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Happily Ever After, Deep Haven Series #1
By Susan May Warren / Tyndale House Mona Reynolds has no time for love! She’s busy renovating an old Victorian house that’s the answer to her prayers—her own bookstore/coffeeshop. Besides, there’s no better hero for her than Reese Clark’s fictional character Jonah. Or is there? What about the mysterious handyman she just hired? Will Mona’s story have a fairy tale ending? 350 pages, softcover from Tyndale. |
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I got this book from Paperback Swap after I read Reclaiming Nick, Noble Legacy Series #1 by Susan May Warren and really enjoyed it.
Happily Ever After is the first book in the Deep Haven series. In this book we meet Mona who has just quit her job and moved to Deep Haven with her best friend Liza to restore a Victorian home that she will open as a bookstore and coffee house. In order to restore the old home, she hires “Joe” who seems to be a drifter in town who has handyman skills that she needs in remodeling the home. Mona has just six weeks to restore the dilapidated home and get ready for the grand opening of her store. Along the way, Joe works to help her and they have to overcome obstacles that are the work of a sabatoer who is out to stop Mona from opening the store. We also meet Joe’s brother who he has been reunited with after many years of being away. During this process Mona and Joe start to fall for one another and slowly reveal their secrets and lives to one another. Mona reveals to Joe that her ideal man is a book character by the name of Jonah from a series by her favorite author, Reese Clark. Joe seems withdrawn and reserved – he seems to lead the life of an aimless drifter, but there is, of course, more to him that meets the eye. I won’t give any more of the plot away. 😉
I enjoyed this book. I felt that it’s plot was a tad predictable, but still a very good read. I found the characters endearing and felt connected to them through the course of the book. And, of course, I found myself cheering for Mona and Joe to find a way to be together AND for Mona’s bookstore to succeed. I also appreciated the Biblical references and lessons that were laced in perfect context throughout the story.
If you’re into Christian fiction, I’d recommend this one. I’ll be reading the next two books in this series, without a doubt. And, I can’t wait to read the next Noble Legacy story too.