Another Look at Harmony, Texas:
Harmony, Texas, is a small town that hums with old and new residents ? and life. Going back there after the last book, I?d hoped this story returned to Ronnie. I?ll never forget the story about the crippled man and Ronnie, the shy woman who delivered for the post office. I keep waiting for him to return.
Harmony is small town everywhere: Nothing changes, yet life changes everything. The stores remain, the old-timers are still there, yet there is significant change via new folks and new situations. I?ve never understood how small towns supported a newspaper. With someone like Martha Q, who needs a paper? We have all known someone like Martha Q, she feels comfortable.
There are two romances; they offer balance because they are so different. Emily and Tanner Parker have been lifelong friends. After Emily had ?the accident,? they became estranged. Emily has returned to town as the head librarian; in the meantime, Tanner took has taken over the family business and is a dedicated workaholic.
This is a story about how two shy people reach out to each other even though they are deathly afraid of the consequences. It is beautifully told; Emily shows the right amount of ambivalence.
Resident Rick Matheson, the town hunk and new lawyer, has a problem: Someone wants to kill him. Battered and bruised, Rick winds up at Martha Q?s B&B. He?s taken up innkeeper duties while Martha Q is away for several weeks. A most unusual woman arrives unexpectedly at the B&B and takes a room. Trace rides into town with black leather everything and riding her motorcycle.
She?s hired to keep watch over Rick by his extended family. Rick isn?t amused - but he does like the bodyguard! Trace is locked down and closed; Rick tries to get her to open up to him. She tells him she isn?t interested. Rick has lots of work to do to convince Trace otherwise.
There was one flaw -- and a significant one. Thomas does a great job of building suspense but the solution doesn't fit. The injuries and destruction did not fit the reason behind them.
4 stars
Harmony Series
1. Welcome to Harmony (2010)
2. Somewhere Along the Way (2010)
3. The Comforts of Home (2011)
4. Just Down the Road (2012)
5. Chance of a Lifetime (2012)
6. Can't Stop Believing (2013) (released JUNE 2013)
