This was a good book however i wish it had an epilogue. Ended how i figured it would vut ended abruptly. Overall it was a great read. ( )

I love how sometimes a book that you don't expect to like sneaks up on you and sucks you in. Blackberry Summer was like that for me. I expected it to be another story of a quaint small town such as seem to be flooding the market lately. And it was and it wasn't. There were definite sweet scenes and feel good actions but they were counter balanced by some really bad stuff. Nothing seemed contrived, as if the author had just included a scene to move the plot along. Neither were there scenes where you thought 'why the heck did the author meander there?'

This was the story of Claire a 36 year old divorced mother of two. Her best friend's younger brother has just moved back to town after 15 years away as an undercover cop in California. He is now the chief of police. Unbeknownst to Claire, Riley has had a crush on her since he was 12 and she was 15. They are meeting for the first time as equals. This is the story of their relationship which develops in the middle of a tragedy which affects much of the town. There were many secondary characters tidbits of whose stories were told as they touched the lives of Clair or Riley. POV stayed strictly with either Claire or Riley. I believe this must be the beginning of a series. I could see many threads that beckoned and things that seemed to have a story to tell. I particularly appreciated the way that the author left those for later. I didn't feel frustrated that all the stories weren't spelled out and finished. Rather I feel an excited sense of anticipation.

This was very well done writing. The dialog seemed real, how people really talk. Even secondary characters were clearly drawn so they were easy to keep straight in my mind. The writing flowed well and I didn't get knocked out of the story over poor sentence construction or TSTL moments etc.

Both of the main characters grew. Claire had to learn to let go of a bit of control and Riley had to face up to relationship fears which were a result of his father's desertion of the family when Riley was a young teenager. There were a couple of hot kissing scenes and some sweet kissing scenes but that was it, no love making.

The author avoided obvious choices like making the ex husband a total bad guy. Sure he left her for a younger woman, but he really seemed to love that woman. The new wife was a sweet girl and neither one of them treated the children badly. That was refreshing.

So ready to read more about Hope's Crossing. Keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more to come.

Although, in the end, I'm not sure what blackberries had to do with anything. :-)


I received this book free from Tell Harlequin for review. ( )

In the town of Hope’s Crossing, Claire runs a successful bead shop. However, after an accident and burglary Claire has no time for romance, especially involving the new police chief.

This is a novel I read for the Harlequin Reader Panel.



Claire is a divorced mother of two living in the small town of Hope's Crossing, Colorado. And she's having a bad day. Which leads her to meet/renew acquaintance with the new chief of police, Riley McKnight who she only saw as her best friend's younger brother while they were growing up. Follow mostly standard romance novel plot line.



The town is well described & written. The community is believable & enjoyable. However to me it fell a little flat. Several plot threads concerning the main hero & many secondary characters ended up just being unresolved & unaddressed at the end of the book.



Overall not one I'd probably pick up initially without the reader panel. Definitely not one I'd reread. ( )

Blackberry Summer
RaeAnne Thayne
★☆★☆★

My heart is in my throat. I literaly just finished this book 30 seconds ago.

I discovered this book on FB one of the authors I follow had advertised about her newest Hope Crossing novel was coming out and all So of course I went out and bought book one. I cant remember the author but gosh I want to hug her.

This book drew me in from tue very beginning. Claire just seems to have everything going wrong uet she can still find the good in every situation or person.
I actually wanted to be in this town while reading it. I have never felt so much for a book or the characters. The author just charged this book with care and togetherness. Something were def missing now a days. Then theres the mystery of the hope angel
I have my thoughts that its harry lange but thats my personal opinion..

I love Riley and all the odds he is up against. but he is willing to stick it through for claire.
There is a bit of tragedy but evem though its horroble and sad its what weaves this book together.

I recommend this book. I am soooo glad I gave it a go! ( )