(Chesapeake Diaries #4) Brooke was the typical pretty and popular small town girl and married the man of her dreams who later was killed in Iraq with a small son Logan. She does not want to fall in love and sets her sights on opening a cupcake bakery. I thought she was very boring and not very interesting in the book. However, the hot sexy Jesse, a new attorney in town escaping the reputation of his irresponsible father moves to St Dennis to take over his grandfather’s law practice and prove himself worthy. Of course he falls in love with Brooke and the typical story. I would like to have seen more fireworks from Brooke as she definitely did not match the heat from Jesse. Of course, Grace as usual was great and the other BFF (girls in town who are planning their weddings). Everyone falls in love with someone in town and all the girls own a store of some sort. No a lot of plot here. ( )

Hometown Girl Chesapeake Diaries #4 by Mariah Stewart
Brooke is back in town living at her brothers (Clay) house and he runs the vineyard.
Her son is just now 8 and her husband never got to celebrate his birthday-he died in the war.
She's been busy with classes and now her new cupcake business that is taking off as others are helping to sell them at events.
She runs into Jessie who is also now back in town to take over where his dad left off at the lawyer business. She's getting all her and her sons' affairs in order.
Happy to hear of the ideas of decorating cupcakes differently.
Her lawyer and her petition Uncle Jason to find out the status of the company that Brooks husband had with his brother Jason.
Jason takes things the wrong way and sells it all and delivers a check to her. That was so far from what she wanted-he didn't stick around to learn about things.
She has choices to make-she can live in town, closer to work but further from Clay. What is the best thing for Logan? ( )

When Brooke Madison was a young woman she had the perfect life: she won all the beauty contests, she was popular, beautiful and extremely mean. Today, Brooke Madison is a widow, returning to St. Dennis with a few dreams and a lot of sorrow and regrets in her heart and a son, Logan.
Fortunately for her, Brooke mended things with Dallas MacGregor and the two of them became best friends as her two kids.
Deciding to make a life of her own baking cupcakes, Brooke starts to sell her cakes to promote them and while establishing her life, she hires Jesse Enright, the new lawyer in town.
Jesse feels that he needs to prove himself to the town and his granddad, to prove that he belongs to St. Dennis and Brooke is a big incentive to try and to make roots for himself with her.

Again, another great story by the hand of Mariah Stewart. The simplicity and the ensemble that she had created in St. Dennis makes this story and the characters something that will stay with you for a long time.
It's impossible not to like it. ( )

Reviewed by Valerie
Review copy provided by personal copy of Valerie
Book four in this series and while predictable can be a boring thing, in this instance, it’s not. Predictable for this series is like going home to put on your favorite pajamas and snuggle up with hot chocolate on a cold night with a fire crackling in the fireplace. You know the two characters will end up together but getting there is most definitely the fun.

Brooke has a lot to overcome in this book. She’s returned to town to live with her mom and brother, along with her son, after her husband’s death in Iraq. When she was younger, she was one of those girls, you know, the mean ones. She made fun of several girls in high school and always got the hot guys. Then, she got married and life was still great for her. Now, she returns to a small town as a different person on the inside, grieving, remorseful, but who will believe it? As she tries to make a small business for herself and her son’s future, she deals with a lot of small town kindness that surprises her.

Jesse wants Brooke, no way to mistake that look in his eye, but her brother tells him he better play like he’s not interested or else she’ll run fast and far away from him. Geez, how’s a guy to pretend he just wants to be friends? Since he’s a lawyer, he offers his services to Brooke and makes sure to plan the visits when it’s time for lunch or supper, etc. However, his year at the law firm is almost up. What will he do if his grandfather doesn’t accept him and offer him a job?

As things heated up, it was fantastic to read about how the characters coped with their growing attraction, as well as read about some of the other characters from previous books. I simply love this series! A special shout out to Molly Edwards for sharing this book with me!

Quote: “She waited for the stab of pain in her heart, for the ache that would remind her of the finality of this action. But for the first time, she didn’t feel as if Eric were watching from somewhere, accusing her of betraying him, of forgetting him too soon. She felt only that she was taking care of some necessary business and that Eric would approve.” Page 219 ( )

Brooke is a widowed single mother, living with her brother at the family farm, studying accountancy, and plotting to open a business making cupcakes. She has neither the time nor the inclination to look for a new man. Jesse is the new attorney in town, having recently joined the family law firm and still living down his father's awful reputation. Knowing that he'll scare her off if he shows any romantic interest, he resolves to take it slowly and just be a friend. Plot ensues.

A sweet romance. ( )