Review: On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter

Book Description

"From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes the final book in Hunter’s Blue Ridge Romance series.

Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.

Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same.

Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.

Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love."

On Magnolia Lane is the last book in the Blue Ridge Romance series.   The other books in the series are: Sweetbriar Cottage, Blue Ridge Sunrise, and Honeysuckle Dreams.  It can be read as a stand alone book, but it is much better if you have read the entire series.  I really enjoyed the other books and could not wait for this one to come out.  Then I had to wait even longer for my review copy to arrive.  On Magnolia Lane was worth the wait.

Part of the story ("meeting" someone on an online date site that you know in real life) is similar to other books I have read.  But there were many elements added to this story that made it unique.  The perspective of a pastor looking for romance is not your typical romance.  Then the mystery woman that appears in town, how that affects Daisy's life changing her ideas on how she thought her life was supposed to be and teaching her to forgive those who hurt her deeply.  The problems in town when Hope House was damaged and the way the community came together to help solve the problem was another interesting aspect of the story.  As a mom with a dyslexic child I was glad to see that written as a difficulty Daisy deals with and thought the way she helped another young girl through it was wonderful. Ms. Hunter crafts an amazing story around all of the characters while wrapping up the series and teaching the importance of grace and forgiveness.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own and I have received no other compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance to the FTC regulations.