The Pet Doctor: when a small town vet falls in love with the local wedding planner

The Pet Doctor is the third book in the Emerson Pass Contemporaries series by Tess Thompson. Breck Stokes returns to Emerson Pass to take over his mother’s veterinarian clinic. He loves being back home in his small town and loves animals and the occasional nap. He can’t explain it but he is drawn to the lovely but reserved Tiffany Birt. Tiffany arrived in Emerson Pass and soon became their favorite wedding planner. What her friends don’t know is that she hides behind a wall and holds a secret of a haunting childhood. When her past becomes national news, she must decide if she continues to hide or confront her demons and make sure those who hurt her and others pay. Will she be free at last and be able to pursue a future with Breck? Or will the men from her past continue to haunt her? 

The Pet Doctor was a sweet, funny and dramatic clean romance. The story opens as Tiffany breaks free from the cult that wanted to bind her into servitude. She builds her life and settles in Emerson Pass where she catches the attention of Breck. Breck is sweet and quiet who has his own traumatic past. However, when he learns of Tiffany’s past, he becomes the support she needs. I loved them together and their romance was sweet. The drama about the cult was doing well without being overwhelming to the overarching story. There was also drama between Breck and his mother that was well done as well and I cheered when he finally spoke his mind. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am looking forward to the rest of the series. I highly recommend The Pet Doctor. I do recommend you start with book 1, The Sugar Queen. 

The Pet Doctor is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Patron: a story of faith, forgiveness and family

The Patron by Tess Thompson is the second book in the Emerson Pass Contemporaries series. Crystal Whalen isn’t sure why she should move on. Two years after her husband’s death on a ski trip, she is still reeling from her devastation. She is further devastated when a fire destroys her mountain home. The fire has thrown her together with Garth Welte, the gorgeous former skiing Olympian turned lawyer, whose home was also destroyed. The two become temporary housemates as their mutual friends, Trapper and Brandi, offer them a room while their houses are rebuilt. However, Crystal’s attraction to Garth only fuels her grief and guilt. Garth has his own wounds. He was burned when his ex-wife took most of his money and he is determined to keep things casual with Crystal, unfortunately, his growing feelings are getting more and more harder to deny. As they deal with their respective wounds, will they allow themselves a chance at love one more time? 

The Patron picks up where the first book, The Sugar Queen, left off. The town of Emerson Pass is still dealing with the aftermath of the devastating fire. It is a sweet and heartwarming story of faith, forgiveness and family. I particularly liked Ms. Thompson’s treatment of Crystal’s grief. It felt very real and tangible as she struggles with moving forward. As a couple, I didn’t get the warm fuzzies with Crystal and Garth as I did with Trapper and Brandi, but honestly, I think it’s because I related to Brandi’s struggles more than I did with Crystal’s and Garth’s. There was a bit of a mystery that is revealed in the story. However, I figured it out very early in the story and it was nice to have an “I knew it!” moment as I read. Overall, I enjoyed The Patron and I look forward to reading more books in the Emerson Pass Contemporaries series. I recommend The Patron but first you must read The Sugar Queen. 

The Patron is available in paperback and eBook

The Sugar Queen is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Sugar Queen: a story of second chances for love and happiness

The Sugar Queen by Tess Thompson is the first book in the Emerson Pass Contemporaries series. At eighteen, Brandi Vargas watched the love of her drive away, never to return. Though she and Trapper Barnes dreamed of a life together, she felt she would only be in the way of his dreams. Breaking his heart, and her own while holding onto a secret, she resigned herself to a life in the small town. Ten years later, after an injury ends his professional hockey career, Trapper Barnes returns to Emerson Pass. Brandi now owns the local bakery, The Sugar Queen, and has seemingly forgotten all about him. As with small towns, it is hard to avoid each other, and soon tragedy forces Brandi to confront her past and the need to reveal her secret. A secret she is certain will end any possible future with Trapper and even leave him hating her. Will she find the strength to reveal her deepest secret for another chance at love and happiness with Trapper? 

The Sugar Queen is a sweet romance with deep emotions and great moments. The book opens with a disclaimer from the author that the story deals with the stillbirth of an infant. Since I have experienced my own loss of an infant, although not a stillbirth, I appreciate the disclaimer and was prepared for the topic to come up in the story. Ms. Thompson deals with infant loss with heart, honesty and tenderness. I rarely cry at a book but this story had me in tears as Brandi reveals her secret to Trapper. Trapper’s reaction is what I would expect when hearing such devastating news. I especially cried when Brandi received support from an unlikely source. There is also a great cast of supporting characters. Those to love and those to hate and loathe, especially one character I wanted to reach through the book and shake some sense into! I look forward to reading the rest of the love stories the Emerson Pass Contemporaries has to offer. I highly recommend The Sugar Queen. 

The Sugar Queen is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.