SWEET LAUREL FALLS

My rating:4 of 5 stars
Sweet Laurel Falls is the third book in the Hope Crossing series. This book was published by Harlequin and released in September 2012. Maura is trying to live one day to the next the best she can after her youngest daughter is killed in an accident. The holiday season is here and Maura is trying to focus on her book store and not on the first Christmas without her daughter. She is surrounded by her family and friends who are trying to as supportive a possible. But, when her oldest daughter comes home for the holidays with a visitor, Maura's world does another flip. Jack hated his hometown and his father. He left for college and never looked back. What he didn't know was that when he left his girlfriend had been pregnant with his child. Twenty years later he discovers he is a father and is furious that he lost twenty years with his daughter. He comes back to his hometown with his daughter Sage and to confront the mother of his child. Sage, delighted to have found her father, but going through some intense personal challenges has a shocking announcement that will require the help and support of both her parents. This book is more on the Women's fiction side that contemporary romance but works in both categories. It is a sweet story about second chances and new beginnings and forgiveness. I think all of us have made choices that we thought were right at the time, but later found that we should have done things differently. Maura finally realizes her mistakes and owns up them, while Jack must learn to forgive the wrongs done to him by Maura, the town and his father. The chemistry is still alive between Jack and Maura, though the timing is not the best. Will they be able to let go of past hurts and rebuild a solid relationship?  give this on a B+ Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC.