A River Connects Us
Crescent Pass (Book 3)
Contemporary Romance
Independently Published
January 30th, 2025
ebook, paperback
262
- Grayson -
Going dateless to my brother’s wedding? Not an option—at least, not according to my mom, who’s made it her life’s mission to remind me I’m still single. Enter Abby, my sister’s best friend and the only girl in my hometown who understands my mom’s brand of chaos. All we have to do is act like we’re into each other during the week I’m in Crescent Pass, and then I can escape back to my life in Seattle.
Except, Abby’s not who I remember. She’s funny, easy to be around, and beautiful in a way I can’t ignore. And when things take a turn toward heated territory… I might not be pretending anymore.
- Abby -
Here’s the thing about unrequited love: it’s quiet, it’s painful, and it definitely doesn’t include your longtime crush asking you to be his fake wedding date. But that’s exactly what happens when Grayson—the guy I’ve secretly loved for years—needs a stand-in to survive his mom’s matchmaking schemes.
I have only a week with him before he returns home, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up. But stupid me puts my heart on the line, wanting everything but too afraid to ask for it. The closer we get, the more he looks at me in that way that makes my heart pound, I can’t help but wonder… What if this could be something real?
When it comes down to it, I would rather risk my heart getting hurt if it means having a brief interlude with Grayson. It’s no contest.
Being able to finally get my hands on the third book of Allie Winters’ Crescent Pass series made me completely happy as A River Connects Us is full of pining, fake dating turned real dating, and family shenanigans galore. While fully capable of being read on its own, reader, you would be doing yourself a giant disservice by not visiting both previous standalones in the Crescent Pass series. Just trust me.
lip biting via giphy
A River Connects Us features Abby and Grayson. Abby is a lifelong resident of Crescent Pass. She’s a librarian and completely gone for her best friend’s older brother Grayson. Unfortunately for Abby, Grayson is the guy that couldn’t wait to get out of the small town and find his place in a big city.
Foggy-fog via Tenor
He hesitates at the edge. This is a precipice we can’t come back from. But I want it so bad.
Grayson, while happy in Seattle, returns for the wedding of his little brother. Sure he’s happy to help celebrate, and yet his mother is eager to find a match for her single son. While Abby seems an unlikely choice to him, he quickly realizes that Abby isn’t the same girl he remembers. You all can see where this is going right? All the delicious pining and every bit of it is full of swoon.
I love that Allie Winters not only hits on romantic love but gives readers such a warm hug of a heartfelt lesson in familial love as well. The bond between siblings that evolves as they age, and dynamics change was one that I saw within my own family as well. I so enjoyed the silly moments that made the more serious ones hit all that more impactfully.
This time with him has sharpened all my feelings, the highs greater than they’ve ever been, and the lows just as intense.
I was lucky enough to be gifted an ARC copy, and book friends, I can tell you that everyone who picks up A River Connects Us will fall for Grayson and Abby just as much as I did. I’ve never been disappointed by a romance from Allie Winters and I am so happy she’s back and giving us more of her gorgeous stories. A River Connects Us is out and available today! Go find your copy! Happy Release Day, Allie!
A Best Friend's Brother, Fake Dating in a Small Town Romance!
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
