Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala

Title: Come Back to Me 

Series: Blessings, Georgia #6

Author: Sharon Sala 

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: August 28, 2018

After a crime pitted their families against each other, high school sweethearts Phoebe Ritter and Aidan Payne were forced to say a tearful goodbye. Phoebe stayed behind in Blessings, Georgia, while Aidan and his father left town for good.

Twenty years later, after the death of his grandfather, Aidan comes home to Blessings--only to discover he has a nineteen-year-old son. Aidan is hurt, but thrilled to meet Lee. And as Aidan and Phoebe spend more time together, they realize their old feelings are as strong as ever. But with a complicated past riddled with drama and betrayal, can they truly forgive and forget?

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I was happy to take another mental road trip to Blessings, Georgia. A small town where everyone knows each other. 

This time, our newest couple is actually an old one. 

After a horrible fire, Aidan Payne and his father will be forced to leave Blessings when the town turns their back on the Payne family. Aidan not only loses his friends and home but he will lose the love of his life, Phoebe Ritter. She didn't trust him when he needed her the most. 

Phoebe lost her father during the same fire. A day later, she lost the love of Aidan by obeying her mother who blames Aidan's dad for the accident. It takes a few days for Phoebe to understand that she has made a mistake but when she goes back to tell Aidan she was wrong, he's packing the car to leave town. The last thing Phoebe does is to run behind his car and to scream for Aidan to come back for her. 

Fast forward years later and Aidan is going back to Blessings. His grandfather has died and he has inherited all his real-estate properties. Aidan has not been back since the fire. As he approaches Blessings, he admits to himself that he's not crazy about going back. Worse, he doesn't want to encounter Phoebe. He doesn't want to learn that she's now unavailable. Even after all these years, he has never forgotten her or been able to start a serious relationship with another woman. But Aidan is going to get the shock of his life. It turns out that when he left, Phoebe was pregnant with their son and now their son, Lee is a college student. 

I LOVED. LOVED. LOVED how the story unfolds. We get many points of views and each one helps the reader paint a better picture of what's really going on. For the most part, the people of Blessings are all helpful, compassionate and caring. They do like to meddle and gossip but what small town doesn't? 

Sharon Sala's books are always heartwarming and sweet. It's exactly what I need between my thrillers and suspense romance. 

Even though Come Back to Me is the sixth in the series, I believe you can read them as a standalone. 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Saving Jake by Sharon Sala

Title: Saving Jake

Series: Blessings, Georgia #3

Author: Sharon Sala 

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Love heals in New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala's newest contemporary romance

There is always hope

After eight years in the Marines, Jacob Lorde returns to Blessings, Georgia, with no plans other than to hole up in his empty house and heal what's left of his soul. But with a charming next door neighbor and a town full of friendly people, keeping to himself is easier said than done.

As long as you can come home

Laurel Payne understands far too well what Jake is going through, after witnessing her late husband experience similar problems. She's in no hurry to jump into another relationship with a complicated guy, but their attraction is undeniable and perhaps exactly what both of them need.

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“ She was his sunrise. ”

Being back in Blessings, Georgia is like reading your favorite book while drinking hot cocoa next to a nice fireplace. 

If I had to describe this series, I would say heartwarming with a touch of faith. The main characters are always likable and you want them to be happy. 

Jacob Lorde is a marine who's coming back home to Blessings after he was injured on his last tour. He survived but he was left with a limp, scars and he's suffering from PTSD. His father is recently deceased and Jake has decided to move into his house and fix it up. He's thankful when Laurel offers to give him a ride home instead of walking home. 

Laurel Payne is a widow. Her husband Adam was a soldier too but he committed suicide, leaving Laurel and their daughter Bonnie alone. Laurel has worked hard to keep a roof over their heads with no help from his in-laws. When she sees Jacob, she is willing to give him a lift to his house but falling for another soldier is not what she wants. On the other hand, Bonnie takes a liking to him right away.

“Honey, it’s okay to be afraid of something, but facing it anyway because you have to…that’s what it means to be brave.”

In a way,  their loneliness and Bonnie bring them together. Of course, there is someone who's not too happy about Jake coming back home. He wants to make Jake suffer. But, Jack is ready to protect what he cares for.

“She imagined him wounded and bloody—like Adam had been bloody, except Adam had wanted to die and Jake had obviously fought hard to live.”

Saving Jake was another sweet story by Sharon Sala. Laurel was a good mom, a very hard worker. She liked Jake but she was trying to protect herself from more heartache. 

Jake was a great man. It was easy to fall for him. The poor guy had a tough time dealing with his time in combat. He was readjusting to the small town life. I loved how he was with Bonnie and how much he cared for her and for Laurel. 

One of the things I like the most about this series is how the whole town has a way of coming together to help the people who need it the most. 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'll Stand By You by Sharon Sala

I'll Stand by You

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I’ll Stand by You plays like a movie. 

Adorable “Dori” Grant is working at a cafe washing dishes. She has a little baby, Luther Joe at home. She's almost twenty one, has a GED and she’s taking classes to learn web design. Her grandfather helps her taking care of the baby while she works. 

In the same town of Blessings, Johnny Pine is raising his two younger brothers: Marshall and B. Both kids are good kids. They are smart and funny. When B is attacked at school, Johnny will need to fight prejudices against his last name. He will do anything to keep his family.

In one terrible night, Dori and Johnny paths crossed. And in an act of human decency will link them together. Soon, the town has more gossip to disperse and this couple may loose it all. 

“the truth is that when you’ve survived the worst, it doesn’t take nearly as long to recognize the best.”

Sweet, is the best way to describe this book. 

It’s based in a small town where everyone pretty much knows everyone’s business. 

Johnny is an amazing brother. He is respectful, smart and cares deeply for those 2 little boys. When it was time to defend them, he shined. Johnny melted my heart.

“And that was Johnny Pine’s gift to her.
He’d given her a soft place to fall.”

Dori was such a likable character. She was doing everything she could to help her little baby. She demonstrated spark when she needed it. 

“maybe one day, if I’m lucky, you’ll look up and realize you can’t live without me. In the meantime, I can love you enough for both of us.”

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs