I had thoroughly enjoyed reading The Magnolia Sisters so jumped at the opportunity to read this second book in the series. The first book featured Harper Anderson as the heroine and it is her younger sister May who is the star for this story. When May was seventeen she’d promised to leave Hillsboro with her high school sweetheart, Tom Riley. However, she changed her mind and he left alone. However, she never told anyone she was the one who changed her mind and Tom is facing community censure for breaking her heart even eight years later when he returns to his family vineyard.

When the organiser of the North West Food and Wine Festival has to pull out, May surprises everyone by jumping up to take over. That’s when her friend suggests that she needs an assistant and coerces Tom into taking that role. Will this be their opportunity to rekindle their teen romance? Can May be honest with everyone and show that Tom doesn’t deserve his bad reputation in the community? Can Tom help May organise the festival and save his family’s business? So many questions and you’ll just have to read it for yourself to discover the answers!

This is a lovely addition to this series, though I believe it would still work to read it as a standalone. May has protected herself by never revealing the truth but to win Tom’s trust and love she’ll need to be brave and let others know just what really happened. It is a story of a small community, family, friendship, lies, truth and love, an engaging story and heartwarming read.

Many thanks to Bookouture for gifting me a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.

A charming small town second chance summertime romance. Alys Murray tugged on my heartstrings with her delightful storytelling. Nothing like a second chance romance to hit me in the feels. May and Tom were high school sweethearts with dreams of traveling the world and being together forever. The night after graduation Tom packed up his truck with all his worldly goods and May tells him she cannot join him. It is years later and Tom is back in town, but the small town is unforgiving. You see May pretty much let everyone think that Tom had left her rather than her calling things off. So when Tom and May are thrown together to plan the town’s festival everyone is quick to defend May’s honor. But the spark between Tom and May is still there, strong and undeniable. So will May be able to forgive herself and finally go after the boy she’s always loved? *sigh*

Loved every minute I spent reading this adorable story. May and Tom were just too perfect together my heart was aching for them to get back together. I loved the small town and the family dynamics in the story. I wasn’t always quite sure why everyone was so upset with Tom supposedly ending things with May when he was 18? And I really didn’t understand why May just didn’t fess up? But I’ve never lived in a small town. Such a sweet heartwarming story that made me all gooey inside. Cannot wait for the next book in this fun flowery series.

This book in emojis 🐝 🍷 🐶 🌸 🍯 ⛲️

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

I fell in love with the Anderson Family in Magnolia Sisters, so I was especially eager for this second installment of the Hillsboro Flower Farm Series, Sweet Pea Summer. I was not disappointed at all. Returning to this town and its people, despite some of their outlandish tendencies, was like coming home to visit family and friends. While I’m not a huge fan of second chance romance stories, this one blew me away with its subtle nods to Persuasion and I couldn’t put this one down. Excited to see that there is a third book coming too!

I have waited impatiently for this book and was not disappointed. We learned about May and Tom in the Magnolia Sisters and I was eager to learn about their story.
Sweet Pea Summer has all the gentle charm that was evident in Alys Murray’s previous title and the people of Hillsboro are as close-knit as ever. The story picks up with the planning of the prestigious North West Food and Wine Festival. Tom is desperate to gain customers for his vineyard after the rumour mill has him blacklisted in town. May would really like to grow her honey business but, for either of them to benefit, Tom and May must work together to make the Festival a success.
I really loved the way Tom and May interact with each other. Alys manages to build a tangible tension as they dance around their wounds and memories of the fateful day, eight years ago. Annie is a refreshing character and it’s impossible not to feel her infectious enthusiasm for happy endings. She first appeared in Magnolia Sisters and is an honourary sister as far as this story goes.
I really hope that this book is a success and that we can enjoy future tales from Hillsboro as there are more sisters for whom I would love to see a happy ending.

This was quite a slow read, I like slow burn but this felt a little too slow at times. However the story and characters more than make up for this and overall it’s a lovely second chance romance and one I highly recommend , it’s heartwarming and uplifting, a definite balm for these times

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

We first met the Anderson sisters (Harper, Rose and May) in The Magnolia Sisters, and we’ve moved from the fast-paced and often prickly Harper onto the gentler and far more restrained May. When she and Tom broke up after high school, Tom moved on to other places and learned new things, while May has been ‘stuck’ doing what is expected, worrying about everyone but her own opinion, and simply ignoring what she didn’t want to see. Remaining mute about the break-up left Tom as the “bad guy”, and in this little town, the rumors and ostracism are pointed and complete.

