Catherine Anderson knows how to write characters well and make you fall in love with them all. Sissy has had a difficult past to put it mildly and has major trust issues when it comes to men (with good reason). Ben Sterling is patient, caring, and willing to wait for the woman of his dreams to open and let him into her life.

In a word this book was Beautiful!



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Mulberry Moon by Catherine Anderson is a charming small town romance. Although it is the third installment in the Mystic Creek series, this latest release can be read as a standalone.

Ben Sterling is a warm and caring man who is ready to settle down. At one time he hoped that local cafe owner Sissy Sue Bentley might be that person, but she quickly made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. Realizing there is no point in pursuing someone who is not interested in him, he abandoned his plan to catch her eye. Despite his terrible run of bad luck with the women he has recently dated, Ben remains hopeful he will find the right woman to share his life with.

Unlike Ben, Sissy's life has been nothing but one hardship after another. Her childhood was extremely dysfunctional and as a result, she finds it hard to trust anyone. Sissy is quite prickly towards Ben and although he goes out of his way to help her, she remains quite distrustful of his motives for his assistance.

Ben has the patience of a saint as Sissy continues to blow hot and cold where he is concerned. She temporarily lets down her defenses and just when he thinks he is making progress, she puts her walls back up. Sissy's mixed signals towards Ben quickly become tiresome as this push/pull continues although Ben is a perfect gentleman who is always kind and respectful to her.

While there is little doubt that Sissy's childhood was horrible, the details of her past are so exaggerated that they are impossible to believe. While it is credible that her family moved around a great deal, the number of states she lived is in certainly eye-brow raising since they were so poor. And it is equally hard to believe that her experiences at EVERY school she attended were EXACTLY the same. Not a single person was willing to befriend her? Everyone made fun of her? No one made any effort to help her without expecting something in return?

Ben and Sissy are a cute couple but Sissy's hard luck continues for the most of the novel. From runaway chickens to mysteriously vanishing items to a broken leg, Sissy just cannot seem to catch a break. And just when Sissy is finally willing to take a chance with Ben, her past comes back to haunt her and she pushes Ben away in an effort to protect him. Is their love strong enough to withstand this final conflict?

Mulberry Moon by Catherine Anderson is an overly dramatic but sweet addition to the Mystic Creek series. Ben is an appealing protagonist with a generous heart and a seemingly endless supply of patience. Sissy is a spunky young woman with a traumatic past that makes her afraid to risk her heart. Will Sissy allow her considerable emotional baggage ruin her future with Ben? ( )

This is the third book in the Mystic Creek series, but the first one that I read. I had no problem following the story and this book can easily be read as a standalone.

Sissy Bentley has moved to Mystic Creek to run the diner left to her by her Aunt Mabel. She has a questionable past and does not want to get involved with men, any man! Her childhood was extremely dysfunctional and as a result, she finds it hard to trust anyone. Ben Sterling, born and raised in Mystic is well to do, has a good education and is ready to settle down. The problem is that he has not found the right woman, that is, until he met Sissy. She is everything he wants in a woman. Sissy treats Ben cordially, but that is it, she does not want his attention beyond being a customer in her diner. Ben goes out of his way to help her, she remains quite distrustful of his motives for his assistance. She tries to dislike him, but he keeps getting in her way, helping her out, being kind to her and she finds herself starting to care for him. She can't let that happen. There is a lot of fun in this story, chasing chickens, building a coop and run, and the mysterious intruder??? Ben has the patience of a saint as Sissy continues to waffle about their relationship. Just when he thinks he is making progress, up goes the wall. Through all this, Ben is a perfect gentleman, kind and respectful, never giving up. The story took a very serious twist when it came time to deal with Sissy's realistic baggage. This was the one part that seemed just a little over the top. It is hard to believe anyone could have had that much bad luck and mistreatment over the years. Sissy's hard luck continues for the most of the novel. Sissy just cannot seem to catch a break, from runaway chickens, to lice killing her chickens, to a ghost or something stealing from her to a broken leg, it keeps coming. When Sissy is finally willing to take a chance with Ben, her past comes back to haunt her. Can their love survive?

Catherine Anderson does a great job of developing her characters. We get to know them and their motivation as we read this book, and I couldn't help but root for their relationship. Even though Sissy has this terrible past to deal with, she is a decent, kind and caring person. This is a character driven story that is an easy read. The book kept me turning the pages until I finished. I recommend this book to romance lovers, as well as those who love the West and the stories that go with it. ( )

Sissy Bentley’s past has taught her to never trust men, leaving her determined to resist rancher Ben Sterling. But when her 80 chickens go on the lam, Ben and his dog Finn come to the rescue. After time spent together as Ben builds her beloved hens a proper home, Sissy can no longer deny his decency. Turnbull deftly articulates Sissy’s emotional transformation from fear towards joy. Likewise, she expresses Ben’s mixture of gentleness and determination, creating a believable salt-of-the-earth hero. Turnbull makes Anderson’s lush descriptions enchanting, while her effervescent tones reflect the humor provided by numerous animals and town folk. Incidents from a “ghost” thief to a “death row” catnapping add a dash of suspense. However, the truly dangerous climax brings the legacy of child abuse to the fore. While the third book in the Mystic Creek contemporary romance series, it works equally well as a standalone.

The improved review was published in Booklist Apr 15, 2017 issue. ( )

A great additions to Anderson's Mystic Creek series. Review based on an ARC received from NetGalley. ( )