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Sweetland #1
Homecoming: A Sweetland Novel
HOMECOMINGA Sweetland Novel from Lacey BakerDr. Quinn Cantrell made a life for himself in Seattle when he left behind his picturesque hometown—and the unhappy memories of a relationship that ended tragically. His grandmother's death is an unexpected blow, but there are even more surprises waiting—including a mischievous puppy, a reunion with his far-flung siblings, and an old acquaintance who's grown into a gorgeous and capable woman.Nikki Brockington was proud of the work she'd done at The Silver Spoon, and when the Cantrells leave its management in her care, she's happy to take on the responsibility. But keeping the inn and its restaurant profitable isn't her only challenge—not when she can't stop thinking about Quinn, who reminds her that home is more than a place. It's who you love...
352 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2013
12 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Lacey Baker
21 books193 followersLacey Baker, a Maryland native, is a wife, mother, Nana and an author. Family cookouts, reunion vacations and growing up in church have all encouraged Lacey to write heartwarming and inspirational stories about the endurance of family and finding love. She is the author of the Sweetland series and Hallmark Channel Original Movies: A Gingerbread Romance and Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 10, 2013
2.5 Starts
I love small town books because I’m from a small town and I love that “coming home” feeling I get when I read them. I didn’t get that feeling when I read this book. Homecoming starts off with all the grandchildren gathering after a grandmother passes away. All the grandchildren but one left the small town of Sweetland behind after they graduated and never looked back. The grandmother’s last will bequeaths everything she has to be split among her six grandchildren, including ownership of the bed and breakfast she owned and her dogs.
There are also many twists and turns and more than a few mysteries to be solved regarding the grandmother’s passing, property taxes of the B & B, and a possibility of crooked city council members. While I liked the intrigue, what I wasn’t too crazy about was the chemistry between Quinn and Nikki. Nikki, having been in love with Quinn since childhood, is finding it hard to deny the feelings she still has Quinn. Quinn is a total jerk. He thinks Nikki is attractive but hardly remembers her from childhood.
As the relationship between the two develops, Quinn calls Nikki by the name of his ex-girlfriend who’s been dead 20 years. She died of cancer and that’s the reason he left Sweetland to become an oncologist. Nikki tells him to leaves her house and he does, as well as leaving town. When he comes back to Sweetland for good, he helps to solve a mystery and helps put the culprits behind bars. He also deigns to visit Nikki to explain why he called her the wrong name and to tell her he loves her.
I was not able to relate to any of the characters and I felt all the grandchildren were selfish, self-absorbed jerks. A few were able to redeem themselves in the end but I still didn’t buy Quinn’s “heartfelt” explanation and the fact that Nikki bought it.
Reviewed by Elizabeth for Cocktails and Books
I love small town books because I’m from a small town and I love that “coming home” feeling I get when I read them. I didn’t get that feeling when I read this book. Homecoming starts off with all the grandchildren gathering after a grandmother passes away. All the grandchildren but one left the small town of Sweetland behind after they graduated and never looked back. The grandmother’s last will bequeaths everything she has to be split among her six grandchildren, including ownership of the bed and breakfast she owned and her dogs.
There are also many twists and turns and more than a few mysteries to be solved regarding the grandmother’s passing, property taxes of the B & B, and a possibility of crooked city council members. While I liked the intrigue, what I wasn’t too crazy about was the chemistry between Quinn and Nikki. Nikki, having been in love with Quinn since childhood, is finding it hard to deny the feelings she still has Quinn. Quinn is a total jerk. He thinks Nikki is attractive but hardly remembers her from childhood.
As the relationship between the two develops, Quinn calls Nikki by the name of his ex-girlfriend who’s been dead 20 years. She died of cancer and that’s the reason he left Sweetland to become an oncologist. Nikki tells him to leaves her house and he does, as well as leaving town. When he comes back to Sweetland for good, he helps to solve a mystery and helps put the culprits behind bars. He also deigns to visit Nikki to explain why he called her the wrong name and to tell her he loves her.
I was not able to relate to any of the characters and I felt all the grandchildren were selfish, self-absorbed jerks. A few were able to redeem themselves in the end but I still didn’t buy Quinn’s “heartfelt” explanation and the fact that Nikki bought it.
Reviewed by Elizabeth for Cocktails and Books
July 4, 2014
Great story but pace kept changing from smooth flowing to down right slow. The connection between siblings was real, the secondary character Mr. Sterling could be the granddaddy of any of us. He was my favorite character.
October 16, 2016
Had some nice moments .. Liked the dogs :)
July 27, 2021
The story was good, but things just fell into place a little too conveniently and it threw me off a little. Not to mention the fact that it was incredibly irresponsible to leave dogs that were supposedly loved to people that had no experience with them and it wasn't known whether or not the poor dogs would even be wanted...
October 12, 2019
I've made it through four chapters, and I can't go on. As far as I can remember, we've been in the same house the entire time, and I've got cabin fever. The heroine doesn't have anything to recommend her, and the hero is as flat as a cardboard cutout.
November 2, 2017
Just loved this book! I just finished all 3 of the books in the series. LOVE them ALL!!!!!!!
January 22, 2022
This one just didn’t do it for me. I found it tedious, repetitive, badly editited, and thin on plot.
May 5, 2013
Pay attention you might miss a life lesson or two while
The Cantrell family comes home to Sweetland to bury with love their beloved grandmother and figure out what to do with her Bed and Breakfast business. No one is more surprised than Quinn by what he has returned to and as the oldest he knows the responsibility sitting on his shoulders to guides his brothers and sisters. Quinn is a successful oncologist who built a life away from where he grew up but now wonders is that place he lives really as warm and inviting as Sweetland. Then Quinn meets Nikki Brockington the one person ready to fill in for his grandmother’s managerial duties who also has the ability to make him realize it may be time to let his heart love again.
Nikki it turns out is a woman with a serious unrequited crush for Quinn but nothing would prevent her from keeping business away from pleasure, or so she tells herself.
All it turns out is not a quiet and serene at the B, B as the siblings thought, and though no one planned to stay. But when the perceived serenity turns out to be non-existent everyone is prepared to stay until there is resolution to the problem. As Quinn and Nikki try to get to the crux of the problem working closely takes on a new meaning. Quinn finds Nikki’s sense of humor, ability to get the job done without breaking a sweat, and when she stops talking she does listen to his thoughts. Quinn finds these character traits more attractive than he ever thought possible and may now over rule his obsession to her great butt.
Lacey Baker has created a winner with her mixed bag of family characters. Every reader would be proud to say they are related to this bunch and want to own one of the adorable puppies that are so full of character and attitude.
The Cantrell family comes home to Sweetland to bury with love their beloved grandmother and figure out what to do with her Bed and Breakfast business. No one is more surprised than Quinn by what he has returned to and as the oldest he knows the responsibility sitting on his shoulders to guides his brothers and sisters. Quinn is a successful oncologist who built a life away from where he grew up but now wonders is that place he lives really as warm and inviting as Sweetland. Then Quinn meets Nikki Brockington the one person ready to fill in for his grandmother’s managerial duties who also has the ability to make him realize it may be time to let his heart love again.
Nikki it turns out is a woman with a serious unrequited crush for Quinn but nothing would prevent her from keeping business away from pleasure, or so she tells herself.
All it turns out is not a quiet and serene at the B, B as the siblings thought, and though no one planned to stay. But when the perceived serenity turns out to be non-existent everyone is prepared to stay until there is resolution to the problem. As Quinn and Nikki try to get to the crux of the problem working closely takes on a new meaning. Quinn finds Nikki’s sense of humor, ability to get the job done without breaking a sweat, and when she stops talking she does listen to his thoughts. Quinn finds these character traits more attractive than he ever thought possible and may now over rule his obsession to her great butt.
Lacey Baker has created a winner with her mixed bag of family characters. Every reader would be proud to say they are related to this bunch and want to own one of the adorable puppies that are so full of character and attitude.