But the story isn’t over: and May is still undeniably attracted to Tom, even as he’s upset with her, and the town. Not so upset that he refuses to keep her secrets, but his winery, started by his grandmother, is failing without the local’s support, and he’s months from losing everything. Adding to the mix, Tom’s finally seen the May he loved buried under the May that is now- buttoned up, rigid, running from her feelings and even hiding the truth.


Slowly but surely the two start to discover who they are now, and find the sparks are still there –but there has to be trust between them, and to find that, May has to face her worst fears and admit to a lie of omission made all those years before. With plenty of input from her sisters, parents and even the town, a last-minute assignment as the two plan THE festival that will put the town on the map and give both the flower farm and Tom’s vineyards a boost, there’s plenty to unpack as both find a way to the truth of them.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aJC /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Regrets, especially when it comes to the heart, can sometimes come back knocking on your door, or in the case for Sweet Pea Summer’s leading lady, May Anderson, shows up at her new best friend’s party in the form of her high school sweetheart, Tom Riley. The one who’s heart she broke, including her own, eight years ago.
Right away, I knew I was going to love Sweet Pea Summer. Murray's style of writing is descriptive, funny, and sweet all bundled perfectly together; making this story the perfect summer romance read. It is the second book of the Full Bloom Farm series but can lovingly be read as a standalone.

I must admit, this book ruined things for me. It set a standard of charm, romance, and lovability that will be incredibly difficult for other summer reads to outdo. The love story between May Anderson and Tom Riley is revealed from the start as the reader learns of May’s inner guilt and turmoil from letting the town’s rumours of what happened when the two broke up eight years earlier after high school graduation. These rumours ruin Tom’s reputation and as a result, affects his family’s wine business and May has a choice whether, to tell the truth, or continue the lie. The story becomes immediately interesting when May and Tom are pressured into working together as the hosts of the North West Food and Wine Festival. It’s through this monumental task that the former couple must make it work, as the entire town’s businesses-including their own, are depending on them putting Hillsboro to the map.

Also, there were SO many quotes throughout the book that made me love Murray’s writing and provides an indication of how enjoyable readers will find this story.

Overall, the only downfall for me was that I wish the book was a lot longer. However, I’m so happy to learn that there will another addition to the Full Bloom Farm series coming out in a couple of months!

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on June 16, 2020

Sweet Pea Summer is the second book in the Full Bloom Farm series. This was a new author for me, and although this is a genre I enjoy I had a very hard time connecting with this book. For me it was a slow moving book, and just didn't whole my interest. I always do suggest that others read the book and make their own personal decision on whether they enjoy the book or not.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

I would be hard-pressed to find a series that makes me feel calmer than this one. There is something about stepping into the world of the Anderson sisters that feels like a comforting hug. I was taken with The Magnolia Sisters, and in re-reading my review, I had to laugh. I didn’t care for May. Ironic, because I loved her as the main character in this book.

To be honest, she had me when she dressed up as Claire from “The Breakfast Club” for Annie’s 80s party. I think my issue with her in the first book was that we honestly didn’t get to see much of her, and what we did, she was pretty negative.

In this installment, with her at the forefront, we finally get to understand why she is so prickly. I’m not going to give it away, but let’s say that she has good reason to have put a shell around herself.

Just like the first book, you know that Tom and May are meant to be together (he’s the Bender to her Claire, and they both have a fondness for British murder mysteries), but their history keeps getting in the way.
Annie meddles (again – I love this girl and hope she gets her own story even though she isn’t an Anderson sister proper) so that Tom and May are forced to both confront their past and figure out their present and future. It’s not an easy road, and all of the pitfalls they face felt natural to the setting and the people.

The author does a fantastic job of capturing small-town life, from the nearly decade-old gossip to the community pulling together for a festival (pretty sure I worked with Miz Greyson at some point). I think that is what makes this series so likable. The people may get obnoxious and meddlesome, but they are ultimately there for each other.

I especially liked how the author started the book like a storyteller was setting the scene. It completely set the tone for me. That was nicely bookended, in not quite the same way, but with a fitting finish to the story.
I can’t wait to get Rose’s story. And I’m mentioning Annie again, because by now she is pretty much an adopted Anderson sister. Can we make this happen?

I loved the first book in this series and I loved this one.
The great and fleshed out characters, the humour, the well crafted plot and the lovely setting made me love it and read as fast as I could.
It's a heartwarming read perfect for escaping from these bleak times and and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I binge read this book within two days! May and Tom have such solid chemistry between them. They both let years and years of miscommunications and rumors get between them, until something forces them back together to figure their issues out. Very charming setting in a charming town. Highly recommend this great Summer read!

