The heart wants what it wants. I love a later in life love story. Balmy through circumstances lives with her daughter and son-in-law. Balmy lives to make said son in law grind his teeth in frustration. She just wants to enjoy this time of her life. She befriends a charming man living in a cardboard box. Brings him home for a friendly board game and all does not sit well with her daughter and son-in-law. Looking for a bit of independence Balmy is offered shared space in top of the line retirement high rise. A chance to relive old fun with friends. Joy and fulfillment are not age specific.

3.5 stars

Not really my thing, I rarely read contemporary stories prefering historical romance.

It was nice that the heroine was more mature. There was a lot of name dropping to old celebratories which I think would mean that younger readers might feel lost.

voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After a debilitating stroke, Balmy Knight sells her home in Savannah and moves in with daughter Sara, son-in-law Richard, and two grandchildren. She struggles daily with her loss of independence, lack of respect, and depression. Aided by a walker, Balmy drags herself to the park and back to build up her strength.

In the park she befriends Jake, a homeless guy living there in a cardboard box. Lonely for company, she invites him home for homemade buttermilk biscuits and a game of Scrabble. Jake’s visits lift her spirits, but what really makes her smile is aggravating her son-in-law and getting his goat. Life becomes complicated when Balmy’s old BFF—from her Broadway-performing days in the Sixties—invites her to share a condo in a high-rise retirement community. Sara, overly protective of her mother, is against this until she visits the Villas and realizes Balmy’s days would be filled with activities and lots of company.

After moving into the Villas, Balmy is wooed by a charming, rich British gentleman who still has all his hair and teeth. But her heart longs for the mysterious Jake, who has vanished, along with his cardboard box. The storyline kept me glued to my Kindle through the whole book! I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Sour grapes and balmy Knight by Muriel Ellis Pritchett.
Feisty Women's Fiction book 4.
After a debilitating stroke, Balmy Knight moves in with her daughter’s family. As she begins to recover her health, she misses her independence. Finding her days full of tedious boredom, Balmy uses mischievous antics to add excitement to her life. Her only joy comes from disobeying her daughter’s rules, aggravating her son-in-law, and feeding buttermilk biscuits to Jake, the homeless guy who lives in a cardboard box.
An ok read. Likeable story and characters. I didn't have any favourites. I didn't realise this was a series. 3*.

Not my usual genre but I’m glad I have it a try. I think older women would enjoy it more than younger but might be good for a Book Club read.