Review - - Made to Love You

Made to Love You

by Nan Reinhardt

The Walkers of River's Edge - Book 4

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: January 23, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

She’s not looking for love, but a handsome veterinarian and a lost puppy have other plans…

Gorgeous and gifted,Annabelle Walkeris a force of nature. A talented architect who has brought new designs and concepts to her family’s construction firm, Anna’s happy and doesn’t feel anything’s missing from her life, even as her siblings have all fallen in love this year. And then she finds an injured puppy on a bike ride.

Veterinarian Sawyer Braxton is lost while driving to his first day at Price Veterinary Clinic. He stops to ask directions of a bicyclist on the side of the road, and discovers three things: She’s beautiful, stranded with a flat tire, and holding an injured puppy. Sawyer’s fascinated, and it feels like fate as he offers the intriguing and vibrant woman a ride to the vet clinic.

It’s a meet-cute, and Annabelle’s definitely attracted, but she’s determined that this time, she really will take a break from men. Sawyer’s as stubborn as he is sexy, and he hits on a plan for a date—they’ll both foster the pup while it heals.

PJ's Thoughts:

Made to Love You brings readers another heart-tugging visit to River's Edge. At this point, each new book in Nan Reinhardt's long-running series feels like a visit to my hometown where good friends - and a few new friends - await. As a fan of the series, it's fun to catch up with favorite characters while at the same time, Reinhardt has written each of these books in such a way that new readers can jump in at any point without missing a beat.

I enjoyed Anna's and Sawyer's story very much. Reinhardt takes them on a realistically gradual journey of growth, self-discovery, and love. It was especially satisfying to watch Sawyer - and Trixie, the abandoned puppy - help Anna slowly lower the walls around her heart that had been solidified by heartbreak and betrayal and even more so, to watch Anna confront those emotional obstacles in person and hold her own. Yes, I may have been enthusiastically, and vocally, cheering her on. 

Sawyer is such a sweetheart - kind, caring, a bit of a cinnamon roll, and the perfect counterpart for take charge Anna. I really loved these two together and am hopeful that we'll see more of Anna, Sawyer, Trixie, and Sawyer's dog, Otis in upcoming River's Edge books.

If you enjoy feel-good stories with humor, emotional depth, relatable characters, and happy endings, give this one a try. 

Review - - Make it Real

Make it Real

by Nan Reinhardt

The Walkers of River's Edge - Book 2

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: August 6, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

They were only faking it….

A landscape designer for his family’s construction firm, Joe Walker, is nearing completion on one of the most important projects of his career—gardens for spec homes that if they wow, Walker Construction will survive. When a freak accident sidelines him with a broken leg, the firm hires a competitor. Her ideas are radically different, but his stalker ex arrives to play nurse, and Joe needs more than gardening help.

After six-years working in English manor gardens, horticulturist Kara Sudbury returns to River’s Edge to help in her grandparents’ struggling garden center. She’s thrilled when Jackson Walker hires her to execute his injured cousin’s designs. Ignoring Joe is difficult because he’s as sexy now as he was in high school and even more stubborn. But when Joe asks Kara to play the role of girlfriend, they strike a deal that will help Joe handle his tenacious ex and put Sudbury’s Nursery back in the black. Kara’s up for the subterfuge…for a price, but then the pretense feels real, and Kara is reminded that every rose has its thorns.

PJ's Thoughts:

Nan Reinhardt takes readers back to River's Edge for another heartfelt journey to love. This time it's a fake relationship story - one of my favorite romance tropes - with a bit of professional competition thrown into the mix. 

I enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between Joe and Kara that eventually developed into deeper feelings. The banter between them sparkles, including humor that is always prevalent in a River's Edge story, but nicely balanced by emotional depth. 

Family is a strong theme is this story, on both Joe's and Kara's sides, eliciting both laughter and tears as with families in real life. I've enjoyed getting to know the Walkers and am looking forward to more of them getting their own stories. 

Community is also central to the River's Edge stories. It's always fun to catch up with members of this close-knit community as well as featured couples from earlier books. For fans of the series, it's an opportunity to take a peek into the ongoing happily ever afters of favorite couples while those new to River's Edge should be able to jump in with Make it Real without missing a beat. 

If you enjoy closed-door small-town romance with an enjoyable blend of humor and heart, strong community ties, and a heartfelt happily ever after, I enthusiastically recommend visiting Nan Reinhardt's River's Edge. Why not begin with Make it Real.

Review - - Make You Mine

Make You Mine

by Nan Reinhardt

The Walker Family - Book 1

Publisher: Tule

Release Date: April 16, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

When his family’s company is on the line, business and pleasure definitely don’t mix, but maybe they should…

Madeline Ross left the city and a career glass ceiling behind, hoping to build a new life as the crew supervisor for Walker Construction in River’s Edge. She’s qualified and experienced, but new CEO Jackson Walker hires someone else. Even as she searches for a different job and builds a life in River’s Edge, the sexy memory of Jack teases.

After a rough year, Jackson Walker’s family business is still struggling. He needs a new construction crew supervisor, and Maddie Ross is perfect, except for the first time in his life, player Jack is suddenly smitten with the curvaceous redhead. He wants her in his bed more than on his payroll.

When his second-rate new hire is a disastrous mistake, Jack humbles himself on Maddie’s doorstep with an offer she can’t refuse. Maddie could be the key to saving his company as long as he hides his heart. But does he have to?

PJ's Thoughts:

Nan Reinhardt takes readers back to River's Edge with the first book in a new trilogy set within a familiar world. If you read her Weaver Sisters trilogy, you've already met Jackson Walker but if you're new to the River's Edge books, you can easily jump in with this new book, Make You Mine.

I always enjoy my visits to River's Edge and this one is no exception. Watching confirmed bachelors fall hard is one of my romance joys and Jack, at 39, is more fun than most. This guy is hard-core single, arrogant, and independent, with a string of one-night stands behind him. To see him totally smitten, stumbling over his words, and blushing like a middle schooler was a such a joy. Of course, it takes a while for him to own up to his feelings but that's part of the fun with this guy.

Maddie is one of my favorite River's Edge heroines. I respect her for following her heart into a career considered a man's domain. She's confident, skilled, and carries a take-charge attitude that throws Jack for a loop. I appreciated the fact that she doesn't compromise who she is and how Jack begins to evolve because of that. 

In addition to Maddie's and Jack's romantic journey, this book also has a bit of suspense to it with a defining moment climax that had me cheering and gasping at the same time.

Fans of the earlier River's Edge books will no doubt be delighted with the number of character cameos in this book while, as I mentioned above, those new to Reinhardt should have no difficulties beginning with Make You Mine.  

Review - - Christmas in River's Edge

Christmas in River's Edge

by Nan Reinhardt

The Weaver Sisters - Book 3

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: October 23, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

You can go home again…

After a painful divorce from her high school sweetheart, triplet Jenny Weaver returns to River’s Edge with her young son. While happy to be reunited with her sisters and working at the family’s marina, she has no intention of jumping into the dating pool, especially going into the holidays. Then Gabe Dawson, once a shy nerd who tutored her in history classes, arrives home transformed into a handsome hunk who makes her pulse race.

Archeologist and history professor Gabe Dawson thought he’d long ago outgrown his teen crush on Jenny. Back in town for a few months to help his mom post surgery, he can’t resist reaching out to Jenny. She’s as beautiful, warm, and funny as he remembered and soon Gabe is reconsidering his future.

Gabe is determined to seize this second chance, but can he convince a very wary Jenny that a globe-trotter is ready to come home for good this Christmas?

PJ's Thoughts:

Each new book set in Nan Reinhardt's River's Edge continues to get better and better and better. Each couple's story feels fresh and new - able to be enjoyed on its own - while also evoking a sense of home and familiarity gained through the previous couples' journeys. We're ten books into the series and I haven't even begun to tire of it. That's due in no small part to the fact that the author has separated the books into three mini-series: one quartet and two trilogies. That enables series fans (like me) to revisit beloved characters and follow along with their evolving relationships while allowing new readers to jump in at a variety of points without feeling lost or confused. As for me, a reader who started with book one, I'd be blissfully happy if Reinhardt continued to write about River's Edge characters for the rest of her career. I love them that much. 

In Christmas in River's Edge, the third book in the Weaver Sisters Trilogy (they're triplets!), Reinhardt brings us a second-chance romance between Jenny, a divorced single mom, and Gabe, a hot college professor with a nerdy core. I loved these two so much. Each character is fully developed, with intriguing layers, relatable life challenges, and heart-tugging charm. It was enjoyable to watch Jenny evolve into a woman of courage and strength with the determination to follow her dreams after too many years in a miserable marriage. 

Gabe flat out stole my heart. This man needs to be protected at all costs. The love and respect he has for Jenny, how he nurtures their relationship, encourages her dreams, and is always at her side if needed, supporting but not trying to lead. That's especially crucial in her dealings with her ex-husband, the father of her young son, Luke. I loved Gabe's relationship with Luke but I also appreciated how Gabe handled the relationship between Luke and his father, Jenny's ex, Ryan. There was an easy direction the author could have taken their relationships with Ryan as well as Ryan's own personal journey but she chose a different path, one that took the story to a deeper emotional, but hopeful, level. I'm curious to know if we'll see him again. I'm always up for a good redemption story. 

All of this is set within the charm and holiday atmosphere of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in River's Edge. There's plenty of good feelings, love, humor, family ties, emotional depth, and happy endings all wrapped up with a festive bow. I loved it. 

Review - - Meet Me in River's Edge

Meet Me in River's Edge

by Nan Reinhardt

The Weaver Sisters - - Book 2

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Release Date: August 17, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

He ticks every one of her “never again” boxes…

Jo Weaver loves her job as a boat mechanic for her family’s marina in River’s Edge, Indiana. But when she’s pulled away from her high school reunion with her sisters to fix a stranded yacht, she can’t restrain her irritation. Jo doesn’t like wealthy men who think they can have whatever they want, and she has no intention of falling for rich and charming again.

Born into the international Briggs Hotels empire, Alex Briggs has never felt comfortable with his life of privilege. Abandoning his family’s business to pursue medical research, he’s far more at home in his lab. When the yacht he restored himself breaks down on the way to an important conference, Alex begrudgingly goes in search of a boat mechanic and falls, literally, into Jo Weaver’s arms. The fireworks he feels are impossible to ignore.

Jo does her best to keep Alex in the business zone, but he keeps slipping into something more. Can she trust her fragile heart, especially when Alex and his life-altering research are so far from River’s Edge?

PJ's Thoughts:

If you're a regular here you already know how much I've been enjoying the books set in Nan Reinhardt's River's Edge. I love this town and the people who live there. Each one of their stories has touched my heart but this one, Meet Me in River's Edge, didn't just touch my heart, it out and out stole it. Jo and Alex are my favorite River's Edge couple. I've read their book twice. Pretty sure I'll be revisiting them again...and again...and again. 

There's so much to love about this couple and their up and down journey to a happy ending, all of which Reinhardt executes flawlessly. We have triplet sisters dynamics, a relationship-averse heroine, smitten hero, snappy banter, mountains of emotional baggage, swoony romance, complicated family (hero), perfectly placed humor, drool-worthy food, delicious chemistry (kissing only), life-threatening obstacles, and a grand gesture that I read while sobbing happy tears. Sobbing.

I love the time the author takes with Jo and Alex, not only developing their relationship gradually but also their individual characters as well as relationships with those surrounding them. Jo's father and Rich, the man who is more father to Alex than his actual father are particular favorites. I like how she weaves mistaken assumptions into the story, as is often the case in real life, as a way of growing both Jo's and Alex's characters and showing that first impressions are not always correct. I also appreciate the communication between Jo and Alex and the way they slowly open themselves emotionally to one another, though that is significantly tested during a particular crisis. Again, a turn in the story that is realistic and relatable, leading to the forgiveness, understanding, and healing which is necessary to move forward and claim that happily ever after. 

Meet Me in River's Edge is book two in Nan Reinhardt's Weaver Sisters trilogy set within the author's River's Edge world. Characters from earlier books pop in and out of the story but it's written in such a way that readers new to River's Edge should not be confused or feel as if they are missing something. Jump in here and enjoy the ride.