I liked how this book caught my attention immediately with Andi Delane speeding into Honey Creek, Texas surrounded by mystery and an intriguing background. I found it interesting that she threw the ticket the handsome cop gave her right out the window.
I  enjoyed how the three romances brewing became entwined together to make a perfect romantic, suspenseful story where lonely souls seemed to find each other.  I read the book in one afternoon because I could not put the book down.  I was spellbound with all of the characters and their stories.  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas is back with the second book in her heartwarming Someday Valley series, The Lavender Bookshop. The series, a spinoff of her Honey Creek series, will charm you as the preceding book, reconnect with some old friends and make room in your heart for some more.

Returning to Someday Valley, we are greeted by it's southern charm and rustic beauty. The Lavender Bookshop sets in roots in the heart of this town, bringing comfort to the folks and a sense of home for owner Noah O'Brien. Leaving his life behind with dreams and uncertainty, he finds himself right in the heart of a town that has claimed others such as him. Unsure of what's to come or where he's headed, he finds himself getting everything that he could ever want unexpectedly including the heart of a sweet school teacher, Cora Lee Buchanan.

Cora Lee, not only in love with his bookstore but finds herself enamored by his subtle charm and kindness. As their budding friendship blossoms, they find themselves creating their own story, searching for their happy ending and hea. These two bring joy and innocence to the book that you can't help but root for them.

Cora wasn't the only Buchanan in search of their hea. Bear, her father, known for his toughness and grumpy stature finds that tough exterior crumbling. Don't let the outside fool you because beyond that tough exterior is a big softie inside. Every town has their secrets and with him, the longing and desire for a secret love has crippled his life. When a friend needs help that puts his secret life in jeopardy, it forces a new chapter that leads to everything his he thought his heart couldn't have. Decisions are made that change his life in ways he couldn't imagine.

As we left off in the first book, the search was on for the siblings of Rusty. In storms Andi Delane, a tough gal who needs and counts on no one. While hiding low from some folks after her for a case she is on, she comes to town in search of the brothers she never knew. When she unexpectedly finds out that a deputy has been assigned to protect her, she finds herself struggling to let him in. As she lowers her guard, she finds herself not only trying to survive but fighting a losing battle that is trying to get her to stop running from the one thing she is trying to stay away from. There's something in the air in this town and as she finds out, there's something that pulls you in and doesn't let go.

This book was a slow burn romance with characters that simmered beautifully to the end. Another wonderful book in this series introducing characters that were in search of something and found a second chance of love, hope and renewed assurance that they were meant to be where they were in this wonderful place. What I love about this series and characters, especially in this book is that no matter who you are or what hardships that seem to block your blessings, you deserve to be loved.

I’m usually a big fan of Jodi Thomas’s books. This one started out with her usual interweaving of stories about lonely, solitary people who find each other. For the first half of the book, I was enjoying the characters as they got to know each other and felt their attraction for each other. There was a subplot with the main female character who had come to this small town to hide out while awaiting having to testify against a criminal.

Then suddenly, after all the couples have easily gotten together with each other, there is suddenly danger introduced. Then there is some convoluted plan to evade and capture the criminals who suddenly appeared in this little town to go after the female protagonist. It was all very unbelievable. But even if you suspended disbelief, it was so quickly and easily resolved. It was rather disappointing.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This is book 2 of the series. Andi comes meet the brothers she did not know she had.. The characters are interesting and you will love some, cheer for some and dislike some. The story has suspense, some twists, and of course romance. A nice addition to the series and enjoyable reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.

At the end of book one, Rusty O’Sullivan learned that he had a sister. The Wild Lavender Bookshop, book two of Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas is her story. However as it is with all of Ms. Thomas’ books, it is not only her story but several others too. Noah O’Brien is the owner of the Wild Lavender Bookshop so it is his story along with Cora Lee Buchanan. Then it is Cora Lee’s father story as well as Deputy Danny Davis. Lawyer Jackson Landry makes an appearance but his forever outcome never comes into this story and neither does Rusty’s or Zach. I will admit I was hoping to see how everything would work out for them. I guess that is to come later.

Andi’s story does feel complete even with danger following her to Honey Creek. How this entire group and other members of the community come together to provide the solution needed is quite the story. I feel like I am part of this community now, A community of gossip, but also of love and care. Take a visit to Honey Creek and be sure to visit the Wild Lavender Bookshop while you are there.

