She daydreams of whipping up sauces and soufflés in her own restaurant. His heart is set on helping foster children. Both dreams are at stake. So are their hearts.
With grand plans to open her own bed & breakfast in Chapel Springs, PJ McKinley can't afford the most crucial part: the brick and mortar. But when the owner of a local historic home announces a contest and promises her property to the worthiest candidate, PJ makes a fervent wish and tosses her name into the hat.
Cole Evans is cool, confident, and successful, but he'll never forget his roots. He's thankful for how far he's come and knows his life could have turned out drastically different. If he can win the stately old mansion, he'll turn it into a home for children aging out of the foster system.
When the eccentric house owner narrows the entries down to only two applicants, she extends the contest, giving PJ and Cole one year to prove which one of them can make the best use of her beloved home. As the pair competes in close proximity, something deeper than rivalry sparks between PJ and Cole. And in this battle, they're likely to lose their hearts.
About the Author
Bestselling novelist Denise Hunter has received the Holt Medallion Award, Reader's Choice Award, Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. She lives in Indiana with her husband and their three sons.
MY REVIEW-During the reading of this book here I found myself falling in love with the people inside. Denise Hunter pens a novel that has you connecting with the characters in a way you don't often see in fiction books. I have been blessed to be able to read all the other installments in this series so I found it enjoyable to catch up with Jade, Daniel, Madison and Beckett. I just love these people!! But I slowly realized while I was devouring this one that PJ was dearest to my heart. I felt like she could be me at times in how she responded or her emotions. She is such a sweetheart and yet feels so inferior to others. And don't get me started on Cole;D
The book starts with PJ at a rental when this strange man breaks in and she knocks him over the head. Needless to say she knocks him out. And as you might have guessed, the person she renders unconscious would be Cole Evans. An elderly woman in the town of Chapel Springs is giving away her ancestral home to a worthy candidate and both PJ and Cole want the home. PJ wants to open a bed and breakfast with a fancy restaurant and Cole would like to start an in-between house for orphans and teenagers who are trying to save and earn money as they start a new life. This is a subject near and dear to his heart as Cole was in an orphanage since he was little. My hear really broke for him and what he went through. It colors his whole life as an adult and how he views his own self-worth.
PJ and Cole immediately go at each other and the sparks fly like we often see with a book from Denise Hunter. One of the things I love with her books is the lessons found therein. PJ has had a rough time of it and feels like a loser. She thinks everyone sees her as not able to make good choices, including in her love life. Yes, she has made some bad choices, but they weren't entirely her fault. We see as Cole discovers his own worth and that he doesn't have to save everybody to make up for his failures in the past. Oh, and he is a good hunky hero that you love to read about. Protector, caring and kind he makes your heart swoon. Needless to say, I found myself crying, laughing and totally caring for these people. You hate having a book like this end and I cannot wait for the next one!
**DISCLOSURE: I was given a free product in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given, and all thoughts are 100% mine. Please read my full disclosure policy HERE.**
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