Happy Literary Friday, My Lovelies! It has been storming and raining all week, plus I'm nursing a bad cold. Luckily for me I was able to read Denise Hunter's latest novel from her Blue Ridge Series, On Magnolia Lane. So far I am absolutely loving this series!
According to Goodreads:
From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes the final book in Hunter’s Blue Ridge Romance series.
Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.
Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same.
Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.
Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love.
My Review
This book has the cutest love story! I love Pastor Jack's character: He's patient, kind, athletic, and easy on the eyes. He's had a crush on Daisy for at least two years, and she's totally oblivious to his feelings for her. What makes it even more humorous is that she is a constant fixture in his office seeking counseling. That's what's so sweet about their romance: He knows everything about her, warts and all!
All of Jack's friends have noticed that he's crushing on Daisy, so they begin to plot in order to nudge them together. Jack's friend Noah sets-up an account for Jack on a dating website under a false name. When "TJ" and Daisy meet online, they are definitely compatible and enjoy conversing with each other. Daisy is definitely smitten with TJ, but at the same time she starts going on rock climbing dates with Jack. She becomes torn between the two, and she wants to meet TJ in person.
If Daisy's love life isn't enough, she discovers a devastating family secret from a woman visiting from North Carolina. She is perplexed on how to proceed with her family, so of course she seeks the advice of Pastor Jack. I love books about family secrets! This story has a lot to ponder, including how we sometimes put our parents on a pedestal where no one but God belongs. It also addresses forgiveness, overcoming obstacles, and the comfort in learning how God sees us rather than how the world sees us.
I highly recommend On Magnolia Lane and this entire series, especially if you enjoy Christian fiction.
Below are the first two books in the series. I've read both, and I reviewed Sweetbriar Cottage.
Read my review HERE.
I also enjoyed Honeysuckle Dreams.
Denise Hunter
Aren't the Blue Ridge Series book covers gorgeous?
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Bar nes & Noble
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the publisher Thomas Nelson via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you!
What are you reading this weekend?
Until next time...
Happy reading!
Ricki Jill
Ricki Jill