Sugar Pine Trail: A Clean & Wholesome Romance (Haven Point Book 7)

4.75 StarsI know, weird number of stars right?!Out of all seven books in the Haven Point series, this one was my second favorite, but it was SO close being as good as Snowfall at Haven Point, but not quite. And it was better than the couple other books I gave 4.5 stars too.Every other book in this series took place during Christmas time and I think this one was the most Christmassy. Don't get me wrong, the Snow Angel Cove, Evergreen Springs and Snowfall at Haven Point were all very Christmassy too, but this one seemed to be the most engulfed in Christmas.Julia Winston was a very interesting heroine. She wasn't even mentioned in the first book, and then was only mentioned in passing in the next couple books and we finally met her in the previous book or two, but her role was so incredibly tiny that there was virtually no previous background on her character except that she was shy and a librarian. Well when we meet her in the opening scene of this book, she's flustered and has pent up anxiety about her new, hot upstairs tenant, Jaime Caine. She hasn't experienced much of life and the book is her journey of taking charge of her own life.Jaime falls for the sweet, compassionate librarian because he sees all of her. Not just the shy woman. Jaime was one of my favorite of Ms. Thayne's heroes.The addition of the two foster boys was a nice twist and change from the usual single parent thing Ms. Thayne usually writes. I really enjoyed the whole process and progression of the two boys and Julia and Jaime's relationship with them.I LOVED that she took us back to Hope's Crossing!!!! That series is one of my favorite series EVER and I was OVER the moon to be taken back there and see so many characters from it.The reason for the loss of a quarter of a star is because of the slow moving progression of Jaime's character. I do not have a problem with heroes who have ghosts that haunt them or heroes who believe they aren't worthy, AS LONG AS this mind set starts to change and the hero starts to make an effort to be worthy of his lady's love. I hate it when the hero is SO OBVIOUSLY a good man, but he insists that he's not. It drives me bonkers! Jaime has this mindset, for reasons that make sense, but holds onto it til the middle of the third to last chapter of the book! I wanted him to start to at least have thoughts about being able to change much earlier. Thankfully right when I was as my wits end, he decided to be the man she needed and forgive himself.The end was AWESOME! I loved it. I do wish the epilogue had of been set farther in the future, like the other epilogues were, verses just being a few days after Christmas, but it was nice to have some closure.This book had no language that I remember. It does have a fairly steamy make out scene where the heroine has a very erotic moment, but it's not graphic and the characters are both wearing their clothes the whole time.One more thing: WHY was this book titles Sugar Pine Trails?! No one in this book once went a hike on a trail called Sugar Pine, nor was is once mentioned! I believe the street the house was on might have had the word 'sugar' in it, but it was not sugar pine trails. Every other ' location title' made complete sense except this one.

Take one quiet, withdrawn librarian, one player with a past that haunts his days, one rental that just happens to be upstairs from said librarian who secretly has had a crush on the player for years…What type of mixture will come from this situation? Continue reading to find how others needs caused Julie to open her heart. See what caused Jamie so much pain and how two little boys wiggled their way into two lonely hearts.How will it all end? After years of protecting their hearts will Julia and Jamie learn to trust? Read Sugar Pine Trail by RaeAnne Thayne to get to know two more of Haven Point’s citizens and get your own heart ready for the Christmas holidays Haven Point’s way!

My Disclaimer:I purchased a copy of this book at the current price. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat ReviewWhat it's about...Julia Winston is the head librarian. She's the only child(adopted late in life) of two only children. She doesn't know how to play, but she does know how to dream...Jamie Caine is a former military pilot now using his flying skills to make lots of money flying family and friends here and there. He has his own business and has just bought a new condo, but it's not finished, yet. So, he's renting the upstairs apartment from Miss Winston...Clint and Davy are two young boys who need taking care of because their father is dead and their mother has gone missing. They've been going to school and hanging out in the library because it's warm there. Miss Winston calls her friend at Child Protective Services to see what can be done for the boys.See what happens when one sexy pilot, one shy spinster, three aging cats, and two little boys all move into the house on Sugar Pine Trail just before Christmas.Technical Tidbits...The cover is delightful! That lovely blue and the house all sparkling with Christmas lights and sparkling with snow is absolutely wonderful!The story line is great. There was a twist at the end that I really didn't expect, but it all turned out alright.The characters were introduced with enough information to get you started and then as things went along, you got to know them much better. You really came to care about what was happening to them.The pace was perfect. Not too fast, but it moved along.The tension was less in the beginning but really picked up towards the end!And this is where you STOP if you don't want to see any SPOILERS...The good, the bad, and the ugly...and how much it lit up my life... ✰✰✰✰✰This was the sweetest romance I've read in quite a while. They courted each other across the heads of a 6 and an 8 year old boy. The boys were so cute, because they were pretty savvy about what was going on. Miss Winston was the most innocent one involved. She calls herself a spinster, but that's because that's how she thinks of herself. That's how she dresses. That's how she acts. That's what her parents had made her. They'd adopted her late in life and then kept her by them when they were both ill and then died. So she didn't know anything about being young and carefree.One thing her parents had taught her apparently is to help people. And Julia does it very cheerfully. She doesn't resent helping people. Julia is constantly baking for other people, especially at Christmas for all her neighbors. And when the boys were in need, she didn't hesitate to do what she thought was the right thing. And when that didn't work out well, she stepped up and took them into her own home. She changed the way she lived to accommodate two little boys. She gave them a home and structure they could rely on and trust. She gave them love that made them feel safe and secure. They gave her their trust and love and taught her how to play like a child.Jamie Caine had had too many big hurts in his life and was just trying to keep busy and keep people at a distance so he wouldn't get hurt anymore. He felt that living life on his own would do him just fine. Unfortunately for his plans, he couldn't resist his temporary landlady. She was so sweet and innocent. And he liked her lips and her legs and her hips and ... well, you get the idea. The more he looked, the more he found he liked about his oddball landlady. She gave unstintingly to everyone. She was hurt that her mother's cats didn't like her. She loved those two little boys. And she had a crush on him. She doesn't understand jokes. But she does know how to dream.Aunt Suzi was the twist I hadn't foreseen. That threw me for a loop. That and the aftermath. But it really made all that happiness before seem even better. To bring it all down like that. It seemed like a bit of a strange ending though. But a really great, sweet read up until then.Highly Recommended

Julia Winston is your typical librarian or so she thinks. She dresses conservatively and is plain in her eyes. Jamie Caine is quite handsome and has lived much of his life with much guilt. He is afraid to open up to anyone. She has had a crush on him for years. Why would he look at a 'plain Jane' like her? He is swoonworthy handsome and could have anyone he wants.While waiting for his newly purchased condo to be completed he rents the upstairs apartment in Julia's home. At the same time she fosters two young boys. She found them in their home with no heat and really no food. They did not know where their mother was and their father had passed away. She went about making sure the boys were not separated and managed to get them in her care.There are a few subplots in this story and each one will touch your heart in many ways. Are Julia and Jamie able to overcome all that has been holding them hostage? How do the very young boys adjust to being with someone they do not know and in a strange place. This story will reach you in so many ways. I loved every minute of it and was sad for it to end.

Another warm story about Haven Point , overcoming heartbreak and finding peace. A truly magical Christmas story of courage and love

The Haven Point series is absolutely fantastic, I loved this story as was perfect for this time of year. X

Just loved it and can't wait for next book in the series. I've read them all and feel I know Haven point as if I was a resident...

Well book seven of Haven point was not disappointing in fact it was lovely to see Jamie Caine finally falling in love delicious read now onto book eight

Very enjoyable