About the book: Nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, lies the quaint town of Merryton, Colorado. You will never find finer people or better friends. But try keeping a secret in Merryton and you will soon find that the good townspeople are better than any private investigator or undercover journalist. The men and women of Merryton are like living barometers, and when a storm is brewing in the life of one of their own, they are sure to get to the bottom of it--and forecast it on the Merryton grapevine.
Jessica and Blake Summers know a thing or two about what it’s like to be the latest and greatest news on the vine. Their thirteen year marriage has had more than its fair share of heartache and loss. Then the past comes knocking, in the form of a teenage girl, a daughter Blake never knew existed. The news sets the Merryton grapevine on fire.
In the wake of this revelation and firestorm, Blake and Jessica are forced to reevaluate their own relationship and priorities, all while learning that raising a teenage girl is not for the faint of heart. But in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, they discover that Madeline may just be what the doctor ordered to heal their broken hearts and mend their own tattered relationship.
Will they have the courage to look forward and find a greater love than they could ever imagine? Or will past hurts and the town grapevine tear them apart?
My review: Jessica and Blake have been married for 13 years, and their romance is well...stagnant at best. They've had some devastating miscarriages and their one child who was even close to being born died as well. Instead of grieving together they each grieved on their own, making their marriage more about parallel lives than being a happy couple. Which is really bad news when Blake finds out that through a one night stand, with Jessica's former roommate no less, he has a daughter. And she's going to be moving in with them, making their lives even more crazy. How much more can Jessica's poor, battered heart stand?
This book is super cute. I really loved the premise, and I loved that even though things got rough for them, neither Jessica or Blake really ever wanted to end their marriage. They were both willing to work things out and make the changes that they hoped would bring more happiness. Madeline was a great eye opener for both of them. I loved that Jessica tried her hardest to be a good step-mom, even though in many ways her heart broke even more with every step.
I loved that Jessica had some good girl friends that she could talk to. I always had to laugh when her friend Cheyenne was around. She's the type of girl that says what she thinks no matter what it is or who's around. Great comic relief during the too serious parts.
The romantic parts were really great too. I loved the scene in the gym after her Zumba class. Aye, aye aye!
Jennifer Peel is amazing at writing cute, clean, contemporary romances! I really enjoyed this book and I love that there's going to be a group of books about the small town of Merryton, Colorado. I'm hoping that we get to see more of Blake and Jessica through the eyes of some of the other characters.
I don't usually read the teaser chapters at the end of this book, but I happened to with this one and I can't wait for Taylor's story. It promises to be amazing!
I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
About the author: Jennifer Peel is the mother of three amazing kiddos. Wife to her one and only for the past twenty-one years. Lover of late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head. Check out her website at www.jenniferpeel.com.Labels: Clean Romance, Jennifer Peel, The Women of Merryton
