A strange title but it will make sense!

Synopsis

Olivia Hamilton can do no wrong. Or at least that’s what the community of Fox River, North Carolina thinks of the odd but sweet young lady. She’s hiding a past she’d rather forget, engaged to the town’s most eligible bachelor, and longing for someone to see past the mask she wears. Olivia wants to find herself, forgive herself, and fall in love with someone who sees and embraces her flaws. 

Denver MacKenna grew up the fiddle-playing prodigy of not only his hometown of Fox River but of North Carolina and the surrounding states. He plays obsessively and tours as often as possible, escaping a life of loneliness at home. Until he meets a beautiful siren who calls to him and has him making plans to settle down. Denver knows it’s wrong to covet the elusive Olivia, but finds himself inexplicably drawn to the brief glimpses she gives him of her true self.

My review

Olivia Hamilton is the perfect daughter. She does whatever her parents want her to do, even if it means marrying someone she does not love.
But when she meets Denver MacKenna, she has to decide what her future will look like.

Will it be following her parents instructions, living a promised unhappy life? Or will she dare to take a leap of faith and follow her heart, even if it would mean to disappoint her parents again?

During the whole story, I felt sorry for Olivia. Having caused grief to her parents when she was a teenager, she is now determined to be the perfect daughter.
Yet this means that she doesn’t know who she truly is…
She is engaged, but it’s not about love, it’s about making her father happy. And that’s not what a marriage should be about!

So when she meets Denver, or rather, when Denver discovers her, I was happy for her. Denver was blown away by her singing voice, yet I found their dynamic just great to read about!

At first Denver is taunting her, persuading her to do things her parents wouldn’t allow. But soon it becomes more about just finding someone to sing his songs…

Because of a cheer coincidence, Olivia starts thinking about who she really is, and what she really wants. And has to make some hard decisions…
I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes!

I loved to read how Olivia become stronger, and her true self started to shine. I hated the parents and the fiancé of course, although I had to readjust my opinion over the mother… There was more going on than we thought, so I kind of was glad to change my opinion!

Denver turned out to be an amazing friend at first, but also a very patient man. He realizes that Olivia has to make up her own mind and he does not push her at all. Even when she seems to be ghosting him, he shows her his feelings are genuine and he truly cares about her, even if her feelings would not be the same.

This story was for me about finding yourself again, daring to stand up for yourself, and even go against your parents’ wishes.
It made me think about how lucky sometimes we can be, with having “normal” parents, just wishing truly the best for us, without a second agenda.
And that being you how you really are, takes courage, but the right people will appreciate and love you even more!