Review: A Wedding in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand

Title: A Wedding in Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand
Small Town U.S.A. Trilogy Book One
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

He’s not so sure about small town life.
She can’t imagine living anywhere else.

Welcome to Apple Grove, Ohio (population 597), where everyone has your best interests at heart, even if they can’t agree on the best way to meddle. When the townsfolk of Apple Grove need handiwork done, there’s no job too small for the Mulcahy sisters: Megan, Caitlin, and Grace.

Specializing in hard work and family loyalty, tomboy Meg Mulcahy has left behind any girlhood dreams of romance. Enter newcomer Daniel Eagan, looking to bury his own broken heart and make a new start. He’s surprised-and delighted-by the winsome girl with the mighty tool belt who shows up to fix his wiring.

But Dan’s got a lot to learn about life in a small town, and when Meg’s past collides with her future, it may take all 595 other residents of Apple Grove to keep this romance from short-circuiting.

The Review:

A Wedding in Apple Grove, C.H. Admirand’s first installment in her Small Town U.S.A. trilogy is a delightfully charming romance. The sparks fly between Meg Mulcahy and newcomer Dan Eagan and they are quick to act on their mutual desire. But when Dan is not ready to move forward with their relationship, Meg must decide if the sexy high school soccer coach is worth waiting for.

Meg and Dan are magnificently developed, three dimensional characters who have both been hurt in previous relationships. Meg is devoted to her family and she shares a close bond with her father, Joe and her sisters, Cait and Grace. She works long hours in the family business and I love that her character has a non-traditional career as a handywoman who can repair just about anything. Putting her life on hold following her mother’s death years earlier, Meg still lives at home as she waits for her on again/off again boyfriend to fully commit to their relationship. But her instant attraction to Dan becomes a catalyst for Meg to make some much needed changes in her life.

Handsome, sexy, a little bit wounded by his ex and a true gentleman, Dan is definitely a sigh worthy hero. He is kind, caring and considerate to everyone but it is his relationship with his Great Aunt Trudi that reveals his loving nature. Having been betrayed in past relationships, Dan is not ready to rush his relationship with Meg, much to her dismay. Afraid of losing Meg, Dan turns to Aunt Trudi who provides some much needed advice and a gentle push in the right direction.

The relationship between Meg and Dan moves fairly quickly from lust to love. Their sex scenes are sensual and understated. They truly compliment one another’s strengths and weaknesses and I enjoyed watching them figure out how to make their relationship work for them.

The secondary cast of characters is also well-developed and equally likable. Meg is very close to her Dad, and their scenes together are quite touching. The relationship between Meg and her sisters is a typical sibling relationship and I got a laugh out of some of their antics. But it is the friendship between Meg and longtime friend Honey B. that I enjoyed the most. The bond between them is strong and their honesty with one another is quite refreshing.

While A Wedding in Apple Grove is well-written, some of the timeline was difficult to keep up with. I was confused on a couple of occasions when I could not tell if the scene was taking place on the same day or a different one. A small issue that did not lessen my enjoyment of the story, but it did cause me to flip back to see if I had missed a transition from one scene or day to another.

C.H. Admirand’s A Wedding in Apple Grove is a heartwarming romance that is fast-paced and engrossing. The small town setting adds warmth and appeal to the story. If you enjoy novels with terrific character development, witty, intelligent dialogue and a homey atmosphere, then you are going to love A Wedding in Apple Grove.