3.75 stars-SUNSHINE ON SILVER LAKE is the fifth instalment in Annie Rains’ contemporary, adult SWEETWATER SPRINGS romance series focusing on the people of Sweetwater Springs, North Caroline. This is café owner Emma St. James, and park ranger Jack Hershey’s story line. SUNSHINE ON SILVER LAKE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Emma and Jack) SUNSHINE ON SILVER LAKE follows the friends to lovers, second chance relationship between café owner Emma St. James, and park ranger Jack Hershey. Emma St James has struggled with her friendship and relationship with Jack Hershey since the night Jack ‘forgot’ to pick up Emma for their senior prom. Fast forward to present day wherein, Emma, the owner of the Sweetwater Café, makes a promise to herself to finish her late mother’s ‘bucket list’ of things to do starting with completing a 5K run in support of the Women’s Wellness Center.  

Meanwhile, Jack Hershey, the local park ranger, finds himself looking after his fifteen year old nephew, for the summer, having left the impression that he and Emma were in a couple’s relationship. As Emma makes preparations for the upcoming fund raiser, Jack finds himself drawn to the woman whose heart he destroyed years before. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Jack and Emma, and the potential fall-out as Emma struggles with what is and what may never be.

The relationship between Emma and Jack is a second chance relationship; a high school sweethearts whose friendship was destroyed when our hero ‘forgot’ to pick up Emma for the prom but all is not as it appears to be when Jack finally reveals what happened and why . Battling between head and heart, Emma is quick to forgive for sins of the past but not so much her father, whose lack of respect for Jack Hershey is another matter. The $ex scenes are all implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to  Emma’s father Edward and his wife Angel; Jack’s sister Amanda, her son Sam, and newcomer Diana; as well as several previous story line characters including Halona, Brenna, co-worker Nina and fudge shop owner Dawanda.

SUNSHINE ON SILVER LAKE is a story of family, friendships, secrets and lies; of love, loss, revelations and acceptance. The premise is sweet with a little bit of drama; the romance is tender; the characters are charming but I struggled with the heroine’s need to hold a grudge against the man who has called to heart, as well as the woman with who her father has fallen in love.


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Release Date: March 26, 2020 

Jack and Emma have been friends forever. Jack has always wanted more with Emma but one disasterious and potentially dangerous night when Emma was in high school put him firmly in the friend zone. When Jack needs Emma to pretend to date him, it feels like more. Jack has always wanted Emma but can she feel the same? 

Sunshine on Silver lake is book number 5 in the #sweetwatersprings book series. This book deals with loss and disease but it does it in the perfect way. It had such great romantic moments...especially since Jacks last name is Hershey. This was a good read and I will very likely read it again.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

#bookstagram #netgalleyreads #bookrecommendations #sweetwatersprings

4.5 Stars
This was a new author for me and I was pleasantly surprised by it.  I really enjoyed reading it and fell in love with the small town and charming town’s people.  I hope to see future books that include some of those characters.  The book was well written and transitioned smoothly between scenes.  The storyline was interesting and the author did a wonderful job addressing the loss of a family member to cancer and the social impact of alcohol and drug dependence.  
Emma St. James had lost her grandmother and mother to breast cancer.  Emma is turning thirty this year which is the same age as her mother when she was diagnosed.  Scared for her future, she has put off her yearly checkup with the Women Wellness Center.  Emma came across a list of things her mother had wanted to do before her death, such as organize a 5K run and save a life.  Emma decides to finish the tasks her mother hadn’t.  She wants to have a 5K run during the summer at Sweetwater Springs National Park, but it is booked all summer.  Jack Hershey was a childhood friend and the park ranger there.  His sister thinks Jack and Emma are dating and not wanting to upset his sister, he asks Emma to pretend they are dating while his nephew is staying with him.  He’d always had feelings for Emma but he had let alcohol influence his behavior when they were younger and now he had promised her dad to stay away from her.  That promise and fear of relapse have kept him from pursuing her over the years, but now things are changing.  Their pretend relationship starts to become real and their real feelings are being expressed.

I absolutely loved this book. This is why Annie Rains is not only one of my favorite authors, she is hands-down MY FAVORITE AUTHOR! I just loved Emma and Jack. I am not one to have a book boyfriend, but if I did Jack Hershey would be it. This book, as well as some of the previous books touch upon some important issues: breast cancer, homelessness, alcoholism. She doesn't seem to shy away from heavy topics. I'd love to see her cover an interracial relationship and other racial issues. If anyone can do it, Annie can! There are at least 2 more books and I hope many more. What is nice is her books, although a series, can also be read as standalones or one can start the series with any book. Also her romances are sweet romances in that any intimate interactions are behind closed doors. I've never listened to her books on audio, but I assume they are available on Audible, but you an comfortably listen and not feel that you are listening to a porno, when you come to a bedroom scene. One can just use their imagination. I look forward to her upcoming books with much anticipation.

Who doesn't love a man who keeps Hershey Kisses in his pocket?

Emma has long been fighting her feelings for Jack Hershey, but these two have a hard time avoiding each other when they both live in the small town of Sweetwater Springs.  Though fun circumstances, they continue to spend time together, and rekindle the old flames from high school.

This second chance romance is sweet, lovely, and has a huge focus on family. Both characters have some big struggles in their family dynamics, but they sure do their best to work through it in this novel.  I continue to love each book in this series!  Check it out!

This was another great book by Annie Rains that just warms your heart and makes you smile. It is a mix of friends to lovers and second chance tropes. Emma and Jack had a chance to get more than friendship from their relationship when they were younger, but a wrench was thrown into the works and they were back to friends before anything could even develop. They were then friends for years until a small fib to Jack's sister threw them together as a couple. Will anything happen this time.
Lovely characters and a great plot made for a wonderful feel good romance that makes for a great summer read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

A romantic, love story as different as the tide in the sea and the changing sunset easily describes this book about Danae, the new interim Chief Marketing Officer of Barton Boating Company and Josh, their hired captain for their company's weeklong boat retreat. 

Josh and Danae were two, hurt, lost souls that were better when they were together.  They brought out the best in each other.  They were opposites, but they fit together.  Danae was such a planner and ironically cannot live without her planner, colored pens, and stickers.  Josh was more spontaneous, enjoyed the ocean, and had given up the corporate life after he got divorced.

I enjoyed the places they ventured to and the beautiful sites they saw,  It makes me want to go on a sailboat and see the New England sites and eat the fresh seafood, while enjoying  sunsets and the stars.

I was surprised and pleased with how the book ended.  I would love to see a sequel to this book because it was so much fun to read. m I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

I've enjoyed every book in this series and this one is no exception.  It is a fun, banter filled second chance romance that makes you laugh and keeps you completely entertained.  Emma and Jack are amazing characters and I wanted them to be together from the very beginning.  The book is very well written with a nice easy pace to the story.  Definitely a recommended read.

Emma is one of the core group of friends, natives of the small community of Silver Lake, as well as the owner of the café. She’s a people-pleaser with plenty of worries on her mind, the most recent being her upcoming 30th birthday which makes her the same age as her mother when she was diagnosed with and lost her battle with breast cancer.  Adding to the struggle is Emma’s worry over a negative review for the café in the local online forum, and her need to ‘please everyone’ is making her crazy.   

Jack, another local boy and the focus of Emma’s crushes for years is also the local Parks Ranger, and while he and Emma are still friends, the two are struggling with their wishes for more. Jack has his own issues with his history, and now with his sister entering rehab for her own problems, he’s taken in her fifteen year old son Sam, with a promise to his sister that he won’t share why Sam is moving for the summer.   

With a history of alcoholism  and addiction in Jack’s family, and Emma’s family history with breast cancer – the two have plenty of their own struggles to dealt with, and taking a risk and a chance to expand their relationship from friends to more, with all of the accompanying trust that is required in that situation will push them both to the edge.  

This is a town and a place that makes you want to live there: with small town knowledge, gossip and the inevitable support of the residents, Jack and Emma’s own individual issues and the adorableness of their connection, as well as the ability to allow readers into the lives and worries of the characters makes this an un-put-downable story and feels very ‘classic Rains” with the heart, friendship, laughter and clever moments that make you think, smile and yearn for connections that span a place and a time where ‘home’ is always a welcome thought.  

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.  

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aKM /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

It's always a fun experience returning to Sweetwater Springs!

I finished Sunshine on Silver Lake in no time. The story was engaging and the characters kept me entertained- not only the main characters, but the secondary ones as well.

The romantic relationship that developed between Jack and Emma was very cute and sweet, and I'd say theirs was both a second chance and friends-to-lovers romance.

If you're interested in a heartwarming, small-town romance to read and enjoy this summer, Sunshine on Silver Lake is a great choice.


______

*TW/CW: Cancer; addiction

**Complimentary copy for review provided by Forever Romance Publishing. All opinions expressed here are honest and entirely my own.

I really enjoy this author so I was excited to get this book and sit down and read it.  I really feel like this book was about healing and forgiveness and finding your true self. I really liked Emma she wanted to have it all together but she still wanted to please people as well so she really was looking to find herself. She really had her heart broken in the past and turning 30 has her really thinking and making hard decisions. Jack was easy to fall in love with. I liked how the author didn't try and make the characters perfect. I liked reading again about Dawanda and her cappuccino readings you truly never know what's going to come out of her mouth next. There were so many fun sub characters that I want to know more about and read their stories. I love how the story draws you in and keeps you going to the end. There is adult talk but over all this book was totally worth the read and you can't go wrong.

Sunshine on Silver Lake is the fifth book in the Sweetwater Springs series. It is a sweet story with endearing characters. Jack and Emma were a wonderful couple with great chemistry. Jack asks Emma to pretend to be his girlfriend but, it won't be long before it turns into something real. This is a wonderful story and I would recommend it.

Wow! This book is just amazing. It is so sweet and incredibly heartfelt. Whenever I picked up “Sunshine on Silver Lake”, I was whisked away to the lovely Sweetwater Springs, and I truly fell in love with the characters and town. 

While this is the 5th book in Annie Rain’s “Sweetwater Springs” series, I believe it can be read as a stand-alone novel as well. This is the first of Ms. Rain’s books I have read, and I can’t wait to read more as this has just become one of my favorite series! Ms. Rain’s brings the fictional town to life in such an exquisite way, and I could really envision everything. Her characters all feel like such real people, and all of their interactions felt incredibly authentic. Their wants, fears, and needs are written in such a realistic way, and I was drawn in from the very first page to the last. 

Emma, a café owner, and Jack, a ranger at the local park, have been friends since childhood. Perhaps they have hoped to be more than friends! Emma decides to put on a 5k in memory of her mother, and Jack works where Emma is hoping to hold it. He promises to try to figure out a way for Emma’s event to be held on such short notice. Furthermore, Jack’s sister asks him to watch his nephew, and Jack asks Emma to pretend to be his girlfriend when a misunderstanding occurs. What ensues is hilarious, entertaining, tugs at your heart strings, and is so moving. 

(Possible spoilers!) 
I truly found myself rooting for these two from the beginning. 
It is so clear how drawn they are to one another, and many a moment had me squealing in delight as they realize and begin to act on their true feelings for each other. And Barnaby, Emma’s dog, is just so precious my goodness!

If you enjoy contemporary romance I highly recommend this book! I could not put it down, and could not wait to see how everything worked out. Some moments had me laughing out loud, some had me in tears, and everything just flowed absolutely brilliantly. 

