Series:
Someday Valley (Book 2)
The trees that circle Someday Valley near Honey Creek are
dressed in their fall finest, providing a pretty backdrop for the local
businesses -- including the little bookshop loved by schoolteacher Cora Lee
Buchanan. There, under the watchful eye of owner Noah O'Brien, Cora Lee and her
sister, Katherine, meet each Wednesday. Their talk mostly revolves around one
subject: their father, known to everyone in town as Bear.
Both Cora Lee and Katherine worry about Bear Buchanan.
They've no idea Bear has a secret life of his own. As for the sisters,
Katherine, beautiful and self-absorbed, is in search of her third husband,
while Cora Lee is in love for the first time. On warm nights, she climbs up to
her building's roof to chat with Noah and listen to the melody of the water
below. Yet there is more intrigue afoot in Honey Creek . . .
Andi Delane has arrived in town to hear the last wishes
of the father she never met. She was shocked to get a letter from lawyer
Jackson Landry, and she has few expectations -- of this mysterious will, or of
Deputy Danny Davis who's been assigned to protect her. But fall always brings
changes, and this year there will be enough to alter not just the lives of
those who call Honey Creek home, but the future of Someday Valley itself . . .
Good story about six people who become three couples whose
lives intersect when they come together to help one of their own. Each character
is unique, with their quirks, and I enjoyed seeing their changes and journeys.
Noah is a relative newcomer to Someday Valley. A New York
native, he left a successful business career and an overbearing family to start
a bookstore in the small town. Noah is an observer of human nature rather than
a participant. He listens to his customers' stories, dreams, and regrets while
trying to decide what he wants from his life. But for now, his life revolves
around his bookstore and upstairs apartment.
One of his customers is Cora Lee, the quiet elementary
school teacher who lives in the other apartment above the shops. She is the
daughter of Noah's landlord, Bear Buchanan, and sister to Katherine, her brash
older sister.
Noah and Cora Lee have been drawn to each other for a
long time but only did something about it after an unexpected rooftop
encounter. I loved Noah's sensitivity to Cora Lee's shyness and how he did
everything possible to make her feel safe with him. I liked how Cora Lee saw
Noah for the intelligent and sensitive man that he was. As they got to know
each other and explored their growing feelings, each opened up about their
dreams. I loved how Cora Lee gave him the support and confidence he needed to
pursue his dream. Their time together was sweet.
Bear is the local fix-it guy. He mostly keeps to himself.
He works on his farm when he isn't working in his repair shop. He also has a
secret life that no one is aware of. He has had an ongoing relationship with
his neighbor, Eliza, for many years. He wants more, but Eliza is reluctant to
change a relationship that has worked for so long. Eliza has an intriguing backstory,
and I was fascinated by the stories she told. I liked Bear's sensitivity to
Eliza's needs and that he never gave up on his hopes for their future.
Andi Delane's trip to Someday Valley has two purposes. On
the surface, she is there to meet the two half-brothers she didn't know she had.
Her biological father was not part of her life, and she knew nothing of their
existence until after his death. She has always wanted a sibling and is excited
and nervous about meeting them. The other reason is darker. Andi is an
undercover detective in Dallas and has the misfortune of being identified by a
pretty nasty criminal. She needs to go into hiding until she is called as a
witness in his trial because there is a contract out on her life. Andi is
independent and resents the need for protection. She is especially ticked when
she checks in with the sheriff, and he sets one of his deputies to tail her and
watch over her.
Dan is intrigued by Andi from the moment he gives her a
speeding ticket on her way into town. He's pretty happy to follow Andi around,
even though she does her best to make his job harder. I loved their
interactions over the first few days as it became apparent that Andi underestimated
Dan's abilities. I liked it when she stopped playing stupid games and started
working with him. Their fake relationship ruse gave her the cover she needed
for being in town but also gave Dan an excuse to spend more time with her.
Having been burned once in love, he never expected to fall for someone else.
Things get complicated when those who are after Andi come
looking for her. She isn't used to having someone have her back and isn't sure
how to handle Dan's protectiveness. It takes a little while to find the balance
that satisfies their needs. The intensity increases as the bad guys close in,
and Dan and Andi devise a plan to keep her safe and alive. It was interesting
to see how the three couples worked together to make it happen. The build-up
and final confrontation kept me turning the pages until it was over. All that
was left was the question of where their relationship was headed. I loved the
epilogue and seeing each couple's decisions about their futures.
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