Andi's Book Reviews: Review of A Family for Jason by Virginia McCullough #AFJTour

Monday, August 19, 2019

Review of A Family for Jason by Virginia McCullough #AFJTour

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for A Family for Jason, another Harlequin Heartwarming winner from author Virginia McCullough. Read on to find out why I loved this book. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour to hear what others have to say. And of course, there is a fantastic giveaway at the end.

A Family for Jason

(Back to Bluestone River #1)
By Virginia McCullough
Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
August 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She’s not home for keeps

Unless he proves first love is forever

Bluestone River is a minefield of memories for Mike Abbot—all involving Ruby Driscoll. Twenty years after scandal divided them, they’re both back in their hometown. Ruby’s visit is strictly temporary. But as she uses her trauma expertise to help his vulnerable son, Mike faces what his heart has always known. Ruby’s still his one and only. This time, can he convince her to stay?

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**My thoughts**

Sigh. Virginia McCullough knocks it out of the park again with this clean romance that is the first in her new series. Ruby and Mike had been high school sweethearts, until horrific tragedies separated them from each other and from the small town they had so dearly loved while growing up. Modern day difficult times, about 20 years later, have brought them both back home, neither one realizing that the other is there. It's a great foundation for a second chance romance.

The pain that the two of them experienced 20 years ago is still so raw and fresh that even I was feeling it. When it is fully revealed, it is totally understandable that neither one of them has ever been able to truly wrap their head around it. I don't know how you would.

Ruby is back to help her best friend Emma, who is undergoing back surgery after a horrible fall. Mike has just moved back with his son, who lost his mother in a tragic fire and also suffered some injuries. Jason is also selectively mute, meaning he is capable of talking, but is so traumatized at the moment that he chooses not to.

That part of the story really captured my attention and my heart. I have worked with children who are selectively mute. I have a friend who son is selectively mute. It can be tricky to deal with. My heart would burst every time Jason would make the smallest step in the right direction and it made me miss my teaching days. I completely fell in love with him and wanted to join the story so that I could try to bond with him and help him as well.

I loved getting to know Ruby and Mike. The whole time, I was rooting for them to get back together, to make it work, because it is so clear that they have a lot to hash out, but also belong together. As the title suggests, together they would make the perfect family for Jason, who really needs that extra love and stability in his life.

The people in the town apparently still hold grudges and don't like drama. The town has been suffering for 20 years. And yet people seem to want to make it thrive again. I have a feeling that foundations laid in this book will provide an upswing there in future installments. I am looking forward to seeing how this town continues to grow and all of the new people and stories yet to come.

The only issue I had with this story was at the very end, everything seemed to abruptly fall into place a little faster than I had anticipated it would. Some people may not see it that way. I just felt like I was expecting a few more chapters before the ending.

Regardless, I truly greatly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it for those who are looking for a real heartwarming clean romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Born and raised in Chicago, Virginia McCullough has been lucky enough to develop her writing career in many locations, including the coast of Maine, the mountains of North Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and currently, Northeast Wisconsin. She started her career in nonfiction, first writing articles and then books as a ghostwriter and coauthor. She’s written more than 100 books for physicians, business owners, professional speakers and many others with information to share or a story to tell.

Virginia’s books feature characters who could be your neighbors and friends. They come in all ages and struggle with everyday life issues in small-town environments that almost always include water—oceans, lakes, or rivers. The mother of two grown children, you’ll find Virginia with her nose a book, walking on trails or her neighborhood street, or she may be packing her bag to take off for her next adventure. And she’s always working on another story about hope, healing, and second chances.