This one felt too chaotic for me. There were just too many plotlines and they honestly didn’t weave together very well. It felt like I should have been reading three different stories for most of the book and none of them were really that great either. Definitely didn’t hold my interest well.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from a "comfort romance," but I guess it wasn't blatant misogyny and cringey pet names like "fairy" and "honey" every five seconds. I know this series is set in small-town Texas, and I appreciate that not every female character is a damsel in distress, but the way even the tough one is portrayed as a ball buster was not what I expected from a novel written in 2024. Gross. Also, the dialogue is incredibly juvenile and derivative.

The audiobook narration was ok, but I thought the accents were pretty hokey.

I'll pass on the rest of this series. I think you need to read it in order to really understand what's going on. I wouldn't recommend this as a stand-alone.

This was a great audiobook! I loved the small-town story! This is the second novel in the Someday Valley series. I have not yet read the first book in the series and had no problem reading this as a standalone novel.

The story is about a woman named Andy Delane, a law enforcement officer whose recent undercover mission may have put family she didn't know she had in danger. Andy never knew her father and was informed that she was named in his will along with her three half-brothers, who live in Honey Creek, part of the Someday Valley. This story follows savvy, hardened Andy through the small town with her local law enforcement "tail" who is easily recognizable due to his size and lack of ability to be covert. This romance was just what I needed for a feel-good, slow burn romance. This was a very cute story.

The narration was great and I really enjoyed the book. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a small town romance.

Book two of the series was such a heartwarming story of love and family. Andi comes to town to find out about her father and what comes next is three love stories at that were a little hard to distinguish at times. I listened to this on an audiobook and the narrator was good as well. So many parts of the story made you want to cheer for the characters. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARc.

Short, quick read. Fast moving love story. Themes include moving on, finding love and family, all while dealing with a cartel boss wanting to kill you.

I was almost two-thirds of the way through "The Wild Lavender Bookshop" before I realized that it was the sequel to a book I'd really enjoyed previously. So I wish I'd made that connection much sooner. There's something to be said for a series installment that can be read as a standalone. Yet had I made the connection earlier, I think it would have been more satisfying.

While I enjoyed this story, I felt like both the title and marketing copy were a bit misleading. The way I read things Andi and Danny were the main characters, and everyone else seemed secondary to their storyline. Yet, the book is named after the bookshop Noah owns and that he and Cora live above (even though that's most of the role the shop plays). And the book description makes them seem like more significant characters (along with Cora's sister Katherine and their father Bear) than they really were. So I found that all confusing.

Despite all that, I did enjoy the story overall, and it was nice to see Andi finally get to meet two of her brothers (who were featured in the first book of the series). Given that there's one more brother to locate, I'm hoping there will be a third book in the series to look forward to.

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

The Wild Lavender Bookshop by Jodi Thomas
Someday Valley series #2. Contemporary small town romance with a touch of suspense. Can be read as a stand-alone. Multiple romance storylines.
Bear and Eliza: he’s been alone a long time and his family push him to get out more. Little do they know that Bear hasn’t been as lonely as they believe.
Andy and Dan: Andy is in town hide, but gets more involved with family than expected.
Cora Lee and Noah: Cora Lee is in love for the first time and bookstore owner Noah will convince her that together, their happiness will outshine the difficulties.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook copy of this book narrated by Jeannie Bartel. Because there are three couples in this book, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish one from the other so it’s important to know a bit of background or at least the storyline of each of the women in particular. The performance is well done and at a good pace but I believe would be easier to follow as a print copy. To prevent losing all inflection, I kept the speed slightly slower than my usual and listened at 1.3.
Touching and heartfelt. Family.
3.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher RB Media.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wild-lavender-bookshop-jodi-thomas/1143247749?ean=9781420155105&bvnotificationId=aedb0c02-01f9-11ef-beec-0ef04077cbd5&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=aol.com#review/279439061

This book was really good! It would’ve been better by separating the 3 different characters into different books to give a deeper insight into their stories. I finished this one pretty quickly!

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC!
I really loved this sweet small town romance, it moved really quickly and I managed to finish it in a single sitting.
I think I would’ve preferred that each of the three couples have their own books to flesh out their stories a bit more, there was definitely potential especially for Danny and Andi.
The narrator also has such a strong voice it really worked well for this audiobook!

The Wild Lavender Bookshop AUDIO by Jodi Thomas is much like her other books. It is set in Someday Valley, Texas, and it is the unlikely romances of three very unlikely couples. Cora and Noah, who is an outsider and owns the bookstore above which Cora has an apartment. She teaches first grade. Her father, Bear, and his fairy, with whom he has been in love for many years and they have cherished their secret. The third couple is Danny, the deputy who is assigned to guard Andy Delane who is in town for two purposes: to hide out from people who what to stop her from testifying against a big-time criminal, and to find her brothers, whom she has just recently discovered she has. She is tough and ready to take care of herself and doesn’t appreciate Danny hovering. He doesn’t appreciate her standing naked in the window at night, after her shower.

Thomas specialized in unlikely romances and she hits the jackpot here. Noah has run away from home to escape his overbearing parents, and Cora is simply too shy. Bear got his nickname based on his looks and has for years has been escaping to spend at least part of his weekend with a woman he saw as he was leaving for the service, sitting on a fencepost. She kept to herself so no one ever discovered them until Danny asked Bear for help in keeping Andy safe. The fairy knew a place, but it was a secret, from everyone. Andy won her confidence with a special gift and was saved. This is such a lovely book. It is not all that exciting, mostly, but it is true romance. It is always good when folks who would not otherwise find love, find it in the mostly unlikely place. Yes, it is a feel-good novel. Don’t we all need to feel good? Thanks Jodi Thomas for continuing to write books that make me feel good.

The book’s narrator is Jeanine Bartel. This is the first of Thomas’ books I’ve listened to and I have to say, I thought Jeanine did an exceptional job. At first she was hard to listen to, a little too much staccato, which suited Andy, but not the others, but as the book wore on she slowed down and I adjusted so it ended well.

I was invited to listen to the Wild Lavender Bookshop by RB Media. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RBMedia #JodiThomas #JeanineBartel #TheWildLavenderBookshop

I have been trying to listen to this but keep losing interest and then I have to rewind the audiobook to catch what I missed. I think it is the narrator. I have placed a Hold for this at my library and will review it when my copy comes in and I finish it.

I thought this book was a bit confusing - the characters were all over the place for me and hard to follow. It all felt a bit forced. I listened to this as an audio book and really liked the narrator though so where the story lacked a little bit for me she made up for with story telling!

3 stars - Publish date 04/23/2024

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader!

This is the second book in the Someday Valley series and it can definitely be read as a stand alone book. Three unlikely couples and romances are at the center of the plot line. The story focuses on six people who become three couples whose lives intersect when they come together to help one of their own. Each character is unique, with their quirks, and I enjoyed seeing their changes and journeys. Noah and Cora Lee have been drawn to each other for a long time but only did something about it after an unexpected rooftop encounter. Bear is the local fix-it guy. Eliza has an intriguing backstory, and it was mesmerizing to hear/read the stories she told. Andi Delane's trip to Someday Valley has two purposes, communication of her father's death/inheritance to 2 step brothers she recently learned of and hiding from a criminal organization. The cliche opposites attract works for this book - hard and soft, deep abiding love all equal a satisfying read.
I look forward to the next book in the series hoping to see Andi, Rusty and Zach develop a family relationship.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher.

This time, I listened to the audiobook. The pace of the reading is good. The accents I pictured the characters to have were different from the narrator. My friend who briefly heard a scene agreed on the MFC. We expected a more firm tone of voice. Noah sounded more New Jersey at times than New York. Digger is still funny in the audio. Listening to the book, I found MFC to be more annoying due to her pride. 🙄 I really enjoyed this book. Clean romance, no explicit scenes or profanity.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

"Set in the picturesque town of Honey Creek, Jodi Thomas's 'The Wild Lavender Bookshop' invites readers into the intertwined lives of three captivating couples. From Noah, the enigmatic owner of the Wild Lavender Bookstore, to Cora Lee Bear and her father's clandestine romance with Eliza Andi DeVane, and the intriguing duo of Deputy Dan and his partner, this novel weaves a tapestry of romance, suspense, and a hint of danger.

While the initial pace may seem leisurely as the characters are introduced, the narrative gains momentum in the latter half, propelling readers through twists and turns. However, the multiple perspectives of the three couples occasionally create a sense of disconnection within the storyline. Despite this, the blend of romance and suspense keeps the reader engaged until the satisfying conclusion.

I extend my gratitude to both the author and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to delve into this enchanting tale ahead of its release."

I love this little town the author designed. The meddling side characters were great. Loved that the chapters had titles.
The narrator was decent! She has so many characters to keep up with, and she did well. There are a couple spots where she didn't keep up the same tone/accent for someone and seemed to catch it part way through the sentence.
The overall thing I think I would've enjoyed more is if each couple had their own interconnected standalone and made this a series. It felt like each was rushed and we didn't get much detail or time to root for anyone.

"The Wild Lavender Bookshop" by Jodi Thomas invites readers back to the enchanting world of Someday Valley, Texas, where hearts seek second chances amidst the autumnal beauty of Honey Creek. Centered around the cozy bookshop run by Noah O’Brien, the story weaves a tapestry of familial bonds, secrets, and the promise of new beginnings. Cora Lee and Katherine Buchanan are still the sisters with contrasting personalities, find solace in their weekly gatherings at the bookshop, their conversations often revolving around their enigmatic father, Bear. Little do they know, Bear harbors secrets of his own, adding layers of intrigue to their lives... love a good dark shadow of a soul in each book.

Revelation of her father's mysterious will! Accompanied by a lovely Deputy Danny Davis, Andi navigates unexpected twists and turns that promise to reshape not only her own destiny but also the future of Someday Valley. This book is all about the
tender exploration of love, family, and community.

Summary:
In the 2nd novel in the series, we once again visit Someday Valley. There we meet school teacher Cora Lee and the owner of the bookshop, Noah. As Cora Lee & her sister meet in the bookshop each week, Noah can’t help but notice Cora Lee, and the more he notices about her the better he wants to know her. Elsewhere Cora Lee’s father, Bear has a secret he wants no one to find. He has a woman who he is madly in love with, but neither wants the town to find out. Then enter Andi, a newcomer to the town trying to reconnect with her long-lost family that she didn’t know she had. But there is another reason that Andi has come to this town in the middle of nowhere and her secret could put everyone in danger. That is why the deputy Danny Davis is determined to protect her and as they spend more and more time together, he discovers he is interested in more than just protecting her.

Thoughts:
I immediately fell in love with the small town in this book. It took me a little longer to keep track of the different characters and their relation to each other, but it didn’t take me long to fall in love with them either. I really enjoyed getting to learn more about each character and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. This was an intriguing romantic suspense and I loved every minute of it.
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Short, sweet story of a small town, their hangouts, their camaraderie, family, friends and love!

This one involves many characters, some of them are related, and the strong bonds of a small town!

Noah is a bookshop owner. He seems reserved, quiet and on the shy side.
Cora is a teacher. She meets her sister Katherine at the library weekly.
Noah secretly has a crush on Cora…

Bear is the big guy in town. He’s got a reputation and everyone knows him…and most are afraid of him. His daughters are Cora and Katherine…

Andy is a big city detective who was called to small town Honey Creek for the reading of her father’s will. The father she never met…and never wanted to. Actually she was called to meet him as he was dying…but she was in no rush…
And, might she have siblings here? Where her father lived?

Then we have Honey Creek’s very small police department. One that each officer knows everyone in town…

There’s some action, some friendships, and some love to go around in this small town!

3 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me, rounded up to 4!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

#TheWildLavenderBookshop by #JodiThomas and narrated nicely by #JeanineBartel.

Due to be released tomorrow, 4/23/24!

Of note: This is book #2 of the Someday Valley Series. I did not realize that when I started, and that was fine. I did not feel like I was missing out on anything, which makes me believe the author did a good job with giving background for book #1 in this one! 😉

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This was a sweet small town romance. Because the story involved 3 couples, there wasn’t a lot of depth to each relationship. All in all, a pleasant read.