I didn't realize until about midway through that I had actually read another work from this author in this series, The Rain Sparrow, but it was clearly evident in the beautifully crafted story that both broke my heart and mended it all at once. She has a way of building the story, both past and present, in such a meticulous way that each is clearly formed in your mind with rich details and history to boot, and yet it never becomes overwhelming. They stay in their own time periods (until the moment is right), allowing you to enjoy not one story but two in equal measure.




From the past, we have voices reaching forward in physical (random marbles left around the house...more significant than you might realize), audible (piano music, anyone?), and spiritual (emotional presences sensed by those in equally measured turmoil for better or worse) ways. We make the unfortunate acquaintance of Edgar (head of the family, and a slave driver both literally and figuratively) and his better half Charlotte (who was more property than wife...blame the times AND the man), the charming Ben (heart of GOLD, that one) and his underestimated sister Constance (much more to that girl than meets the eye), the dapper Johnny (an injured soldier that stayed on for more than healing) and the one who connects them all, Tandy. He sets things into motion whose repercussions will be felt for generations to come...and all from a place of love.




Present day finds us in the arms of the brothers Blake, aka Devlin and Grayson, but this is more so the latter's story than the former. Though as different as night and day, they've got each other's backs as well as their hearts in mind. Hence when former party girl Valery strikes a chord deep within Grayson, natural ribbing occurs but also genuine concern. There are good reasons for both and the amount of time they'll need to spend in her presence certainly escalates those feelings, but they reveal themselves in due time, as do the ghosts that haunt them all. I really felt for Valery as she battled her inner demons brought on by decisions made so long ago that were out of her very young hands. I also felt for our boy Grayson as he fumbled and floundered his way out of his head and into his heart in search of the one thing that could break his workaholic ways. Seeing these two dance around each other was as mesmerizing as the mystery of "Mr. Bones"...or that of Lem Tolley for that matter (whom I was really convinced was someone or something other than what/who he is!).

In the end, it was a beautiful story about the depths of love in all its forms and the lengths to which we will go to protect it. From friendship to family, new loves to lasts, you'll be reminded of why we seek to find this precious gift in the first place and the importance of maintaining it in honesty and earnest to last. Recommended for Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, and Historical Fiction readers alike.

Time-slip novels (aka dual timeline story threads that connect in some way) have recently become one of my go-to genres. So I was beyond thrilled to discover that the Honey Ridge series, including The Innkeeper’s Sister, is a time-slip story!

In the present day we follow Valery and Grayson, childhood friends who are reunited when Grayson and his brother Devlin arrive for an extended stay at Peach Orchard Inn which is run by Valery’s family. Sparks reignite immediately but both are harboring past failures and fears that affect their current actions and may put some obstacles in the path of their happily-ever-after.

Not to mention the skeleton unearthed when Grayson’s company begins to excavate a nearby abandoned mill with plans to turn it into a restaurant.

Which brings us to the historical portions of the novel.

A post Civil-War era mystery waits to be solved, and we are drawn in through peeks into the 1870s as well as clues left behind in the present and an eccentric old man who may know more than he’s telling. We know the main players from the 1870s mystery but what we don’t know (until it’s revealed, of course) is which of the intriguing characters match the skeleton discovered in the present day.

I loved everything about this story – from the contemporary Southern flavor to the post-Civil-War storyline to the romance and the gentle nudges of faith. It touches on deep issues from the past and in the present, hitting all the feels before all is said and done. The most intriguing aspect (for me) is the music that only Valery and Grayson hear – when no one is at the piano – and figuring out where Lem Tolly fits into it all.

Bottom Line: The Innkeeper’s Sister is a beautiful story of history, healing, and hope. Although this is the third book in a series, it works well as a stand alone. The romance is both tender and fan-inducing, and the historical elements add an element of intrigue to the overall story. Great characters and a poignant message of forgiveness and healing tie it all together.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

I really enjoyed this book and hope there is another because I felt like some thing were left hanging.
Is Julie's son ever found, What happens to Lem> Does Devlin fall in love?

I highly recommend this powerful book. It blended well with the old and new. The past and present.

Thank you netgalley and Harlequin for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

To be honest I'm more of a horror fan than a romance fan. However, I do have one weakness. I love reading books set in the American South and I don't even mind romance that much if I get a good mystery and that was what appealed to me with this book.

A skeleton found that dates back to the Civil War. I was curious and I wanted to know more. Now, this is the third book in a series, I haven't read the previous two books, but that doesn't hinder one from enjoying this book. If you are anything like me will you probably be eager to get the two books after finishing this one.

Now, the story isn't filled with that many surprises. It was easy to figure out most of what would happen next. However, it's an enjoyable book. Sure, I had moments when I thought the drama between Grayson and Valery dragged out a bit. I mean I wanted to know more about the skeleton from the Civil War not the skeletons from Valery's past. Or rather, it was not hard to figure out what she was hiding and I just wanted her to tell Grayson. But, then again she's a southern belle, and her mama has sworn her never to talk about her problems. Because, you never talk about your problems, you drink instead.

There is also parallel storyline from just after the Civil War about the family that used to live at Peach Orchard Inn before it was an inn and just a farm and I quite enjoyed the back and forth between the present story and the one in the past. Now I just want to know what happened to Valery's nephew that went missing years before. Hopefully, a book in this series will deal with that.

Sorry - I didn't finish this book. The story dragged for me, but that's just my opinion. I've read other reviews on line that have praised it, but it just didn't resonate with me. Sorry.

I didn't realize that this was supposed to be a romance novel until I was pretty far into it. That just goes to show you how much I was paying attention when I requested it on Netgalley.

The concept is really cool. Two brothers come to a southern town to restore an old mill and convert it into a restaurant. A skeleton is found in the basement, and one of them tries to figure out who it is, and what they mean to the mill. There is a love story woven in between the one brother and the Innkeeper at the B&B they are staying at. While that was interesting, it wasn't really central to the plot. I liked the parts about the 1800s much more.

Welcome to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, where Southern hospitality and sweet peach tea beckon, and where long-buried secrets lead to some startling realizations

Grayson Blake always has a purpose and never a moment to lose. He's come home to Honey Ridge to convert a historic gristmill into a restaurant, but his plans crumble like Tennessee clay when the excavation of a skeleton unearths a Civil War mystery and leads him back to a beautiful and familiar stranger.

Once a ballet dancer, now co-owner of the Peach Orchard Inn, Valery Carter harbors pain as deep as the secrets buried beneath the mill. A bright facade can't erase her regrets any more than a glass of bourbon can restore what she's lost. But spending time with Grayson offers Valery a chance to let go of her past and imagine a happier future. And with the discovery of hidden messages in aged sheet music, both their hearts begin to open. Bound by attraction, and compelled to resolve an old crime that links the inn and the mill, Grayson and Valery encounter a song of hurt, truth, and hope.



* * * * *



When you live in a place where you have plantations that survived the Civil War and families stretch back even farther, it's almost impossible to pay homage to the present without considering the past. I tend to avoid books that jump back and forth between times but I do have to say that Ms. Goodnight did an excellent job of interviewing the stories.



What I really enjoyed however were the characters themselves. Valery is broken and punishing herself. Because of that, she isn't able to see herself as the strong and beautiful woman who just needs a bit of help which is how Grayson sees her. Now Grayson is the total opposite of Valerie with his cell phone, spreadsheets and alarms but he can't help be be attracted to her. Heck that attraction started when he was just a teenager and even though he hasn't seen her in years, it appears to have just grown stronger.



Now I do recommend that my readers sit down with a glass of peach tea and help to unravel the mysteries from the past as well as discover what Valerie is hiding. This was a very enjoyable contemporary romance with well developed characters, witty dialogue and questions.



*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Linda Goodnight is one of my favorite "Inspirational" writers. I have always loved her books from the Love Inspired line. This book is the third in the Honey Ridge series. I wish I would have found this series sooner, because I really like the town.

It is definitely one that can be read as a stand alone, so you don't have to worry about feeling lost.

It's part mystery and part romance that mixes contemporary and historical elements. These are my favorite types of books too and it is so well written that you won't have a preference between the two tales.

I loved Grayson and Valery's story. It was a slow growing love, which always works best in these types of books. Both characters have issues from their past that need to be resolved. Valery is a character who has things that need to be dealt with. Lots of things. Things you wouldn't expect to find in a novel by a "Christian fiction" writer.

I have to admit I'm surprised at how "real" Linda made Valery. You don't see many heroines in Christian novels have drinking problems and Valery is drinking to take away her pain. The pain is part of her mystery. You get little snippets of what it might be, but it takes awhile to find out what happened and when you do....wow! You really feel sorry for her. She is a woman that is holding so much inside, and it is killing her psyche.

I loved the historical aspect of the story as well. It was really fascinating to discover how the body came to be inside the old mill. In doing that you learn more about the family that once owned Peach Orchard during the days after the Civil War.

This is really a lovely read.

DNF. I couldn't stand Valery's character as as much as I tried to feel for her, she just came off as irritating and annoying and Carter wasn't much better. The story also really dragged and I was bored constantly while reading it.

The Innkeeper's Sister is the third book in the Honey Ridge series. I have read the second one in the series and, like that one, this can easily be read as a stand alone. Valery has been holding a secret inside for years and it is slowdown eating away at her. Her nephew's disappearance years before made it worse. Grayson is a driven business owner who turns old buildings into restaurants with his brother. He used to hold a flame for Valery in high school. When a long buried body is found on his new property, secrets from the past might bring them together or tear them apart.

I'll admit, it took me a little bit to get into this book. But in the end, I enjoyed it. Valery was kind of a hard character to like at first. I think it was because her secret was kept from even the reader for so long that it didn't make much sense as to why she was using alcohol to tamp down the pain. But, her story was heartbreaking and I was rooting for her to find forgiveness within herself and help for her alcoholism. The relationship between Valery and Grayson was sweet. I was glad that it took time for them to get to their HEA, given her issues. The one thing that didn't sit well with me was the lack of confrontation from her family about her problem. They all kind of ignored it and never tried to get her help.

The story waffles between the present and the 1860s after the Civil War had ended. We get glimpses into the events that caused a body to be buried in the basement of the mill. I thought that story-line was going to go one way and ended up surprising me. This is definitely a darker and, at times, gut wrenching book. But, one I would recommend reading. -Kari

This Civil War fictional romance takes place n Honey Ridge, Tennessee (my home state) with lots of Southern hospitality and my favorite drink, sweet peach tea. In this story long-buried secrets lead to some startling realizations and healings. Grayson Blake, a Nashville business owner and a workaholic, comes home to Honey Ridge to convert a historic gristmill into a restaurant, but his plans crumble like Tennessee clay when the excavation of a skeleton unearths a Civil War mystery.. Co-owner of the Peach Orchard Inn, Valery Carter, was once a ballet dancer who harbors a pain as deep as her secret and the secrets buried beneath the mill. She tries to erase erase her regrets with bourbon becoming an alcoholic.. Spending time with Grayson offers Valery a chance to let go of her past and imagine a happier future. Will she tell him her secret? Will she get help with her alcoholism? Will he still love her after he knows her secret? I loved the plot, characters and interwoven theme of forgiveness.

I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Innkeeper's Sister is a unique blend of history and the present, secrets and mystery, all with a touch of the supernatural. Valery and Grayson kind of have a history--they knew of each other as teenagers, and Grayson crushed on Valery a bit, though they never really had a relationship back then. He'd definitely had an interest, though, and she was at least aware of him, despite the fact that she had some pretty major things going on in her life around the same time--things that will factor into the secrets she's hiding (and will need to own up to and deal with) later on. Ms. Goodnight does a great job of blending all the various threads of the story together into a sweet, satisfying tale in the end.

The Innkeeper's Sister was my first book from this author, but definitely not my last!

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Having not read the first two books in this trilogy, some things were confusing. I enjoyed the story and was glad to read that the mysteries except for the disappearance of Mikey came to light in this book. I would recommend reading the first two books in the series before reading this one for full enjoyment.

