Reviewer: Holly On Lavender Lane (Shelter Bay, #3) by JoAnn Ross
Series: Shelter Bay #3
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 378
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Series Rating:
Sometimes the second time is the charm....
After seeing enough of war, former Navy SEAL Lucas Chafee is settling back into civilian life when he accepts a job refurbishing a farmhouse for an old friend, who plans to turn it into a culinary school.
Celebrity TV chef Madeline Durand was badly shaken when her husband's illicit video went viral, so she jumps at the chance to reevaluate her life in Shelter Bay while helping her grandmother turn the family farm into a new business. Little does she know that the man who broke her heart years ago is already on the job.
Having let Maddy leave Shelter Bay once, Lucas isn't about to let her get away this time. But rekindling their romance won't be easy, as she still hasn't forgiven him for a fateful night ten years ago. But Lucas is a man on a mission, and with the help of some Shelter Bay matchmakers, he plans to come up with a very special recipe of passion, patience, and perseverance to win her over....
On Lavender Lane (Shelter Bay, Book 3) by JoAnn Ross
After seeing enough of war, former Navy SEAL Lucas Chafee is settling back into civilian life when he accepts a job refurbishing a farmhouse for an old friend, who plans to turn it into a culinary school.
Celebrity TV chef Madeline Durand was badly shaken when her husband’s illicit video went viral, so she jumps at the chance to reevaluate her life in Shelter Bay while helping her grandmother turn the family farm into a new business. Little does she know that the man who broke her heart years ago is already on the job.
Having let Maddy leave Shelter Bay once, Lucas isn’t about to let her get away this time. But rekindling their romance won’t be easy, as she still hasn’t forgiven him for a fateful night ten years ago. But Lucas is a man on a mission, and with the help of some Shelter Bay matchmakers, he plans to come up with a very special recipe of passion, patience, and perseverance to win her over….
This was a sweet reunited lovers story (one of my favorite romance tropes). I especially liked that it was Lucas who wanted a permanent relationship. I don’t think that happens often enough in novels. It seems like the men are always commitment shy, but that isn’t realistic. This was refreshing in that respect.
I do think the romance came about rather quickly. Hardly any time at all passed between Maddy seeing a video of her fiance cheating and rekindling her high school romance with Lucas. I really wish more time had passed before she jumped into something else.
As a food lover, that aspect of the novel was really great. The way the food was described, along with the production aspects of the show, really drew me in. I also loved Maddy’s grandmother.
This was a sweet story. A must-read for food lovers and fans of contemporary romance.
3.75 out of 5
The Series
This book is available from Signet. You can buy it here or here in e-format.