Books & Spoons Review WHISPERS UNDER A SOUTHERN SKY by Joanne Rock

11/9/2016

Her past…or her future?

It's taken Amy Finley ten years, but she's finally ready to return to her hometown of Heartache, Tennessee, and face the past. She just never expected that would include reuniting with her high school sweetheart and now town sheriff, Sam Reyes.

Or that Sam's latest case would lead right back to the darkest chapter in her life.

The attraction between Amy and Sam is definitely still there, not to mention that she's sure she could quickly grow to love his cute baby son. But can he forgive her for keeping her secrets? Can she forgive herself?

There's a lot going on at Heartache, Tennessee, as the readers walk right into the events from the previous books in the series. Even though the is strongly part of a series, the book can be read as a stand-alone, like I did, and still enjoy it. The past events are recapped with satisfying detail, to be able to follow the storyline. The major events in the town are not all resolved here, there's no cliffhanger, but definitely left many openings for the series to continue.
Sam and Amy were easy to like, the honesty and openness they had with each other were refreshing. There wasn't any unnecessary angst or drama between them, from the start they said what they meant, and asked for information when curious, no games, no pretend. With the fragile situation from the past, there was tension and worry, but it was over driven or overplayed in any form.
Even though other's seemed to think Sam and Amy both could be a little difficult or intimidating, with each other, there was no doubt, just acceptance, understanding, and caring. Even with Aidan, his mom, and babysitters, their open acceptance restorative, healing, and admirable.
The crimes committed in the Heartache were on everyone's mind, the frustration and urge to nail the culprits was palpable. That crime aspect and the role of Sam and Amy in it gave the story more depth and juice. The secondary storyline with the teenagers was as if echoing Amy and Sam's past, so delicate yet so cloying.
Coming home is not always easy, being with your family can be turbulent. The storyline kept coming around to the importance of a family, whether it is a family by blood or by choice. It looked at parenthood from many different angles, none of them perfect, without a fail, yet most of them at the end loving and protective.
I loved following the development of the tale, the characters finding their voice and place within the community, the first love getting another, adorable chance, and some kind of momentary peace found within the city limits, for now at least, since it was hinted of that more turbulence was on its way
~ Four Spoons