Michelle Major

Terrific conclusion to the Magnolia Sisters trilogy. Avery, Carrie, and Meredith are half-sisters who discovered their connection after the death of their father. Left to deal with their father's financial mismanagement, they've spent the last six months restoring stability to their properties and the town. Along the way, Avery and Carrie found love. Meredith's inheritance was the farm where she runs her animal rescue. She barely makes ends meet, and the taxes on the property will be due show more soon. Meredith has big dreams for the property and applies to many places for grants to help her.

The story opens as Meredith shows up at a new neighbor's house, looking for help with an injured man. Ryan is a doctor, temporarily staying in Magnolia while he recovers from an injury he received on the job. He doesn't want to go with her, but she won't take no for an answer. Neither one has any inkling of the impact they will have on each other's lives.

I liked both Meredith and Ryan. Meredith leans toward the blunt end of the social skill set. After her mother left them, she was the only girl in the family with a somewhat gruff father and two older brothers. Her mother's desertion and a traumatic event while in high school left Meredith with a very low opinion of herself and her abilities. Add in the shock of the revelations about her birth father and two previously unknown sisters, and Meredith struggles with figuring out who she is. She built walls around her heart and buries herself in her work with the animals to avoid thinking about her problems. One thing Meredith has going for her is a sensitive and kind heart. I love her devotion to her animals and her determination to give them the best she can.

Ryan came to Magnolia to heal, not just from his physical injury but also from the emotional trauma. He's hiding out, wallowing a bit in the guilt he feels, but also going a bit stir-crazy. Though born to a wealthy family, Ryan's father raised him and his sister to focus on service to others rather than personal pleasure. Even family vacations were spent on volunteer opportunities instead of any fun or relaxation. As a result, Ryan focuses on work and has no close friends or hobbies. He also puts distance between himself and the family's wealthy side to avoid being judged for something he doesn't want.

I loved the development of the relationship between Meredith and Ryan. Their first meeting, as Meredith practically kidnapped Ryan, was both funny and a little heartbreaking. It hurt to see Ryan so deep in his guilt that he was afraid to help. Once he was there, he was okay, though still trying to maintain his distance. But a funny thing happened, as Ryan found himself connecting with Meredith and her animals. That connection freaked him out a little, and it took a couple of tries before he became comfortable around her. As the attraction between them sparked and simmered, their friendship also grew. I liked Ryan's protectiveness and support as he helped her with the rescue. I especially liked how Ryan refused to let Meredith put herself down around him and worked to show her how amazing she is. Working with Meredith and getting to know other locals showed Ryan what was missing in his city life.

The more time Meredith and Ryan spent together, the more their feelings for each other grew, though neither wanted to admit it. Meredith knows he doesn't plan to stay, and she doesn't see herself as appealing enough to keep him there. Ryan still insists to himself that he will return to his previous life and forget his time in Magnolia. But just as it looks like they might finally see the truth, a secret Ryan's been keeping comes out and runs up against one of Meredith's deepest insecurities. I hurt for Ryan as Meredith refused to listen to him, making him rethink his plans. Meredith's feelings of betrayal drove her to say some hurtful things. I loved seeing friends and family get involved in bringing the two back together.

The family dynamics in the book added to the emotional journeys of both Meredith and Ryan. Ryan's we mostly see through his memories of the past and the effects of his parents' actions on his life. We get a brief introduction to his sister, Emma, who makes a quick visit to Magnolia. Their conversation reveals a lot about why Ryan distances himself from his family and shows how much he cares for his sister. Another meaningful relationship is that of Meredith with her family. Her relationship with her dad changed when the truth of her birth came out. The distance between them hurts Meredith. I liked seeing the beginnings of a return to normal after Meredith's accident and her dad and brothers arrival to help. I also enjoyed seeing the continued closeness between Avery, Carrie, and Meredith. I especially enjoyed seeing Avery and Carrie work on Meredith's self-worth and help her steer through her relationship with Ryan.

#netgalley show less

This is a small town romance that will make readers laugh out loud while they are rooting for the romance of the main characters. The romance sizzles and the HEA ending will make everyone smile.

Iris is a member of the book club from book one. She is the interim mayor of Skylark and wants to be voted into office at the next election. She is going to have a tough time because Skylark is a small town full of festivals and town fun and Iris is seen as a person who is NOT a lot of fun because show more some of her main goals - like improving the library - will take money out of the town budget that is spent on the fun events. So Iris, with the help of her friends decides to try to figure out how to have fun.

When Iris decides to learn ballroom dancing as a way to find fun, she is upset to find out the man who will be her partner is Jake. Jake was one of her brother's best friends and both boys got into a lot of trouble in high school and Iris blamed Jake for ruining her brothers reputation despite the fact that she used to have a major crush on him. Jake has just returned to Skylark and she hates him - doesn't want to be around him or speak to him. But is she strong enough to avoid the sparks that are flying between them every time they dance? show less

Whenever life gets tough, I know that I can always relax with a book from Michelle Major. I can depend that the book will have an interesting plot, well written characters - mostly likable but there's always at least one character to dislike - and a happily ever after ending. Fortune's Baby Claim is book one in a new series and fit all of my criteria for a good read.

The two main characters are

-Esme. A single mother with a three month old son. Her ex had died in a boating accident but he was show more psychologically abusive and after going through that, she knew that she'd never fall in love again.
-Ryan. The single father of a three month old son. His girlfriend didn't want to be a mother so she left him with the baby and then died in a car accident.

Both are in love with their sons but Ryan is struggling with being a single dad while he tries to manage his job working for his father's company. When Esme does a DNA test, she's amazed to find out that she doesn't recognize any of the names on the report and even her name isn't there. She goes to the hospital the next day to try to get to the truth and when she explains her concerns, the hospital calls in Ryan. It turns out that the hectic night at the hospital when both boys were born caused them to be given the wrong baby. After talking through the issue, they decide to co-parent the two boys. Nothing romantic involved, just a set of rules that assigns who does what and when. Of course, readers of romance novels know what often happens to platonic plans and the more Esme and Ryan get to know each other, the more sparks that fly between them. Will they and their two sons get a happily ever after? The book is a great read as it slowly solves this question. show less

Terrific book that I could not put down once I started reading it. Though part of a series, this book can easily be read as a standalone. I loved revisiting Starlight and seeing characters from earlier books and was very happy to see Madison get her own story.

Chase is a famous glass artist known for being anti-social and grouchy. Because of events from his childhood, he has thick walls around his heart. After the deaths of his estranged father and stepmother, Chase became the guardian of show more his teenage stepsister, Stella. He feels completely overwhelmed and unsuited to the task, especially when she gets into trouble at school. Then an explosion in his studio leaves Chase badly injured, needing rehab and help.

Madison is the chef at Starlight's popular bar and restaurant. She, too, is known for the abrasive personality that protects her heart. She grew up with a negligent mother and the need to protect her little sister, Jenna. She blames herself for failing Jenna when she needed her most. She tries to make amends by helping Jenna with kids in need at the teen center. She connects with Stella, who reminds her of herself at that age. Though Madison takes her life day-by-day, when Stella calls in a panic after Chase's injury, she is there to help.

I loved watching the developing relationships in this book. Chase and Madison believe they are terrible people who aren't good for those they care about. Stella is lost after her parents' deaths and needs to feel that someone cares about her. The relationship between Chase and Madison was fun to watch. Chase hates needing her help, and his initial resentment is obvious. Madison doesn't hesitate to call him out on his attitude, and their snarky interactions are amusing. Though neither one believes in love or the spirit of Christmas, they find themselves partners in their desire to give Stella a good holiday experience.

I loved seeing the changes in Madison as she grew to love Stella and Chase. I laughed out loud at her coworker's statement that hugging her has progressed from hugging a porcupine to hugging a hedgehog. I loved seeing her open up to her friends and Stella and let them into her heart. Acting like a family with Chase and Stella has her hoping for something she never believed possible - a family of her own. Her feelings for Chase grow stronger when the sparks between them become too much to resist.

Chase was a harder nut to crack. He is so convinced that he is incapable of giving Stella the life she deserves that he considers transferring guardianship to another person. His actions show that he loves Stella and wants what is best for her, but he can't see that he is it. The same goes for his relationship with Madison. He'll admit to the attraction but believes that anything more is impossible. I wanted to shake him when he let his fears come between them. It takes an honest conversation with Stella (finally!) for him to see what is really important. An unexpected event adds some drama to the ending, but Chase's big moment with Madison is sweet and adorably awkward.

I look forward to future Starlight books and seeing more of these characters.

#netgalley show less