A review by bribreez
Not My Kind of Hero by Pippa Grant

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

4⭐️/ 2🌶️

What happens when you have a grumpy math teacher/ cowboy/ soccer coach meet a sunshine, single mom? Well, in Maisey and Flint’s case, those two were polar opposites and yet like any good romance they eventually fell in love. Trying to get a fresh start from all the problems that ensued following the end of her marriage, Maisey and her daughter moved to a small town in Wyoming called, Hell’s Bells. With the ranch Maisey’s uncle left her, it seemed like the place to go, but she didn’t realize that the grouchy hunky cowboy she met would also be the man who wasn’t her biggest fan. With Pippa’s signature humor, and lighthearted energy she crafted Maisey and Flint’s story that illustrated a fresh start, the lovable vibe of small town life, romance, and the occasional shenanigans that were bound to happen. 

This story started off on a good note which was seeing Maisey take charge of her life. Now, I’m not a mother so I can’t really speak on the front personally, but as a reader reading Maisey’s point of view, I could see that she tried to be a better parent to June, her daughter. With the fallout from her divorce, and other family stuff that came up, Maisey wanted to ensure she put June’s wellbeing and focus on her. I can only imagine how Maisey felt when June was at times less than receptive about the move to Hell’s Bells, but you could see that no matter what Maisey always tried her best. Even as a sunshine type character, I liked when Maisey stood her ground. Even up against Flint, Maisey made him understand that she wouldn’t take any bad judgments/feelings from anyone. In other words, Maisey was the kind of woman who could be optimistic, but also knew when to be a realist, and blunt to the point that Flint would shut up immediately and feel bad about misjudging her. Maisey was a great mom, and getting to see all that she did in order to work on herself and her relationship with June was a great way to bring her the single mom trope in this book. 

This was a cute, lighthearted, and heartwarming book. I think compared to Pippa’s other books I’ve read, this story focused a lot more of Maisey juggling her responsibilities as a single mother, trying to find her place in Hell’s Bells, and even finding herself as a woman with her own wants and needs. Maisey was a lovable character, and I admired the strength and determination she took on throughout the story. Even faced against Flint who was initially reluctant of Maisey coming to own the ranch her uncle previously owned, Maisey was undeterred to let anybody stand in her way. Flint also came a longs way from being that man who was determined to not fall in love especially with Maisey, but he couldn’t get enough of her quick hands fixing things around town, and the dedication she had for June, among other amazing qualities she possessed. Reading this book reminded me why I love Pippa’s books in that, even through the most absurd and laughable moments, at the heart of this book it highlighted the character’s struggles and their journey through it. Maisey and Flint started off a bit rocky, but gradually became closer and of course fell madly in love with each other. I really liked seeing the way the story ended as well as the epilogue of seeing Maisey, Flint, June, and the rest of the Hell’s Bells citizens continuing to make better changes to the town, and the sweet happy ending to Maisey and Flint’s romance.