Meant for Me by Betsy St. Amant is the delightful conclusion to The Magnolia Bay series. I truly enjoyed this marriage of convenience story from start to finish.

What I Liked About Meant for Me by Betsy St. Amant

I love grumpy heroes, and Lincoln “Linc” Fontenot is the grumpiest grump. Of course, he has a soft side, which makes appearances from time to time, but he works so hard to be cantankerous, and that’s part of the fun of this book. He’s the thunderstorm, and Zoey Lakewood is the sunshine. His soft side usually shows when Zoey is involved unless he’s trying to convince himself that he can’t fall in love because of his past romantic mistake.

Zoey is always spreading joy even though she has deep wounds and has lost her beloved beignet shop. You can’t help but like her and want to see her get the happily ever after she deserves. She has a lot of angst because she loves Linc but thinks he only wants to be her friend.

It’s a marriage of convenience story, but it’s also a friends-to-lovers story. I like that trope too. Both try so hard not to let their true feelings show, which adds great tension throughout. And more tension comes their way when a grumpy teenager lands on Linc’s doorstep.

What You’ll Like About Meant for Me

If you like swoony, strong, heart of gold heroes, you’ll be in love with Linc. He’s crusty on the outside but soft as marshmallow fluff on the inside. He’s admirable in how he works to create a safe place for his daughter Amelia. Amelia is a chip off the old block, and their interactions caused me to chuckle multiple times.

You’ll also enjoy this story if you like quirky small-town characters. Magnolia Bay has plenty. The author paints a lovely picture of living in a close-knit community, which can have both pros and cons. In Magnolia Bay, the townspeople know each other’s business, but rally in support when something joyous or tragic happens.

Finally, if you enjoy a novel where the characters must overcome inaccurate beliefs about themselves, Meant for Me will satisfy.

Final Thoughts

I’ve really enjoyed all the stories in this series, but this one may be my favorite. It’s all because of Linc. There is a faith element that runs throughout, but it’s not preachy and shouldn’t offend nonbelievers.

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