When sparks fly, will they relight an old flame or leave her life in ashes?
A failed marriage. No job. A looming court date to face her abusive ex-husband. Worst of all, she’s had to move back in with her parents. But just when Madison Talbot thinks things can’t get any worse, she bumps into her high school sweetheart—literally. Romance is the last thing Madison needs, especially with the man who once left her high and dry—so she keeps telling herself.
Dylan Stewart returned to Cedar Lake to be with his family after an unimaginable tragedy and is set on staying for good. When Madison moves back to town, he’s got one more reason to make his work-from-home arrangement stick. As the guy who broke her heart first, can he help her see him in a new light?
After reconnecting over festival planning at the Starlight Inn, old feelings between them spark to a flame. But between family meddling and the wounds from Madison’s traumatic past, the ties between them soon begin to unravel.
Can these two learn to face the world together, or are they doomed to repeat their past mistakes?
This is a Small Town Romance, and this is the first book in the Starlight Inn series. I have to say I really loved the storyline in this book. I really loved all the characters. The two main characters where high school sweetheart, but Dylan hurt Madison then they lost connection with each other. This is a sweet story, and I loved every minute of reading it. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Starfell Press) or author (Jessica Anne Renwick) via Booksirens, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
I couldn't put this down - it was the perfect blend of feel-good romance and characters that I completely fell in love with. I loved the way the story flowed with a dialogue between characters that made them relatable, and a plot that was both realistic and exciting enough to keep the pages turning! Can't wait for more in this series!
The combination of small-town romance, returning home after a failed marriage and a high school sweetheart makes this a story that drew me in completely. It was so well written that the words just flowed off the page as I was reading. This is a wonderful first book in the new series Starlight Inn.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Renwick has taken wholesome and added a dollop of tough love. Life isn’t always damsels and knights, and this book intertwines the difficult decisions and consequences of the real world and its harsh realities with the uplifting beauty of finding the warmth and support of a place to call home. This small town romance navigates sensitive but meaningful topics, showing how love and support from family and friends and partners can help one overcome trauma from domestic abuse and navigate unhealthy work environments and past mistakes. Renwick’s writing is concise and fresh, the plot flows smoothly, and the characters and their lives are all relatable and so dang heartwarming, I want to move to Cedar Lake! Looking forward to the next story.
I enjoyed this books out Sophie. She seems like a genuinely nice person to be friends with. Marshal seems like a very caring person. Also, his twin sister Madison seems like a good person, who unfortunately had to deal with abuse. I want to continue to read more about all of them.
The writing is fine. I was startled to see that the author had been a victim of domestic abuse; that breaks my heart. So, the author certainly knew what she was talking about there.
As a psychologist, I was rather bothered by the author calling a master's level social worker Dr. Sorry, but there's about four years difference in education. Further, I had trouble with a social worker not referring someone who had undergone serious trauma to someone with more knowledge, but that's my issue, not the author's.
I also have a problem with reading about tarot cards rather than turning to a higher source. It actually made me sad that these people were going through serious trauma and grief and they didn't even think to turn to the Lord?
Sometimes, I am so grateful for those Sunday School teachers who persisted when I was young. I only wish I could reach through these pages and offer the greatest gift to these characters.
Madison and Dylan had grown up together in the small town of Cedar Lake, not too far from Vancouver. Dylan had left Madison disappointed after high school. She married Jamie and left town. Now, almost a decade later, she is back as a divorced and abused woman. Dylan had come home to help his mom, sister-in-law and niece after the death of his father and brother.
After their first run-in, they begin to see more and more of each other and those same feelings from long ago begin to bubble up again. After so many years and disappointments, is it possible to believe they might have a future together?
This was a sweet, clean, wholesome romantic story that is believable and real. This is the first book I have read by this author but I look forward to enjoying many more.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This small town feel good story delivers what it promises. Madison returns home to pick up the pieces after the end of het marriage and runs into her high school sweetheart. But life in a small town offers few job opportunities and little privacy.
When the second-chance romance trope is done right it's one of my favorite things. And Harvest Wishes is done right: There needs to be a genuine, believable obstacle which divided our characters in the past. Check. I need to care about them and be able to see how perfect they could be together if they just give that second chance a try. Check. Then I need to read some genuine remorse and a real effort to move beyond that obstacle as they reach for a future together. Check, check, and check! Madison and Dylan's story made my heart so happy. I felt for Madi as she stumbles through the harshness of a divorce, a terrible abusive ex, all the court drama, and moving back to her old hometown where of course every single person knows about her life. Small town romance? Yep. That means everyone and their grandma knows your business and it can be a huge pain. Madison is strong enough to handle all of it, take the steps she needs to for her own healing (including therapy! Yay for normalizing therapy in a romance book!) and then also open her heart again to the possibility of a relationship with her first love, Dylan. And Dylan is perfection, owning up to his past mistakes, supporting Madison without judging or questioning, and never being too pushy.
TLDR; If you like small town sweet romance with a side of second-chances, plus a stellar secondary cast who really bring Cedar Lake alive, you want this book.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily.
Great storyline with wonderful characters. I think this is going to be a wonderful series. Well written with strong insight into the relationship between Dylan and Madison. Madison is learning to deal with the aftermath of leaving an abusive spouse. I highly recommend this one. I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.
This is a well written book with strong characters and a realistic story line. The author brings an emotional story with real life difficulties and the decisions to face along the way. It's a small town romance with all the love and support from family and friends to help deal with abuse and past mistakes. It's a heartwarming story and I enjoyed reading. I'm looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Harvest wishes feels like fall; cozy and comforting, but still equipped with surprises. Following the journey in cedar lake of Madison and Dylan, who both are currently living with only one foot in the town as they navigate their own unrelated struggles to find out how they fit together now. With a town full of fun characters (some of whom were introduced in “Pumpkin promises”, which you should also pick up, though not required reading beforehand), “Harvest wishes” also has beautiful scenery, and the hope of a new beginning.
It’s a feel good story drenched in honesty, as the weight of circumstances often outside of their control threatens to bear down on them, and they learn to find strength together.
“Harvest Wishes” is a lovely, feel-good story. Jessica Anne Renwick has given us the perfect escape as we step into the small and friendly town of Cedar Lake.
Madison Talbot has escaped an abusive marriage and moved back to Cedar Lake to stay with her parents while she gets her life back in order. She is looking for a new job and volunteering at Pawsitive Match which is a pet rescue facility. Madison has already discovered that life is full of difficult moments and disappointments.
Dylan Stewart also returns to Cedar Lake to help his mother and sister-in-law out after the tragic death of his father and brother. Unfortunately, Dylan broke Madison’s heart years ago. Chances of them having a second chance are slim. Dylan is friends with Madison’s twin, Marshal. Family and friends are very protective of Madison and sometimes to Madison’s dismay. They love her and she knows that but doesn’t want them interfering in her life.
This second chance romance touches on physical abuse, families being there for each other during the hard times and the good times and small towns that have people who care and love and support one another. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Step into the world of Cedar Lake and see for yourself how Madison and Dylan overcome obstacles and find their happy ever after. I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am happy to leave this review voluntarily.
First time reading a book written by Jessica Anne Renwick and I'm so excited to read more.
Harvest Wishes is very "hallmark like" and such an easy and sweet romantic read. Characters are easy to enjoy and well developed. Even though it's an easy and enjoyable read, the author did a good job and not making it "fluffy" and including real life struggles that readers may relate too.
I can't wait to read more books in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Harvest Wishes is a perfect book to escape into. Jess has created a fun romance with witty banter but she also packs in some heavy topics to round it out. I really enjoyed this and can't wait for the rest of the series.
I was lucky enough to receive this book from BookSirens. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts. These thoughts are completely my own and not swayed in any way by anyone else’s reviews or opinions.
My Rating: There is no doubt about this book being a 5 out of 5 stars must read book! I will read this book and all books in this series over and over again. I can barely even explain how much I love this story. I am excited about what else there is to read. If you love romance and excitement, read this! If you love small town and meet again love stories, read this! If you love to read in general, read this! It is worth every page and every minute.
I really enjoyed this book, but I kept wishing to read more about what happened in between chapters...especially in court.
For some reason, I couldn't get signed in to Jessica's club to get my free read about Sophia & Marshal, which disappointed me. I tried twice, but the thing just kept spinning...never stopping.
Harvest Wishes is a Starlight Inn Series Book 1. The author is Jessica Anne Renwick. This is the first book I have read from Jessica and I was not disappointed. The characters are realistic and believable with problems that real people struggle with. Madison Talbot is divorced from an abusive husband, Jamie. She has gone home to her parents and a small hometown, Cedar Lake, Canada. Of course Madison runs into her High School boyfriend, Dylan, and sparks fly. Trusting anyone after abuse is difficult, and I felt that Jessica Anne Renwick dealt with this issue in a positive way. Surrounded by family and her friends as well as a budding relationship with Dylan, Madison begins to heal and move forward with her life. I can’t wait to read book 2! I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
I'm glad that i found this book and this author. So warm, cute and beautiful story in autumn spirit, written in an amazing style. I enjoyed every chapter , I fell in love with the character & with the place Cedar Lake.
I'm looking forward to read Pumpkin Promises & I'm so excited for more books.
5/5 ⭐
I'm glad that I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Harvest Wishes introduces you to a whole cast of characters that are easy to fall in love with. The main character was one worth admiring, who was put into a horrible situation and get out of it. She is someone who certainly has her own problems, but she tackles them and overcomes them.
This small town romance is a feel-good romance that still tackles some heavy topics. It talks about grief and abusive relationships, but it doesn't weigh you down emotionally. The characters, while going through these things, felt real and relatable. They made choices that made sense in the situations they had to go through.
I liked that the romance was a second chance romance between high school sweethearts, their love for each other never died, they were the one who got away. When they meet up again, they obviously have changed a bit, but the love they had for each other is still there. They had to get over the past and find a way to work through what had happened.
Cute, clean story well worth a read. I can't wait for the rest of the series to find out what happens with some of the other characters we meet in this book.
I received an ARC of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I couldn’t wait to journey to the picturesque town of Cedar Lake once again!
Harvest Wishes tells the story of Madison and Dylan, a pair of high school sweethearts who drift apart before meeting up again in their hometown of Cedar Lake. Armed with baggage from their own relationship and subsequent relationships, Renwick weaves a beautiful tale of recovery, moving forward and learning to trust oneself and others.
Fellow Pumpkin Promises fans will be delighted to know Sophie and Marshal continue their love story with an appearance in Harvest Wishes.
This small town is the perfect setting for romance! Each story tackles sensitive and meaningful topics through love with the tremendous support from family and friends.
I am hook, line and sinker invested in Cedar Lake and it’s residents. I cannot wait to read Ann and Matthew’s story next! I also am secretly hoping that we might get a little more of Tad and Ethan’s as well!!
I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to see where the Starlight Inn series goes!
I enjoy reading sweet romance, and this one is a perfect small-town romance book, which made me fall in love with it immediately.
All the characters in this book are very well developed and have their unique way of looking at life. I enjoyed reading this book, mainly because the author has weaved real-life struggles like domestic abuse and past mistakes into this romance effortlessly. Also, the importance of family and friends in dealing with the struggles is shown in the best light possible.
I absolutely loved this book and would like to read more books in the series.
I received an ARC of this book, and I’m leaving a review voluntarily.
The first book in the Starlight Inn series a well written story with a very good storyline, that held my interest until the end. Madison Talbot and Dylan Stewart both come back to Cedar Lake with things in both their lifes get turned upside down. I enjoyed seeing this second chance story come together. This is a new Author to me and I want to read more by her. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely fell in love with this second chance roller coaster romance, each character being held back by their past mistake one way or another. their teenager relationship was filled with lots of misunderstandings, they will have to work at letting go of the past, all the drama, Madison’s family is driving everybody crazy, she is fighting to find her own way in life, on the other hand Dylan is the nicest man with a lot of bad memories and doubts on his mind. A complicated love story that will make you laugh and cry, it will keep you intrigued waiting to see what happens next until the last page, I promised. I receive and Arc and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Book Sirens gave me the opportunity to read an ARC of “Harvest Wishes”, the first book in a new series called Starlight Inn, by Jessica Anne Renwick in return for an honest review.
This small-town romance revolves around high-school sweethearts Madison and Dylan who move back to Cedar Lake after both having suffered trauma, the first from an abusive husband and the second from losing his father and brother through a car accident. The author’s writing style appeals to me, the characters are well-rounded and one can relate to all their troubles and solutions. It is a book without melodrama, the characters are solving their problems without becoming maudlin.
I gave the book 4 stars and will definitely read the next book of the series.
I liked most of this story. A couple getting back together after 10 years, and an abusive marriage. I did not appreciate the constant references to the occult, tarrot cards and new age rubbish.
Nor did I admire several shocking spelling mistakes. I did not copy several glaring errors I noticed early in the novel but the following exerpt astounded me:
But she made "due" with her parents’ coffee
If someone is claiming to be an author, surely one must be literate, or, failing that, have a literate person edit it before publishing?
Harvest Wishes is the story of Madison and Dylan. They were high school sweethearts who haven’t seen each other in 10 years. A lot has happened but the spark between them remains. This is a sweet romance where the couple has to each work through their own hurts and past mistakes before they can see each other in a new light. A small town, second chance romance that will tug at your heartstrings!
I received an advanced review copy of this book and voluntarily choose to leave a review.
Madison returns home to her small town after a failed marriage at the hands of her abusive ex-husband. She’s jobless and at the lowest point in her life. She’s left with no choice but to move back in with her parents, and begins the process to try to heal her injured heart and get past the trauma she suffered with the help of friends and family.
Dylan, Madison’s twin brothers best friend, and her old High School flame also happens to be living back at home. After a devastating lose, he is back home to spend more time with his family and friends. As a teenager bad choices led to Dylan walking out on Madison, and breaking her heart. Not something he’s proud of. Now she’s back in town and this is his second chance.
Can Dylan mend old hurts? Can he get Madison to forgive him? Can the abuse she’s suffered at the hands of her abusive ex husband be healed? Can he overcome the challenges of a job that’s trying to break them apart for a second time?….
Renwick has succeeded in creating a wonderful clean wholesome and realistic small town second chance romance. The first in a new series. The story flows well, the characters are well develop and it kept me engaged throughout. If you love very sweet romantic loves stories (and dogs, lol) you’ve come to right place! I really loved this and how realistic this was. The ending left me yearning for more of these two. Hopefully we’ll get a peak of them again in book 2. Tgis book I purchased with my own money.
HARVEST WISHES is a standalone read with a happy ending. There are no sexy scenes or colorful language so any age can read and enjoy. It does touch on domestic violence as one character is getting out of an abusive situation. The story is set in Cedar Lake, British Columbia. It is a small town with a close knit community. Lots of side characters that contribute a lot towards the story. Especially Mack and Monty.
Madison is returning home after a failed marriage that took up 7 years of her life. She is embarrassed and humiliated to have to move back home to her parents' house at 30 years old. Everyone is assuring her they will support her all the way. Still she carries a lot of guilt and remorse.
Dylan was Madison's high school sweetheart. They had planned to tour Europe after graduation. They were in love. But Dylan's father was accidently killed and everything changed. Dylan left for college without a word to her. The relationship was over and she was crushed. Then she made a bad decision and married the wrong guy.
Now she is back in town and Dylan is sorry for his teen years and how he hurt her. He still loves her and wants a second chance. After all she has gone through she doesn't know if she will ever trust a man again. This is a really good story. Very entertaining as well as informative and I definitely recommend it.
I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 12/24/2021.
This is book one in The Starlight Inn series and it is Madison and Dylan's story and omg what a beautiful story it is. Madison has just returned home to Cedar lake after walking away from her abusive husband and now she is trying to get her life back on track and working as a volunteer at the animal rescue centre while looking for a job but Madison is suffering and skittish because of what she has been a bit she knew it wouldn't be easy. Dylan has been back in Cedar lake for two years after his father and brother were killed in a car accident but now the IT company that he works for wants him back in the office daily in stead of him working from home so he can be there for his mother so now he has a big decision to make. Madison and Dylan were high school sweethearts but things didn't go as planned and he moved away but now that they are both back in Cedar lake will they get a second chance of being together or is there too much water under the bridge for them only time and patients will tell. Wow I absolutely loved this book and it was a real page turner that I couldn't put down as I wanted to see what would happen next between Madison and Dylan and there story was so addictive and kept you on the edge of your seat. The characters and storyline pulled you in right from the first page until the last and I definitely recommend you read this book and you will definitely not be disappointed.
I Voluntarily Reviewed an Arc Copy of this Amazing and Emotional Book.