A review by bribreez
Strung Along by Hannah Cowan

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

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

4.75

4.75⭐️/ 3🌶️

Welcome to Cherry Peak! The new small town romance series by the ever so lovely and wonderful HANNAH COWAN! Hannah is one of my all time favorite authors, and with this new series she brought some of my favorite tropes, and I just knew I was going to love this series when she announced this book! This story followed, Annalise and Brody. Annalise “Anna”, was Braxton’s little sister, if you’ve read the, “Greatest Love” series, then you’ll recognize Braxton as Maddox Hutton’s wife. Anna needed a new change of scenery especially after a nasty breakup that involved her fiancée cheating on her. Now living in Cherry Peak, Anna started to see the beauty living in a small town as well as unexpectedly finding herself texting an unknown stranger. Brody Steele was a well known county singer, but with taking a much needed break was back home in Cherry Peak. Brody and Anna find themselves meeting in the small town and from there their story was once I couldn’t get enough of! 

So with the cute picturesque setting of Cherry Peak, it seemed like the best place for Anna from the mountains views to quickly becoming friends with Bryce and Poppy, it was the right place for her. Anna’s life changed from being happily engaged to finding her scumbag of a fiancé cheating on her to now starting over. I liked the idea of Anna moving to Cherry Peak because, with a small town setting brings a close knit community and behold, Anna found that with Poppy and Bryce. I could tell right away that Anna, Poppy, and Bryce were a dynamic trio meant to be with how they easily they became fast friends, and quickly grew close. A lot of female empowerment from Poppy and Bryce and I was feeling the girl power already! Especially with Poppy owning a pole dancing studio which was SO COOL! I can already feel I’m going to love the other books in this series! Anyways, back to Anna, I loved her personality that was a mix of sass, but also endearing. Anna was on a journey of reclaiming her confidence and gradually it came back even stronger.

Brody Steele was a country singer who everyone knew about, especially in Cherry Peak since that was his hometown. Most people would be happy to be back home, but for Brody it was a mix of conflicting feelings from dealing with the judgements of others like his grandpa to being on rest after his vocal chords still weren’t fully healed. On top of that, certain individuals from his record label were making him feel guilty and rushed which wasn’t the best for him. No wonder Brody was often a grumpy man around others, and it only became more evident when he came face to face with Anna one night. I will say, despite Brody saying the wrong thing to Anna at times, he later redeemed himself by doing nice things like giving her an old jacket of his to keep her warm, offering to drive her around town since she was afraid to drive in the snow, and much more. Brody’s actions became clear to me that this man was enjoying Anna’s company despite their rocky start. 

Despite getting off on the wrong foot, Anna and Brody gradually found themselves becoming nicer to each other, and realizing how much they actually liked one another. With the whole texting pen pals things going on in the story, it actually help create the friendship between Brody and Anna that was also simultaneously happening in real time too. Once Anna and Brody became nicer to each other, there was lighthearted conversations, laughter, and even understanding. Brody was a closed book, but with Anna he opened himself up to her over the course of the story which really helped in his character growth. 

Aside from a friendship blossoming between the two, Anna and Brody’s romance was one that I was eagerly waiting for, and it didn’t disappoint! With the little glimpses of Brody being an absolute gentleman to Anna, I was already loving him, but add in the fact that this man was wanting to make Anna his, and OMG I WAS LIVING FOR IT! Brody was ready to take anything and everything in order to be with Anna, and that was the energy I was loving from him! That moment when Brody and Anna were at the same wedding together was the big turning point in their relationship, and with the dash of some spicy fun, it cemented the truth that Brody and Anna wanted the same thing which was, TO BE TOGETHER! 

After reading this book I have so many wonderful things to say! Starting off, THIS WAS SUCH A FEEL GOOD BOOK! HANNAH CAN DO NO WRONG! Anna and Brody were a great couple to start off the series and their romance was all kinds of sweet, sexy, and funny. Anna found herself in Cherry Peak and it may have been a coincidence that Brody happened to be from there, but it was meant to be for those two to end up together. The banter was great, especially with the sassy comebacks that Anna had up her sleeve. Brody was the country singer, which was great, but he was also mighty protective over those he loved, and my oh my I fell for that cowboy just as Anna did! Brody was a man who loved to do acts of service for Anna, and it was illustrated throughout the book from driving her around town (*Anna was afraid to drive in the snow), and my personal favorite, BRODY GOT ANNA A HIGHLIGHT COW A.K.A. BANANA! CUTENESS OVERLOAD WITH BANANA! (Sigh) Brody did a lot more, but you get the idea. This was such a heartwarming story that had heartfelt moments, lovable characters, a feel good vibe throughout the story, and a cowboy who was not only a gentleman, but also a dirty talker that I VERY MUCH ENJOYED! With the way this book ended especially with the extended epilogue, I’m curious to see how Garrison will be in his own book especially after having read about him over the course of two books! Suffice it to say, Hannah nailed this small town romance, and did right by Anna and Brody’s story! Highly recommend!