Teddy runs his family’s tree farm in a small village in Sweden. He still lives in the house where he grew up and manages the family business, even after losing his father over the previous year. He is getting by but he is unhappy. He worries that life is passing him but he has no energy or hope that anything will change for him. He’s only been in love once, and that boy broke his heart.
Ned is the American son of Swedish parents. When he receives an invitation for his high school’s ten-year reunion, he decides to go. He spent his senior year living with his aunt Violet at a dairy farm in rural Sweden. It was the happiest time in his life. Now, his successful career and his condo and his life in the US, he wonders if he will ever be that happy again.
Ned and Teddy have history and ten years of questions and unresolved feelings. After an unplanned hookup up on the last day of school, both boys went their separate ways and never spoke of their tryst. Ned was out and Teddy was the quiet, solemn boy who was expected to take over the family business. Teddy stayed in Sweden and Ned returned to the US.
Ten years later, Ned accepts the reunion invitation and flies back to Sweden on the chance that Teddy will be there. He doesn’t know what he wants, but he knows that he needs to speak to Teddy just to find out if Teddy still thinks about him.
Things happen and Ned ends up flying back to the US, quitting his job, and moving in with his aunt to help him run the dairy farm. Teddy is confused and upset as he never promised Ned anything. But Ned wants to give whatever it is they have a chance. Slowly, Teddy confronts the feelings he bottled up after his father’s death and begins to accept the love and care that Ned showers upon him.
This was a cute, low-angst, grumpy-meets-sunshine romance. Even though I knew they would get their happily ever after, I was pleasantly surprised by how their relationship developed. I’m not sure if there are other books in this series, but I would love a spinoff of the women in their lives, specifically Flora (Teddy’s best friend) and Ned’s aunt Violet.
I enjoy Sophia Soames’s romances and this one does not disappoint. Although it deals with heavy subject matter (the death of a parent off page) it keeps a playful and optimistic tone.