I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter Series: Blue Ridge #3
Published by Thomas Nelson on November 6, 2018
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Clean & Wholesome, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 320
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
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Falling in love with Daisy was easy for Jack. But finding the courage to tell her becomes problematic when his secret feelings lead to even bigger complications.
From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom and A December Bride (now beloved Hallmark Original movies) comes the final book in the Blue Ridge Romance series.
After two years of counseling sessions with Daisy Pendleton, Pastor Jack McReady has earned a permanent spot in her life as a spiritual leader—and nothing more. Jack would never risk losing her trust by exposing the depths of his heart, but he’s hopelessly in love with her.
Daisy loves her southern small-town life and her job at her family-run flower shop, but she doesn’t have the thing she longs for most: someone to share it with. Her recent foray into online dating has been a disaster—until she meets TJ.
Jack could kill his friend Noah for using his initials and some indistinct photos to set up a profile on the dating app Daisy is using. But when he’s finally afforded the opportunity to show her a different side of himself, he’s sucked into the plan before he has time for second thoughts.
Online, Daisy shares some of her greatest fears with TJ, but in person, Jack and Daisy are spending more time together. When a devastating family secret surfaces, Daisy knows that only her trusted friend and counselor can bring her comfort. Jack wants nothing more than to be both men for Daisy, but revealing his secret will prove to be the ultimate test of Daisy’s grace.
“I have never read a romance by Denise Hunter that didn’t sweep me away into a happily ever after. Treat yourself!” —Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author of Who I Am with You
“Move over You’ve Got Mail because in Denise Hunter’s On Magnolia Lane you’ve got an e-romance with enough RAM (romance and magic) not only to sputter your software, but to tug at your heart while touching your soul. Easily one of the top romance writers in the CBA, Hunter is a master at inspirational love stories that linger in one’s memory—and hard drive—long after the last page.” —Julie Lessman, award-winning author
I stayed up entirely too late to finish up Magnolia Lane or ‘Love by Deception’. I mean, I knew that Pastor Jack and Daisy were going to get their happily ever after, but I didn’t realize the way it was going to play out. Yes, Pastor Jack chose deception to get close to Daisy, to let her get to know him as a person outside his ministry. Deception! And while I’m sad to say goodbye to the folks of Copper Creek, I think I need to arrange some Romantic Communication 101 courses that will be required for every resident. I mean, Hope is pursuing her Psych degree, and even she needs the classes!
Love Triangle party of Two. Poor Daisy, finding herself looking for love on a dating app. Poor Daisy, finding herself looking differently at Pastor Jack but feeling as though she is not near good enough to marry someone in the ministry. Poor Daisy, finding herself falling for TJ in the app at the same time. Two men, two falling for, only one way out. And let’s talk about Jack, who has been crushing on Daisy for longer than anyone is willing to admit, but she’s in his congregation, so he’s placed her off-limits. Because that’s what you do, right? To be fair, it’s not like he personally set out to be duplicitous; he didn’t create the TJ profile himself. But . . . that’s what friends are for. And instead of deleting it, as he said he was going to do, he decides to engage with Daisy as someone other than her minister. There’s no way this can implode. Right? Insert eye roll here and possibly a dumpster fire.
To be fair, there’s a lot of fun stuff that happens between the mixed emotions, denying feelings, and that dumpster fire. And while this is part of a series, any of them can absolutely be read as stand-alones, but I would just read them all. It’s also fun to keep up with all the other couples in this friend group. What I love about this series is that the characters aren’t squeaky clean, they are real with faults (beyond that ole communication issue) and mistakes. They are real. And that’s why I loved them, this series, and even this book. Yes, the road was rocky, but Daisy and Jack got the happy ending they deserved, and the road to get there is worth joining.
About Denise Hunter
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who struggle with real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.
In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband have raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
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