Sweet Surprises is the second book in the Home Sweet Home series by Shirlee McCoy. It can easily be read as a standalone story.

Brenna Lamont left her small home town of Benevolence and made something of her life. She's travelled, she's been a fashion model, opened her own business and was engaged. All that came to an abrupt end when her fiance ran off with another woman AND all of Brenna's money. In a nearly bankrupt state, she returns home to Benevolence to help her grandfather in their family chocolate shop. She keeps her problems to herself and everybody just thinks her and her fiance have split up, but nothing else.

River Maynard, older than Brenna had left Benevolence just as she had. He became a successful chef and opened two restaurants. He finds himself back in Benevolence to help his foster mother while she recovers from a stroke. All her life she has taken in troubled people and helped them lead better lives, River is one of her success stories as he was the ultimate troubled teen. Even now, when she is unwell his foster mother has a motley crew of characters living at the rundown ranch. River wants to kick them all out but his mum forbids it so he will just have to learn to cope with them all.

River and Brenna meet up again after years of being away from town when he needs to buy some of the famously delicious fudge from the chocolate shop after hours. It's the one thing that his mum looks forward to every evening, and one of the motley crew had finished what had been bought for her.

There is an instant attraction between them. One that slowly builds during the story. They both have baggage, especially Brenna and it seems that any relationship between them will have to wait until she can learn to trust.

As well as their relationship building the story involving the chocolate shop, the running or it, the secret recipes and seeing Brenna trying to learn them was great. As was learning about the various characters living on the ranch, and watching them learn to trust River and visa versa. There was definitely a lot to enjoy in this story and although I am not a fan of contemporary romances, this one was a pleasure to read and I can happily recommend it.

Sweet Surprises by Shirlee McCoy is the 2nd book in her Home Sweet Home series. I enjoy the setting of this series, small town Benevolence, home to the family store, Chocolate Haven. The Lamont family patriarch, the three Lamont girls Grandfather, has been unable to run the store due to health issues. The first book in this series is about Adeline, who is now happily married and pregnant, so it is now Brenna's turn to return home to Benevolence, and help her grandfather run Chocolate Haven. What no one knows is that Brenna is in dire straits, with her fiancée running off with another woman, and taking every penny of her money. Forced to close her successful business and leave her lifestyle behind, Brenna heads home determined not to let her family know the truth.

River Maynard, the male MC, has returned home to Benevolence to help his foster mother recover from a stroke and help keep her ranch running. River, who has a successful restaurant business in another state, wants to convince Belinda to sell the ranch and come live with him. River is not happy with all the other "guests" living at the ranch when he arrives. Belinda wants to help the homeless teens, but River wants them gone. Belinda's desire for chocolate brings these two together. Will they work through their mistrust of others and develop a friendship or even love? Can these two who ran from Benevolence at one time, be able to remain and plant roots?

Along with this second chance romance, there is a mystery involving vandals targeting Brenna and Chocolate Haven. Sweet Surprises was a sweet (no pun intended) story, with a very likable couple. There were some very interesting characters, especially those living at Belinda's ranch. Some reviewers found the ending a bit abrupt and it was obvious that it left things open for the third book in this trilogy. If you enjoy small town romances, family atmosphere, sweet likeable couple, a few quirky characters, as well a nice story line then I recommend that you pick up Sweet Surprises, or the first in this series, Sweet Haven and read about the Lamont Family in Benevolence, Washington.

I didn't read the first book of this series, but I fell in love with the small town atmosphere right from the start. The main characters were my favorite thing about this book. They were well developed, likeable and interesting. Sadly, the ending felt rushed, because a lot of things were left unanswered. But I guess they will be addressed in Willow's story. All in all, it's a heart-warming story about love, family ties and finding your place in the world.

I liked each story in the HOME SWEET HOME TRILOGY. In this second story, it's sister Brenna's turn to help out at the family chocolate shop. This is a sweet small town romance where Brenna returns home after being humiliated and finds love with River, a man who came back to help his foster mother who is now ailing. Together the two click and their story is sweet and heartwarming which is what I want in a small town romance. Next up, their sister Willow will return for her turn to help at the shop and take a crack at making the best fudge ever.

I got sent this book by the publisher although it is not a book that I am interested in but it is lovely that they sent it to me.

Brenna Lamont grew up in Benevolence, Washington and couldn't wait to get away. Now she was back to help her grandfather in their family's shop, Chocolate Haven. She had come home because she had lost everything when her fiance' had cleaned out her bank accounts and run off with his girlfriend. She was humiliated and no place to go but home with her tail between her legs.

River Maynard had come to Benevolence as a foster child. His foster parents, Belinda and Dillard, had been the first ones to have shown him love in a very long time. He had been a troublemaker back then and still had the reputation in town but he was now a successful businessman. He owned two successful restaurants in Portland. He was only back in Benevolence to help out Belinda with the ranch. He was surprised at how neglected and rundown it had become. What he found when he arrived was a bunch of strays of the human variety lounging at the ranch and taking advantage of Belinda's kindness and generosity.

As River spends more time in Benevolence, he begins to see things differently. Belinda wants to take care of those in her care. She has a heart of gold and she is willingly helping those living at the ranch with her. He also sees that Brenna is someone he could see in his life, long-term, if she can only begin to trust again and look past what she sees as her failures.

This was a sweet story about forgiveness and healing and coming home to those who love you best.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.