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Return to Paradise
Do you believe in destiny?
Guest-ranch manager Madison Carter certainly does. Abandoned as a small child, she knows little of her past but is convinced that uncovering it will lead her to healing and home. On a journey of self-discovery to the town where she was born, she meets Lacey McAlpine. The self-assured, straight-talking entrepreneur Lacey is blessed with loving family and friends and has always shaped her own destiny—or so she believes.
The sparks fly almost immediately, but the women’s contrasting personalities and what Lacey perceives as Madison’s secretive nature keep them from igniting—just yet. Their friendship deepens to passionate romance, however, when Madison moves into town to open her own guest ranch—and begins to open up about herself.
A lock without a key, a box of childhood treasures and a scruffy white horse begin to illuminate Madison’s shadowed past. Despite her Miss-Fix-It attitude, Lacey will soon learn that it will take a little destiny to repair a broken soul.
Guest-ranch manager Madison Carter certainly does. Abandoned as a small child, she knows little of her past but is convinced that uncovering it will lead her to healing and home. On a journey of self-discovery to the town where she was born, she meets Lacey McAlpine. The self-assured, straight-talking entrepreneur Lacey is blessed with loving family and friends and has always shaped her own destiny—or so she believes.
The sparks fly almost immediately, but the women’s contrasting personalities and what Lacey perceives as Madison’s secretive nature keep them from igniting—just yet. Their friendship deepens to passionate romance, however, when Madison moves into town to open her own guest ranch—and begins to open up about herself.
A lock without a key, a box of childhood treasures and a scruffy white horse begin to illuminate Madison’s shadowed past. Despite her Miss-Fix-It attitude, Lacey will soon learn that it will take a little destiny to repair a broken soul.
240 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2016
9 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Laina Villeneuve
17 books50 followersLaina Villeneuve admits that her real-life courtship would read like a blatant plot manipulation. But it all worked out in the end and she and her wife live in Southern California with their three children. An English professor with a passion for lesbian fiction, she also has a lifelong love for horses.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 19, 2017
Loved it! (4.5stars)
One of the things I love about all of Villeneuve's books is that they tie previous characters from her other books together and keep you updated without taking away from the story at hand. This is definitely a stand alone book and you dont have to read the previous ones but why wouldn't you, they are great too. Ok so this book...
I really loved it. It is told in the lovely town of Quincy and from two different perspectives, Madison and Lacey. From their second, or maybe third, interactions with each other, ypu would think this book would be about unrequited childhood love and Fate. And in a sense it is, but not in the sense of the conversation they had...foreshadowing or irony or one of those literary terms. Anyway, the characters were well flushed out and as frustrating as Madison was she was still likable. And honestly, i think i really loked Charlie and not so much Delia...like i really didn't like her. Who knows maybe she will get her own book and I'll revise my statment.
Regardless, if you are fan of her past books, you willdefinitely enjoy this one. Read it!
One of the things I love about all of Villeneuve's books is that they tie previous characters from her other books together and keep you updated without taking away from the story at hand. This is definitely a stand alone book and you dont have to read the previous ones but why wouldn't you, they are great too. Ok so this book...
I really loved it. It is told in the lovely town of Quincy and from two different perspectives, Madison and Lacey. From their second, or maybe third, interactions with each other, ypu would think this book would be about unrequited childhood love and Fate. And in a sense it is, but not in the sense of the conversation they had...foreshadowing or irony or one of those literary terms. Anyway, the characters were well flushed out and as frustrating as Madison was she was still likable. And honestly, i think i really loked Charlie and not so much Delia...like i really didn't like her. Who knows maybe she will get her own book and I'll revise my statment.
Regardless, if you are fan of her past books, you willdefinitely enjoy this one. Read it!
August 29, 2021
4.5/5
An impulse purchase because I was intrigued by the summary. I don’t recall ever reading another book by this author, so I had no real clue what to expect from Villeneuve’s writing.
Madison finds herself a bit lost when her plans don’t pan out. She decides to go to Quincy to see about opening a new guest ranch there. While there she meets Lacey. Sparks fly between the two, but Madison has shadows in her past and issues with abandonment. Lacey wants to get to know her and break down her walls, but she might need some help from destiny.
I was actually really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. At first it felt a bit slow, but that didn’t hinder my engagement too much. The book itself was very well-written and the characters felt well-developed. No one felt flat or one-dimensional.
The characters were amazing. Madison goes to Quincy when she finds herself lost without knowing what she wants to do, and Lacey happens to be the mechanic who helps her with her car. Both characters were very nice and fit together very well. Lacey helped Madison open out and realize things that she had been keeping hidden. Even the side characters seemed nice enough. Apparently, a couple of them are from another book that Villeneuve wrote. Even Charlie seemed nice enough if a bit awkward. There were only a couple of characters that I didn’t enjoy but I think that was on purpose.
One of the things I enjoyed most was that this book does have a lot of Fate related plots, but I really loved it. It was fun without being taken too seriously or being too comical. The situations that were considered fateful were a bit of a stretch but realistic enough where it worked. I was a bit put off by it at the very beginning, but I got over it quickly and I loved it.
Also, I loved the emotions and development in this book. Madison’s emotions felt honest and true and made a lot of sense with her current character. It felt well-developed and was given room to grow. None of the emotions were rushed or pushed to the side, rather they were allowed to blossom and grow. Madison was allowed to confront her problems and find her truth.
There were a bunch of little details in this book that helped flesh it out. There were the instances of fate to Lacey’s horn and even Madison’s president. These details helped develop the characters and their relationship. Everything felt deeper and more truthful because of these little details that made each character who they were.
~ Check out my other reviews on my Blog, Instagram, or Twitter. ~
An impulse purchase because I was intrigued by the summary. I don’t recall ever reading another book by this author, so I had no real clue what to expect from Villeneuve’s writing.
Madison finds herself a bit lost when her plans don’t pan out. She decides to go to Quincy to see about opening a new guest ranch there. While there she meets Lacey. Sparks fly between the two, but Madison has shadows in her past and issues with abandonment. Lacey wants to get to know her and break down her walls, but she might need some help from destiny.
I was actually really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. At first it felt a bit slow, but that didn’t hinder my engagement too much. The book itself was very well-written and the characters felt well-developed. No one felt flat or one-dimensional.
The characters were amazing. Madison goes to Quincy when she finds herself lost without knowing what she wants to do, and Lacey happens to be the mechanic who helps her with her car. Both characters were very nice and fit together very well. Lacey helped Madison open out and realize things that she had been keeping hidden. Even the side characters seemed nice enough. Apparently, a couple of them are from another book that Villeneuve wrote. Even Charlie seemed nice enough if a bit awkward. There were only a couple of characters that I didn’t enjoy but I think that was on purpose.
One of the things I enjoyed most was that this book does have a lot of Fate related plots, but I really loved it. It was fun without being taken too seriously or being too comical. The situations that were considered fateful were a bit of a stretch but realistic enough where it worked. I was a bit put off by it at the very beginning, but I got over it quickly and I loved it.
Also, I loved the emotions and development in this book. Madison’s emotions felt honest and true and made a lot of sense with her current character. It felt well-developed and was given room to grow. None of the emotions were rushed or pushed to the side, rather they were allowed to blossom and grow. Madison was allowed to confront her problems and find her truth.
There were a bunch of little details in this book that helped flesh it out. There were the instances of fate to Lacey’s horn and even Madison’s president. These details helped develop the characters and their relationship. Everything felt deeper and more truthful because of these little details that made each character who they were.
~ Check out my other reviews on my Blog, Instagram, or Twitter. ~
September 25, 2016
Interesting exploration of how a young woman who feels she has no parents, no home and no community finds all three where she least expects them. The characters are well drawn, the interrelationships interesting and the concept of feeling like you belong nowhere, that nobody picks you, only to find how much you are valued, is well conceived.
One thing i really loved was how the author used the Houdini, a large white gelding, as such a pivotable player.. made me smile.
The pace is slow, but suits the small town lives and troubles in what is very much a small social drama. There were some editing issues both in terms of the story and the copy which is a shame. Overall an enjoyable read but it wont be going on my reread pile.
One thing i really loved was how the author used the Houdini, a large white gelding, as such a pivotable player.. made me smile.
The pace is slow, but suits the small town lives and troubles in what is very much a small social drama. There were some editing issues both in terms of the story and the copy which is a shame. Overall an enjoyable read but it wont be going on my reread pile.
September 19, 2016
It was an interesting read, the pace was a bit slow but not too bothersome and it felt original. The characters were fleshed out quite well and you could empathize with them and understand how their characters are.
overall i'd give this book a 3,6 star.
overall i'd give this book a 3,6 star.
November 12, 2016
Never read this author before, glad I picked up the book in the library. The building of the relationship seemed a bit rushed at times and I would have liked a bit more of the back story on Shawneen. I loved the bits of Houdini sprinkled here and there, specially when he showed up in the garage bay. And thank you for NOT making this story all about sex, strangely enough life literally doesn't revolve around that no matter what we thought in junior high!
May 18, 2021
Madison Carter decides to put her life savings into a small ranch that her father use to manage when she was born. She plans to turn it into a guest ranch. It puts her in the town with her mother who she has not seen since she was four. She was raised by her distant dad and a lovingly by a couple where he works. But she always has felt the one over looked, not chosen and never picked. On her first day in town she meets outgoing Lacey McAlpine. She has her own auto technician shop that also happens to have been remodeled from Madison's childhood home.