Return to Someday Valley" by Jodi Thomas is a heartwarming cozy hug

Albeit with a slow start, which almost thre me off, this short lovely book is simply a joy to read. It wraps you up in a comforting embrace, reminding you of the beauty in second chances and the magic of small-town life. If you're a sucker for heartwarming romance and the feel-good vibes of close-knit communities, this book is a must-read. It's the kind of story that leaves you grinning from ear to ear, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside..

The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas is a sweet small-town romance with a slight suspense element.

This lovely novel features three heartwarming romances. Newcomer Andi Delane can take care of herself and she is not interested in love. But when she decides to join forces with Dan Davis will she open her heart to the kind and patient deputy? Book shop owner Noah O’Brien has a crush on his landlord Bear Buchanan’s daughter Cora but does she return his feelings? Bear has a secret that he has closely guarded for years and if he agrees to an urgent request, he will risk losing someone he holds very dear.

The Wild Lavender Bookshop is the delightful second installment in Jodi Thomas’ Someday Valley series. Honey Creek is a charming town with eclectic but likable characters. The storyline is engaging and the three love stories are very sweet. Despite a bit of an insta-love vibe and some repetition, readers will enjoy how everyone pulls together when danger arrives in Someday Valley.

The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas
Book 2 of 2: Someday Valley
From beloved New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas, a slow burn romance that’s the epitome of comfort reading. Perfect for fans of Robyn Carr and Susan Mallery!
Return to the unforgettable world of Someday Valley, Texas, in this tender, uplifting novel of hearts in search of second chances.
The trees that circle Someday Valley near Honey Creek are dressed in their fall finest, providing a pretty backdrop for the local businesses—including the little bookshop loved by schoolteacher Cora Lee Buchanan. There, under the watchful eye of owner Noah O’Brien, Cora Lee and her sister, Katherine, meet each Wednesday. Their talk mostly revolves around one subject: their father, known to everyone in town as Bear.
Both Cora Lee and Katherine worry about Bear Buchanan. They’ve no idea Bear has a secret life of his own. As for the sisters, Katherine, beautiful and self-absorbed, is in search of her third husband, while Cora Lee is in love for the first time. On warm nights, she climbs up to her building’s roof to chat with Noah and listen to the melody of the water below. Yet there is more intrigue afoot in Honey Creek . . .
Andi Delane has arrived in town to hear the last wishes of the father she never met. She was shocked to get a letter from lawyer Jackson Landry, and she has few expectations—of this mysterious will, or of Deputy Danny Davis who’s been assigned to protect her. But fall always brings changes, and this year there will be enough to alter not just the lives of those who call Honey Creek home, but the future of Someday Valley itself . . .
This is Noah O'Brien and Cora Lee Buchanan's story.
Noah the bookshop owner.
Cora Lee Buchanan is a schoolteacher.
This is Danny Davis, a Someday Valley deputy.
Andi Delaney is a Dallas detective, hiding out in small-town Honey Creek, TX, until she testifies in her big case.
She's looking for two brothers Rusty and Zach she never knew existed.
Bear Buchanan and the love of his life Eliza.
Three couples, Bear and Eliza, Cora Lee and Noah and Andi and Dan.
Sisters Kathleen and Cora Lee Buchanan.
Andi Delane drove into Honey Creek, Texas, tired, hungry, and driving way over the speed limit as usual. With the windows down, she felt as if she was in her Cessna with the wind streaming by and not a care in the world. If only that were true.
His smile turned to a frown. “I hate to make your day worse, ma’am. Please don’t cry but you really do need to pay attention to your driving. I’m afraid I’m going to have to give you a ticket.”
Noah O’Brien stepped out of his bookshop to greet the first light of dawn rising over the main street of Honey Creek. He dusted off the little red tables and chairs he’d set out front for the sunrise coffee drinkers.
Of course, he had chairs inside along the windows for reading with a cup in hand, but there was something special about watching the day start.
Everyone called the big man who owned it Bear. He ran a repair shop that shared Noah’s south bookstore wall. All was quiet when Bear was gone farming, but when he was open, noise always drifted through. Folks said Bear Buchanan didn’t live; he just worked.
I recommend this book.
The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas is a 4 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Jodi Thomas.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This is the second book in the series Someday Valley. It felt good to be back in Honey Creek. Just the name of the town puts a smile on my face. Jodi Thomas has done it again.
This book is about three couples and the progress of how they intertwine and make lives for themselves. Small town romance stories make a book that will give you a connection with them. The characters each have some things going on in their lives and to be with them as I was reading made them all seem like I have known them my whole life.
This is a book you will be glad you picked up to read it.
Thank you NetGalley, Jodi Thomas and Kensington Books for the copy of The Wild Lavender Bookshop. This is my personal review.

We're back in Someday Valley with a story of quiet love, dramatic danger, and found family. The story follows several characters, some new and some beloved, but centers on a couple of romances.

Noah O'Brien runs the bookstore in town, much to the chagrin of his New York family. He dreams of being a writer, a way of putting his quiet observations of townsfolk to good use. Sisters Kathleen and Cora Lee Buchanan meet at the bookstore weekly. Cora is a quiet first-grade teacher who dreams of more. She just may have found it in Noah and his bookstore.

Andi Delaney is a Dallas detective, hiding out in small-town Honey Creek, TX, until she testifies in her big case. Danny Davis is a deputy who is assigned to tail Andi and keep her safe. As danger lurks, Andi and Danny grow closer and love blooms.

While this is a standalone, old familiar characters make an appearance and the story of Andi and her half-brothers picks up here. Charming, heartfelt, and evocative, this is a phenomenal addition to this series and the large small-town Texas fictional world. You won’t want to miss it.

Another very enjoyable book from Jodi Thomas, The Wild Lavender Bookshop is at the centre of all the main goings on that happen in Someday Valley over this period of time.

Andi who I have been long looking forward to turning up in Someday Valley finally appears and it is around her that all the action takes place. And finally she will get to meet two of her half brothers.

Andi and the Deputy soon have a thing going on between them, Noah the bookshop owner discovers he really does have feelings for the younger of Bear's daughter and Bear himself just might have someone rather special to him as well.

The story is told with all the wonderful Texas setting Jodi Thomas does so well, along with that strong sense of humor that is also her trademark.  It has plenty of action and as usual the characters endear themselves to this reader's heart.

Good story about six people who become three couples whose lives intersect when they come together to help one of their own. Each character is unique, with their quirks, and I enjoyed seeing their changes and journeys.

Noah is a relative newcomer to Someday Valley. A New York native, he left a successful business career and an overbearing family to start a bookstore in the small town. Noah is an observer of human nature rather than a participant. He listens to his customers' stories, dreams, and regrets while trying to decide what he wants from his life. But for now, his life revolves around his bookstore and upstairs apartment.

One of his customers is Cora Lee, the quiet elementary school teacher who lives in the other apartment above the shops. She is the daughter of Noah's landlord, Bear Buchanan, and sister to Katherine, her brash older sister.

Noah and Cora Lee have been drawn to each other for a long time but only did something about it after an unexpected rooftop encounter. I loved Noah's sensitivity to Cora Lee's shyness and how he did everything possible to make her feel safe with him. I liked how Cora Lee saw Noah for the intelligent and sensitive man that he was. As they got to know each other and explored their growing feelings, each opened up about their dreams. I loved how Cora Lee gave him the support and confidence he needed to pursue his dream. Their time together was sweet.

Bear is the local fix-it guy. He mostly keeps to himself. He works on his farm when he isn't working in his repair shop. He also has a secret life that no one is aware of. He has had an ongoing relationship with his neighbor, Eliza, for many years. He wants more, but Eliza is reluctant to change a relationship that has worked for so long. Eliza has an intriguing backstory, and I was fascinated by the stories she told. I liked Bear's sensitivity to Eliza's needs and that he never gave up on his hopes for their future.

Andi Delane's trip to Someday Valley has two purposes. On the surface, she is there to meet the two half-brothers she didn't know she had. Her biological father was not part of her life, and she knew nothing of their existence until after his death. She has always wanted a sibling and is excited and nervous about meeting them. The other reason is darker. Andi is an undercover detective in Dallas and has the misfortune of being identified by a pretty nasty criminal. She needs to go into hiding until she is called as a witness in his trial because there is a contract out on her life. Andi is independent and resents the need for protection. She is especially ticked when she checks in with the sheriff, and he sets one of his deputies to tail her and watch over her.

Dan is intrigued by Andi from the moment he gives her a speeding ticket on her way into town. He's pretty happy to follow Andi around, even though she does her best to make his job harder. I loved their interactions over the first few days as it became apparent that Andi underestimated Dan's abilities. I liked it when she stopped playing stupid games and started working with him. Their fake relationship ruse gave her the cover she needed for being in town but also gave Dan an excuse to spend more time with her. Having been burned once in love, he never expected to fall for someone else.

Things get complicated when those who are after Andi come looking for her. She isn't used to having someone have her back and isn't sure how to handle Dan's protectiveness. It takes a little while to find the balance that satisfies their needs. The intensity increases as the bad guys close in, and Dan and Andi devise a plan to keep her safe and alive. It was interesting to see how the three couples worked together to make it happen. The build-up and final confrontation kept me turning the pages until it was over. All that was left was the question of where their relationship was headed. I loved the epilogue and seeing each couple's decisions about their futures.

There are three very different couples that we read about in this book. Shy, quiet, bookstore owner Noah doesn't really know what he wants from life, just that he is missing something. Cora is a teacher who loves her job, but is considered boring when compared with her flamboyant sister, who is looking for husband number three. The girls father and all around handyman is Bear, who is keeping his long time relationship with Eliza, who has her own secrets, from everyone. Then there is Andi who comes to town to hide after her undercover work puts her in jeopardy as well as find the half-brothers she didn't know she had. Danny is assigned to protect her and finds her prickly personality attractive. The flow of the chapters and the writing differs for each couple. Noah and Cora is slower and sweeter. Andi and Danny is quicker and more abrupt. Bear and Eliza is deliberately gentle. The stories are told from the different characters, which is difficult at first but as you get to know each character and their interactions with each other, it becomes easier to read. . The book all comes together beautifully at the end.

Second in the series of Someday Valley, Tx finds the reader continuing Jackson Landry's quest to deliver and bring together his client's heirs. Andy DeLane arrives in town to a bang. All she wants to do is get the lay of the land, find out about her family and then get out of there fast. Will she find what she seeks? Cora Lee and Katherine meet once a week at the cafe to discuss their pressing issue: their father Bear. They feel he needs to find love again, however, little to their knowledge but Bear has his own ideas. Will fall be just a change of color or will life in Someday Valley evolve for all? This was a fun story. I enjoy Jodi Thomas and her way of building a story. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

When I came to this book, I thought it would be another small town romance that would give me a good time and a nice romance.

Well, it gave me that and much more, as in this beautiful and quaint town we meet several characters whose stories will carry you through the plot and make you fall in love with their personalities.

I loved not only meeting one romance but several of them, and I like the way they show us the panorama of what other people are going through when telling a story.

It has been a light and rhythmic plot that has left me with a good taste in my mouth and that leads to an incredible feeling at the end of it.

Do I recommend it? Sure, it's a quick, light read that is sure to be a good time on a spring or summer afternoon.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

#TheWildLavenderBookshop #NetGalley

The Wild Lavender Bookshop
Jodi Thomas
April 23, 2024

Andi Delane is a witness for the prosecution. She needs to get away so the defendant’s henchmen cannot find her. She also wants to find her brothers. Two men she has never met. Driving away from Dallas Andi thought that Honey Creek would be the place to go. The small lonely town is set in a wealth of trees and farmland. Little did she know that her arrival would bring her a wealth of people who wanted to help her save her life.
The Wild Lavender Bookshop will be published on April 23, 2024 by Zebra Books of Kensington Publishing Corp. I was able to read Thomas’s latest novel via NetGalley. It is the second in her Someday Valley series. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review this enchanting adventure. It is a delight to read with a wealth of characters that are such fun. It is filled with romance and family. Be certain to pick up this latest fiction by Jodi Thomas. Do Enjoy!

This small town romance had more than one romance going on...and I love that! This is the second book in the series, and the half siblings are finding each other after the death of their father that some of them didn't even know. It's an interesting premise. Will they be drawn together or will they prefer to stay strangers?

The story had a dangerous/mystery side to it too. Andi is supposed to testify in a case and someone is determined that she not be alive to do it. It also may put her half-brothers in danger. There's action, suspense, romance, humor, a great big deputy that couldn't hide in plain sight while guarding someone even if they painted him to match the background.

I love Jodi Thomas books and always feel like I've gotten a good read after I finish one of her books.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I don't think I was the right reader for this book. I requested the ARC via NetGalley because the cover looked so whimsical and I love a small town romance.

I had a really hard time resonating with any of the characters in the three couples who's stories were being told. I think I just didn't jive with them, so that's a personal take.

However, I do think the dialogue was pretty clunky, and didn't feel really authentic. I also felt like a lot of the character felt really two dimensional.

I don't think this is a bad book by any means, but I just didn't love it.

A genial tale of six people- three couples, really- in a small town in Texas. This has a little romance, a little mystery, and a lot of family. It makes for a fine lazy day read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. While the second in what might become a series. it's fine as a standalone.

This was not for me or my audience. There were too many characters and too many storylilnes. The sisters were very unlikeable. The storyline with Bear gave me the ick. I know that she was an adult, but I couldn't get the mental image of her as a child out of my head.