock to – and perhaps add a magical, mystical touch to those who live here.

There is not one single thing I didn’t enjoy about this story.  The growth of the main characters, the shenanigans of not only youngsters but oldsters as well.  The close-knit community, and the chance to make a difference in lives far beyond the moment.  I loved every second I spent in this world, and returning to it for a binge-read was a given once the final words arrived.  If you enjoy a romance that so much more than two people falling in love, then this story, this series would be perfect for you.

I own a Kindle edition of The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor.  It was a 4.5-star rating read for me.

Available for your favorite e-reader, mine is the Kindle.

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