Sweet Surprises
All this single dad wants is a quiet Christmas, but he’s in for a sweet surprise…
Charlotte Kendrick is thrilled when her best friend invites her to run the family ice cream shop in small-town Sugarville Grove. She’s had a rough year with a bad break-up and a terrible loss. But Charlotte isn’t going to let that dampen her spirits. She’s determined to have fun, finish the things she starts, and avoid falling for another guy – especially her best friend’s grumpy, gorgeous older brother.
Tag Lawrence has buried himself in his work on the family dairy farm and his fierce love for his kids ever since losing his wife years ago. People might say he’s a grump, but he’d rather focus on his energetic five-year-old son and increasingly reserved thirteen-year-old daughter than worry about the world outside Lawrence Farm.
But when an early freeze and a burst pipe leave the pretty new manager of the dairy’s ice cream shop out in the cold, Tag feels obliged to offer her a home for the holidays. The upbeat young woman connects with his kids in a way that makes his chest ache, but Tag knows he will never allow himself to fall in love again. And he definitely can’t even think about getting involved with his little sister’s best friend, no matter how much her smiles make him feel like something is awakening in his heart.
Nothing short of a Christmas miracle could bring these two together. It’s a good thing they’re in Sugarville Grove this holiday season.
Welcome to Sugarville Grove, where clean & wholesome small-town romance awaits you on every corner. Life is sweet in Sugarville Grove! Be sure to read the whole series!
Charlotte Kendrick is thrilled when her best friend invites her to run the family ice cream shop in small-town Sugarville Grove. She’s had a rough year with a bad break-up and a terrible loss. But Charlotte isn’t going to let that dampen her spirits. She’s determined to have fun, finish the things she starts, and avoid falling for another guy – especially her best friend’s grumpy, gorgeous older brother.
Tag Lawrence has buried himself in his work on the family dairy farm and his fierce love for his kids ever since losing his wife years ago. People might say he’s a grump, but he’d rather focus on his energetic five-year-old son and increasingly reserved thirteen-year-old daughter than worry about the world outside Lawrence Farm.
But when an early freeze and a burst pipe leave the pretty new manager of the dairy’s ice cream shop out in the cold, Tag feels obliged to offer her a home for the holidays. The upbeat young woman connects with his kids in a way that makes his chest ache, but Tag knows he will never allow himself to fall in love again. And he definitely can’t even think about getting involved with his little sister’s best friend, no matter how much her smiles make him feel like something is awakening in his heart.
Nothing short of a Christmas miracle could bring these two together. It’s a good thing they’re in Sugarville Grove this holiday season.
Welcome to Sugarville Grove, where clean & wholesome small-town romance awaits you on every corner. Life is sweet in Sugarville Grove! Be sure to read the whole series!
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Check out the whole Sugarville Grove series!
**My thoughts**
I admit that I hadn't heard of Clara Pines before this series came out. I was brought to her and this book because Sugarville Grove is a series that she is doing with author Tess Thompson, and I've been a fan of Tess Thompson's since the beginning of her writing career. So naturally, I had to give this one a shot! And I fell totally in love with the book and the characters.
Charlotte has had a rough go in life and is starting all over again by helping her best friend's family resurrect the family ice cream business. This cannot be an easy feat in a small Vermont town in the middle of winter! And yet, Charlotte is filled with great ideas and has a strong desire to learn as much as she can. It doesn't hurt that her best friend's older brother is easy on the eyes and has a grumpy nature that almost begs for someone to break through it.
Tag has also had a bit of a rough go, now raising his two children on his own. Chance was a mere toddler when he lost his mom and is now a four-year-old bundle of energy. I recognize and embrace his boisterous spirit, found in many of my favorite students over the years. Olivia is a teenager who still cannot wrap her head around not having her mom anymore. Her sullen nature makes her a tough nut to crack, but the right person will be able to penetrate that shell.
No one expected the level of healing that Charlotte's presence is able to bring - not just to Tag and his children, but also his family and other people in the town. That's the magic found in these small town stories at Christmastime. I could feel the magic all around them while I was reading this book and felt inspired to try to be a better person, like Charlotte. My only issue was the happy ending felt a bit rushed, considering where these two started in their emotional states.
Nevertheless, I am glad that I was introduced to this series and am looking forward to seeing how these two authors weave their characters and tales together in this new small town and continue the Christmas magic. And I am definitely going to check out Clara's other books!
I received a requested ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
