REVIEW: Sweet Carolina Morning by Susan Schild

Sweet Carolina Morning (Willow Hill) by Susan Schild is the second book in the Willow Hill series. This story picks back up not long after book one Linny’s Sweet Dream List leaves off. All of the lovable and adorable characters are back to help get Linny to the alter if she does not ruin things for herself first.

Linny and Jack are finally engaged, but in true Linny fashion, she wants to create the perfect family unit for Jack and his son Neal. She is taking cooking classes, to make health, fun meals to impress Neal. She researches fun things to do with Neal, to try to impress him. She reads all of the Step-mom blogs and blended family blogs that she can find to help her be the best step-mom ever. Of course, with Neal, she can’t catch a break. Everything Linny does, Vera, Jack’s ex can do better, make better, etc. There is also the little problem of Linny not wanting to go and find the perfect engagement ring with Jack. What is holding her back? What is she afraid of?

Then there are Jack’s parents. They have no idea that Jack was seeing Linny let alone the fact that they are engaged to be married. And when they show up to let them in on the news, Linny is smacked in the face everywhere she turns by Vera this and Vera that. Pictures, memories, and of course, her phone calls to Jack’s parents and to Jack himself. Linny begins to think that Jack cannot draw clear boundaries with Vera, while Jack tells Linny she cannot let go of her past.

When they decide that they need a little cooling off, Linny and her very pregnant sister go away for a few days, to regroup, relax and get away from the problems. But when the potential for disaster strikes, and cell services is spotty, Linny prays that the Calvary will arrive in time. And when they do, she swears that she will do everything in her power to make sure that Jack and Neal both know that she is over her past and ready to face the future with them as a family.

What I truly enjoy about this series is that everything is seen through Linny’s eyes. It is her thoughts, her feelings, her interpretations of events. Right or wrong, this is her story and that is what makes it so special. Linny is a people pleaser. She always has been, she always will be, even when she tries to take on too much. I fell in love with Linny, her sister, her mother and her mothers wonderful friends in the first book, and fell a little more after reading book 2. Amazing and heart warming. Highly recommend that you read book 1 first so that you have the full effect of this amazing series.
 

Book Info:

Publication: Published August 2nd 2016 | Lyrical Press | Willow Hill

Life down South just got a whole lot sweeter in Susan Schild’s new novel about a woman whose happily-ever-after is about to begin…whether she’s ready for it or not.

Finally, just shy of forty years old, Linny Taylor is living the life of her dreams in her charming hometown of Willow Hill, North Carolina. The past few years have been anything but a fairy tale: Left broke by her con man late-husband, Linny has struggled to rebuild her life from scratch. Then she met Jack Avery, the town’s much-adored veterinarian. And she’s marrying him.

Everything should be coming up roses for Linny. So why does she have such a serious case of pre-wedding jitters? It could be because Jack’s prosperous family doesn’t approve of her rough-and-tumble background. Or that his ex-wife is suddenly back on the scene. Or that Linny has yet to win over his son’s heart. All these obstacles—not to mention what she should wear when she walks down the aisle—are taking the joy out of planning her wedding. Linny better find a way to trust love again, or she might risk losing the one man she wants to be with—forever…