Talulah’s Back in Town by Brenda Novak @Brenda_Novak @amymcnarrator @HarlequinBooks

the setup…
Talulah Barclay returns to Coyote Canyon, Montana fourteen years after having left her fiancé at the altar. She’s there to settle her recently deceased great Aunt Phoebe’s estate and is anticipating a less than warm reception. She’s right about that but her ex’s best friend Brant Elway extends her some kindness at the request of a neighbor. Things heat up between the two rather quickly, creating quite a mess there and back at home in Seattle with her business partner/almost beau.

the heart of the story…
Talulah co-owns a dessert diner in Seattle with Paul who she agreed to try “dating” a couple of weeks before leaving. She’s not serious (he is) and with two other failed engagements behind her, Talulah’s developed a “runaway bride” reputation. Even she doesn’t trust her heart but the feelings for Brant feel different, despite it making them the talk of the town and having people in this small town take sides. To say things got messy is quite an understatement.

the narration…
McFadden had a host of characters to give voice and she delivered strongly. She’s a wonderful storyteller and this one had lots of drama and angles. I’m glad I held out for the audio edition.

the bottom line…
Talulah made a lot of questionable decisions but her heart was always in the right place. She took it on the chin and accepted responsibility for the broken hearts she left behind years before. Small town dynamics can be wicked but I liked how most gave her a second chance. Everything about the story felt realistic, even when I wanted a different outcome. I loved the romance, drama, messiness and the spirit of redemption. It had everything I was hoping for and now I’m anxious to return to this town.

Book Info

• Release Date: August 22, 2023
• Series: Coyote Canyon #1
• Narrator: Amy McFadden
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 27 minutes
• Publisher: Harlequin Audio

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