This was a sweet, romantic addition to the Sweetwater Springs series! The first book captured my heart and made me fall in love with the town and the people. This book did the same thing (although the first book is still my favorite!). I loved the inclusion of Cherokee culture, and it was great seeing all the diversity continued in the town. We saw a lot of that in the first book, and it just kept on going here. I liked meeting new characters and seeing old favorites as well.

The last thing Tuck Locklear wants is to get involved with a woman, having lost his wife two years ago, and he especially doesn't want to get involved with a city girl who is glued to her phone and only in town for a week. However, when Josie Kellum comes to visit, his willpower is greatly tested, as his patience and strength is tested. While he recognizes her as the last person he should kiss, that's all he seems to want to do. Josie is just in town visiting her friend, and she is not getting along well with the first inhabitant she meets, Tuck. But things happen for a reason, and when they are forced together every day of her visit, the sparks fly. Neither went looking for love but they just might find it in each other.

It took me quite a long time to warm up to Tuck. I mean, the man rarely had a nice thing to say or think about her for the majority of the first half of the book, and he was a jerk to her in front of other people for no reason. I didn't really see anything attractive about him except his looks...at first. But then as he softens and begins to see beyond Josie's "city girl" exterior, he wisened up and saw her for the wonderful, generous person she was. I loved her interaction with Tuck's patient, Maddie, and thought she handled the bumps in the road very well with both of them. Josie was easy to like, and I especially liked how she stood up for herself many time throughout the book. She was a strong woman, and she didn't let her attraction to Tuck get in the way of her self confidence.

Sweetwater Springs is still deeply embedded in my reader heart, and I look forward to seeing where the series goes next! Not sure who will be the next bachelor/bachelorette, but it's sure to be another swoonworthy romance.

Interesting story revolving around a big city gal coming to small town to visit her best friend. Then she has minor accident and starts to fall in love. Of course there are complications that make for interesting story. You'll love how things progress.

Josie Kellum has a great job as an editor of a major New York magazine. She is pulled away from her job due to an injury sustained while she is visiting her friend in Sweetwater Springs. The doctor recommends a couple of sessions of physical therapy in order for the injury not to become more serious. Then, due to other circumstances, her stay is extended. But, oh, her therapist... Oh, so sexy!

Tucker Locklear hasn't so much looked at another woman since the death of his wife. Why is it that his newest patient, albeit temporary. Josie Kellum affects him? This is on a deep level from the moment they met. He is really glad she was planning to leave soon. Also, his policy is not to date patients. However, when he finds out she is staying longer than planned, Tucker begins to worry. Will he be able to hide his attraction to the stunning Josie? Also, how can he think about another woman. He still hurts from losing his wife. What if he loved and lost again? He just cannot take the chance.

This was a wonderful and effective story. The romance between Tucker and Josie was very touching. It was true to form with Tucker resisting a chance at love due to what he went through with losing his wife. Also, Josie's life was in the big city, not in a small town. Even if the people - and a chance at love - were compelling.

There was another character in Springtime at Hope Cottage that bears mentioning. That is young Maddie, a physical therapy patient of Tucker's. I found this portion of the story quite engrossing. Annie Rains has done a fine job of weaving a romance with another story that blended in quite well. The conflicts in this story balanced with a very pleasant ending. I really enjoyed this book and Annie Rains works.

This is part of the Sweetwater Springs series. The first of this series is Christmas as Mistletoe Lane. My review follows. The next book in the series, Meet Me at Sweetwater Springs, is due for release in August.

Many thanks to Forever and NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 Stars!

Springtime at Hope Cottage is a sweet romance that fills your heart with hope and leaves you smiling right until the very end.

Springtime at Hope Cottage follows the story of Josie and Tucker. Josie is all about business and doesn't know how to disconnect from the world. She's always on the go. So, when a trip to Sweetwater Springs ends up with her injuring her knee, Josie will finally be forced to take a moment and catch her breath. Being injured isn't so bad if she gets to spend her time with Tucker, the town's good looking physical therapist. Tucker intrigues Josie in many ways, but she's not ready for love....or is she??? It's been two years since Tucker's wife passed and he's finally starting to live again. He's great at his job and his new home gives him what he needs; hope. So, while he can't deny the pull he feels towards his new patient, Josie, he's not quite ready to jump into the dating world. His heart is still battered, but Sweetwater Springs has a way of sneaking up on you and maybe just maybe it will be able to mend Tucker's broken heart. There's only one way to find out...

In a world of craziness, Springtime at Hope Cottage was just the story I was looking for. It was incredibly well written and captivating. The characters were real and easy to relate to. I loved seeing the friendships that Josie had and seeing that there was more to this girl than what meets the eye. I loved the slow build of the relationship between Tucker and Josie. While their chemistry was great, their hearts were guarded. I loved seeing the two of them get to know one another, build trust and explore the feelings they had for one another. Their romance was sweet and swoon-worthy.

Springtime at Hope Cottage is a terrific second chance romance. It's light on the drama. Light on the angst. But, filled with lots of heart. The characters both have painful pasts and have to learn to move past them. In the end, this is the kind of romance that just makes you feel good and in the end, leaves you with a smile on your face. I enjoyed everything about this book from beginning to end and look forward to getting my hands on the next book in this sweet series.