Review and Giveaway: The Sweetheart Secret

The Sweetheart Secret (Sweetheart Sisters - Book 3) by Shirley Jump

Publication Date: 09/02/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425264521
ISBN-13: 978-0425264522

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)

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

Shirley Jump on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Sweetheart Sisters

1. The Sweetheart Bargain
2. The Sweetheart Rules
3. The Sweetheart Secret

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

Excerpt from, The Sweetheart Secret, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

The Sweetheart Sisters are ready for some good ol’ matchmaking… 

Colton Harper, Rescue Bay’s resident physician, gave up his wild ways years ago, in exchange for a straight and narrow life. But then a one-night stand comes back to haunt him when the intoxicating woman he left behind shows up in Rescue Bay.

Once upon a time, fiery Daisy Barton was Colt’s wife—and still is, thanks to a paperwork glitch. Now she’s here in Rescue Bay, with a once-in-a-lifetime chance at a fresh start—renovating a crumbling B&B. The catch? The loan she needs requires her “husband’s” financial backing.

Colt wants to turn Daisy away, but when he sees her coax a smile from his cantankerous grandfather, Colt realizes maybe she can help him, too. It’s the perfect arrangement—until the sparks start flying. Suddenly Colt realizes he’s still head over heels in love with Daisy, and that he’ll have to risk everything…or risk losing her forever.

Thoughts:

Author, Shirley Jump takes readers back the quaint Gulf Coast town of Rescue Bay, Florida in her third book in The Sweetheart Sisters series, The Sweetheart Secret. This book features a story about a divorce gone wrong, for all the right reasons. The enchanting beach side setting, the second chance romance and a furry friend, all add up to make this a great contemporary romance read. Readers looking for small town charm and compelling characters will love this addition to the series.

What I liked: 

Shirley Jump has created a small town in Florida that will draw the reader in. Rescue Bay is the kind of place that readers will want to visit often. The beach is perfect, the people are diverse and interesting and romance always seems to be right around the corner. I loved the small town charm of this novel. I wanted to stay at Daisy's bed and breakfast. I wanted to walk along the beach and feel the sand between my toes. I even wanted to visit those pesky matchmaking ladies that make this series so special. I think Jump has a real knack for small town romance and The Sweetheart Secret is a great example of that.

Daisy the heroine was such a free spirit. She had a wildness about her that felt like catching a ray of sunshine. I really liked her. She had a very unconventional childhood since her mother never stayed in one place long and now she wants nothing more than to settle down. But the past has a way of getting in the way sometimes. I loved the fact that Jump used a botched divorce to get her characters back together, what a great plot device! Colt had to grow on me. He was a bit too straight laced and too buttoned up to make me like him in the beginning. He should have just told Daisy what was going on with him. But he grew on me and the two of them ended up making a great couple. Jump always seems to know how far she can take each relationship before it starts to come together. Even though I know it will probably be a happy ending she still makes me wonder.

As usual the matchmakers, Greta, Esther, and Pauline steal the show, as far as, comic relief goes. They have a penchant for getting people together who need to get together, LOL! I found myself not only loving their meddling ways, but also loving the cantankerousness of Colt's grandfather, just as much. Major Pain, the rescue dog was a great character that also added another dimension to the story. The secondary characters always shine in Jump's books and this one is no different. 

What I didn't like:

It did take a while for Colt to start flying right. He was a bit hard to like, but he did redeem himself. I understood from his back ground why he did what he did by leaving Daisy, but I didn't really get why he couldn't tell her about it. It might just be me, I have a tendency to think that honesty is the best policy, but I guess we wouldn't have had this good book, without that little issue. So, who am I to complain, LOL.

Bottom Line:

A great setting, characters that make reader want to get to know them and a sweet and romantic love story all added up to make a very good book. Jump knows how to write them when it comes to layers of feeling, both painful and blissful. The rescue animal also made the book even more compelling. A good choice for small town romance addicts!

The Sweetheart Secret is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Sweetheart Bargain and The Sweetheart Rules, Shirley Jump spends her days writing romance and women’s fiction to feed her shoe addiction and avoid cleaning the toilets. She cleverly finds writing time by feeding her kids junk food, allowing them to dress in the clothes they find on the floor, and encouraging the dogs to double as vacuum cleaners.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Sweetheart Secret by Shirley Jump.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, September 23rd.

1. Please leave a comment about an ex showing up again in your life after a long time has passed. Ever happen to you?

2. Please fill out the FORM.