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The Magnolia Sisters #2
The Merriest Magnolia
Home for the holidays has always meant cozy small-town traditions…but this year all that may change…
Carrie Reed has always been known as her hometown Good Girl, yet she still loves Magnolia, North Carolina—after all, this is where her newly discovered sisters, Avery and Meredith, live. But Christmas is on its way and with it, her first love. Dylan Scott is back in town and planning on changing everything she’s ever loved about Magnolia with his real estate development project…but not without a fight.
Returning to Magnolia was never in Dylan’s plans—it holds too many reminders that he would never be good enough, and memories of the girl he left behind. But when a tragedy leaves him guardian of a grieving teenager, Dylan returns, ready to remake the town into something only money can buy, small-town traditions be damned. But with Carrie determined to stop him, he finds himself wondering if redeeming his teenage reputation is worth losing out on his second chance at love.
Carrie Reed has always been known as her hometown Good Girl, yet she still loves Magnolia, North Carolina—after all, this is where her newly discovered sisters, Avery and Meredith, live. But Christmas is on its way and with it, her first love. Dylan Scott is back in town and planning on changing everything she’s ever loved about Magnolia with his real estate development project…but not without a fight.
Returning to Magnolia was never in Dylan’s plans—it holds too many reminders that he would never be good enough, and memories of the girl he left behind. But when a tragedy leaves him guardian of a grieving teenager, Dylan returns, ready to remake the town into something only money can buy, small-town traditions be damned. But with Carrie determined to stop him, he finds himself wondering if redeeming his teenage reputation is worth losing out on his second chance at love.
384 pages, ebook
First published September 29, 2020
177 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Major
281 books829 followersUSA Today and Top 5 Amazon Bestselling author Michelle Major writes swoon-worthy stories full of heart, heat, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters. When she’s not dreaming up romance, you’ll find her hiking the trails (or avoiding housework) in her home state of Colorado.
Connect with her at www.michellemajor.com or come say hi on Instagram and Facebook.
Connect with her at www.michellemajor.com or come say hi on Instagram and Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
dnf
July 7, 2024This is a Christmas Romance. I DNF this book at 50% because I just could not get into this book. The book could pull me in. I am not saying this was a bad book, but it was just not for me. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (HQN) or author (Michelle Major) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
October 11, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
The Merriest Magnolia is an enemies-to-lovers, second chance, small town holiday romance! And it really does have an emphasis on the spirit of Christmas, complete with a Scrooge-like hero.
Carrie has always been a pushover who takes care of everyone else and neglects her own needs, but she's trying to find her strength after the passing of her dad and bring much needed business and tourism back to her small town. Dylan is the high school boyfriend who broke her heart, but now he's back as a big, bad real estate developer determined to turn Magnolia into a playground for the wealthy. (he's basically a gentrifier, without using the word). He's also newly the guardian of a grieving teen boy. He and Carrie have very different plans for the town, but the spark between them never really went away.
There was a lot I liked about this, but I do think readers will vary in how they feel about Carrie. I was frustrated with how easily she was nice to Dylan when he was such an ass, but I get that she has a different personality than I do. I also felt like the ending was too abrupt. I wanted a bigger grovel from the hero and more on them together, maybe an epilogue or something. That said, I like the sister dynamic and am enjoying the series. I think I will really enjoy the next one following the third sister. This was a perfectly nice holiday romance. I received a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
The Merriest Magnolia is an enemies-to-lovers, second chance, small town holiday romance! And it really does have an emphasis on the spirit of Christmas, complete with a Scrooge-like hero.
Carrie has always been a pushover who takes care of everyone else and neglects her own needs, but she's trying to find her strength after the passing of her dad and bring much needed business and tourism back to her small town. Dylan is the high school boyfriend who broke her heart, but now he's back as a big, bad real estate developer determined to turn Magnolia into a playground for the wealthy. (he's basically a gentrifier, without using the word). He's also newly the guardian of a grieving teen boy. He and Carrie have very different plans for the town, but the spark between them never really went away.
There was a lot I liked about this, but I do think readers will vary in how they feel about Carrie. I was frustrated with how easily she was nice to Dylan when he was such an ass, but I get that she has a different personality than I do. I also felt like the ending was too abrupt. I wanted a bigger grovel from the hero and more on them together, maybe an epilogue or something. That said, I like the sister dynamic and am enjoying the series. I think I will really enjoy the next one following the third sister. This was a perfectly nice holiday romance. I received a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
November 30, 2020
The Merriest Magnolia follows Avery’s sister, Carrie in the lead up to the holidays. Carrie is the only one of the sisters who had a real relationship with their father and she’s the towns good girl who is trying to find her own identity after her dads death. Her love interest is Dylan and theirs is a second chance romance as they dated in high school. This was also cute and tender and the two had a lot of conflict dealing with the direction and vision they both have for the future of Magnolia. Lots of cute Christmassy activities in the back half and it definitely had cozy vibes.
October 13, 2020
I loved the first book in this series, but The Merriest Magnolia was a bit of a let-down as it lacked the fun, charm, and whimsy of the first book. It was a bad book, but it isn’t one that grabbed my heart or makes me want to read it again.
Carrie Reed’s life was turned upside down after the death of her father famed artist Niall Reed when she not only found out she had two half sisters, but that their father left them with a ton of debt and the town they lived in worried about the future. There is no doubt Carrie loves the town, and while she loved her father she knows he was deeply flawed, but she is determined with the help of her sisters to boost the town’s tourism yet keep the town’s charm. Only problem is her high school boyfriend to left town after accepting a bribe from her father Is back and plans to turn Magnolia, North Carolina into a rich people’s playground.
Dylan Scott never thought he’d return to the town he couldn’t wait to get out of, but as the guardian of his nephew who is spiraling out of control, he can’t help but think the small town life is something he needs. But, Dylan has big plans to change the town and wipe Niall’s memory from it. What he doesn’t expect is to find a much different Carrie who will do anything to protect the town she loves.
I felt for Carrie and the way her father’s failings fell on her shoulders. At times she seemed altruistic and at others self-serving and honestly she just confused me. She was so angry at Dylan yet she’d had years to get on with her life and she chose to stay by her father’s side when he was a grown man and could have taken care of himself or hired a personal assistant that wasn’t his daughter, but she didn’t go, she stayed and everyone acted like she was some big hero for doing so. The only time I really enjoyed her character was when she reached out to Sam and was encouraging him and his art. I honestly feel she was a really unhappy person but she decided she has to put on a happy front for everyone in the town and therefore wasn’t being true to herself.
Dylan decided from the start he was going to come to Magnolia and “save” it and he didn’t care if everyone in town thought he was an a$$hole, he was going to show them he was more than the troublemaker kid that left. I wanted to like Dylan and at times I did especially when I saw how hard he was trying to be there for his nephew, Sam. He had such a chip on his shoulder, but then he’d turn around and do something sweet like adopt a dog that would be a hard placement and it was evident that there was more to him.
