Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas is the 2nd book in the Honey Creek romance series, and another great read. This book covers three couples romance stories, along with a mystery or two. Piper and Colby, Pecos and Kerrie, and Marcie and Brand. I found this book to be fun with many twists and turns, that kept me reading. I liked the first book, Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café, because it had more suspense, but I loved catching up with the couples in this book. The plot and characters are well developed, and I enjoy the quirky characters in this book. I highly recommend this book, and am looking forward to the next book in the series, and other books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another great story from Jodi Thomas. I did not read the previous novel and sometimes I felt a little overwhelmed by the number of characters.
Obviously there is another novel coming after this one because several conflicts were not really addressed.

I enjoyed this book especially the excitement of the ending. It held my interest. I look forward to the next installment in the series.

I have not read the first book in the series, but I found that it wasn't necessary when reading this book, it can be easily read as a standalone.

Marcie is living in Someday Valley, eking out a living working as a singer in a bar, but she longs for a better life. If only some of the men in the town would just let her be....

Colby is interested in the Mayor, Piper, but is their relationship going anywhere or is it just destined to be a short-term thing?

Then there is the silent Brand, a man of few words but whose actions speak very loudly indeed. He is a real gem of a man, it has to be said.

Pecos is working as a dispatcher and waiting for his first child to be born. However, there is a story there as well, and it is complicated. He loves his wife though and has high hopes for the future.

All of these characters mix and mingle in various ways and even though the path of love is not smooth by any stretch of the imagination, there is enough positivity in this book for me to give it a classification of a sweet romance.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.

Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas is book two in the Honey Creek Series. I enjoyed this book as it had several stories going on and each chapter represented one of those stories. This twist made the book very interesting, enjoyable, and was very hard to put this one down. In fact, I read this one in a day! It was full of hope, understanding, miscommunications, family, and love. This was another terrific book from Jodi Thomas!
NetGalley provided this advanced copy for my honest review.

Marcie Latimer wants to leave Honey Creek and Someday Valley to follow her singer/songwriter career & the scandal that her ex-boyfriend involved her in. Brandon “Brand” Rogers is a loner and mysterious and has a hear of gold. Piper Jane McKenzie & Colby MacBride have been a couple since he was her bodyguard when a mad man tried to kill her. Their relationship hits a rough spot when their jobs get in the way. Pecos & Kerrie Smith are and young and married with a child on the way. A marriage of convenience just may turn into true love when these best friends face the trials of marriage. Jesse Keaton is a widower with three small children who isn’t looking for love. Adalie Summers is considered the town witch by many but with a trouble younger sister and a bakery there’s no time for love. These two just may find the unexpected love of a lifetime. These couples with face danger, emotional tangles and face off with a psychopath that won’t be a Picnic in Someday Valley.

Jodi Thomas returns to Honey Creek with the book Picnic in Someday Valley. The author follows three sets of couples on the trip to hopefully find true love. A suspenseful, emotional story of redemption, love and new beginnings. Heroic men who have hearts of gold and the women in their lives. These men will help them through the danger they’ll face whether it’s a bad storm, a tormented man, or the troubled younger sister. All these characters will come together to help their and protect their fellow residents. Picnic in Someday Valley is anything but a good time. The circumstances will bring these couples together to fight to live through a storm and a kidnapping. Picnic in Someday Valley by Joi Thomas will have you cheering for these couple to come together and survive the danger that they face. A wonderful story that has been wanting to return to these great characters to get better acquainted with them.

Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas is kind of a continuation of Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe, with many of the same characters. She was his girl; she just didn't know it yet. He came every Friday night to hear her sing. He bought one beer and didn't drink it and then went home. Until the night some guys messed with her. Until Joey Hattley and his guys were drunk and rude. He took her home. He was a gentleman. She forgot her guitar and he brought it back, just in time to keep the five guys from breaking in and raping her, or worse. She went home with him. Brand was still a gentleman. Marcie wasn't sure she wanted him to be. She took her to work the next day and while she was there, he fixed her door, and the window that was broken, and made it so no one could get in. But the guys he had beat up were mad, now, and wanted revenge, and one of them still wanted Marcie. Piper and Colby had the weekend. It was the first one in a while. The first night was great, but the others deteriorated. Why didn't they just talk, but no, they made assumptions. Piper and Marcie had been friends. Now it seemed they were again, and one of the fools made the threat where Piper could hear it. Mistake.

This is terrific book, full of good characters and interesting situations. As most romances, it has a happily-ever-after, but boy, the road to it was BUMPY, not only fro Brand and Marcie, but also for Piper and Colby. A baby was born. There was a new police dispatcher and a new deputy and it was all enough to make your heart beat out of your chest. This was a riveting story, despite the fact it was pretty much a foregone conclusion how it would end. I loved it. I loved Brand. Colby was not so bad, either. The women were strong and proud. It is everything it should have been!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Picnic in Someday Valley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #picnicinsomedayvalley

Reading this book really does feel like catching up with friends and neighbors at a Sunday afternoon picnic. Thomas is a master at creating communities, especially small Texas communities, then populating them with complex characters and intriguing storylines. I become invested in her characters, both primary and secondary; by the end of the book I feel as though I've made new friends. I find myself emotionally attached and am eager to discover where life will take them next. There are many such characters in Picnic in Someday Valley. And then there's the town itself. Thomas's descriptions are so detailed, her sense of place so acute that if I close my eyes, I can convince myself I'm actually there in Honey Creek.

This is the second book in Thomas's Honey Creek trilogy. It can be read on its own but I encourage you to first read book one: Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe. Some of the continuing storylines begin in that book and carry through book two while others begin in book two and will hopefully carry through to the third book in the trilogy. My enjoyment of Picnic in Someday Valley was richer and my understanding of several characters (and character relationships) deeper after I read book one. Now I'm counting down the weeks until book three, Dinner on Primrose Hill releases on October 26th. I have no doubt it will be another enjoyable trip to Honey Creek where old friends welcome you back and new ones are ready to make your acquaintance.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas
Honey Creek #2

Charming small-town romance…well…more than one romance, really, and each pulled at my heartstrings in a different way. I so wanted each couple to find their happily ever after though a few still have some hiccoughs to work out. There was a conclusion that was not a cliffhanger but there is still more I need to know about the characters so do hope to hear more about them in future books of the series.

What I liked:
* Someday Valley, Texas: a wonderful town filled with people I would love to know.
* Marcie: a bit broken and down on her luck, plucky, loving, kind, has hidden strengths, good friend, so deserving of the Brand.
* Brand: strong silent type, deep, multi-layered, lethal, capable, devoted, one-woman man, REALLY liked him.
* Piper and Colby: long distance relationships don’t work easily and I am rooting for them to find a way to be together more often in future books of the series
* Pecos and Kerrie: Young couple expecting their first child, loving, kind, deserve a happy future together.
* Adalee and Jesse: this is one couple I hope can BE a couple in the future and hope to hear more about them in the future
* Star: Adalee’s younger sister, loves animals, good with children, has potential
* Jesse’s children
* Piper’s brothers: wonder if they will get stories of their own in the future
* That the bad guy was caught – he was REALLY creepy!
* That I felt I was part of the story – or could have been
* Catching up with some of the characters from the previous book
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* The creep I was meant to dislike
* Knowing that real people experience some of the bad things that happened to some of the characters in this book
* having to wait to find out what will ultimately happen with some of the couples

Did I like this book? Definitely
Will I read more in this series/by this author? As soon as I can!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

Several interwoven stories set in Someday Valley. The book got a little dark but overall I enjoyed it.

I remember sitting under the dining table at my grandmother's house as a child, and listening to my female relatives talking about so many different people...this is what Picnic in Someday Valley seems like to me.

I so enjoyed this, second in the series, book by Jodie Thomas. It is like sitting down with old friends and talking about the town, the weather, and all the eccentric personalities in this book. Instead of having just one or two couples as the primary focus, there are many. It is sometimes difficult to keep track of who's with who and why these people are together or not, but again, it's like gossiping with friends!

So many small town nuances and romances. I loved them all!

In my opinion you'll get more out of this series by reading in order!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book. The opinion is my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I read Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe and loved it. Picnic in Someday Valley did not disappoint!

Every character in this book has their own unique storyline that seamlessly melds into each other.
Piper and Colby, Marcie and Brand, Pecos and Kerri, and Jesse and Adalee are great characters that readers will enjoy.
I do hope that Jesse and Adalee's storyline continues, because I was left wanting more.
I would definitely like to visit a place like Honey Creek. Jodi Thomas did a wonderful job of writing the town as a close knit community. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and while I am sure we will be introduced to new characters, I hope we get to experience more of the ones who have came to know and love.

I really liked how this book took place in a small town in Texas called Someday Valley. I also liked the wonderful characters that lived in Someday Valley including Marcie Latimer and Brandon Rodgers. I liked how the storm changed and gave a purpose to Marcie's life. She became stronger and had more confidence in herself and her value. She also got a better job, she moved out of her family's trailer, and she learned how to defend herself because she was worth it. I am so glad the town started treating her better after the storm too,

I enjoyed meeting Brandon Rodgers and how he treated Marcie. It was interesting to learn about his background. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas is the second book in the Honey Creek Series. The story follows some of the same characters as the first book and adds new characters in the story line. Different characters narrate different chapters which makes the book even more interesting as you read the events from various angles. The book is a quick read.

PJ or Piper Jane is still the Mayor of Someday Valley and she is still seeing the hot texas Ranger, Colby McBride. Pecos has a new wife and baby on the way. Marcie, left scarred by her ex boyfriend - the arsonist and killer - is now struggling to survive. We meet Brand, who always comes to listen to Marcie. Then there is Jesse with his three small children falling for Adalee, who can bake like no one else, but neither have time.

