The Coldwater Warm Hearts Club

by Lexi Eddings

Blurb:

“A unique take on what it means to go home again.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

First in a Brand New Series!

The lake is crystal blue, the hills roll for miles, and breaking news travels via the Methodist prayer chain. But don’t let the postcard fool you. Coldwater Cove, Oklahoma, leavens its small-town charm with plenty of Ozark snark.

For Lacy Evans, returning to flyover country is the definition of failure. She had everything she wanted—an award-winning design firm, a chic city condo, a handsome, aristocratic almost-fiancé. Then her boyfriend ran off with her receptionist and her clients’ money. Now she’s out of business and crashing on her parents’ couch. When she slides into a booth at the Green Apple Grill, she’s feeling lower than a worm’s belly.

But Lacy’s old classmate Jacob Tyler is happy to see her. Coldwater’s football hero came back from Afghanistan short part of a leg and some peace of mind, but he’s counting his blessings, and Lacy could be one of them. Then there’s her ex, Daniel, wearing a sheriff’s badge and a wedding ring, but looking like young summer love. And a host of unlikely serendipities: the selfless do-gooders who sneak around taming curmudgeons and constructing second chances. The Fighting Marmots. The sprawling, take-no-prisoners Bugtussle clan.

Lacy thought she knew her hometown, and herself. She just wanted to get on her feet and keep running. But the longer she stays, the more she finds to change her mind. . .

“Readers of sweet romance will fall in love with Coldwater Cove. Lexi Eddings’s talent shines in this edgy, fresh story.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author

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I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of this story are the bits from the newspaper that would occasionally appear at the start of the chapters.  They give a fun little peek into the quirkiness of Coldwater and endear the residents to the reader even more.  Small town life often has its own rhythm and this one is no different. 

Lacy is not a perfect heroine and she has a lot of self-evaluation that she needs to do.  Her time away from her hometown has changed her in ways that might not have been all that great.  After life pushes her down a little, being back with a slower pace and extra time on her hands means she’s looking at who she is (and who she wants to be) a little more closely … and looking at an old classmate a bit differently as well.

For the most part, Jake may seem to have himself all figured out but he has more scars from the war than a missing leg can account for.  The opportunity at a relationship with Lacy is throwing things a little off kilter for him – mostly in a good way, but it’s also shining a light on some things that he’s not looked at all that closely.  Unfortunately to move forward he has to look at his past as well.  And it could prove painful.

There are also some great secondary stories involving Lacy’s old flame Daniel & his family and an old Vietnam vet whose life has spiraled out of control for years.  All of the plot lines, major and minor, deal with quite a few deep issues – addiction, PTSD, homelessness, abuse … they aren’t easy things but they are important and Eddings does a fantastic job of addressing them well. 

It’s the start of a new series and I’m really liking what I’m seeing here.  Can’t wait to see what comes next!