My problem with this book was that I never felt like we got to know the characters very well, there was obviously more to them and they were both scarred from their childhoods but we weren’t shown that. I also didn’t feel the heat/tension between them at all and they seemed to fall into a physical relationship rather than develop a deep and meaningful one.
There were some good moments in The Merriest Magnolia, but it was lacking in emotion, depth, and fun making it somewhat of a disappointment.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Carrie Reed’s life was turned upside down after the death of her father famed artist Niall Reed when she not only found out she had two half sisters, but that their father left them with a ton of debt and the town they lived in worried about the future. There is no doubt Carrie loves the town, and while she loved her father she knows he was deeply flawed, but she is determined with the help of her sisters to boost the town’s tourism yet keep the town’s charm. Only problem is her high school boyfriend to left town after accepting a bribe from her father Is back and plans to turn Magnolia, North Carolina into a rich people’s playground.
Dylan Scott never thought he’d return to the town he couldn’t wait to get out of, but as the guardian of his nephew who is spiraling out of control, he can’t help but think the small town life is something he needs. But, Dylan has big plans to change the town and wipe Niall’s memory from it. What he doesn’t expect is to find a much different Carrie who will do anything to protect the town she loves.
I felt for Carrie and the way her father’s failings fell on her shoulders. At times she seemed altruistic and at others self-serving and honestly she just confused me. She was so angry at Dylan yet she’d had years to get on with her life and she chose to stay by her father’s side when he was a grown man and could have taken care of himself or hired a personal assistant that wasn’t his daughter, but she didn’t go, she stayed and everyone acted like she was some big hero for doing so. The only time I really enjoyed her character was when she reached out to Sam and was encouraging him and his art. I honestly feel she was a really unhappy person but she decided she has to put on a happy front for everyone in the town and therefore wasn’t being true to herself.
Dylan decided from the start he was going to come to Magnolia and “save” it and he didn’t care if everyone in town thought he was an a$$hole, he was going to show them he was more than the troublemaker kid that left. I wanted to like Dylan and at times I did especially when I saw how hard he was trying to be there for his nephew, Sam. He had such a chip on his shoulder, but then he’d turn around and do something sweet like adopt a dog that would be a hard placement and it was evident that there was more to him.
My problem with this book was that I never felt like we got to know the characters very well, there was obviously more to them and they were both scarred from their childhoods but we weren’t shown that. I also didn’t feel the heat/tension between them at all and they seemed to fall into a physical relationship rather than develop a deep and meaningful one.
There were some good moments in The Merriest Magnolia, but it was lacking in emotion, depth, and fun making it somewhat of a disappointment.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
September 13, 2020
Sometimes you have to deal with the past before you can move forward with the future. This is true for Dylan Scott, never in his wildest dreams did he think he would become guardian to his cousin's teenage son. A terrible accident puts him in that role. Dylan also has an axe to grind with the town he grew up in and the man he feels is responsible for his heartache. Carrie Reed is still reeling from the death of her dad and the revelations he left behind including the current problems her hometown of Magnolia is facing. She never though she would see her first love return and try to change everything about the town she loves. Love has a way of changing not only who we are but how others see us as well. Throw in a rescue dog and cat and you have a wonderful Christmas story.
October 10, 2020
Carrie was a girl who loved her small town of Magnolia and would do anything she could to revitalize the town. Even if it meant going up against the former town bad boy, Dylan Scott, who moved back to Magnolia with his cousin’s son, who was not his ward after a plane crash killed his parents and grandparent.
Dylan left town under somewhat of a cloud and broke Carrie’s heart. Now that Dylan is back in town he has his own plans to revitalize the town and wants to make it up scale and it would lose some of that small-town charm that Carrie has always love. So, the two of them are going to do their best to get their way. But the Mayor has them working together to organize the towns Christmas Festival and Dylan does not want anything to do with Christmas. With the help of the town, Sam, Carrie and her sisters, can they turn Dylan back into a lover of Christmas and save the town at the same time.
I loved this story and who does not like Christmas in a small town. Michelle Major has brought the spirit of the season in full joy with her book and her characters. You have young and old, plus animals and Christmas is in full swing in this heartwarming, filled with romance and a little bit of laughter and tears to bring you into the holiday spirt.
I can’t wait to read about Meredith's story in the next Magnolia Sister’s series.
Thank you, Michelle, for giving me the opportunity to read and review your book and offer up my honest review.
Dylan left town under somewhat of a cloud and broke Carrie’s heart. Now that Dylan is back in town he has his own plans to revitalize the town and wants to make it up scale and it would lose some of that small-town charm that Carrie has always love. So, the two of them are going to do their best to get their way. But the Mayor has them working together to organize the towns Christmas Festival and Dylan does not want anything to do with Christmas. With the help of the town, Sam, Carrie and her sisters, can they turn Dylan back into a lover of Christmas and save the town at the same time.
I loved this story and who does not like Christmas in a small town. Michelle Major has brought the spirit of the season in full joy with her book and her characters. You have young and old, plus animals and Christmas is in full swing in this heartwarming, filled with romance and a little bit of laughter and tears to bring you into the holiday spirt.
I can’t wait to read about Meredith's story in the next Magnolia Sister’s series.
Thank you, Michelle, for giving me the opportunity to read and review your book and offer up my honest review.
November 28, 2020
I enjoyed my second visit to Magnolia, North Carolina. If you haven't read the first in this series, I definitely recommend you do. It is the story of how these three sisters came to know about their relationship. This is Carrie's story. Carrie grew up in Magnolia, the daughter of their famous artist. She knows Magnolia is slowly dying and has big plans to rescue it. The problem is that she is up against Dylan Scott. Dylan is a real estate developer who wants to turn Magnolia into a rich man's playground. He is also Carrie's first love who took a bribe from her father to leave town years ago. Can Carrie save Magnolia with the help of her sisters and friends? Is it possible to rekindle an old relationship after all this time?
