Winner - - Magnolia Bay Memories

 

The randomly chosen winner of 

a print copy of

Magnolia Bay Memories by Babette De Jongh is:

Patricia B

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Review and Giveaway - - Magnolia Bay Memories

Magnolia Bay Memories

by Babette De Jongh

Welcome to Magnolia Bay - Book 2

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: November 30, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Animal communicator Babette de Jongh brings you a bright and hopeful romance filled with:

People and animals who get a second chance

A community that makes everyone feel at home

Friends-to-lovers romance that proves everyone deserves a forever home

Struggling widow Heather Gabriel takes a job at Magnolia Bay's Animal Shelter to provide for her family. She isn't ready to be anything more than colleagues with Adrian Crawford, the shelter's new business consultant. But the shelter's animal communication expert Reva Curtis knows there's more attraction between Heather and Adrian than they let on, and she's determined to bring them together. With the help of Heather's three children and all the animals at Bayside Barn, Heather and Adrian soon realize they can have a future together...if they can let go of the past.

PJ's Thoughts:

Magnolia Bay Memories takes readers back to this small Louisiana town with another charming story I didn't want to put down. As with the first book in this series, the author brings together humans and animals in a journey that tugged at my heart. I was rooting for all the characters, two-legged and four-legged, with equal measure.

I love the theme of second chances in this book. Heather is a young widow with three children who lost her beloved husband suddenly and tragically. Her children are her priority; romance is not on her horizon. Adrian enjoys his single life in New Orleans but still carries the emotional scars of Hurricane Katrina. Neither a relationship nor a ready-made family are in his plans. But a feral cat, a grieving horse, a shy little girl, and her rambunctious brother - not to mention that pesky desire that keeps sparking between him and Heather - keep bringing these two together. The question is what will they do about it?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has an abundance of charm, well-placed humor, tender emotion, and chemistry that evolves into sizzle. It also has depth. I appreciated that the author took the time to explore grief, not only Heather's, and her children's, but the lingering, more subtle grief that has guided Adrian's life choices as well. It made both characters relatable and their situations realistic. I like that she took her time with them, delving beneath the surface, and sharing both the ups and downs of their individual situations as well as the evolution of their journey from colleagues, to friends, to more. I also very much enjoyed the individual relationships that evolved between Adrian and the children. Those were some of my favorite scenes. 

Then there are the animals. While Heather and Adrian took me on an emotional journey, the road Winky (the cat) and Charlie (the horse) traveled was no less impactful. De Jongh brings the animals in this series to life, allowing the reader into their thoughts, their hearts. If you're an animal lover (like I am), these two will make you laugh, shed a tear, and probably claim a corner of your heart. 

This book can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone but readers should be aware that storylines and characters from book one, Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay, continue in this second book. If you want to know more about book one, click here to read my review. 

