Ruby Lodge Series
Say You Mean It
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👀 Dual POV 🔥 Slow Burn 🌲 Small Town Romance
🛏️ Forced Proximity 🧼 Clean Romance ❤️ He Falls First and HARD
🧲 Opposites Attract ☀️ Grumpy Sunshine 🧠 Depression/Grief Representation
Synopsis
Blair Williams has always struggled with her mental health, but decides to embark on an adventure and join her law firm’s retreat to a remote island in Minnesota. As expected, her depression makes getting through the weekend quite exhausting, though the natural beauty of the land and a certain someone seems to make it just a bit easier. Graham Peterson, owner of the Ruby Lodge, always ensures that his guests have everything they need for a comfortable stay, though no one could have prepared him for the potential law suit that unfolds on his boat dock. While navigating his mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, trying to maintain the Ruby Lodge, and managing his financial troubles, Graham has no one else to turn to other than the last person who stayed in cabin four. Blair drops everything to escape back to the scenery of Takini Island and assist Graham with his legal issue, only they both end up finding MUCH more than they bargained for.
“‘Which one do you recommend for me?’ I have no interest, or frankly, the time to read, but I do like listening to her talk.”
Favorites
Graham is so *kicking my feet* damn CUTE! Not only is he the hard working man who runs Ruby Lodge, but the glue to his grieving family. He’s a very thoughtful neighbor, strong support system for his sister, and everything Blair didn’t know she needed in a man.
I really enjoyed the navigation of Blair’s prior relationship to dating Graham - it felt very natural and I loved that their wasn’t much breakup drama. She was able to take space for herself and make the time to work on her mental health. She portrayed the vulnerability and truth that comes with mental health struggles/depression so well and I loved getting that representation in her character.
My favorite part of this story was the dual pov; getting to see both Graham and Blair gaining their confidence and spark for life. Without any spoilers, we really get to see them bring out the best of each other and it’s so inspiring.
“How does it feel?’ “How does what feel?” My forehead tightens in confusion. “To choose yourself?”
Final Thoughts
Say You Mean It has become such a comfort read of mine: the beautiful setting, the loveable characters, the fast-pace plot - it’s everything I’m looking for in a cozy small-town romance. I’ve fallen in love with Ruby Lodge and so badly need this series to continue!
“I can do hard things. The mental reminder to myself acts as a salve to my screaming muscles, and I push myself forward, one step at a time.”
2. If You Say So
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👀 Dual POV 💕 Second Chance 🏡 Small Town Romance
🧼 Clean Romance 🧠 Grief Representation 💪 Overcoming Past Trauma
🔥 Slow Burn 🛏️ Forced Proximity 💬 Quick Banter
SYNOPSIS
If you liked Graham, you are going to LOVE his sister, Sydney! Home to renovate the lodge, she’s forced to face the grief that she’s been burying for so many years. Though she copes differently than her brother, she finds comfort in an unlikely friend from her past- Cole, who’s also revisiting the traumatic past of his home town. The two, conveniently, end up staying in the same cabin while renovations are going on. Will the forced proximity be enough for Cole and Sydney to realize how much adulthood has changed them? Or will the blurred memories of the past be too much to rekindle a lost connection?
“If she wants to hate me, I can live with that. But I’m not sure I have it in me to fight with her anymore.”
Favorites
The banter between Cole and Sydney is by far the stand-out of this story! I absolutely adored their hateful-flirting and quick banter caused by their childhood miscommunication. This trope of their past plays such a large role and was so well-written. The dual pov absolutely gave such great insight into their feelings and memories of the past!
“Most of all, though, I’m angry at myself for not being man enough to stop any of it.”
Final Thoughts
This book certainly could be read as a standalone, but it has such a larger impact on you if you read Say You Mean It, first. I loved getting to see more of the characters from the first book, and was so eager to learn more about Graham’s sister, Sydney. Her coping skills and grief are so different from her brother’s, and yet both are so validating for anyone who could be in a similar situation. I really applaud Megan for her research and dedication to this aspect of the series.
“My heart settles - even soars - as I scoot my own chair in between Cole and Graham. Two steady sources of strength for me, which I’m finding comforting in this moment.”
Series Overview
One of my favorite takeaways from this series was the representation of grief and mental health that Megan Reinking added. Graham and Sydney are both navigating such a difficult situation with their mother. Her coping skills are so different from her brother’s, and yet both are extremely validating for anyone who could be in a similar situation. I really applaud Megan for her research and dedication to this aspect of the series.
When reading the author’s note, she mentioned her own hardships with a family member’s health and I can’t begin to imagine what she was going through when writing. She is so strong to have finished the second book during this difficult time and truly created such a safe space within Ruby Lodge for others who may share similar struggles.
The character development is also a large part of why I fell in love with this series. Graham and Sydney both learned to slow down and enjoy the little things that life has to offer; while Cole and Blair were both given a sweet escape from their realities within a loving partner.
Now I am BEGGING for a third book featuring our sweet Shirley and her love interest, Paul. Despite being a side character, Shirley stole my heart and played such a large role in the lives of our main characters. Everyone, spam Megan Reinking asking for more of Shirley, please and thank you. LOL, but seriously, if you haven’t picked up this series yet, add it to your tbr and give it a try!