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of this novel, and to Forever for sending me a finished copy of the book as well! I so enjoyed it!! All opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

*Please Note: There are some heavier topics addressed in this book. I believe that they are handled beautifully and with the upmost respect by the author.

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2020
I enjoy reading books by Annie Rains. This book is about Emma and Jack. They have background and they both have things in their past they are trying to overcome. This is a great story and I enjoyed being with them as they learn who they really are and what they really want. The storyline is great and deals with real life problems. Loved the characters and they way they inner act with each other. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Annie Rains brings readers back to the charming small town of Sweetwater Springs with Sunshine on Silver Lake!

Emma and Jack have been friends for years, and at one point there was the possibility of something more between them. It didn't happen then, but supporting each other during difficult times leads to a fake relationship, more time together, and another chance at love.

This book was a nice story that touched on some pretty heavy subject matter, but both health concerns and addiction are something so many people experience. I liked how Jack and Emma's romance was intertwined with those family and personal issues. It felt realistic that those concerns would influence their relationship both past and present.

I do wish that part of Jack's sister's story had been fleshed out more, but I am wondering if that will happen in a future book.

I know I say this every single time I review one of the authors books but I’m saying it again, this is hands down my new favorite in the series! This is book five and while you could definitely read it as a standalone, I think you would be missing out if you started here. Every single book is just incredibly charming and by now the characters feel like friends and I love checking in with past couples in each new installment. I’m telling you, if small town romances are your thing don’t miss this series.

This book follows Emma and Jack and I’ve been dying to hear Emma’s story for some time now. It’s a second chance romance, but Emma and Jack were in high school when they briefly dated so seeing if they could make it work as adults was seriously adorable. I love a couple with some backstory and history and I adored both of them. They had great chemistry and their developing romance was both sweet and sexy. This one gave me all the feels and Emma is dealing with her mother’s death so there was definitely an emotional component alongside the romance. Another cozy and warm addition to the cutest series, definitely recommended by me!

I’m always happy to visit Sweetwater Springs, or really any Annie Rain’s fictional world, because I know I’m always going to get an engaging story with complex characters. 
Emma is a very tough but to crack. She is a successful cafe owner who’s well liked, so it seems on the surface like she’s got it all together. But years after her mom has passed, she not any closer to coming to grips with her loss. And the possible effects that her mom’s death may also have on her own health are keeping Emma from having a full life.
Jack would love a chance with Emma, but he’s not going to get one unless he can explain standing her up on the night of the big dance. Jack has his own issues he has yet to share with Emma or any other friends, and now he has his nephew in town, while Jack’s sister wages her own battle. As expected, complications ensue! 
While there are some serious themes in the book, there is a lot of love and laughter, as well. Jack and Emma need to open their eyes and really see the other. They need to trust others as well as themselves to be able to move on with their lives. They are a great couple that the reader can’t help to cheer for.
Yet another great addition to my library from the wonderful Ms. Rains.

A highly enjoyable and sweet story that deals with very serious topics and makes you think and feel for the characters.
I loved the plot, the style of writing and the well thought cast of characters.
it's strongly recommended.
I received this ARC from the publisher in exchange for a honest review

Emma and Jack's story was way more angsty than I was expecting but it had so much love and support that I was completely sucked in.

There's two pretty heavy topics in this book that sometimes can be hard to get right but both were dealt with respect and dignity. Without giving any spoilers, it's clear that these were handled with care and some research was done. One of them I can be pretty judgey about but I have zero complaints.

Every visit to Sweetwater Springs has been a heartwarming escape. Every book introduces more characters that I want to see get their own HEA.

Another great read by Annie Rains.  I read a couple other books in this series and enjoyed them also.  Sweetwater Springs sounds like an enchanting town!

This story is about cafe owner, Emma, and Jack, a park ranger.  It is a great small town romance that also brings up some more serious issues - addiction and breast cancer.  Emma and Jack are both interesting, multilayered  characters that have you rooting for them.   It was a wonderful read.