About the Book
Title: A Small Town Fourth of July
Series: Home to Maple Glen, Bk 1
Author: Janice Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Genre: Contemporary Clean Romance
Released: June 25, 2024
His return sets off fireworks…
But will it blow up her dreams?
When Theo Danby returns to Maple Glen to sell his inherited land, Maura Stuart panics. Selling the land could endanger Maura’s beloved donkey therapy business…and expose her secrets. Her only hope is to rope Theo into helping with the Fourth of July festival and make Theo fall in love with their small town. But if she trusts him with the truth, will he stay…or will she lose everything?
From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.
Home to Maple Glen
Book 1: A Small Town Fourth of July
Book 2: Rescued at Christmas
About the Author
Janice Carter has been writing romance novels, in particular Harlequin romances, for a very long time. What began as a hobby when she was working full-time and helping to raise two daughters continues in retirement as a wonderfully satisfying hobby! When she isn’t writing, she is playing with her granddaughter, enjoying cottage life, traveling and always reading!
My Impressions
“One day at a time and no analyzing or predicting as we go along.” “I see you already know things about me,” she quipped. “Some things, but my goal is everything.”
A Small Town Fourth of July by Janice Carter has so much to recommend it. Grown-ups Maura, her twin, Maddie, and Theo have all individually moved back to the small town of their youth, at least temporarily. Plus more of the old gang seems to keep popping up. And there are some really interesting supporting characters like Walter. After all, Walter takes Luke under his wing and introduces the donkey farm to Roger and Shep. Priceless!
Therapy animals? Yes, please! And donkeys?! Double yes! Tweens and teens with an attitude who discover the value of hard work, neighbors, and animal love? Perfection.
Plus, we are fed bits of the Theo’s past and his relationship with Maddie and Maura until it all makes sense. And a bit of a mystery and a secret.
The one thing I didn’t care for, was the inclusion of a palm reader and tarot card reader. She presents what she does as perfectly innocent, and the characters never disagree. Most people won’t be bothered by this, but it goes against what I prefer to include in my reads. A clean read, but be aware if this is a trigger point for you.
A very feel-good story of former friends and neighbors coming together to re-commit to the town they once loved, then hated, and now are falling in love with again. Also includes a few romances.
I received a copy of this book from Just Read Tours. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.
Notable Quotables:
“Not much we can do about the past, but we don’t have to make the same mistakes again.”
“It didn’t seem fair that his return here should raise so many conflicting emotions, the strongest being a desire to stay.”
“I know what the word community means, but I don’t really know how it feels.”
“surely painful emotions were long gone…Was there an expiry date on a broken heart?”