Sandy M’s review of The Birthday List (The Maysen Jar, Book 1) by Devney Perry
Contemporary Romance published 3 Apr 18
I haven’t read Devney Perry before, and when I came across her latest release, Letters to Molly, I was intrigued. What I didn’t realize at the time is LtM is a second book in a series. So once I finished that wonderful story, I couldn’t wait to revisit the characters I’d come to love while reading Molly and Finn’s book. Though theirs is a new release, I’m starting with The Birthday List, because if you become intrigued reading my review, start here. You won’t regret one minute spent with these folks.
Poppy Maysen is a young widow, her husband murdered five years ago. Little by little, minute by minute she’s dragged herself out of heartache and depression, culminating in the opening of her new restaurant, The Maysen Jar. Her dream is an instant success, and everyone in her life, from her brother Finn to her best friend Molly, are right there with her, breathing a huge sigh of relief their Poppy is living again. Part of her new outlook is completing Jamie’s birthday list he started before his death. Next up on his list is karate, so she’s off to her first class.
It’s there that fate has decided to begin intervening in Poppy’s life after all these years. She comes face to face with the officer who delivered the awful news to her when Jamie was killed. Memories blossom, but Poppy is a strong woman – and karate isn’t for her, despite the fact Cole Goodman is a great teacher. And a sexy-as-sin man. Cole remembers Poppy just as well as she remembers him. She’s as beautiful as he recalls and is smitten all over again. He begins to drop by The Maysen Jar, taking advantage of every opportunity to get to know her. And he gets help from Poppy’s friends and family, adding extra fun to their courtship.
I thoroughly enjoyed that slow and loving courtship. Cole knows he has to move at Poppy’s pace. She’s still not quite to the point of moving on when it comes to loving again. He has become a favorite hero for me. Offering to help Poppy fulfill Jamie’s birthday list is as emotional for the reader as it is for Poppy, and the joy and fun she begins to experience with him is simply and lovingly written. The secondary characters are equally fun and charming – Molly and Finn, of course, and their heartbreaking story starts here, to be shared again in Letters to Molly – their children are delightful, and Randall and Jimmy will keep you chuckling.
This is a book full of love – even when it’s thought love has died – and tenderness and second chances. And so much. I’m so very glad I stumbled on Devney Perry. I will be reading more of her books every chance I get.
Grade: A
Summary:
Poppy Maysen carries a journal in her purse. Its pages were filled long ago by a man who craved adventure, lived life to the fullest and never failed to make her laugh. The journal is his birthday list—one she vows to complete.
She’ll do the things he wanted to do most. Because maybe, just maybe, if she can finish his list, she can start to live again.
Poppy expects going through the birthday list will be hard. She expects it to hurt. But what she doesn’t expect is Cole. Could the man who watched her heart shatter be the one to put it back together again?
No excerpt available.
Other books in this series:
