I've read quite a bit of Jodi Thomas, and was looking forward to this one. It wasn't my favorite. It felt rushed. There were too many characters, and their stories weren't woven together like they usually are in a small town romance novel. The writing felt forced. The stories were just OK. The characters were good, but a bit unbelievable. The romance was there, but again it didn't feel quite right.

I will read the next one, and see if it gets better for me. The ingredients were there they just weren't mixed together quite right.

Thanks for the ARC Netgalley.

Every time I read one of Jodi Thomas' books set in a small town, I want to move there. For those who have read her Honey Creek series, Pecos appears in this book too - Someday Valley with its scattered houses and remote ranches is also part of his district. There are several different stories going on, with most of them connected.

Jackson Landry is a central character. He is a brand new lawyer who has come to close his deceased father's law practice and is having a hard time getting out of town. People keep needing legal help and he's the only attorney who will take their cases. Most lawyers expect to be paid.

An old man dying in the hospital wants Jackson to track down his four sons, all by different mothers. His client wasn't completely sure of all of their names.

Rusty O'Sullivan had a bad wreck and was lucky to be found and even luckier to live until he got to the Honey Creek Hospital. Dr. Amber Adams will not give up on this unconscious man.

Starri Knight lives with the woman who found her as an infant in a wrecked car. The two people with her didn't make it and it was impossible to trace her family. She and her aunt found Rusty when he wrecked near their house.

I enjoyed reading this book immensely. I received a review copy from the publisher Kensington Books/Zebra, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher the opportunity to read and review this book. Starry has had a rough life, living with her aunt after her parents were killed in a car accident. Starry feels there is a reason that she seen Rusty O'Sullivan car crash. The book starts off with an old man dying in the hospital and leaving his four illegitimate sons inheritance. Jackson, the town lawyer has to track down the sons and runs into Starry and Rusty delivering the news. This book has a lot of great characters the reader can only love and can't wait for more from Honey Creek! Totally recommend!!

An ARC from netgalley for an honest review
It was a sweet, clean quick read. This grabbed me from the start. The characters were great - like old friends I kept rooting for. The plot had it all - friendship, family, action, starting over, and of course romance. Such a good quick read.
Hope you enjoy!
And as always Happy Reading

I usually enjoy Jodi Thomas’s books, but I couldn’t get into this one. There was too much jumping around from one character to another.

Highly entertaining, emotionally thrilling, action packed journey filled with interesting charters and landscape, heartbreak and healing. An edge of your seat emotional roller-coaster ride from beginning to end.

Jodi Thomas can do no wrong when she writes a book. This story branches off from her Honey Creek series, and boy did it have all the great feels to it! I love all the small town charm where everyone knows each other, and they look out for each other. This book had several great characters that were all going through things, but their stories intertwined by the death of someone who was an absent father. Brothers find each other after not knowing about each other, a lawyer learns to cope with his parents death while taking over his father's law office, a woman sits by a man's side waiting for him to come out of a coma even though they've never had a relationship, and a young boy discovers that after all the hardships he has faced in his young life he has a whole new town of people who will stand by his side. That's just a small taste of what's in this book, but once you start a Jodi Thomas book, you'll never want the story to end. I'm absolutely in love with everything she has written, and I'm impatiently waiting to get my hands on a new book

Another great Honey Creek book. A sweet heartwarming story about a man who had a rough life. He has a car wreck and nearly dies. It follows him and his lawyer through his recovery and new friendships he makes with his MD and nurses. You also get to see the lawyer come to terms with his life as he also finds love. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas is a wonderful contemporary novel with a small town feel, people helping each other, and love. This book is the first book in a new series called Someday Valley. The novel focuses on a small town in Texas. The book has several main characters and the storylines all twirl around each other.

Jackson is taking over his father’s law practice after his death. He is a new lawyer and many of his cases are not traditional cases that he thought he would be dealing with. Everyday is another new challenge.

Starri Knight was found by her mother as the only survivor in a tragic car accident. Left alone, Auntie Ona-May takes her in and raises her. Another car accident brought Rusty O’Sullivan to the notice of Jackson. Auntie Ona-May and Starri kept him alive until help could arrive.

Rusty survived and with the help of many in town, began to heal. He found a family and love. He didn’t know about any siblings and suddenly he has a younger brother to help.

To me, Jodi Thomas’s novel highlighted the best part of a small town. It is possible to make connections and help people. It is the love of each person that they learn and then share is what makes the story so wonderful. Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas is a feel good novel, with a little love, little mystery, and lots of small town people. What a wonderful read!

Small town book with a lot of heart!

This book has many characters. It starts with Rusty flipping his car. Starri Knight rescues him.

So much drama, healing, Friendship and romance in this story. I liked the found family theme.

My heart broke and soared for Zach.

I want to live there. I loved Duck so much. Emma and the doctor were favorites too. Rusty grew on me.

I liked the sense of community which larger cities don't seem to have.

I enjoyed how the story unfolded and just had to read one more chapter until it ended.

Vern was awful.


The romance was sweet and not explicit at all.


Thank you Net Galley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this lovely book.

I've ordered several copies for the store as the author is a favorite here.

4 stars highly recommend!

Sweet little love story. There was a little touch of drama and a few branches off the main story line. I fell in love with the characters and was rooting for them through their struggles. I really enjoyed this quick lovable read.

Starry Knight and her "aunt" Ona-May witness a terrible car crash near their home. They rescue the lone occupant of the vehicle, Rusty O'Sullivan.
Jackson Landry has inherited his late parent's home and his father's law office. As he tries to deal with his grief, he takes on an eccentric client who is dying and claims he has four children. He wants to leave them an inheritance, land and more. O'Sullivan turns out to be one of the sons.
I received this book by Jodi Thomas from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this is my own unsolicited opinion. It is an excellent story filled with a variety of good characters displaying emotion, humor and questions concerning family. It a solid foundation for a new series. There are building relationships and a nice romance too.
Starri has a sweet faith in miracles which adds a lovely touch to the charm of this book and its characters.

This is a heartwarming story about family, love and friendship. The story takes place in a small Texas town called Honey Creek along with its residents. Jackson, an attorney, has taken over his father's practice. One of his first clients, Jaime Ray Murrell has left his four children an inheritance. Jamie only knew of their names and their approximate ages because he was never involved in their children's lives who were all from different mothers.

One of the four children names Rusty O'Sullivan survives a horrible auto accident and then finds our his father was Jaime Murrell. He is saved by Starri Knight and her Aunt Ona-May and bring him to their cabin.

I really loved the characters in the story and how they intertwined with one another. As their stories progressed, I wanted to know more about each one and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an interesting book set in Honey Creek, Texas. When Rusty tried to drive home, only to be caught in a mudslide it was the catalyst for how the characters would meet in this book. All of the characters from Starri to Rusty, Amber, Emma, and Jackson seemed lonely, like love had passed them by. It was fun watching the characters come alive and overcome their pasts to make a new future. I liked that they all realized Honey Creek was their home and the people there were family. I especially enjoyed how Jackson, the new lawyer, actually believed in himself and that his parents knew he would be happy returning to Honey Creek to practice law. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

I love this story this about Jack, the attorney and the patient Jamie Ray Morrell, who was dying before Jack could write his will. He wrote 4 names on paper for Jack to find, they were his sons. This book starts with finding the first two sons and introducing them. They decided they were going to stick together and they did. This book is their journey. They are off to a good start. A VERY GOOD READ. Waiting on book 2.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

What an enchanting story. I adored all of the characters. This was written in a multiple POV format. There were some really great scenes, some very touching, some funny and all heart-warming.

I can't wait for the second book to see more of these characters and new ones in Honey Creek.

Strawberry Lane by Jodi Thomas
Someday Valley #1

Love this author and adored this story. Once I started reading I had to find out what would happen and hated saying goodbye to the characters.

What I liked.
* Rusty O’Sullivan: handyman, builder, mechanic, difficult childhood, alone and perhaps lonely, a good man, strong, quiet, cares deeply, protective, really like him
* Jackson: lawyer, lost his parents and his big city dreams, caring, kind, good at what he does, eager to read his book and see if he gets the girl I think he will
* Starri: kind, caring, orphaned as an infant, sees more than most, charming, raises strawberries, deserves to find the perfect guy and may have one in mind
* Amber: physician, intern, has big dreams, drawn to someone she meets in this book, really hope that she and Rusty can make it work though so very different
* Zach: Rusty’s half-brother, young, afraid, abused, seeking a safe place to land, really felt for him and liked him
* Emma & Heath: older romantic couple that also get a chance at a happily ever after – loved reading their story
* The small-town setting with so many there to watch out for others: Firemen, Sheriff (from a previous series…great catching up with Pecos), the HS students, etc
* Duck the dog – mighty though small
* The plot, pace, setting, and writing
* Wondering about the other two siblings of Zach and Rusty
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like – especially Vern
* Thinking about how difficult Zach and Rusty’s lives were

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

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

5 Stars

This was a great introduction to the town of Honey Creek and its residents, and I'm looking forward to future installments in the series.

When Rusty O'Sullivan crashes his truck on the same night his missing father dies in the same small town, it sets in motion a chain reaction that ultimately brings Rusty new life. Where he thought he had no home or family, he soon discovers that family is what you make of it and home is wherever the ones you love are.

His accident and recovery pull people into his orbit that he can't imagine ever living without, including a young half-brother he'd never known existed. And that might just be the best thing that ever happened to him.

While there were a few things that just seemed unrealistic to me (like a 14yo boy not knowing the birds and the bees), there was a lot to enjoy here.

So, if you love reading character-driven stories with clean romance set in small towns, you'll want to check out this book!'

Thank you to Jodi Thomas, Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

This is a sweet small town romance with just the right amount of suspense to keep you turning the pages. This book hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I loved it and highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books, Zebra via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A heartwarming story of family, love, and friendship. Jackson is a newly minted lawyer who has returned to Honey Creek to take over his father's practice after his parents were killed in an accident. One of his first cases involves a dying man who wants to leave his worldly goods to his four children - children he's neither met nor acknowledged. All he can give Jackson are names, approximate ages, and where he thinks they live.

Rusty O'Sullivan is the first and oldest of those children, he lives near Honey Creek. Rusty had a hard childhood, basically raising himself. He's a loner, keeping to himself when he's not working, though he's well-liked by the people who know him and work with him. We first see Rusty as he's driving to his isolated home on a rainy night, and his car goes off the road. Starri and her aunt Ona-May live nearby, witness the wreck and rush to rescue him. Rusty is badly injured, and they call for an ambulance. Because of washed-out roads, it will be an hour, so the local doctor, Ryan, and his friend Jackson rush to the site on horseback. It's a tense scene, but they stabilize him until the ambulance arrives. Rusty wakes up in the hospital with Jackson waiting to tell him of his inheritance. While Rusty has no interest in his father's land or money, he's intrigued to discover that he has three siblings - a family he never realized he wanted. He's determined to find these brothers from other mothers.

Rusty is a very independent and self-sufficient man who is also a flirt. His interactions with the intern, Dr. Adams, were amusing. He flirts, and she shuts him down, but he doesn't give up. As the book goes on, Rusty and Amber develop a deep connection despite their differences. I loved Rusty's innate sensitivity as he's there for Amber whenever she needs him. The progress of this relationship is sweet but also has a hint of uncertainty, and I hope to see more of it in the next book.

I had fun watching Jackson settle into his life in Honey Creek. It wasn't the career he'd planned for himself, but he felt compelled to follow in his father's footsteps. At first, he feels out of step, like he's wearing a suit that doesn't quite fit. His commentary on some of his cases shows the variety found in the life of a small-town lawyer. He's taken with Starri from the moment they met, but he tries to resist his feelings because she's much younger than him. Starri is mature for her age, and it isn't long before she wriggles her way into his heart. Those feelings emerge when Starri is injured, but he's still hung up on her age.

Young Zach just about broke my heart. A fourteen-year-old runaway, he appears in Honey Creek looking for his father. He has no name to go on, just that he has the same color eyes. Zach gets taken up by the sheriff for shoplifting, but Jackson takes one look at him and knows he's another one of the missing brothers. I loved how he tossed Zach and Rusty together until Rusty tumbled to the truth. Next thing you know, loner Rusty has taken custody of Zach and brought him home with him. I loved Zach's joy at having a real family and getting away from the abusive situation he had been in. I loved watching him and Rusty bond over junk food and Rusty's unique house. But things aren't all easy, as Zach's sort of stepfather wasn't happy to lose his free labor and punching bag. His arrival in Honey Creek was met with resistance, and I loved watching Zach's fellow students rally around him. The final confrontation with Vern was intense and hopefully will be the last we see of him.

Finally, there was an interesting relationship between a nurse, Emma, and Heath, a patient in a coma. Heath has been in a coma for a while, and Emma has habitually stopped in his room each night to talk to him. Heath is a wealthy benefactor to the hospital and went to school with Emma. She spends her time each evening telling him about her day and encouraging him to wake up. She gets excited when Heath begins to emerge from the coma and is stunned when he starts asking for her. As he recovers, it becomes evident that he's heard everything she talked about and has fallen in love with her. I liked seeing Heath get past her insecurities and seeing one couple from this book have a happy ending.

I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing which sibling shows up next. I also hope to see progress in the other relationships from this book.