May 13, 2013
If you’ve been away from your hometown forever, the last thing you’d want to do is return for a funeral but here the Cantrell siblings are anyway. Huge funeral, huger meals and then the end of it all – the reading of her will. Mary Janet Cantrell leaves the house they all grew up in to them all – it’s now a B&B and a very popular one at that. She leaves them all of her money as well, equally. And there is one more little thing…..she leaves them her rescued Lab and her puppies – one to each grandchild.
These are professionals: a oncologist, policeman, model, lawyer, etc. with no time ad specifically no inclination to have a pet. Much less a bouncy baby Lab! And this is within the first two chapters.
Decisions have to be made, the B&B can’t exist without a manager and sister Michelle has someone in mind right away, the Assistant Manager Nikki. Nikki who has been in love with the oldest brother Quinn since she was nine. Nikki who has to tell the family that the B&B owes 50k in taxes and for some reason Gramma didn’t pay them and the town council is foreclosing on the property if they aren’t caught up. Nikki also isn’t ready for a new romance since the last one ended with her heart broken and he keeps calling until she finally hangs up. Turns out that right after she hung up, someone hung up the old boyfriend permanently. Is Nikki a suspect? What about Quinn and his siblings? Will they stay or will they choose to go back home????
I loved this book! The twists and turns of the tax issue, the puppies, the romance, the descriptions of Sweetland (want to move there!!) were fantastic. The characters were perfect and I can’t wait for book #2 Just Like Heaven which continues the saga. This is a keeper.
These are professionals: a oncologist, policeman, model, lawyer, etc. with no time ad specifically no inclination to have a pet. Much less a bouncy baby Lab! And this is within the first two chapters.
Decisions have to be made, the B&B can’t exist without a manager and sister Michelle has someone in mind right away, the Assistant Manager Nikki. Nikki who has been in love with the oldest brother Quinn since she was nine. Nikki who has to tell the family that the B&B owes 50k in taxes and for some reason Gramma didn’t pay them and the town council is foreclosing on the property if they aren’t caught up. Nikki also isn’t ready for a new romance since the last one ended with her heart broken and he keeps calling until she finally hangs up. Turns out that right after she hung up, someone hung up the old boyfriend permanently. Is Nikki a suspect? What about Quinn and his siblings? Will they stay or will they choose to go back home????
I loved this book! The twists and turns of the tax issue, the puppies, the romance, the descriptions of Sweetland (want to move there!!) were fantastic. The characters were perfect and I can’t wait for book #2 Just Like Heaven which continues the saga. This is a keeper.
July 20, 2013
Growing up in Sweetland for some, such as Nikki Brockington, was wonderful; for the Cantrell family, not so great. As soon as they are able, all the Cantrell children quickly leave town, except for one. When their grandmother, the woman who raised them, dies unexpectedly, they all return back to Sweetland. Nikki practically grew up with the Cantrell’s and has always had a bit of a tendre for Quinn, though he’s never noticed her. But now, Nikki is all grown up and Quinn can’t seem to keep his mind off of her. When matters keep Quinn in Sweetland for longer than expected, a relationship blooms between Nikki and Quinn. As things start to really heat up between them, unexpected feeling grow and leaves both of them with a choice, find a way to be together, or give up the love that is developing between them.
As the first book in a series, the beginning chapters of this book have a lot of background information to cover to lay the foundation for the coming novels. Lacey Baker does a great job with keeping the story line moving while laying the foundations of the series. I really enjoyed Nikki and Quinn’s story, reading along as Quinn tries to face his demons while back in his hometown. Nikki is an independent lady who understands the value of trust and love, and her character depicts this very well. The puppies are a great bonus, the way they seem to find mischief and add an element of humor to the story. I look forward to reading other novels in the series to continue into the lives of the other Cantrell siblings. This book was received from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilP
Review Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
As the first book in a series, the beginning chapters of this book have a lot of background information to cover to lay the foundation for the coming novels. Lacey Baker does a great job with keeping the story line moving while laying the foundations of the series. I really enjoyed Nikki and Quinn’s story, reading along as Quinn tries to face his demons while back in his hometown. Nikki is an independent lady who understands the value of trust and love, and her character depicts this very well. The puppies are a great bonus, the way they seem to find mischief and add an element of humor to the story. I look forward to reading other novels in the series to continue into the lives of the other Cantrell siblings. This book was received from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review.
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilP
Review Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
April 15, 2014
I won this book in a giveaway sweepstakes. This is a romance in the Nora Robertstradition: family members returning home, scenic small town, small town=good, city=bad. Though it is a romance, it does have a good story & the characters are given a good background. The love scenes are tasteful w/out going into excessive detail or cloyingly sweet phrasing. It is clearly meant to be a series since there are lots of siblings, each w/a puppy. There is, however, an excess of story w/way too many plotlines: an abusive ex, an accident, a murder investigation and keeping the family business afloat. It could've been edited quite a bit, though it's a good start to a nice series.
April 7, 2014
Quinn Cantrell, along with his five siblings, come back to Sweetland for their Grandmother's funeral. She has left them with a puppy each in her will and some issues to be dealt with concerning her beloved B&B. Quinn meets Nikki Brockington, who now manages the family B&B. He knew her from childhood as his youngest sister's best friend. Now she is a beautiful young woman and when they are together sparks fly! Will Quinn be able to overcome a tragedy in his past so he can open his heart to a new relationship? Read the book and find out. Compulsively readable, funny and at times sad but definitely worth reading!
July 4, 2014
Lacey Baker is a new author for me!! Love this Sweetland series! I just ordered the second in the series and can't wait for the third to come out! The family is unique and they have spread out across the country but you can tell their roots are still in Sweetland. The death of their grandmother brings them back home and they each inherit a part of her B and B and a puppy! From this point on they each have to find their way and each book shows us how they each struggle with their life decisions!! Can't wait to read each of their stories! Love trying out new authors and Lacey Baker is a keeper!
April 4, 2015
Homecoming a Sweetland Novel by Lacy Baker was a very good book. Grandmother Cantrell runs a Bed And Breakfast in a small town. When she dies the six grand children go to her funeral. In her will she leave the Bed And Breakfast to ALL the grand children and a dog to each one that she owned. One daughter is a cook at the B & B. The rest moved out of town. Nikki Brockington works at the B & B. The older Cantrell falls in love with her. There is lots going on in this book You have to read it.
May 26, 2017
This story had me on an emotional roller coaster. One minute I'm laughing at the antics of Sweet Dixi, crying due to bad news, angry because of stupid decisions made. All in all this book will take you somewhere and leave you with messages that all should take something from. I can really say I enjoyed this story and I can't wait to read the next one in this series.
May 29, 2013
Family of brothers and sisters lose their beloved patriarch that uses her Bed and Breakfast and loveable labrador puppies to make them realize that Sweetland is home. Wonderful story and look forward to reading the others.
November 23, 2014
I really wish that half star ratings were available...because I give this a 3.5 star rating. Enjoyable story, just a little too predictable. I will look for this author again and for other books in this series.
April 2, 2016
The story of a young doctor who returns to his hometown for his grandmothers funeral. In a short time he reconnects with a young lady who is friends with a younger sister and falls in love. This is a fun easy read and I am sure you can figure out what happens before the end of the book.
May 23, 2016
Okay, but a bit cozy for my liking. It's about love, and family, and obligation, and it's all strangely depressing and a bit dull. The hero is quite respectable, and the heroine is likeable enough, and there are puppies, so that's all decent, but I can't really recall any details beyond that.
July 14, 2013
Th first novel in the Sweetland series. Reminds me of a Sheryl Woods series. Guilty pleasure novel that went as predicted.
June 11, 2013
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:
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January 5, 2014
Sweet simple romance with dogs.
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June 25, 2014Good
read this book after book two. the first couple of chapters slow to start then I thought the story picked pace.
read this book after book two. the first couple of chapters slow to start then I thought the story picked pace.
March 31, 2015
enjoyable new series.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews