The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas
Someday Valley series #2. Contemporary small town romance with a touch of suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone. Multiple romance storylines.
Bear and Eliza: he’s been alone a long time and his family push him to get out more. Little do they know that Bear hasn’t been as lonely as they believe.
Andy and Dan: Andy is in town hide, but gets more involved with family than expected.
Cora Lee and Noah: Cora Lee is in love for the first time and bookstore owner Noah will convince her that together, their happiness will outshine the difficulties.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook copy of this book narrated by Jeannie Bartel. Because there are three couples in this book, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish one from the other so it’s important to know a bit of background or at least the storyline of each of the women in particular. The performance is well done and at a good pace but I believe would be easier to follow as a print copy. To prevent losing all inflection, I kept the speed slightly slower than my usual and listened at 1.3.
Touching and heartfelt. Family.
3.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher RB Media. ( )

Good story about six people who become three couples whose lives intersect when they come together to help one of their own. Each character is unique, with their quirks, and I enjoyed seeing their changes and journeys.

Noah is a relative newcomer to Someday Valley. A New York native, he left a successful business career and an overbearing family to start a bookstore in the small town. Noah is an observer of human nature rather than a participant. He listens to his customers' stories, dreams, and regrets while trying to decide what he wants from his life. But for now, his life revolves around his bookstore and upstairs apartment.

One of his customers is Cora Lee, the quiet elementary school teacher who lives in the other apartment above the shops. She is the daughter of Noah's landlord, Bear Buchanan, and sister to Katherine, her brash older sister.

Noah and Cora Lee have been drawn to each other for a long time but only did something about it after an unexpected rooftop encounter. I loved Noah's sensitivity to Cora Lee's shyness and how he did everything possible to make her feel safe with him. I liked how Cora Lee saw Noah for the intelligent and sensitive man that he was. As they got to know each other and explored their growing feelings, each opened up about their dreams. I loved how Cora Lee gave him the support and confidence he needed to pursue his dream. Their time together was sweet.

Bear is the local fix-it guy. He mostly keeps to himself. He works on his farm when he isn't working in his repair shop. He also has a secret life that no one is aware of. He has had an ongoing relationship with his neighbor, Eliza, for many years. He wants more, but Eliza is reluctant to change a relationship that has worked for so long. Eliza has an intriguing backstory, and I was fascinated by the stories she told. I liked Bear's sensitivity to Eliza's needs and that he never gave up on his hopes for their future.

Andi Delane's trip to Someday Valley has two purposes. On the surface, she is there to meet the two half-brothers she didn't know she had. Her biological father was not part of her life, and she knew nothing of their existence until after his death. She has always wanted a sibling and is excited and nervous about meeting them. The other reason is darker. Andi is an undercover detective in Dallas and has the misfortune of being identified by a pretty nasty criminal. She needs to go into hiding until she is called as a witness in his trial because there is a contract out on her life. Andi is independent and resents the need for protection. She is especially ticked when she checks in with the sheriff, and he sets one of his deputies to tail her and watch over her.

Dan is intrigued by Andi from the moment he gives her a speeding ticket on her way into town. He's pretty happy to follow Andi around, even though she does her best to make his job harder. I loved their interactions over the first few days as it became apparent that Andi underestimated Dan's abilities. I liked it when she stopped playing stupid games and started working with him. Their fake relationship ruse gave her the cover she needed for being in town but also gave Dan an excuse to spend more time with her. Having been burned once in love, he never expected to fall for someone else.

Things get complicated when those who are after Andi come looking for her. She isn't used to having someone have her back and isn't sure how to handle Dan's protectiveness. It takes a little while to find the balance that satisfies their needs. The intensity increases as the bad guys close in, and Dan and Andi devise a plan to keep her safe and alive. It was interesting to see how the three couples worked together to make it happen. The build-up and final confrontation kept me turning the pages until it was over. All that was left was the question of where their relationship was headed. I loved the epilogue and seeing each couple's decisions about their futures.

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