Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Meriside Romance, Book 1

Beth Miller, horticultural therapist, takes on a lion’s share of the work at her family’s garden center after the deaths of her father and brother two years before. She hasn’t completed her internship for certification and has put her life on hold for her family. Her oasis is renting an apartment from Agatha, who almost feels like a grandmother to her.  

Tyler Sharp, Agatha’s nephew, moves in with his great aunt while searching for a home. His job as the new social worker at the local women’s correctional facility is temporary because he and his friend plan to minister to juveniles and children of incarcerated parents in Colorado. He can’t afford to fall in love with Beth, who lives in Washington.

The story captivated my attention from the beginning with a lovable hero and heroine. The author includes several secondary characters in difficult situations that I found myself championing. We know from the beginning that the hero doesn’t plan to stay in Washington, keeping my attention as the story unfolded with unexpected turns.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Amazon  

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Trinity Falls Sweet Romance, Book 4

Trinity Falls, Pennsylvania

Sarah Robinson leaves behind her successful job to purchase a bookstore in Trinity Falls, a place she’s dreamed of returning to since her family left when she was a child. Of the many places her family lived during her childhood, Trinity Falls was the only town that felt like home. She’s thrilled to return, even after finding the bookshop hasn’t been kept up.

Brody Webb feels sorry for the city girl who bought his uncle’s shop. How long would it be before she gave up on the small-town bookstore and returned to the big city? Brody’s own wife had divorced him and left him, his farm, and their children to pursue a brilliant career. Brody can’t allow himself to fall for Sarah, no matter how much his avid-reading daughter loves her.

Sarah’s growing friendship with Brody and his children blossoms into more, but there’s no sign that the confirmed bachelor returns her feelings.

This book was a page-turner for me! The children definitely made the story more poignant for me. Neither the hero nor the heroine has a high opinion of their own appeal to the opposite sex, which adds to the story’s tension.

This well-written book is a feel-good story.

I will look for more books by this author. Recommended for readers of contemporary romances.

Amazon

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Hidden Veil Hometown, Book 2

The main reason Macie Newman accepts a job at a ranch in the small town of Hidden Veil is to give Alex, her nine-year-old son, a country setting to heal from witnessing his father drown. Her chef skills might be wasted on Lane Becker and his uncle, but she will do anything to help her traumatized son to heal.

Lane’s focus is on establishing his equine therapy center that will open in a few months. He soon discovers Alex’s trauma. Unfortunately, the boy’s feisty mother tends to be overprotective. Macie doesn’t take it well when he gives her his opinion. Lane’s friendship with both of them grows along with Alex’s interest in the ranch’s horses. Yet Lane can’t allow himself to dream of a relationship with Macie because of lingering guilt due to his brother’s death.

Lovable characters quickly pulled me into their plight. Both the hero and heroine have believable past emotional issues that made me care about their journey, especially as it affected the boy.

I enjoyed the North Carolina small-town setting. Townspeople whom we may see again in future books make me want to continue reading the series.

An enjoyable story.

Amazon   

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Glover Family Saga, Shiloh Ridge Ranch, Book 1

Bear Glover shares the ownership of a thriving Texas ranch with his cousin. The ranch is large enough to support his adult siblings and cousins. He loves his job yet he’s lonely. Sammy Benton caught his eye three years and he’s finally worked up the courage to ask her out.

Sammy runs her own shop in addition to raising her sister’s son, Lincoln. Her parents are getting older, requiring her help. Bear’s invitation thrills her. Unfortunately, their date doesn’t go well.

A tornado that wreaks havoc on their community brings them together. Sammy has been raising Lincoln on her own so long. Can she accept help without feeling weak?

This story was a page-turner. Our strong hero was so sweetly awkward about asking Sammy out that he drew me in immediately. Our heroine would do anything to keep from appearing weak.

The Texas community setting invited me in and made me want to stay a while. The families of the main characters were equally lovable, making me eager to read the next story in the series.

Recommend! I can’t wait to read the next book.

Amazon   

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Dog Groomer’s Love Stories Series

All Clare Gaylord wants is a dog from the rescue center for her fifteen-year-old grandson Braden. She didn’t plan on meeting her first husband, a man she regrets divorcing thirty years before. Had she tried to help Lloyd through his PTSD, she wouldn’t have endured a disastrous second marriage. Yet there had been reasons she feared Lloyd’s episodes.