I love being back in the fictional town and community set up in The Right Thing Easy. Along with catching up with that story's leads Hope and Dani. Lacey straightforwardness is a perfect counter balance to Madison's insecurity. Returning to a hometown isn't picture perfect. The much longed for reuniting with a birth mother isn't what Madison imagined. And she needs to adjust her thinking of what family means. I love the story and characters. It is slowly told through both MCs POV but the fits Madison's cautious nature. 3.5 stars
I love being back in the fictional town and community set up in The Right Thing Easy. Along with catching up with that story's leads Hope and Dani. Lacey straightforwardness is a perfect counter balance to Madison's insecurity. Returning to a hometown isn't picture perfect. The much longed for reuniting with a birth mother isn't what Madison imagined. And she needs to adjust her thinking of what family means. I love the story and characters. It is slowly told through both MCs POV but the fits Madison's cautious nature. 3.5 stars
May 25, 2023
Pretty good overall, but I got annoyed at Madison's passivity, particularly in regard to her birthmother.
July 16, 2023
Very well written book, just like all the others from this author. I really enjoyed the characters and the growth of the characters together. Definitely worth a read.
July 4, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed it!
March 21, 2017
I have always been extremely skeptical about romance novels, but I gave this one a try after receiving a copy for free at ClexaCon this year. Imagine my surprise when I fell completely in love with this book. I really enjoyed the pacing. And Houdini is hilarious. Definitely going to be reading more lesbian romance in the future.
January 26, 2022
This one was not as good as the cowgirl one. HOWEVER it did make me realise the importance of the third act break up. I always say I dont want it but then, when I dont get one I was like hey. I think because when they break up, we all know they're getting back together at the end but, what if they don't you know? Its a terror that keeps me going.
January 10, 2017
This book was everything I dreamed it would be and more.
Madison Carter moves back to the town she was born in to open up a guest ranch. She's got her life savings a whole lot of heart to pour into the property her father once owned. She's hoping to find a place where she finally feels she belongs and the family she's been longing for all her life. By chance or by Fate Madison lands herself in Lacey's shop her first day in town. They clash and they clash time and again after that. But then comes a tentative friendship and then something more. Will Madison find what she's looking for? And will Lacey be a part of that?
This hit all the notes for me. And it was more than just a brilliant romance - this was a beautiful story about finding yourself, finding home, finding family and finding love. The romance was sweet and perfect and oh so lovely and it was only made stronger by the other relationships in their lives. And if this wasn't enough for me to be head over heels in love with this book... Well, I love books where the characters have renovations to do - honestly my favourite kind of book. And I always have a special place in my heart for books set in Northern California - I've never been but I always adore books set there.
Every single detail was beautifully crafted - from the Presidents, to the doorknob and from the little box, to the horn. Every. Single. Detail. Each and every character mattered - they were your family too, your friends, your community. They were well characterized with unique and strong voices. And gosh some of the sentences were just so good that my heart ached with their beauty (They've been bookmarked to read again and again).
I'm not a super fan of first person BUT BUT this marvellous book told the story from both Madison and Lacey's perspectives and solved basically all my problems with first person.
I CANNOT wait to read the other books by this Author! And you can bet this book will be read again and again!
Madison Carter moves back to the town she was born in to open up a guest ranch. She's got her life savings a whole lot of heart to pour into the property her father once owned. She's hoping to find a place where she finally feels she belongs and the family she's been longing for all her life. By chance or by Fate Madison lands herself in Lacey's shop her first day in town. They clash and they clash time and again after that. But then comes a tentative friendship and then something more. Will Madison find what she's looking for? And will Lacey be a part of that?
This hit all the notes for me. And it was more than just a brilliant romance - this was a beautiful story about finding yourself, finding home, finding family and finding love. The romance was sweet and perfect and oh so lovely and it was only made stronger by the other relationships in their lives. And if this wasn't enough for me to be head over heels in love with this book... Well, I love books where the characters have renovations to do - honestly my favourite kind of book. And I always have a special place in my heart for books set in Northern California - I've never been but I always adore books set there.
Every single detail was beautifully crafted - from the Presidents, to the doorknob and from the little box, to the horn. Every. Single. Detail. Each and every character mattered - they were your family too, your friends, your community. They were well characterized with unique and strong voices. And gosh some of the sentences were just so good that my heart ached with their beauty (They've been bookmarked to read again and again).
I'm not a super fan of first person BUT BUT this marvellous book told the story from both Madison and Lacey's perspectives and solved basically all my problems with first person.
I CANNOT wait to read the other books by this Author! And you can bet this book will be read again and again!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews