Thursday, August 26, 2021

Review & Giveaway - - The House on Sunshine Corner

The House on Sunshine Corner
by Phoebe Mills
The Sunshine Corner - Book 1
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Reviewed by PJ


Abby Engel has a great life. She's the owner of Sunshine Corner, the daycare she runs with her girlfriends; she has the most adoring grandmother (aka the Baby Whisperer); and she lives in a perfect hidden gem of a town. All that's missing is the thing she wants the most: a family. But after a stint of online dating and a string of bad blind dates, she's ready to give up. And then her ex-boyfriend (aka the love of her life) walks back into town...


Carter Hayes has no intention of staying in Heart's Hope Bay. He's there to help his sister out for a few weeks, and then he's back on a plane to Las Vegas. But small-town living has its appeal, and it’s not long before Carter's reminded of just how much he loves his hometown...and the one woman he’s never been able to forget. But after breaking her heart all those years ago, can Carter convince Abby that he’s her happy-ever-after?

PJ's Thoughts:

I love a second-chance romance. Set it in a small town populated with interesting people and I'm all over it. That's exactly what Phoebe Mills does in her debut novel: The House on Sunshine Corner. It's a promising start to a new contemporary romance series that has me eagerly anticipating more stories.

Abby and Carter were high school sweethearts but he couldn't wait to leave Heart's Hope Bay behind and she can't imagine living anywhere else. When he returns several years later to help care for his niece while his sister recovers from an injury, one of the first people he runs into is Abby, who runs the daycare his niece attends. Suddenly, he's running into her everywhere. Unfortunately, the issues that have kept him away from his hometown still stand between them, not the least of which is Abby's desire for marriage and children when Carter has sworn to steer clear of both. But it's also abundantly clear the chemistry they once shared still simmers. Could a no-strings affair while he's in town really get those pesky feelings out of their system once and for all or will it just prove what everyone has always known: these two are meant to be together.

Mills has penned a charming, heart-tugging story with characters I became attached to and invested in. I wasn't expecting the issues that Carter kept secret from Abby during their teens. They were real stumbling blocks to him staying in Heart's Hope Bay and added another layer of emotional depth to their story. I understood Abby's need to keep her roots there but, after learning more about Carter, I also understood why he wouldn't want to (I really had no idea how the author was going to work that out). I enjoyed the ease of long-time friendship that existed between them with the added edge of tension that came with both their physical attraction as well as the limited time period before Carter would once again leave her behind. It kept the story moving and kept me eagerly reading. 

I love Abby's group of friends. They have such a tight bond, the kind that allows them to be refreshingly honest with one another while always having each other's backs. I'm excited to read each of their stories as the series moves forward. I also enjoyed Abby's grandmother and the tight bond they share. I hope she - and her predictions - will continue to be present for future books.  

If you enjoy small-town, second-chance romances with humor, heart, a likable cast of characters, and just enough steam, give Phoebe Mills' The House on Sunshine Corner a try. Book two, A Wedding on Sunshine Corner, is scheduled to be published March 29, 2022. I've already added it to my reading calendar. 


Do you enjoy small-town romance?

What other small-town, contemporary romance authors would you recommend I add to my reading list?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, August 28 will receive a print copy of The House on Sunshine Corner

*U.S. only
*Must be 18
*Void where prohibited

14 comments:

  1. I love small town romance. Robyn Carr's Virgin River series is great to name one. There are so many small town romance I love, Robyn was first name that came to mind. Thanks for the review on this one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This story sounds captivating and unforgettable. Small town romance gives me such enjoyment. Carolyn Brown, Pamela Kelley, Melissa Foster and many more write beautiful stories.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I enjoy small town romance and this book would be a real treasure to read. Sharon Sala, Sheila Roberts, Ellen Joy and Carly Grant all are special.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love small town contemporary romances in fiction. I love Blesings, Ga where Sharon Sala sets her series

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like small town romances. I like the fact that the characters are always involved in the lives of everyone else. My favorite is Cindy Kirk's Good Hope series. If not for the cold in the winter, I would be looking to find Good Hope on the Wisconsin map.

    Hope everyone is well and safe and happy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love small town romance and count me in with the Blessings series. Also Sherryl Woods.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love small town stories. Most have cast of characters that intermingle through the books and have such great friendships as well as romance. Brenda Novak has the Silver Springs series that i love.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love, love small town romances - they are my favorite! This one sounds like a keeper, I will be putting it on my wish list. Thanks for the chance to win it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Love small town romance. Jane Porter writes a lot that I enjoy.

    denise

    ReplyDelete
  11. (For some reason, my comments didn't post. They might show up later, but I will rewrite one.)
    I enjoy small town stories. The characters do not get lost on the shuffle of the big city or foreign lands. The town also lends its own personality to the story and influences both the characters and the story.
    Off hand, I can't think of any other small town authors to recommend . I have found all I am enjoying on The Romance Dish.
    I like the sound of this story. There is really no bad guy. It seems it is just misunderstandings and information that didn't come to light earlier. You have me looking forward to meeting Abby's grandmother.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love small town romances! I can't remember if you've read many of the Tule romances particularly the ones set in Marietta, Montana and Last Stand, Texas, but there are many authors who contribute great stories to these series.

    ReplyDelete