The Magnolia Sisters

Starred review from January 13, 2020
City girl Avery Keller finds a sense of belonging where she least expected it in this uplifting small-town romance from Major (the Fortunes of Texas series). Leaving behind a disastrous relationship in San Francisco, Avery travels to Magnolia, N.C., to settle the estate of a father she never knew and meet her two half-sisters. Avery hoped to collect her inheritance and be on her way, but her biological father’s complicated estate thwarts this plan. Delayed in the quaint small town, Avery bonds with her sisters and warms to the close-knit community. Though memories of her painful breakup are still fresh, Avery falls for her handsome temporary landlord, divorced firefighter Grayson Atwell, and his precocious five-year-old daughter, Violet. But Gray’s glamorous, spiteful ex-wife, who brings up many of Avery’s insecurities, objects to Avery’s presence in her daughter’s life. Major’s well-developed characters are credible and winsome; Avery’s growth from a steely stranger into a caring community member is especially heartwarming and well-done. Striking the perfect balance of romance, heat, and drama, this optimistic love story is a sweet start to a promising series, perfect for fans of Debbie Macomber.

July 24, 2020

Unemployed and recovering from a messy breakup, Avery Keller arrives in small-town Magnolia, NC, intending to collect her inheritance and then run--but her late father's will reveals massive debt and two half-sisters Avery didn't even know existed. With nothing calling her back to California, Avery reluctantly settles into what she hopes will be a short stay in town, but first she'll need to untangle her father's legal mess, stay out of her sisters' decades-long rivalry, and somehow resist the charms of her attractive next-door neighbor, single father Grayson Atwell. This first in a new series from Major ("Colorado Hearts" series) is a pleasant and quick read, and seamlessly blends themes of family, self-growth, and forgiveness into a love story. VERDICT This enjoyable romance is perfect for voracious readers who want to dive into a new small-town series. Recommended for libraries that already boast strong romance collections.--Rachel Alexander, Peabody Inst. Lib., MA

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