Honey Be Mine - Sasha Summers (HQN - July 2024)

Series: Honey Acres (Book 3)
 
Can best friends become something even better?
 
Coming home to Honey, Texas, for her aunt's wedding should be a joyful experience, but Rosemary Hill's heart is low. She's lost funding for her bee genomics project and has been betrayed by her trusted mentor. Reuniting with Everett, her best friend, helps take the sting out. Soon, Rosemary is helping Everett plan bee-friendly park events -- and getting oddly jealous when he's pursued by her high school nemesis.
 
Honey's most eligible bachelor has a secret -- he's loved Rosemary for as long as he can remember. Everett always hesitated to risk their friendship by asking for more, but at last he's ready. That is, until Rosemary is offered her dream job. What kind of best friend would ask her to give that up? Or perhaps the butterflies they're both feeling mean something has changed -- in the sweetest possible way…
 
Good book. Rosemary came home to Texas for her aunt's wedding but is staying to decide about her future. The bee genome project she worked on in California lost its funding and, adding insult to injury, her mentor and team lead claimed her research as his own. She's happy to be home in her family's loving and supportive arms and to spend time with her best friend, Everett.
 
Everett stayed in Honey and is now the parks and rec director, as well as backup for the mayor. He has also been named the town's most eligible bachelor, further complicating his life. He's happy Rosemary is back but also concerned about keeping his stronger feelings for her a secret.
 
I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Rosemary and Everett. They've always been friends who could tell each other anything. However, Everett has been in love with Rosemary for years but doesn't want to say anything and ruin their friendship. Rosemary always considered Everett her friend, so why did she suddenly notice him as a man? I loved watching them spend time together. Rosemary is determined to help Everett in her new job as an event planner, even if it means dealing with her high school bully, Libby. Everett's support of Rosemary when she encountered her old boss/mentor at the bee convention was outstanding. Unexpected opportunities give Rosemary something to consider, and Everett must decide if he wants to speak up. I liked the ending and seeing them finally talk to each other about their feelings instead of assuming they know what is best for the other person.
 
There was a side story about a group of paintballers going around and vandalizing towns in the county. For some reason, many people seemed to think it was Everett's job to stop them. I could feel his frustration each time they struck. The resolution was about what I expected.
 
I loved the part about the alphabet book that Rosemary wrote and illustrated for Bea and Nova. The children's joy in the book was infectious, and Everett's reading was adorable. I would love to see that book published for real.