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Simply Mine by Laura Pavlov is a sweet-yet-steamy contemporary romance released in October 2022 (Book #4 in her Honey Mountain series). The story features the “best-friend’s older brother” trope set in the familiar small town of Honey Mountain, delivering both emotional depth and playful banter. It stands out because Pavlov expertly balances heart and heat while exploring missed opportunities, personal growth, and found love.
The Setting & Author Context
The setting once again takes us to Honey Mountain—a town where everyone knows your family, your history, and your secrets. This backdrop adds weight to the characters’ emotional journeys: when you can’t hide your past, you must face it. The return of a prodigal figure adds tension in a town too small for anonymity.
Laura Pavlov has built her brand around small-town contemporary romances featuring strong, relatable heroines, flawed but redeemable heroes, and warm community vibes. In Simply Mine, she leverages her familiarity with the Honey Mountain universe to deepen character connections while still making the story accessible for new readers.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
The heroine, Charlotte “Charlie” Thomas, has grown up with a secret crush on her best friend’s older brother, Ledger Dane. Years ago, they were inseparable—until one moment changed everything. Ledger left town, Charlie moved on, and their friendship drifted apart.
Now Ledger returns to Honey Mountain for a few weeks. He’s a successful architect, poised, powerful—but still harbouring regrets. Charlie is settled in her town life but still carrying the ache of “what if”. As they reconnect in familiar surroundings, the line between friends and something more begins to blur. What begins as safe familiarity becomes charged with the weight of their shared past—and the possibility that what they had was always meant to be. They must decide if this fleeting homecoming is enough, or if both are ready to claim “always” instead of “just for now”.
Characters & Themes
Main Characters
- Ledger Dane – Returning home, successful architect, older brother-figure turned romantic interest. Struggles with leaving and what that time cost him emotionally.
- Charlotte “Charlie” Thomas – Kindergarten teacher, steady and caring, haunted by the “best friend’s brother” crush that never got its moment.
- Supporting Cast – Charlie’s family (including her sisters), Ledger’s family, the broader Honey Mountain community—they each bring context, humour, and relational stakes to the story.
Core Themes
- Friends to lovers / missed opportunities – The transformation of a deep friendship into romantic love, especially when the window seemed closed.
- Homecoming & belonging – Ledger’s return stirs questions of where home is, and whether the person you left behind could be the one you were meant to come back to.
- Vulnerability & trust – Both characters must confront fears: Ledger about commitment, Charlie about being seen fully.
- Small-town roots – The town environment means past hurts aren’t hidden, history matters, and community plays a role in healing.
Tropes & Reader Experience
Key Tropes
- Best friend’s older brother
- Friends → lovers
- Small town return / homecoming
- Secret past / second chance at “what could have been”
- Light steam with emotional stakes
- Family & found-family dynamics
Tone, Pacing & Heat Level
The tone is playful at first—banter, shared history, comfort—but gradually deepens as the emotional stakes rise. The pacing flows from comfortable reconnection toward a more urgent realisation of desire and need. The heat is moderate to steamy (open-door romance scenes) but grounded in emotion rather than purely physical. Reader experience is described as “warm with tension, comfortable yet unsettled”—a hallmark of Pavlov’s style.
Who It’s Best Suited For
If you enjoy contemporary romance with relatable characters, familiar town backdrops, and emotional depth alongside sensual intimacy, this book is a great pick. It’s especially for readers who like:
- A redemption arc for the hero
- A heroine who’s grounded and emotionally available
- The “he’s been away / now he’s back” scenario
- Romance where the journey matters as much as the destination
It may be less suited for readers who prefer minimal emotional conflict, very light or purely “sweet” romance (this one has emotional heft) or a completely standalone world (though it works standalone, it’s enriched by readers aware of the earlier series books).
Continue the Honey Mountain Series
Read the Thomas sisters’ stories in publication order:
- Always Mine (Vivian & Niko) — 2022
- Ever Mine (Everly & Hawk) — 2022/2023
- Make You Mine (Lucy & Cameron) — 2024
- Simply Mine (Maya & Beck) — 2025
- Only Mine (TBD sister & hero) — 2026 (expected)
Explore the full reading guide on the Laura Pavlov author page.
Reader Suitability / Why Read It
Simply Mine hits the sweet spot between thoughtful emotional arcs and satisfying romance. Ledger and Charlie’s story resonates because it’s about timing—and the courage to realise that “right now” might just be the start of “always”. Many readers describe it as “a fun, swoony small-town escape with just enough steam and heart”.
Choose this book if you’re looking for:
- A hero with ambition and return-home vulnerability
- A heroine who cares deeply, has her own life, and knows her value
- A friends-to-lovers storyline with history and stakes
- Cozy town vibes plus romantic tension