REVIEW: "Twice Shy" by Sarah Hogle (Contemporary Romance)

TWICE SHY by Sarah Hogle
	Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Genre: Contemporary Romance Publication Date: April 6th, 2021 Standalone: Yes
Description from Publisher:
Can you find real love when you've always got your head in the clouds? Maybell Parish has always been a dreamer and a hopeless romantic. But living in her own world has long been preferable to dealing with the disappointments of real life. So when Maybell inherits a charming house in the Smokies from her Great-Aunt Violet, she seizes the opportunity to make a fresh start. Yet when she arrives, it seems her troubles have only just begun. Not only is the house falling apart around her, but she isn't the only inheritor: she has to share everything with Wesley Koehler, the groundskeeper who's as grouchy as he is gorgeous—and it turns out he has very different vision for the property's future. Convincing the taciturn Wesley to stop avoiding her and compromise is a task more formidable than the other dying wishes Great-Aunt Violet left behind. But when Maybell uncovers something unexpectedly sweet beneath Wesley's scowls, and as the two slowly begin to let their guard down, they might learn that sometimes the smallest steps outside one's comfort zone can lead to the greatest rewards.
My Rating:	Heat Rating:
Are there words for the wonderfulness of Wesley?? I wasn't entirely sure what to think of him for awhile, but then about 30% in, he came out of his shell and showed that he is sweet, funny, considerate, and charming. His awkwardness and honesty are incredibly endearing, and refreshing even, in a world where too often the alpha male is worshipped. Maybell was quite likeable, too. I had to actually laugh at how she left things with her employer, as I actually left an equally awful job in an eerily similar way (right down to the "friend" assuming I was leaving on a break!). She was a dreamer, with quite the active imagination, and I could also understand her escapism quite well. This is a slow burn, sweet romance with a bit of spice (just enough to showcase their chemistry without pulling you out of the story). Maybell and Wesley are stuck together, as co-inheritors of a large, run-down estate in the middle of nowhere. For awhile, they don't appear to get along especially well, until they start to open up and get to know one another. I adore more realistic (and awkward) romances. Nice guys are my kryptonite. If both are true of you, as well, you will love this one!
My Source: I received a digital ARC from the publisher to voluntarily review. This in no way influenced my review. My opinion is unbiased and my 100% own.

About the Author:
Sarah Hogle is a mom of three who enjoys trashy TV and provoking her husband for attention. Her dream is to live in a falling-apart castle in a forest that is probably cursed. Her novels are You Deserve Each Other, Twice Shy, Just Like Magic, and Old Flames and New Fortunes.