The Cottage on the Corner: My Review

The Cottage on the Corner (An Apple Valley Novel)

About the Book:

Charlotte Garrison's second chance is falling into place just like she's carefully planned. A few more sales of her heavenly sweets and she'll be able to turn the empty shop on Main Street into her own bakery--a plan much more sensible than ever again risking her heart. But when a rambunctious three-year-old girl lands on town deputy Max Stanford's doorstep, Charlotte finds helping the good-looking deputy care for her is sparking the most impossible dreams . . .

Max has never been much for settling down. But while he finds out if little Zuzu is really his daughter, Charlotte's warmth and caring makes him want to prove he's worthy of her trust. And as they struggle to come to terms with their pasts, Max will do whatever it takes to show Charlotte home is where dreams come true--and he and Zuzu are all the love and home she'll ever need.

My Comments:

Those looking for a sweet clean romance with just enough sizzle to keep things interesting should enjoy this book.  The second in Shirlee McCoy's Apple Valley series, The Cottage on the Corner features Max, who ended up with his grandmother when his parents were too irresponsible to care for him, and Charlotte, the widowed second wife of a bigamist.  The real star of the show is Zuzu, a child Max's ex dropped on his doorstep and claimed was his.  The book also contains a mild who-dunnit, but it isn't a major part of the plot.

The book is part of a series and those who played big parts in the first book, The House on Main Street (click for my review) get cameo appearance in this one and sometimes readers are left wondering who these people are and why they are paraded across the stage.  The book also left me with a feeling that I missed some backstory somewhere about both Max and Charlotte--even when they revealed their stories to each other.  Still, they got their happy ending and that's what books like this are all about, right?

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade;  B

Review: The House on Main Street

The House on Main Street

About the Book:

In Apple Valley, Washington, friends are always near, neighbors have no secrets—even if they’d like to—and long-held wishes have a way of coming true. . .

Interior designer Tessa McKenzie has built a good life far from her Washington hometown. She intends to get back to it—as soon as she sells the cluttered Victorian house and antiques shop she inherited from her sister, Emily. But leaving Apple Valley a second time won’t be so easy. There’s her grieving nephew, Alex, to consider. And there’s Sheriff Cade Cunningham, the adolescent crush who could easily break her heart again if she let him.

To Cade, Tessa was simply his high school sweetheart’s kid sister. But now there’s no denying she’s a beautiful and caring grown woman, one he’d like to get to know. Except that Tessa is determined to leave again. If Cade wants to change her mind, he’ll have to show her that small-town life has its lovable side—and that he does too. Most of all, he’ll have to convince Tess they’re good together, and that every step has led her right where she was always meant to be. . .

My Comments:

I enjoyed this sweet, clean romance.  Tessa's intention had been to clean up the mess in Apple Valley and move her nephew to her house, but her nephew is autistic, and as anyone with autistic kids knows, change is even harder for them than for normal kids.  Tessa realizes this and decides to stay for his sake.  

A large part of the book was Tessa learning that small town life, like any other life, has good things to balance the bad.  Yes, the neighbors knew everything about you, but they also cared about you and were ready to lend a hand.  The house/store itself was a metaphor for the lives of Tessa and her sister--yes, there was a lot of junk there, but some real unrecognized treasures too.  

Cade was the kind of guy every girl thinks she wants to marry; good looking, kind, responsible, caring, connected to home and family.  

While this is a romance set during the Christmas season it is not the overly sweet short romance often seen on the shelves during this time of year. 

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  Grade:  B.