Groth’s sweet romance is enhanced by the sense of community in the small town of Moonlit Lake as residents band together to assist in tornado cleanup efforts and to help remodel the site for Elle’s new boutique. It feels natural that, despite experiencing multiple setbacks in her plans to open a local boutique, Elle’s relationship with Rowan is rekindled as they discover the feelings they once had for one another have only grown stronger over the years. For all the charm of the milieu, however, Groth’s plotting also ensures that Elle faces the foibles of the close-knit community and how quickly gossip and rumors spread, especially on social media.
The cast of quirky characters enhances the storyline, which is enriched by the addition of Tillie, a beloved town staple and senior TikTok influencer and card reader. With the simmering mystery surrounding the mishaps Elle experiences when trying to get her boutique up and running and the love/hate relationship between Rowan’s sister Raven and his best friend, Nash, this small town romance is sure to please while also hinting at future series installments.
Takeaway: Sweet second-chance romance for a fashion designer in her Minnesota hometown.
Comparable Titles: Melinda Curtis’s A Small Town Second Chance, Carrie Elks’s That One Regret.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
