One Sweet Development

by Jennifer Skinnell, Joanne LaRe Thompson (Editor)

In One Sweet Development, the small town of Hope Springs has everything a budding relationship needs—advice from the Advice Quilting Bee,the nosy Little Old Lady Network,and ghosts?Hope Springs is also in the midst of a contentious revitalization project, much too many locals’ dismay. Fortunately, Hope Springs is home to a group of strong, independent women with the entrepreneurial drive to keep the small-town spirit alive.In this clean and wholesome romance novel, Chandler Bradford owns the town bakery, Sweet Stuff Bakery. She is also a member of the Advice Quilting Bee, run by local matriarch Rosie Macintire of Rosie’s Quilting Emporium. Chandler has lived in Hope Springs all her life, and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.Big town real estate developer Peter Frederick grew up in the city and has worked hard to build his development business. He also happens to be Rosie’s grandson.When Peter comes to town to bid on the revitalization project, the ladies think he’s the perfect match for Chandler. However, she’s not so sure.Chandler is tasked by the ladies to give him a tour of the town and explain its rich history, not knowing his real intention is to demolish most of the historic buildings, including her bakery.As their relationship grows, Peter realizes the historic structures his company is looking to destroy are the heart and soul of the town. He sets out to come up with an alternative plan. He also learns from Chandler the importance of family and sets out to make amends with his own father.Unfortunately, his employee, Cassia Collins has another idea, especially when she figures out Peter has his sights set on Chandler and not her.Can Chandler trust an outsider used to tearing down the old to make way for the new?Can Peter give up the city for life in a small town?And what’s with all the ghosts hanging around town?One Sweet Development is a small-town romantic comedy about love and life in a small town.

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2017

About the author

Hello, I’m Jennifer Skinnell. I have had many different jobs over the years, from starting as a legal secretary to working in a fabric store when my children were younger to a rewarding career of teaching preschool for nine years. I feel the skills I have learned at each job have helped me become more confident in who I am as a contemporary romance author. I am also the author of The Rambling Quilter. This travel blog chronicles the experiences my husband and I have traveling in 2019 F-350 and 41 ft. Grand Design Fifth Wheel RV we’ve affectionately named “Beauty and the Beast.”

Reviews

[Fedythereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author and Hazels Booktours for sharing a copy of this book with me !!

“Chandler, how is your love life coming along?”

“She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was definitely something he wasn’t telling them about why he was in Hope Springs.”

“Hope Springs is a town, not a village,”

A light-hearted book written about women for women in a small town full of kind spirits.
I always enjoy a good story about a woman starting fresh in a new small town … and this time we have a bakery so … I liked it even more!!!
And with a grandma that is absolutely amazing and a romance blossoming in the most unexpected of ways then it’s definitely going to be a very enjoyable book!!!
Chandler and Peter story went from unwilling friends to lovers and it was very entertaining getting through it alongside them.
I especially enjoyed their attempt at evading the women in town … ready to jump at a new relationship.
And I’m so happy about the ending too. Especially because of the fact that the way the characters interact with each other at the end is a reflection of their own personalities and their sweet and kind believes throughout the entire book!!!

““What is the Advice Quilting Bee?” Victoria asked, beginning to understand where Peter was going.
“A group of women in Hope Springs who look out for each other,”

“I’m just a sucker for true love,”

[Brie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A special thank you to @jenniferskinnellauthor and @hazels_booktours for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my #honestreview! This is available now for free on #kindleunlimited!

Hope Springs resident Chandler Bradford is the proud owner and primary baker for the town bakery. She’s also a member of the “Advice Quilting Bee” group that meets once a week to stitch quilts for good causes whilst exchanging life advice. Enter Peter Frederick, grandson of Advice Quilting Bee mastermind Rosie, who has come to town to consider a proposal to develop real estate deals in the small town. It’s not long before Peter becomes charmed by Hope Springs and Chandler. Are these two headed for sweet harmony or will Peter’s job come between them?

This was a very cute story! It was a nice change of pace palette cleanser from some of the darker thrillers I’ve been reading lately. I thought the supernatural element was unexpected but added a unique and fun twist to the book. This is the perfect book for Hallmark movie lovers as it has a similar cozy romance vibe. I recommend grabbing a sweet treat, a glass of sweet tea, and a blanket and curling up to enjoy this.

🍪🍪🍪🍪 - 4/5

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives me all the Hallmark small town romance vibes. It’s a cute, wholesome, cozy, sweet, and fun romance read. This was a nice change of pace from my normal reads and I really enjoyed it.

The small town vibes are exploding off the pages: advice giving quilting circle and the Little Old Lady Network keeping everyone up to date on the gossip. I love them. I really enjoy that it’s more than just a small town; it’s a historic town. Everyone values the history and the connections they have.

Chandler, the classic single woman in a small town. And despite her not wanting a relationship - the older women in town are trying to set her up. Peter, a gentleman from the big city & the grandson of one of the women, is in town for business. Chandler and Peter are sort of forced together. And she is wary of him. On the other hand he can’t get her off his mind. An unexpected friendship is formed. But will Peter’s job, Chandler’s love for her town, or the gossiping town people keep them from becoming something more?

Thank you Jennifer for the copy of this book and the chance to review it. And thank you Hazel's Book Tours for organizing this tour.

[Jodi Langan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so heartwarming and cute! I love stories that involve small towns. I am from a small town and I know firsthand how family-oriented small towns can be. Chandler and Peter had such a cute love story. They were just a lovely couple.

The storyline was great and it was such a nice, fast and fun read. I also loved the character Myrtle. She reminds me of all the little old ladies that live in my hometown haha!

Overall, I loved the story! If you love heartwarming stories this one is for you!

[Jackie Ponce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this novel. It is such a sweet and easy romance novel. It definitely gives you hallmark vibes with a little old lady club included. So fun to read and the romance will leave you swooning. There’s baking and quilting it’s just such a cute little little novel that takes you for just a moment away from home and lands you in a sweet small little town full of love. I voluntarily received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion and review. @hazels_booktours @jenniferskinnellauthor

[sierraslibrary_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book that I really enjoyed 🥺 this was a small town romance with super funny characters (especially the little old lady network - they cracked me up!) I really loved the history of this little town in Virginia, I kept imagining myself there 🥹 and also Cassia pissed me the heck off. I kept wondering when Peter was going to give her the 🥾!! 😂😂

The ending made me cry like a fool. Ugh I’m a sucker for happily ever afters. I definitely see this being a re read in the future. 💗

[Heidi Wahlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and heartwarming

This was a wonderful slow burn romance, set in a beautiful small town that I’d love to live in!
The quirky characters were all so lovable and had me grinning the whole time.

The romance with Chandler and Peter was the perfect romantic slow burn, with the exact right amount of tension to keep you guessing.

Lovely ending left me feeling good and excited to read more books in this series!!

[Manymerrybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but fairly predictable. Very much like one of those holiday hallmark movies where you know what’s going to happen but you still have to see it for yourself? In the end I was very invested in the characters and I told myself “I need to buy the next one” but also probably not the most memorable book out there.

[Nana333 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first book.

I enjoyed this book very much. The characters seemed realistic and I always like a positive ending. As a quilter and cake decorator it was realistic .

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Enjoyed reading this book. Such a lovely story about friendship and love. Looking forwarded to the next book by Jennifer Skinnell.