The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane by Jeannie Chin

What could be cozier than reading an autumn romance next to a fire?  Jeannie Chin’s newest book The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane is an opposites-attract story involving a woman who’s all work and no play and a lonely ex-soldier fulfilling his late friend’s dream of opening a bar. So grab your favourite beverage and let me introduce you to this book.

Publisher’s Notes:

June Wu always has it all together—only now, she’s in over her head. Her family’s inn desperately needs guests, her mother’s medical debts are piling up, and the surly, if sexy, stranger next door is driving away the customers she has left! When he asks for June’s help, though, she can’t say no. After all, his new bar could be just what the upcoming Pumpkin Festival needs to bring in more tourists. But with the fierce attraction between them, will working together be playing with fire?
Ex-soldier Clay Hawthorne prefers being on his own. He’s moved to Blue Cedar Falls for one reason—to carry out his best friend’s dream of opening a bar in the hometown he’ll now never return to. But the town’s business association is trying to stop Clay’s progress. June soon becomes his biggest supporter, and while their partnership is supposed to be only temporary, for the first time Clay wants something permanent—with June. Can two total opposites really learn to meet each other in the middle?

I enjoyed The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane.  Set in the small town of Blue Cedar Falls North Carolina,  the book highlights the benefits and liabilities of living in a smaller community.  On the plus side, each of the town’s residents knows one another.  On the negative side, these residents can make life difficult for anyone new to town, or who deviates from the fixed rules of the town.

June is a young woman who has taken on the financial responsibilities for her parents’ Inn.  A new highway nearby has impacted their business, as well as many of the other businesses in town.  On top of that, her mother has recently suffered a stroke and the medical bills seem insurmountable.  When Clay begins construction night and day on his bar across the street, it impacts the tranquillity and finances of the inn.

Clay is a brusque ex-soldier who has spent much of the last year on the road trying to recover from the trauma he experienced as a soldier. He has no idea what he’s gotten into when he decides to open a bar in Blue Cedar Falls.  June begins helping him create a bar that would have minimal impact on the Inn and its guests and would also fit in with the community.

June and Clay’s relationship slowly builds throughout the book.  Having said that, I was surprised to see the relationship become steamy halfway through the book.  This seemed to be out of character for June and felt a little too rushed for this relationship.

The character development is good and the characters are likeable.  We are introduced to many of the town’s residents who likely will play a role in the remaining books in the series.  The storyline was interesting, but not as engaging as I wanted.

The next book in the series involves June’s sister May (yes like the months) and Clay’s friend Han. I look forward to reading their story.

What I Liked About The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane:

• The Blue Cedar Falls setting with its interesting characters
• Relatable main characters representing two cultures
• The theme of working together to support one another

I Recommend This Book To:

Those readers who don’t mind a bit of steam in their small town romance books.

My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Add The Inn on Sweetbriar Lane to your Goodreads shelf

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

The Summer Sisters by Sara Richardson

The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains

The House on Sunshine Corner by Phoebe Mills

Thanks for reading and supporting my blog!  Do you enjoy books set in small towns?  Let me know in the comments.  I hope that you have a wonderful day. ☺️