Welcome To Jubilee

The Jubilee Series #1

by Rachel Hanna

Will starting over at fifty-five lead to her greatest story yet?

At fifty-five, Madeline Harper faces an unexpected plot twist in her own life, much like the romantic tales she pens. Once a celebrated romance author, she now confronts a crumbling marriage and a career at the brink of collapse. Her latest manuscript is rejected, and her agent delivers an reinvent your writing or risk fading into obscurity.

Reluctantly, Madeline leaves her comfort zone for Jubilee, Georgia, a small town in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains. She's always scoffed at small-town life, but now, it's her last resort to salvage her waning career. Madeline's plan? Stay at her agent's Airbnb, find inspiration, and escape back to her world as soon as possible.

But Jubilee isn't just a backdrop for creativity. Amid its tranquil streets and unexpected charms, Madeline finds herself drawn to the local community—and particularly to a mysterious cowboy who captures her attention in ways she never anticipated. Could this detour spark not just a new book but also a new chapter in her life?

In the Jubilee series, join Madeline as she discovers that sometimes, the best stories begin with a simple change of scenery. Expect heartwarming narratives, laughter, and a tale of rediscovery and unexpected love that proves it's never too late for a second act.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Contemporary Romance, Womens Fiction

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2023

About the author

Hey there! Before I tell you all about myself, can I invite you to join my private Rachel's Readers Facebook group? That's where my readers hang out, discuss my books, participate in giveaways and learn about new releases.

You can join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Rache...

So who am I? My name is Rachel Hanna, and I am a wife, mother of three incredible kids (maybe I am a BIT biased?), two lovable doggies and one cat that lives outside and thinks he owns the world. Okay, I also have a gecko now too. Don't judge me.

I started writing as a young child, and I went into the field of Journalism for many years as an adult. Now, as a romantic fiction writer, I get to live out my own daydreams every single day and share them with readers around the world!

I'm a Southern chick living near Atlanta, so I say "yes, ma'm" and "ya'll", but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WELCOME TO JUBILEE is not the first book by Rachel Hanna that I have read and I’m so happy I got a chance to read this heart warming story. WELCOME TO JUBILEE is going to make you want to run to Jubilee and help these people out! Rachel Hanna is a fantastic author and you can’t go wrong with anything she writes. This is one of those novels that is hard to step away from. Rachel Hanna managed to captivate me with her storytelling. I love how her characters feel completely real and are not cookie-cutter or perfect. She broke my heart with them over and over again.

WELCOME TO JUBILEE is a wonderful story full of faith and redemption. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to stop. WELCOME TO JUBILEE is about a best selling romance author, Madeline, whose life is far from the big city romantic stories she writes. Madeline’s husband of 25 years was cheating on her with Madeline’s best friend. Meanwhile, her stories aren’t selling and her agent suggests a small town romance instead. That is how Madeline winds up in Jubilee, Georgia. Well, hang on to your seats! When she meets her gorgeous neighbor Brody, her life is going to change like she never imagined!

Rachel Hanna has quickly become one of my favorite authors. She made me feel so many different things while I was reading her heart tugging story. One minute I’m giggling and the next there is a huge lump in my throat. The themes she weaves in are wonderful reminders that we only have this one life to live. Also, we need to remember to follow our dreams and not be afraid of what others might think. All of the characters are flawed in different ways, but you will find yourself cheering for them throughout WELCOME TO JUBILEE. I just wanted to reach in the pages and give them all hugs. The end of the story is filled with redemption, love and a renewed sense of hope, which rounds out this lovely story perfectly. I can’t wait to read more by this wonderful author.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always get so excited when I start a new series by Hanna. Welcome to Jubilee was a sweet romance with the perfect ending.

