Review - - A Spiced Apple Winter

A Spiced Apple Winter

By Emma Cane

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: December 27, 2016

  

When the soap opera in which Tyler Fairfield starred ended, the timing seemed perfect for him to fulfill his promise to his family to join his twin Amy in managing the family orchards for six months. The Fairfield siblings had all pledged to do their part to keep Fairfield Orchards operating in the black while their parents take an extended vacation and their oldest sister Rachel, her parents’ chief backup for more than ten years, takes time to travel the world. After struggling through school and with orchard-related tasks, Tyler, at the suggestion of his future brother-in-law, is tested for ADHD. The diagnosis and the prescribed medication allow him to focus, thus altering his perception of the family business. For the first time, Tyler finds that he enjoys the challenges. The only thing marring his time at home is the awkwardness that lingers after he and long-time family friend, Brianna MacDougall, moved from friends to lovers one memorable night in New York City.

Every time she sees Tyler, Brianna remembers that night. Even though they agreed that it was a mistake and Tyler claims that his memories are vague, Brianna cannot forget. Her only regret is that her comfortable friendship with Tyler has become strained as a result. Bri, who is already stressed over her beloved father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and her increased responsibilities at her family’s country store, takes on even more when she decides to resurrect the community Christmas play that her dad managed for years. She hopes the experience will be good for her father and give her some sweet memories when his disease steals more of him from his family. She had not counted on the play throwing her in Tyler’s company more frequently nor on the added complication that Tyler’s friend, popular actress Gabrielle, brings when she takes the female lead in the play.

Tyler agrees to offer Gabrielle sanctuary from a major scandal that is threatening her career, but it is Brianna with whom he wants to spend his time. Initially, he is afraid of hurting Bri by beginning a relationship that can have no future since she will never leave Spencer Hollow and he will be leaving after Christmas, but she needs some fun in her life and she assures Tyler that she can deal with the temporary nature of a romance with him. Tyler is uneasy playing Gabrielle’s fake boyfriend to redeem her reputation at the same time he and Brianna are stealing time to be together. Bri trusts him when he says his relationship with Gabrielle is all for show, but she is unprepared to have her own reputation smeared and her life invaded by paparazzi when an enterprising reporter photographs her and Tyler as he leaves her house one morning. Can their relationship survive such notoriety? Can Brianna believe Tyler when he insists he wants more than a holiday fling?

A Spiced Apple Winter is a sweet romance with a friends-to-lovers plot that is credible and appealing. Brianna and Tyler are likable, sympathetic characters whose romantic relationship develops slowly and convincingly, based on a deep friendship with a long history that includes ties with one another’s families. As one of Amy’s best friends, Brianna grew up at home with the Fairfield clan, and Brianna’s dad served as a second father to Tyler when his own dad’s alcoholism led to parental failures. The Gabrielle complication could have turned this story into a clichéd mess, but Cane has her leads behave with maturity and a trust based on their knowledge of one another.

The details about orchard life, about the MacDougall store, and about the Christmas play give Spencer Hollow a substantial realness and make this more than just another small-town romance. The secondary characters make the novel a richer read. Amy Fairfield and Jonathan Gebhart (At Fairfield Orchard, Book #1) play their parts without appearing to wave “Read Our Book” signs. The MacDougall family’s coming to terms with Mr. MacDougall’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis is authentic and poignant. Gabrielle is not a spoiled, conniving Hollywood bitch, but a talented actress and a genuine person.

I loved Cane’s Valentine Valley series, and the Fairfield Orchard series promises to be just as good. If you are looking for a small-town romance with a freshness and charm that make it a standout in a subgenre often plagued by sameness, I definitely recommend this book.  The Fairfields are a big family, and I’m looking forward to stories from the other siblings. I’m also hoping to see more of Gabrielle and Spencer Hollow’s reclusive playwright. I’m hooked on this series!

~Janga

Review - - At Fairfield Orchard

At Fairfield Orchard

By Emma Cane

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: August 30, 2016

 

 

Emma Cane introduces a new series with At Fairfield Orchard. The six Fairfield siblings join forces to keep the family apple orchard going when their parents retire. The orchard is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Virginia. Although only Rachel has worked in the orchard as an adult, all of them have emotional ties to the land that has been in their family for almost two hundred years. Logan, the eldest and a successful venture capitalist, bought the RV that allowed the Fairfield parents to fulfill their adventurous dreams and invested in the orchard, although his siblings insist his investment is a loan that will be repaid when the orchard becomes more prosperous. The other Fairfield siblings are investing their time and labor in seeing the prosperity become a reality as they try to bring their centuries-old orchard into the twenty-first century.

In this first book, Amy has returned after ten years, leaving behind her a promising career in real estate, a failed relationship, and a load of regrets about the distance that relationship created between her and her family, including her twin brother Tyler, and between her and her long-time friends. Her guilt over staying in the relationship too long and in the isolation she allowed to happen cause her to give up on her interest in history and genealogy to focus on the future of the orchard. At first, she is uneasy with the request of a young history professor to be allowed to conduct research on Fairfield land.

Jonathan Gebhart, a history professor at the University of Virginia, is interested in the orchard because of its link to Thomas Jefferson. Jonathan believes that Jefferson sold the land to the first Fairfield owners and that it was to the orchard Jefferson fled when he was forced to leave Monticello to escape British forces during the American Revolution. If Jonathan can find evidence to support his theory, it will be a major coup for the book he is working on because it will upset the acceptance of Poplar Forest as Jefferson’s destination. Jonathan needs the permission of the Fairfields to research the site. He also finds in Amy’s grandfather, a history buff with an abiding interest in Fairfield family history, an unexpected resource. On the personal level, Jonathan is still smarting over being dumped by his fiancée in favor of his best friend and on the resulting awkwardness for his career, given that they are all on the same faculty.

Jonathan and Amy are attracted to one another immediately, but neither is looking for a romantic relationship. Amy is particularly aware of their differences. Despite her success as a real estate agent, she sees herself as a college dropout and counts her education as one more sacrifice to her ill-advised relationship with her ex. And, of course, Amy’s experience as part of the large, lively Fairfield family is very different from Jonathan’s only child status. Jonathan, whose prodigious intelligence led his parents to expect great things of him, is burdened with the knowledge that they view his academic career with disappointment. Regardless of these differences, however, the two are similar in their values and in their approach to life. Their relationship develops gradually and credibly as their lives entwine with Amy’s family and community.

The first book in a series needs to hook the reader on the world the author is creating as well as make the protagonists’ story compelling. Cane succeeds on both counts. Both the setting and the rural community make this novel a standout among the seemingly endless supply of too-similar small-town romances. The other Fairfields are integrated into Amy’s story in an organic fashion without ever giving the impression that they are card-carrying sequel bait. The American history connection and the Fairfield genealogy add unexpected layers to the story.

I liked these characters. I loved the history professor hero, and while Amy’s big secret became more irritating than fascinating, I found her too to be essentially a sympathetic and interesting character. I especially liked the dimensions that are revealed through her relationship with her twin, her grandparents, and her girlfriends as well as through the romance. The secondary characters are also likeable, and even the Fairfields who get little attention are appealing enough to leave me eager for their stories.

If you like your romance quiet and sweet with a touch of spice, I recommend this book. Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with the Virginia setting and the Fairfield family and turn the last page asking yourself “What’s next?” I’ve already added Spiced Apple Winter (December 27), twin Tyler’s story, to my book calendar. I also hope the cover for the second book is a match for the cover of At Fairfield Orchard. Gorgeous!

 ~Janga

Review - - Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch

Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch

By Emma Cane

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Lyndsay De Luca has a secret not even her family knows. In one month her first novel, A Cowboy in Montana, will be on released. For Lyndsay, the publication of her book is a dream come true. Even the timing is perfect since her novel’s release comes just after the school year ends so any reactions from the parents of her students to a romance writing middle-school math teacher will be muted. But what should be an exciting time in Lyndsay’s life is marred by her realization that she modeled the hero of her book on Will Sweet, a member of one of Valentine Valley’s leading families and a close friend of Lyndsay’s brother, Tony. It’s true that Lyndsay had a crush on Will when they were in high school, but that was long ago. She can only hope that no one else in Valentine Valley will see any connection between the sandy-haired, hazel-eyed cowboy capable of grand romantic gestures in her book and Will.

Will Sweet is deeply committed to his life on Sweetheart Ranch. He loves the family ranch, and his role as a helicopter pilot cowboy satisfies his daredevil nature that also glories in snowboarding and mountain biking. But his commitments begin and end with those he has made to his family and the ranch. Women like Will, and he likes them right back so long as the relationships stay casual with no expectations about tomorrow and definitely no promises about forever.  Sixteen years ago Will’s high school girlfriend was killed in an automobile accident, and Will has not allowed himself more than light-hearted, short-term relationships since Brittany’s death.

His avoidance of serious relationships doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have an eye for a beautiful woman. Only Tony De Luca’s long ago warning to stay away from his sister has kept Will from asking Lyndsay out, and when Lyndsay asks him, he is ready to add a little spice to their solid friendship. Will’s feelings for Lyndsay quickly develop into something stronger than he ever imagined they could be, but he cannot embrace the future that this relationship offers until he can let go of his ties to the past.

Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch is the sixth novel in Emma Cane’s Valentine Valley series. Readers who enjoy friends-to-lovers stories will enjoy this tender romance with likeable characters and sufficient complications to keep things interesting. Both Lyndsay and Will appear in earlier Valentine Valley novels with significant secondary roles in Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley, the reunion story of Lyndsay’s brother Tony De Luca and her former best friend and sister-in-law, Kate Fenelli. Lyndsay as heroine is a pleasing and logical extension of the character that fans of the series will remember. Will, who appeared to be an amusing, light-hearted flirt as a secondary character, retains his charm but also proves to have considerable depth. I found Lyndsay’s use of Will as inspiration for her hero fascinating, particularly since it was done unconsciously. I also admired Lyndsay’s willingness to take the initiative with Will. The progression of their relationship is credible, and readers will have no difficulty believing in a happily-ever-after for these two who share history, interests, values, and a community as well as chemistry.

This new novel is a welcome addition to a solid series that has the appeal of small-town romance plus a sigh-worthy collection of cowboy heroes. Lyndsay and Will’s story can be read as a standalone, but it will be a richer, more nuanced read for those who have read the other Valentine Valley books, especially Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley. Cane has announced a new series, Fairfield Orchard, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I feared that meant Ever After at Sweetheart Ranch was the final Valentine Valley series, but the author has reassured her fans that she is not leaving Valentine Valley yet. I’m delighted with the promise of more visits to this Colorado town.

~Janga

Review - - Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley

Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley

By Emma Cane

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 28, 2014

The day before Thanksgiving Kate Fenelli returns to Valentine Valley, not just to spend the holiday with her family but for a two month sabbatical the senior partners in her law form insisted upon after Kate disagreed with them about a case. Kate grew up in small Colorado town where her parents own Carmina’s Cocina, an Italian restaurant, but Kate was intelligent, ambitious, and eager for a larger world. Not even an early marriage and the birth of a son deterred her from her goals. Becoming a junior partner and being given the responsibility of opening a branch office in Vail kept her immersed in work. Weekends and holidays with her son kept their relationship close. Yet the first person with whom she shares the news of her forced sabbatical is her ex.

Tony De Luca is surprised to see Kate walk into his tavern. He’s even more surprised when she confesses her reason for being in Valentine Valley. Because they both love their son, Tony and Kate have maintained a friendly relationship since their divorce nine years ago. Kate even fronted the loan for Tony to buy his tavern, but he is in no way prepared for Kate to become part of his life again. Friends since childhood and a couple from their high school days, Tony and Kate married when Kate became pregnant. They survived four years of marriage, but by the time Kate finished law school, it was clear that Tony’s dream of their building a life together in their hometown was never going to happen. After the divorce, Kate focused on her career, and Tony became a Monday through Friday custodial parent and tavern keeper. Kate’s reappearance awakens anger Tony was unaware of harboring, and he is determined Kate will not disturb the hard-won balance he has achieved.  

Kate is at loose ends without work to fill her time. She also realizes that, at thirteen, her son Ethan is moving toward independence and may soon resent giving up his activities and plans with his friends to spend weekends with his mother. A foolish bet has Kate working in Tony’s Tavern, and soon the chemistry between them proves as explosive as ever. They agree to a friends-with-benefits relationship, but it is not as easy to keep hearts unengaged as they thought. Kate is rethinking her choices, and Tony is running scared. Will nearly a decade apart and the differences between them prove to be too large a gap for even love to bridge?

Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley is the fifth book in the Valentine Valley series of Emma Cane (aka Gayle Callen). The holiday setting with all its associations with family and tradition seems particularly appropriate for this reunion story. The reunion trope is one of my favorites, and this book reminded me of all the reasons I love such stories. Kate and Tony have a long history together, and even divorce could not eradicate their shared memories. Their son Ethan, to whom they are both devoted, is another enduring link between them. Because their marriage truly broke up because of “irreconcilable differences” rather than from indifference or infidelity, the reunion was an easier sale. Both hero and heroine are likeable characters, although readers’ sympathies may align more deeply with one or the other according to individual temperament.

Secondary characters are also a decided part of the book’s appeal. Both Kate and Tony have close relationships with their respective families, and Tony has continued to be warmly accepted by Kate’s family even in the post-divorce years. Thirteen-year-old Ethan is a delight. His love of sports, his fondness for technology, his affection for his family (pet included), and the growing importance of friendships in his life all reminded me of the thirteen-year-old I know best.

Fans of the series will be pleased with the appearance of characters from earlier books, but readers new to the series will find the book works fine as a standalone. I haven’t read every book in the series, but I have read enough to know that the stories are distinct from one another rather than a retelling of the same story, a major plus in my view. If you like small-town contemporary romances, holiday stories, or romances with a hero and heroine mature enough to have baggage other than childhood trauma, I think you will like Sleigh Bells in Valentine Valley as much as I did.

 ~Janga

Stock Up Saturday

A Town Called Valentine
Valentine Valley—Book 1
By Emma Cane
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: January 31, 2012

After a bitter and painful divorce, Emily Murphy returns to Valentine, her mother’s hometown in the Colorado Rockies, to try and pick up the pieces of her life. Her plans are to sell the store her family owned there and use the money to go back to school—UC Berkley—in the fall. Her plans didn’t include sharing a heated embrace with a sexy cowboy immediately after arriving in town. Emily is embarrassed afterward and doubly so when she has to ask the handsome Nate for a ride when her car won’t start. Nate takes her to the store and Emily discovers that the former tenants left the place in shambles, including the apartment above where Emily intended to stay. Nate offers to take her to his grandmother’s boarding house and Emily agrees, but only until she can fix the store up. Because of a lack of money, Emily plans to do the repairs herself. Soon she learns that in a small town, nothing is kept secret and others are more than willing to lend a helping hand.

Nate Thalberg was born and raised in Valentine Valley and assists with running his family’s ranch. He lives a quiet, peaceful life and dates occasionally, but never anything permanent. When it comes to the lovely Emily, however, Nate can’t seem to help himself. She is determined to fix the place up herself and he is just as determined to help her do it. They’ve agreed to put their heated embrace behind them, but after working together day after day, forgetting that night becomes increasingly difficult. When Emily gets some shocking news about her paternity, Nate insists on helping her find out the truth...and hopes Emily will ultimately decide to stay in Valentine.

A Town Called Valentine is the first book in the Valentine Valley series by Emma Cane, also known as historical author Gayle Callen. If this delightful book is any indication, this promises to be a wonderful series. Nate and Emily are well-rounded, believable characters that captured my heart. The secondary characters—from Nate’s brother and sister to the friendly townsfolk to the nosy widows at the boarding house—add depth and flair and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books. A Town Called Valentine is a charming contemporary romance that I recommend!

~Andrea


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Not Wicked Enough

Seducing the Scoundrels, Book 1

By Carolyn Jewel

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Release Date: February 7, 2012

Lily Wellstone travels to Bitterward to comfort her friend Ginny, who is still grieving over the death of her husband. On her way there, she encounters a Gypsy king, who gives her a medallion in thanks for saving his dog. He tells her the medallion will unite her with the man she happiest with in love. Since Lily has already lost the man she considers her one true love, she does not believe in this bit of magic. Still, she never takes it off. When she meets Ginny’s brother, the Duke of Mountjoy, she is overwhelmed by her instant attraction to him. Is it the medallion or just the magnetism of this man?

Mountjoy was expecting to be mesmerized by is sister’s beautiful and charming friend, but Lily captivates him as no other woman ever has. Everyone expects him to marry one of the local ladies, Miss Jane Kirk---and Mountjoy intends to ask her soon, but Lily sparkles and shines so much that he has trouble focusing on anyone but her. During late night talks and strolls outside, Mountjoy and Lily discover more about each other’s past, and soon become lovers. Will their passion for each other turn to love or will duty prevail?

Not Wicked Enough, is the first in Carolyn Jewel’s Seducing the Scoundrels series, and it’s a grand beginning. Lily is an engaging, likeable heroine---one I would love to have as a friend---and Mountjoy is a hero I could, and did, fall for. He was not born to be a duke----he was raised as a gentleman farmer---so he’s more down to earth, without any dandified ways. I love a man who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. Together, these two raise the heat to scorching levels! It’s a good thing it’s winter, and a little extra heat is always welcome. Amusing, intriguing, and sexy, Not Wicked Enough is a must read for lovers of historical romance.

~ Gannon