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kbranfield's review
4.0
In Linda Goodnight's The Innkeeper's Sister, events from the past and present are interwoven into another marvelous addition to the heartwarming Honey Ridge series.
Valery Carter was instrumental in pulling her sister Julia from despair, but she is helpless when it comes to ending her own self-destructive behavior. Haunted by a long ago decision and plagued with guilt in the aftermath of a terrible loss, she vows time and again to change her coping mechanisms. Valery is continually frustrated when her attempts to discuss her issues with someone near to her heart never seem to accomplish anything except to distress both of them. She is quite surprised by her attraction to guest Grayson Blake since he is nothing like the men she usually dates. Shamed by the mistakes she has made and her own disappointment to control her unhealthy coping methods, will Valery decide to give him (and their relationship) a chance?
Unlike his fun-loving brother and business partner Devlin, Grayson is a workaholic who likes a well-ordered life. He takes their business very seriously and he is very concerned about keeping their projects on time and in budget. Grayson is not one to take risks and despite his irritation at how their current renovation came about, he is committed to making it a success. Chafing at the delay after an unexpected discovery on the grounds of the Civil War era grist mill brings their work to a hopefully short-lived halt, Grayson surprises himself by spending time with Valery. Will this out of character willingness to take a step back from his busy life provide him with the opportunity for an unexpected romance?
Equally compelling are the chapters which flashback to the Portland family and son Benjamin's  post-Civil War decision to follow through with a promise he made to his beloved childhood companion Tandy. Over his family's strenuous objections, he sets to locate out Tandy but will this endeavor culminate in heartache? And what, if any, connection does the grist mill discovery in the present have to do with the events that played out in the long ago past?
The Innkeeper's Sister is another heartfelt novel of healing, new beginnings and love. The cast of well-drawn characters is appealing and the problems they are attempting to overcome will resonate with anyone who has ever made a choice they later regret. The romance between Grayson and Valery is slow-growing and although Valery has rather serious issues to work through, Grayson is always supportive despite her occasional missteps. The peek into the post-Civil War life is quite fascinating and offers an insightful look into difficulties Southerners endured long after their defeat. Linda Goodnight skillfully weaves together storylines from both the past and the present into a compelling novel that old and new readers of the Honey Ridge series will love.
Valery Carter was instrumental in pulling her sister Julia from despair, but she is helpless when it comes to ending her own self-destructive behavior. Haunted by a long ago decision and plagued with guilt in the aftermath of a terrible loss, she vows time and again to change her coping mechanisms. Valery is continually frustrated when her attempts to discuss her issues with someone near to her heart never seem to accomplish anything except to distress both of them. She is quite surprised by her attraction to guest Grayson Blake since he is nothing like the men she usually dates. Shamed by the mistakes she has made and her own disappointment to control her unhealthy coping methods, will Valery decide to give him (and their relationship) a chance?
Unlike his fun-loving brother and business partner Devlin, Grayson is a workaholic who likes a well-ordered life. He takes their business very seriously and he is very concerned about keeping their projects on time and in budget. Grayson is not one to take risks and despite his irritation at how their current renovation came about, he is committed to making it a success. Chafing at the delay after an unexpected discovery on the grounds of the Civil War era grist mill brings their work to a hopefully short-lived halt, Grayson surprises himself by spending time with Valery. Will this out of character willingness to take a step back from his busy life provide him with the opportunity for an unexpected romance?
Equally compelling are the chapters which flashback to the Portland family and son Benjamin's  post-Civil War decision to follow through with a promise he made to his beloved childhood companion Tandy. Over his family's strenuous objections, he sets to locate out Tandy but will this endeavor culminate in heartache? And what, if any, connection does the grist mill discovery in the present have to do with the events that played out in the long ago past?
The Innkeeper's Sister is another heartfelt novel of healing, new beginnings and love. The cast of well-drawn characters is appealing and the problems they are attempting to overcome will resonate with anyone who has ever made a choice they later regret. The romance between Grayson and Valery is slow-growing and although Valery has rather serious issues to work through, Grayson is always supportive despite her occasional missteps. The peek into the post-Civil War life is quite fascinating and offers an insightful look into difficulties Southerners endured long after their defeat. Linda Goodnight skillfully weaves together storylines from both the past and the present into a compelling novel that old and new readers of the Honey Ridge series will love.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
4.0
Time-slip novels (aka dual timeline story threads that connect in some way) have recently become one of my go-to genres. So I was beyond thrilled to discover that the Honey Ridge series, including The Innkeeper’s Sister, is a time-slip story!
In the present day we follow Valery and Grayson, childhood friends who are reunited when Grayson and his brother Devlin arrive for an extended stay at Peach Orchard Inn which is run by Valery’s family. Sparks reignite immediately but both are harboring past failures and fears that affect their current actions and may put some obstacles in the path of their happily-ever-after.
Not to mention the skeleton unearthed when Grayson’s company begins to excavate a nearby abandoned mill with plans to turn it into a restaurant.
Which brings us to the historical portions of the novel.
A post Civil-War era mystery waits to be solved, and we are drawn in through peeks into the 1870s as well as clues left behind in the present and an eccentric old man who may know more than he’s telling. We know the main players from the 1870s mystery but what we don’t know (until it’s revealed, of course) is which of the intriguing characters match the skeleton discovered in the present day.
I loved everything about this story – from the contemporary Southern flavor to the post-Civil-War storyline to the romance and the gentle nudges of faith. It touches on deep issues from the past and in the present, hitting all the feels before all is said and done. The most intriguing aspect (for me) is the music that only Valery and Grayson hear – when no one is at the piano – and figuring out where Lem Tolly fits into it all.
Bottom Line: The Innkeeper’s Sister is a beautiful story of history, healing, and hope. Although this is the third book in a series, it works well as a stand alone. The romance is both tender and fan-inducing, and the historical elements add an element of intrigue to the overall story. Great characters and a poignant message of forgiveness and healing tie it all together.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
In the present day we follow Valery and Grayson, childhood friends who are reunited when Grayson and his brother Devlin arrive for an extended stay at Peach Orchard Inn which is run by Valery’s family. Sparks reignite immediately but both are harboring past failures and fears that affect their current actions and may put some obstacles in the path of their happily-ever-after.
Not to mention the skeleton unearthed when Grayson’s company begins to excavate a nearby abandoned mill with plans to turn it into a restaurant.
Which brings us to the historical portions of the novel.
A post Civil-War era mystery waits to be solved, and we are drawn in through peeks into the 1870s as well as clues left behind in the present and an eccentric old man who may know more than he’s telling. We know the main players from the 1870s mystery but what we don’t know (until it’s revealed, of course) is which of the intriguing characters match the skeleton discovered in the present day.
I loved everything about this story – from the contemporary Southern flavor to the post-Civil-War storyline to the romance and the gentle nudges of faith. It touches on deep issues from the past and in the present, hitting all the feels before all is said and done. The most intriguing aspect (for me) is the music that only Valery and Grayson hear – when no one is at the piano – and figuring out where Lem Tolly fits into it all.
Bottom Line: The Innkeeper’s Sister is a beautiful story of history, healing, and hope. Although this is the third book in a series, it works well as a stand alone. The romance is both tender and fan-inducing, and the historical elements add an element of intrigue to the overall story. Great characters and a poignant message of forgiveness and healing tie it all together.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
shai3d's review against another edition
4.0
When you live in a place where you have plantations that survived the Civil War and families stretch back even farther, it's almost impossible to pay homage to the present without considering the past. I tend to avoid books that jump back and forth between times but I do have to say that Ms. Goodnight did an excellent job of interviewing the stories.
What I really enjoyed however were the characters themselves. Valery is broken and punishing herself. Because of that, she isn't able to see herself as the strong and beautiful woman who just needs a bit of help which is how Grayson sees her. Now Grayson is the total opposite of Valerie with his cell phone, spreadsheets and alarms but he can't help be be attracted to her. Heck that attraction started when he was just a teenager and even though he hasn't seen her in years, it appears to have just grown stronger.
Now I do recommend that my readers sit down with a glass of peach tea and help to unravel the mysteries from the past as well as discover what Valerie is hiding. This was a very enjoyable contemporary romance with well developed characters, witty dialogue and questions.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
What I really enjoyed however were the characters themselves. Valery is broken and punishing herself. Because of that, she isn't able to see herself as the strong and beautiful woman who just needs a bit of help which is how Grayson sees her. Now Grayson is the total opposite of Valerie with his cell phone, spreadsheets and alarms but he can't help be be attracted to her. Heck that attraction started when he was just a teenager and even though he hasn't seen her in years, it appears to have just grown stronger.
Now I do recommend that my readers sit down with a glass of peach tea and help to unravel the mysteries from the past as well as discover what Valerie is hiding. This was a very enjoyable contemporary romance with well developed characters, witty dialogue and questions.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
elvenavari's review against another edition
5.0
Goodnight could write a million books in this series and I fully believe that they would all be gold. There is just something about the way she creates these characters, interweaves their lives with history (even fictional history) and adds that dash of romance that has me devouring every page. I can't wait for more.
beckymmoe's review against another edition
4.0
The Innkeeper's Sister is a unique blend of history and the present, secrets and mystery, all with a touch of the supernatural. Valery and Grayson kind of have a history--they knew of each other as teenagers, and Grayson crushed on Valery a bit, though they never really had a relationship back then. He'd definitely had an interest, though, and she was at least aware of him, despite the fact that she had some pretty major things going on in her life around the same time--things that will factor into the secrets she's hiding (and will need to own up to and deal with) later on. Ms. Goodnight does a great job of blending all the various threads of the story together into a sweet, satisfying tale in the end.
The Innkeeper's Sister was my first book from this author, but definitely not my last!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The Innkeeper's Sister was my first book from this author, but definitely not my last!
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
sarahlikesthings's review
2.0
This is the third book in a series but can be easily read as a stand alone. The story follows Valerie, a one time party girl who is trying to forget her past by running an inn with her sister. This book alternatives between the past and the present giving historical glimpses of the civil war era. The past and present collide when a pile of bones is discovered near the inn. Although this kind of book does not really appeal to me personally I think it would be very popular for fans of historical romance.
bayougirl85's review
5.0
I wasn't disappointed in this last book of the series at all. The weaving of history and present romance was amazing.
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