Grayson and Devlin Blake have made a name for themselves as owners of distinctive restaurant. They have returned to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, where they spent childhood summers with their grandparents, to turn a nineteenth-century grist mill into their newest restaurant. While the transformation is taking place, the brothers reserve rooms at the Peach Orchard Inn (The Memory House and The Rain Sparrow). Grayson, a survivor of childhood cancer, is brilliant and driven. His spreadsheets, phone alarms, and clock-conscious life are ways to feel that he is in control. But when a human skeleton is discovered buried in the basement of the mill, he discovers how limited his control is.

Valery Carter was able to use the restoration of the Peach Orchard Inn to lead her sister Julia out of overwhelming grief and depression following the abduction of her young son. Julia is finding happiness again as the wife of Eli Donovan and mother to his son Alex, but Valery is unable to overcome her own secret past. Once a promising dancer, she has given up the art she loved passionately to expiate her guilt, but her demons still torment her. Her nephew’s abduction exacerbated her guilt and her grief. The choice that is destroying her remains a secret, and she has turned to alcohol for solace. Her drunkenness intensifies her self-hatred. On the surface, Valery appears to be light-hearted and even frivolous. Not even those closest to her realize her suffering.

Grayson had a crush on Valery as a teenager, and his attraction to her is renewed when they meet again. He is wary of his feelings, fearing that Valery could break his heart, but he knows she is troubled and longs to help her. Valery finds Grayson’s combination of intelligence and compassion irresistible. She brings a needed lightness to his life and encourages him to return to the music he has abandoned. But it will take courage on both their parts to reach healing and happiness. They are helped by music composed by Patience Portland more than a century earlier and a mysterious old vagrant who seems attuned to Grayson and Valery’s lives as well as possessing knowledge of horrendous events in the history of the mill.

Goodnight’s third Honey Ridge book blends past and present in another seamless tale that will touch the hearts of her readers. Grayson is a wonderful hero, flawed but honorable and tender and possessing a great capacity for love. Valery is both fragile and strong, and her vulnerability makes her a sympathetic character to a degree that may surprise readers who may have viewed her less tolerantly in the earlier books. They are perfect for each other, different enough to supply needed balance but alike in their love of family, music, and history. I enjoyed seeing Julia, Eli, and Alex living happily as a family and the brief glimpse of Hayden and Carrie, who are preparing for their wedding. The story of Patience Portland and the slave Tandy, whose life, as he acknowledges, parallels that of the biblical Joseph, is also emotionally powerful.

Despite the many strengths of this book, I gave it fewer stars than I awarded the two previous books, both highly recommended in my reviews. Other readers may respond differently, but I found the lack of any resolution to the abduction of Julia’s son a huge disappointment. Goodnight explains her reason, and I respect her authorial autonomy. However, understanding did not mitigate my disappointment. I didn’t expect Nicky to be miraculously restored to his family, but I did expect some resolution. Julia and Valery’s fear when the skeleton is discovered and their mixed reaction when the bones prove not to be Nicky’s were moving and poignant. But I wanted more closure. If you are a reader who enjoys stories that skillfully weave together the past and present with characters who are real and compelling, I recommend the book. But if you have followed the series, you may find it less than fully satisfying.

Reviewed by Janga for The Romance Dish

A good romance that will satisfy all readers. There is not any hot and heavy scenes, so it would appeal to those that just want a sweet romance that has some conflict. Appropriate for teens and young adults and up.

Grayson Blake and his brother, Devlin have returned to Honey ridge to convert a historic grist mill into a restaurant. While in town they rent rooms at the Peach Orchard Inn which happens to be co-owned by a beautiful woman, Valery Carter, who happened to be Grayson's teenage crush. Valery was a gifted dancer who enchanted him when he was younger and he finds that she still enchants him to this day. As Grayson and Valery become re-acquainted, it is obvious that Valery has secrets as she becomes distant and withdrawn when Grayson gets too close.

Valery has her secrets and is deeply troubled by them. She has a deep regret that she can't get past and self-medicates her pain and turmoil with bourbon. As she gets closer to Grayson she begins to think of a future which might include happiness if she can just make peace with the past. When sheet music is found which contains hidden messages, they work together to discover the secrets of the past. To complicate matters, a skeleton is found during the excavation of the mill. A skeleton which also holds secrets from the past. Secrets that wont stay buried for long.

This book is not just about Grayson and Valery. This book is also about the previous owners of the mill - the Portland Family. The Portland Family were slave owners and their home was also once used as a hospital for Confederate Soldiers. We meet Benjamin (Ben), Patience, Tandy, Lizzy, Charlotte, and Johnny to name a few. I found their stories to be just as engaging and interesting. Benjamin wants to find his childhood friend, Tandy - a slave who he has a close personal relationship with. He promised Tandy he would find him after he was sold and he wont stop until he finds his friend. Like the present story-line, this story-line is also full of secrets which are waiting to be discovered.

I enjoyed how this book effortlessly both story-lines were told. The headings with location and time helped to know which time frame was being told. I also liked how Lem, a man who has been living at the mill holds the answers to the secrets of both past and present day. This is a book about love, secrets, hope, starting over, forgiveness and family. This book is a romance but it is also historical fiction. I liked the elements in the past dealing with slavery, emancipation, spying during the civil war, music and family secrets. In the present day the characters are dealing with addiction, career, love, forgiveness, loss and hope. Nothing in this book is graphic or elicit so it should appeal to most readers. The pacing was spot on - nothing felt rushed or dismissed. This is my first time reading this Author but it will not be my last.

I received a copy of this book from Harlequin and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

Secrets are like boils. They fester and throb, but until the hard core of truth is released, there is no relief.

You’re running from time while trying to hang on to it. A conundrum.

You’ve held my heart for a long time. All I ask is that you keep it safe.


My Review:

Although it was the third and final book in a series I was not familiar with, it made no difference as the story had strong legs and stood well on its own. The Innkeepers Sister was not at all what I was expecting - it was so much better. The story contained two timelines that involved the same property, a property that yielded an old skeleton during renovation. Mysteries, secrets, fractious family issues, scandals, and love interests existed and crossed both timelines in this entertaining, compelling, and intriguing tale. The story was well-crafted, tantalizingly paced, and continually plucked at my curiosity. I enjoyed Ms. Goodnight’s easy to follow and comfortable writing style and would also relish reading the previous books in this series despite knowing the final outcome.

THE MEMORY HOUSE made me a fan of Linda Goodnight. THE INNKEEPER'S SISTER offers an excellent opportunity to both revisit the Civil War era family on which so much of the first book was based and to learn more about some of the twenty-first century characters. Goodnight is particularly skilled in making smooth transitions among many voices and points of view in both eras. In this case, she also deftly handled multiple mystery threads. The struggles with self destructive tendencies for leading character Valery Carter were quite realistic. Since they are also the kinds of issues faced today by many people and those who care about them, they provide numerous discussion points for any group reading this book. I hope there will be more books in the series. Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing access to the ARC.

3.5 stars

The Innkeeper’s Sister
A Honey Ridge Novel #3
Linda Goodnight
HQN Books, July 2017
ISBN 978-0-373-79947-3
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

Welcome to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, where Southern hospitality and sweet peach tea beckon, and where long-buried secrets lead to some startling realizations…

Grayson Blake always has a purpose—and never a moment to lose. He’s come home to Honey Ridge to convert a historic gristmill into a restaurant, but his plans crumble like Tennessee clay when the excavation of a skeleton unearths a Civil War mystery…and leads him back to a beautiful and familiar stranger.

Once a ballet dancer, now co-owner of the Peach Orchard Inn, Valery Carter harbors pain as deep as the secrets buried beneath the mill. A bright facade can’t erase her regrets any more than a glass of bourbon can restore what she’s lost. But spending time with Grayson offers Valery a chance to let go of her past and imagine a happier future. And with the discovery of hidden messages in aged sheet music, both their hearts begin to open. Bound by attraction, and compelled to resolve an old crime that links the inn and the mill, Grayson and Valery encounter a song of hurt, truth…and hope.

