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bekkabergamot's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Many thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy.
I really enjoyed <i>The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane</i>. It reminded me of other small town contemporary romance novels that I am fond of, Annie Rains' and Belle Calhoune's books come to mind. Yet, Jeannie Chin has her own voice and gift; using her experience as a biracial Asian and Caucasian American, Chin introduces the Wu-Miller family. June Wu works for the family inn taking on the lion's share of work since her mother's fell ill. With her mother mostly recovered and at home, June has been insisting that she rests and continues to recover while June ignores how stressed out she is: a major stressor in her life being the burden of medical debt from her mother's close call. June Wu is a woman with a plan, or many plans to be more precise, and she's convinced herself that if she keeps the inn running to perfection, relaunches the town Pumpkin Festival, and business picks up both her family and the small town she loves will all be alright.
Enter Clay Hawthorne, an injured veteran with PTSD, who is angry at the world for losing his best friend after already having lived a difficult life. Upon arriving to the small town in the western mountains of North Carolina, Clay is hurting and delusional enough to think he can open his best friend's dream of a dive bar on the traditional main street of Blue Cedar Falls without people standing in his way. Clay goes out of his way to be rude and affrontive to every inquiring soul who looks in on his new business including June. But when the town's business association threatens him opening his dead best friend's dream business, Clay is forced to team up with June (who is desperate to make the bar work with the town and her family's inn and not against it). Once June and Clay spend time together their intense attraction sparks into something more.
There is a lot that I liked about this story. I really enjoyed June working through the overwhelming feelings of responsibility that she has for her family. I also loved seeing Clay open up to love and happiness as well. I love a small town story and this one definitely did not disappoint. With LGBTQIA+ representation, Asian American main and secondary characters, and characters from other ethnic backgrounds, Chin delivered a diverse set of personas. I will note that I was surprised by the open door nature of this romance (in a good way). I enjoy both closed and open door romance and had expected this one to be closed -- it is not, it does include a few well-written sex scenes. I did find the conflict to be quickly fixed, but I did overall really like the book. I definitely cannot wait to re-enter Blue Cedar Falls when we get the second book in the series!
I really enjoyed <i>The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane</i>. It reminded me of other small town contemporary romance novels that I am fond of, Annie Rains' and Belle Calhoune's books come to mind. Yet, Jeannie Chin has her own voice and gift; using her experience as a biracial Asian and Caucasian American, Chin introduces the Wu-Miller family. June Wu works for the family inn taking on the lion's share of work since her mother's fell ill. With her mother mostly recovered and at home, June has been insisting that she rests and continues to recover while June ignores how stressed out she is: a major stressor in her life being the burden of medical debt from her mother's close call. June Wu is a woman with a plan, or many plans to be more precise, and she's convinced herself that if she keeps the inn running to perfection, relaunches the town Pumpkin Festival, and business picks up both her family and the small town she loves will all be alright.
Enter Clay Hawthorne, an injured veteran with PTSD, who is angry at the world for losing his best friend after already having lived a difficult life. Upon arriving to the small town in the western mountains of North Carolina, Clay is hurting and delusional enough to think he can open his best friend's dream of a dive bar on the traditional main street of Blue Cedar Falls without people standing in his way. Clay goes out of his way to be rude and affrontive to every inquiring soul who looks in on his new business including June. But when the town's business association threatens him opening his dead best friend's dream business, Clay is forced to team up with June (who is desperate to make the bar work with the town and her family's inn and not against it). Once June and Clay spend time together their intense attraction sparks into something more.
There is a lot that I liked about this story. I really enjoyed June working through the overwhelming feelings of responsibility that she has for her family. I also loved seeing Clay open up to love and happiness as well. I love a small town story and this one definitely did not disappoint. With LGBTQIA+ representation, Asian American main and secondary characters, and characters from other ethnic backgrounds, Chin delivered a diverse set of personas. I will note that I was surprised by the open door nature of this romance (in a good way). I enjoy both closed and open door romance and had expected this one to be closed -- it is not, it does include a few well-written sex scenes. I did find the conflict to be quickly fixed, but I did overall really like the book. I definitely cannot wait to re-enter Blue Cedar Falls when we get the second book in the series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Death, Racism, Car accident, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War