I enjoyed this story for several reasons. I loved seeing Carrie come into her own. She loved art, but did not see herself as an artist. With the encouragement of her sisters and working with students from the high school, she realized how much art was a part of her. I enjoyed seeing how much this town worked together. Many were not in agreement with Carrie, but for the good of the town, they still helped out with her dream of a Christmas Festival like no other. The family aspect with Dylan being the guardian of his nephew grieving the loss of his parents was very emotional. There was baggage there that both had to deal with and as things came out, I was in tears a few times. Finally, forgiveness is a huge part of this story. Self-forgiveness as well as forgiving others come into play. There is a lot to this story, but there is also Christmas fun and festivities. Throw in some Christmas magic and you have a wonderful holiday romance. Carly Robins narrates the audiobook with wonderful expression, tone and voice. Her narration added to my enjoyment of the story. I recommend this book either in audio or to read. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
I enjoyed this story for several reasons. I loved seeing Carrie come into her own. She loved art, but did not see herself as an artist. With the encouragement of her sisters and working with students from the high school, she realized how much art was a part of her. I enjoyed seeing how much this town worked together. Many were not in agreement with Carrie, but for the good of the town, they still helped out with her dream of a Christmas Festival like no other. The family aspect with Dylan being the guardian of his nephew grieving the loss of his parents was very emotional. There was baggage there that both had to deal with and as things came out, I was in tears a few times. Finally, forgiveness is a huge part of this story. Self-forgiveness as well as forgiving others come into play. There is a lot to this story, but there is also Christmas fun and festivities. Throw in some Christmas magic and you have a wonderful holiday romance. Carly Robins narrates the audiobook with wonderful expression, tone and voice. Her narration added to my enjoyment of the story. I recommend this book either in audio or to read. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
July 1, 2025
Love this series!! I'm excited to read book #3!!
October 14, 2020
This is the second book in the Magnolia Sisters series and easily as good as the first book (The Magnolia Sisters). It can be read as a stand-alone, as the backstory is deftly handled, but I recommend reading the first book before this one for a more satisfying experience. The background is that three young women discover that they are half-sisters when their father dies. Carrie and Meredith are Magnolia natives, though they didn't know of their relationship while growing up. Avery arrived after learning of her inheritance. Though initially shocked by the news, it didn't take long for them to become friends. I loved watching them band together to deal with the fallout from their father's death.
Carrie was the legitimate daughter and looked at as the town princess (though she hated the idea). When her parents divorced, she stayed with her father and looked after him, giving up on her dreams of an art career. Carrie loves her hometown and was heartbroken at the mess her father left behind. She and her sisters are determined to rebuild the town and made good progress toward that goal in the previous book. They have great plans for the holiday season, hoping to lure back the tourists who used to be the town's mainstay. Those plans run into a snag when Carrie's high school boyfriend, now a hotshot real estate developer, returns to Magnolia with plans of his own.
Dylan was Carrie's boyfriend in high school, the bad boy to her good girl. It all came to an end when Carrie's father bribed him to leave town. Dylan has two purposes in returning to Magnolia. The first is to give his grieving teenage ward a change of scenery. When Dylan's cousin and his wife died in a plane crash, Dylan was left to pick up the pieces. He struggles with knowing the best way to help Sam. His second purpose is to carry out his plan to turn Magnolia into a destination for the wealthy by building luxury condos and high-end shops. It would also serve a secondary purpose of destroying her father's legacy.
Carrie isn't happy to see Dylan, especially once she learns of his plans. Their opposite visions don't bode well for a smooth process. Their confrontation at a town meeting ends with the mayor assigning them to work together on the Merry Magnolia Christmas festival. Dylan, who hates everything Christmas, does his best to avoid following through. But when Sam gets in trouble for vandalizing the school, he is assigned community service with Carrie.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Carrie and Dylan. Brought together by their concern for Sam, it doesn't take long to re-establish their earlier friendship. As long as they don't talk about their plans for the town, they enjoy spending time with each other. There were some terrific scenes as their friendship deepens and grows. Dylan hasn't forgotten anything about Carrie, and he uses that knowledge to push her toward thinking about herself sometimes instead of always putting others first. I loved seeing him try to boost her confidence in her painting. At the same time, Carrie helps Dylan with Sam, aided by a dog and a kitten. Carrie has high hopes that she will succeed in showing Dylan that Magnolia doesn't need "upgrading" while he plows ahead with his plans, driven by his insecurities. Carrie's pain and heartbreak were palpable when she discovered the truth. I ached for Dylan, too. His kick in the pants came in an unexpected conversation with an old foe. I loved the ending and the surprise that awaited Carrie when she returned to Magnolia.
The secondary characters were wonderful. I liked seeing how the sisters grew closer as they worked through their plans for the town and their feelings about their father. There were some especially poignant moments as they continued to work through their father's estate. I also loved how they had each others' backs when things were difficult. I loved Sam. Besides being a fantastic character himself, he was a shining example of how good a man Dylan is. I liked the realism of how his parents' deaths affected him, from acting out at school to lashing out at Dylan.
Carrie was the legitimate daughter and looked at as the town princess (though she hated the idea). When her parents divorced, she stayed with her father and looked after him, giving up on her dreams of an art career. Carrie loves her hometown and was heartbroken at the mess her father left behind. She and her sisters are determined to rebuild the town and made good progress toward that goal in the previous book. They have great plans for the holiday season, hoping to lure back the tourists who used to be the town's mainstay. Those plans run into a snag when Carrie's high school boyfriend, now a hotshot real estate developer, returns to Magnolia with plans of his own.
Dylan was Carrie's boyfriend in high school, the bad boy to her good girl. It all came to an end when Carrie's father bribed him to leave town. Dylan has two purposes in returning to Magnolia. The first is to give his grieving teenage ward a change of scenery. When Dylan's cousin and his wife died in a plane crash, Dylan was left to pick up the pieces. He struggles with knowing the best way to help Sam. His second purpose is to carry out his plan to turn Magnolia into a destination for the wealthy by building luxury condos and high-end shops. It would also serve a secondary purpose of destroying her father's legacy.
Carrie isn't happy to see Dylan, especially once she learns of his plans. Their opposite visions don't bode well for a smooth process. Their confrontation at a town meeting ends with the mayor assigning them to work together on the Merry Magnolia Christmas festival. Dylan, who hates everything Christmas, does his best to avoid following through. But when Sam gets in trouble for vandalizing the school, he is assigned community service with Carrie.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Carrie and Dylan. Brought together by their concern for Sam, it doesn't take long to re-establish their earlier friendship. As long as they don't talk about their plans for the town, they enjoy spending time with each other. There were some terrific scenes as their friendship deepens and grows. Dylan hasn't forgotten anything about Carrie, and he uses that knowledge to push her toward thinking about herself sometimes instead of always putting others first. I loved seeing him try to boost her confidence in her painting. At the same time, Carrie helps Dylan with Sam, aided by a dog and a kitten. Carrie has high hopes that she will succeed in showing Dylan that Magnolia doesn't need "upgrading" while he plows ahead with his plans, driven by his insecurities. Carrie's pain and heartbreak were palpable when she discovered the truth. I ached for Dylan, too. His kick in the pants came in an unexpected conversation with an old foe. I loved the ending and the surprise that awaited Carrie when she returned to Magnolia.
The secondary characters were wonderful. I liked seeing how the sisters grew closer as they worked through their plans for the town and their feelings about their father. There were some especially poignant moments as they continued to work through their father's estate. I also loved how they had each others' backs when things were difficult. I loved Sam. Besides being a fantastic character himself, he was a shining example of how good a man Dylan is. I liked the realism of how his parents' deaths affected him, from acting out at school to lashing out at Dylan.
October 11, 2020
The Merriest Magnolia by Michelle Major is the 2nd book in her Magnolia Sisters series. This series focuses on the town of Magnolia, North Carolina and three young women who discover that they are half sisters (the same father). Carrie and Meredith lived all their lives in Magnolia, and Avery arrived after learning about her inheritance. After a short time, the three of them became friends, dealing with the betrayal of their father, with each willing to help each other. I loved the first book in this series, and after completing The Merriest Magnolia, I am happy to say this was equally as good. Avery (first book heroine) was a great heroine, but I have to say I loved Carrie, our heroine in this book.
Carrie, who stayed with her father, to help and has always put the town first, even when he made a mess of things. She was determined to rebuild Magnolia, and with her sisters help, they worked together to bring the town back to its original glory. But soon all will change, as her ex-boyfriend from high school moves back to Magnolia, with his nephew and has his own plans for the town.
Dylan was Carrie’s love, until her father gave him a check to leave Carrie and Magnolia, leaving her broken hearted. Dylan has not seen Carrie since then, and returns a successful and wealthy entrepreneur, with plans to tear down and rebuild the town to be luxury townhomes and resort for the wealthy. Carrie isn’t happy to see Dylan, especially after she discovers that he has already bought some property to start making his changes. They both have different ideas what is best for Magnolia, with Carrie, Avery and Meredith working to make the local businesses better; and Dylan to change it all.
Dylan and Carrie are forced to work together to help prepare the town’s Christmas festival, which develops into a temporary friendship, with each slowly rekindling their feelings from the past. However, both are just as determined to prove their way works better. Carrie begins to help Dylan with his 15-year-old nephew, who with the death of his cousin, is now his responsibility. Carrie begins to resume her love of painting, and pushes Sam, who is a good artist, to work on his artwork. This brings Sam out of his snarky attitude, and happier with Carrie, her sisters, family and townsfolk.
What follows is a wonderful heartwarming story with both Carrie and Dylan falling in love again, but will they be able to get past their different views of what is best for Magnolia? I loved seeing Carrie, with Meredith and Avery, and how they had each other’s backs. The bond between the sisters was great.
The Merriest Magnolia was written so very well by Michelle Major, with a great couple, and so many wonderful characters, including Avery, Meredith, Gray, and many of the townsfolks. I look forward to the next book in this series, which I expect to be about Meredith. Cannot wait, as I loved everyone in Magnolia. I suggest you start with series by reading the first book, The Magnolia Sisters.
Barb
Carrie, who stayed with her father, to help and has always put the town first, even when he made a mess of things. She was determined to rebuild Magnolia, and with her sisters help, they worked together to bring the town back to its original glory. But soon all will change, as her ex-boyfriend from high school moves back to Magnolia, with his nephew and has his own plans for the town.
Dylan was Carrie’s love, until her father gave him a check to leave Carrie and Magnolia, leaving her broken hearted. Dylan has not seen Carrie since then, and returns a successful and wealthy entrepreneur, with plans to tear down and rebuild the town to be luxury townhomes and resort for the wealthy. Carrie isn’t happy to see Dylan, especially after she discovers that he has already bought some property to start making his changes. They both have different ideas what is best for Magnolia, with Carrie, Avery and Meredith working to make the local businesses better; and Dylan to change it all.
Dylan and Carrie are forced to work together to help prepare the town’s Christmas festival, which develops into a temporary friendship, with each slowly rekindling their feelings from the past. However, both are just as determined to prove their way works better. Carrie begins to help Dylan with his 15-year-old nephew, who with the death of his cousin, is now his responsibility. Carrie begins to resume her love of painting, and pushes Sam, who is a good artist, to work on his artwork. This brings Sam out of his snarky attitude, and happier with Carrie, her sisters, family and townsfolk.
What follows is a wonderful heartwarming story with both Carrie and Dylan falling in love again, but will they be able to get past their different views of what is best for Magnolia? I loved seeing Carrie, with Meredith and Avery, and how they had each other’s backs. The bond between the sisters was great.
The Merriest Magnolia was written so very well by Michelle Major, with a great couple, and so many wonderful characters, including Avery, Meredith, Gray, and many of the townsfolks. I look forward to the next book in this series, which I expect to be about Meredith. Cannot wait, as I loved everyone in Magnolia. I suggest you start with series by reading the first book, The Magnolia Sisters.
Barb
October 12, 2020
After the death of her father Carrie has discovered that the life he was living was nothing but a lie. Rather than the affluent person he pretended to be instead Carrie is trying to settle the debts of his estate with her two half sisters who she knew nothing about but have quickly become her best friends. She loves her hometown and is trying to right the wrong of her father but her plans to revitalize the town have become a whole lot more complicated when the man who loved and left her year ago returns.
When Dylan finds himself responsible for his nephew Sam when his cousin and his wife passes away he wants a different life for him than the one they were living in Boston. He has recently purchased some real estate and has plans to draw people to town whether the townspeople agree with him or not.
If the past between Carrie and Dylan wasn’t enough to overcome, they now find themselves with opposing ideas on how to help the town and planning a Christmas celebration when one party embraces the season and the other party wished it never existed. This is a touching story about love, family and realizing what and who is important in your life.
When Dylan finds himself responsible for his nephew Sam when his cousin and his wife passes away he wants a different life for him than the one they were living in Boston. He has recently purchased some real estate and has plans to draw people to town whether the townspeople agree with him or not.
If the past between Carrie and Dylan wasn’t enough to overcome, they now find themselves with opposing ideas on how to help the town and planning a Christmas celebration when one party embraces the season and the other party wished it never existed. This is a touching story about love, family and realizing what and who is important in your life.
October 25, 2020
This is book 2 in the series and is Carrie's story. Carrie is the sister who stayed at home and took care of her father. She had planned to go to art school but her father convinced her that she had no talent and would be an embarrassment to him so she managed the gallery and stayed home. She was shocked when she found out that she had two half sisters who would share her father's estate. The estate was deeply in debt and the three sisters had to work together which helped to make them friends.
Carrie loves Magnolia and wants it to be a successful small town. All of a sudden a 'bad boy' from high school shows up - he's now rich and wants to turn Magnolia into a modern updated town totally different from the small town friendliness that Carrie wants. Carrie and Dylan had been in love in high school. Will their different views of the future of the town keep them apart or will they be able to find their happily ever after and help the town be successful?
This book lacked some of the fun of the first book in the series but it was still an enjoyable romance and a great look at life in a small town.
Carrie loves Magnolia and wants it to be a successful small town. All of a sudden a 'bad boy' from high school shows up - he's now rich and wants to turn Magnolia into a modern updated town totally different from the small town friendliness that Carrie wants. Carrie and Dylan had been in love in high school. Will their different views of the future of the town keep them apart or will they be able to find their happily ever after and help the town be successful?
This book lacked some of the fun of the first book in the series but it was still an enjoyable romance and a great look at life in a small town.
March 19, 2022
This is the second in the Magnolia Sisters series; each one focuses on one particular sister. Avery was the focus of the first, Carrie is the focus of the second, and Meredith will probably be the focus of the third. Carrie grew up in Magnolia, North Carolina, and was always known as a "Good Girl". She was the daughter that took care of her father, who was an artist. But, so was Carrie, but she quit painting when her father belittled her work. Her high school "first love" came back to Magnolia. Dylan Scott, along with his nephew. Sam lost both of his parents and Dylan was named guardian. He had left Magnolia, and Carrie after high school and gone to Boston. Dylan, upon returning, decides to remake the town "into something only money can buy, small-town traditions be damned". Dylan has a lot of money to do just that. Carrie is determined to stop him...she wants to expand on what Magnolia already has, keeping the "small town" tradition intact. There in lies the problem.
December 1, 2020
Carrie Reed loves her hometown of Magnolia, NC. Her ex and first love, Dylan Scott is back in town to shake things up with a real estate development project. Dylan never planned on coming back to Magnolia, there were too many bad memories of the girl he left behind. After a tragedy left him guardian to an unruly teenager, Dylan returns to the town ready to make it into a high class resort town. Carrie is determined to stop him, but can the town be saved?
I enjoyed this second chance, enemies to lovers romance! It had the perfect amount of steam and affection, a picturesque setting, and small town charm. I would recommend this book to fans of Debbie Macomber, Nancy Thayer, and Debbie Mason.
I enjoyed this second chance, enemies to lovers romance! It had the perfect amount of steam and affection, a picturesque setting, and small town charm. I would recommend this book to fans of Debbie Macomber, Nancy Thayer, and Debbie Mason.
October 20, 2020
Simply Delightful!
Get ready to fall in love, Michelle Major is about to capture your heart.
The Merriest Magnolia is the perfect heartwarming Christmas read. I fell into this story immediately. I was absolutely captivated with these characters and all the feelings they made me feel. And Wow, did I feel SO much. This one brings out the warm fuzzies!
This is a beautifully written story about healing and learning to love again. I want more! This is the perfect addition to this phenomenal series. I can’t wait to be back into this series and the people in it.
Get ready to fall in love, Michelle Major is about to capture your heart.
The Merriest Magnolia is the perfect heartwarming Christmas read. I fell into this story immediately. I was absolutely captivated with these characters and all the feelings they made me feel. And Wow, did I feel SO much. This one brings out the warm fuzzies!
This is a beautifully written story about healing and learning to love again. I want more! This is the perfect addition to this phenomenal series. I can’t wait to be back into this series and the people in it.
October 14, 2020
A heartwarming story about love, family and what’s really important , I adored this cute community/ romantic read. I mean it’s second chance romance which is always a winner with me, but it’s so cute and so full of Christmas Feels, just fabulous
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
October 18, 2020
While this featured just about every romance cliche and could have done with some editing down of a few of the repetitive conversations in the second half, it was festive and charming and I really liked Meredith and her passion for animal rescue.
November 29, 2020
If possible, I loved this one even more than the 1st book! I enjoyed Carrie's story set during Christmas quite a bit and can't wait for the next installment.
December 30, 2020
The perfect small town, second chance, romance. And with the Christmas vibes it was a great feel good book to read.
December 1, 2020
4.5 stars. Start with a very Hallmark-esque plot. You know the one -- where it's Christmas time and the heroine is the Spirit of Christmas for her quaint small town and the hero is a wealthy corporate guy planning to build upscale condos. Then add some deep emotional baggage for both characters. Plus some sexy bits. Plus an orphaned teenage boy. Plus two unique half-sisters. Finish off with an ending that made me cry. There you have The Merriest Magnolia.
This is a very likable book with characters you want to cheer for. Poor Carrie has spent years in the shadow of her overbearing father. After his death she is still struggling to find her true self. Dylan was a teenage troublemaker that built a successful career after leaving town. He returns to Magnolia with grand plans to make the town an upscale vacation destination. He has recently become guardian to his cousin's son. Dylan and Carrie were young sweethearts and now discover their feelings are not as buried as they thought. Their conflicts are real, but so is their attraction. Both Dylan and Carrie had to undergo a lot of self-examination and maturing.
This is not your typical Christmas movie...er, book. It takes place during Christmas, but the holiday messages are not overwhelming. It's really about learning who you are and what you want. And how to care about the needs of others as well as your own. I enjoyed the story very much and was pleasantly surprised by the tears at the end.
ARC provided by the author.
This is a very likable book with characters you want to cheer for. Poor Carrie has spent years in the shadow of her overbearing father. After his death she is still struggling to find her true self. Dylan was a teenage troublemaker that built a successful career after leaving town. He returns to Magnolia with grand plans to make the town an upscale vacation destination. He has recently become guardian to his cousin's son. Dylan and Carrie were young sweethearts and now discover their feelings are not as buried as they thought. Their conflicts are real, but so is their attraction. Both Dylan and Carrie had to undergo a lot of self-examination and maturing.
This is not your typical Christmas movie...er, book. It takes place during Christmas, but the holiday messages are not overwhelming. It's really about learning who you are and what you want. And how to care about the needs of others as well as your own. I enjoyed the story very much and was pleasantly surprised by the tears at the end.
ARC provided by the author.
October 16, 2020
The Merriest Magnolia is the second book in the series and it is definitely heartwarming. It’s a story about love, family and what’s really important in life. It’s set in a town/community that you couldn’t help but love. One of those sweet old everyone knows everyone towns. It’s a second chance romance which is one of my favorite tropes. Carrie and Dylan were such great characters that you couldn’t help but root for. A cute story full of Christmas cheer and magic.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2022
I just didn't care that much about the pairing of Carrie and Dylan.
There's a lot of discussion about planning and preparing for the big winter festival but not a lot of the festival itself.
I also wanted more than two interactions with Carrie's mother.
We still are no closer to understanding why the father bequethed the properties to a sister who wasn't emotionally involved (the gallery to Avery not Carrie who runs it, the ranch to Carrie not Meredith who runs the rescue there, the house to Meredith not Carrie who lived there)
There's a lot of discussion about planning and preparing for the big winter festival but not a lot of the festival itself.
I also wanted more than two interactions with Carrie's mother.
We still are no closer to understanding why the father bequethed the properties to a sister who wasn't emotionally involved (the gallery to Avery not Carrie who runs it, the ranch to Carrie not Meredith who runs the rescue there, the house to Meredith not Carrie who lived there)
October 9, 2020
Dueling revitalization plans for Magnolia, North Carolina present an excellently written conflict and resolution in this charming small town Christmas romance.
