Sweet Laurel Falls (Hope's Crossing)

This is a sweet second chance romance. Maura and Jack have a second chance at love after twenty years. But they each have to forgive the other for what and how things happened back then. They are different people now and share a daughter. Even Sage had to deal with the results of what happened then. In the end love did bring them all through it. I loved every minute of this book and was sad when it ended. RaeAnne Thayne's books always deserve five stars!

Although the chemistry is still felt in this book, that is not what this story is about. My favorite parts of this book are Maura's story. I felt the author dealt with her grief and stress in a wonderful way. She didn't skip over it or try to make us, the readers, think Maura needed to move on. She helped us see Maura's problems with not only moving on, but also with having to accept the sympathy from others in the community.

I was delighted to get to know Sage as more than a periphery character. As much as her part of the story was pretty predictable, I still loved how it wove into Maura's climb out of her grief and despair. I don't do spoilers, but I'm a bit concerned about the very ending and the decisions Sage made. But I liked the stipulations and common sense thoughts her parents put before her. It's a fictional book, so I'm sure it will all work out.

So, as I said, the chemistry is there. It's just not the focus and that's okay. It's not meant to be. I looked at this addition to the series as less of a romance book and more of a book about moving on.

Sweet Laurel Falls: RaeAnne Thayne

Surprises come when you least expect them and some you might want to live without. About to enjoy her Christmas Party with her book club Maura McKnight never expects two unexpected visitors that would bring her past back into her present. Leaving 20 years ago, Jackson Lange never turned back, never it appears gave her a second thought and lived his own life becoming a successful architect. So, what would draw him back to Hope's Crossing and what would cause him to stay? Maura McKnight- Parker lost her youngest daughter in an accident. Several teens went out drinking and never thought about the consequences about what would happen when you get behind the wheel of a car. Dealing with her loss and trying to cope with life she is excited to set up this Christmas Book club in her bookstore. Imagine what happens when Jackson walks in along with her daughter Sage.

Jackson Lange never knew that Sage was his daughter or that he even had a daughter in college. Maura kept it a secret. But one look at her, asking her who her parents were, revealed more than words could express. Jackson disliked Hope's Crossing in this small town of Sweet Laurel Falls. Not wanting to remain there he left only to return to learn about Safe. But, things start to heat up, old feelings arise, tempers flare and two people have to come to some kind of truce. Sage, accepting his presence, still missing her sister Layla that was killed in the accident, is anxious and thrilled to have Jack in her life. But, what about her mother? What about the people in the town and their reaction to Jack? Added in we meet his cantankerous, difficult and impossible to get along with father, Harry Lange one of the wealthiest men in town and who seems to have his hand on the pulse of the economy. So, when Sage invites her father to dinner, prepares a great meal for both of her parents imagine Maura's reaction when she states that she is not going back to college for the next semester. Taking time off she feels will help her to cope with her sister's death, decide what she wants to do and be around her mother to help in her bookstore and take online classes too. Maura none too thrilled and definitely set on Sage following her destiny back to school could not believe what happened next.

Not wanting to lose any more time with his daughter he considers moving to Hope Crossing, opening an office and hiring his daughter to work for him giving her a coveted internship in architecture. As the night progressed you can see that the feelings between Maura and Jackson are still there but will their fire ignite along with the flames in her fireplace? Coming out of a relationship with an man named Chris will she reconnect with her first love? As truths come out and the past might reflect on the future Maura learns that Jackson never received the messages that she called tried to stay in touch with her and never returned her calls. Twenty years is a long time and now what will they do as the reason for his return is revealed. Coming back to speak in one of Sage's college classes, speaking with her and then realizing who she is makes for an interesting story. Will they decide that the second time around just might make it right? But sometimes connections are made even when you least expect them to be. One father who has just entered his daughter's life is more perceptive than Maura thinks. Concerned about what might be causing Sage to become so tired and pale both Jack and Maura have different thoughts. When expressing his concerns to Maura and what he thinks might be the cause of Sage's tiredness and lethargic behavior, Maura defends her daughter but agrees to seek medical help for her. But, when the truth comes out and Sage tells them the problem they ban together to help her.

Renter the book club that for some reason never read this month's book but instead is about to celebrate the upcoming wedding of Evie to Brodie. Reminding readers of how they met after the tragic accident that took Layla's life and critically injured Brodie's daughter, Taryn, things start to come together for one young woman but what about Maura and what will she and Jack do about the secret that Sage has finally revealed? As Harry attempts to put out an olive branch to his son, Jackson, Sage learns something that might change it all. Secrets, betrayals, lies and hidden feelings are primary in the final chapters of this outstanding novel. Learning what Sage will do with her problem, dealing with telling the truth and facing the world, learning something about the Angel of Hope things take an interesting turn for everyone.

