About the Book
Return to the cozy and delightful town of Winsome, where two people discover the grace of letting go and the joy found in unexpected change.
After fleeing her hometown three years earlier, Alyssa Harrison never planned to return. Then the Silicon Valley start-up she worked for collapsed and turned her world upside down. She is broke, under FBI investigation, and without a place to go. Having exhausted every option, she comes home to Winsome, Illinois, to regroup and move on as quickly as possible. Yet, as friends and family welcome her back, Alyssa begins to see a place for herself in this small Midwestern community.
Jeremy Mitchell moved from Seattle to Winsome to be near his daughter and to open the coffee shop he’s been dreaming of for years. Problem is, the business is bleeding money—and he’s not quite sure why. When he meets Alyssa, he senses an immediate connection, but what he needs most is someone to help him save his floundering business. After asking for her help, he wonders if something might grow between them—but forces beyond their control soon complicate their already complex lives, and the future they both hoped for is not at all what they anticipated.
With the help of Winsome’s small-town charm and quirky residents, Alyssa and Jeremy discover the beauty and romance of second chances.
My Review
The title and cover really drew me to this book, and I was intrigued by the Midwest setting, living in Iowa myself. I haven’t read The Printed Letter Bookshop, which is an introduction to the characters and town of Winsome, and I think that would have helped my reading experience because some scenarios seemed glossed over that might have been explained more in the first book. I didn’t feel like either lead was particular likeable – Alyssa was quite horrible to mother time and time again and Jeremy’s interactions with his business partner were cringe-worthy, but I kept up with the storyline to see how it would all play out. The Winsome community made for a great backdrop, though there was a pretty large cast of supporting characters to keep track of, and I found myself mixing up residents a few times. I did finish the book, but I never truly felt invested by the plot.
3 stars
