Lady Celeste Reads Romance: Hazel Green series

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Susan's Review of No One Like Her by Cindy Kirk--Hazel Green Series--Book #4

What happens in Chicago…

When Erika Eads last saw Wells Pomeroy, harsh words were exchanged. Fast forward eight years. After running into Wells on one of the worst days of her life, she finds herself sleeping with him!

Wells Pomeroy is many things; respected business owner, devoted single father, responsible eldest son of the politically prominent Pomeroy family. What he is not is impulsive.

With Erika back in Hazel Green, they agree that friendship is best. Still, it’s not long before people notice the spark between them. But Wells hasn’t dated since his wife died. While Erica would never try to replace her friend, she can’t live in another woman’s shadow.

When a relationship bombshell drops, rumors and gossip in their close-knit community cause Wells and Erica to questions their feelings. Wells doesn’t want to lose Erika, but can he offer her what she needs? Or will they part ways again, this time forever? (less)

Wells Pomeroy needs a weekend away from work, his family and the memories of his late wife Dani’s tragic death. He checks into a hotel in Chicago and heads to the hotel bar to watch the Cubs game. He recognizes a woman at the bar as Erika Eads, Dani’s best friend, and senses sadness in her eyes. Wells invites Erika to his room to catch up and to watch the Cubs game—this invitation leads to an unexpected night of passion.

Erika and Wells shared a deep connection-she was his wife’s best friend. Wells did not get along with Erika—she was too much for Wells- too opinionated, too confident. Wells and Erika had heated words at Dani’s funeral and had not spoken in eight years. Erika returns to Hazel Green for a visit and meets Wells and Dani’s daughter, Sophie. Erika offers to share memories and photos of Dani with Sophie.

Cindy Kirk does an excellent job as she compares Erika’s genuine understanding that Sophie needs to connect with her Mom with the guilty feelings Wells has about his one night of passion with Erika. I could understand Wells’ struggle—he loved his wife and family and truly believed that Erika was not his type but he wanted to keep Dani’s memory alive for his child. Erika has surprising news for Wells which changes his well-structured life –she’s pregnant. He immediately offers marriage and Erika turns him down stating she will only marry for love. Wells and Erika agree to build a relationship—I loved this plot choice as it enabled both Wells and Erika to see each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

No One Like Her pulls at your heartstrings. Wells lost his wife and sister in tragic accident and he never thought he’d never fall in love or have more children. Erika was devastated when she learned she could not have children and viewed her pregnancy as a blessing. One night changed this couples lives and this story is about acceptance, the importance of love, trust and respect and moving forward as a family. Cindy Kirk explores themes throughout this novel—there is conflict and drama, passion and honest conversation—all the elements that I adore in a novel. Adored the characters of Erika, Wells and Sophie and rooted for this family.

I highly recommend Cindy Kirk's No One like her--and can't wait to read the next Hazel Green book!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the author

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Susan's Review of One & Only You by Cindy Kirk

Rachel Grabinski is no stranger to setbacks, but she never stays down for long. When she catches her boyfriend in bed with another woman, her sunny and optimistic nature is sorely tried. Jumping into another relationship is the last thing on her mind.

On the surface, successful, smooth-talking Dixon Carlyle is every woman’s dream man. But Dixon’s past holds secrets, ones that could derail the life he’s been building in Hazel Green. For years he’s kept his heart safe…but that was before Rachel’s sweet nature crept under his defenses.

It’s not the right time for love for two people with wounded hearts. And trust doesn’t come easy when you’ve been burned before. The safest thing for Rachel and Dixon would be to walk away now…

But what's the fun in playing it safe?

Dixon Carlyle runs into his sister’s friend Rachel Grabinski in the Palmer House Hotel lobby. Dixon realizes that something or someone has upset Rachel. He reaches out to Rachel and takes her out for an early dinner. Rachel finds Dixon easy to talk to and a good listener. She confides to Dixon that she came to the city to surprise her boyfriend; only she was the one surprised as he was in bed with another woman.

I loved the pairing of Rachel and Dixon—it’s a perfect opposites attract romance. Rachel’s back story showed that she had strength and patience; she raised her brothers and sisters after her parents died. She enjoys her job as the volunteer coordinator at the Hazel Green Food Bank-she believes in its mission. I adored Dixon in his sister Nell’s story; One Step Away. Dixon is a charming businessman-and he’s got secrets—big secrets.

