Tender and Cozy: Harvest of Love by M. Moreland

The Gist: A tender and cozy romance that explores fresh starts and the importance of community and listening to one’s emotions.

Series: Insta-Spark Collection, #5*

Release Date: September 23, 2021

Format: eARC

Rating: 4-stars

*Each book in the series is Standalone

Note: I received Harvest of Love from Melanie Moreland’s team in exchange for an honest review.

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I have always been a fan of what I categorize as “sweet” romance novels because they contain less angst and focus on a couple working through their problems—external and internal—together. 

Harvest of Love is the story of Danica and Noah. Danica is a VP of Mergers and Acquisitions at a conglomerate; over 100 hours of work weeks are her norm. After wrapping up a major project, she experiences a panic attack that sends her seeking refuge on the open roads in the countryside of Toronto. In a twist of fate, Danica comes across Noah’s family farm, restaurant and organic produce market. She forges an instant connection with Noah, who can relate to the feelings Danica is trying to distance herself from.

Instant Connection

Melanie does a great job in her Instant Connection series, straddling the romance line with Insta-love. While Danica and Noah recognize the possibility of a great romance between them, their work and pace of life are very different, which causes tension in their relationship. I appreciated how Harvest of Love shows Danica and Noah working through their problems together and trying to prioritize each other. In most contemporary romance novels, the story is a lead-up to the main characters getting together. What I love about the Instant Connection series is that the reader sees a couple together as they deal with their problems.

Harvest of Love also explores fresh starts and family. The book shows how important a community is for support. I loved how Danica’s character arc was learning how investing in friendships can provide an anchor when life feels tempestuous. Danica also finds family in Noah and a place in his family. Part of the plot is Danica getting to know Noah’s family and learning to trust her place with them. This is especially important given how tetherless Danica feels in her world.

Burnout

Danica’s struggles with panic attacks wrought from burnout added dimension and depth to Harvest of Love. Given the increased reports of burnout during COVID-19, I found Danica’s story relatable and timely. I especially appreciated how Danica’s burnout is coupled with her feeling weak and experiencing anxiety. Burnout is often not recognized as a sign from the body that someone’s current life is unsustainable; there’s often a feeling that one must push through, which is addressed in Harvest of Love.

Having gone through something similar, Noah recognizes the signs that Danica’s panic attacks are a by-product of her stressful job and unappreciative work environment. While Danica believes she just needs a vacation and can return to her job, Noah learns Danica has to realize on her own. He just needs to be there for her.

Why Not 5-Stars?

Harvest of Love wasn’t a 5-star read for me because I often felt Noah was projecting his experience with burnout and the gruelling Toronto work lifestyle onto Danica’s experience. While he was right that Danica’s job was unhealthy for her, I would’ve liked to have Noah recognize that his story differs from Danica’s.

In Conclusion

Harvest of Love is a cozy, sweet romance that captures the importance of community and listening to one’s emotions. As I’ve mentioned more than once, I love how Noah and Danica tried to work through their problems together. And, when the other made missteps, there were no grudges held.

Buy Harvest of Love

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