The Last Carolina Sister by Michelle Major – a Review

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Description:
In Magnolia, North Carolina, love might be waiting right next door…

Meredith Ventner knows a wounded creature when she sees one. Though her temporary new neighbor may be—on the surface at least—a successful, drop-dead gorgeous doctor, she recognizes the deep hurt Ryan Sorensen is carrying, and it’s catnip to her soul. But even though Meredith is the youngest, scrappiest and single-est of Magnolia’s most famous sisters, she’s committed to expanding the animal shelter on her newly inherited farm. She can’t waste her energy on a man who’s only passing through town.

Ryan is hoping that after a month of small-town living he’ll be healed enough to return to his busy ER. His injured leg isn’t half as painful as his guilt from the tragedy he’s trying to forget. Yet somehow, helping feisty, tenderhearted Meredith care for her menagerie is making him question his career-first priorities. Here in this quirky small town another future is coming into view, but can he change his life, and open his heart, to claim it?

The Magnolia Sisters
Book 1: The Magnolia Sisters
Book 2: The Merriest Magnolia
Book 3: The Last Carolina Sister

Review:

The Last Carolina Sister by Michelle Major is the 3^rd book in her Magnolia Sisters series. Refresher: This series focuses on the town of Magnolia, North Carolina and three young women who discover that they are half-sisters (the same father). Carrie and Meredith lived all their lives in Magnolia, and Avery arrived after learning about her inheritance. After a short time, the three of them became friends, dealing with the betrayal of their father, with each willing to help each other

Meredith Ventner, our heroine in this final book of the series, finally gets her story.  Meredith, who is always hard on herself, runs an animal shelter, Furhaven Friends, and has a hard time asking people for help.  She has become very close to her two sisters, Avery and Carrie, and together they always find ways to help each other, as well as building up Magnolia to its original glory.  Meredith loves all of her rescued animals, as well as the three dogs she has. She knows she needs to fix up the shelter, especially the roof, and has applied for a grant that will allow her to expand.

Ryan Sorenson, our hero, just moved in next door to Meredith’s place, to recover from a leg injury. Ryan is an ER doctor, who was loaned the place by a friend, and spends his time drinking, feeling sorry for himself, and is shocked to hear someone knocking on the door during a rainy windy night.  He meets his next-door neighbor, Meredith who is desperate for help, since she knows he is a doctor, and a friend is injured at her place, and will not take ‘no’ for an answer.  Ryan reluctantly goes to check out this person, which turns out to be a mild injury.

Ryan checks out the shelter, and offers Meredith help, which she reluctantly accepts, and in a short time he finds himself falling for her.  Meredith also is attracted to Ryan, but knows he is leaving in a few weeks, and is determined to not get involved, as well as her lack of self-confidence.  Ryan enjoys spending time with the dogs, and especially Rachel, the goat who loves him. ?  He ends up spending all his friend time working at the shelter, and to help fix the roof and other things, before the people who decide on the grant come to visit.

Avery and Carrie also see the attraction between Ryan and Meredith, but she refuses to acknowledge any feelings she may have. I loved seeing the sisters together, how close they have become over these three books.  We also get to see Avery’s wedding. 

Both Ryan and Meredith have their own issues; with Ryan having problems with his family and the death of a friend (his injury was due to a gang attack at the hospital, where his friend was killed); Meredith’s issues are her inability to accept that people care about her, and is capable of love. I did love Ryan and Meredith together, as they started to act on their feelings, but Meredith was a pain at times not accepting what was real.  There was a point closer to the end that blew up whatever relationship they had, due to issues with the grant, and his family.  Will Ryan and Meredith find a way to a happy ever after?

What follows is a wonderful heartwarming story with both Meredith and Ryan, but will they be able to get past their issues?  The bond between the sisters was great and they made a great team.  The Last Carolina Sister was written so very well by Michelle Major, with a great couple, and so many wonderful characters, including Avery, Carrie, Gray, Dylan and many of the townsfolks. I especially loved the animals, who were so cute and added a sweet element to this story. This is the final book in this series, but I just learned that Michelle Major is starting a new series, taking place in Magnolia, and cannot wait to start that series.   

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher