Book Review: The Magnolia Inn by Anne-Marie Meyer

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Book #1 in the Red Stiletto Book Club Series. Maggie: This is my start over moment. I'm 36. Recently divorced, and embarassingly unemployed. My only option is to prove myself to my mother - and really, to me - by fixing up the dilapidated family inn on the small town of Magnolia. Any money I can make off the sale of the Inn will be mine to invest. Determined to prove to my ex-husband wrong, I roll into town with an unhealthy amount of optimism. The only person who is going to stop me, is me... and the town's grumpy handyman with secrets of his own. And no matter how much I try to ignore him, I can't help but see the broken man behind the mask. Clementine: I meant to leave Magnolia at some point in my life with a full ride scholarship to Julliard. My dream was to dance but then Dad got sick and I needed to stay to run the local hardware store. Plus, there's no way I can rely on my older brother, Archer, who hasn't been able to outrun the ghosts of his past. When Maggie blows into town, I can't help but feel inspired by her desire to reinvent herself and when she asks for the local handyman, it becomes the perfect opportunity to provide Archer with purpose and perhaps, a little bit of sunshine. As our friendship grows, I realize just how much I needed a sisterhood. And when I catch Archer smiling, I realize that he needed Maggie as well. I just hope that when the time comes to sell the inn, Maggie fights to stay. Because I'm not sure we could handle the heartbreak if she leaves. ~~~~ I found myself a little confused with the POV transitions even though the chapters were titled by names. Other than that, it was a good story. I kind of like it when there is a character that I don't particularly like, not hate, just not like. Clementine, though I felt sorry for her situation having to deal with her father with Alzheimer's, something about her I just didn't like. I think I have to read book 2 in order to understand her better. Maggie had an unfortunate relationship with her mother (awful mother it seems). But in the end once we heard everyone's background story, their family history, all was understood. And the attraction between Maggie and Archer pulled at my heartstrings. Go for it! Do it! They both kept holding back. The attraction was palpable. I love this couple. Family drama, romance, friendship. Love it! Not sure whether I'll be able to read all 9 books in the series, though I'd like to. This book was pick #6 of my Movie Musical Prompts. The prompt was Edelweiss from The Sound of Music. The prompt being flowers or flowershop on the cover or in the title. I have many books with flowers on the cover, but few with a flower in the title so I chose flower in the title. Magnolia.