Review: Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas

Fans of Robyn Carr and Susan Mallery will adore this heartwarming new book from the beloved New York Times bestselling author. In a small Texas town where most families go back generations, four strangers meet and unite as they bury a father none of them has ever seen and begin slowly to piece together a bond that will not only change them, but the community for the better.

Starri Knight is a big believer in fate. How else to explain the compelling connection she feels to the stranger she pulls out of a wrecked car on the very same road where her parents died twenty years earlier? Alongside Auntie Ona-May, the only mother she’s ever known, Starri saves Rusty O’Sullivan’s life—just as Ona-May once did when Starri was an orphaned babe. But convincing Rusty he has something to live for is going to take all of Starri’s faith in miracles .

Like a wish he hadn’t even known to make, Starri landed in Rusty’s life, filling him with a longing for a family. . . . Then Jackson Landry, a new lawyer, turns up to present a surprise that will change the direction of his life: An inheritance from the father Rusty never knew—and the promise of the family he’d never had. It’s a lot for the hard-bitten loner to accept as love rushes into his life . . .

A sense of duty has Rusty heading to Honey Creek to deal with his father’s estate—and find his lost siblings. But having family is one thing, learning to love them is another. Good thing new friends are by his side to help him along the way.

Review

As they say, everything is bigger in Texas. No one seems to capture that big rural charm the way Jodi Thomas does. As with her Honey Creek series, the vulnerability of these rough around the edges characters, drawing a sensitivity and charm from them melts the pages. At the heart and soul of rural Texas, Strawberry Lane begins her new series, Someday Valley.

I really love how this begins the series. If you are a fan and have read the Honey Creek series then you know the heart and soul of those characters make that community. The sense of community and love for looking out for one another brings back a time that we can only reminisce about.

I’ve been anticipating reading this since I found out about it and so fulfilled to begin another wonderful journey. Someday Valley hits the emotions differently than Honey Creek. It really reached deep down and was so engaging. There’s so much to love with this book. What I loved was characters who were saved from being lost, finding friendship and love and how people come into your lives and change the trajectory beyond any expectation of hope or expectation.

Having faith in another day when life presents consistent obstacles, getting the chance for fate to come and showing the possibility of tomorrow and opening your heart to being loved really swept the pages.

The accident that is the catalyst that brings the characters life in the book leads their paths to something that will resonate with those who have experienced similar or pull at your empathy and compassion. They all have experienced loss but they find hope and love amongst each other that makes this a really nice read.

Another wonderful book taking us back to Honey Creek, Tx by way of Someday Valley. We get a little mini glimpse into the next book, The Wild Lavender Bookshop which is set to release in 2024. If you haven’t read the Honey Creek series, I’d recommend checking that out before starting this one. That was such a nice series that blends into this one that I wouldn’t want you to miss anything. If you are a fan, make sure you add this one to your reading list.

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