I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Brambleberry Summer by RaeAnne Thayne Series: The Women of Brambleberry House #5
Published by Harlequin Special Edition on June 29, 2021
Genres: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Suspense, Romance
Pages: 190
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher
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A new season leads to a new beginning in New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne's latest heartwarming romance!
Will the secrets of her past…
Prevent her from having the future she’s always wanted?
Rosa Galvez’s attraction to Officer Wyatt Townsend is as powerful as the moon’s pull on the tides. But with her past, Rosa knows better than to act on her feelings. When Wyatt and his adorable son become Brambleberry House’s newest tenants, Rosa finds her resolve slipping. Her solo life slowly becomes a sun-filled family adventure—until dark secrets threaten to break like a summer storm.
Happy Wednesday, and here’s an excerpt from the fabulous RaeAnne Thayne’s latest Harlequin Special Edition novel, A Brambleberry Summer. Stick around after the excerpt for my review.
A Brambleberry Summer – Excerpt
RaeAnne Thayne
Now that the deed was done, Rosa was having second, third and fourth thoughts about Wyatt Townsend moving in downstairs.
Why had she ever thought this would work?
That evening as she pulled weeds in the backyard after leaving the store, she had to fight all her instincts that were urging her to call up Carrie right now and tell her she had made a mistake. The apartment was no longer available.
“There is no law against changing your mind, is there?” she asked out loud to Fiona, who was lying in the grass nearby, watching butterflies dance amid the climbing roses.
The dog gave her a curious look then turned back to her business, leaving Rosa to sigh. She yanked harder at a stubborn weed that had driven deep roots into the ground.
She would do nothing. She had given her word and could not back out now. Integrity, keeping her word, was important. She had learned that first from her own mother and then from her adopted parents.
Lauren and Daniel Galvez were two of the most honorable people she knew. They would never think of reneging on a promise and she couldn’t, either.
Yes, Wyatt made her extremely nervous. She did not want him moving in downstairs. But she had given her word to his sister. End of story.
Because of that, she would be gracious and welcoming to him and to his sweet son.
Thinking about Logan left her feeling a little bit better about the decision. He was a very adorable boy, with good manners and a ready smile.
It was not the boy’s fault that Wyatt made her so nervous.
She had almost talked herself into at least accepting the new status quo, when an SUV pulled up to the house a half hour later.
Fiona lifted her head to sniff the air, then rose and hurried over to the vehicle to greet the newcomers.
Rosa climbed to her feet a little more slowly, pulled off her gloves and swiped at her hair before she headed for the vehicle. She might be accepting of her new tenants, but summoning the same kind of enthusiasm her dog showed so readily would be a stretch.
When Rosa reached the vehicle, Logan was opening the back door and jumping to the ground, his little dog close behind.
Fiona barked a greeting, then leaned in to sniff the newcomer, tail wagging. The Townsends’ dog sniffed back, and a moment later, the two were circling each other with joy.
At least Fiona was happy to have them here.
“Hello, Logan,” Rosa said.
“Hi.” The boy beamed at her, showing off a gap in his teeth that she found adorable.
“Guess what?” he said. “We’re moving into your house! Dad says we can stay here until our house is done and I’ll have my own bedroom and won’t have to sleep in Aunt Carrie’s sewing room anymore.”
“This is so wonderful, no?” She smiled down at him, trying not to pay any attention to his father walking around the vehicle, looking big and serious and intimidating.
“What is the name of your dog?”
“This is Hank. Don’t worry. He’s nice.”
“I never doubted it for a minute,” she assured him. “Hello, Hank.”
She reached down to pet the dog, who responded by rolling over to have his belly scratched. Rosa loved him immediately.
“This is Fiona. She is also very nice.”
Logan grinned and petted Fiona’s long red coat.
Wouldn’t it be lovely if she only had to deal with the boy and the dog? Unfortunately, the boy had a father. She had to say something to Wyatt, at least. Bracing herself, she lifted her attention from the two dogs and the boy, and faced the man who always looked as if he could see through her skin and bones into her heart, and was not convinced he liked what he saw.
My Thoughts:
A Brambleberry Summer is the sixth installment in The Women of Brambleberry House series, and this is the one and only book I’ve read from this universe. I had zero problems getting acquainted with the picturesque coastal town of Cannon Beach, Oregon, or the characters that have resided within–both past and present. Rosa Galvez has a quiet, happy life running a small store and managing a three-apartment house while living in the top floor unit. She has friends that are like family, and along with her very loving adopted family out of state, she’s content. She’s known as the one to call on when you need help, and she gladly gives it with an open heart. That is until best friend Carrie asks Rosa to rent out the vacant bottom floor apartment to her recently widowed brother and his adorable son. Rosa has felt an attraction to the handsome policeman named Wyatt from the first time she met him, but once she’s gotten to know his polite, very curious son Logan, she’s in way over her head.
Wyatt has been doing the best that he can for his son, and even though it’s been over a year since his wife passed away unexpectedly, he’s still deep in mourning for her. And then their house catches on fire and leaves them temporarily homeless, and his sister Carrie offers up Rosa’s empty unit until they can get their home completed. He feels right at home in the beautiful house with amazing gardens, but the two ladies he often sees tending to them are very nervous around him. Wyatt’s protective cop instincts tell him that they are hiding things, and even though he doesn’t want to push, he knows he has to get to the bottom of it. Rosa has known his family for years and has always been a bit skittish around him, but the woman named Jen and her daughter also seem to be hiding things as they settle into a new life in Cannon Beach.
I give A Brambleberry Summer a 4.5 out of 5. Easily enjoyed as a stand alone novel, the lovely seaside town of Cannon Beach came to life vividly as our characters learn to love, let go, and open up their hearts again. There is quite a bit of suspense and mystery in this novel, and I enjoyed the twists and turns the book took as we found out Rosa’s past as well as why Jen and her daughter had moved to Oregon. RaeAnne Thayne writes characters that feel familiar and real, and jumping into this novel felt like visiting friends from the start. Heartwarming, a bit sad at times, but most of all A Brambleberry Summer is a story of overcoming your past with help from those you love.
Find A BRAMBLEBERRY SUMMER
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play | Harlequin | Kobo | Goodreads
About RaeAnne Thayne
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including six RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and Career Achievement and Romance Pioneer awards from RT Book Reviews. She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.
Connect with RaeAnne Thayne
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