Publisher Description
Joanna Chandler always dreamed of becoming an attorney. But when she left law school to help care for her dying mother, stepping away from her single-minded pursuit gave her space to reconsider. The only question is, if not law, what should she do with her life?
To keep her mind off an uncertain future, Joanna helps her older sister, Phylicia, throw an amazing outdoor wedding on the charming Missouri property the three Chandler sisters own together. That’s when she realizes wedding planning could be a thriving business of its own. And Lukas Blaine, the handsome wedding DJ, opens her mind to the possibility of love on the horizon.
But there’s more to Luke than meets the eye. The young boy he’s been mentoring has lost his mother and become Luke’s ward. Mateo is sullen and angry and needs constant attention. How can Luke possibly find the time to start a new relationship or saddle someone else with a wounded child? He may have to let go of the woman of his dreams–and crush her dreams at the same time.
My Review:
Another beautiful story from Deborah Raney and a great addition to this series about the three Chandler sisters. This book focuses on Joanna, the middle sister. Joanna had her heart broken by Ben, and has been reluctant to get involved with anyone since they broke up. But then she meets Luke, who is kind and compassionate, and seems to be her perfect match. But Luke is the guardian of a twelve year boy, Mateo, and Joanna is not sure she wants to give up her personal “perfect scenario” of marriage. That scenario does not include Mateo and being a mom to a twelve year old who is grieving the loss of his mother.
I liked Joanna. She was funny, friendly, and genuinely loved her family. She was a hard worker and helped her sisters keep their Airbnb business going. I was somewhat puzzled by her immaturity concerning her relationship with Mateo. She seemed to be so in tune with helping everyone else that I had a hard time understanding her reluctance to accept him. But this story has an unexpected ending that changes things for Joanna and her family, and helps Joanna see life from a different perspective.
I enjoyed reading this one, and I’m looking forward to reading more about the Chandler sisters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
DEBORAH RANEY’s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Twenty-five years later, she has written more than thirty-five books, including novels for imprints of Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and Harlequin. Deb is on the board of the 2600-member American Christian Fiction Writers and teaches at writers conferences around the country. Her novels have won RWA’s RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a three-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is a recent transplant to Missouri, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard. Visit Deb on the Web at www.deborahraney.com.