[Karen A. Haunert · Rating 2 out of 5]

It would be fine, if the heroine weren't horrible

The supporting characters are great. The town seems lovely. It could use a little more humor to flesh it out and make everybody more lovable; the goat just isn't enough. The hero's fine. But Madeline is awfully stupid for a writer of romances. She ignores sound advice about bears from people who have experience dealing with them. So you know right away what's coming. And somebody who WRITES romance tropes and discusses them in a book club never considers that there could be more than one explanation for something she sees, so she makes a life-changing decision instead of asking a question? Please. Her own editor would reject this as unbelievable.

[Olde American Spirit]

I'm setting this one aside for later. I keep picking this one up and trying to move forward but it's not happening. I appreciate the super clean content I've encountered so far.
I'm marking it as finished to take it off my TBR. I will maybe try to pick it up again at a later date.

[Ann C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. I do not like the lead character. The book was like reading a children's book with chapter titles such as: Madeline Finds a Scorpion; Madeline Meets a Goat; Madeline Visits a Bookstore; Madeline Learns About Bees; Madeline Goes Hiking and Learns About Plants. I finally had enough and skipped from chapter 7 to the last 2 chapters. This is the first book I have read by this author and probably my last. The book was a waste of $7.

[Reina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Hanna is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women’s fiction, primarily based on the east coast. Her books can best be described as cozy and feel-good.

This is book one in the Jubilee series, and I cannot wait to read the rest! I absolutely LOVED this one; the characters are so easy to fall in love with. I have never read a small town romance before, and this has become a favorite! I definitely recommend if you’re looking for something that will lift your spirits!

[Flamingo girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I think this is the first book of Hanna’s that I’ve read that has a somewhat unlikeable main character (in the beginning) but is very likable by the end. Rachel Hanna always does something a little different in each book with her characters and writing style so it never seems like she is stuck in a rut. This is a good “first book in a series” book as it makes you want to know more about each character and what will happen with them, yet it is a good story itself. Another cute, quick, easy, and fun read by Rachel Hanna!

[Journey with Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorable, cozy, small town, no spice romance, staring a couple in their 50s. It reminded me of the movie Baby Boom with Diane Keaton - a hardened city gal moves to a small town and falls in love with the local vet - or in the case of this book, the local farmer, animal rescuer, volunteer firefighter. I really had a great time. There were so many feel good moments.

I removed a star for two main reasons:

First, the writing was a bit repetitive at times. The same points were repeated over and over, and I found myself saying, “yes.. I know.. you’ve already told me that!”

Second, the ending wasn’t the best for me. It involved a very easily solved and obvious miscommunication. I will say that this miscommunication makes a lot of sense for the character, and it felt earned, but it was still annoying. I also wish we got an epilogue, or just a few more pages to let me bask in the moment a bit more. It ended somewhat abruptly.

Another thing I didn’t love was the audiobook narrator, though I didn’t deduct points for that. The pacing was just awkward, at one point I wondered if it was voiced by AI because of how strangely the narrator jumps between sections. Also, she made no attempt and deepening her voice for men, which made it hard to tell who was speaking.

[Hannah Belanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a quick read (I couldn’t put it down and wanted to see where the story went!) about love, small-town (kinda gave me Gilmore girls town setting but in the remote mountains and country ), and some predictability of what will happen next, I definitely think this is a great start to a cozy series!

This book is adorable and full of love and squishy, cheesy moments. I loved the characters but ONE and I’m sure once you’ll read you’ll know who.... I kind of had a hard time with the constant reminders that Madeline had never experienced romance like the books she writes and the self-doubt. I LOVE the confidence Madeline brought out towards the end. It’s one of those really cute reads that brings you right into the world of Jubilee. I’m a big fan of how descriptive she was with most of the scenes Madeline visits.

This whole book is just such a sweet tale about standing her ground and I was rooting for Madeline the whole time (EXCEPT CH 14! I understand why Madeline reacted based on a previous experience she had but I mean.... she could of been a little more open and got confirmation from Brady before jumping off the deep end IMO).

I also fell in love with Geneva’s character-she is a hoot and tells it like it is, she’s shameless lol

[Cassie Van Tiem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute, quick and easy read. Looking forward to the 2nd book of the series.

