Olivia MilesBesprekingen

A Wedding in Driftwood Cove by Olivia Miles is an amusing, heartfelt tale that immerses you into the lives of the Walsh family. The story centers around three estranged sisters as they gather to celebrate the youngest sister’s wedding. Together they heal and repair relationships.

Miles created characters who are genuine, and relatable. The plot weaves effortlessly into a delightful tale of love, family, and life.

Overall, A Wedding in Driftwood Cove is a heartfelt nostalgic tale with relatable characters, idyllic places, and a captivating storyline that is engaging from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley. I was not obligated to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

I like books that feature families, especially ones in which they support each other or come to a place of healing. Olivia Miles’s Summer’s End is about three sisters whose circumstances have driven them apart.

And what an idyllic setting to reevaluate and take stock of life. During their two-week visit to Evening Island, Michigan, these women meet up with old friends, relive memories of their mother, and wrestle with what they want for their futures.

Miles nails the dynamic between these sisters, and I just wanted them to open up and share what was happening in their lives (which the do…eventually). With the bonuses of a couple of potential romances, gorgeous weather, and a beautiful lake home, and Summer’s End became a story I wasn’t ready to leave.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

sweet dar

I am a strong believer in strength of character. No individual knows how they will handle a situation until they have to face it head on. Jane is my hero. She dealt with a major JA for years and then was tossed aside like trash. This is a woman that had the rug pulled from under her yet she handled it with grace and strength. She learned from her past mistakes and with the help of an old friend may find a new chance at love. Hope Springs on Main Street is a story that is not always sunny but just like Jane leaves you feeling stronger for reading it. This is my first read by Olivia Miles and I am so grateful to have discovered her work. Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What is meant to be a cause for celebration, could end up being anything but. One Week to the Wedding is a tale of sisterhood, betrayals and second chances. Olivia Miles always delivers stories that are full of substance, not just entertaining. Kate and Charlotte are sisters with a complicated relationship. What should have been an unbreakable bond has ended up tarnished by betrayal and jealousy. I guess that old the statement about not realizing how important something is until too late is true. One regret too many has left Charlotte estranged from the most important person in her life. Will Kate every forgive her? One Week to the Wedding is a thought provoking story of heartache, family and forgiveness told through the eyes of love and a heart of regret.

When you hit rock bottom, there's no place to go but up. Charlotte is quickly learning that it's much easier to screw up your life, but not as easy to rebuild it. Learning to be mature has never been her strong suit, but she's willing to try for the sake of her daughter and the love of her sister. For a chance at redemption she's willing to risk everything. Including her heart. Ms. Miles introduced Charlotte in One Week to the Wedding. The woman with a chip on her shoulder and a lot of hurt in her heart has become a better person by learning how to forgive and love. The Winter Wedding Plan is another jewel in the crown that is Olivia Miles.

ARC Review: Christmas Comes to Main Street (Briar Creek) by Olivia Miles


Anything he can do, I can do better ...

With a business to run, Kara has no time for arrogant and infuriating distractions. Her pride won't allow her to surrender to self-doubt or ask for help. It certainly won't allow her to be bested by an outsider with a superiority complex. Nate has a massive ego and rather large chip on his shoulder. Olivia Miles, generates major sparks with Christmas Comes to Main Street. A battle of the sexes mixed in with loveable holiday charm makes Kara and Nate, a tempting treat for any sweet tooth. Briar Creek is a great place to spend some down time.

I'm somewhat standoffish anytime a story centers around doctors. My brain is not built for the medical jargon spewed in many such stories. Ms. Miles didn't go overboard with medical speak. Instead she created a romance that I liked a lot. The town of Briar Creek is your standard small town. Gossips, a family atmosphere and not very much drama. Perfect for an afternoon chance to unwind. Ivy is a firecracker. She speaks her mind and lives by her own rules. Brett has a fast paced career that keeps him busy and stressed. A match headed for trouble. Love Blooms On Main Street has the sweetness I look for in my small town reads.

After reading the first in her series, One Week to the Wedding, it was a no brainer that I had to check this out too because Miles is a fun author to read.

Miles wraps her plot around Charlotte who is this wonderful character you want to root for as she is bound and determined to be a better person and mom. She has this plan to turn things around by being more organized and successful so her daughter can have a happier life. Now she has a chance to improve her relationship with her sister as they work together so what could possibly go wrong. The family dynamics are emotional, detailed and any woman with a sister will recognize the undercurrents.

To throw some added fun to the mix and spice things up for Charlotte, Miles springs Gregory Frost onto us to wind up Charlotte. He wants her to pretend to be his fiancé but this could harm the progress she’s made with her sister. After all what sister wouldn’t just be thrilled to find out her business partner and family is considering a job that could put their business into an ethical bind? Yet if she doesn’t and loses him as a client that could also cause potential harm so…talk about a fun dilemma. What is with these women attracting men issues that seem destined to keep blowing up their tenuous relationship?

If you read the first you’ll recognize the setting and people once again as we become intertwined in the Daniels Family saga. Whereas the first book focused on Kate, this one gives us a chance to get to see more of Charlotte in her rebuilding phase. Charlotte seems so desperate to want to be better, to prove her family wrong in their assessment of her but wanting to be better and actually doing it are two very different roads.

In the background the family drama is ongoing and we get sneak peeks to their lives that help fill in the time and space between Charlotte trying to do the right thing, at least in her own way. Miles allows us to be part of the minor characters’ lives without forgetting or not caring what’s going on with Charlotte. We’re provided with realistic storylines, fully developed characters, plenty of emotion, attention grabbing family squabbles and a world of fun you’re going to want to read to believe.

Miles has provided a carefree series you can wiles away the time with and just like her first it’s a wonderful piece of women’s fiction that is all about showing the story with heart rather than resorting to cheap erotic tricks.

This book did nothing for me. I thought at first that I was enjoying this book although, it did not a bit to warm up to the characters but then I realized that I never really found my groove with the story or the characters. In fact, not by purpose (in the beginning) but I stopped reading at the half way mark. As time passed I found my desire to go back to the book lessen. To be honest, I can't remember what happened in the first half of the story.

First in the series, Grace left Briar Creek 5 years ago to persue a writing career in New York City. Now, having writers block, a broken engagement, and facing the first Christmas without her Dad, she heads back to town. And immediately bumps into her old heartthrob. Can he convince her to stay? The stage is set in this book, with the other characters that will take the lead in subsequent books.½

I love when an author is able to tell a good romance without having to resort to XXX scenes every chapter to fill up the page quota; you know the whole tell don’t show thing. Olivia Miles does a great job of spinning a tale that’s so much more than girl meets boy and falls in love.

Most of the story is told from Kate Daniels point of view but you also get a bit from her sister Charlotte’s and like they say there’s always 2 sides to every story.

Miles paints Kate as this strong but bruised woman. She was in a committed relationship that didn’t end well and has to keep living in a small town where everyone knows her business PLUS she works in the wedding industry which just keeps rubbing salt in that open wound. All around her healing process isn’t going well but the strength of her character definitely makes her the kind of friend any of us would be lucky to have.

Charlotte is the kind of sister that comes straight off some soap opera plot; hell bent on wrecking her sister’s life not because she’s an evil watch but because she’s immature and selfish. Those personality traits are going to end up seriously wrecking her life. Even by the end of the book she still has this mile wide selfish streak where she seems to want everyone else to fix her problems rather than make the difficult choices to do it herself.

It looks like in Book 2 the focus will be on her and hopefully Miles has her see the light because right now I seriously couldn’t stand her and found NO redeeming qualities so I’m not that looking forward to the sequel. I’ll read it since I like Miles writing but after I get through everything else I want to read first.

Aside from the craziness of Charlotte’s character Miles does bring her story to a great conclusion with the satisfactory happy ending for most. A curve ball got thrown in at the extreme end that perfectly sets up Book 2.

I freely chose to review this book, and fell in love with Kara! The only part that I did not like was I wanted MORE! Kara Hasting was living her dream by owning a bakery shop in her small town. She the only one working at her shop as she just got in the black and hope she didn't speak too soon agreeing to bake cookies the Christmas Festival, the her younger sister that made her festive mood turn sour.

Nate Griffin is only in town for the holidays since he gifted his parents a cruise, and he felt bad that he had not visited his aunt in a long time, but he had a job in the big city. As he drove through the town how decorative it was, but he wasn't about to get hooked on the season, but then he met Kara.

