From the beloved and bestselling author of the Ransom Canyon and Harmony, Texas series comes a powerful, heartwarming story about generations of family and the ironclad bonds they forge. Order your copy of MORNINGS ON MAIN today!
When Jillian James lands in the small town Texas community of Laurel Springs, she’s definitely not planning to stay—except to find a few clues about the father who abandoned her and destroyed her faith in family.
Connor Larady is a single dad, and the only one caring for his grandmother, Eugenia, who has Alzheimer’s. And now he has to close Eugenia’s quilt shop. When Connor meets down-on-her-luck Jillian, he’s out of options. Can he trust the newcomer to do right by his grandmother’s legacy?
Jillian is done with relationships. But as she grows closer to Connor and Eugenia, she must consider giving up her nomadic life for a future with those who need her.
An inspiring family saga that asks us to consider what love and chosen family really mean.
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“Compelling and beautifully written.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author on Ransom Canyon
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Excerpt
“Wait.” He hadn’t had a single bite for the job at the quilt shop in weeks. Everyone in town knew what it was and no one wanted it. But this outsider just might be dumb enough to take it. “It’s only a short-term job. Three or four months at the most, but it pays fifteen dollars an hour if you have the right skills.”
“What skills?”
She wasn’t running at the thought of working in a quilt shop. That was a good sign. “My grandmother has owned the town’s quilt shop for over fifty years. She’s closing down, but what we need done has to be accomplished carefully. Every quilt in the place has to be cataloged for the county museum. She holds the history of this town in there.”
Connor had no idea how to say what he needed to say, but he had to be honest. “Gram’s slipping a little. Beginning to forget things. Over the years she’s collected and made quilts that mean a great deal to the people of Laurel Springs. They’ll have to be treated with care. The history of each one logged and photographed.”
“Museum-quality preservation. I understand. I worked at the Southwest Collection on the Texas Tech campus while I was in college. My salary will be twenty an hour for that detailed kind of work.”
She stood her ground and he had no doubt she knew what to do. Which was more than he knew about the process. The county curator had been excited about the collection but offered no time or advice.
Now Connor was sure he was the one afraid of her. “All right. I’ll walk you over and let you meet my grandmother. If you last an hour, you’re on the payroll. She’ll be the boss. Some days you’ll be working at her pace.”
Nodding, she passed through the front door he held open. When they started across the street, she hesitated. “Aren’t you going to lock your office door?”
“What, and hamper anyone trying to steal my copier? No way.”
The woman was giving him that look again. She’d obviously decided he was missing critical brain cells.
“I’m Jillian James.” She held out her hand, palm up as if to say, your turn next.
“Connor Larady.” He grinned. “I’m the town mayor.”
She didn’t look impressed. She’d probably heard he’d run unopposed.
Without another word, they stepped inside the quilt shop. He didn’t miss her slight gasp as she looked up at the size of the place. It widened out from the small storefront windows in a pie-slice shape, with two stories opening to an antique tin ceiling. Massive fans turned slowly, so far above he couldn’t feel the air move.
What I thought about Mornings On Main
I do enjoy a good small-town-life romance and when I saw the blurb, I thought I'd give it a try. Jodi Thomas is a new-to-me author.
Jillian James doesn't stay in any one place too long. Raised by her father, it's a way of life for her and the only thing she's ever known. Laurel Springs happens to be a zip code in one of her father's journals, so she decides to check on the place in her quest to learn more about her father. She's not planning to stay. I adored Jillian's backstory--I found how she was raised and lived her life so very refreshing and interesting.
Connor Larady is a man who has sacrificed much to take care of many. It was so easy to fall in love with this character. It's not surprising that Jillian does too. I loved these two together and their quiet falling-in-love story, made a bit painful since there was an expiration date.
There are some wonderful secondary characters in Sunnie, Connor's daughter and Gram and her quilt shop. The stories of the quilts were poignant and left me wanting more.
I really did like most everything about this story. I really couldn't stop reading until the end. That's where I had a bit of a problem with everything happening rather quickly. It was such a huge decision for Connor and Jillian and it just came so fast in the context of the pages. I wanted a little more there. But overall, I really enjoyed this story and recommend it if you are looking for an interesting, quiet, small time life romance that will leave you feeling pretty darn good.
An ARC was provided for review.
Jodi Thomas’s MORNINGS ON MAIN Review & Excerpt Schedule:
April 2nd
Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt
What Is That Book About – Excerpt
April 3rd
Always a happy ever after – Review
Sofia Loves Books – Review
April 4th
Hearts & Scribbles – Excerpt
Melena's Reviews – Review & Excerpt
April 5th
Evermore Books – Excerpt
April 6th
Belle's Book Belfry – Review & Excerpt
April 7th
Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt
April 8th
The Butterfly Reads – Review & Excerpt
April 9th
Geronimo Reads – Review & Excerpt
The bookworms obsession – Review
April 10th
The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt
Two Girls with Books – Review
April 11th
Nerdy Dirty and Flirty – Excerpt
The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt
April 12th
Read more sleep less – Review & Excerpt
Totally Bex – Review & Excerpt
April 13th
KDRBCK – Review & Excerpt
Romantic Reads and Such – Review & Excerpt
April 14th
More Books Than Livros – Review & Excerpt
Ripe For Reader – Review & Excerpt
April 15th
Adventures in Writing – Excerpt
Bookishly Yours – Review & Excerpt
April 16th
Renee Entress's Blog – Review & Excerpt
Shannon’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
April 17th
Aaly and The Books – Review & Excerpt
Mama She's Crazy About Books – Review
April 18th
Jax's Book Magic – Review & Excerpt
Maybe SS Riki – Review & Excerpt
April 19th
MI Bookshelf – Review
Tangents and Tissues - Excerpt
April 20th
Shelly's Book Corner – Excerpt
Teatime and Books – Excerpt
About Jodi Thomas:
New York Times and USA Today's bestselling author Jodi Thomas has published over 30 books in both the historical romance and contemporary genres, the majority of which are set in her home state of Texas. Publishers Weekly calls her novels "Distinctive...Memorable," and that in her stories "[tension] rides high, mixed with humor and kisses more passionate than most full-on love scenes." In 2006, Romance Writers of America (RITA) inducted Thomas into the RWA Hall of Fame for winning her third RITA for THE TEXAN'S REWARD. She also received the National Readers' Choice Award in 2009 for TWISTED CREEK (2008) and TALL, DARK, AND TEXAN (2008). While continuing to work as a novelist, Thomas also functions as Writer in Residence at the West Texas A&M University campus, where she inspires students and alumni in their own writing pursuits.
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