I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This contemporary romance will have you turning pages and wanting more from the story. This is part of a series and it does help I think if you read them in order so you know more about each character.

Somehow The Last Carolina Sister is the first book I've read by Michelle Major. No clue how I missed her books thus far.
This is a classic sweet romance and I love it.
Meredith meets Ryan when he's in town for a short time. When she asks for his help, the two start off a journey they never saw coming.
Both characters are complex, with pasts that have left them wounded. Poor Meredith is still in shock over everything she's uncovered recently. And Ryan is a workaholic who's never known how to relax and have fun.
Their relationship starts of funny, and develops nicely. Both are true to their nature as things progress which is great. And I love what they bring out in one another.
Of course, they have to fight their feelings, and Ryan's only in town for a short time. Cue the ups and downs.
I am definitely happy to have found this book and want to go back and read the series in order.

The Last Carolina Sister brought back the emotion, whimsy and fun of the first book in this series and what was lacking in the second book. These characters were both emotionally scarred and a bit closed off, but an incident brings them together and they soon both find it hard to be apart. Author Michelle Major did a good job of developing these characters, of letting their relationship developed organically, and showing growth in both characters letting them let their guards down and someone else in. I was hooked from the first chapter until the last, my biggest complaint…I NEEDED an epilogue, not because the story wasn’t complete but because I’m a nosey b*tch!



Meredith Ventner’s life was turned upside down once again when famed local artist Niall Reed passes away and she finds out she is his biological child and she has two half sisters, one of which lives in the small town she does, Magnolia, North Carolina, and someone she actually bullied as a disgruntled teenager. To top it off the news coming had her Dad, the man who raised her as his own, leaving town and her brothers not understanding her new relationship with her half sisters. To top it off SHE doesn’t understand her relationship with her half sisters, but she does know she respects and loves them and will do anything for them. When someone falls at her animal rescue and needs medical attention, she goes to the house closest to her where she knows a doctor from D.C. is residing for a couple of months. There she finds a crabby man who’s physical appearance takes her breath away but she doesn’t have time for men between her job, the rescue, her online college classes, applying for grant money, and helping her sisters try and settle their biological father’s estate, her life is overbooked…but it’s nice to dream.



Ryan Sorensen is recovering from a leg injury he sustained when a gang altercation occurred in his busy D.C. emergency room. Still hurting physically and mentally, a colleague offered up his cottage in North Carolina for a sabbatical and Ryan has enjoyed the peace and quiet even if it does give him too much time to think about the events that has him hiding out. When a woman comes knocking on his door telling him she needs his help for someone with a head injury he unwillingly agrees to go with her and immediately finds he enjoys her company along with the company of her menagerie of pets and rescue animals. Soon Ryan finds himself immersed in the small town, being asked to volunteer with a mobile health clinic, spending time volunteering at Meredith’s pet rescue, and enjoying life something he wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to do again.



I loved the complexity of these characters and the fact that while they had an immediate attraction to one another they both held back for various reasons. They had to work towards a physical relationship and even then they were upfront about an end date, but it was easy to see that both were harboring growing feelings for the other. The communicated very well which is why that despite a misstep by Ryan they were able to overcome it and of course Meredith had to also realize that being stubborn because of something he did wasn’t the smartest thing in the world for her.



It was wonderful to see the sisters continue to grow their friendship and relationship and how much they really had grown to depend on one another. In addition I was so happy to see Meredith’s dad who raised her and one of her brothers come around and begin to make amends.



Filled with laughter, good times, emotion, and relationships of all kinds, The Last Magnolia Sister was a fantastic ending to an exceptional series.

Meredith just cant help herself when she finds an animal is in need she'll be there. Which almost seems to extend to the new neighbor Ryan who is on "vacation" after an injury on the job. While he heals he's gonna need something to do and Meredith could use some help.

If you love contemporary romances that you can escape into you'll enjoy this book. I really enjoyed seeing that connection between Meredith and Ryan. I loved seeing how she and the town got to Ryan, I mean the guy stuck to himself after what happened and Meredith and some towns people got him out of that funk that was going on. This was just a nice read overall hard to talk about without giving anything away but if you love a good contemporary romance you'll enjoy this book.

Received a copy of this book for review. Overall it is a good read for me. Love the chemistry between the main characters. Love all the characters. What I love is that each of them does make a difference to the story as it developed. Like to read how the characters In the story are interrelated to each other. It make the story more exciting to read. The setting of the story is nice and is fit nicely to the story.Story plot are well penned out, with a slight twist to it in the end

Meredith is the last of the Magnolia sisters to have her story told. This is book 3 in the Magnolia Sisters series. It can be read as a stand alone but it's nice to catch up with the other couples. Meredith meets Ryan when she's worried that she hurt an ardent suitor. Ryan is staying at his friends house as he recovers from a gun shot when a gang invaded his er in Washington, DC. He becomes involved with Meredith and her animal rescue business. Misunderstanding are abundant. This series is wholesome and an easy read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

This was the final book in the Magnolia Sisters trilogy and it was a wonderful story. Avery, Carrie, and Meredith are half-sisters who discovered their connection after the death of their father. They have spent the last six months sorting out the problems left in their inheritance. Meredith was left the farm where she lives and runs an animal rescue. With her sisters happily married, she is trying to deal with the property and rescue without asking them for help. Meredith has plans for expansion and is applying for grants to make her dreams come true.

This story opens with a bang with Meredith arriving at her neighbour's house asking for help. She has an injured "guest" at her house and was told that Ryan was a doctor, recovering from an injury in the cabin in Magnolia. Something clicks between the two of them and they become friends and eventually more.

That is all I am going to say about the story as I don't want to spoil it, but as it is a romance, you know they will end up together. In this book, the journey there was fun, had some heartbreaking moments and was full of animals and love. I liked both Meredith and Ryan. Meredith is a bit feisty and does not really like people, she would rather spend time with the animals. Those that know her, see beyond this anti-social mask and are loyal and helpful. She has very low self-esteem based on things in her past that you will learn about in this story, but Meredith has a kind heart and is very sensitive. Ryan came to Magnolia to heal, not just from his physical injury but also from the emotional trauma. He is hiding out, but he does plan to return to his previous life once he is okayed medically. He has several secrets that he is keeping and when they all come out, there will be some repercussions. He is a caring soul, but is looking for his place in the world. He loves being a doctor, but is a big city hospital where he really belongs. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Meredith and Ryan. I liked how they found a way to work together at the rescue and gradually develop their relationship. Yes, there was insta-love in one sense, but it doesn't seem like it. As the attraction between them sparked and simmered, their friendship also grew. Ryan was supportive of Meredith and refused to listen when she put herself down. He helped her to see what an amazing person she really is. Once Ryan's secrets began to emerge, Meredith was a bit blindsided and her stubborn streak came out. She refused to listen to him and there were some difficult times in store for them both.

I enjoy seeing familiar characters make an appearance in this book. What would a Magnolia Sisters book be without Avery and Carrie. The three sisters have really developed into a family. We also learn more about Avery's family that she grew up with, and she and her father that raised her, deal with their estrangement in this book. Overall, this was a wonderful ending to this trilogy and I am waiting to see what Michelle Major has in store for us next.

Small town living at it's best! With the third book in The Magnolia Sisters series Michelle Major brings us feisty sister Meredith in THE LAST CAROLINA SISTER, and I knew I was going to love her even before her story got here. The closeness these sisters have achieved after overcoming so much is such an inspiration. Endearing characters, laugh out loud moments and so much snarky goodness!

Meredith is loyal to a fault, kindhearted and speaks her mind like nobodies business. She also believes she's not exactly worthy, so watching her accept the love that Ryan showers on her is a beautiful experience. Loved her!

Ryan is the perfect match for her. He starts out bitter and just wants to hide away while he heals until it's time to go back to the job that is a trigger for his trauma. He isn't expecting to meet anyone like Meredith, but once he's hooked ... it's on!

I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who loves a dysfunctional family who learns to love along the way while having good times along with the bad. Lots of love and lots of heart live in this series.

Ryan is a doctor who finds himself in Magnolia as he tries to rehabilitate from an injury and come to terms with the events that led to that injury. All he wants to do is to be left alone but when his neighbor Meredith comes knocking and needs assistance, she isn’t about to leave without him.

After having her entire world rocked to its core Meredith has forged a relationship with the half-sisters she didn’t know she had and is focused on saving the animal rescue farm. Meredith isn’t looking for love or relations as Meredith as she has been let down by so many people in her past and choose to give all the love she has to her animals.

What started out as Meredith and Ryan becoming close because of the animals escalates into something much deeper. Ryan is only in town for a visit while she can’t imagine living anywhere else and the pasts they both need to overcome are only a few of the challenges facing this couple is they are to have the happy ever after they both deserve.

The Last Carolina Sister has a lot of favorite elements from the start. The animal rescue, a small town, and community are all things I enjoy. The book doesn’t stop there, however. It takes on two damaged characters and gives them another chance at life.

Family is a burden as well as a support for both main characters, their tangled histories having a direct impact on today. Meredith blames herself for how her mother abandoned their family when she was just a kid after she caught her mother in an affair. Things didn’t get better when the local famous artist, and her mother’s lover, names Meredith his daughter in his will along with his legitimate daughter and one other. We learn about this part in discussions and flashbacks because this is the third book in the series, but the consequences are clear. Still, the results are not all negative since Meredith gains two beloved half-sisters. Even that is tainted, though, because her real father and two brothers see her new connections as a betrayal.

If that isn’t enough conflict, Ryan’s father let his sense of inadequacy when compared to Ryan’s mother coming from serious money influence his children. Ryan and his sister grew up ashamed of their mother’s family. His father required them to succeed with no help and kept them distant from that side of the family. Nor has the way people react when they learn Ryan’s connections since he reached adulthood improved the situation. He can never know if someone likes him for himself or for the connections he refuses to use, and so keeps his family a secret.

You’d think with the above the story would have few positive family aspects, but there are many. Meredith’s half-sisters work to break through her lack of self-respect as does Ryan. They dismiss the past and point out all the ways Meredith makes a difference in the lives of folks around Magnolia. Whether it’s making a perfect connection between one of her rescues and a local, supporting those with a dream, or confronting animals abusers, the town of Magnolia knows they can count on her to be ready when needed. They see what she refuses to. Meredith is so focused on proving something only she doubts that she’s blind to the impact she has in so many lives. Nor does the family that raised her stay out of the picture. There’s growth on all sides.

We don’t see as much of Ryan’s family, but his connection with his sister, as complicated as that is, proves he is not as isolated as he believes. He needs to push aside some of those negative childhood lessons before he’s ready to accept holding himself separate is not what he wants. He’s a successful emergency room doctor, known in the medical community for his dedication, but few know the attraction is in little opportunity to get to know his patients.

Connection, whether with furry friends or humans, is a big theme in this book. Meredith buries her negative self-perception when she helps animals and allows herself to dream big enough to attract serious grant money. Ryan finds the peace he’s searching for at her shelter after being wounded and losing a friend when a gunman opened fire in his emergency room. He takes a while to realize Meredith is the cause as much as the meditative act of cleaning litter boxes.

A high school date rape in Meredith’s past makes her as reluctant to connect with men as Ryan is with anyone. Their relationship turns physical (open-door but low detail) long before they admit to needing more. They help each other heal, unable to believe they have the right to something permanent until it’s almost too late. The development of their relationship, and the healing their growth requires, happens right on the page. I loved how we see each step along with how their attempts to protect themselves keep getting in the way.

I came to love many people in Magnolia. Even those who appear only for a moment have personalities, while the story is grounded in our world through in-context cultural references. I enjoyed the interactions with various animals as well. The animals, largely goats and dogs, are critical to the plot as is Meredith’s Furever Friends Rescue.

There’s a lot going on. I’ve given you a glimpse of the book largely through backstory and the early chapters. The end comes a little abruptly, leaving me wanting to know more about the town and its people, but Ryan and Meredith overcome their obstacles in the best way possible. They earn their happily ever after, and we get to see it happen.

I’m thinking about finding the earlier two books as well as intrigued by the teaser chapters at the end of this book for the next Magnolia story. That, more than anything else, is a sign of how I’ve bought into the world of Magnolia and its people. I didn’t want to leave. It’s well worth the time spent.

P.S. I received this Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in hopes of an honest review.

This is the third book in a series but can be read as a standalone. This was a heartwarming story. Ryan is in Magnolia trying to rest and heal after being stabbed while working as a doctor in a big city ER. Meredith is living in her hometown of Magnolia and is running an animal rescue centre. Neither of them are interested in a relationship but are still drawn to each other. Can they make a relationship work and will Ryan decide to trade in the big city for a small town? I loved the adorable animals in Meredith’s rescue centre - especially the goats. This was a great book about overcoming your fears and learning to trust yourself.

Terrific conclusion to the Magnolia Sisters trilogy. Avery, Carrie, and Meredith are half-sisters who discovered their connection after the death of their father. Left to deal with their father's financial mismanagement, they've spent the last six months restoring stability to their properties and the town. Along the way, Avery and Carrie found love. Meredith's inheritance was the farm where she runs her animal rescue. She barely makes ends meet, and the taxes on the property will be due soon. Meredith has big dreams for the property and applies to many places for grants to help her.

The story opens as Meredith shows up at a new neighbor's house, looking for help with an injured man. Ryan is a doctor, temporarily staying in Magnolia while he recovers from an injury he received on the job. He doesn't want to go with her, but she won't take no for an answer. Neither one has any inkling of the impact they will have on each other's lives.

I liked both Meredith and Ryan. Meredith leans toward the blunt end of the social skill set. After her mother left them, she was the only girl in the family with a somewhat gruff father and two older brothers. Her mother's desertion and a traumatic event while in high school left Meredith with a very low opinion of herself and her abilities. Add in the shock of the revelations about her birth father and two previously unknown sisters, and Meredith struggles with figuring out who she is. She built walls around her heart and buries herself in her work with the animals to avoid thinking about her problems. One thing Meredith has going for her is a sensitive and kind heart. I love her devotion to her animals and her determination to give them the best she can.

Ryan came to Magnolia to heal, not just from his physical injury but also from the emotional trauma. He's hiding out, wallowing a bit in the guilt he feels, but also going a bit stir-crazy. Though born to a wealthy family, Ryan's father raised him and his sister to focus on service to others rather than personal pleasure. Even family vacations were spent on volunteer opportunities instead of any fun or relaxation. As a result, Ryan focuses on work and has no close friends or hobbies. He also puts distance between himself and the family's wealthy side to avoid being judged for something he doesn't want.

I loved the development of the relationship between Meredith and Ryan. Their first meeting, as Meredith practically kidnapped Ryan, was both funny and a little heartbreaking. It hurt to see Ryan so deep in his guilt that he was afraid to help. Once he was there, he was okay, though still trying to maintain his distance. But a funny thing happened, as Ryan found himself connecting with Meredith and her animals. That connection freaked him out a little, and it took a couple of tries before he became comfortable around her. As the attraction between them sparked and simmered, their friendship also grew. I liked Ryan's protectiveness and support as he helped her with the rescue. I especially liked how Ryan refused to let Meredith put herself down around him and worked to show her how amazing she is. Working with Meredith and getting to know other locals showed Ryan what was missing in his city life.

The more time Meredith and Ryan spent together, the more their feelings for each other grew, though neither wanted to admit it. Meredith knows he doesn't plan to stay, and she doesn't see herself as appealing enough to keep him there. Ryan still insists to himself that he will return to his previous life and forget his time in Magnolia. But just as it looks like they might finally see the truth, a secret Ryan's been keeping comes out and runs up against one of Meredith's deepest insecurities. I hurt for Ryan as Meredith refused to listen to him, making him rethink his plans. Meredith's feelings of betrayal drove her to say some hurtful things. I loved seeing friends and family get involved in bringing the two back together.

The family dynamics in the book added to the emotional journeys of both Meredith and Ryan. Ryan's we mostly see through his memories of the past and the effects of his parents' actions on his life. We get a brief introduction to his sister, Emma, who makes a quick visit to Magnolia. Their conversation reveals a lot about why Ryan distances himself from his family and shows how much he cares for his sister. Another meaningful relationship is that of Meredith with her family. Her relationship with her dad changed when the truth of her birth came out. The distance between them hurts Meredith. I liked seeing the beginnings of a return to normal after Meredith's accident and her dad and brothers arrival to help. I also enjoyed seeing the continued closeness between Avery, Carrie, and Meredith. I especially enjoyed seeing Avery and Carrie work on Meredith's self-worth and help her steer through her relationship with Ryan.

I was really looking forward to this last book is the Magnolis Sisters series. You meet Meredith in the first book but don't really get to know her. She's kinda a mixed bag type of person. She's sweet and snarky at the same time. You never know which Meredith you'll get. I understand why she is the way she is but even with understanding why at times she's tiring.

I think the reason Meredith is the way she is has to do with both her past and present. You really need to read the story to understand what I mean. I don't want to get too much away also. Even with her switching back from happy to not I really like her. She might be a complicated person but she's also a loving daughter, sister, and friend. Plus, anyone that is that good to animals has to be a good person.

My favorite is Ryan. I really think he's a great guy who has tried hard to be a good person. I know he hides part of himself but understands why. I'm sure he has so many people that just want from him.

You'll love these two together because he likes her snark and deals with it well. They just work well together. I was happy how Meredith dealt with her family on both sides and really stood for herself and finally worked out the emotions from her past.

It was the perfect way to end this series and I am looking forward to the next one. It's called The Carolina Girls. I would mention that it's best to read this series in order. It just works better that way. You really get to know the sisters that way.

What a great ending to this trilogy of stories. Even though part of a series this story can be read as a standalone story.

Meredith and Ryan are both cautious in relationships due to their past experiences. He comes from a wealthy and famous family finding it hard to judge if people are friends due to his wealth of for his attributes. She recently learned her mother had an affair with a famous artist in town, and Her whole world shifts as she and her new families adjust. Together somehow, their relationship works as Meredith helps Ryan recover from a life altering injury. Can they let down their guards and trust what their hearts tell them? You'll have to read to find out and it will be worth it!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

I find myself liking Meredith after I finished her book, The Last Carolina Sister. That's a hard pill to swallow. I was not fond of her in the beginning of the series but after I learned more of her backstory, I finally understood her hard edges. It was not too fun to discover that your so-called father was not really your father at all. That's some deep wound for anyone that they will certainly lash out on. But thankfully she has the time to process and bond with her new sisters. And finally learning how to heal some old wounds too especially when she has a new neighbor.

HJ Top Pick!

The Last Carolina Sister by Michelle Major is the third book in her Magnolia Sisters series. This is a truly heartwarming story. Both main characters have so much baggage to overcome. Due to their pasts they both have built strong, high walls around their hearts and immersed themselves in suppressed feelings. So a very insecure Meredith and a closed-off and a little bit crusty Ryan find each other, find trust in each other and find love for each other.

I liked the emotional growth of these characters in this story. I was heavily invested in them finding their HEA and that's a very important element in my enjoyment of a book. I like Ms. Major's writing style and enjoyed all three books in this series. Fortunately this author isn't done with Magnolia, NC even though this is the last book in the Magnolia Sisters series.

We get to visit Magnolia again later this year when Michelle Majors releases the first book in her Carolina Girls series, Wildflower Season.

A nice conclusion to the series, but a bit overdone. There is enough of the backstory that one wouldn't have to have read the other books that proceeded it, but it would add to the enjoyment of the book.

I have not read any of the previous books in this series. I have to say, the author does a good job of giving you some background information about what happened in the previous books. Having this backstory helped me get into the story easily. And, what a backstory there is! Talk about secrets and drama!
All in all, a nice romance that I really enjoyed. Many laughable moments. I even shed a few tears along the way. The animal antics kept me smiling. Engaging, sweet romance between the two main characters, Meredith and Ryan.
Looking for a comfort series to get into? I highly recommend The Magnolia Sisters series.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE LAST CAROLINA SISTER (Book 3 of the Magnolia Sisters) by Michelle Major in exchange for an honest review. Meredith Ventner runs a private animal shelter in the small town Magnolia, North Carolina. Meredith uses her plans to improve the shelter to distract her from her personal troubles: the distance in her relationships with her family, her loneliness, and her inability to seek out relationships because of a past trauma. When the local paper does an article on the shelter and classifies Meredith as a lonely spinster desperate for love, the male portion of the population begins to seek her out. One such encounter leads Meredith to seek the medical expertise of her temporary new neighbor, Dr. Ryan Sorenson. Ryan, who is recovering from a recent tragedy, finds himself drawn, unwillingly, to Meredith and the animal shelter. Ryan resists connecting with Meredith, the animals, and the small town’s citizens, but they’re all kind of irresistible.

I liked this book and enjoyed the story. I recommend this book to fans of romance stories featuring damaged characters, animals, small towns, and personal growth.

#TheLastCarolinaSister #NetGalley