Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 25 Aug 20
This series is sweet, sad, and funny with wonderful insights into human nature and what makes people tick. Seraphina did not impress me in the first book in the series. I was a bit skeptical about what to expect in this book, but, readers, hold on to your hats, her character will blow you away and make you a fan for life. In my mind, this series is a departure from Ms. Blake’s usual writing style but in a wonderful, quirky way. Can’t wait to read more heartwarming, family-oriented stories from this author.
Seraphina is a sweet, sassy, principled woman who is doing all she can to find herself and be a good mother to her son. Yes, she is struggling to hold down a job and has tried all the options in the small town of Papillion, but it’s through no fault of her own that she’s not a success, though she is loved by her family and friends. The bane of her existence is Celeste. I love the interactions between Sera, Celeste, and Sera’s mother in their so-southern sarcastic way.
Harrison Jeffreys never expected to find himself in small-town Louisiana, but his desire to find family and the impending marriage of his cousin has him a guest of his aunt Celeste and attracted to Sera from his first meeting with her. He wages a campaign to win Sera and her son, despite how much his aunt dislikes her. Harry is a man who is confident in himself and willing to take a stand, but when he finds out every last one of Sera’s secrets, all bets might be off.
Celeste covets the property next door and can’t wait for her elderly neighbor to die so she can acquire it and extend her own property. Imagine her fury and displeasure when Sera inherits it and refuses to sell it. If that’s not enough fuel for her fire, Celeste’s nephew Harry is determined to lend his expertise to Sera in her restoration of the property and her possible plan to create a bed and breakfast.
The story will sweep you away in the depth of the relationships between the various characters, the undercurrents that will eventually become a riptide sweeping everything aside to make way for new beginnings. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Grade: A
Summary:
Seraphina Guidry loves Butterfly Bayou. A young, single mom, she’s trying to find a place for herself in the town she cherishes, but past mistakes have made her wary. She adores her son but has sworn off men. She’s dedicated herself to restoring an historic house and building her own business. A quiet life is all she wants.
Harrison Jefferys never expected to find himself in small-town Louisiana, but he has a job to do and a family to reconnect with. After years in the Army, he’s happy to spend time with his Aunt Celeste and his cousins in such an idyllic spot. When he meets Seraphina, he starts to think Papillion might be a great place to call home. But a secret from Sera’s past rears its head and threatens to tear the community apart.
Caught between the woman he’s coming to love and the only family he has left, Harry knows he has to follow his heart and with the help of the crazy, loving, meddling locals find a way to keep them both.
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Other books in this series:
