Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
You’ll like this if you like: A Romantic Interest with a Complicated, Mysterious History, Love Triangles (Where Both Love Interests Have Hidden Motivations), or Finding Love Again.
Cleanliness: Bridget kisses J.C. a time or two, and she kisses Caleb once. After one kiss, her mom notes that it’s been a while since Bridget was last kissed (since her husband has been dead for four years).
Hero type: Alpha
Favorite profound quote:
“All I can think is that if God really wanted me here today, the sermon would be relevant to Bridget Pickwick Buchanan. After all, how many times did Easton go on about sermons that seemed tailor-made for him?
In fact, on one occasion, I pointed out that perhaps they seemed that way because he was looking for a fit.
He frowned, then said, ‘You’re right, but that’s just good stewardship of God’s word—taking it in and letting it conform itself to one’s own circumstances. Not letting any of it go to waste.’”
Favorite descriptive quote:
“Something weak and wanting unfurls within me, and I ache all the way to my fingers that splay off my jeans, as if to take hold of something.”
From Amazon
Tree-huggin’, animal-lovin’ Bridget Pickwick-Buchanan is on a mission. Well, two. First she has to come to terms with being a widow at thirty-three. After all, it’s been four years and even her five-year-old niece and nephew think it’s time she sheds her widow’s weeds. Second, she needs to find a buyer for her family’s estate—a Biltmore-inspired mansion surrounded by hundreds of acres of unspoiled forestland. With family obligations forcing the sale, Bridget is determined to find an eco-friendly developer to buy the land, someone who won’t turn it into single-family homes or a cheesy theme park.
Enter J.C. Dirk, a high-entergy developer from Atlanta whose green property developments have earned him national acclaim. When he doesn’t return her calls, Bridget decides a personal visit is in order. Unfortunately, J.C. Dirk is neither amused nor interested when she interrupts his meeting—until she mentions her family name. In short order, he finds himself in North Carolina, and Bridget has her white knight—in more ways than one. But the things Bridget doesn’t know about J.C. could mean the end of everything she’s worked for…and break her heart.
This book is officially better than any in the series, both Leaving Carolina and Nowhere Carolina. Everything ties together neatly here, and it all comes together to form a beautiful story.
Everyone has baggage and hidden agendas, which add so much dimension and depth to the characters and their interactions. There was quite the little plot twist, which I caught a bit before hand, and I worked so well with the rest of the series—plus, it makes you feel smart when you put the pieces of a story together 😉
I really ache for Bridget. She obviously still loves her husband. Even when she takes her wedding ring off, she wears a bandage on her finger, so it leaves an un-tanned ring where the wedding ring should be.
Then there’s J.C. After Bridget exchanges her jeans for a dress, her dreadlocks for silky hair, and hides her pet possum, J.C. is determined to peel back her false layers to the person she really is. He’s likable, sweet, plays well with kids, but he also has a very strong personality—in a magnetically attractive way. Despite his taste for the stylish, he isn’t afraid to get dirty and explore nature—just like Bridget.
And then there’s Caleb. Bridget really liked Caleb, and I was quite upset at her. I mean, J.C. is obviously a better match. Caleb wouldn’t even drive down her dirt street to drop her off, because he’d get his sports car dirty. Hmph! (Though he did walk her… but still.)
With all the baggage, backstory, and plot twists, this book was a complete breeze, and I loved every moment of reading it.
Get a Free Sample of Restless Carolina
Other books written by Tamara Leigh:
Nowhere Carolina (Southern Discomfort Book 2)
Leaving Carolina (Southern Discomfort Book 1)
Which elements do you like best in a story: plot twists, hidden motivations, or emotional baggage?