Cindy Kirk does a fabulous job with the Marc-Rachel-Dixon triangle. Marc believes he can win Rachel back by lying and manipulating. This tactic has worked in the past and he presses forward to win her back. Rachel is sweet and way too trusting—I loved how her character developed in this novel. She became confident as her friendship with Dixon evolved. Dixon’s past is complicated and past actions may be catching up with him. I loved that he wanted to change-and be a better person when he fell in love with Rachel. Is he ready to confront his past actions and risk losing Rachel?

The conclusion to the novel has several unexpected twists. Nell’s conversation with Rachel was perfectly written—it hits all the high notes—and it resonates with Rachel. I loved that the author put a lot of obstacles in these characters path—she didn’t make it easy for them.

Rachel and Dixon’s story is emotional—it’s full of family history and complicated relationships. Their story is about building a relationship based on trust; and there is passion between this couple—all of the elements of a fabulous read!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the author

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Susan's Review of One Step Away by Cindy Kirk

Two Truths and a Lie

Cornelia “Nell” Ambrose is happy to have kissed her past goodbye. True.
She’s worked hard to forge a new, normal life for herself as an attorney in Hazel Green. True
Nell is 100% happy on her own and not at all interested in getting serious with the town’s most eligible bachelor, Leo Pomeroy. Lie.

Mayor Leo Pomeroy has devoted his life to helping the people of Hazel Green and pleasing his prominent family—a family currently caught up in a political scandal. Though innocent, it’s up to Leo to restore their good name. He’s convinced Nell is the perfect woman to help him do that. Smart, beautiful, and kind, Nell has become a pillar of the Hazel Green community. While his parents caution she isn’t cut out to be a “political wife”, Nell is the only woman Leo wants by his side.
Leo’s parents aren’t the only ones with concerns. Nell has her own reasons for resisting her feelings for Leo. No one knows about her life prior to Hazel Green, and when shadows of that life suddenly reappear everything Nell has come to love could be in jeopardy. Revealing her most closely guarded secret could bring her one step closer to freedom—or cost her the one man she can’t do without.

Nell Ambrose and Leo Pomeroy’s relationship intrigued me in One Fine Day, the first book in the Hazel Green series. I wondered why the attorney and the town mayor were having a secret relationship and when and how it would be revealed! Cindy Kirk brings the characters of Hazel Green to life with her descriptive voice and spot on dialogue. I adored Nell’s story and read it in one sitting.

Nell Ambrose is a child welfare attorney who enjoys bringing the character of Hazel Green, the town matriarch, to life at social events. Her make-up, wig and costumes transform Nell into her other persona who lived in the early 1900’s. I noticed that Nell shifts easily from Hazel to herself and she enjoys being someone else. Nell is a private person; Leo only knows a few vague details of Nell’s life before she came to Hazel Green. In contrast, Leo’s family life is an open book; he’s the mayor of Hazel Green and his father is a senator. He is used to being in the public eye. His life is an open book—Nell’s is not.

I loved reading Nell’s story. Cindy Kirk includes hints about Nell’s childhood throughout the novel and introduces her brother into the storyline seamlessly. As she falls in love with Leo, she tells him bits and pieces about her past. Nell realizes that she is in love with Leo and wants to open up to him but, she is keeping a secret or two from him. Nell and Leo decide to make their relationship public and they begin to attended social and political events together. Nell, Leo and Leo’s parents attend a town event where a photo of the four of them is posted on social media. Nell’s past is revealed because someone from her past recognizes her in the photo. Loved how Nell’s past connected to a present day scandalous political situation for the Pomeroy family. Many of the characters in the novel were impacted when Nell’s identity was revealed.

Cindy Kirk tackles several important issues in this novel; family values, secrets and trust. The reader gets a glimpse of political life and the importance of family from Marty and Tim Pomeroy. The secondary characters in the novel played important roles in Nell and Leo’s lives; each one added depth to the storyline. I am waiting to see what happens to Lilian, Marc and Dixon. Cindy Kirk’s descriptive writing and her honest dialogue makes her characters and their situations relatable. She is able to blend romance and political issues during the story. I was invested in Nell and Leo’s romance and knew he loved her without hesitation.

The suspenseful conclusion of One Step Away took me by surprise—in a good way. Loved the political intrigue piece of the story and its connection to many of the Hazel Green characters. Am looking forward to returning to Hazel Green soon!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Book Purchased through Amazon

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