Book Review & Giveaway: The Innkeeper*s Sister, Book 3 of Honey Ridge Series by Linda Goodnight

August 03, 2017

Title: The Innkeeper's Sisters
Series: Honey Ridge, Book 3
Author: Linda Goodnight

Publisher: HQN Books

Release Date: July 25, 2017
Genre: Dual-Time / Romantic Fiction

Welcome to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, where Southern hospitality and sweet peach tea beckon, and where long-buried secrets lead to some startling realizations…

Grayson Blake always has a purpose—and never a moment to lose. He’s come home to Honey Ridge to convert a historic gristmill into a restaurant, but his plans crumble like Tennessee clay when the excavation of a skeleton unearths a Civil War mystery…and leads him back to a beautiful and familiar stranger.

Once a ballet dancer, now co-owner of the Peach Orchard Inn, Valery Carter harbors pain as deep as the secrets buried beneath the mill. A bright facade can’t erase her regrets any more than a glass of bourbon can restore what she’s lost. But spending time with Grayson offers Valery a chance to let go of her past and imagine a happier future. And with the discovery of hidden messages in aged sheet music, both their hearts begin to open. Bound by attraction, and compelled to resolve an old crime that links the inn and the mill, Grayson and Valery encounter a song of hurt, truth…and hope.

"We don't always have choices . . . Nor do we always make the right ones." (90)

What a lovely story that featured not one, but two different timelines, yet still find a parallel connection with each other. The Innkeeper's Sister is the third book in the Honey Ridge trilogy by Linda Goodnight, but I think it can easily be read as a standalone. I didn't realize it was a series until the dedication, which was beautifully written.

The Innkeeper's Sister touches on secrets past that can't seem to stay hidden, and how it affected those in the story. I was equally invested in the post Civil War mystery that stemmed from the unearth skeleton as well as Patience Portland's musical pieces, and the modern day backstory of Valery's road to self-destruction. What drove her? What secret is she holding dear that drives such a wedge of guilt in her heart? In truth, by the end of the story, it almost felt anti-climatic in that area. I can understand the reason, yet the level of trepidation seems much. However, even for that, I enjoyed the process from beginning to end (minus the little hiccup). There's a touch of faith that ends with hope. The characters are interesting and the development of both Valery and Grayson were well executed. Lem Tolly is another character that intrigues me with his riddles and seemingly knowledgeable about every thing. Or is it more as he said about observation?

In all, a novel that's well crafted with a bit of mystery, Southern romance and an encouraging element that will satisfy fans across genres.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

For my review policy, please see my Disclosure page.

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BOOKS IN THE HONEY RIDGE SERIES

NY Times and USA Bestseller, Linda Goodnight writes novels to touch the heart as well as to entertain. Her emotional stories of hope have won the RITA, the Carol, the Reviewer’s Choice, and numerous other industry awards. A small town girl, Linda remains close to her roots, making her home in rural Oklahoma. She and husband have a blended family of eight, including two teenagers recently adopted from Ukraine. Many of her books are about family and children and rightly so, as she draws her deeply emotional stories from her surroundings, her great love of family, and from personal experiences as a nurse and teacher.

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