Review and Giveaway: Wildflower Wedding

Wildflower Wedding (Cricket Creek - Book 6) by Luann Mclane

Publication Date: 04/01/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Signet Eclipse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0451415590
ISBN-13: 978-0451415592

(Received for an honest review from Signet Eclipse)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Indiebound

Luann Mclane on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Cricket Creek

1. Playing for Keeps
2. Catch of a Lifetime
3. Pitch Perfect
4. Whisper's Edge
5. Moonlight Kiss
6. Wildflower Wedding

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Wildflower Wedding, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

Cricket Creek, Kentucky, is a sweet river town known for its baseball, shopping, and weddings. After the recession, business is finally bouncing back, but old insecurities—and heartaches—are slower to heal…
 
Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, Gabby Goodwin had more to prove than the rest of Cricket Creek. Even now, as the successful owner of the local flower shop, she hasn’t forgotten her humble beginnings. So when her high school crush, the former class bad boy, walks back into her life, she keeps him at arm’s length, protecting her heart—and her pride.
 
Reese Marino gave up most of his wild ways years ago, graduating from college and becoming part owner of his uncle’s pizza parlor. The fact that Gabby still treats him like a troubled teenager drives him mad, but that’s not the only thing about the sassy florist driving him to distraction. Despite Gabby’s reluctant attitude, Reese is determined to win her over and show her that love often blooms right where you least expect it.

Thoughts:

Luann Mclane continues her Cricket Creek series, with Wildflower Wedding, the sixth installment. With small town charm and southern sweetness, this is a great feel good romance, between to high school crushes. Mclane's characters are rock solid and three dimensional. She has a knack for writing about the small town atmosphere and generosity of it's people. Cricket Creek comes alive for the reader and Mclane does a fantastic job with it. Readers get a two for one with this title because there are two budding romances in this one. A great addition to the series. 

What I liked:

I have liked this series since it's inception. Being from Kentucky I am always interested in Kentucky authors and how the cities and towns are portrayed in their writing. Kentucky is state that boasts a lot of great loves from horse racing to baseball and I think Mclane hits the nail on the head with her portrayal of Cricket Creek. It reminds me of my own small town, with it's eclectic mix of residents, mom and pop shops and wholesome atmosphere. There is definitely something to be said for southern charm and hospitality and that rings true in Wildflower Wedding.

Gabby is the proud owner of her own flower shop. She comes from humble beginnings and doesn't take anything for granted. She earned her own way and pulled herself up by her own bootstraps. She's independent and self reliant. The death of her mother has affected her in a lot of ways including her love life. She wants a man her mom would be proud of and she isn't sure when Reese re-enters her life, that he could be that man. I liked Gabby. She had some spunk to her. She knew what it meant to be down and she got back up. I thought she took a bit too much time in making her mind about Reese. They had a smoking hot connection from the get the go and I wished she had moved full steam ahead, but I understand her reservations and why Mclane wrote it the way she did.

Reese was once upon a time the class bad boy. After the disappearance of his father, she just wasn't the same and ended up being sent to New York to live with is uncle. Now he's back in Cricket Creek with more than just pizza on his mind. He is part owner in his own business and has become a responsible and capable man. Not to mention he is hotter than a firecracker. I liked the fact that Reese had his reservations about Gabby too, but he realized a good thing when he saw it. He didn't give up and his persistence paid off. Mclane does a great job with his character and lets the reader fall in love with him, just like Gabby does.

There is also a secondary romance between Reese's uncle Tony and his landlady Trish. I liked the way that Mclane was able to add this second romance in without taking away from the lead couple. It is still vital to the story but it doesn't outshine the main thread. I enjoyed the fact that these two characters weren't young. They had seen some hard times of their own and eventually found their way to each other, with the help of fate and a little dog named Digger. 

Mclane gives readers another sweet heart felt romance that they can count on to make them smile a lot and wipe a few tears of joy, when Reese and Gabby finally realize they were meant for each other. Cricket Creek is finally seeing some revitalization and so are it's inhabitants. I have loved all of the previous couples, but something about this couple struck a cord with me. This is my a favorite of the series so far and I hope Mclane continues to bring readers quality romances with great characters.

What I didn't like:

As I mentioned it took Gabby too long to realize how great Reese was. There would have been time for more great moments between them had she came to her senses a little earlier. But it wasn't a stickler and was still a top notch novel. 

Bottom Line:

I love this series and this author. I would recommend her books anytime. She does Kentucky proud and this is the best of the series so far in my opinion. Strong characters, southern charm and sweet romance combine to make this a great feel good read.

Wildflower Wedding is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

LuAnn McLane lives in Naples, Florida, near the coast. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys beachcombing, reading, traveling, and entertaining friends and family. She loves hearing from readers.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Wildflower Wedding by Luann Mclane.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, May 12th.

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