Review: The Magnolia Sisters by Alys Murray

The Magnolia Sisters by Alys Murray

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 246

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  Harper Anderson has a to-do list longer than the Colorado river, and fields of tulips to tend to at her family’s flower farm in Hillsboro County, California. It’s her dream to run the business with her sisters when their father retires, keeping up traditions that began with her great-great-grandmother.

That is, if there’s a farm left to run. Rich out-of-towners looking for a slice of country living are hiking up the prices in town and it’s putting her family out of business. So she has no time for the arrogant LA tech mogul who makes her an offer to use their farm as his sister’s wedding venue. No amount of money could make up for the destruction it would wreak on next season’s crop. The sooner Luke Martin is on his way, the better.

But Luke isn’t willing to go. He’s been looking out for his sister ever since their deadbeat parents left them to fend for themselves, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy. So when Harper’s newest farmhand leaves her in the lurch, he sees an opportunity to strike a deal. He’ll work on the farm for free if she’ll give him the chance to change her mind.

Harper and Luke each expect the other to crack first. What they don’t expect is the chemistry that sparks between them as they work side by side among the budding roses. But Luke’s presence is turning over more than the earth, and just as Harper is starting to let her guard down, he stumbles upon a secret that could spell disaster for the entire Anderson clan.

Kritters Thoughts: Harper and Luke are the main characters of this romance novel.  Harper Anderson works at her family's flower farm that has been in the family for generations.  She is giving everything to keep the farm afloat and won't let anything or anyone take her attention away from the farm.  In walks Luke who has a younger sister who is getting married and her one look at the farm has her seeing it as a wedding location and Luke will do anything to make his sister's dreams become a reality.  

For me this romance book fell below the mark of the ones that I have read before it.  As in all romance books, the reader knows where we will end up, but the journey is the fun of it and for me this book followed the same road map of others and just didn't feel creative and I may have rolled my eyes at a moment or two.  It just seemed all too unrealistic and way too close to a soap opera drama then a sweet romance book with a few ups and downs.  

The other thing that I just didn't love about this romance book was the amount of immediate internal thoughts by especially the male character of physical thoughts, it was just too fast and too much!  At first look he was lusting after her and I wanted to say "Hold up buddy you haven't even said two words to her!" and it made me feel awkward and annoyed.  

I read a few books before diving into book two of this series, check out the blog tomorrow for my thoughts on book two.   

Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more

 Ebook 2020 Challenge: 51 out of 100