Holly Tate owns and runs a bed-and-breakfast called the White Barn Inn. It used to be her grandmother's home, but when she died a few years ago Holly inherited the large historic home and transformed it into an inn. She loves having it open on Christmas in particular, (her parents died on Christmas day six years ago) and she doesn't like being alone on that day. She prefers spending the holiday with people at the inn. So she really throws herself into Christmas, hanging decorations up, setting up games and activities for the guests, etc...

One day Holly is waiting for her last guest of the day to show up. He finally does, a tall, dark, gorgeous stranger (Max Hamilton). Holly finds herself very attracted to him. He says he's in town on business. But what will Holly do when she finds out the man she is falling for is in town planning to tear down her inn and turn it (and the area) into a shopping center?

Max feels guilty once he gets to know Holly and doesn't quite know how to tell her why he is there. He keeps trying to convince himself that she won't mind selling. But it's obvious that Holly loves her inn. Max hates Christmas. When he was young his parents were never there for him. His father was a drunk, and his mother abandoned them around Christmas when Max was a child. He prefers to work at Christmas time. But now, after meeting Holly, he's beginning to realize that there is more to life than work and business, and he eventually wonders if he should change his mind about the shopping center.

Holly was a likable heroine. She really threw herself into running the inn, making it a success. Even though the one thing she really wanted was a family.

I really liked some of the secondary characters, especially elderly Mrs. Evelyn Adler. I loved the way she kept trying to matchmake and get Holly and Max together. And I liked Holly's friend Abby. I also liked the small, cozy town of Maple Woods.

This was an enjoyable, sweet, and festive read.

Title: Christmas Comes to Main Street
Author: Olivia Miles
Publisher: Mass Market Paperback
Series: Briar Creek 5
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Christmas Comes to Main Street" by Olivia Miles

My Thoughts....

What a beautiful Christmas story that features Kara Hastings and Nate Griffin. Well it seems like Kara is the last sister that is not engaged since now her sister Molly has come home saying she is getting married to Todd. What was up with that since it seems that a year ago they had broken up.

Oh well! Now we have Nate who has come to Briar Creek to be with is aunt during this Christmas holiday but he wasn't to happy being there. Now, why was that? After Kara and Nate meet due to bumping into each other will they be able to form a friendship that could possibly lead to a HEA? This was a very good story of how each one of these two people will have something that they need to 'prove,' This story was so edifying as we see how hard Kara worked in her bakery when all she wanted was to prove to not only to herself but to others that she could stick with 'running her own bakery.' Nate had such a horrible childhood being bullied and with all that had happened in his family's hardship he simply did not want any form of life where he would be poor, so he only had one goal in mind and that was always found working so that he would never have to suffer like his parents had done while raising him. Even with all of that Nate had not really celebrated Christmas holidays like forever. So, when he arrives and his aunt is so excited wanting to win this contest that will involve his help and since its only him there since he had sent his parents on a cruise...Nate was left with no choice but to help her out with this contest because she wanted to win. But then the tables will turn because after talking to Kara he even gets her involved in this Christmas contest. Now, how will that involve him? To find out you will just have to pick up the good series to see for yourself how well this author will bring it all out to the readers. The characters will involve quite a few family members[many from past series] that will make this read so well developed, portrayed and believable giving the reader quite a interesting Christmas read where one may even like to visit this place called Briar Creek. This novel is the fifth in this series and I am not sure if is this is the last but this one was truly one amazing sweet heart-warming romantic reads.

Thank you to NOR for giving me this read for my honest opinion.

I really loved this book. Just like Jane I am a 26 year old mother to a 5 year old child which is a total coincidence but made lots of the book very relatable to me. Unlike Jane I am not a divorced single mother but the author made it very easy to imagine what Jane has been/is going through in regards to her complete and total jackass of an ex-husband (ugh I just wanted to punch him and his home wrecking new wife in the face) the nerve they had was astounding. This was the first book in the series that I have read but I do intend to go back and read the first 2 so I can get all the details of Grace and Anna's stories. I flat out loved Henry. He was a bit of an idiot but he pulled through and had an amazingly kind and loving heart. Sophie was sooooo adorable I could easily picture a 5 year old doing these things. Her note to the tooth fairy made me laugh out loud for real. A wonderful book I enjoyed it very much.

Disclaimer: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. The opinions I expressed are entirely my own.