Carrie Reed was considered the town Princess growing up in Magnolia, North Carolina. Niall Reed was her father and he was an artist of some renown. Well, at least he was before his success waned. Yet he was a famous figure with much influence in Magnolia. After his death Carrie discovered that she has two half sisters who inherited his estate with her. Neither of her sisters, Avery Keller from California or Meredith Ventner from right there in Magnolia were aware that Niall Reed was their father. The estate is deep in debt but the sisters agree to work together to salvage what they can of the estate. On top of this the sisters, led by Carrie, are determined to revitalize the town. Those plans were threatened when Dylan Scott showed up back in Magnolia with plans of his own. Plans that were basically the opposite of the sisters' plans. Carrie has high hopes of changing Dylan's mind about his plans. After all they were high school sweethearts until her father bribed Dylan to leave town because he didn't approve of their relationship.
Dylan Scott was a troublemaker "bad boy" back when he lived in Magnolia. He never felt he was good enough for Carrie Reed. So, yes, he left his hometown with a $5,000 check in his pocket courtesy of Niall Reed. He became successful in Boston working at his uncle's company, Scott Development, with his cousin Wiley. Tragedy struck when Dylan's uncle, cousin Wiley and Wiley's wife were killed in a plane crash leaving Dylan to raise his nephew Sam. Dylan chose to move them to Magnolia and brought his redevelopment plan for an upscale revitalization of Magnolia with him. Since that plan was so very different from his former high school sweetheart Carrie's plan they butted heads over their ideas. Spending time again with Carrie is a life-changing event for Dylan. But will their opposing plans destroy their relationship?
The Merriest Magnolia by Michelle Major is the second book in her Magnolia Sisters series. There are also prequel stories introducing the sisters available. I have read the previous books in the series and can still say that this one can be read as a standalone book. Yet I feel I got a better understanding of the relationships of the main characters by reading the earlier books. I liked how the sisters have each other's back and support each other in their decisions. Also I liked the main couple in this story, Carrie and Dylan. They worked well together, other than their ideas for the town, by opening up to each other. Their different ideas for Magnolia made for a great conflict in this story. Author Michelle Majors did an excellent job of resolving that conflict. I love stories with humor but I also equally love stories that bring tears to my eyes as this one did at times. This story is a poignant, very emotionally satisfying read.
Carrie Reed was considered the town Princess growing up in Magnolia, North Carolina. Niall Reed was her father and he was an artist of some renown. Well, at least he was before his success waned. Yet he was a famous figure with much influence in Magnolia. After his death Carrie discovered that she has two half sisters who inherited his estate with her. Neither of her sisters, Avery Keller from California or Meredith Ventner from right there in Magnolia were aware that Niall Reed was their father. The estate is deep in debt but the sisters agree to work together to salvage what they can of the estate. On top of this the sisters, led by Carrie, are determined to revitalize the town. Those plans were threatened when Dylan Scott showed up back in Magnolia with plans of his own. Plans that were basically the opposite of the sisters' plans. Carrie has high hopes of changing Dylan's mind about his plans. After all they were high school sweethearts until her father bribed Dylan to leave town because he didn't approve of their relationship.
Dylan Scott was a troublemaker "bad boy" back when he lived in Magnolia. He never felt he was good enough for Carrie Reed. So, yes, he left his hometown with a $5,000 check in his pocket courtesy of Niall Reed. He became successful in Boston working at his uncle's company, Scott Development, with his cousin Wiley. Tragedy struck when Dylan's uncle, cousin Wiley and Wiley's wife were killed in a plane crash leaving Dylan to raise his nephew Sam. Dylan chose to move them to Magnolia and brought his redevelopment plan for an upscale revitalization of Magnolia with him. Since that plan was so very different from his former high school sweetheart Carrie's plan they butted heads over their ideas. Spending time again with Carrie is a life-changing event for Dylan. But will their opposing plans destroy their relationship?
The Merriest Magnolia by Michelle Major is the second book in her Magnolia Sisters series. There are also prequel stories introducing the sisters available. I have read the previous books in the series and can still say that this one can be read as a standalone book. Yet I feel I got a better understanding of the relationships of the main characters by reading the earlier books. I liked how the sisters have each other's back and support each other in their decisions. Also I liked the main couple in this story, Carrie and Dylan. They worked well together, other than their ideas for the town, by opening up to each other. Their different ideas for Magnolia made for a great conflict in this story. Author Michelle Majors did an excellent job of resolving that conflict. I love stories with humor but I also equally love stories that bring tears to my eyes as this one did at times. This story is a poignant, very emotionally satisfying read.
December 1, 2023
I've been really enjoying this series. I love the idea of finding family members you didn't know about. Or at least I like it in a book. I might not care for it in real life. I'd have to have it happened to know how I'd feel.
Out of the sisters I think Carrie is the people pleaser. To the point that she'd be willing to but her own life on hold to please those around her. When she realized what her father did, I think that really shook her life. Then add the boy that she loved and lost into the mix and she's sick of it all. I can't say I blamed her.
Dylan is a good guy that never felt like he was worthy of anything. Now that he's rich and back in his hometown he wants to show off that fact a bit. Because of the fact that he was there for kind of a wrong idea I think it made the story even better. The town might have needed a bit of help to bring the economy back but what it didn't need is the core of it to change.
Carrie and Dylan spend a good part of the story fighting. Fighting their past feelings, their present feelings and their idea of what the town should look like.
Aside from all that you do see Carrie grow as a person even more. then she did in the prior book. I also loved how you see have the sister's relationship is progressing. I also liked how Dylan stood up when he was most needed. These two grew a lot since they first fell in love and sometimes you need that. What a sweet holiday story on top of a good romance. I will mention that this series is best read in order.
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April 14, 2025
4/5 stars
i definitely enjoyed this sequel to The Magnolia Sisters, and im glad i enjoyed it more than some of the reviews my goodreads decided to show me.
in this story we follow our FMC, the middle Reed sister, Carrie, as she continues to focus on the plan she developed along with her sisters in the first book to revitalize Magnolia and grow the economy by drawing in outside tourists. however when our FMC Dylan Scott, the man she first fell in love with in highschool who then broke her heart, returns to town she has to fight his growing plans and ideas. she wants to keep the original charm of the small town, he wants to tear down buildings and grow the luxury appeal. with the chemistry between the two seeming to have never dwindled they begin to go head to head, until the mayor assigns them to the same holiday task force.
like i can say for basically every book i review on here, i can see how this book is annoying to some. i thoroughly enjoyed a lot of it, and enjoyed returning to reading about Magnolia and all of the special characters we were introduced to in the first book, but a couple things also annoyed me. firstly, the ending. i feel that it resolved too quickly and it was an easy way out. personally, i think it would have taken me a tiny bit longer but idk. second, dylan's self sabotaging behaviors that he displays are so similar to the ones he tries to help sam with, yet he is oblivious and begins to ruin parts of his life. i did love carrie though. i thought her character was really nice to watch the growth of, from being seen as the town's princess to now prioritizing herself and the things she wants for the first time in her life.
not the most amazing book ever but i still really enjoyed it and it make me feel warm and comforted which i needed right now.
4hr 55min ish
would i recommend this book? yeah for sure if you enjoyed the first one
spice? yes but now super high. like maybe pg 17
did i cry? maybe a tiny bit but im also just crying in general this week haha
i definitely enjoyed this sequel to The Magnolia Sisters, and im glad i enjoyed it more than some of the reviews my goodreads decided to show me.
in this story we follow our FMC, the middle Reed sister, Carrie, as she continues to focus on the plan she developed along with her sisters in the first book to revitalize Magnolia and grow the economy by drawing in outside tourists. however when our FMC Dylan Scott, the man she first fell in love with in highschool who then broke her heart, returns to town she has to fight his growing plans and ideas. she wants to keep the original charm of the small town, he wants to tear down buildings and grow the luxury appeal. with the chemistry between the two seeming to have never dwindled they begin to go head to head, until the mayor assigns them to the same holiday task force.
like i can say for basically every book i review on here, i can see how this book is annoying to some. i thoroughly enjoyed a lot of it, and enjoyed returning to reading about Magnolia and all of the special characters we were introduced to in the first book, but a couple things also annoyed me. firstly, the ending. i feel that it resolved too quickly and it was an easy way out. personally, i think it would have taken me a tiny bit longer but idk. second, dylan's self sabotaging behaviors that he displays are so similar to the ones he tries to help sam with, yet he is oblivious and begins to ruin parts of his life. i did love carrie though. i thought her character was really nice to watch the growth of, from being seen as the town's princess to now prioritizing herself and the things she wants for the first time in her life.
not the most amazing book ever but i still really enjoyed it and it make me feel warm and comforted which i needed right now.
4hr 55min ish
would i recommend this book? yeah for sure if you enjoyed the first one
spice? yes but now super high. like maybe pg 17
did i cry? maybe a tiny bit but im also just crying in general this week haha
November 14, 2023
So far this is hands-down, my favorite book in the series. Carrie is still recuperating from the fall out of her dads secrets and discovering that she has two sisters. You discover just how much her dad made her feel small and you realize quickly that it was because he was jealous. He was so callous in his behavior towards her, but she didn’t recognize it out of love and duty. She’s used to taking care of the whole world, and now is trying to find herself. The camaraderie between her, Avery, and Meredith, is beautiful. Her sisters are funny, sarcastic, and so quick witted that they just made me laugh so hard.
Dylan comes off as an angry person. However, you realize quickly that his past has defined how his heart handles things as an adult. He left Magnolia 10 years ago and broke Carrie‘s heart. When he left the small town had their own thoughts about who he was at his core. Now he has returned as the sole responsible adult for young Sam, who lost both of his parents. The town has no desire to give Dylan a second chance especially because he is trying to change all they know and love about their home.
Sam is well written and your heart breaks for him in more ways than one.
Carrie is still so hurt by the fact that Dylan left her years ago and took her father‘s money to bail out of her life. Will she give him a chance to explain himself? Can these two find their way back to the teenage love they once had?
This book had a little bit of everything in it and it was such a feel good book that brought joy, tears, and out loud laughter to my life.
I really appreciated the way the author wrote the story and that while there is some intimacy it’s not over-the-top or extreme and it’s definitely not the center of the whole story. This author does a very good job of making the characters the center of the book and those are the kind of stories I love to read most.
Dylan comes off as an angry person. However, you realize quickly that his past has defined how his heart handles things as an adult. He left Magnolia 10 years ago and broke Carrie‘s heart. When he left the small town had their own thoughts about who he was at his core. Now he has returned as the sole responsible adult for young Sam, who lost both of his parents. The town has no desire to give Dylan a second chance especially because he is trying to change all they know and love about their home.
Sam is well written and your heart breaks for him in more ways than one.
Carrie is still so hurt by the fact that Dylan left her years ago and took her father‘s money to bail out of her life. Will she give him a chance to explain himself? Can these two find their way back to the teenage love they once had?
This book had a little bit of everything in it and it was such a feel good book that brought joy, tears, and out loud laughter to my life.
I really appreciated the way the author wrote the story and that while there is some intimacy it’s not over-the-top or extreme and it’s definitely not the center of the whole story. This author does a very good job of making the characters the center of the book and those are the kind of stories I love to read most.
December 27, 2020
Originally reviewed at Books Etc.
Note to self: make sure you check if a book is part of a series before you request it. I hadn't realized that The Merriest Magnolia was actually the second book Michelle Major had written in her Magnolia Sisters series. It wasn't the end of the world but it meant I wasn't prepared for not knowing everything about the characters but expecting to. I got over that fairly quickly but then the rest of the book kind of let me down.
In a surprise to no one who knows what romance novel tropes I like, I requested this book because of the second chance love story. If I'm being honest though, I'm starting to wonder why. Because usually there's major heartbreak and massive miscommunication and then lots of anger when they see each other again after 10+ years. So, I think I need to reevaluate things and take a closer look at which second chance stories I am actually drawn to. And maybe not get distracted by festive storylines!
Dylan was, quite frankly, an idiot. I can forgive running off when he was 18 (ish?) because no one really knows themselves at that age. He should have just talked to Carrie because he was stupid to think she was too good for him (not to say that she wasn't good...she was. And perhaps was too good for him. But that's for HER to decide.) and there was a lot of hurt and emotional issues that could have been avoided if he hadn't just taken off. He was holding onto too much anger about what her father did to him and the town and couldn't see that he was acting in quite a similar manner when he came storming back into town wanting to take over things and make them "better" without even taking the time to figure out what the town actually needed. Newsflash: it wasn't him and his fancy schmancy ideas. Ahem. Yeah, I didn't like Dylan at all and that did not help me like this story.
Carrie was a very good person. Too good. She had turned into a doormat because her father emotionally manipulated her. I feel like I was missing a few pieces since I hadn't read the first book where she and her half-sisters find out about each other after their father's death. He seemed like a real piece of work and I hated that she lost out on so much of her own life because he and his ego were too fragile to let her go and experience things on her own. And he discouraged her painting because she was better than him! What parent does that?? She did have a typical romance heroine journey and found a backbone and rekindled her love of painting, so I appreciated that. But it was hard to get over my anger with her father...and Dylan...and even her mother for leaving her with her dad.
I did, surprisingly, love the fact that Dylan was now the guardian of his late cousin's teenager (obviously I was not a fan of people dying and the kid having his life turned upside down). I was more invested in Sam and his storyline than I was the romance between Dylan and Carrie. I liked seeing as he opened up to Carrie, and then Dylan, and started to learn that there were still people in the world who cared about him and were there for him. I said it was surprising that I liked this storyline because I'm not into single parent stories. I don't want kids and have a hard time connecting with romances where the hero or heroine has kids. But there was something about this one that got me right in the feels.
