TIMID by Devney Perry - ShhMomsReading® (2024)

Willa Doon has always been shy. Her quiet demeanor was something she’s always embraced. That is, until Jackson Page moves to town. The one man she desperately wants to take notice struggles to remember her name.

Year after year, Willa stands by, watching as the bartender slash playboy drowns his demons in beer and sex. Then one night, he shows up at her door, suddenly aware that the girl he’s seen around Lark Cove is now a beautiful woman.

Except what he doesn’t remember is that this visit isn’t his first. They spent a night together once before. A night he’s forgotten, thanks to a bottle of tequila.

A night that crushed a timid girl’s heart, and set a broken man on the path to heal them both.

Denise’s Review

If you haven’t read Tattered book 1 in this series I highly recommend you read it first. Why you might ask… well, Jackson of course. My rating of Timid as a book is really back on that, my love of Jackson. I adored Jackson as a character, his painful past, his desire to a life of his own and his stubbornness as fears opening up were tangible to the read.

The way Jackson finally sees Willa ties in masterfully to both the book cover and the epilogue of this love story.

Jackson and Willa fit into each others lives. Jackson finally knowing he wants Willa and his working to show her he is serious about her not only had me loving him more but also highlighted how this poor man just did not know what love was.

As these two start to weave their lives together the use of Willa’s parents was so well done as was the use of Thea from book 1 Tattered.

I finished Timid while boating on the Long Island Sound

I love reading on my Kindle Oasis; it reads in any light (like a PaperWhite) and it’s WATERPROOF which is so key when out on the water.

Christine’s Review

I loved Tattered and couldn’t wait to jump right into Timid as I read back to back. I couldn’t wait to get Jackson and Willa’s story as we met them in book 1.

Timid is appropriately named as we have our heroine Willa who has always been shy and timid paired with Jackson, the town bartender—the only into having fun, nothing serious kind of guy.

Jackson had a tough past as his mother left him when he was younger, only for him to finally find a home with Thea (who we met in book 1) and Hazel—who became the family he has always wanted. Jackson has a hard time trusting and believing in love and this really broke my heart for him.

Willa has always crushed on him from afar and while I grew to love her as the story continued because of her strength and ability to love, my problem with this story was this unconditional love she had for Jackson despite never really knowing him or talking to him. I don’t typically love virgin stories and while I appreciated the romance behind it and Willa always wanting her first and last to be Jackson, I didn’t really understand how she would save herself for him when she didn’t really know him. I had a hard time connecting to these characters and some parts felt too farfetched and unbelievable. I didn’t feel their connection and I wanted to so badly.

What I won’t deny is this author’s storytelling… I have enjoyed other books from her and her writing is topnotch and spot on. Truly. I just think this book didn’t work for me as much as I had hoped.

So while I loved parts of this story… especially the storytelling itself, the strength behind Willa, the unwavering support of family and friends, and the realness of Lark Cove, this one was just not my favorite. I will continue reading this series because I do love the characters and secondary characters and look forward to more HEA’s for all.

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