3/5 (C)Hmmmm, frankly, Larkspur Road was not a bad book, but it wasn't a wowzer either. It's actually a hard book to grade for me because it had some really good elements, but unfortunately, it suffered from one major flaw.The good elements include likable characters and a very set-up, both relationship-wise and setting-wise. I actually thought the first couple of chapters were the best since readers were being introduced to Mia, Travis and Grady and all the connections. As I said, Mia and Travis were likable characters. I think one point in their favor is that they felt real and were very balanced. They didn't really have major conflicts with their lives. Yes, Mia was conscious of her biological clock ticking and the fact that she was a bit lonely, but it wasn't an obsession for her. As for Travis, he wanted to make some changes in his career and he did take the steps to. They were regular people that readers could relate to, could understand :) I also really enjoyed Travis' relationship with Grady, he was definitively a good father. He listened, encouraged and talked with Grady, making sure Grady knew he was there for him. He also stepped up when he was in disagreement with his ex-wife's decisions. He really considered Grady as his son, despite not being married to Grady's mother anymore and really stepped up and put his foot down when he was in disagreement with her decisions. I think that spoke highly of Travis' character and what a good man he was.As I mentioned, I also very much liked the setting of the book. Yes, Lonesome Way could be considered as small-town, but it wasn't the focus here. I don't feel like Larkspur Road was marketed as a small-town contemporary romance which was a good thing in my opinion :)The problem I had with Larkspur Road is I feel that not much happened... which actually is not the truth. However, nothing was developed, nothing was fleshed out, so that's why I feel that way. In a sense, it's almost like Ms Gregory spent too much time setting everything up at the right place and the right moment, but she ran out of time to develop them. So they happened, but none of it was fleshed out, it was all on the surface. For example, the romance between Mia and Travis. It's obvious that the two still have feeling for each other, but Mia is still holding a grudge against Travis and rightly so. And then, they run into each other a few times and voila, they are a couple again. I appreciate that Travis gave Mia an explanation about dumping her all those years ago and it really made sense and was realistic... but that was it. There was no further groveling from Travis, no working on the revelation from Mia's part - they were just back together. Same thing about Mia's estranged aunt. One or two gestures from Mia and decades of resentment and anger evaporate and the old lady is telling Mia everything. I also think the sense that nothing was happening was exacerbated by the timeline. If I read correctly, Larkspur Road spans about 3 to 4 weeks, maybe less. And I find it difficult for all these changes to happen in such a short timeline. So for me, this lack of development and events really killed the book ^_^; And it's really unfortunate, because it started out really well.One last thing I'd like to add is I thought the whole storyline with Mia's niece was superfluous. I would have liked that storyline to not be in the book and therefore, Ms Gregory would have more time to focus on the others. It's not that it was bad, but it just didn't bring much to the book.In the end, it's as I said earlier. Larkspur Road was not a bad book, but not a great one either.... but in the plus column, I would like to add Ms Gregory's writing :) She has a very nice style, a bit reminiscent of Jodi Thomas in the sense that it's very peaceful and I definitively will read more of her, given that her books have a bit more depth :) I was looking forward to this second book in the Sage Creek series and I wasn't disappointed. I feel this book is a book about second chances. The second chances that come by family, love and friendship. The author did an awesome job of expressing anguish, pain and love either by the thoughts the characters were thinking or the actions you followed in their journey. I loved all of the references to the country music groups, made you feel like you were there, in the moment with the characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone that needs a great contemporary comfort read. (On a side note, Travis starts his own security company in this book, full of Navy SEALS....I am seriously hoping that turns in to a new Romantic Suspense series....HINT HINT).
What do You think about Larkspur Road (2012)?
Liked this book,I like reading these feel good return to family at the end of a hard day
—cara
I liked this sweet story. Now to read Book 1 and 3 of the series!
—Pranathi
loved it. wish there as a next one!
—readerfreak12312