I received a copy from First Reads in return for an honest review.

I was in the mood for a cute, sweet story, and Sweeter Than Sunshine definitely fit hit the spot. A relatively short story, coming in under 200 pages, Sweeter Than Sunshine tells the story of Mary and Ben. Mary is the owner of Sunshine Creamery where she struggles with making ends meet during the winter season. Ben, her neighbor, is a single dad, adjusting to having his young daughter full time now.

While they don't hit it of right away, Ben and Mary slowly make there way together. Violet, Ben's daughter, seems to be the catalyst for a lot of it and she is utterly adorable. As circumstances continue to draw them together they help each other through the ups and downs ending in a sweet HEA.

If you are looking for a light story with cute romance, Sweeter Than Sunshine is a good pick.

Jane was thrown for a loop when she catches her husband cheating and he leaves her and his daughter for his new girlfriend. Henry hates the small town of Briar Creek where he grew up, but he comes home to help his twin sister. He's always had a crush on Jane, but he's also her ex-husband's best friend which complicates matters.
This is a well-written and satisfying romance. The characters and situations are believable and I enjoyed how the story proceeded and was finally resolved. I have not read other books by this author, but this was a fine stand-alone story without having to know the backstory of the secondary characters. I will look for other books by this author.

Good book. Grace had moved away from Briar Creek to New York City years earlier to pursue her dream of a writing career. In doing so, she left behind the man she loved. Now she's back in Briar Creek for the holidays, and to make some decisions about her future. But first she has to face her past. Luke never left their hometown. He's now the principal of the elementary school, and a widower. Having Grace back in town is stirring up unwelcome memories and emotions, and making him think about past choices.

Overall, I liked Grace. She's come back to Briar Creek for the first time in five years, except for her father's funeral a few months earlier. Her life is currently in turmoil. She has broken her engagement as she discovered that she and her fiance had different ideas for their future. She has been living with a friend, sleeping on the sofa, since then. Her writing career has stalled, as her last couple books were not well received. Now she has discovered that her father's beloved bookstore, a place with some of her best memories, has been closed since his death. All she needs to make things worse is to run into Luke, the man who broke her heart. Unfortunately, with Briar Creek being such a small town, she can't avoid him. She's been wondering if she made the right decision all those years ago, and being home just intensifies those feelings. Seeing Luke again shows her that her feelings for him never really went away, even though she tried to pretend that they did. Every time that they are together she's reminded of what she left behind. The attraction is still there, as are the good memories. I loved seeing her take her memories of the bookstore and look at reviving it, and then expanding it. It gave her a new focus for her life and a reason to stay in Briar Creek.

The reviving of the relationship between Grace and Luke was not easy. Both of them have hurt feelings from their breakup. Grace had been left feeling that Luke neither understood or supported her need to leave Briar Creek and experience the larger world. When she came back to see him a few months later, to see about reconciliation, he rejected her rather cruelly. Meanwhile, Luke had also felt that she didn't understand his need to stay in his hometown, where his life and career made him happy. He had forced himself to move on, and found a woman who wanted the same things he did. Grace's first visit back made him question his choices, which made him angry. He didn't believe that Grace would be happy back in town after giving up her dream, so his rejection of her was not very nice. He went on and married the other woman, who died a couple years later.

I was frustrated through a lot of the dealings between Grace and Luke. Grace was actually willing to see what might happen between them, after their first few encounters showed her that the feelings and attraction were still there. She didn't have any problem knowing that he had also loved his wife, feeling that there was room for both of them in his heart. But Luke would blow hot and cold. First he would be sweet and let the attraction take control, then he would suddenly pull back, feeling like he was betraying his late wife. It turns out that he is dealing with a boatload of guilt over the fact that he had still had some feelings for Grace when he married Helen. He felt that he had ruined their marriage, even though she had never known and had never given any indication that she was unhappy. Since her death he hasn't been able to let go of those feelings, to the point that he won't allow himself to move on. It all comes to a head when letting go of something from the past would make it possible for Grace to stay in Briar Creek, and Luke can't do it, in spite of his professed love for Grace. At that point I wanted to beat him with a blunt object and tell her she was better off without him. I liked that she had the strength of will to go after her dream in spite of him. Of course, he does eventually see the light, but it was almost too late.

