I read one other book by this author and that was a DNF. I picked up this book during Harlequin's October sale, so that was prior to the DNF. I struggled at times to get through this book, but it was a decent inspirational romance.

Sheriff Mack Worthington is trying to handle the changing times in his small town of Marietta, Georgia while also trying to adopt a baby girl named Sarah. Sarah was born with a mouth deformity (read to me like it was a cleft palate). The changing nature of his small town was due to the war ending (sending GIs home) and the bomber plant cutting jobs (mostly women employees). The judge for the adoption is not looking favorably on Mack's lack of marriage prospects. Lucky for Mack, his high school friend/crush has come home from the war along with the GIs.

Thea was an Army nurse during the European campaign and is home only to help out her dysfunctional family. Thea left Marietta eight years ago (for nursing school, then the Army) and her presence has the whole town buzzing. Thea's goal is to find her recently deceased sister's baby and raise it as her own. Her high school friend/crush just so happens to be trying to adopt the baby.

There was a lot to like about this story. Mack and Thea had a history that was based on friendship and honesty. Thea was a capable nurse and had a wonderful bed side manner. Ms. Aurora Adair is an angel and the confident both Thea and Mack needed individually. She was my favorite character in the book. The pacing was slow in the first half of the book, but picked up when Thea agreed to a marriage of convenience to Mack.

There were some lackluster parts to the story. For one, all the answers to the question of Sarah's birth parents can be found in Ms. Williams' letter that neither Mack or Thea ever opened or read. That was the major plotline behind the stalled adoption and it was never resolved. Mack's cousins and his lawyer were cloying and annoying, especially Beau (Mack's conversations with Beau is what I struggled with). For a book that took place mere weeks after the end of WWII, there was hardly any world building or period details. The religious tone and actions/words from the characters felt very performative and shoe-horned in and not natural to the story or the characters.

I am glad I kept reading this book, but I don't think I want to read anything more from this author. I just wasn't "Wow"ed by the writing.

Haven't done a Friday Reads post in a while. Today is the last day of my library's summer reading program; Tuesday is the awards party.

The only plans I have this weekend aside from reading is going to a Food Truck Rally and Party on base tonight (food, bouncy castles, DJ, and mom not having to cook!) and working on finalizing some PTO stuff. Our first event is on the 17th and then it is a whirlwind until winter break.

Here is what I want to get done this weekend and next week:

1. Christian Seaton: Duke of Danger (Dangerous Dukes #6) by Carole Mortimer - at 20% read, the heroine is a little too innocent and naïve for my taste. And there is a lot of party in his pants feelings from the hero. Down boy, you got a spy job to take care of.

2. Secret Agent Under Fire by Geri Krotow  - 10% read; the heroine is a little too bitchy towards the hero for no good reason but the plot centers on finding a religious cult using arson to terrorize a small Pennsylvania town and I am here for it.

3. The Baby Barter by Patty Smith Hall - only at 10%, but so far so good.

4. A Promise by Daylight by Alison DeLaine - heroine dresses like a man so she can pursue her work as a doctor; hero needs medical care after a carriage accident...but his eyes are working just fine.

I just can't do anymore reading of this book, especially in light of this past week. This is very much a wrong book at the wrong time. The writing is technically fine, but the content is rage-inducing. I'm deleting the trilogy set and moving on.

I decided to do another massive Harlequin binge and extend it to December 20th. This way I have more time dedicated to the binge and I won't burn out on holiday reads before the holidays start. I probably won't get to any more non-fiction books for the rest of the year.

I have a lot on my master list (spreadsheets FTW) but these are the ten I definitely want to read and get off my NOOK:

1. Hearts in Flight by Patty Smith Hall

2. Hearts in Hiding by Patty Smith Hall

3. Hearts Rekindled by Patty Smith Hall

4. A Rose for Major Flint by Louise Allen

5. A Mistress for Major Bartlett by Annie Burrows

6. A Lady for Lord Randall by Sarah Mallory

7. Big Girls Don't Cry by Brenda Novak (currently reading and it is serious WTF crazy sauce)

8. Whispered Promises by Nora Roberts

9. Dangerous Allies by Renee Ryan

10. The Bootlegger's Daughter by Lauri Robinson

Round two:

11. Safe by the Marshal's Side by Shirlee McCoy (inspiration suspense)

12. Marcus Wilding: Duke of Pleasure by Carol Mortimer (historical)

13. Hearts in Flight by Patty Smith Hall (inspirational historical)

14. Hearts in Hiding by Patty Smith Hall (inspirational historical)

15. Hearts Rekindled by Patty Smith Hall (inspirational historical)

16. Capturing the Silken Thief by Jeannie Lin (historical)

17. The Taming of Mei Lin by Jeannie Lin (historical)

18. Whispered Promises by Nora Roberts (reprints of 2 older books)

19. Secrets of a Gentleman Escort by Bronwyn Scott (historical)

20. What a Westmoreland Wants by Brenda Jackson (contemporary)