The recreation project given to Jack, remaining in Hope's Cross a viable option but will all of his effort reunite him with Maura and what will the final outcome be? Then a formal memorial for Layla that means so much to Sage and equally to Maura just might cement their love even more. But, Maura just might not be the only one caught by the love bug and opinions and feelings might just change for someone else. Can everyone put the past behind them and realize that people can change? Can they learn the true meaning of forgiveness and embrace a new life? An ending that only author RaeAnne Thayne could create and a family's whose lives will never be the same. One young girl would change it all for both Maura and Jack. What about Harry and Mary Ella? The answers can only be found in her soon to be released new novel in April: Current Valley Creek.

Hope's Crossing, just the name alone brings you warmth, love and makes you smile. The special butterflies at the memorial for Layla reminded me of how much my late sister loved them too. So, to all of the special characters in this book and to our Five Star author let's give this book: FIVE GOLDEN BUTTERFLIES TO BRING JOY TO EVERYONE WHO READS THIS NOVEL. Can the past really become your present? Only one way to find out: Read Sweet Laurel Falls and find out.

One thing is for certain: this book is very sweet. So sweet, in fact, that it might induce a diabetic coma.

Maura McKnight's life at the moment is dark and sad. Her youngest daughter, Layla, passed away in a car accident, and her oldest daughter, Sage, is away at college. The girls have two different fathers; Layla's is Maura's ex-husband, and Sage's is Maura's first love, Jackson Lange. The two men have something in common other than Maura in that neither is around. Chris travels with his rock band, and Jackson bolted from their small Colorado hometown of Hope's Crossing shortly after he graduated from high school.

Jackson left more than Maura behind. She was pregnant, but did not know it when he went away. She tried to get in touch with him, but he didn't return her calls. Over the twenty ensuing years, Maura has gotten accustomed to life without Jackson, believing he will never return.

But he does show up ... as a visiting speaker to one of Sage's college classes. The two have a chat, and in the course of their conversation discover that they share some DNA. Neither is happy with Maura's refusal to disclose Jackson's parentage, but when Jackson returns to town, he manages to forget his ire when he comes face to face with Maura. Old attraction, it appears, does not die, it just lies in wait for a reunion.

The two must come to terms with their lingering love for each other, and Jackson has some fences to mend with his cranky old father. Sage is a soothing restorative, but she has secrets of her own and needs her parents to help her find solution and solace.

The romance between Maura and Jackson unfolds slowly, as they come to rediscover their feelings for each other. This is very much a G-rated romance, so no fear of any hot headboard rocking. Even the kissing scenes are chaste.

Fortunately, what saves this from complete sugar overload are Maura and Jackson. These are two flawed adults. She is too raw with hurt over Layla's death, fear over possibly losing Sage to Jackson, and heartbroken over Jackson leaving in the first place. He, on the other hand, is angry with her for not disclosing that he is a father, and he's also bitter over his father's past manipulation. They have to get past those barriers before they can come together.

The setting is as much a character as the humans, and just as charming. You will find yourself wanting to visit this tiny ski village in hopes of dining at the cafes and visiting Maura's bookstore. RaeAnne Thayne does an excellent job of showing us Hope's Crossing and its effect on its residents.

Thayne tells the story slowly (sometimes too slowly) and gently, if not occasionally repetitively. I felt like I read the same scene more than once, and the "shocking news" that Sage delivers is not all that shocking. As a means to bring Jackson's father closer to his family, it works, if not predictably so.

Sweet and gentle: that's the best summary of this book I can give.

Published on cupcake's book cupboard. @VivaAmaRisata
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview

Sweet Laurel Falls by RaeAnne Thayne
ISBN: 9780373776702
Maura McKnight-Parker wanted a vacation from Christmas.
She runs a book/coffeehouse and is open to book clubs to meet.
Hope's Crossing is the type of town that belongs in a snowglobe. Everything is in place and it looks so magical especially when it snows.
The straw that broke the camel's back is when her grown daughter, Sage brings her father into the bookstore on the night of the Christmas party. Maura has had a tough year, she buried her younger daughter.
They head to her office and she admits that Jackson Lunge is her bio father. She had tried to contact him when he went away to college. She's not seen him in twenty years and it's been quite a shock to her system.
He's now an architect and he does lectures at college and that's where Sage had a conversation with him.
He now plans to stick around for a few weeks to get to spend time with his daughter as it's the slow time of the year for him. He also sees his father at the bookstore, being mean and rude and when he sees him he becomes ill and falls.
Harry agrees to be attended by EMT's and the hospital. Jackson thinks things would go back to normal if he just left.
They each daydream about their sensual sex life as teens, the places they shared their life's together.
When a crises hits someone in town the angel of hope pays a call, either by giving them cash or a much needed gift, or food.
The angel is about to be uncovered as Jackson has seen the person in action.
Tempers flare as Sage informs them both she is taking a semester off from college. He has a plan that might work for them all and it's accepted.
It helps them all out but it brings them all closer to one another. He's going to bid on the new town project, open an office in town and Sage can work there til the next semester to even see if she likes that type of career.
Sage is hiding major secrets and her parents both have feelings for one another but won't even 'go there'. They each have enough going on in their lives to not further complicate matters...
There are more turmoils ahead that can ruin many others life's.
Love the butterfly envelope and the significance...
Love this series and can't wait to read the next one.

Maura McKnight-Parker has had a rough year dealing with losing her young daughter Layla. She is just trying to cope with the Christmas season, when she is shocked to see her ex-love Jackson Lange walk into her book store, even more shocked that her daughter Sage is with him. Jackson didn't know Maura was pregnant with his child when he left town. Jackson & Sage discovered their relationship after a lecture at the College Sage attends. As Jackson plans to stay in town to get to know his daughter, old sparks start to fly between he & Maura. As they band together to support their daughter through a life altering situation will they discover their love is still strong?

I really enjoyed this book. It was great to see Maura have some happiness after experiencing so much pain.

We also learn who the Angel of Hope is in this book.

This is another good book by RaeAnne Thayne. It is a stand-alone book but builds on the other books in the series. They don't have to be read in order, but I think it would be more enjoyable to do so. The main characters in this book, Maura and Jackson, are realistic and likeable. It was fun to read about their "second chance".The editing is good, which makes the book that much more enjoyable. This is yet another reason I like her writing. It's very distracting to me to find a lot of misspelled or misused words, and I don't find that with her books. I feel that she is a very professional writer. I would recommend this book to others.

RaeAnne Thayne has written yet another outstanding book!! The characters are carried forward throughout this series, so I am beginning to think of them as friends! This book is well-written and easy to read. These books are playing havoc with my sleep .. I just cannot put them down!!

This is a fantastic book. Laughed & cried & laughed some more. It is about a single mother raising her daughter alone. Another daughter by marriage has been killed in aq car accident & then her daughter that is in college walks in with er father. Only thing was... no one had told her he was her father...and no one had told him about having a child!!! So good. I'm not good at writing reviews but this is a terrific book.

Sweet Laurel Falls is a book about healing - healing from the loss of a daughter, healing from the pain from the past.

Maura Mc-Knight Parker first appeared in Blackberry Summer when her youngest daughter was killed in an accident. She had a hard time accepting her daughter's death. As if that isn't enough, in Sweet Laurel Falls, more comes her way. Her childhood sweetheart, the father of her oldest daughter (whom nobody knows about, not even her mother or her daughter) comes back into her life. More secrets are also unravelled in this story, including the secret I loved most - the identity of the Angel of Hope.

I really love this series and can't wait to read the next book.

In Hope's Crossing, Colorado, intoxicated teens crash while fleeing a police siren. Maura McKnight-Parker`s daughter Layla died in the crash (see Blackberry Summer).

Still grieving her loss, Maura is shocked when her oldest daughter Sage returns to Hope's Crossing accompanied by her biological father Jackson Lange who until recently was unaware he sired an offspring with the woman he left behind two decades ago. Jackson has plenty of fences to mend with his loved ones. His first goal is to connect with Sage. His second objective is to come to grips with the fact that he still loves Maura but knows helping her cope with her loss supersedes his desires. Finally he must decide whether to reconcile or not to reconcile with his father who betrayed him all those years ago. As the extended family bonds, Sage's secret could shatter the healing.

The latest Hope's Crossing contemporary drama (see Woodrose Mountain) is an engaging tale that continues to look at the emotional impact of the car accident on all the townsfolk. The second chance romance enhances the prime tale of redemption (perhaps too much as the cast faces issues that occurred years before the recent tragedy). Still fans will enjoy this warm story of love healing.

Harriet Klausner

I am new to the author RaeAnne Thayne and absolutely gobbling up this series. RaeAnne puts emotion on every page - the whole reason I read. This is one of my favorites in the series so far, maybe because we have lost a son I can identify with Maura's pain.

After losing one daughter how does Maura deal with the trial of her other daughter discovering who her father is and brings him home. Maura has a lot of decisions to make. How does she handle the man she loves coming back in her life and wanting to have a relationship with his daughter and Maura as well? This was a great book probably a read over and over again book

I love series about different people within a town and this is what the Hope's Crossings books are. They are easy and enjoyable reads, nothing too in depth, too sexual or too fancy-just a nice story. I'll definitely finish the series.

Just finished Sweet Laurel Falls -- what a great read! It was poignant, and sweet, and had all the great parts of a HEA without being sappy. Ms. Thayne had me very invested in the characters and her writing makes you care deeply about them and about what happens to them. I am truly enjoying the series. Can't wait for the next book!