Valentine's at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne is an enjoyable return to Marietta, Montana during the cold winter season. I enjoyed my visit; looking forward to it from the warmth of my Southern US home. Whitman Telford the main male character in the book was not as happy, hating the cold and the place in general. Brilliant but socially challenged, he is a character that I grew to like as the story progressed. On the other hand, Miranda Evans, while I liked her, her Pollyanna cheerfulness grew tiresome at times.

As for their story it has a big twist I didn’t see coming. That one twist gave the story the substance it needed to hold my interest. It has an emotional look back at life and family angst that was as essential to the story as the romance. Still it is a heartwarming romance read.

Miranda has never left her home town of Marietta, having stayed to help out family.
Whit left Marietta as quickly as he could, going off to medical school. Now he is back for a month to work at the hospital, and doesn't recognise Miranda, who has always been in love with him.
When Whit is left in charge of his cousin, Petal, who he has never met before, Miranda comes to the rescue.
It is clear that Miranda wants more from their friendship, and this scares Whit, as love does not seem to be part of his life plan.
When his month in Maritta is up he will be leaving for the city, away from Miranda and his family. Unless he can find a way to build bridges and stay.

Valentine’s at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne is the fourth book in the contemporary romance Holiday at the Graff series. Each book in the series features a new couple so they all may be read as standalone books if one chooses to do so. The series is set in the historic upscale Graff hotel in the charming small town of Marietta, Montana with couples being brought together that have ties to the hotel.

This installment of the series introduced Miranda and Whitman. Whitman has returned to his home town of Marietta to do a one month residency at the local hospital which is not the happiest about since once he’d left for college he really hadn’t planned on returning to the small town. Meanwhile Miranda has been busy trying to get ready to open her own shop after years of working the random jobs while taking care of family.

Now Miranda and Whitman are both rather eccentric characters in their own ways so I didn’t immediately connect with them. Whitman comes across as very much a loner who doesn’t interact well with others as he’s spent his life with only one purpose to study and become a doctor and not socializing. While Miranda is the exact opposite being very outspoken and bordering on frantic at times with her whirlwind topic changing conversations.

Now as much as their personalities didn’t pull me in immediately I really began to see how this pair seemed to compliment each other. In an obvious case of opposites attracting it was nice to see this couple find each other and find love together. The best part of the story came when they took charge of a little girl named Petal who was of course adorable.

While this installment wasn’t my favorite of the series so far it definitely fit right in and I found myself enjoying it along the way. As always too it was so nice to see a lot of Marietta regulars and the charitable side of the residents along the way. Those that have read any of the books from the many series set in this town will be sure to notice the mentions of the places and people that have become familiar in the charming town.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

What can I say, I love all things Marietta, Montana...Witt and Miranda have just added another layer of why all the stories that sound this fanciful town are so charming and endearing. These stories bring out the heart of the characters, this coupled included. Though through his esteem struggles, and her unwavering kindness and love, the story was one that not only pulled at my heartstrings, but also proved that I'll continue to read about the unique characters and their HEA stories.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Valentine’s At The Graff by Sinclair Jayne
Holiday at the Graff #4

Valentine’s Day – what does it mean to you? Well, Miranda Evans hears people talking one evening that remind her of grinches…Valentine’s Day Grinches. They spout off about the commercialization, expectations and how overblown the day has become and it makes her put her thinking cap on. She is opening a new store in the Graff Hotel on the first of February and decides to run a Valentine’s Day promotional event that will incorporate random acts of kindness and giving. She is a person who has given and given to family and community but hasn’t necessarily been given back in return.

As she is retrieving an item to be repurposed she falls from a ladder to the ground at the feet of handsome orthopedic surgeon Whitman “Witt” Telford. He was in her high school class but a bit aloof and never really saw her – or anyone else – though she had a crush on him. He is back in town for a month to help out at the local hospital until his fellowship begins in California but he has no desire to be in Marietta and is eager to leave as soon as he can. When his stepmother puts him in charge of a young female cousin he is a bit at loose ends until Miranda steps in to help out. With one thing leading to another he offers her the job of part-time Nanny until his father and stepmothr return.

Miranda is a cheerful, warm, positive and loving person that brings Petal out of her shell. She also begins to make an impact on Witt that provides them both with a warm friendship. There are conversations, activities, sharing and caring that end with the Valentine’s Ball at the Graff. Both know that Witt has to leave but Miranda really wishes he wouldn’t.

This is a story of family, community and friendship. It is a story of childhood misconceptions that have lingered and festered and need to be lanced. It is a story of becoming aware of what is really important in life and then learning to reach out and grab for it rather than letting it slip away. And, it is a sweet heartwarming story that made me smile and care and wish I could be there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

In a lot of ways Valentine's at the Graff reminded me of Pollyanna. This is in no way a criticism or snarky put down. I LOVED the movie Pollyanna as a kid and had it on VHS that we recorded off live T.V. because I'm cool like that.

Even though I tend to be a bit mean and do not suffer fools when I can avoid it, I really appreciate the people in the world that can find good in almost any situation and actually try and improve their corner of the world. Miranda was without a doubt a do-gooder and a very positive person, though I never felt that she came off as nauseatingly sweet. She was a real person with real problems who choose to always react to situations in the best possible way.