The quirky characters and the story lines bring the readers on a wonderful journey in Someday Valley. This time there is a bit of drama that needs to be dealt with, but Brand and Colby are determined to figure that out. Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas is a fun good read.

Picnic in Someday Valley
Jodi Thomas
April 27, 2021


This book is #2 in the Someday Valley Series. In this sequel Thomas highlights each chapter with the ongoing lives of feature characters in the novel. Marcie Latimer now sings in her father’s old bar that she spent time in growing up. After leaving Someday Valley she is back singing in Bandit’s Bar. She latched onto Boone Buchanan, a good-for-nothing lawyer. He ended up in jail for burning down city hall, risking lives. It has ruined her reputation in Someday.
Mayor Piper Jane Mackenzie held office in a small office in part of the remnants of city hall. The town was preparing to rebuild but needed financing to do so. In the meantime she spent days doing her best for Someday, waiting for the love of her life, Colby McBride to return. He is a Texas Ranger and leaves town as necessary. Pecos Smith is dispatcher for the police station. He and his new wife, Kerrie are expecting a baby soon. He handles the town 5 nights a week and looks after Kerrie and their home days whenever he is not catching sleep.
Jesse Keaton is 40 years old. He loves his 3 children, takes care of the farm and works days when childcare is available. His wife, Beth died in childbirth when the youngest, Sunny Lyn was born. Friends and family advise him to start dating but Beth is still in his heart and loving another woman is just not possible, or is it. He visits the bakery every couple of weeks to pick up scones for the crew at work. Each time he stops by he is entranced by Adalee, the woman of green eyes and red hair. She seemed to be able to read his mind, appear and disappear.
This is the first of Thomas’s books that I have read. Once I was able to follow the plot I was able to enjoy the merrymaking of the characters yet experience the sadness of what some were feeling. Picnic in Someday Valley by Jodi Thomas will be published by Zebra Books of Kensington Publishing Corporation on April 27, 2021. I appreciate Kensington allowing me to read and review Picnic in Someday Valley. Thomas is a new author for me. Her fans enjoy the unique persona that she brings to her stories. Reading prior books in the series is not a necessity. I am sure character understanding is easier but I caught on to her townsfolk and appreciated meeting them. Do pick this one up after April 27. Enjoy!

This book just hits all my buttons. If you have read the first book in series you will enjoy visiting again this small town where everyone knows everything and what is going on. The characters are strong and you can expect the unexpected in this one too. Jodi always draws me in from first page to the last. Looking forward to next book!

The characters and settings come alive in Someday Valley. It's a rare talent and fun to read. However, I will say the book took a turn toward the dark side with a crazy and deranged serial rapist targeting one of the characters. It also involved her best friend and for that reason it wasn't as enjoyable as her other stories, for me at least. I would say 3.5 stars

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

WOW!
This is the story of Piper and Colby, two people who have a great connection, founded on a shared life changing event. Yet distance, careers and individual personalities create roadblocks at every turn, making a viable relationship seemingly impossible. We also are introduced to Marcie and Brand, two lonely people living on the fringe of polite society, as well as Jesse and Kerrie, a young couple awaiting the birth of their first child. Throw in some bad guys and you have a perfect storm in the making.
Jodi Thomas has woven a romantic suspense novel that had me white knuckling my tablet as I read this story. Picnic in Someday Valley is a high octane, action-packed suspense novel from one of my favorite authors. Jodi Thomas has honed her craft, guaranteeing hours of reading entertainment to her readers. is definitely a novel that I will recommend to all my book buddies. Kudos to this author who penned this excellent 5-star read!

Another great book from the talented author Jodi Thomas. This is the second book in the Honey Creek series. This book continues the interwoven stories of a few of the residents of small-town Honey Creek, TX. We catch up with Mayor Piper McKenzie and her "boyfriend" Ranger Colby McBride as they try to define they relationship. We meet some new characters, such as outcast Marcie and the mysterious Brand. And of course, we get a peek into the life of Pecos and his new wife.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for a copy of this book for review.

This one surprised me, taking us into the lives of multiple characters but woven together nicely by this gifted storyteller. It's only fair these characters open their hearts to the reader because they certainly made a home for themselves in mine.

With her arsonist ex-boyfriend in jail, Marci Latimer is the pariah of Someday Valley to most everyone except broody, stoic cowboy, Brand Rodgers. But all is not as it seems with either of these characters, and Brand's support helps Marci learn to stand up for herself when it really matters.

In neighboring Honey Creek, Mayor Piper MacKenzie and Texas Ranger Colby McBride are struggling to make a distance relationship work. When a looming storm threatens everyone in the valley, the relationship troubles take a back seat as the residents work together to keep everyone safe.

With many other memorable characters, the small-town bond is strong. I love the elements of folks banding together to help each other, as well as the focus on the blessings they have rather than what they lack. Although some of the descriptions of violence seemed out of place for a heart-warming romance, I enjoyed the element of suspense as well as the portrayal of a victim finding her strength in the face of danger. All in all, this was a captivating read that makes me curious for more from these characters.