REBECCA REVIEWS THREE ROMANCES in SUNRISE PUBLISHING'S FOX FAMILY COLLECTION (PART OF DEEP HAVEN COLLECTION)
When gourmet baker Robin Fox's dream job in Paris turns into a nightmare of sorts, she decides to take a break and travel back home to Deep Haven. Her grandparents have asked her to keep their bread bakery in business while they take a much needed vacation in Florida. The only caveat? . . . "just don't change anything around here". Well . . .
Sammy Johnson loves his home town of Deep Haven, he just doesn't know how to re-acclimate after finally recovering from a horrific logging accident. Much to his surprise, he learns that his high school friend, Robin Fox, is back in town. When he happens upon Robin knee deep in water due to a busted pipe, Sammy steps in with his time and handyman talents; his only compensation???? . . . some of those delicious cupcakes she has started baking.
It soon becomes apparent that Robin's baking skills have the potential to whisk her far, far away from Deep Haven again, perhaps sooner rather than later. How exactly was that going to work since Sammy's heart had gotten all mixed in with the baker herself? A really sweet, and quite romantic story about discovering God's plan; "fitting in and belonging aren't the same thing".
Caution: Don't be at all surprised if you crave cake throughout the reading of this book! 3.5 stars
#2 IT'S YOUR LOVE by Rachel D. Russell
Grayson Fox's faith had been shoved to the back burner of his life . . . for a long time, if he was honest with himself. Returning to his home town of Deep Haven was supposed to put a plan into motion for realizing his dream of owning ranch property in Oregon, yet selling his family acreage has become much harder than he anticipated . . . perhaps that difficulty revolves around his new temporary summer job at the Trinity Horse Camp . . . or more accurately, it is the horse camp's interim assistant director who is giving his head a spin.
Could a face-to-face with Grayson Fox have been more embarrassing than having a heat-stroke inside a ridiculous book costume after being chased by a contingency of barking dogs? Ummm . . . the short answer is . . . no. Her teen-age crush . . . or "something" was back in town and looking like an honest-to-goodness cowboy, who was slated to be working at . . . "her" camp over the summer???
This sparks-are-flying reunion in a small town where everyone knows your name is so entertaining that it would be easy to concentrate on the fun factors and overlook the faith journey taking place . . . Beth and Grayson have deep-seated fears brewing inside their generous hearts and selfless motives . . . because when it comes down to it, he is leaving at the end of the summer and Beth is staying in Deep Haven forever . . . and that is a problem that only God can work out! 3.5 stars
#3 THE WAY YOU LOVE ME by Michelle Sass Aleckson
Love was a risk that Lena Larson thought she would ever take again . . . except that when Oliver Fox arrived back in Deep Haven with an adorable little girl, her defenses began to crumble, one little giggle at a time. The man in question had shattered her heart those many years ago, and it seemed that even this newer version of Oliver Fox needed a big, bright caution sign hanging around his handsome neck.
Oliver Fox had made so many mistakes . . . but hopeful that he was on the right path forward. Coming back to his hometown with a list of amends could assure the custody of his five year old daughter . . . which meant providing Kiah with a stable home environment sourced from a steady income. Falling in love (again, if the truth were known) with his next door neighbor certainly hadn't been on his court order.
Do you love a story with deeply flawed characters whose understandings and misunderstandings collide at the best and worst of times, recovering with offers of love and forgiveness along with immeasurable measures of grace? Throw in family dynamics, a precious child, and animals who provide a multitude of comedic interruptions and there you have it . . . "The Way You Love Me" . . . a wonderful, romantic finish to this heartwarming series.
*I purchased all of these stories and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.