Series: Love at the Chocolate Shop (Book 9)
When Marietta newcomer Elena Puente is coerced into attending a speed-dating event at the popular Copper Mountain Chocolate shop, she’s blindsided by a serious attraction to local cowboy, Wesley Banks. Still recovering from a broken engagement, the first-grade teacher from Las Vegas isn’t looking for romance. She’s in Montana to get to know the great-grandfather she never knew existed until she found some hidden family letters. Judge Kingsley is a grouchy recluse and he’s far from welcoming, but Elena is determined to stay in town long enough to give his neglected estate on Bramble Lane a facelift. Elena’s resolve to avoid romance is tested when she discovers Wesley is the caretaker of her grandfather’s rural property. Soon, she and the cowboy are attending more speed-dating events at the chocolate shop and she’s seeking his advice on how to deal with his ornery boss. Local gossips wager the old Judge will run Elena out of town before anything serious develops between her and Wesley. But Wesley’s a determined man, too, and he’s betting Elena belongs in Marietta forever…with him.
Sweet small-town story of love, loss, and healing. Elena is a first-grade teacher who grew up in Las Vegas with a single mother, believing that her mother was the only family she had. When she stumbled on some hidden letters, she discovered that she also has a great-grandfather in the small town of Marietta. When she heads to Marietta to get to know him, that's not all she finds. Elena's arrival in town didn't go exactly as planned. Her rental car broke down outside of town, and when she walked into a local shop to ask for assistance she found herself in the middle of a speed-dating event. Still recovering from her broken engagement, after finding her fiancé cheating, she has no interest in romance. She also can't deny her attraction to the sexy cowboy she met that night.
I liked both Wes and Elena. Wes is charming, good-looking, and fun to be around. He was born and raised in Marietta. After his father's death, Wes got into some trouble that landed him in Judge Kingsley's courtroom. Sentenced to community service instead of juvie, Wesley found himself working on the judge's farm and taking care of a couple of old horses. It wasn't long before he asked to stay on after his sentence was up, and as the years went on, he found a purpose in helping other teenage boys. Wes has also reached the point in his life where he's ready to settle down with a wife and kids if only he could find the right woman. Elena is sweet but determined. Accustomed to dealing with stubborn children, one old man is no match for her. She knows what she wants from her life, and right now she wants to get to know the judge and learn more about her father. She isn't interested in a relationship, especially one with a man who lives in a different state and wants different things.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Wes and Elena. The attraction is there from the start; they just have to decide what to do with it. In the meantime, they partner up in doing the repairs to the judge's house. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and share parts of their pasts. I liked seeing them enjoy simple activities together and watching Elena begin to enjoy the pleasures of the small town. Their feelings for each other began to deepen, and Elena discovered that some of her views began to change along with it. Just when things were looking promising, Wes is faced with some insecurities that cause him to pull back from Elena. He got some advice from an unexpected source that opened his eyes to what his future would look like without her in it. I loved his big moment at the end, as he stood up to the judge and for his love for Elena.
A big part of the book was the story of Elena's family. I ached for her mother and what she had been put through because of the judge's attitude. I also felt a bit sorry for him, because of the guilt he felt. He had allowed himself to withdraw from life because of it. I liked seeing Elena pull him out of his isolation and get him to start living again. I also hurt for Elena's mother and her fears over the things the judge might say and do that could hurt the relationship between her and Elena. Hearing what she had been through made me admire her strength and love for her daughter. I loved that she had the courage to come back to Marietta and face the judge. I did get mad at him when he started talking about Elena not living up to her potential, seeing him about to make the same mistake he'd made with Elena's father. I hope he has finally learned his lesson.
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