Lloyd Harmon can’t believe it when Clare comes into the business where he supports himself as a dog groomer. Many difficult years have passed. He’s now in counseling, yet still struggles with nightmares sometimes. Should he try to befriend her? Or just allow the past to remain in the past? 

I had read other books in this series and was happy to see what happened with them after their stories ended.

Believable, lovable characters, each working through their own difficult pasts, had me turning pages. Surprising twists and turns—some revealed from the past—escalated my interest. I couldn’t put the story down.

This novel of lost love and forgiveness will also appeal to animal lovers and dog lovers.

I recommend this contemporary romance novel, and dog lovers will especially enjoy it.

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A positive review was not required.

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Abbott Island Series, Book 2

Marigold Hayes lost her mother as a teenager, at the same time that her father went missing. Now in her fifties, she still wants nothing more than to find her dad. She’s never married. Her relationship with Johnny Papadakis is the longest she’s known, yet what if he leaves like her father did?

Johnny loves Marigold. His Greek restaurant keeps him busy while he waits for her trust in him to build. He also wants to strengthen bonds with his adult daughter, a relationship that his ex-wife had tried to destroy.

This story is told through multiple viewpoints. The villain had me shaking my head. Believable characters made me care about their journey. Unexpected twists kept me turning pages.

Surprises await the characters in this small-town island setting. The setting was one of my favorite parts, as I got to know other residents I might see in upcoming novels.    

I’m enjoying this series.

Amazon

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Rodeo Romance, Book 13

Dr. Beth Moore moves into the Idaho home she recently inherited, hoping to find a break in Twin Falls. She wants a different job away from the hospital emergency room, but first she needs rest.

She meets Billy Clark, a rodeo bullfighter, when a bull tosses him at her feet. Treating his wounds leads to a job traveling with the rodeo company. Billy’s infectious good spirits and laughter are a stark contrast to her personality. Can he grow to care for him?

Billy’s childhood had been a trainwreck. Finding a job on the rodeo and friends who cared while a teenager changed his life. Bullfighting is all he’s known. Meeting the quiet, reserved doctor who excels at her job throws him for a loop. Can he hope that someone like her will care for him?

Lovable, wounded characters quickly drew me into the story. It’s easy to see that bullfighting is a dangerous occupation. Readers will be pulled into the traveling life of those who work for the rodeo. I loved that those involved in the show became a family.

I enjoyed this holiday western romance.

Amazon

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Hope Harbor Novel

Ashley Scott yearns for a substantial change after her job and a promising relationship come to an end. She becomes part-owner of a beautiful Oregon home in Hope Harbor where she and the reclusive other owner intend to turn it into a wedding venue. The owner of a local landscaping business, Jonathan Gray, intrigues her.

Jonathan’s significant battle scars are only partially visible. His girlfriend at the time of the battle left the former male model. Wearing a mask, he keeps to himself and his dog. But Ashley makes him long for more.

The setting, the amazing historic home, and the characters drew me into the story. Hope Harbor is a place where I, as a reader, wanted to vacation with a book on the beach. Authentic characters with real struggles kept me turning pages.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints. Readers will find several interesting characters in Hope Harbor, possibly from other novels in the series.

A heartwarming series in a beautiful setting. I look forward to reading more of Hannon’s books.

Christianbook.com

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Baker owner Charlie Bussey loves dogs and a portion of her baked goods cater to pets. She often donates cookies to the local animal shelter that is struggling to stay afloat.

Blake Bryant has returned to his hometown after several years of absence for two reasons—to purchase a shop to expand his boss’s coffee shops and to adopt the niece whom he’s just learned about. And maybe to see if Charlie, his former best friend who had rejected his heart, could return his love.

Charlie was devastated when Blake left nine years before. She’s filled the empty years by starting a bakery and becoming a child advocate for foster children. When she learns that Blake’s company wants the animal shelter’s building, she is determined to fight to save it.  

The characters were likeable. The plight of the foster children enhanced the story for me, but the heroine’s continued anger toward the hero bothered me. Fundraisers and Christmas events kept the story rooted in the holiday season, which I enjoyed.

I love happy endings and this was a nice story set at Christmas.

Christianbook.com