Content Warning: Grief, Tornado, Trauma (emotional/physical - on page but everyone heals)

~~~~~

Do you enjoy animals in the romances you read?

Have you ever read a book where the author shared the animal's thoughts on the page?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, December 14 will receive a print copy of Magnolia Bay Memories.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited          

 

Today's Special - - Spotlight on Amazon Holiday Short Stories & Tour Giveaway

 

PJ, here. December is such a busy month. If you're like me, you may be reaching for a novella or short story to to fill your reading urges between all the holiday items on your schedule. I'm happy to share a few quick reads from Amazon authors today, along with a giveaway that will help you buy more great books! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ring in the Holidays with Excerpts from Festive Reads by Bestselling Authors Rainbow Rowell, Suzanne Redfearn, J. Courtney Sullivan, and Chandler Baker 

This winter, rejoice in a festival of entertaining new tales from Amazon Original Stories. Unwrap unique short reads by bestselling authors to keep your holiday season merry and bright.   www.amazon.com/holidaystories 

Visit to browse a curated selection of stories—free for Prime Members and Kindle Unlimited Subscribers—and read on for excerpts from the titles by Rainbow Rowell, Suzanne Redfearn, J. Courtney Sullivan, and Chandler Baker.

 

***

 

After a long, lonely year, two people stumble toward each other in If the Fates Allow a holiday short story by Rainbow Rowell the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl. 

Reagan crept to the side to get a closer look. It looked like the deer had managed to snag its foot between two crossbars and a small tree that was growing right next to the fence.                                                      

Mason was still inching toward it, with his hands out. 

“What are you doing?” Reagan asked again. 

“I’m going to help it get free.” 

“It’ll get itself free.”                                                         

“I don’t think it will. It’s wedged pretty good.” 

The deer broke into frantic movement, struggling against the fence. “It’s going to injure itself,” Mason said. 

“It’s going to injure you.” 

This wasn’t a fawn or a hungry little doe; the deer was as long as Reagan was tall—it must have weighed two hundred pounds.           

“Shhhh,” Mason was saying. Maybe to the deer, maybe to Reagan. He was crouching behind it, which seemed like the dumbest decision in the world.                                                         

“Mason,” Reagan whispered.                                                           

“It’s all right,” he said, reaching for the trapped hoof. “Her other legs are on the other side of the fence.”                                                           

“I think that’s a buck.” 

“She’s not a buck, look at her head.” 

The deer struggled again. Mason froze. Reagan took another anxious step toward them. 

When the deer stilled, Mason shot forward. He bent the tree back and grabbed the trapped hoof, lifting it free. 

The deer pulled the leg forward—and in the same motion, kicked its other hind leg through the fence, catching Mason in the chest. 

“Oof,” he said, falling backward. 

The deer ran away, and Reagan ran to Mason. “Jesus Christ!” she shouted. “I told you!” 

Mason was lying on his back in the snow. Reagan went down on her knees beside him. “Are you okay?” she asked, touching his arm.                                                           

His eyes were wide. “I’m fine,” he said. “Just surprised. Is she okay?” 

“The deer?” 

He nodded. 

“She’s fine,” Reagan said. “She’ll live to spread ticks and disease, and destroy crops. Where’d she get you?” 

He pointed to his shoulder. 

“Can you move it?” 

He rotated his shoulder. He was broader than he looked from a distance. Broad even under his coat. His neck was thick, and one of his ears was partly inverted, probably from an old injury. He had snow in his ears and his hair. His hair was much darker than Reagan’s, almost black.                                                           

“Did you hit your head?” she asked.    

 

“No. I think I’m okay.” 

“That was so stupid, Mason—that could have been your face.” 

“I think I’m okay,” he repeated. He lifted his head up out of the snow and pushed up onto his elbows. 

Reagan moved away from him. 

He stood up, so she stood up, too. 

“That could have been your neck,” she said. “That was so stupid.”                                                          

“Okay,” he said, nodding. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” 

Reagan’s heart was still pounding. Mason looked worried. There was snow on his glasses, and his mask had fallen below his nose. He was holding her arm. “I’m sorry, okay? Are you hurt?”                                                           

“No,” Reagan said. “I’m just . . .”                                                           

Mason was holding her arm. He was standing right next to her.                                                          

Reagan made a fist in the suede collar of his coat and pulled herself closer to him.                  

                                                           

His head dipped forward, more fiercely than she was expecting, to kiss her.

 

Read More About If the Fates Allow Here >>

 

***

 

From Suzanne Redfearn, the bestselling author of In an Instant, comes a heartfelt short story about one couple’s journey to discover if there really is a secret ingredient to happily ever after before their upcoming holiday wedding in The Marriage Test.

 

The server appears. “Something to drink with dinner?” 

“Do you have a white burgundy?” I ask, feeling like something bright to match my mood. 

The server points to the French section of the wine list. 

“Oh,” I say, as the list is limited and pricey. “I only want a glass. I’ll just take a—” 

“A bottle of the finest white burgundy you have,” Justin interrupts. 

“Justin—”                                                           

He waves me off. 

The server leaves, and I lean in to kiss him. “I love you.” 

“For ordering a bottle of wine?” 

“For ordering a bottle of wine to make me happy.” 

I sit back again, and he returns his hand to my knee. “Good evening.” 

I look up, and my breath catches. Standing a foot from our table is Annabelle Winters, my chef idol since college. She’s five feet tall with narrow shoulders and wide hips. Curls of wild black hair escape her white cap, flour dusts her black chef coat, and in her hands is a cutting board with a round loaf of bread.                                                           

“I understand tonight is a special occasion,” she says, a Mediterranean accent rounding the words. I tilt my head as Justin nods. “In my home country, we have a tradition: remarkable moments are celebrated by the breaking of bread. So, I made this loaf specially for you.” She sets the board on the table, wisps of steam spiraling from the golden, flaky crust. “This is pogača, the bread of my childhood and a symbol of love.”                                                         

With a small bow, she pivots away.                                                           

“That . . .that was . . .I can’t believe it . . .that was Annabelle Winters.”                                                         

Justin smiles wide, a proud grin that crinkles his cheeks. “You told her it was a special occasion?” 

“It is,” he says. “We are together.” 

I look at the loaf. “Wow. Pogača. My grandmother told me about this bread. It doesn’t use eggs or milk, and it’s cooked on a hearth over an open fire.”                                                          

“It’s still warm,” he says. “It must have just come out of the oven.”                                                          

I lift it to my face and inhale deeply, warm yeast and flour filling my nose. “Mmmm.” I hold it toward him.                                                           

He takes a breath, then leans back and nods. “Well, go on . . . break bread.”                                                          

Grinning like a kid at Christmas, I grip the edges and start to twist.                                                          

“Wait!” Justin yelps, stopping me, the loaf suspended.                                                          

He falls from his chair to the deck, my leg flopping from his lap along with his napkin.                                                          

I giggle. “What are you doing?”                                                           

“Okay,” he says, now kneeling on one knee. “Keep going.” 

The people at the table behind us have stopped what they were doing and are now looking at us, and I notice Annabelle Winters beside the entrance watching as well. I look at the bread, then at Justin, then back again, and blood rushes to my face as I realize what is happening.                                                          

“Really?” I say. 

He nods toward the bread. 

Cheeks spread wide, I tear it in two, sending gold crumbs raining onto the tablecloth.

Poking from the steaming center is the corner of a stainless-steel cylinder. 

I dig my fingers in to pry it loose and set it on the palm of my hand. An inch and a half tall and two inches in diameter, it’s engraved on top with two doves surrounded by a ring of leaves.                                                          

The woman behind us shifts for a better view.                                                           

Heart pounding, I prize off the lid. Sitting on a bed of white satin is a stunning sapphire ring, the center stone blue as the deepest ocean, a single diamond baguette on either side.                                                         

“Ava Nicole Barnes,” Justin says, his voice elevated for the audience, “keeper of my heart, guardian of my soul, and woman of my dreams, will you make me the happiest man on this earth and do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

 

Read More About The Marriage Test Here >>

 

***

 

Not happy? No problem. Fake it. From New York Times bestselling author J. Courtney Sullivan comes the sharp witted short story, Model Home, about the reality of reality TV. 

On the ninth take, things get heated between the husband, Todd, and his wife, Noreen.                                                          

He complains that this house only has three bedrooms, leaving no possibility for the man cave he was promised he’d get if they gave up their downtown Milwaukee loft for the suburbs. She seems flabbergasted that he can’t see the advantage of sacrificing that space for what is by far the biggest backyard of the three houses they’ve looked at.                                                           

Todd says in a tone that manages to sound both jokey and hostile, “If we buy this house, you can’t complain when I play my electric guitar in the living room. Have you thought of that?”                                                           

Noreen replies, “I’m only ever thinking of Colby and Mason.”                                                          

If you ask me, they both deserve an Oscar. The tension is palpable, even though everyone present knows they already bought this house seven months ago.                                                          

House Number One belongs to Todd’s cousin. It isn’t for sale. House Number Two is soon to be listed. The owner was happy to provide access, since being featured on our show, even as a reject, will sell the place in a minute.                                                           

I, the wise referee/realtor/designer, smile and say for what feels like the one trillionth time in my life, “Sounds like you two have a lot to discuss. Babe, let’s leave them to it.”                                                          

I wonder briefly if I’ll ever get to say these words again on camera, but I have to put the thought from my head.                                                           

I never call Damian babe in real life. Especially not now, but even back when I could stand him. 

He doesn’t meet my eye. He’s staring into space, going out of his way to look disinterested. No one notices but me. Lately I think of my husband as a disappointment turducken: a lack of ambition wrapped in a beer gut wrapped in a statement tee designed for a much fitter man.

 

Read More About Model Home Here >>

 

***

 

Everyone is home for the holidays, clamoring for all the Christmas cheer only their mother can whip up. They can already smell the chestnuts roasting—or is that Mom’s hair on fire? From New York Times bestselling author Chandler Baker comes the laugh-out-loud short story, Oh. What. Fun. 

During normal times, Mom loves to spend most of her day on the phone with one of us or the other. As soon as she hangs up with Channing, she’ll call Sammy; as soon as she’s done with Sammy, Tyler will call; and then she starts the whole process again. Not that we’d ever say this out loud, but we’re in the thick of our lives, so we’re busy with dating and kids and friends getting married and pregnant and such, and, well, Mom’s stories are kind of dull. Though obviously, in retrospect, this is an instance when we should have paid better attention.                                                           

Unlike Mom, Channing never complains about anything and so she didn’t make a big deal of it when Mom, again, forty-five minutes after the agreed-upon time, took over the kids, leading them on a special explorer hunt to find Canelo the Elf.                                                          

Mom is wild about that Elf on the Shelf. Canelo joined us three Christmases ago. The twins are in a Spanish- immersion program, hence the name, and Channing and Doug explained to us that if Canelo started the month of December at their house, he’d need to travel for the time spent at Grandpa and Grandma’s. It only made sense. So the trick is there are actually two Canelos. Mom bought a body double so Channing could leave hers safely at home. Canelo’s antics are one of those things we all tease her about: Somebody has too much time on her hands. But the truth is, we do kind of get a kick out of him.                                                           

Mom keeps the Elf ’s next move top secret from everyone, even Dad. Last year, Canelo relaxed in a Crockpot Jacuzzi filled with marshmallows; then he stole all of our toilet paper to build snowmen and rode a zip line down the stairs. This year was off to an impressive start as the twins took binoculars and donned safari hats to track down Canelo, who was wearing camouflage in one of the old oak trees. But we guess we’ll never know what else Canelo had in store, because Canelo hasn’t moved in two days. His painted, unblinking eyes stare at us from his perch, and none of us have been able to work out yet how it is we should explain this to the twins.                                                           

We think at some point during the Canelo expedition Sammy pulled up and plopped down on the couch, probably with his shoes still on, and started messing around on his phone. Every group of siblings has a “one,” and Sammy, for us, is the Boring One, mainly because he’s twenty-five and always on his phone. Also he just broke up with his girlfriend (see: always on phone), and yet when we tasked him with one very simple to-do—break into Mom’s phone—well all the sudden he apparently “didn’t know anything about phones.”                                                          

Sammy didn’t see anything or hear anything or smell anything unusual, but as we’ve already pointed out, this can’t be taken as gospel since he was preoccupied texting back and forth with his ex. 

Sammy

do you know what kind of laundry detergent you used to use on our clothes? Bc mine smell all weird now.

                                                                       

Mae-Bell                                              

It’s the fabric softener. Downy infusions. Scent: Romantic.                                                        

Later, we passed around the conversation to weigh in by committee on whether she meant anything by it. We even consulted the Downy website while Mom handed out homemade eggnog because none of us care for the store bought, and there we learned that the Romantic scent carries “sensual aromas of delicate floral, white tea, and peony,” and at least half of us found it difficult to overlook a smoking gun like “sensual” right there as the subtext. 

After dinner, Mom asked Channing if she’d mind watching the twins for a few minutes while she cleaned the kitchen, and we all took bets on whether Sammy and Mae-Bell would be back together by spring. The holidays can be hard on people, you know. Everyone except for Mom anyway, who just loves an excuse to corral us all together under one roof. Nothing makes her more upset than a year when she has to share Channing and the twins with Doug’s family. This year, Doug’s family was indisposed because they were up in Vermont visiting Doug’s aunt, but they probably could have been in the ICU and Mom would have been just as happy as long as the result was having Channing and the girls all to herself. Not to be alarmist, but of all the years to up and vanish, you just wouldn’t expect it to be one where Channing was set to be home the whole time.

 

Read More About Oh. What. Fun. Here >>

 

***

Are you a fan of holiday novellas and short stories?

Have you read any of the authors spotlighted above?

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner - - The Redemption of Philip Thane

 

The randomly chosen winners of a print copy of

The Redemption of Philip Thane by Lisa Berne are:

catslady

and

Meg

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Tour Review - - A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm

A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm

by Helen J. Rolfe

Heritage Cove - Book 4

Publisher: Helen J. Rolfe

Release Date: December 9, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

It's almost Christmas in Heritage Cove - the village tree is all lit-up, the bakery is full of festive treats, the tea rooms and waffle shack are welcoming locals inside out of the cold, and for some of the residents of the Cove, snow might not be the only thing they're wishing for this year...

Tilly is overjoyed when an estranged relative comes to Heritage Cove wanting to make amends. But as she lets him in to her life and Tilly’s Bits ‘n’ Pieces - the shop she owns and loves - her friends aren’t so sure whether everything is quite as it seems.

Benjamin’s parents run Mistletoe Gate Farm, selling Christmas trees, wreaths and mistletoe. Benjamin has always thought his family was as firmly rooted in the ground as the rows of Norway Spruce and Fraser Firs. But when he finds a letter that rocks his world he realises he may not be able to do anything to prevent the changes coming their way.

Benjamin and Tilly have been falling for one another since the summer but will family complications put an abrupt stop to what is looking like a burgeoning romance?

With festive cheer weaving its way through the Cove as two local favourites plan their wedding, there’s more than one relationship that could receive a little Christmas magic…

PJ's Thoughts:

This was a delightful introduction to the community of Heritage Cove. Rolfe immerses readers into small-town British culture with intriguing characters, festive events, and heartwarming stories. 

I immediately connected with both Benjamin and Tilly as they navigated the treacherous waters of their respective family dramas while also dipping their toes into a sweet, tentative romance. They felt like people who could have been my neighbors growing up. I also enjoyed the touch of suspense that Tilly's uncle brought to town as well as the reconciliation his actions brought about.

This is the fourth book in Rolfe's Heritage Cove series and while I enjoyed it as a standalone I think that enjoyment would have been enhanced had I read the earlier books first. There's a rather large secondary cast of characters with stories and events that are alluded to throughout the book. At times, I felt like I was on the outside looking in. But, having said that, the author certainly has me intrigued enough to search out their books as well. 

If you enjoy heartwarming holiday stories with a sweet, closed-door romance, complicated family dynamics, and a community of interesting characters who stand ready to help and support one another, give A Winter Wedding at Mistletoe Gate Farm a try. I'll be going back for more from Helen J. Rolfe's Heritage Cove. 

Tour Review - - A Cosy Countryside Christmas

A Cosy Countryside Christmas

by Eliza J. Scott

Life on the Moors - Book 6

Publisher: Eliza J. Scott

Release Date: November 1, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

Ella Welford’s done with love. After having her fingers burnt, she’s been resolutely single for the last year and has sworn to stay that way.

Joss Campion’s still reeling from a messy divorce and has vowed never to open his heart to love again.

Growing up in the picturesque village of Lytell Stangdale, with the North Yorkshire Moors as their playground, Joss and Ella were best friends. The pair were inseparable.

Until the day something happened to ruin their friendship and Joss moved away.

An urgent telephone call summons Joss back to the village. His father’s been rushed to hospital and he’s needed to run the farm. When he returns, with his loyal canine companion, Sid, in tow, it isn’t long before he realises things aren’t as they seem. Why is his brother, Rich, being so evasive? And why does he get the impression the farm’s in trouble?

Teaching Assistant, Ella, has just broken up for the Christmas holidays and is looking forward to spending more time on her parents’ farm, tending her variety of rescue animals and recharging her batteries.

It isn’t long before the pair run into one another and sparks of attraction begin to fly - not that either of them will admit to it. But, just before Christmas, they find themselves thrown together in an unexpected turn of events as a fierce snow blizzard rages around them.

Could this be the moment that changes everything? Or is their past too big to ignore?

One thing’s for certain, life’s never dull in this little corner of the North Yorkshire Moors.

PJ's Thoughts:

