Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific story of two people who left their small hometown of Catalina Cove behind to pursue bigger dreams. Vaughn went to New York and had a successful Wall Street career until he was convicted of a crime he didn't commit. He spent two years of a five-year sentence in prison, where he credits his success to the encouraging words of an anonymous pen pal known only as Marie. He then went home to Catalina Cove to start over. He kept to himself, kept his head down, and moved forward until the day he was exonerated and his name cleared. He finally feels that he can hold his head up again.
Sierra moved to Chicago, where she had a great job and what she thought was a happy marriage. Then she returned from a business trip early and found her husband in bed with their neighbors. To make matters worse, her best friend was dying of cancer, and Nathan resented Sierra's trips to see her and Sierra's promise to raise Rhonda's daughter, Teryn. So Sierra divorced Nathan and took her goddaughter back home to the Cove. Determined not to rely on anyone else, Sierra opened a soup café that became very popular.
I loved watching the relationship between Sierra and Vaughn develop. Vaughn usually takes his soup orders to go and eats alone, but one night he decided to stop hiding. He couldn't help noticing the beautiful café owner as he sat eating his meal. Sierra notices him, too, as he stirs up feelings she's kept buried for two years. But Sierra is reluctant to trust again and makes it clear to Vaughn that she's not interested in a relationship with him. But Vaughn is a patient man. He is confident that Sierra is the one for him, and he will take it as slow as he needs to for her to be comfortable with him.
I loved Vaughn. He is charming, sweet, and kind. He doesn't push Sierra to move faster than she is comfortable with. He also knows that she and Teryn are a package deal, which is okay with him. There are some adorable scenes with Vaughn and Teryn as they quickly connect. I especially loved how Teryn included him in her Christmas plans. Meanwhile, Vaughn slowly works his way past Sierra's defenses, enough that she's ready to give in to the attraction that burns between them. For a long time, Sierra tries to convince herself that attraction is the only thing between them, but eventually, even she must admit that there's more to it.
It's not all smooth sailing. Vaughn's ex-fiancée, who dumped him when he was arrested, wants him back now that he's been proved innocent. There is also a local divorcee who is determined to catch his eye. But Vaughn focuses on Sierra, and no one else makes an impression on him. At the same time, Sierra's ex-husband is pestering her to come back to him. He needs to marry her to get the promotion he wants, and he'll do anything to get his way. To that end, he threatens to take Teryn away from her by suing for custody. This is where Sierra's trust issues come roaring back. She's afraid to depend on anyone but herself to deal with the threat, pushing Vaughn and his offer of help away. Vaughn, who will do anything to protect the woman he loves, tries to help anyway. Sierra overreacts and pushes him even further away. I wanted to shake her for being an idiot. You don't turn down honest help when it comes to something important. I loved how Vaughn came through anyway and that Sierra realized how badly she'd behaved. I laughed out loud at Nathan's reaction.
Teryn was an adorable little girl. I ached for her losses and loved how Sierra was there for her. Thanks to Sierra's love, Teryn is a happy and well-adjusted child. She had a unique way of looking at the world, and I loved some of the things she said. I laughed at her take on Christmas wishes: kids get as many as they want, but adults only get one (hence the book title). She insisted that Sierra and Vaughn put their wishes in letters to Santa. I loved the unexpected twist of Vaughn's wish (though I had an inkling of it earlier in the book).
Two characters in the book look like they will be the subjects of the next book in the series. Sierra's friend Velvet has been burned by love. She's happy being a teacher and has no plans to add a relationship to her life. Jaye is the new owner of the Catalina Cove bank and has come to the Cove to supervise the turnover himself. He and Velvet have a history, and he is determined to fix what he broke. I'm looking forward to reading their story.
Sierra moved to Chicago, where she had a great job and what she thought was a happy marriage. Then she returned from a business trip early and found her husband in bed with their neighbors. To make matters worse, her best friend was dying of cancer, and Nathan resented Sierra's trips to see her and Sierra's promise to raise Rhonda's daughter, Teryn. So Sierra divorced Nathan and took her goddaughter back home to the Cove. Determined not to rely on anyone else, Sierra opened a soup café that became very popular.
I loved watching the relationship between Sierra and Vaughn develop. Vaughn usually takes his soup orders to go and eats alone, but one night he decided to stop hiding. He couldn't help noticing the beautiful café owner as he sat eating his meal. Sierra notices him, too, as he stirs up feelings she's kept buried for two years. But Sierra is reluctant to trust again and makes it clear to Vaughn that she's not interested in a relationship with him. But Vaughn is a patient man. He is confident that Sierra is the one for him, and he will take it as slow as he needs to for her to be comfortable with him.
I loved Vaughn. He is charming, sweet, and kind. He doesn't push Sierra to move faster than she is comfortable with. He also knows that she and Teryn are a package deal, which is okay with him. There are some adorable scenes with Vaughn and Teryn as they quickly connect. I especially loved how Teryn included him in her Christmas plans. Meanwhile, Vaughn slowly works his way past Sierra's defenses, enough that she's ready to give in to the attraction that burns between them. For a long time, Sierra tries to convince herself that attraction is the only thing between them, but eventually, even she must admit that there's more to it.
It's not all smooth sailing. Vaughn's ex-fiancée, who dumped him when he was arrested, wants him back now that he's been proved innocent. There is also a local divorcee who is determined to catch his eye. But Vaughn focuses on Sierra, and no one else makes an impression on him. At the same time, Sierra's ex-husband is pestering her to come back to him. He needs to marry her to get the promotion he wants, and he'll do anything to get his way. To that end, he threatens to take Teryn away from her by suing for custody. This is where Sierra's trust issues come roaring back. She's afraid to depend on anyone but herself to deal with the threat, pushing Vaughn and his offer of help away. Vaughn, who will do anything to protect the woman he loves, tries to help anyway. Sierra overreacts and pushes him even further away. I wanted to shake her for being an idiot. You don't turn down honest help when it comes to something important. I loved how Vaughn came through anyway and that Sierra realized how badly she'd behaved. I laughed out loud at Nathan's reaction.
Teryn was an adorable little girl. I ached for her losses and loved how Sierra was there for her. Thanks to Sierra's love, Teryn is a happy and well-adjusted child. She had a unique way of looking at the world, and I loved some of the things she said. I laughed at her take on Christmas wishes: kids get as many as they want, but adults only get one (hence the book title). She insisted that Sierra and Vaughn put their wishes in letters to Santa. I loved the unexpected twist of Vaughn's wish (though I had an inkling of it earlier in the book).
Two characters in the book look like they will be the subjects of the next book in the series. Sierra's friend Velvet has been burned by love. She's happy being a teacher and has no plans to add a relationship to her life. Jaye is the new owner of the Catalina Cove bank and has come to the Cove to supervise the turnover himself. He and Velvet have a history, and he is determined to fix what he broke. I'm looking forward to reading their story.
