I really wanted to like this. TO BE CLEAR. I love the hallmark sweet stuff. I like fluffy romances. I like steamy romances. This just didn't know what it wanted to be. It wasn't sweet but it wasn't sexy either...
The whole we have to hide this and go slow but be annoyed when they do or don't follow those rules and snap at each other every other scene they aren't making out--thing... (if you can't get it together even for a fling then I don't see you lasting the long haul.) Honestly, I understand if they were trying to keep it hidden from the nosy towns people. BUT, even the towns folk (which normally in these books are either the true antagonists or the sweet helpful characters that mess things up but ultimately mean well) just came off as mean, rude, or nosy... not caring or truly in the way but constantly defended by the protagonist. (This is the second romance book I've read recently where people from the town felt they could dictate what goes on in the main character's personal business, are defended for it, but aren't redeemable and sweet. They don't seem like they truly mean well it seems like they just have way too much time on their hands.)

Other annoyances...
Way too much talk about children (whether it was having them too soon, not being able to have them, everyone else already has them, etc).
Shame on the female protagonist for making herself a victim for as long as she had.
A man who raises his voice and is so quick to verbally attack and slam things before he even knows you is a bad sign NOT ENDEARING.
Also who was she to this young girl that she felt it was okay to cover for her dating someone her father doesn't approve of? Not cool.
The main characters only just barely had chemistry, and just seemed like two lonely people betting the farm on each other to save each other.

And ultimately... the characters were their own antagonists, which can work very well sometimes, except their reasons to block themselves didn't even make sense.