Can you ever really forget your first love?
It’s been eight long years since May Anderson’s high school sweetheart Tom Riley drove down Main Street in his truck, leaving Hillsboro—and May—in his rearview mirror. Now he’s back and, try as they might, the pair can’t avoid each other.
As Hillsboro prepares to host the prestigious North West Food and Wine Festival, Tom and May are reluctantly called in to plan the big event. Tom needs May’s help to repair his bad-boy reputation and, with the whole town counting on them, May and Tom need to learn to trust each other again.
May is determined to protect her heart, but a lot has changed since high school. She can’t help but notice how the skinny boy she used to know is now a man who perfectly fills out his button-down, and Tom can’t seem to tear his gaze away from May’s sweet smile. It’s clear old feelings are surfacing again, but there is a secret keeping them apart and, until they find the courage to face it, their second chance summer will be only that…
A heartwarming story about first love, family, and the importance of second chances. Fans of Jenny Hale, Debbie Macomber, and Robyn Carr will adore Sweet Pea Summer.
My Rating:
Favorite Quotes:
In the small town of Hillsboro, California, rumors were like honey. Sweet. Addictive. And, once stained, impossible to get out except with a good, long, painful scrubbing.
I look like a puddle of sweat made sentient by an evil witch.
Small town decorum dictated that if you said something with enough polite charm, you could get away with pretty much anything.
I’d rather be hated for telling the truth than loved for being a liar.
My Review:
This tale combined several genres, women’s fiction, family drama, small town, and contemporary and second chance romance. The storylines were light and sizzle free and would receive a seal of approval from my elderly mother’s book club. Small town issues and amusing characters and quirks were front and center, although I had a difficult time appreciating the character of May as I found her lacking in integrity, as she was essentially a selfish and cowardly weasel. But I also know that condition is one of the pitfalls of being small-town and having a gossipy social conscious snob for a mother, and also one of the reasons why I beat feet and couldn’t get away from the inbred hillbilly haven of my youth fast enough. Despite my lack of regard for the self-serving and deceitful May, I was curious and enjoyed the amusing observations, peculiar characters, and continuing storylines from the first book.
About the Author
Excellent review.
Great review and the cover is gorgeous.
Great review. I couldn’t live in a small town either with everyone knowing your business.
I am not a fan of small towns. I am not keen on everyone knowing my business.
Sorry it wasn’t perfect for you but I do love sweet peas. 😉 They smell so nice.
Thank you for the honest review!
I love your review. This part made me laugh as that is how I feel about my hometown. “I beat feet and couldn’t get away from the inbred hillbilly haven of my youth fast enough.”
Second chance is by far my favorite trope 🙂 Always makes for great romances!
With a cover like that, I thought the book would be fantastic. Ah well, I have the book but not the tour
Amazing review!