In a nicely flowing blend of past and present, two stories intertwine after a skeleton is found beneath the old gristmill. Both stories revolve around a missing child, one a slave sold away from his family and white friend, the other Valery’s nephew, abducted years ago. Could these bones belong to that child, Mikey? The possibility sends Valery into a maelstrom of new grief as well as guilt that have lain just under the surface all this time, but it’s just as likely that this is someone else, someone from the farm’s Civil War-era family.

Secrets abound in both times and, in some ways, love is what holds the families together, if only by a thread. To be sure, the mystery of the discovered bones needs to be solved, but the growing connection between Valery and Grayson may very well bring the peace they so need. At the same time, the inn, once a farm, has its own colorful and emotion-wrought history and it’s the past and present of Peach Orchard that caught my attention the most.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, August 2017.

The Honey Ridge trilogy revolves around an old Tennessee farmhouse that has been converted into an inn and two families that have inhabited it: the Portlands in the nineteenth century and the Carters in the present day. Each book is presented in dual timeline format. The Portlands are presented during and after the Civil War, when the house was used as a Union hospital, and then as the South tried to put itself back together only to fall on hard times again with the crash of 1873. The Carters are a family still reeling from the disappearance of Julia's son, Mikey, from divorce, and from another dark secret that Valery, Julia's sister, has been holding close for many years. Each family copes with similar events--tragedy, hardship, relationship drama--and while their stories don't mirror each other completely, there are enough similarities and lasting consequences to form a connection. However, the Carters have a little help in dealing with their troubles since the spirits of the Portlands still inhabit the Peach Orchard Inn. They are friendly spirits whose calming influence helps ease heavy hearts and whose little nudges help the Carters piece together the history of the inn and find true love.

This final book focuses on Valery, the youngest Carter sister. Over the years she has earned a reputation as a party girl. She struggles with inner demons that drive her to drink away her pain, though in the process she ends up letting herself and her family down. When a boy from her youth returns to Honey Ridge, all grown up and ready to renovate the old gristmill across the road into a fancy restaurant, Valery discovers that there are still good men in the world, and though Grayson Blake is her polar opposite, she's never wanted to be so worthy of someone. Grayson had a crush on Valery as a teenager, but an illness robbed him of his youthful innocence and put him on the path of strictly regimented projects and timelines, both in business and in his personal life. But Valery turns his carefully constructed world upside down, and he finds himself wanting to live a little, to let go a little, and wonder if the future has something far different in mind for him than he'd imagined--if only Valery would open up to him and let him help her.

When excavation at the mill uncovers a skeleton dating to the Civil War, while at the same time Grayson discovers secret codes in sheet music composed by Patience Portland, one of the inn's earlier inhabitants, a mystery ensues, one that Valery and Grayson enjoy solving together with the help of a mysterious old man who seems to know much more than should be humanly possible. Back in 1875, Ben Portland, the new owner of the inn, is seeking to correct an old injustice, and in the process uncovers a dark family secret, one that could mean the ruination of his beloved aunt--and one that still has repercussions in the present day. As Valery realizes the similarities between her own story and that of Patience, she must come to terms with her own dark secret and find the strength to let it go if she ever wants a chance at happiness.

I picked up the first book in this series, The Memory House, on sale and read it before reading The Innkeeper's Sister. I think I probably did miss a few things in the historical story line from book two, The Rain Sparrow, but the modern-day focus was not on the Carter sisters, whose stories are bookended by the first and third books. So I would definitely recommend at least reading book one before reading this final book to ground yourself in the story world and to learn about the history of the inn, the Portlands who owned it in the nineteenth century, and the dynamics of the present-day Carter family.

Overall, I found these books to be on the light side, a little fluffy, kind of cheesy in parts, but featuring romances that kept me turning the pages and historical mysteries that kept me guessing to the end. Though at times these stories deal with depressing subjects, in the end they are very uplifting and hopeful. I cried at the end of The Innkeeper's Sister, and it was that extra bit of emotional punch for both the present and past stories that edged this one out to a slightly higher rating than book one. Compelling, emotional, and uplifting, these stories make for pleasant summer reading.