Outside of the relationship with Luke, I loved seeing the changes that Grace went through. It was great to see her new appreciation of Briar Creek and what a big part of her life it really was. She also had to repair her relationships with her sisters, after her long absence and the death of their father. I liked seeing her reconnect with them. Her plans for the bookstore gave her a new appreciation for Anna, the chef and cafe owner. I also liked the way that she was there for her sister Jane, who was going through some issues of her own. I also liked the way that she formed a new bond with her mother, and how it helped them both through their grief. I'm looking forward to the next book.

4 STARS

Can you go back home again? Grace Madison is asking that question again. She wanted out of her town of Briar Creek to become a writer. Now her family needs her home. I like Grace. I want to go in and look at the bookstore and her family's home.

Luke Hastings is the one who stayed in Briar Creek and moved on and got married. He is now a principle and a widower. He feels guilt about his wife.

Everyone tries not to talk about Grace & Luke to each other but they keep running into each other. Everyone wants to know what is going on with them.

Grace has two younger sisters. Anna has her own business in town she is a cook. Jane is married and has a cute little girl. Their father had died six months ago. Everyone is having problems with depression. They have to give up the bookstore their father loved.

Luke & Grace have so many issues to work out. I thought it was going on too long but then problems in real life are not easy to solve all at once either. I did want to shake Luke a few times though.

Their is one love scene that I did skip over.

I want to come in Briar Creek and see what is happening next to the Madisons.

I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing). In return I agreed to give an honest review of Mistletoe On Main Street.

Title: Mistletoe on Main Street
Author: Olivia Miles
Publisher: Forever
Series: The Blair Creek Series #1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4.5
Review:

"Mistletoe on Main Street" by Olivia Miles

Book Description...

"Sleigh bells, snow, and second chances . . .

Briar Creek's quaint shop windows, cozy homes nestled in snow, and neighborly residents are what Christmas dreams are made of--for everyone except Grace Madison. She left her hometown years ago to pursue a writing career. But when her father's death leaves his bookstore empty, Grace must return to face why she fled Vermont in the first place: Luke Hastings, who still heats her up like a shot of smoky whiskey on a cold winter's night.

Grace is back, and Luke is worried. How much has she changed as a bestselling author in the big city? What memories will she stir up? And was the choice he made five years ago the biggest mistake of his life?

Now, with their past, present, and future rocking around the Christmas tree, it's time for Grace and Luke to face the music . . . and the mistletoe."

What I liked from this novel.....

This author really gives the reader quite a interesting place in 'Briar Creek' and definitely a good Christmas read that will keep your attention from start to the finish. The two main characters Grace and Luke will keep you entertained as they find their way through his love story. It seems like Grace after being gone five years is trying to make up her mind will she stay in Briar Creek after this Christmas holiday with her family or return to NY? Did she even have anyone waiting for her back in New York after she had dropped Derek? Then there is her father's book store that is not opened any more. What had happened after her father's death to the book store and why wasn't see told about it being closed. I found this love story was about Grace and Luke. What had happened to cause her to want to leave Briar Creek five years ago in the first place and what happened when she came back (seeing only Luke)...leaves again...then back for her father's funeral... leaves.....now back again for this Christmas holiday? In all of Grace's coming and going would she stay this time and run the book store that seems to have closed and just what all did Luke Hastings have to do in all of this? Between these two there will be a lots of drama going on. I don't want to leave out Grace's sister Jane who also seemed to have quite a bit of drama going on in her life and their mother Kathleen. I don't want to spoil it by telling too much of the story. I know I have presented a lots of questions and all of the answers will be answered in this well written novel: "Mistletoe on Main Street." I found this author really worked it with such a beautiful description of the snow during Christmas holiday season of Briar Creek really making me what to find this beautiful place with such unique characters which I found were richly developed that seemed to come alive on the pages presented as Ray, Mark, Sophie, Anna and Rosemary Hastings to name a few. Be prepared for a long read because this author leaves nothing out even a little hot sex scene.

What I also liked about this novel....

I liked how this author was able to give us a story that showed a lots of emotions along with the drama of a real love story showing the past and the present of how it is from one reaction can bring on another reaction. In the end will it be a good decision for all involved at this point in their life's? I thought this was a very interesting read and I really enjoyed how this author closes the story.

Good book with some heavy emotions on both sides. Emily and Scott had been high school sweethearts, until the day Scott left town without speaking to her. He hasn't been back for twelve years. Now he's come back to help out his father's construction business for a few weeks. Scott has never forgotten Emily or the way he felt about her. He'd like to be with her again, but the secret that sent him running is still there.

Emily was stunned to see Scott appear at the bakery. He hasn't been back or even contacted her since he left. Seeing him again brings back all the pain of his departure, but there's also a part of her that still cares. Her life hasn't been easy since the death of her father in a construction accident at one of Scott's father's sites. With no insurance money coming, Emily's mom had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Then her high school romance ended abruptly. There was no money for her to go to college, so she has stayed in their small town, and now works as a baker for Scott's sister. She's finally ready to follow her own dreams and has applied for culinary school. Even though she knows Scott isn't staying, she can't help thinking of what might have been, especially when they start spending time together again. Just when she's fallen for him all over again, he finally breaks his silence and tells her why he left. She's furious that he kept it from her all these years and doesn't know if she can forgive him for what was done or that he didn't tell her to start with. Emily spent a fair amount of time fighting her feelings because of the hurt and anger from the way he left. I thought her reactions to his reappearance were very realistic. I especially loved the pie throwing contest, it must have been very satisfying for her. It was interesting to see how her sister started out being anti-Scott but by the end was pointing out how much he loved Emily.

Scott had been so in love with Emily back then and didn't understand why his parents had a problem with him dating her. When he found out why he was devastated. He had a big blowout with his parents and left home that night. He hasn't been back in twelve years. He now owns his own construction business in Seattle, but came back to Maple Woods when his sister begged for his help. He still wants nothing to do with his father, but consents to staying long enough to get the library project started. Seeing Emily again makes him remember just how much he loved her, and still does. He's drowning in the guilt he feels over what happened to her father and for leaving without telling her why, but he wants to spend time with her. As he finds ways to be with her he also realizes he can't hide the truth from her any longer. It was a difficult decision because he knew it could turn her against him. Scott's problem with his parents actions have created a problem between himself and his sister Lucy (who is also Emily's boss). He doesn't want to cause her to look at them differently so he can't tell her why he refuses to come home. Though finally sharing with Lucy ends up making a huge difference to his relationship with Emily, I was disappointed that there wasn't really any kind of conversation with his parents.

Very good book, slightly reminding me of A Christmas Carol. We have Holly, the innkeeper, who loves Christmas. She has decorated the inn, participates in all the Christmas activities, and just generally seems a pretty happy person. Then you have grumpy Max. He is a self-made successful real estate developer. He doesn't like Christmas at all. He's in town to try to buy some land for a shopping mall, land her inn just happens to occupy.

I liked Holly. She has made a life for herself at the inn. She left Boston after being disappointed in love, losing her parents and then her grandmother. The inn and its guests have become her life. I loved the way that she throws herself into all the Christmas preparations and activities. When Max shows up she is very attracted to him. He has a great smile and seems very interested in her. She doesn't understand his dislike of Christmas and gets him involved in the activities. Her disappointment when a snowstorm keeps guests away is obvious and she's grateful that Max is staying around. Everything is going great between them until she finds out why he's in town.

Max had had a miserable childhood with a drunk, abusive father and a mother who abandoned them when he was eleven, right after Christmas. He has disliked the holiday ever since. He has worked hard to build a successful real estate development company. His latest project is a shopping mall in Maple Woods. He has come to town to buy the land and get the project approved by the city council. He doesn't expect the instant attraction to Holly. He can't seem to stay away from her and the more he gets to know her the guiltier he feels about his plans. I felt really bad for Max. He was so torn about what he should do. On the one hand, his business really needs the mall property and it's important to him to continue with his business successes. On the other hand, his growing feelings for Holly make him want to leave it all behind for her. He went through so much turmoil before he finally found his way back to her.

The story showed Max his past as he told Holly about it, with the unhappy things that happened to him that made him the man he is today. We also saw Max in the present, as he spends time with Holly and her friends, seeing the happiness she has as she takes care of her guests. Max also envisions the future as it might be after the mall is built and the effects it would have on the town.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the town and the inn. The various secondary characters felt real to me and brought both the town and the inn to life. I'm looking forward to the next book and a return to Maple Woods.

:) dar