The Women of Merryton Series by Jennifer Peel

Nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, lies the quaint town of Merryton, Colorado. You will never find finer people or better friends. But try keeping a secret in Merryton and you will soon find that the good townspeople are better than any private investigator or undercover journalist. The men and women of Merryton are like living barometers, and when a storm is brewing in the life of one of their own, they are sure to get to the bottom of it–and forecast it on the Merryton grapevine.

Jessica and Blake Summers know a thing or two about what it’s like to be the latest and greatest news on the vine. Their thirteen year marriage has had more than its fair share of heartache and loss. Then the past comes knocking, in the form of a teenage girl, a daughter Blake never knew existed. The news sets the Merryton grapevine on fire.

In the wake of this revelation and firestorm, Blake and Jessica are forced to reevaluate their own relationship and priorities, all while learning that raising a teenage girl is not for the faint of heart. But in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty, they discover that Madeline may just be what the doctor ordered to heal their broken hearts and mend their own tattered relationship.

Will they have the courage to look forward and find a greater love than they could ever imagine? Or will past hurts and the town grapevine tear them apart?

Review

This book is a rollercoaster of a tale. Jessie and Blake have been married for thirteen years, and have had quite a few challenges along the way. Yet their marriage is about to hit a new low when Jessie finds out Blake has a daughter .
Now Jessie has a stepdaughter living with them while trying to figure out if her marriage is still worth hanging on to.
Will Jessie and Blake find their way back to each other? Will Maddie help them be a family?
I loved this book. The main cast is amazing. Jessie is such a strong, real character, you find yourself connecting with her instantly. Blake had me rolling my eyes and asking myself how on earth he could be so dense. Then I remembered how you need to spell certain things out to men, and Blake seems to be of the kind that needs to really have it broken down in to very small and clear messages. Luckily we see him changing in the book, and get to experience that in small subtle ways at first to more dramatic gestures towards the end. Maddie is a great girl. I loved her interactions with Jessie, and the bond they develop. I also adored Jessie’s parents. I loved her mother’s honesty and love, and her dad’s great relationship with her. Something every daughter should have with her dad!
The other supporting cast members were hilarious. Jessie’s friends were a real laugh at times, and added a great warmth and richness to it all.
All in all I must say that Jennifer Peel does what so many authors attempt. She brings real life drama in such a way you experience it right along from the first page. This book will have even the most pragmatic believing in true love and second chance!

Buy book 1: Jessie Belle: The Women of Merryton – Book One here.

Book 2: Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton – Book Two

Determined not to repeat the same mistakes as her mother, Taylor Cole left her husband with their toddler in tow fourteen years ago and vowed never to return to Merryton. Now she is finally ready to face her demons and put the past and her ex-husband behind her, but to do that she and her daughter must return to the place that haunts her memories. A place where she lost not only the love of her life, but her childhood hopes and dreams.

When they move back, Taylor can’t seem to remain apathetic toward her ex-husband or his nine-year-old daughter. She discovers that maybe all wasn’t as it seemed so many years ago. And maybe—just maybe—she and her ex-husband need each other more now than they ever have before. But can the exes put the past behind them and find a way to forgive each other? Or will they let past mistakes and misunderstandings keep them from future happiness?

Return to Merryton and join Taylor and Easton on their journey, and catch up with old friends you grew to love in Jessie Belle.

Review

This book is a great follow-up to Jessie Belle. In the first book we got a glimpse of Taylor and Easton, the two main characters of this new book. Taylor and Easton were married many years ago, but have been divorced for many years. Since then Easton married a real witch, had another daughter named Emmy, and got another divorce.

Now, as Taylor returns to Merryton, Easton and Taylor are thrown together numerous times due to the two daughters connecting and Easton spending time with Ashley.

This book is all about second chances. Taylor is faced with all the things that went wrong the first time round, and realizes that maybe certain aspects weren’t as bad as she perceived them. She is forced to reevaluate where in life she stands, and if she is willing to make room for Easton and Emmy in her life.

Easton has grown from the mistakes he has made. He is not the man he was when Taylor left. He is willing to win Taylor over, and do whatever is necessary to make her see that he is the man for her. He never stopped loving her, and he wants that second chance to show her what she means to him.

This series is all about getting another try. Taylor and Easton don’t have a fairy tale romance, but they end up making it into one.

In both books you are shown the hard and ugly, and shown it in a fun, enjoyable, yet down to earth way, that it appeals to you as a reader, and makes it utterly real, in your face, so relatable. Then the change comes slowly, with the necessary hiccups, the bumps in the road, and the final real success at that elusive second chance. And all along you have felt it, experienced it, gone along on every page, in every word, and you can’t help but feel utter joy for these people who have become true friends throughout the book. When you finally hit the end, you feel that pit in your stomach, knowing you need to say goodbye to these people who have gone on a journey with you, and you feel reluctant to leave. THAT is the experience Jennifer creates for her readers in these books.

Buy book 2: Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton – Book Two here

And let me tell you this, I have read book three, and it just keeps getting better 🙂 🙂 🙂