[Charly Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was sweet, and light hearted. Very simple, fast read.

[Leanna Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, light hearted read. Love the North Carolina mountains.

[Sharon Rudolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was slow, I didn't really care for characters. The book never grabbed my attention. I feel that Rachel's other books were better than this.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Rachel Hanna book and it was so good! I loved Jubilee, Madeline and her new friends that she made there. I also loved that Madeline was an author. Sweet, small town romance. sometimes it's good to think outside the box and challenge yourself.

I would definitely read another of her books. Entertaining, while still being realistic and not over the top with drama or anything crazy.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

55 year old writer of big city life and love with honking horns, skyscrapers and coffee shops worthy of her fans and her life. Poor Madeline may have to change her stories to small town life in order to sell her books since she has no idea of the backwoods way of living. Which is hard to believe if she ever stoops to see that the people can read and actually function in that environment. I did not like her in the first part of the book, opinion did not improve in middle either. Madeline was a snob and just wanted to get facts for her new book and get back to that big city! Folks in Jubilee did not know her celebrity status and she pouted at that. And of course she was welcomed into their community and I felt sorry for her having to endure living among good country people. People who respect others and help each other. Brady should have run the other way...she did not deserve him. My liking Madeline improved toward the end but she impressed me as a spoiled 20 year old something with no knowledge of the real world. No depth there.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great start to a new series! This story is about a best selling romance author whose life is far from the stories she writes. Madeline's husband of 25 years was cheating on her with Madeline's best friend. The big city romance novels she's become famous for are no longer popular and no publisher is interested in her novels. Madeline's agent encourages her to get away to a small town to research and try to write a small town romance for a change of pace.

Along the way, Madeline makes some friends and meets her hunky neighbor Brody. Madeleine learns what being part of a small town means. I loved this book and really enjoyed the characters Madeline meets along the way. I am especially excited to know this is the start of a new series, which I can't wait to get my hands on!

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Successful author Madeline Harper has just been told by her agent that her books about romance in the big cities are not selling well anymore. She suggests that Madeline needs to change her topic to romance in a small town. And to get the background for those stories, Madeline must experience small town life first hand. So she goes to Jubilee, Georgia in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Needless to say, this will be a life-changing move for her. Not expecting to stay any longer than absolutely necessary, Madeline discovers that little by little, her attitude is changing, and she is overwhelmed with delight by the charming town and its inhabitants. All except for the scorpion in her kitchen sink! This heartwarming tale is entertaining and enjoyable, and is a lovely introduction to a new and wonderful series.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling in Love

Romance novelist Madeline Harper is facing the realities of being an aging author. Needing to find a way to reconnect with her readers, she makes the bold decision to move to Jubilee where she commits to spending six months learning about life in a small town. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments as well as a few moments of the heart in yet another of Hanna’s wonderful books. Hanna will pull you in from the first page and keep you wanting more after the book has ended. Her characters seem like the family and friends you would choose for yourself! Grab a glass of sweet tea and a cozy comforter and settle in for yet another great read from Rachel Hanna!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars
It was mediocre. It was an easy romance novel. I finished online bc the audiobook was 4.5 hours. For being 55 years old, the main character was dumb and immature. The other characters in the story were likable. The reader of the audiobook was mediocre ( maybe it was her first time). She didn't use any accents (the setting was Georgia)or really any voice changes when reading dialogue. There were minimal pausing between the end of a chapter and the start of a chapter ( perhaps that was an editing issue). I will try the second book in the series bc I do like the town and it's residents.

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised when I read this book, as I did not expect it to grab me as it did. Typically, I read more intense and longer books, but this novel was a wonderful side road trip in my reading. It is a delightful story on how you are never too old to enjoy life, and love can bloom even when you are older. The story takes place in a fictional town called Juiblee (would be a great place to visit), about a recently divorced writer who is trying to reinvent herself by writing a book about a small town, having come from a big city. Along the way, she discovers there is more to life. Wonderful quick read!

[Hari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel Hanna is a great writer. Her characters are interesting, there’s wisdom sprinkled in amongst the romance and I really wish there were small towns like that in real life. However I am so so tired of the cliched ‘misunderstanding’ plot device that inevitably leads to the happy ever after. As soon as I get to that I know the book is almost over, and at least she doesn’t drag it out like some other authors do. And why a grown-ass women can’t open her mouth and verify the facts before jumping to conclusions I’ll never know. But I can’t go above a 3 star review with the same stale old manufactured conflict. Her books don’t need it.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprise!

Madeline has lost her husband, her best friend, and her big city romance-writing career in one fell swoop. She finds herself in Jubilee, in view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains...and Brady, the next door neighbor. Predictable but oh so delicious getting there. Jubilee (and Brady) wraps her in a bundle of friendship & love and she can't help but reciprocate. A few miserable weeks in the big city convinces her she belongs in Jubilee. Too short but a very good intro to the Jubilee Series.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to Jubilee was an okay read, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. The story felt like it was lacking something, as if key details or depth were missing. Additionally, it seemed to repeat themes and elements from her previous series, which made it feel a bit too familiar without bringing anything fresh to the table. I would have liked to see the characters and storyline developed further to add more substance and make it more engaging. Overall, while it was a decent read, it didn’t stand out among Rachel Hanna’s other works.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little story. Good for when you need a light read. The story flows well although I think some of the characters could've been fleshed out a bit more for background, but all in all it was a decent book. I do wish the author had 'finished' it better as I would've liked to have known how the main characters book turned out about small towns and if her decision to go back to Jubilee was the right one. It had a bit of a abrupt ending. Still, I liked it well enough to purchase the second book in the series, so hopefully, it will be a bit more well rounded.

[Cindy Pye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes life seems to throw us curves we don't like unexpectedly. In this book, Madeline tries to adjust to a temporary move for the sake of her career. She tries to adjust to small-town life when she wants to go back home to the city. She is warned that the mountains surrounding this small town tend to draw one in and make them want to stay. I love this story and how Madeline finds a way to make the best of the situation and make the necessary adjustments to make the correct decision for her career and her life.

[Sue Palmisano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another example of how Rachel Hanna writes. She not only is very descriptive of the beautiful scenery in Jubilee but also brings the characters to life in the way she describes them and the interactions they have with Madeleine. You always have a feeling that Brady and Madeleine will get together at the end but you also wonder how a big city girl could ever leave that life behind for a more simple way of life.

[Linda Vermillion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

While I enjoyed the book I just cannot like Madeleine. (Sorry spell check keeps changing the spelling). I can understand her reaction at the end but I always get irritated that everyone in books and movies never ask or finish eavesdropping before they run off like an idiot. I get there needs to be drama but does it always have to be the same thing? Regardless the book is worth reading.

[Merle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A successful author looks up one day, and her world has changed. Her big city romances are no longer selling and she's not the draw she once was. Needing to change her outlook, she travels to the small town of Jubilee to see what small towns are like.she is the proverbial fish out of water, with a few notable differences. She has a powerful gift of introspection, allowing her to see why she is so buttoned up and unforgiving. She also has a hunky neighbor who will help change her attitude.

[Angie Ochoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Madeline's story of recreating herself in a small town, after being a "big city" kind of girl all of her life. It was fun to see how living in a small town changed someone who was so adverse to that change. And I loved seeing the romance in this story develop the way that it did. This story could EASILY be a Hallmark movie. 😉 You know, the "wrong place at the wrong time" misunderstanding kind of plot? Yep, very Hallmark-ish.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok start, seems like a first novel. I will give #2 a try. As a rural resident the beginning, full of condescension and disdain for everything not urban was beyond irritating as I have heard it from city-living "oh, wow, how do you live in the middle of nowhere" colleagues and acquaintances my whole life. I wish the main character acknowledged how awful she had been when her city friend came to visit. Maybe the second in the series will have more depth.