Sweet Haven (Home Sweet Home #1)

Author: Shirlee McCoy

Publisher: Zebra

Rating: 4 stars

Buy Links: Amazon

Type: Novel in Series

Provided by Publisher

 

Blurb: In Benevolence, Washington, the Lamont family’s irresistible handmade chocolates are a cherished tradition–and always a reason to celebrate. And now they’re giving the three Lamont sisters, one by one, delicious chances to start again, make a change, and have their sweetest dreams come true…

Neighbors who care, a peaceful routine–accountant Adeline Lamont is glad some things about her beloved hometown never change. But when her grandfather is injured, she has to run the family store, Chocolate Haven, and make its legendary fudge. Trouble is, she can’t get the recipe right to save her life–or Chocolate Haven. And she doesn’t need her ornery new tenant, Sinclair Jefferson, stirring up the pot with his help–and daring Addie to taste her wild side…

Once Sinclair gets his hapless brother back on track, he’s leaving Benevolence for good this time. He’s made his life far away from his irresponsible family and their scandals. Trouble is, he can’t quite stay away from Addie’s optimism, enticing plus-size curves, and kindness to those who need it most. But they don’t seem to have a thing in common–except that Addie’s passion for chocolate, and for Benevolence, is just as contagious as Sinclair’s passion for her. Maybe small-town life has its charms after all…

 

Review: This was a sweet and complicated romance set in a small town called Benevolence. What a name, right? Of course, the setup was perfect for a redemption story about a man from a family whose men were known for being no good slackers. In fact, both his father and grandfather before him had married women who supported them, and it looked like his brother Byron was setting himself up to do the same.

So Sinclair Jefferson returned to Benevolence to help his brother clean out their old family home. Hopefully it would be enough to get Byron’s pregnant wife to come back. While there, Sinclair found himself getting tugged back into the rhythm and friendships of small town life. But he’s still not comfortable there because of his family’s past in the town, along with his recurring PTSD and his unexpected feelings for Adeline. His previously failed relationship along with his father’s failings had made him sure he wasn’t interested in love and commitment, right?

At the same time, Adeline Lamont was having her own family problems. Forced to be a chocolatier along with being a full-time accountant, new puppy owner, caretaker for her injured grandfather, and bridesmaid for her deceased grandmother’s seventy-six-year-old best friend. Shew! She’s busy, but not too busy to keep running into Sinclair Jefferson everywhere. Why can’t she control her feelings when she gets around him–she’s finished with love.

Or is she?

Sweet story with complicated issues that make the reading interesting and fresh. No sex scenes but lots of interesting tension kept me actively interested as well. Thanks for the great story!