Whitman, on the other hand, could not be characterized as sweet. He was staid and upright and never took his eyes off the prize in his life. At least until he met and started to appreciate Miranda and the brightness she brought to his world.

I liked Whit and Miranda together and felt like they belonged together. The secondary characters were fun to read as well and I just found the overall book a joy to read and I plan to go back and read the other books in the series as soon as I can.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys sweet contemporary romance.

This was a wonderful sweet read in the Holiday at the Graff Series. Miranda & Whit are such different people but they work so well together. Miranda helps to smooth Whit's rough edges and gets him to see that his memories may not be exactly how things were in his youth. The story if fun yet emotional and definitely one I think everyone will enjoy.

I highly recommend it.

Valentine’s at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne
Marietta native Miranda Evans has yet to find her niche…until a small legacy allows her to open a gift boutique featuring local artists in the historic Graff hotel. As Valentine’s approaches, Miranda, who’s always left romance to the pages of a book, reaches out to involve the community in random acts of kindness to celebrate the month of love. Miranda has no need for hearts and flowers until the boy next door she dreamed about in high school arrives back in town more handsome, brooding, and out of reach than ever.
Orthopedic surgeon Whitman Telford blew out of his small, Montana hometown at eighteen without looking back. When he’s told to fill in for a month at Marietta’s hospital before obtaining his dream job in LA, no is not an option. After getting sucked into the Valentine project along with half the town, Witt starts to wonder if he’ll still be eager to see Marietta in his rearview mirror.
Opposites attract or so Miranda’s heard, but will she have the courage to test this theory and take a chance on romance when so much more than her heart is at stake?
this is Miranda Evans and Whitman Telford's story.
Miranda Evans put the final flourish on the letter s, and stepped back to absorb the full effect of her freehand lettering in burnished copper—Found Objects.
The name of her own boutique in the sumptuously restored historic Graff Hotel in her hometown: Marietta, Montana.
“Best hometown in the world,” she stated and hugged herself. Her life was changing, and some of those changes made her sad, but others gleamed with promise.
Orthopedic surgeon Whitman Telford blew out of his small, Montana hometown at eighteen without looking back.
Whitman fill in for a month at Marietta’s hospital before obtaining his dream job in LA. After getting sucked into the Valentine project along with half the town, Witt starts to wonder if he’ll still be eager to see Marietta in his rearview mirror.

will Miranda have the courage to test this theory and take a chance on romance when so much more than her heart is at stake? read this book to find out.
Valentine’s at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne is a 3 star book.
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
Sinclair's Books with Tule:
Wrecked
Sons of San Clemente

Broken
Sons of San Clemente

Seducing the Bachelor
Bachelor Auction Returns
The Wilder Brothers

Want Me, Cowboy
The 78th Copper Mountain Rodeo
The Wilder Brothers




The Christmas Challenge
The Wilder Brothers


A Country Love Song
Smoky Mountain Knights



Burning Both Ends
Hot Aussie Knights

Kane
American Extreme Bull Riders Tour



Halloween at the Graff
Holiday at the Graff




Valentine’s at the Graff
Holiday at the Graff

A sweet romance of two complete opposites. Words are easy for her and so painfully hard for him. He has spent his life running away from love, and she’s running towards it. He’s awkward, goal oriented, a loner while she is very social, embraces life, warm and friendly. She is small town Marietta while he dreads his temporary job here. Written so you feel Witts painful social struggles and cringe as you just know that Miranda is likely to get her heartbroken. Cute story involving the towns involvement in Miranda’s Valentine’s project of encouraging random acts of kindness. I enjoyed watching their friendship grow as they become a temporary family. Petal was a bonus to this story and just what this couple needed to bond.
Thank you to Tule Publishing via Netgalley for the review copy.

Valentine's at the Graff by Sinclair Jayne, book four in the Holiday at the Graff series. A heart-warming storyline. I enjoyed the connection between the characters especially Miranda and Whitman from the very first page. I look forward to read more in this series.

Valentine’s Day. You either love it or hate it. But for two special people, their lives are changed when they least expect it.

Miranda Evans just wanted a place in Marietta where she could fit in and be an important part of the town. She finally found it when she opens a gift shop at the Graff Hotel just in time for Valentine’s Day. While she was preparing her shop to open, she discovers her high school crush, Whitman Telford, has returned to town. And when he talks to her, even though he doesn’t remember her, her memories and fantasies run wild. But she keeps them to herself.

Witt didn’t want to be back in Marietta, but he was needed for a month to fill in for a doctor at the hospital. He couldn’t escape the town fast enough when he finished school. He never felt like he was part of his father’s family or part of the town. He will do his job and then blow out of town like the wind to the new life he has planned in California. But when he finds his step-mother, Sarah, at the hospital and learns his father is a hospital in Denver and Sarah needs Witt to look after his cousin Petal while she goes to be with her husband, Witt can’t say no.

When Witt employs Miranda as Petal’s temporary nanny and moves her into his room at the hotel, things take an unexpected turn. Witt will have to choose between the life he planned and the growing attraction he has for Miranda

This is a wonderful addition to the Holiday at the Graff series. The characters felt real and their story was one that made me remember what new love was all about; the growing attraction, the struggles and confusions that we all feel when starting a new relationship. Petal was a great addition to the story as well.

Favorite quote:
“You’ve made me realize I need to reach out and grab my happy. I don’t want any regrets. I don’t want to wish I’d tried harder.