Books & Spoons Review for RED CLOVER INN by Carla Neggers

9/4/2017

Marine archaeologist Charlotte Bennett is no stranger to risk, but her dives into sunken wreckage are always meticulously planned. However, being the maid of honor in her cousin Samantha's English wedding gives her a new perspective on her life as a nomad who's given up on romance altogether. Though an encounter with roguish wedding guest Greg Rawlings leaves her unsettled, the other people she meets make a trip to the tranquil town of Knights Bridge, Massachusetts, enticing. Acting on impulse, Charlotte offers to house-sit at Red Clover Inn while Sam and Justin Sloan are away on their honeymoon.

The quaint inn isn't open to the public yet and Charlotte will have quiet time to plan her next project. It might also give her a chance to see how her cousin found love and a sense of family. But the peace is immediately disrupted when Greg shows up at the inn. The Diplomatic Security Service agent lives a dangerous life, and he, too, wants to clear his head before his next assignment. Juggling work, raising his two teenage children and nursing a wounded heart has left him jaded, and the last thing he expects is to find himself falling for the willful Charlotte. As the attraction between them flares, Charlotte realizes she might be in too deep. And each of them must decide if they can put love first before it's too late.

A leisurely moving lovely tale about family, friends, and starting new chapters in life. I enjoyed the story with its several subplots and the multitude of characters. I can imagine that the fans of the series, who have read every book before this one, enjoyed the visit with the old friends.
With the destination wedding in England, most of the two large families and they friends were introduced in the story. Either for the first time in the series or as old characters. I felt that was overwhelming, and took a lot of attention away from the developing romance at the Red Clover Inn.
Part of the story is lived through the honeymooners in Scotland as they are trying to build the backstory of one of the protagonists. As a reader, I was already aware of the issues coming to the light so I didn't see the necessity of the frequent visits with them, more of a distraction from the main story as well.
Charlotte Bennett and Greg Rawlings were both great characters. They are mature and both of them have seen and experienced a lot during their lives. They had depth and personality to back up their convictions. Their banter and wit were clever, the chemistry between them was great. With everything else going on in the story, I felt like I kept waiting for something to happen between them, the focus to be on them as a developing relationship and a future couple, yet the moment kept on building and when something finally happens it was time to wrap up. I would have liked to see much more story about them, instead of things happening around them. But that is just my personal preference.
A relaxed and nice story about life, finding your place in it, finding your destiny, letting go of the past and moving on to the new direction. It is well written and has a fluent flow to it, making it an enjoyable read
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side