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Honey Creek #3

Dinner on Primrose Hill

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The delightful and touching new novel from the bestselling author of dozens of treasured romances. Return to the picturesque Texas town of Honey Creek—a place where friendship and warm welcomes can be relied on, and love always finds a way…

Benjamin Monroe is pretty sure how his life will play out. He’ll continue teaching chemistry in his small college, and spend his free time biking through the valley. Eventually, he’ll retire to putter around in his garden and greenhouse.

His colleague, Virginia Clark, is not one for routines. She’s chatty, spontaneous, and bubbly, and before Benjamin realizes what happened, she’s talked him into collaborating on a research project—studying the mating habits of college students. Virginia knows her desire to work with Benjamin is motivated by more than the potential prize money . . . and hopes he might not be quite as indifferent as he seems to be.

Ketch Kincaid, one of Benjamin’s star students, returned to college after serving in the army. He needs something to get his mind off his recent breakup and collecting research data might do it. And there’s another distraction on the horizon—a woman who looks like she, too, knows about heartache.

Soon enough, their project, “The Chemistry of Mating,” is gaining notoriety. Friends, neighbors . . . the whole town has become involved. But no matter what the data determines, one conclusion seems inescapable: love follows its own rules . . .

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 26, 2021

544 people are currently reading
10392 people want to read

About the author

Jodi Thomas

130 books2,505 followers
I'm a New York Times and USA Today Best Selling author, wife, mother, in-law, grandmother, sister, friend, and owner of one fat cat.

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5 stars
987 (45%)
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784 (35%)
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340 (15%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
Profile Image for  Danielle The Book Huntress .
2,756 reviews6,633 followers
November 18, 2021
Dinner on Primrose Hill is a cozy, thoroughly enjoyable novel with characters that become family and friends. Jodi Thomas’ prose is highly engaging, leaving no reader’s emotions untouched. The themes of family, friendship, love and loss resonate off the page, translated from words into feelings. Each couple spotlights a unique and distinct love story. Thomas demonstrates her knack for writing affective love stories with plenty of romantic tension and chemistry, that are also wholesome. When this book is over, readers will feel like they just visited Honey Creek, Texas. Jodi Thomas just does it for me!

Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com

Arc provided for review by Netgalley, courtesy of Zebra Books
Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews490 followers
October 26, 2021
Sweet and utterly enjoyable…

Honey Creek is one of those places I wish were real. From quirky homes to quirkier, eccentric people, the town quietly embraces them all, comforting and nurturing…

This story followed three very different couples as they fell in love in wildly varied ways and whys. This was home, whether now or in the past, and they all felt that connection. Six people, their paths intersecting and winding together, slowly revealed their secrets to one another….

What happens when you put a lawman, ex-military, professors, a librarian and a woman still finding herself, in a town surrounded by a deadly threat? There is drama but also many moments of quiet reflection on choices made. Their stories snuck up on me with emotion that I didn’t see coming until I was completely lost in it all…

The charm of this town and its inhabitants never fails to capture my heart and this time was no exception… ~Diane, 4 stars
Profile Image for Gail.
1,545 reviews
June 8, 2022
What an awesome and heartwarming read. I loved every minute.
Profile Image for Maria.
2,493 reviews46 followers
July 7, 2021
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
A highly entertaining read showing how romance, passion and chemistry happen between the most unlikely people, “Dinner on Primrose Hill”, by Jodi Thomas (Kensington Books/Zebra), creates a fictional world with unique and relatable characters readers want to escape to.
I found the story cosy and romantic, the characters and their stories different and interesting and the three couples’ HEA very uplifting for such troubled souls. I really liked that some of the characters weren’t broken but had lost hope and yet were able to find happiness. The fact they are not perfect and are not trying to impress is also fascinating.
The writing style is good and I just wanted to keep reading and see where the plot was going. I loved meeting characters from the previous story.
Some dimensions are openly far-fetched – the 8-year boy speaks sometimes like an adult, some dialogue parts sounded unnatural – but it all fits so well with the story. Very enjoyable!
Profile Image for T. Rosado.
1,919 reviews60 followers
December 19, 2021

3.5 Stars

I enjoy Thomas's books with the multiple storylines and narratives, but this one felt like it had too many in one book. There were three separate romances and each character had backstories that I felt were significant on their own that they could have been their own book. Nonetheless, it was entertaining and I think we'll be seeing some of the couples in future books.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
6,608 reviews237 followers
October 26, 2021
This is a sweet and charming read. I did enjoy getting to the various couples in this book. Honey Creek is a nice place to visit. Each book can be read as a stand alone novel. The people are genuine. Each couple did not have instant romantic connections. They were slow and sweet; except Ben and Virginia Clark. As Virginia said, they are older and don't have as much time so no time to waste.

Ben and Virginia are opposites...Ben is a country boy and Virginia a city girl. Yet, they are so good together. Another couple that I liked is Hank and Millie. There was trust issues between them at first. Just because they started out as strangers. Yet, as time went on they got closer to one another. While, I liked Ketch; I did struggle a bit more to connect with him and his story.

As a fan and long time reader of Jodi, I do enjoy her books. I look forward to her next one.
Profile Image for Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader.
1,696 reviews208 followers
November 7, 2022
This series has really surprised me if the next book is as good as the first three I will be in heaven. I loved Tuesday and Ketch they were the best characters. I wish everyone could read this book.
4 stars from the avid reader.
Profile Image for Virginia Campbell.
1,282 reviews352 followers
August 22, 2021
Returning to author Jodi Thomas' "Honey Creek Series" is once again a true reader's treat with Book Three, "Dinner on Primrose Hill". This time the setting is the small college town of Clifton Bend, TX--not too far from Honey Creek, and located in the same beautiful valley. Forty-something college professors Virginia Clark and Benjamin Monroe are seemingly opposites in just about every way--she's bouncy, bubbly, and effusive--he's a methodical, orderly, man of routine. They both teach at Clifton College and are brought together when Virginia suggests that they collaborate on a research project, "The Chemistry of Mating", which could earn them some prize money. With the nagging thought thought that somehow, somewhere, he and Virginia had met before, Benjamin agrees to her plan. When former military man Ketch Kincaid takes his broken heart to a bar to beat out his troubles, he and barmaid Tuesday Raine find themselves coming to each other's rescue. Ketch, who is attending college and working full-time is hired by Benjamin to help with the research project. College librarian Amelia Remington and wild son of a preacher Harrison Norton literally collide with each other on a rainy street. After crashing into her with his motorcycle, he becomes her care provider. Life and love are always different than we imagine them to be--sometimes more than we expected and often times less than we had hoped. Author Jodi Thomas is a master storyteller who gives her characters real flaws, good hearts, and the second chances they well deserve. With her trademark humor, treasured surprise twists, and memorable moments of poignancy, she gives her readers a full sense of involvement in each new story line that she creates. "Dinner on Primrose Hill" is an entertaining addition to the "Honey Creek Series", and readers will also greatly enjoy the first two books in the series: "Breakfast at the Honey Creek Cafe" and "Picnic in Someday Valley".

Book Copy Gratis Author
Profile Image for Lynne Spreen.
Author 24 books224 followers
July 19, 2021
This is a romance novel involving three couples. Benjamin and Jenny teach at the same college. They knew each other from years ago, and the flame never burned out. We know this because when they're finally in the car together and he is wondering if he should take a chance on kissing her, she says, "Do you want to touch my breasts?" This is not meant to be funny or ironic.

Hank is a pastor's good-for-nothing son who runs over the librarian with his motorcycle. Remorseful, he moves in to take care of his "pretty lady." Love bursts into bloom even though he's hiding the fact that he's secretly on the bomb squad of an entirely different city; this is helpful since somebody's leaving poorly-made pipe bombs around the town.

Ketch falls in love with Tuesday, since they have foster childhood in common. He's gigantic, she's Lilliputian, and even though they're intent on remaining platonic, every time they see each other, she tells him, "Pick me up," which he does like a toy. And then they kiss.

These unconvincing story lines, plus typos and illogical sentences, made for a DNF. Thanks anyway to the publisher for allowing me to read this novel.
Profile Image for Gail.
Author 25 books216 followers
June 3, 2022
This story introduces some new characters to the Honey Creek series. Professors at the local college (It's not clear if it's a 2-year or a 4-year school, but that doesn't matter to the story, just to my guesses about where in Texas Thomas might have set her valley.) and some students. This is the story with the amateur pipe bombs left around town. I liked it a whole lot. Good read.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
2,069 reviews284 followers
October 15, 2021
So much to love and enjoy reading Dinner on Primrose Hill by Jodi Thomas.

No one writes a small Texas town better than Jodi. It's obvious she has a great love for the place and she makes her reader love it too.

The characters are so loveable and such fun. Some of them carry "bruising" from their past. In this book we have three main pairs, promising some romance.  1. Benjamin and Virginia, two college professors in their early forties. He is a head person and she is a heart person and their topic of research over the Spring break? What makes people attracted to each other?
2.  Ketch and Tuesday. Ketch is an ex soldier just finishing up his studies and Tuesday is a young woman who starts out as a barmaid but really wants to be a nurse. And... she owns the Primrose Hill house.
3. Amelia the University librarian and Hank - well not giving away what Hank does but he's a character anyway.
The humour in this story is a load of fun. There is just a touch of exaggeration, not much but a gentle touch. The dialogue is witty when the reader least expects it and a chuckle emits on the spot.
There is a bit of a town mystery going on, and it is mainly through that that all the couples are interconnect and the story takes on a cohesiveness. I love that compassion for her characters that oozes out of Jodi Thomas.
That Primrose Hill house. The kind of house we'd all like to explore and maybe even live there. I know I would.
Another totally delightful read from Jodi Thomas.
Profile Image for Maureen ~Bitch Can Write A Book.
1,504 reviews35 followers
November 2, 2021
There’s just something about this series. This author has an unique way of sliding you right into the story and a part of it all.

I absolutely loved this visit to Honey Creek and the surrounding town. The characters are so unique, and the stories literally consume you. And I love that everyone has a bit of mystery. So much fun. I can’t wait for the next visit.
Profile Image for Janet.
3,356 reviews24 followers
December 30, 2021
Beautifully written! I really enjoyed the multiple story lines.
Profile Image for Marti.
3,309 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2021
Dinner on Primrose Hill by Jodi Thomas is the third book in the Honey Creek series. The books are all set in Honey Creek, Texas. In each novel the stories of three separate couples all roll around each other while the primary story involves them.

Benjamin and Virginia are both professors at the nearby college. They are opposites and work together on a research paper. He is a chemistry professor and she is a biology professor. They are the first couple.

Hank and Millie are even more opposite. Everyone knows Hank as the preacher’s kid who was out of control. What they don’t know is that he is a specialist with law enforcement. Millie is the local librarian for the college. As Hank comes blowing into town, he hits Millie and she is badly hurt. Hank agrees to stay and help Millie. They are couple number two.

Ketch is an ex service man going to college to find his new life. He has no family to help him and he is determined to move on into what he is going to do next. Tuesday is shy and easily bullied by some of the locals, who see her as easy. Ketch helps her to fix her place and she helps him find his way. They are couple number three.

The main storyline focuses on pipe bombs that are being left all over town. The group of couples along with the sheriff are working together to work toward solving the mystery while falling in love.

I enjoy Jodi Thomas’ novels about Honey Creek. I like the mix of characters and how they are woven into the story. The storyline moves right along and keeps you guessing. Dinner on Primrose Creek by Jodi Thomas is a good read.
Profile Image for TLuvs.
252 reviews7 followers
January 3, 2022
First off, thank you to Kensington Books and Between The Chapters for this ARC!

Being a bookseller, this is the type of book I would recommend to the casual reader. It is very light-hearted, easy to read and has a simplistic plot. It can be read during any season of the year, so out on a beach or in the mountains skiing, keep this book handy to pass the time.

Dinner On PH follows six main characters who pair off into three couples. Within each of these individuals, as well as couples, there is internal turmoil and a past they are running from. Finding solice within eachother, pain is comforted and scars begin healing. Toward the end, a possibly deadly situation involving the whole town, intertwines all six characters. Formulating a plan and working as a group to resolve the situation ads another layer to the characters depths. With a successful ending, the book finishes with a pretty little bow of an epilogue.

Trust and Love are two BIG words for me that a writer needs to develope over a period of time. This being a stand alone surely didn't have that time. So love was found a little to quickly for my liking between many of the main characters. A soft romance like this is adored by many readers but just missed the mark for my preferences. That said, each time I picked up the book, a connection to one of the characters was found in some way. Any fan of Nora Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, Donna Grant or Debbie Macomber will love books by Jodi Thomas!

Final Rating: 3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,125 reviews115 followers
October 13, 2021
A Harley, a broken-hearted guy, written by Jodi Thomas. I was entranced from the first sentence. I really felt for Ketch. All his dreams destroyed and he thinks no one will ever love him. There are two other couples who comprise the story and I liked the meshing of their stories. Some of the author’s phrases had me laughing out loud. I liked all the characters but had a special interest in Ketch. I loved this book because it made me feel good while reading it. Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the advance read.
Profile Image for Carolyn.
2,233 reviews
October 27, 2021
Very cute romance involving three lonely, quirky couples. I didn't want to put it down. I just wish that after the big build up towards resolving things for everyone, it is done quickly in a couple of pages in the epilogue.
Profile Image for January.
2,895 reviews124 followers
January 17, 2023
Dinner on Primrose Hill by Jodi Thomas
308-page Paperback story ends on page 288
Honey Creek #3

Genre: Romance > Contemporary Romance; Women's Fiction > Chick Lit; Mystery, Family, Adult Fiction

Featuring: Texas, Small-Town, Professors, College, Soldiers, Multiple POVs, Week Days, Times of Day, Abandonment, Sex - low details, Violence, Multiple Storylines, Next Book Preview - Sunday at Sunflower Inn •2 chapters

Rating as a movie: PG-15 for suggestive language

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

My thoughts: 📖 Page 198 of 288/308 Ch. 26 Hank - I don't like that Harrison is now Hank. I get both are his name but just pick one for titles. Ketch is definitely getting used for character with name you don't like theme. I was surprised how much of this book I read but then a crime mystery comes out of left field and it's so out of place I need to regroup. I was enjoying all 3 storylines before then.
📖 252 Ch. 34 Ketch - At this point, I'm just going to go with it. I thought I'd be over the Virginia/Jenny thing but it's driving me bonkers, it should be Ginny.

I was really enjoying this book although there were little irritations, mostly my fault. The chapters all have character names and they start with Harrison although in the 1st sentence it says he goes by Hank makes sense to me but for some reason midway through the book Harrison chapters became Hank chapters and that kind of got on my nerves. I thought Ketch was a terrible name, Jenny for Virginia really irked me, and I thought 5 people were 10 was ridiculous, I could understand why you might think Hank and Harrison are 2 different people but Ben and Benjamin the rest are practically pet names. Despite the crazy names I was actually enjoying the 3 romantic story lies more than the previous 2 books until the bomb storyline showed up and ruined everything which is why it's only going to get 3½ stars from me. I just couldn't enjoy the last quarter of the book; the uncle-kid thing was very awkward and bad parenting.

Recommend to others?: Sure. If you can think of it as a cheesy cozy sitcom, you'll probably have a better experience than I did.
Profile Image for Heather.
385 reviews56 followers
October 5, 2021
If you’re a fan of Jodi Thomas, you know that she writes series about small towns in Texas which feature different residents’ love stories in each title. They are all sweet and wholesome and this series has a bit of suspense. This title featured some people from the local small college- 2 professors, 1 current student, a past student, the new librarian, and a bomb specialist from Houston who just happened to be visiting his hometown when they started finding pipe bombs placed around town. I’m looking forward to the next volume in the series already! Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Michelle.
508 reviews15 followers
July 1, 2021
I have been in a reading funk lately, so I was happy that I get the chance to review this book. It was really good. I liked how the book focused on different characters and I think my favorite character was Hank. He was really sweet to Millie. The ending was not what I expected, but it was still good. I am grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jenny.
978 reviews23 followers
November 21, 2021
Registered on Bookcrossing - https://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/...

Really good story with a lot of interesting characters, it was a breath of fresh air in the romance genre. I had never read anything by this author so I was happy that I won this book on Goodreads. Looking forward to more books by this author. This is my honest review.
Profile Image for Hannah.
327 reviews15 followers
January 22, 2022
I haven't read the other books in the series, but I understood what was happening well enough without the prior knowledge. The plot is okay, I thought it would be more focused on the study happening but that felt more like a background detail. I enjoyed the pipe bomb mystery that was added into all the romance itself.
Profile Image for Jennifer Kayes.
660 reviews9 followers
November 11, 2021
Really enjoyed the intertwining of the characters in this story and the humor in it also. Did alot of laugh out loud in this book. Can't wait for the next book.
941 reviews15 followers
November 13, 2021
This was my third book in the series & I’ve enjoyed every one of them. Bummed that I have to wait until May 2022 for the fourth
Profile Image for Jenna.
2,010 reviews20 followers
March 4, 2023
New characters of Benjamin, Virginia, Ketch, Tuesday, Amelia, Norton introduced but fit in well with the Honey Creek town characters & stories.
Sweet & charming once again.
Profile Image for Carol.
26 reviews
November 6, 2021
I liked this book. Using character strands always is interesting.
2,939 reviews38 followers
February 14, 2022
It was hard to rate this book,while the story was good, switching back and forth each chapter. You would get interested in a storyline and it would switch.
Profile Image for Michelle.
85 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. It' s broken up in chapters about different characters. I couldn't imagine how it would all come together but it did. Will definitely read something else by this author. Again a light, easy, relaxing read. Something to take your mind off of COVID!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews

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