The Innkeeper's Sister centers around Valery Carter, co-owner of the Peach Orchard Inn (with her sister Julia, who seems to have been the focus in one of the earlier books), a former dancer with a painful past that is eating her up inside, and Grayson Blake, one half of the Blake Brothers, who buy historical buildings and turn them into restaurants. Having crossed paths when they were kids with hidden crushes, they've found themselves drawn together as adults.
Aside from some historical fiction, this is a love story, which at times I found a bit annoying, as I always do with the overuse of he/she won't love me because... and similar sentiments. That said, I still really enjoyed seeing the mystery unfold and the relationship bloom. I was really looking forward to another book (before I even knew this was already a series), but now I'm thinking that the next book may not even be focused on these same characters and their story. However, it still might be interesting to see them as supporting cast. It does make me wonder who the "stars" will be, though!
While I wouldn't consider this a "foodie novel", there's enough food to set mouth to waterin' on the pages. I'm a sucker for both Southern food and comfort food (which were the main types of food mentioned), and found my mouth watering over mentions of fried chicken, biscuits 'n gravy, beet pickles, turnips and ham, apple dumplings, BLTs, and chicken salad on buttery croissants. Not to mention peach cobbler and the thing mentioned most—Peach Tea, an inn specialty (thanks to Julia).
She poured a glass of peach tea, a pitiful substitute for mind-numbing bourbon, but after the other night, she'd sworn off. Again.
The Innkeeper's Sister
author: Linda Goodnightseries: A Honey Ridge Novel (Book 3)
publisher: HQN Books (July 25, 2017)
genre: Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Small Town & Rural
paperback: 352 pages
"foodie" read: No...although I did have a hankerin' for peaches (and Southern food) something fierce by the time I finished reading.
opening sentence: Secrets are like boils.
teaser: Welcome to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, where Southern hospitality and sweet peach tea beckon, and where long-buried secrets lead to some startling realizations…
Grayson Blake always has a purpose—and never a moment to lose. He’s come home to Honey Ridge to convert a historic gristmill into a restaurant, but his plans crumble like Tennessee clay when the excavation of a skeleton unearths a Civil War mystery…and leads him back to a beautiful and familiar stranger.
Once a ballet dancer, now co-owner of the Peach Orchard Inn, Valery Carter harbors pain as deep as the secrets buried beneath the mill. A bright facade can’t erase her regrets any more than a glass of bourbon can restore what she’s lost. But spending time with Grayson offers Valery a chance to let go of her past and imagine a happier future. And with the discovery of hidden messages in aged sheet music, both their hearts begin to open. Bound by attraction, and compelled to resolve an old crime that links the inn and the mill, Grayson and Valery encounter a song of hurt, truth…and hope.
about the author: NY Times and USA Bestseller, Linda Goodnight writes novels to touch the heart as well as to entertain. Her emotional stories of hope have won the RITA, the Carol, the Reviewer’s Choice, and numerous other industry awards. A small town girl, Linda remains close to her roots, making her home in rural Oklahoma.
She and husband have a blended family of eight, including two teenagers recently adopted from Ukraine. Many of her books are about family and children and rightly so, as she draws her deeply emotional stories from her surroundings, her great love of family, and from personal experiences as a nurse and teacher.
connect with the author: website | facebook | twitter
recipe inspired by the book: Peach Iced Tea
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Yield: 10 cups
Peach Iced Tea (and Peach Simple Syrup)
prep time: 30 MINScook time: 7 MINStotal time: 37 mins
Easy homemade peach-infused simple syrup turns freshly brewed black tea into a the perfect summer sipper.
INGREDIENTS:
For the peach simple syrup:
- 2 large ripe peaches, rinsed, pitted, and roughly chopped
- zest of 1 lemon, cut into long strips with a vegetable peeler
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Everything Else:
- 3 tablespoons of your favorite loose leaf black tea (or 6 tea bags)
- 8 cups water
- fresh mint sprigs, to serve (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Make the peach simple syrup:
- Combine peaches, lemon zest, sugar, and water in a small pot and bring to a bowl. Lower heat to a simmer for 2 minutes, crushing the peaches to release their juices. Remove from heat and allow to steep for 30 minutes.
- Set a strainer over a large (4 cup) glass measuring cup and pour the mixture through, pushing on the solids with a spoon or spatula to release any juices. Allow to cool, then pour into a bottle or jar with a lid and refrigerate until cold. Will keep for up to a week in the fridge. (Yield: ~2 cups)
Make the Peach Tea:
- In a large pot, bring the water to just under a boil (about 190° F), then remove it from the heat and add the tea. Let steep for 5 minutes. Strain loose tea with a fine-mesh strainer* (or remove the tea bags). Let cool to room temperature.
- Transfer to a pitcher, stirring in the peach simple syrup. Refrigerate until very cold.
- Serve over ice with a sprig of fresh mint and a couple slices or chunks of fresh peach, if you like.
Notes:
- *If you don't have a fine-mesh strainer, you can line a medium or large mesh one with a coffee filter.
- You can also use this peach simple syrup to flavor cocktails, lemonade, or sparkling water! (Find more simple syrup varieties here.)
©All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Created using The Recipes Generator
More perfectly peachy recipes to complement this book:
- Fresh Peach and Whiskey Ice Cream
- Peach-Rosemary Shrub Syrup
- Peaches 'n Cream Stuffed French Toast
- Spiced Sour Cream Peach Pie
- Sweet Tea Peach Popsicles (with or without Peach Bourbon)
