Return to Hummingbird Way by Reese Ryan @ReeseRyanWrites @readforeverpub @GrandCentralPub

the setup…
Sinclair Buchanan is not only Holly Grove Island’s top selling real estate agent but is well known for her superior planning skills. She’s her best friend Dakota’s maid of honor and is in charge of all things related to that upcoming wedding. But they throw a real wrench into her planning when the groom announces his best man is Garrett (Rett) Davenport, her nemesis from high school, who will be “helping” her with everything. Rett’s also a real estate agent now living in Charlotte and has matured since those days when he made sport of tormenting Sinclair. He’s lots of regrets but that doesn’t include that explosive night they shared five years ago.

the heart of the story…
Both Garrett and Sinclair are complicated people with extremely strong family ties to Holly Grove Island, even though he moved away years ago. He was raised by his grandmother Mama Mae after his parents divorced, his father died and his mother remarried. Rett has lots of regrets but none more than how he treated his family and Sinclair. She is highly successful but continues to be compared to her sister by her mother and harangued for not being married and childless. It took a bit for Garrett and Sinclair to declare peace and find a way to work together for the sake of their friends, with lots of meddling by Mama Mae who was responsible for many hilarious moments. Her schemes were brilliant, too, as Garrett and Sinclair eventually find their way to a great romance.

the bottom line…
There’s something about this community I find irresistible and I pounced on the opportunity to read this second book as soon as it became available. Sinclair and Rett are well developed characters who had distinct, admirable personalities and qualities that were powerful when combined. It took a while for Sinclair to trust him and he worked hard to get there, which I liked and thought it was needed. I loved their deep family ties, despite some things being at issue. Rett’s relationship with his grandmother was delightful as was she. But you shouldn’t read this on an empty stomach as the meals were described in mouth-watering detail, even inspiring me to create a few. This was a lovely, steamy romance and wonderful reading experience. I can’t wait to return to Holly Grove Island.

Book Info

• Release Date: April 25, 2023
• Series: Holly Grove Island #2
• Page Numbers: 528
• Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)