In All Roads Lead to You by Jackie Ashenden, jewelry designer Bethany Grant moves from 
America to New Zealand for a new start. She finds everyone to be friendly, except for Finn Kelly, co-owner of an adventure guide business. She’s determined to win him over, like she has with everyone else, including his brother.
Finn believes his chance at happiness died with his wife five years earlier. Bethany is too cheerful, too friendly for his liking, but what bothers him the most is that she’s the first woman to pique his interest since his wife. He also notices something else about Bethany that no one else has picked up on: her cheery façade is a front to cover the pain she’s hiding. Dealing with his own pain, he’s not particularly interested in uncovering hers.
Bethany won’t give up, and soon they both find their walls falling. When one night together leads to unexpected consequences, they have to navigate the aftermath together. Bethany wants a happily ever after, while Finn has decided that his late wife is the only one who can have a place in his heart. With the help of friends and family, will Bethany be able to convince Finn he can have another shot at love?
Bethany is a character people will feel for and sympathize with. Her worries are understandable, and I admired her determination to try to move beyond her past. Finn, on the other hand, I had issues with. The biggest one was how he treated Bethany. He goes from not wanting to care about her to an over-the-top Alpha male. He wanted things his way, not caring what Bethany wanted. At times It felt like he was just steamrolling right over her. I would have liked his character more if he hadn’t tried to control every situation that involved Bethany the way that he did.
This is the second book in the Small Town Dreams series, but it can be read as a standalone. I didn’t feel I was missing anything in regard to the story or the characters by not having read the first book.
All Roads Lead to You is a story of heartbreak, healing, and getting a second chance at love. Readers will experience a gamut of emotions with this book. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy small-town romances or stories which involve finding love after loss.
Book Info:
Publication: November 29, 2022 | Sourcebooks Casablanca | Small Town Dreams #2
Brightwater Valley, New Zealand, is beautiful, rugged, and home to those who seek adventure. Finn Kelly loves everything about guiding wilderness hikes, except the part where he has to interact with people every day. But when sunny jewelry designer Bethany Grant moves into town and involves herself in every aspect of his life, he wonders what it might be like if he let in some of her light…
