Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko
Book Description:
The self-help books lied: fresh starts aren’t nearly as glamorous as they appear. And love isn’t any easier the second time around.
Avery Broussard was savoring her long-dormant optimism. It was the first anniversary of her husband’s death, and she was finally going to buy the dress boutique from her former mother-in-law. After a year of saving, the deal was nearly done. Avery was about to get her life back.
But every deal in Samford, Louisiana, can change at the whim of a Broussard.
After being unceremoniously ejected from the very boutique she planned to buy—the boutique she herself had rescued from ruin—she becomes a woman without a future . . . suddenly at war with her late husband’s family.
When carpenter T. J. Aillet begins working for the Broussards doing manual labor, he overhears enough to know that Avery is being victimized. Soon enough, T. J. is lassoed into the squabble by his family connections, his good heart . . . and the undeniable attraction he feels toward Avery.
But the Aillets are no strangers to Samford society—and T. J. knows what happens when you cross the Broussards. Could these two misfits ever make a start together? Or will the pressures of Samford society pull them apart before they even get a chance to try?
About the Author:
Judy Christie writes fiction with a Louisiana flavor. She is the author of the Green series of novels including Gone to Green. A fan of primitive antiques and porch swings, she blogs from her green kitchen couch at www.judychristie.com. She and her husband live in northern Louisiana.
My Review:
This is not an author I have read much of, and she gave the book a unique flavor. The book was the second in a series, which makes some sense now, but I wished it was marked more clearly when I read it to begin with. All that aside, it was slightly confusing in the beginning, but although this is not a page turner, it is a sweet book. I loved the byline on this one, “The self-help books lied: fresh starts aren’t nearly as glamorous as they appear. And love isn’t any easier the second time around.” It gave the book a unique spin, where the character was not looking for a second chance and sort of had it forced upon her by in-laws that were from somewhere below the surface of the earth. You honestly wanted to scream “Hire a lawyer!! Please stop letting them just walk all over you!!!”
I found the manner of the book, sweet, charming and light. It did not really dig deeply into any issues, although it could have. It left some loose ends and a few things to be desired in the writing style, but over all, it was a very southern, sweet story about a girl overcoming the odds, making a new life after being widowed and losing everything.
Plus, you likely crave biscuits when you are done reading and get the urge to bake them and hand pies!
I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for review. The opinions contained herein are my own.
