Series:
Sutton's Place (Book 1)
She has many reasons to leave
He's the best reason to stay
Summoned home by her mother and sisters, novelist Gwen
Sutton has made it clear -- she's not staying. She's returning to her quiet,
writerly life as soon as the family brewery is up and running. But when Gwen's
lifelong crush, Case Danforth, offers his help, it's clear there's more than
just beer brewing! Time is short for Case to convince Gwen that a home with him
is where her heart is.
Terrific start to the new series. Gwen is a writer who
left her small town behind as soon as possible and rarely returned. But with her
father's death six months ago, her mother and sisters called her home to help
finish the brewery and pub that was his dream. Gwen complies but makes it clear
she's returning to her solitary writer's life as soon as possible. She's
working on a new book and is running behind on finishing it because of various
issues. She never expected her girlhood crush on her sister's ex-boyfriend to
be as strong as ever.
Case has lived across the street from the Suttons all his
life. He owns a tree-cutting service with Lane, his cousin and best friend, and
loves his life in Stonefield. Gwen was the quiet sister of his high school
girlfriend. He's surprised by his sudden attraction to her and unsure what to
do about it.
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Case
and Gwen. Case has always been a friend to the Suttons and, after David's death,
pitched in to help with anything they need. As Lane is also a partner in the
fledgling brewery, Case has added incentives to ensure the brewery is
successful. He spends much of his free time helping out, which puts him near
Gwen. Gwen resists the pull at first with the idea that you don't date your
sister's ex. But after a toe-curling kiss with Case and a hilarious
conversation with her sister, she gives in. She remains clear that she doesn't
plan to stay in Stonefield past the brewery's opening, but Case finds himself
hoping to change her mind.
I liked Case and Gwen though she did frustrate me at
times. Because she's spent so much time away from Stonefield, her relationships
with her family have suffered. She's not as close and sometimes comes off as
self-centered. However, I felt her grief over her father's death and guilt over
missing so much time with him. Part of Gwen's problem with her hometown is her
awkward relationship with the townspeople since the publication of her first
book and its movie adaptation. Though she and her family regain their closeness
as they work together, Gwen remains fixated on her goal of returning to
Vermont. Case is an all-around nice guy. He has a big heart which shows in his
relationship with the Suttons and with the townspeople. He has an adorable dog
named Boomer, who tends to steal the scenes where he appears. Case is ready to
settle down and pictures a life with Gwen.
As the summer progresses and the brewery comes together,
Case and Gwen grow closer. I loved seeing how observant Case is regarding
Gwen's moods and the steps he takes to help her through them. He is very good
at seeing what she needs and trying to see that she gets it, which creates some
delightful scenes between them. But Gwen has some decisions to make when the
brewery opening is done. Does she return to her old life or take a chance on
staying home? I ached for her and Case as she wrestled with this question. The
ending was terrific, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Sutton family dynamics were a large part of this book.
Each woman deals with her grief in her own way while helping to bring David's
dream to fruition. Gwen has to deal with the family's pressure for her to stay.
Mallory, the middle daughter, is a single mother of two who lives with her
mother and helps with the family store and the brewery. Evie is the youngest, a
rolling stone, who is also the ex-wife of Lane, the brewmaster and co-owner of
the brewery. Evie had no idea of that partnership until she came home and was
not happy to be blindsided by it. Ellen is the driving force behind the
completion of the brewery for many reasons. She is the glue that holds the
family together while trying to find a way to make peace with David's death. An
emotional scene involving Ellen and some glassware illustrates the scope of her
grief.
I loved the brewery/pub setting and seeing how everyone
worked together to make it happen. Lane is an interesting character, and I look
forward to seeing more of him. An emotional scene involving him and some
special beers at the brewery opening illustrate the bond between him and David.
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