Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas – a Review

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Description:
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:

Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas was a nice sweet heartwarming story in her new Someday Valley series. We meet Rusty O’Sullivan from the start, when he is travelling home in a major storm, in which he is in a terrible accident during a mudslide.  Starri Knight, who lives with her aunt, sees the accident and together with her aunt, they manage to rescue Rusty; the aunt helps as much as she can, but he has serious damage, and is taken to the hospital for a recovery period.

Starri herself was involved in a similar car accident almost 20 years ago, where her parents were killed, and her aunt took care of her.  Starri is a sweet and gentle soul, who believes in fate, and she makes it her business to watch over Rusty, as he is now a friend.  While Rusty is recovering in the hospital, he meets Jackson Landry, who is a lawyer, and tells Rusty that the father he never knew, left a will giving him and three other unknown brothers all of his money.  Rusty, not having known about his father for 32 years, declines the inheritance.  Jackson will continue to look for the other brothers, but him and Rusty do become friends. As Jackson finds a young brother, Zach, he and Rusty automatically hit it off, as Rusty is thrilled knowing that he has half siblings (a family he never had). There is an evil uncle, who comes forth to try and take Zach away; but it was nice that the town stood up to protect Zach.

There are quite a few main characters who have their own story lines, as we watch them find their true future paths and love.   Jackson has taken over his father’s law firm, and everyone seems to like him, which makes him happy to be back in Honey Creek.  Slowly, he finds that Sharri always is able to predict things and calm him, helping him succeed; though he is 10 years older, this will turn into a slow burn romance.  Rusty’s stay at the hospitable was lengthy, with the doctor, (Amber) being the one who took care of him.  Amber was a workaholic, working long hours, and she would fall asleep, with both of them finding solace. Though she was tough, slowly Amber began to enjoy Rusty’s comfort, and by closer to the end, theirs will also be a slow burn romance. There was also a mature romance between nurse, Emma, who spent her free time, watching and constantly talking to Heath, who was in a coma; not expected to live.  Heath slowly comes out of his comatose state, and together they will find true love.

Strawberry Lane was a sweet, heartwarming, entertaining story of love, friendship and new found family. There were many wonderful main characters, with unexpected romances, that we really liked.  Strawberry Lane was well written by Jodi Thomas.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher