The turkey sat in the middle of the table, cooling and congealing and generally looking unappetizing. It wasn't even a real turkey, just a pre-cooked turkey crown that had come with shrink-wrapped veggies on the side, an all-in-one Thanksgiving dish that looked like she'd bought it at a minimart...
***
The Blurb
As the frozen earth gives way to the first spring crocuses, pushing their way into the warmer air, Maggie arrives in Starr’s Fall. She’s looking for a new start, with her lovable but painfully shy teenaged son in tow.
It feels like the odds are against her, but she’s determined to come out winning this time, and to fulfil her dream of opening up a board game café. But not everything’s a game, and when she finds herself attracted to a man who’s known as a different sort of player, she worries she’s setting herself up to lose.
Zach is funny, surprisingly geeky, and, most importantly, bonds with her son. But Zach is also drop-dead gorgeous, has a reputation around town, and is also ten years younger than her.
When he asks her out on a date, Maggie is totally thrown. She can’t deny she’s attracted to him. But is she ready to risk her heart with another roll of the dice?
My Review
This is the second book in the Starr's Fall series. I hadn't read the first one prior to this and it didn't affect my enjoyment of this book one little bit.
Starr's Fall is a small town where the main character, Maggie and her son, Ben have relocated to following the death of Maggie's husband. She is seeking a fresh start for them both and decides to open a game cafe in the town. The last thing that she is considering is romance but there is definitely some chemistry between her and younger neighbour Zach.
I liked Maggie's character very much. Her priority in life is her son Ben who has been through a challenging time lately. Not just in losing his father but there have been other things going on in his life that have caused Maggie to seek this fresh start for him. I appreciated the way with every decision she made she had Ben's welfare at the front of her mind and I think this made her extremely likeable.
I equally enjoyed the small town setting which the author described perfectly. By the end of the book I almost felt as though I knew it well enough that I could stroll through it's streets and say hello to all the town's inhabitants. The author brought the setting very much to life on the page.
Zach, the love interest was also a great character. He is younger than Maggie, and she has heard rumours that he is unreliable boyfriend material. As a reader, I wasn't getting this impression of him. Rather, he appears kind and considerate, and he is definitely attracted to Maggie. It's a slow burn of a romance, but it was perfectly portrayed and I was rooting for them to get together.
I am feeling very tempted to go back and read the first book in this series, Coming Home to Starr's Fall. If it is as good as this book was then I know I am in for a reading treat.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1836032519
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 272 (paperback)
Purchase Details
About the Author
Kate Hewitt is a million copy bestselling author of historical, contemporary and romantic fiction. She’s bringing her romantic fiction (previously with Tule Press) to Boldwood, with a new series set in small-town Connecticut, the first of which will be published in September 2024.
You can also find Kate at:
(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)
(all opinions are my own)
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