Category Archives: Apple Valley

July 22, 2015 · 11:56 pm

Review: The Orchard at the Edge of Town by Shirlee McCoy

orchard edgeTitle: The Orchard at the Edge of Town by Shirlee McCoy
Apple Valley Series Book Three
Publisher: Zebra
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Apple Valley, Washington, is where starting over means surprising new chances, facing trouble always brings a helping hand—and the most unlikely hopes can forever come true…

Apricot Sunshine Devereux-Miller needs to stay lost.  Her eccentric aunt’s home in Apple Valley is the perfect place to forget her cheating ex-fiance and get her no-longer-perfect life back under control. Plus, it couldn’t hurt to fix up the house and turn its neglected orchard into a thriving business.  And if Apricot can keep deputy sheriff Simon Baylor’s two lively young daughters out of mischief, maybe she can ignore that he’s downright irresistible—and everything she never dreamed she’d find …

Simon isn’t looking to have his heart broken again.  He already has his hands full raising his girls. And lately he’s thinking way too much about Apricot’s take-charge energy and unwitting knack for stirring up trouble. He can’t see a single way they could ever be right for each other. Unless they can take a crazy chance on trusting their hearts—and risking the courage to finally find their way home.

Review:

The Orchard at the Edge of Town by Shirlee McCoy is a super sweet romance between two very appealing protagonists. This third installment in the Apple Valley series is another fun, feel good novel that old and new fans are sure to love.

After canceling her wedding to her cheating fiancé, Apricot Sunshine Devereux-Miller retreats to her aunt’s house in Apple Valley to figure out what she wants to do next. She is a successful businesswoman who grew up on a commune with several siblings and squabbling, eccentric parents, and she wants nothing more than a normal, calm and peaceful life. Her unconventional arrival in town stirs up plenty of gossip but it is her involvement with Deputy Simon Baylor and his twin daughters Evie and Rori that adds unexpected complications to both their lives.

Apricot is a caring and compassionate woman who is firmly grounded in reality despite her rather offbeat upbringing. She eagerly left the chaos of the commune behind and set about creating a serene life for herself. Although her family did not particularly embrace her ex-fiancé, she was content with their stable and serene relationship. After finding out he was cheating on her, Apricot did not hesitate to end the relationship and although she is now a bit lonely, she does not regret her decision. The quiet atmosphere in Apple Valley is just what she needs to reassess her life and figure out what comes next.  Apricot is surprised by her attraction to Simon and while she feels it is a little too soon to become involved with another man, she finds it hard to resist the charming widower.

Simon moved to Apple Valley after his wife’s death and his daughters have thrived in the quiet town. He is grateful he gets to spend extra time with them and he is thankful that his sister-in-law Daisy is willing to help out with the girls. While Simon is no longer mourning the death of his wife, he still feels guilty for overlooking just how troubled she was. Although he has dated, he has not really been interested in pursuing a relationship with anyone until he meets Apricot. He is immediately drawn to her and even though he has a few reservations about getting serious with her, Simon is willing to explore the possibility of a future with her. However, just as they begin dating, Apricot begins having doubts due to the arrival of her wacky family and Daisy’s escalating shenanigans.

The Orchard at the Edge of Town is a wonderful addition to Shirlee McCoy’s marvelous Apple Valley series. Simon and Apricot are well developed, sympathetic characters that are easy to love. Although their romance is low key, there is no mistaking the genuine and heartfelt emotion they have for one another. Simon’s daughters are adorable and the two little charmers easily steal the scene on more than one occasion. It is another heartwarming stop in Apple Valley that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys cozy, homespun romance novels.

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Filed under Apple Valley, Contemporary, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Shirlee McCoy, The Orchard at the Edge of Town, Zebra

November 10, 2013 · 11:58 pm

Review: The House on Main Street by Shirlee McCoy

Title: The House on Main Street by Shirlee McCoy
Apple Valley Book One
Publisher: Kensington
Imprint: Zebra
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In Apple Valley, Washington, friends are always near, neighbors have no secrets—even if they’d like to—and long-held wishes have a way of coming true. . .

Interior designer Tessa McKenzie has built a good life far from her Washington hometown. She intends to get back to it—as soon as she sells the cluttered Victorian house and antiques shop she inherited from her sister, Emily. But leaving Apple Valley a second time won’t be so easy. There’s her grieving nephew, Alex, to consider. And there’s Sheriff Cade Cunningham, the adolescent crush who could easily break her heart again if she let him.

To Cade, Tessa was simply his high school sweetheart’s kid sister. But now there’s no denying she’s a beautiful and caring grown woman, one he’d like to get to know. Except that Tessa is determined to leave again. If Cade wants to change her mind, he’ll have to show her that small-town life has its lovable side—and that he does too. Most of all, he’ll have to convince Tess they’re good together, and that every step has led her right where she was always meant to be. . .

The Review:

Shirlee McCoy’s The House on Main Street is a heartfelt romance that pretty much stole my heart from the very first page. Genuine and likable characters, a warm and endearing plot and a lovely small town atmosphere prove to be quite an irresistible combination in this first installment of the Apple Valley series.

The bright spot in Tessa McKenzie’s unhappy childhood was her close friendship with Cade Cunningham but his relationship with her sister Emily precipitated Tessa’s hasty departure years earlier. Now a successful interior designer, Tess has little choice but to return to her small town after Emily’s death. Tessa’s intention is to sell her sister’s house and business as quickly as possible and move her nephew Alex and her cantankerous Aunt Gertrude back to Annapolis with her. But that decision is quickly complicated by the realization that the last thing that Alex needs is another change in his life. And then there’s the small matter of the surprising attraction that is sizzling between Tessa and Cade…

Tess is a vibrant and likable character and I found her very easy to relate to. In the wake of Emily’s death, she is wracked with regret over past decisions but she does not dwell on them. Instead, she learns from her mistakes and moves on as best she can under the circumstances. I like how she is able to put Alex’s needs ahead of her own desires and in doing so, she begins to find the positive side of life in a small town.

Tess’s relationship with Gertrude is contentious and these two butt heads at just about every turn. Misunderstandings from Tess’s childhood continue to plague them and their fragile truces are often short lived. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at their frequent clashes and I was moved to tears when Gertrude finally opened up to Tess.

But the absolute best part of The House on Main Street is Tess’s friendship with Cade. Their friendship remains intact despite the passage of time and genuine warmth and mutual respect underscores all of their scenes. No matter how much Tess tries to protect herself, there is no mistaking how much these two care about one another.

The House on Main Street is a delightfully sweet romance with plenty of substance and very little angst. Shirlee McCoy’s beautiful descriptions bring the town and its inhabitants exquisitely to life. Intriguing glimpses of Charlotte Garrison and Max Stanford will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Apple Valley series.

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Filed under Apple Valley, Contemporary, Kensington, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Shirlee McCoy, The House on Main Street, Zebra