Ultimately, The Merriest Magnolia did not leave me feeling very...well...merry. Michelle Major's latest novel wasn't a bad one. It just wasn't for me. Might be worth a read if you're looking for a hit of small town Christmas and half-sisters becoming the best of friends but if you already have a TBR pile as tall as a Christmas tree, I'd maybe give this one a miss.
*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*
Note to self: make sure you check if a book is part of a series before you request it. I hadn't realized that The Merriest Magnolia was actually the second book Michelle Major had written in her Magnolia Sisters series. It wasn't the end of the world but it meant I wasn't prepared for not knowing everything about the characters but expecting to. I got over that fairly quickly but then the rest of the book kind of let me down.
In a surprise to no one who knows what romance novel tropes I like, I requested this book because of the second chance love story. If I'm being honest though, I'm starting to wonder why. Because usually there's major heartbreak and massive miscommunication and then lots of anger when they see each other again after 10+ years. So, I think I need to reevaluate things and take a closer look at which second chance stories I am actually drawn to. And maybe not get distracted by festive storylines!
Dylan was, quite frankly, an idiot. I can forgive running off when he was 18 (ish?) because no one really knows themselves at that age. He should have just talked to Carrie because he was stupid to think she was too good for him (not to say that she wasn't good...she was. And perhaps was too good for him. But that's for HER to decide.) and there was a lot of hurt and emotional issues that could have been avoided if he hadn't just taken off. He was holding onto too much anger about what her father did to him and the town and couldn't see that he was acting in quite a similar manner when he came storming back into town wanting to take over things and make them "better" without even taking the time to figure out what the town actually needed. Newsflash: it wasn't him and his fancy schmancy ideas. Ahem. Yeah, I didn't like Dylan at all and that did not help me like this story.
Carrie was a very good person. Too good. She had turned into a doormat because her father emotionally manipulated her. I feel like I was missing a few pieces since I hadn't read the first book where she and her half-sisters find out about each other after their father's death. He seemed like a real piece of work and I hated that she lost out on so much of her own life because he and his ego were too fragile to let her go and experience things on her own. And he discouraged her painting because she was better than him! What parent does that?? She did have a typical romance heroine journey and found a backbone and rekindled her love of painting, so I appreciated that. But it was hard to get over my anger with her father...and Dylan...and even her mother for leaving her with her dad.
I did, surprisingly, love the fact that Dylan was now the guardian of his late cousin's teenager (obviously I was not a fan of people dying and the kid having his life turned upside down). I was more invested in Sam and his storyline than I was the romance between Dylan and Carrie. I liked seeing as he opened up to Carrie, and then Dylan, and started to learn that there were still people in the world who cared about him and were there for him. I said it was surprising that I liked this storyline because I'm not into single parent stories. I don't want kids and have a hard time connecting with romances where the hero or heroine has kids. But there was something about this one that got me right in the feels.
Ultimately, The Merriest Magnolia did not leave me feeling very...well...merry. Michelle Major's latest novel wasn't a bad one. It just wasn't for me. Might be worth a read if you're looking for a hit of small town Christmas and half-sisters becoming the best of friends but if you already have a TBR pile as tall as a Christmas tree, I'd maybe give this one a miss.
*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*
October 8, 2020
Carrie Reid is Magnolia’s sweetheart, living her life helping others. She recently lost her father and found out she has two half sisters. Now they are all trying to save their late fathers disaster of an estate as well as rejuvenate the town of Magnolia. Carrie has given all she had to support her father and work at his gallery, forgoing her own dream of being an artist. Can Carrie live her dream while trying to save the town of Magnolia?
Dylan Scott is back in Magnolia after a devastating loss. He has come home to try and settle into a new life for himself and his new son. He has plans to make Magnolia into a high-end tourist destination, much to the chagrin of not only the town folk, but to his first and only love, Carrie Reid. Can Dylan change her mind about his plans for the town and for their future?
This is such a fabulous Christmas story of family, friendship, and love. I adore the sister’s spunky personalities and how they have become a family. The characters are so brilliantly written, and it was fun to catch up with the other sisters and all the supporting characters. This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand a lone novel, as Ms. Major does and excellent job of filling in the backstory. Thank you so much to the author, Michelle Major, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was wonderful! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.
Dylan Scott is back in Magnolia after a devastating loss. He has come home to try and settle into a new life for himself and his new son. He has plans to make Magnolia into a high-end tourist destination, much to the chagrin of not only the town folk, but to his first and only love, Carrie Reid. Can Dylan change her mind about his plans for the town and for their future?
This is such a fabulous Christmas story of family, friendship, and love. I adore the sister’s spunky personalities and how they have become a family. The characters are so brilliantly written, and it was fun to catch up with the other sisters and all the supporting characters. This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand a lone novel, as Ms. Major does and excellent job of filling in the backstory. Thank you so much to the author, Michelle Major, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was wonderful! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 29, 2020
Carrie has always been the type to put others before herself. It seems though she lost herself, gained a few sisters and with Dylan back in town shaking things up in the town she's trying to improve she's more confused then ever. Dylan is working on changing the town he grew up bringing in with a disgruntled teen in tow. After what the child has been though he thought the small town life would help him and the kid but this comes with upsetting Carrie who is on a mission to stop him from developing the town rather then improving and maybe with helping out with the christmas side of things in town it can improve him.
You know what I don't think I did the book justice when trying to write a bit of what its about. There was so much to enjoy about this book. Seeing the characters develop over time, the way they started and the way they were going I really appreciated seeing that. I loved seeing the romance as well, I'm a fan of second chances when it comes to love especially when its been years and they've had time to grow and it was interesting seeing how thing were going about this time. They both there on opposite ends of the issues of what was going on in town and I was curious what was going to happen with that as well, someone had to give or they had to learn to work with eachother. I loved also watching Dylan slowly warm up to the holidays as well with his past and now caring for a child who loves the holidays and coming to a down who loves the holidays it was only a matter of time. Overall I really enjoyed this book.
You know what I don't think I did the book justice when trying to write a bit of what its about. There was so much to enjoy about this book. Seeing the characters develop over time, the way they started and the way they were going I really appreciated seeing that. I loved seeing the romance as well, I'm a fan of second chances when it comes to love especially when its been years and they've had time to grow and it was interesting seeing how thing were going about this time. They both there on opposite ends of the issues of what was going on in town and I was curious what was going to happen with that as well, someone had to give or they had to learn to work with eachother. I loved also watching Dylan slowly warm up to the holidays as well with his past and now caring for a child who loves the holidays and coming to a down who loves the holidays it was only a matter of time. Overall I really enjoyed this book.
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