Jodi Thomas’s The Wild Lavender Bookshop is a heartwarming, beautifully written tale set in the charming town of Someday Valley, Texas. This tender and uplifting novel weaves together themes of family, second chances, and the quiet magic of a small town where secrets, love, and personal growth intertwine in unexpected ways.

At the heart of the story are sisters Cora Lee and Katherine Buchanan, whose lives have been shaped by their distant and enigmatic father, Bear. Every Wednesday, the sisters meet at the local bookshop, owned by the kind-hearted and somewhat mysterious Noah O'Brien. Cora Lee, the quiet schoolteacher, finds herself falling in love for the first time, while her sister Katherine seems focused on yet another marriage. Their interactions are filled with both humor and tension as they navigate their complicated relationship with their father, whose secret life is slowly unveiled.

The bookshop, and its owner Noah, serve as the setting where the sisters, along with a colorful cast of townsfolk, come to terms with their pasts and embrace the possibilities of their futures. The bookshop is a refuge, a place of connection, and a symbol of the hope and transformation that the characters seek in their own lives. As Cora Lee grows closer to Noah, she learns what it means to trust her heart and pursue her own happiness, all while the secrets of her father begin to unravel.

The story also introduces Andi Delane, a woman who arrives in Someday Valley to hear the last wishes of her estranged father. Her arrival sets off a chain of events that brings unexpected twists, especially with the arrival of Deputy Danny Davis, who is tasked with protecting her. As Andi navigates her own journey of self-discovery, her story beautifully intersects with the lives of Cora Lee, Katherine, and the other residents of Someday Valley.

Thomas has a gift for creating deeply relatable characters with rich, emotional arcs. The relationships in the novel are complex, with moments of laughter, heartbreak, and profound understanding. The small-town setting is wonderfully evocative, bringing the town of Someday Valley to life with its cozy bookshops, quaint streets, and characters who feel like old friends.

The Wild Lavender Bookshop is a perfect read for fans of feel-good fiction with a touch of romance, emotional depth, and a sense of community. Jodi Thomas’s ability to weave together multiple storylines and characters with grace and warmth makes this novel a compelling and satisfying read. It’s a story about love, forgiveness, and the power of second chances—set against the backdrop of a town where everyone is given the opportunity to rewrite their own story.

The Wild Lavender Bookshop is the 2nd book in the Someday Valley series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Andy Delane has arrived in Someday Valley after receiving a letter from lawyer, Jackson Landry. Her father wanted her to hear his final words and she will finally meet her brothers. Andy is in government service, law enforcement and is hiding as someone she put away/will testify against is after her. She meets and works with local detective, Danny, who vows to protect her, but she doesn't want help, she is afraid to get anyone else hurt. There is some action and adventure as well as several other storylines involving romance.

I enjoyed this sweet story, but it seemed to be a bit disjointed with several relationships that didn't really fit together. I enjoyed the romantic suspense storyline, although I wasn't expecting that from the synopsis. Andy is a great character, independent, strong, smart and caring. She doesn't want anyone to get hurt, so is willing to go it alone, even though that is more dangerous. There are several secondary characters that add to the story, some a bit quirky which I liked. I think if I had read the first book, the relationships might have made a bit more sense. I will go back and read it so I have the full story. I do enjoy Jodi Thomas' writing, with a quickly moving story and a satisfactory ending.

I didn't love this one. I just couldn't get into it and didn't end up finishing. Unfortuanlty, just not my cup of tea.

Usually I appreciate the Honey Creek and his spin-off Somedayvalley series, but this novell is really to short with 3 stories running at the same time : Noah, Bear and Andi !

A heartwarming tale of second chances and small town charm, and a great addition to the series. The characters are well developed and relatable, each with their own struggles. The vivid descriptions of the town create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

This was utterly adorable and I loved every single moment of it. I had no idea that it was part of a series, so I'll probably swan dive into the rest of the books now!

I don't know how she continues to do it, but Jodi Thomas has written another lovely book full of emotion. As the novel unfolds, the characters in The Wild Lavender Shop begin to intertwine, each couple facing different challenges. The Wild Lavender Bookshop becomes the central hub for this small town and the owner becomes the official observer of most of its inhabitants.
This novel is rich in characters where one feels like the proverbial fly on the wall. Each thread of this story weaves a beautiful tapestry of unforgettable people who love, work and wait for their person to find a forever love. When this reader reached the end of the book, I went to sleep smiling.
5 stars!

I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and this book is no exception. I love how there is multiple main characters and perspectives, it really makes the book read very quickly because each perspective seems new and fresh. I read this book in about two days, if I had more free time it probably would've been a single sitting read. I highly recommend this book to anybody who likes Hallmark movies, cozy mysteries, or romance books. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas
Someday Valley #2

Witty, wild, and wonderful ~ This is a story that captured my attention on page one and held it till the very last page!

What I liked:
* Andi Delane: independent, intelligent, capable, feisty, loner, ex-military, undercover detective, in the crosshairs, grows a lot in this story
* Danny Davis: deputy, football player who could have gone pro, ex-firefighter, good with tech, has a “secret” job only hinted at, from a big family, building his someday dreamhouse that will fit his big dreams and his big body, more than he appears and in more than one way
* Noah O’Brien: bookstore owner, well educated, respected, left lucrative city job to find something he knew was missing and finds it before the end of the book
* Cora Lee Buchannan: first grade teacher, Bear’s youngest daughter, quiet, listens more than she speaks, knows what she wants
* Bear and Eliza’s story that warmed my heart and the surprise gift Andi finds to give to Eliza
* Catching up with characters from previous books and wondering who and what will feature in the next book of the series
* The smalltown community that seems to be the perfect place to live
* Too many things to itemize – loved it all except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Having to wait for the next book in the series

Did I like this book? Definitely
Would I read more in this series? Without a doubt!

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

5 Stars

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I loved how this book started and fell in love with Cora Lee. This was a quick summer, romantic read.

The Wild Lavendar Bookshop is an interweaving story about a Someday Valley, TX and all of its diverse inhabitants, both old and new. Jodi Thomas spins a tale that follows several subplots that all feed into a larger, overarching story. How all of the characters stories merge together was so wonderfully done.

If you want a book that gives you the warm fuzzies through multiple POVs and has HEAs for all the characters, this is the book for you! How there is so much story in such a short book is a compliment to the author. It was all done in such a believable fashion, while giving each POV their own voice and story.

Because there were so many stories and characters, it did make it hard to connect with the characters. I am glad that this is a series because there are a lot of moving parts and a lot of characters. You want to see how their stories play out, but you will have to wait until the next book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Anyone that loves books that do not follow just storyline will love this. The warm fuzzies you get makes it well worth reading!

This is a sweet small town romance that was a joy to read. It has great characters, wonderful setting, romance and just enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. It's a great read!
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.

Jodi never disappoints. This was a fun fast read.. Just loved the setting and getting to visit with characters from her previous books..You will definitely laugh and enjoy the romance. Wish I could give it a 10.

I loved reading The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas. It had a few different romances happening, mystery, suspense, and the feeling of friends, family and community. All fantastic elements of a story that you can get lost in. As always, it was good to see apperances from chacters that the reader meets in previous novels and fun to learn about the new characters.

Andi came to Someday Valley to accomplish two things, lay low for a while and meet the brothers she never realized she had. In doing that, she meets Danny, the Deputy assigned to protect her (although, she is the law herself).

Noah, the bookshop owner, finds himself connecting with the quiet girl he's admired for a few years - Cora Lee Buchanan, a local schoolteacher. Cora Lee's father, Bear, owns the building that Noah's bookshop is in. Bear has a secret of his own. Soon, all their lives start to intertwine as the danger Andi had been running from threatens to find it's way into Someday Valley.

When it comes to a Texas romance, Jodi Thomas does it best.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A lot going on in this story. Sometimes it dragged and then seems to skip ahead too quickly. Some hard to believe things happening and some very cheesy things too. I love small town stories, but this was not a favorite.

I have to say this was not my favorite romance. I liked the overall plot, the characters, and Andi and Danny’s love story, but the dialogue was very cheesy. Sometimes the banter was awkward and the scenarios in the story were unbelievable. Who would intentionally crash a car into a parked car full of armed men and not get shot at or hurt in some way especially when they were prepared to kill Andi? There were times when I felt confused about what was happening because the details weren’t complete. For example, there is a scene where Andi is talking to her brothers about a plan and then in the next paragraph, another character mentions her brothers will be calling soon. When did the brothers leave and where are they calling from?🤷🏻‍♀️ The ending was a disappointment but at least it brought closure to the story. Not sure if I can recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas is the second book in the Someday Valley Series. The book can be read as a stand alone and it is not dependent on the prior book. The series takes place in a small town in Texas, where most everyone knows everyone. The story really allows you to entertain the beginnings of couples and their stories between the gangsters and quiet strength.

Into this story drops in Andy Delane. She has received a letter from a lawyer looking for her due to her father’s will. The father she didn’t know and really didn’t care about, however she needs to hide due to something she saw while she waits for the case to go to court. The sheriff has her being guarded by one of his deputies, only for her to find him overbearing (kind of).

The bookstore ​​owner, Noah O’Brien has been watching life in Someday Valley. He left home and opened a small bookstore where he watches life all around him. School teacher Cora Lee Buchanan lives above the bookstore in a small apartment. She and Noah find each other by accident and suddenly know they are together.

The most interesting of all the stories was about Bear and his fairy. Two people who are seeming loners but have for years found each other. Each of these stories capture your hopes and heart. The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas is a good read.

This is my all-time favorite Jodi Thomas story. I loved the characters and the lives they have and will build. There's mystery, intrigue, suspense with the right amount if romance. Ms. Thomas' style of alternating chapters on her different characters flower smoothly and effortlessly in the latest story from Honey Creek, TX.

The characters and their stories are interwoven like the yarn in your favorite afghan. It's comforting and leaves you feeling warm and cozy. Although part of a series, it can be read as a standalone book. I highly recommend this 5 star read.

Although I received a free ARC ebook from Netgalley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are the honest truth.

I reviewed The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas. #TheWildLavenderBookshop #NetGalley. This is the first book I read by Jodi Thomas. I did not like this book. I found there was 4 stories going on at once and then they come together quickly. At the first of the book, the story dragged on and on about a lot nothing and then in everything happened it the last few chapters. There was too many characters that didn't need to be in the book. Also I feel like there were sentence and paragraphs missing or maybe the author wanted to end the book fast and just skipped them. Finally, the book cover of a beautiful older home and where the book store is are two different things, in the book it should like it is in a strip mall.