Between the Shady Groves: sometimes going home is the path to happiness, love and forgiveness

Between the Shady Groves is the tenth book in the Raspberry Ridge Sweet Beach Romance series by Jessie Gussman. Twelve years ago, Lauren left the small town of Raspberry Ridge for the glittering city life and full of ambition. Now, she is married and life isn’t what she imagined. After a series of devastating miscarriages, the death of her mother and her emotionally unaware husband, Lauren returns to her hometown and the family bakery, desperate to find herself again and find the healing she desperately needs. With every familiar sight and scent, stirs memories of heartbreak, anger and abandoned dreams, Lauren takes up her mother’s legacy and opens the bakery once again. As friendships renew and blossom, Lauren finds the sense of belonging she is looking for. What she doesn’t expect is her husband, Cannon, arriving in town with pleads of forgiveness. Lauren must learn that true happiness is not escaping the past but embracing love, family and forgiveness. 

I have not read the earlier books in the Raspberry Ridge series; however, the story sounded promising, so I took a chance. From the very beginning Lauren is a shell of herself and desperate to feel comfort and love from those around her. I empathized with Lauren as someone who has experienced multiple miscarriages as others around me were having babies; however, where I couldn’t sympathize with her is her attitude toward her husband. She expected Cannon to read her mind and know what is wrong, what she wants and needs. Her favorite repeated line was he’s smart, he can figure it out. Men, and people in general, need to be told point blank, "I need this or that.” Overall, I did not like Lauren or Cannon and even though they came to a resolution at the end, I didn’t find myself cheering for them. If you are a fan of the Raspberry Ridge series, I recommend Between the Shady Groves. 

Between the Shady Groves is available in paperback and eBook.