Tag: #annierains

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

STARTING OVER AT BLUEBERRY CREEK (Sweetwater Springs Book #4) by Annie Rains is another wonderful addition to the Sweetwater Springs contemporary romance series. Ms. Rains has written a friends-to-lovers story that pulled at every one of my heartstrings.

Brenna McConnell put her college education to become a teacher on hold to finish raising her younger sister, Eve when their parents are killed in an accident. Brenna takes over her mother’s catering business with her aunt and when her sister graduates from high school she fears her sister’s desire to become a firefighter like their father. Eve is headstrong and difficult with Brenna acting like a mother instead of the sister she misses which causes a rift between them.

Firefighter Luke Marini moves next door to the sisters to start over in a new town. He immediately notices the beautiful brunette next door, but one of the reasons he moved was to get away from his previous neighbor and have people not know about his past. Brenna welcomes her new neighbor even as he seems cold to her neighborly advances, but Luke is finding he cannot stay away from the temptation of the sweet Brenna.

Luke helps Brenna realize that her sister is an adult, even though she may not act like one at times and it is time for Brenna to work on realizing her own dreams. Brenna is used to sacrificing for others and she is finding it difficult to only think of herself, especially when wonderful firefighter may be her chance at a future that may be slightly different than what she always dreamed of.

I love Ms. Rain’s storytelling! It pulls me in to her small-town characters and lives effortlessly. Brenna and Luke both had so much going on emotionally, past and present and yet Ms. Rain’s writing makes you feel empathy and not sympathy. The growth and changes flow throughout the story, including Brenna and Eve’s relationship. Sometimes what we believe will make us happy, is not necessarily so and both of the main characters learn that and grow. All the secondary characters are fully fleshed out and the sex is all behind closed doors.

I love this book and all the Sweetwater Springs books and recommend them all! I want to thank Forever Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC. It was very much my pleasure.

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Oh my!

This second book in the Sweetwater Springs contemporary romance series is an absolute joy to read from beginning to HEA. I cried and laughed and just could not put it down. SPRINGTIME AT HOPE COTTAGE (Sweetwater Springs #2) by Annie Rains was a pleasure to read.

Josie Kellum is a writer on a major magazine in NYC. It was her dream job until the arrival of the new owner. She decides she needs a trip to visit her BFF, Kaitlyn in Sweetwater Springs for article ideas and time to consider her future at the magazine. As Josie is walking behind Kaitlyn’s B&B, she goes off the trail and ends up with a severely twisted knee. Kaitlyn knows the perfect physical therapist to help get her up and about as soon as possible. She is supposed to return to NYC soon.

Tucker “Tuck” Locklear grew up in Sweetwater Springs and returned after college to run his physical therapy practice using the outdoors and nature at Hope Cottage to heal instead of an exercise room in a facility. He has been a widower for two years now and is just starting to move on. His first impression of Josie is of a high maintenance city girl, but as the two get closer he finds she is so much more. Tuck knows Josie will be returning to NYC soon and it would be stupid to risk his heart on someone who will be leaving, but there is so much he likes about Josie.

Tuck and Josie get an extra month together when there is a fire in the apartment next to Josie’s in NYC. They each have reasons that should keep them apart, but the attraction is too strong. Can Josie slow down and quit running? Can Tuck take the chance at a second love?

This is story that will stay with me for a while. Josie’s reasons for hiding in her work and Tuck’s reasons for not getting involved were all handled realistically by this author. Ms. Rains writing had me completely engrossed in Sweetwater Springs and its inhabitants. So many little things can add up in our lives and change a person. These characters showed that sometimes you have to forgive yourself as much as others. All of the secondary characters are as realistic and entertaining as the H/h. This is a sweet romance and none of the sex scenes are explicit.

This is an emotional romance read with a very satisfying HEA. I can highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Thanks very much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC.