New Leaf by Catherine Anderson – Review & Giveaway

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Description:
When Taffeta Brown was viciously betrayed by her wealthy husband, she lost everything—including custody of their daughter, Sarah. Now that Taffy has moved to Mystic Creek, Oregon, to start over, she unexpectedly meets the one man who might help her get Sarah back.
 
Barney Sterling, a local lawman, finds himself drawn to the lovely, guarded Taffy, but he’s stunned by her proposition—that they marry immediately to improve her chances of regaining custody of her daughter. Barney takes marriage too seriously to commit himself to a woman he hardly knows. Yet soon his sympathies fall with the desperate Taffy, and pretending to be in love becomes the easiest part of the plan. But they have no idea what they’re up against, or what they’re willing to risk to make a miracle come true in Mystic Creek.

Review:

New Leaf by Catherine Anderson is the 2^nd book in her Mystic Creek series. This was a sweet romance story, with a nice couple, and takes place in a small town. I did enjoy the book, but I had some mixed feelings that about New Leaf. I will go into that later.

Barney Sterling, our hero, is a deputy in Mystic Creek and is used to the low key atmoshphere of a small town.. He receives a neighbor noise complaint, which makes him visit Taffeta Brown to lower her music. Taffeta ( Taffy) has only been in Mystic Creek three years, and in all that time she comes across as being quiet, old fashioned, and wearing very little makeup. When Barney visits Taffeta, he is surprised at how beautiful she looks. He is drawn to her, and also becomes somewhat suspicious why she seems to be hiding her true looks.

We learn early that Taffy moved to Mystic Creek to hide from her previous life, where she was falsely convicted of abusing her baby daughter. Her wealthy and powerful ex husband lied about her, and the whole town believed him. Taffy is trying to save money to try to help her get her daughter back, and get the conviction reversed. Being desperate, and knowing Barney is attracted to her, she tries to make a deal. Marry her for respectability, and after she gets her daughter back, they can get divorced. Barney is shocked and angry at the proposal, but after doing some investigating, he accepts.  

All this is early on. What follows is a slow build romance that will find them both falling in love with each other, despite Barney’s misgivings of becoming serious until after all is over. Barney manages to use his friends and contacts to help Taffy reopen the case, and in doing so, they both get to meet Sarah, Taffy’s 5 year old daughter. This was a nice light read, and the couple was very nice together, though some of the story was a bit slow.

My mixed feelings: Barney’s early treatment of Taffy was a bit annoying, as well as his not believing her feelings for him were real. That did change later, and he was great. However, I really did not like the names Barney and Taffy as a couple. But most of all, the last quarter of the book, when we get to meet Sarah was a major turn off for me. Having a 5 year old child constantly cursing, wearing makeup, discussing about strippers, boobs, and hatred of cops. Ugh. I understand the child was living in a bad environment and copied the talk of those she lived with. But it did not sit well with me, especially when she spoke fluently like an older person. Maybe if the child was at least 10, I would understand it better, but 5 years old and her vocal mouth was a turn off for me.

Overall, this was a very good story, with a good theme, as Catherine Anderson writes very well. Despite my mixed feelings for New Leaf, I will continue to read future books in this series, as I loved the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Catherine’s publisher is offering a paper copy of NEW LEAF to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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