Welcome to my tour stop with JustRead Publicity Tours. I'm a huge fan of Susan May
Warren's Christiansen Family series so when I saw that she was presenting some authors
going back to Deep Haven, I was in! Read my review and enter the tour giveaway below...
Still the One
(Deep Haven Collection #1)
By Rachel D. Russell presented by Susan May Warren
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 286 Pages
January 12, 2021 by Sunrise Publishing
Summary
It’s never too late to finish a love story…
Cole Barrett, former Army Ranger, has a new mission objective. Sell his grandfather’s house and put Deep Haven, a place that holds too many hurts, in his rearview mirror as fast as possible. Recently divorced, single, and unattached, Cole just wants a new life as a US Marshal. One where he can forget the past and start new.
Unfortunately, there’s a tenant in the garage apartment who’s refusing to move. Even worse? It’s his childhood crush, Megan Carter, and her son.
Wedding planner and single mom Megan Carter loves Deep Haven. To her, it’s the place where she makes dreams come true—at least, everyone else’s. Her big dream is to purchase the Black Spruce Bed & Breakfast to turn it into a premier event venue and, if she can stay booked for enough weddings over winter, she’ll have the needed funds to buy the inn, move out of Grandpa Barrett’s garage apartment, and finally give her nine-year-old son, Josh, the life he deserves. She just needs four thousand dollars in the next thirty days.
Still, she’s oh, so close…until Cole Barrett returns to Deep Haven. Even if he’s not back to fulfill a silly childhood promise to marry her, but she never expected him to evict her! The last thing she needs is more expenses. Or for another man to walk into her heart…and break it.
When a blizzard strikes Deep Haven, and Megan is overrun with wedding catastrophes, it takes a former Ranger to step in and help. Besides, the more he comes to her rescue, the sooner she’ll be able to move out…and he can move on. And that’s what they both want, right?
Return to Deep Haven with this magical tale about the one who got away…and came back.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
STILL THE ONE brings a cast of favorite characters back in the spotlight as a new author visits Deep Haven, the town that Susan May Warren's Christiansen Family series was set in. The two main characters this spin-off centers on are just as complex, relatable and easy to fall in love with as prior characters. The setting is all small-town where everyone is in each other's business and it's charming. Recommended to fans of Susan May Warren, and stories that pull on your heart, uplift and cause a few instances of swooning.
The meet-cute at the start of this story was just perfect! Of course, everything gets all messed up and these two characters have to figure out what they want and what they'll do to get it before it's all said and done. Megan has a lot on her plate as a single mother. She's trying to purchase her dream location for weddings and give her son all she thinks he needs. She's good at what she does as a wedding planner, but is also a good friend and a great mom. She, like most people, has some regrets but she pushes forward with what she has. Cole is this rugged, handsome ex-Ranger who is on his way to a new job possibility and just trying to cross some things off his list. He doesn't have roots and had a tough time after his parents died when he was a young teen, but has made a good life for himself. They both struggle with feeling loved and enough, and they've struggled a bit in their faith as well. They make for a good couple, if they could figure out how to make things work.
I really liked both Cole and Megan, but I also really liked Megan's son who brings so much to this story! The romance is fun and sweet with plenty of tension (romantic and otherwise). I liked all the cameos of prior characters as well as how involved this town is in everyone's lives. There was a strong message of forgiveness and accepting that each of us is never enough on our own, but God sees and loves us regardless.
I did feel like there was a certain spark missing with the romance. There was chemistry, but I think I was missing a bit more in the dialogue between Megan and Cole.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a delightful story full of heart, great characters, lessons of faith and a sweet romance.
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
(Affiliate links included.)
About the Authors
Rachel D. Russell is a member of Oregon Christian Writers and My Book Therapy’s Novel Academy and is a regular contributor to the Learn How to Write a Novel blog. The mother of two teenagers, she often interrogates her husband on his own military and law enforcement experience to craft believable heroes in uniform. The rest of her time is spent cantering her horse down the Oregon trails. Visit Rachel at www.racheldrussell.com.
Merging the creative energies of best-selling authors Susan May Warren and Lindsay Harrel, Sunrise Publishing is the matchmaker for established authors who want to build on their current success for future growth and aspiring authors looking to break out, build an audience, and hone their writing skills.
Tour Schedule
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight January 18, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on January 25, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
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