I recieved this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review..

I got around 40% into the book and unfortunately a DNF for me, I struggled to get into the story I didn’t like any of the characters, I may give this another go in the future for now from I read I didn’t like it.

I would like to thank Bookouture for asking me to review this book and to be apart of the blog tour.
Sweet Pea Summer sprung out to me just because of the cover. I mean look at it. A beautiful backdrop for a romantic scene and this story was a lovely beautiful romance that I loved reading.
May and Tom, a love story that shoulda coulda been but May did not want to leave her hometown back in high school when Tom did and therefore eight years passed and so much has changed. May told everyone that Tom broke her heart so his reception now he is back is not a great one but thrown together they must find away to repair his reputation, arrange the towns festival and perhaps let go of the past.
This is the second in a series but I read it as a stand alone. I found that the characters were well formed and the plot was engaging. I especially liked the idea behind the plot about letting the past go and moving on.
A light contemporary read that I really enjoyed. A perfect Summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alys Murray for the ARC of Sweet Pea Summer. In exchange this is my personal honest review.

Sweet Pea Summer is the second book in the Full Bloom Farm series.

Eight years earlier May Anderson made a decision not to go with her high school sweetheart Tom right after high school to explore the world. The entire town was left to believe Tom left May and the truth has haunted May since that fateful night. The secret about what really happened has haunted May.
Now Tom is back in town.
They do everything to avoid each other but when real life steps in things are about to change.

The story of May and Tom is one that will keep you turning the pages to see how life turns out for them.

The second in a romance series. I didn't completely love the first book, so I was intrigued to try book two and see if it would change my mind about the series.

I loved book two so much more than the first one. For romance books in my opinion if you don't love the main couple then you typically can't enjoy the book. I loved May and Tom. This was the second book I had read recently where a couple reconnected after some time apart and they had some ups and downs as they were getting back together, but like all romance books, it ended on a positive note.

The reconnecting love story works for me because it takes away the ability for insta love. Because they have history the love story can't seem sudden and instead feels like a slow burn! I loved the whole back story with May and Tom and what they needed to do to have their reconciliation work. I also loved that both May and Tom needed to make personal changes to allow for their relationship to even begin.

I will definitely look forward for the third book in this series as it focuses on the third sister who hasn't had the limelight just yet.

A book of second chances written so well. I haven’t read the first book in this series ( I plan to now) so I jumped in on book two and I wasn’t lost.
My first book by this author and this definitely won’t be my last

A really enjoyable read - focusing on one of three sisters who was too scared to follow her dreams at the age of 18. Eight years later, her ex is back in town and she has to face up to him and herself. Great story of friendship, family, love and courage. I read the first book in this series and enjoyed it. There Is a little depth but the author’s style makes it an easy read.

Warm-hearted and absorbing, just what is needed in these challenging times. 4* from me, charming

The author takes us back to Hillboro where we meet the Andersons again and it's great to see them.

In the first part we are introduced to them, but the focus is on the second daughter Harper. Now the spotlight is on Amelia or better known as May, the youngest one.

Lying is when you don't tell the truth. That's not rocket science. You also lie though when people assume something is true and you know it isn't but you choose to keep schtum to protect yourself. 

You feel ashamed, but you are afraid to come clean. So you hide while you drown in regrets and wish you could turn back the clock and do it all very differently.

If you want a chance to make things better, there is only one thing to do: fess up and accept the consequences either good or bad ...

It was great to be back in the small village. I love the way the people stand up for each other, but on the other hand it also means that they close ranks when they don't like what they think you have done. It's a two edged sword.

True love always wins. Sometimes you have to climb some huge mountains to get there, but when you keep believing, you will get there.

I suppose the author will treat us to the story of Rose next time. Looking forward to it. 4 stars.

Thank you, Alys Murray and Bookouture

A light, feel good romance. Perfect for a summer read. May and Tom have a second chance for love. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the advance copy.

This is the second book in the Full Bloom Farm: Book 2). Three sisters, Rose, Harper and May, the Anderson girls. The first book centered on Harper and now its May's turn. Living in a small town there are lots of opinions on everything, mostly gossip about the comings and goings of the inhabitants. Now it is 8 years later, 8 years after May's sweetheart Tom Riley left the town of Hillsboro, alone without May. Back then they were in high school and it seemed May wasn't really interested in leaving town with Tom and now he's back. He isn't the skinny high school kid any longer, perhaps he's changed...his image as the town's bad boy needs to be refocused, is May willing to do help, is she willing to trust him? This book about second chances was sweet, a warm story about love, family and trust. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.