Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on
Samantha is cautious, curious and determined to unravel the mystery her beloved grandfather entrusted her with. I was unsure of her in the beginning but as she grew throughout the novel I found her to be likable and wanted her to have her happily ever after. Justin is sweet, sexy and concerned. He is attracted to Samantha but unsure of her motives. He cares about the people in this close knit community. Despite his concerns, I like that he didn’t try to change Samantha and just wanted to understand her. The two had instant chemistry, but this was a very slow building romance with very little heat. Secondary characters and those from previous stories were present, and while I got to know them I feel I missed out by not having read the previous books.
Cider Brook had elements I love from mystery to small-town dynamics. I loved the small-town workings and the family interaction. While the town and Justin were unsure of Samantha, I like that they opened up and made her feel welcome even if some grilled her. The romance really took a back seat in this tale, and I lost some of the connection. There were some tender moments, but we never really saw it develop instead it became the back-story. Neggers weaves an excellent tale and the mystery engaged me. I loved the story her grandfather gave her regarding the pirate and his lady. The old apple cider mill and its history appealed to the romantic in me. The story of the family who lived there made me shed a tear. The side stories involving other characters were good, but again I floundered a little as we had no prior history. The ending wrapped up well with answers to Samantha’s quest and a promise of happily ever after.
Copy received from publisher in exchange for unbiased review that originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 18 February, 2014: Finished reading
- 18 February, 2014: Reviewed