Publishers Weekly
★ 01/13/2020
City girl Avery Keller finds a sense of belonging where she least expected it in this uplifting small-town romance from Major (the Fortunes of Texas series). Leaving behind a disastrous relationship in San Francisco, Avery travels to Magnolia, N.C., to settle the estate of a father she never knew and meet her two half-sisters. Avery hoped to collect her inheritance and be on her way, but her biological father’s complicated estate thwarts this plan. Delayed in the quaint small town, Avery bonds with her sisters and warms to the close-knit community. Though memories of her painful breakup are still fresh, Avery falls for her handsome temporary landlord, divorced firefighter Grayson Atwell, and his precocious five-year-old daughter, Violet. But Gray’s glamorous, spiteful ex-wife, who brings up many of Avery’s insecurities, objects to Avery’s presence in her daughter’s life. Major’s well-developed characters are credible and winsome; Avery’s growth from a steely stranger into a caring community member is especially heartwarming and well-done. Striking the perfect balance of romance, heat, and drama, this optimistic love story is a sweet start to a promising series, perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber. (Mar.)
From the Publisher
"Striking the perfect balance of romance, heat, and drama, this optimistic love story is a sweet start to a promising series, perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review on The Magnolia Sisters
"Perfect for readers of Nicholas Sparks and Cecelia Ahern, The Magnolia Sisters will give you hope that there is always a chance of happiness." —The Nerd Daily
"Major’s characters and small-town romance worldbuilding are unique, engaging, and emotionally compelling. Avery and Gray’s romance is complex, but the Magnolia backdrop adds a dimension and texture to the story. A dynamic start to a series with a refreshingly original premise.”—Kirkus Reviews on The Magnolia Sisters
"A large cast of well-drawn characters and a host of intriguing story threads enlarge the hopeful, heartfelt charm of Major's engrossing new romance series.”—Shelf Awareness
Library Journal
07/24/2020
Unemployed and recovering from a messy breakup, Avery Keller arrives in small-town Magnolia, NC, intending to collect her inheritance and then run—but her late father's will reveals massive debt and two half-sisters Avery didn't even know existed. With nothing calling her back to California, Avery reluctantly settles into what she hopes will be a short stay in town, but first she'll need to untangle her father's legal mess, stay out of her sisters' decades-long rivalry, and somehow resist the charms of her attractive next-door neighbor, single father Grayson Atwell. This first in a new series from Major ("Colorado Hearts" series) is a pleasant and quick read, and seamlessly blends themes of family, self-growth, and forgiveness into a love story. VERDICT This enjoyable romance is perfect for voracious readers who want to dive into a new small-town series. Recommended for libraries that already boast strong romance collections.—Rachel Alexander, Peabody Inst. Lib., MA