I enjoy second-chance romances, especially when there's a solid foundation of friendship at their core. In this book it isn't only the reunion of childhood friends Joss and Ella that plays out against the small-town backdrop but also the reunion of estranged family. 

It's clear early on that this book is part of a long-running series with many community members in the forefront of the story. Scott does a commendable job of threading other couples in and out of the story without taking primary focus away from Joss and Ella or causing confusion for readers who haven't read the earlier books (like me).

 

I enjoyed the strong community spirit, the secondary characters who helped move the story forward, and the development of Joss and Ella, both as a couple and as individuals. I especially enjoyed the evolution of Joss's relationship with his father and the light thread of suspense involving his brother. Both were relatable and realistically portrayed. 

There is a thread in the first part of the book, however, involving Joss and a secondary character, that I did not enjoy. What happened, and how it was handled afterward, did not feel authentic to what I knew of Joss's character at that point and definitely impacted my feelings about him. The characters came to terms with what happened (very quickly, it seemed) but what occurred felt gratuitous to me and continued to have a negative impact on my enjoyment of Ella and Joss's relationship. I was happy for them at the end of the book, and other readers may not share my reservations, but my happiness was tempered by a shadow that, for me, still hovered. 

That quibble aside, my overall enjoyment of the book was enough to encourage me to seek out the earlier books in the series. I enjoyed this little village and there are several couples whose stories I would like to read. 

 

Tour Review - - One Christmas Wish

One Christmas Wish

by Brenda Jackson

Catalina Cove - Book 5

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: October 26, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

It’s Christmas in Catalina Cove, a time of promise and second chances. But when you’re starting over, love is the last thing you’re wishing for…

Vaughn Miller’s Wall Street career was abruptly ended by a wrongful conviction and two years in prison. Since then, he’s returned to his hometown, kept his head down and forged a way forward. When he is exonerated and his name cleared, he feels he can hold his head up once again, maybe even talk to the beautiful café owner who sets his blood to simmering.

Sierra Crane escaped a disastrous marriage—barely. She and her six-year-old goddaughter have returned to the only place that feels like home. Determined to make it on her own, Sierra opens a soup café. Complication is the last thing she needs, but the moment Vaughn walks into her café, she can’t keep her eyes off the smoldering loner.

When they give in to their attraction, what Sierra thought would be a onetime thing becomes so much more. Vaughn knows she’s the one. Sierra can’t deny the way Vaughn makes her feel, but she’s been burned before. With Christmas approaching, Vaughn takes a chance to prove his love, and it will be up to Sierra to decide if her one Christmas wish—true happiness—will come true.

PJ's Thoughts:

I've enjoyed each book in Brenda Jackson's Catalina Cove series. She brings this small southern Louisiana town to life and populates it with intriguing characters who are easy to root for. While fans of the series will no doubt enjoy catching up with some of those earlier characters, Sierra and Vaughn are new to the series. Readers who are also new to the series can easily begin with One Christmas Wish without any confusion.

Sierra and Vaughn's relationship is not without its challenges, with Sierra throwing up roadblocks with frequency. Her former marriage definitely took a toll on both her own self-worth as well as her willingness to let another man into her life. I wanted to toss her ex off a remote, very high, cliff for what he put her through both during their marriage as well as in the present. She has some growing - and healing - to do in order to be ready to open her heart again. 

Vaughn has emotional baggage in his past as well but seems to have reached a point where he's dealing with it better than Sierra. He's such a good guy. I loved his chemistry with Sierra and the deeper feelings he's ready to embrace. I also loved his interactions with Sierra's adopted daughter, Teryn, a six-year-old dynamo who steals every scene she's in. 

While reading this book, I spent a lot of time drooling over the soup specials at Sierra's restaurant (I need recipes) as well as immersing myself in the holiday events in Catalina Cove. Jackson depicts the town so vividly. 

There are a few secondary stories intersecting with Sierra and Vaughn's relationship which add intrigue, angst, a threat against Sierra, and the introduction of a new couple for a future book. There are also some threads left hanging from the potential resolution of the issue regarding Sierra's ex-husband. I hope that will be addressed in the next book. Only then, will I be certain of the happy ending this book promises.  

I can always count on Brenda Jackson for an immersive reading experience that brings all the feels and she delivers once again with this newest Catalina Cove tale. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to this small, friendly town on the bayou where second chances and love await new residents as well as those who find their way back home. 

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Brenda Jackson is a New York Times bestselling author of more than one hundred romance titles. Brenda lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and divides her time between family, writing and traveling.