By a Thread

Dominic Russo returns to his small Vermont hometown to save his family's struggling factory and encounters Ally Morales, a consultant hired to determine if the business can be saved. The tension between them is immediate, as Dominic views Ally as a threat while she sees him as an obstacle to completing her job. Ally works to prove herself capable of making tough decisions while managing the complications of living in a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone's business. Meanwhile, Dominic must confront his past choices and the responsibility he now bears for his family's legacy and his employees' livelihoods. Their professional antagonism evolves as they begin to understand each other's positions and motivations. Both Dominic and Ally must navigate their growing attraction while maintaining professional boundaries and dealing with interference from well-meaning townspeople. The novel explores themes of family obligation, the balance between personal and professional life, and the challenge of remaining objective when emotions become involved. Through its small-town setting, the story examines how community ties can both support and complicate individual choices.

Readers give this contemporary romance high marks for the slow-burn chemistry between the main characters and the authentic workplace dynamics. Many reviews note the balance of humor and emotional depth, with specific praise for the banter between Dominic and Parker. What readers liked: - Strong character development - Realistic family relationships - Office politics and career struggles - Steamy scenes that advance the plot What readers disliked: - Length (some found it too long at 500+ pages) - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Side characters that didn't add to the story - Repetitive internal monologues Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (89,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (17,000+ ratings) BookBub: 4.6/5 (2,800+ ratings) Common review quote: "The workplace drama feels authentic without overwhelming the romance." - Goodreads reviewer Reviews consistently mention the book follows romance genre conventions while offering deeper character exploration than typical workplace romances.

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🧵 Lucy Score wrote most of By a Thread during the COVID-19 lockdown, drawing inspiration from her own experiences working in a newsroom. 🏢 The novel's fictional town of Blue Moon Bend is loosely based on various small towns in Pennsylvania, where the author currently resides. 💼 The workplace romance genre, which By a Thread falls into, saw a significant surge in popularity during 2020-2021, with sales increasing by over 50%. 👗 The fashion elements in the book, particularly Ally's designer wardrobe, were researched extensively by Score through fashion blogs and vintage couture collections. 💪 The book challenges traditional "enemies-to-lovers" tropes by making both protagonists equally matched in terms of success and professional achievement, rather than having one character in a position of power over the other.