This was another second chance romance/mature character story as with the first by this author in the series, Love in Due Time. It was the sister of the main character in that book, Naomi Winters. And like other books in the SmartyPants universe, Green Valley Chronicles we were lucky enough to get time with those other characters as well. I liked that this book’s timeline overlapped a bit with that one, so that we got to see some outside views of Naomi’s romance as well.

Beverly had it even rougher than Naomi did. While she’d been probably more of an outgoing younger woman, and tough in her own way at one time, she’d become bitter over an accident that she had when trying to confront her cheating ex-husband. And now she’s left having to use crutches, or a wheelchair even at times, in order to move around. Her daughter Hannah basically gives up her own life to come home and help her mother out, in a way continuing the vicious cycle that began when Beverly got pregnant and had her whole life thrown down a different road than maybe she’d planned.

We also got some time with Scotia Simmons, who I’m excited to see will be getting her own book soon, (even if my paperback copy said to turn the page for a preview and there wasn’t one!) Scotia being the other sibling in Naomi and Beverly’s family. I’m also hoping for a book for Beverly’s daughter Hannah and maybe a sexy sounding man named Grizzly.

The romance was sweet, slow burn with definitely instant physical attraction. But there was the whole thing that I wish Jedd hadn’t held out on his secret for so long, that he’d told her sooner to save Beverly from feeling used once again. And I felt so much for his brother Boone, and loved how Beverly handled that situation. I was also left wanting so badly to try some of this soap that she was making and selling!

My only disappointment, is the same one I had for the other book this time around in the Green Valley Public Library series, and the others in the Donner Bakery series, this had nothing to do with the library. In fact, only one scene, maybe, in the entire book? I get it. We’re getting family and connected stories, I just miss the library.

Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.