kdf_333's review
3.0
soooo i read [b:Sugar Pine Trail|32905317|Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point, #7)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491134897s/32905317.jpg|53521775] and thought it was cute and wanted to read the start of the series. turns out the Caine's started in the hope's crossing series and not the haven point series.
ok the entire hope's crossing series was like a hallmark movie with a lil nicholas sparks thrown in. cuz in hallmark there is not as much bad stuff going like folks dying and whatnot, nick sparks likes death or dismemberment or some awful tragedy.
i enjoyed the hope's crossing series for that hallmark feel.
they were cute. they are good lil romances. no graphic sex, a lil bit of violence. a lot of dogs, kids, and family members. and nothing was mysterious. oh she tried, but nope. she tried to be all nicholas sparks and throw in some twists but nope it was hallmark. you saw the "surprises" coming a mile away. i really liked the big family and small picturesque town aspect. so hallmark.
even though i read them all one after another, the stories and characters were sufficiently different that i could enjoy each one.
not so with the haven point series. they have all the same stuff yet the no hallmark feels. except for the first one in the series([b:Snow Angel Cove|20821540|Snow Angel Cove (Haven Point, #1)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406525511s/20821540.jpg|40167366])and the last one[b:Sugar Pine Trail|32905317|Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point, #7)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491134897s/32905317.jpg|53521775]). (both of which have Caine's in them- like everyone of the hope crossing series does.) i am almost done with that series and it sucks. it started out very good with adian caine but it went downhill form there. why? cuz every book was VERY similar to the first one. i am literally recognizing entire phrasing. (like i am positive she used some of the exact sentences in all the books!) the lead characters all remind me of the previous leads. and they are so very quick to judge. like how can you be attracted to a person and feel this "hunger" (she uses that word A LOT) when you think they are mean or nasty or uptight or something else very unpleasant? the situations are even similar (crutches for everyone!) also every book is i really NEED help but i don't want your help but i guess i'll take it and try to be grateful and oh now i am in love.
i am saddened by this since i really enjoyed hope's crossing and the first and last book in the haven point series. oh welll...
ok the entire hope's crossing series was like a hallmark movie with a lil nicholas sparks thrown in. cuz in hallmark there is not as much bad stuff going like folks dying and whatnot, nick sparks likes death or dismemberment or some awful tragedy.
i enjoyed the hope's crossing series for that hallmark feel.
they were cute. they are good lil romances. no graphic sex, a lil bit of violence. a lot of dogs, kids, and family members. and nothing was mysterious. oh she tried, but nope. she tried to be all nicholas sparks and throw in some twists but nope it was hallmark. you saw the "surprises" coming a mile away. i really liked the big family and small picturesque town aspect. so hallmark.
even though i read them all one after another, the stories and characters were sufficiently different that i could enjoy each one.
not so with the haven point series. they have all the same stuff yet the no hallmark feels. except for the first one in the series([b:Snow Angel Cove|20821540|Snow Angel Cove (Haven Point, #1)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1406525511s/20821540.jpg|40167366])and the last one[b:Sugar Pine Trail|32905317|Sugar Pine Trail (Haven Point, #7)|RaeAnne Thayne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1491134897s/32905317.jpg|53521775]). (both of which have Caine's in them- like everyone of the hope crossing series does.) i am almost done with that series and it sucks. it started out very good with adian caine but it went downhill form there. why? cuz every book was VERY similar to the first one. i am literally recognizing entire phrasing. (like i am positive she used some of the exact sentences in all the books!) the lead characters all remind me of the previous leads. and they are so very quick to judge. like how can you be attracted to a person and feel this "hunger" (she uses that word A LOT) when you think they are mean or nasty or uptight or something else very unpleasant? the situations are even similar (crutches for everyone!) also every book is i really NEED help but i don't want your help but i guess i'll take it and try to be grateful and oh now i am in love.
i am saddened by this since i really enjoyed hope's crossing and the first and last book in the haven point series. oh welll...
allingoodtime's review
4.0
Although the chemistry is still felt in this book, that is not what this story is about. My favorite parts of this book are Maura's story. I felt the author dealt with her grief and stress in a wonderful way. She didn't skip over it or try to make us, the readers, think Maura needed to move on. She helped us see Maura's problems with not only moving on, but also with having to accept the sympathy from others in the community.
I was delighted to get to know Sage as more than a periphery character. As much as her part of the story was pretty predictable, I still loved how it wove into Maura's climb out of her grief and despair. I don't do spoilers, but I'm a bit concerned about the very ending and the decisions Sage made. But I liked the stipulations and common sense thoughts her parents put before her. It's a fictional book, so I'm sure it will all work out.
So, as I said, the chemistry is there. It's just not the focus and that's okay. It's not meant to be. I looked at this addition to the series as less of a romance book and more of a book about moving on.
I was delighted to get to know Sage as more than a periphery character. As much as her part of the story was pretty predictable, I still loved how it wove into Maura's climb out of her grief and despair. I don't do spoilers, but I'm a bit concerned about the very ending and the decisions Sage made. But I liked the stipulations and common sense thoughts her parents put before her. It's a fictional book, so I'm sure it will all work out.
So, as I said, the chemistry is there. It's just not the focus and that's okay. It's not meant to be. I looked at this addition to the series as less of a romance book and more of a book about moving on.
booksuperpower's review
4.0
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?
I give this on a B+
Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC.
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?
I give this on a B+
Thanks to edelweiss for the ARC.
beckymmoe's review
4.0
I think this one is my favorite of the series so far. I really liked the way that Maura's grief was dealt with in this book--both how the author wrote about Maura and the other characters' reactions. It was really well done. Jackson and Maura's courtship was perfect for both where they were in life and their history--I really enjoyed reading it. I was a bit disappointed with Sage's "problem", though--first, it was may to easy to figure out what it was, and second, I wasn't crazy about the person who ended up being the cause of it. It seems to take the whole small-town-everyone-is-connected-somehow bit just a tad too far. The solution at the end of the novel also has me torn--it could be a good idea, or it could cause waaaay to many problems down the road, but either way it deserves more than a minute and a half discussion in a hospital room. Still, I am liking this series quite a bit and anxious to see what will happen next in Hope's Crossing.
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