A Cup of Autumn: when love wasn't a part of the plan

A Cup of Autumn is the third book in the Silver Falls series by Melissa McClone. Keaton Andrews has always dreamed of becoming a tenured professor at an elite university. His plans come to a halt when he learns that his department has been cut and his contract has been terminated. With time on his hands, he heads to Silver Falls to spend time with family and focus on his options. One morning, at the local cafe, he takes a risk and orders something other than his usual coffee. Raine Hanover has been running on empty, trying to find reliable staff for her increasingly busy cafe when she is “volunteered” to organize the town’s annual Boo Bash. She has no time for romance and she especially has no time for a charming smile even if it is a nerdy yet handsome professor. When Keaton offers to help her organize the event, it takes long before the sparks fly. 

Silver Falls is a small town that I wish I lived in. The sense of community, friendship and family is heartwarming. I love this series and I was eagerly waiting for the nerdy professor’s story. Right off the bat, I loved Keaton and Raine. They were honest with each other about their expectations and plans for the future. He still had no plans to stay in Silver Falls and Raine wasn’t leaving. However, sometimes you can’t help it when you fall in love and are faced with a painful decision. Does one follow their long standing dream? Or do they embrace a new one? It is a sweet story and I couldn’t not put it down. I read well into the night as I wanted to see Keaton and Raine’s happy ending. I am looking forward to the final book in the series and the final Andrews sibling to have their story. I highly, highly recommend A Cup of Autumn. 

A Cup of Autumn is available in paperback and eBook

A Slice of Summer: a clean second chance small town romance

A Slice of Summer is the second book in the Silver Falls series by Melissa McClone. Last Christmas, Taryn Lawson had a great time with Garrett Andrews, a LA trial attorney. Before he left town, he promised her he would keep in touch and she never heard from him again. Now, summer has arrived and her friend, Callie and Brandt’s wedding is here, Taryn is busy prepping for it as well as proving to her parents that she is capable of taking over the family bakery while dealing with slower customer traffic. The summer fair is approaching and Taryn sees it as her opportunity to showcase her specialty desserts and win back her customers. As the fair approaches, she is coming to need help to finish in time. The only one available to help is the one man who ghosted her. Garrett didn’t intend to ghost Taryn and wants to take his chance to make amends. Will they take their second chance of love? 

A Slice of Summer is a clean second chance small town romance romance with plenty of fun, sweet moments and drama and excitement. I enjoyed Taryn and Garrett as individuals and as a couple. I liked Taryn’s determination to do what she loves despite competition from a competitor and the doubts from her parents. I enjoyed Garrett and his siblings. It felt very relatable and produced a lot of laughs. Even though Taryn and Garrett rekindle their romance and agree to a long distance romance, I knew it wouldn’t end like that. I enjoyed Garrett’s grand gesture. I also enjoyed the continued slimy dealings of the town nemesis and getting his comeuppance. Will he make another appearance in future books? As a snake always wants to strike again. Overall, I enjoyed A Slice of Summer and I am looking forward to reading the next books of the series. If you enjoy clean second chance small town romance, I recommend A Slice of Summer. 

A Slice of Summer is available in paperback and eBook

His Christmas Wish: rediscovering the joy and magic of Christmas after a loss

His Christmas Wish is the first book in the Mountain Rescue Romance series by Melissa McClone. Carly Bishop loved Christmas until tragedy struck that left her distraught and grief-stricken. Unable to stay in the small town of Hood Hamlet after the deaths of her brother and fiancé, Carly packed up and moved as far away as she could. Now, six years later, her family needs her. She reluctantly returns to help with her niece and nephew, hoping to survive the days until she can leave Hood Hamlet behind once again. Jake Porter is a Bishop family friend and a volunteer mountain rescue climber. He lives with the guilt that he could not save his two friends on that fateful day and the heartbreaking loss that Carly carries. When she returns to town, he is determined to make amends. As Jake and Carly help give the kids the best Christmas ever, can he help her rediscover her love of Christmas? Can he also help her open her heart again to love? 

His Christmas Wish is a sweet, emotional Christmas romance. It is a brother’s friend, second chance romance with hard hitting emotions. Melissa McClone does a beautiful job handling the sensitive topic of grief and guilt as life moves on. One of my favorite quotes sums up the story beautifully, “Life is about taking risks…and love makes those risks worth it even if we end up disappointed or hurt.” I loved Jake and Carly. They have a beautiful history together as they grew up together and have past crushes on each other that they never acted on. I loved their supporting characters, especially the niece and nephew as children can bring the infectious joy and magic of Christmas. There were a few tears as Carly confronted her grief. There are great moments of smiles and heartfelt connection between Carly and Jake. I loved this story and I look forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy a Christmas romance with heart and real emotions, I recommend His Christmas Wish. 

His Christmas Wish is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Christmas Window: a sweeet, cute and clean Christmas romance

The Christmas Window is the first book in the Silver Falls series by Melissa McClone. Callie Andrews has found her passion running a doggy daycare in the small town of Silver Falls. The town has a holiday window display contest that she is determined to win. To prove to her parents and older brothers that she is thriving on her own. Brandt Winslow has reluctantly returned home to Silver Falls. He left many years ago after being betrayed by someone he trusted. He hopes to spend his vacation avoiding the past and quietly checking off the days. When his well meaning, matchmaking aunt has decided that her nephew needs to find love, Brandt finds himself spending time with Callie and discovering hope and magic in the holidays. Is there enough magic to find love under the mistletoe? 

The Christmas Window is a sweet, cute and clean Christmas romance. I enjoyed Callie and Brandt as they met on the wrong foot and through forced proximity, they find common ground and a growing friendship and eventually love. I also enjoyed Brandt’s aunt and the other residents of Silver Falls. They were great support for Callie and Brandt. This story also brings the importance of standing up for yourself, for your passions and dreams as well as confronting the past in order to move forward. The story flowed smoothly and I enjoyed reading Callie and Brandt’s romance that I read well into the night. I am looking forward to the rest of the series. If you enjoy small town romance with a Christmas atmosphere, I highly recommend The Christmas Window. 

The Christmas Window is available in paperback and eBook

The Groom: a second chance romance

The Groom is the first book in the A Keeper Heart series by Melissa McClone. Falling in love on national television was awkward but having your heart broken in front of viewers was devastating. Millie Kincaid signed up for the popular dating show, The Groom. She never expected to be picked, let alone make it to the finale. When Jace Westfall doesn’t pick her in the season finale, she is hurt and humiliated that she wants to escape from the spotlight and return to her quiet life as a school teacher. Until a new reality TV show provides her a shot at money that her school desperately needs. When Jace made his choice, he didn’t expect to fall from fan favorite to villain overnight. His choice cost him everything: his reputation, his endorsements and even his heart. Now on the verge of financial ruin, he is forced to do another reality tv show. Millie and Jace never expected to see each other again, let alone be teamed up. As they race from country to country, competing in challenge after challenge, they have a real shot at the prize money and a second chance at love. Their only obstacle: each other. 

The Groom is a light heartened, fun romance. I am not a fan of reality shows and do not watch many of them. However, reading Jace and Millie’s adventure on the reality show, Cash Around The Globe, was much more entertaining and enjoyable than watching the real thing. I cheered them both on as they fought being teammates, found their rhythm together and fell in love. Millie had been boxed into the image that she was mousy and no man would find her attractive. She struggles with the fact that that image is wrong. Jace thinks with his head for practical purposes but fails to consider his heart. Every decision he makes is to better his family’s livelihood even at the expense of his own happiness. These two are perfect for each other, they just need to open their eyes and hearts to see it. A romance story with a happily ever after was just what I needed after reading a much heavier and darker book. Overall, I enjoyed The Groom and look forward to reading the rest of the A Keeper Heart series. If you enjoy light hearted romance with a happily ever after, I highly recommend The Groom. 

The Groom is available in paperback and eBook