Sycamore Circle (The Rumors in Ross County #2) by Shelley Shepard Gray

 

There's a lot going on in Joy Howard's life. She's got an ex-husband who starts acting like he doesn't want to be an ex anymore, a sixteen-year-old daughter in need of a guiding hand and a lot of rides to dance practice, more orders for paintings than she has time to paint, and a roster of tutoring clients who sometimes need far more than she can give.

What she doesn't have is time for a new relationship.

Samuel Bo Beauman is a lot of things. He's a counselor for transitioning ex-cons, a good friend to many, a construction worker, a brother and son, and even a part-time model for a high-end sportswear catalog. He's also a man searching for redemption.

One thing he isn't is a man in need of a girlfriend.

But none of that seems to matter when Bo hears Joy's kind voice in a crowded coffee shop. He instantly knows she's someone he wants to know better. The two of them hit it off--much to the dismay of practically everyone they know--but Bo doesn't care what other people think. He feels at peace whenever he's with Joy, and he won't let her go without a fight.

When Joy starts getting mysterious texts and phone calls from unknown numbers, she tries to ignore it. But instead of going away, the messages escalate and Joy realizes she can't handle it alone. But she is juggling a jealous ex-husband, a handful of students with little to lose, and a brand-new boyfriend who spent several years behind bars. Who can she trust?

My thoughts:

If Amish fiction is the only genre you have read by Ms. Gray, you are in for a very pleasant surprise when you read this novel.  It’s the second in The Rumors of Cross County series but can be read as a standalone however you’ll be missing out in my opinion. This is the story of Bo and Joy.

Bo is rather persistent and Joy is very patient which seems like they would be at odds with each other and they are to a certain extent.  Joy is a divorced mother of teenaged daughter, she teaches adults to read, and still manages to run her household.  Bo is a little rough around the edges in my opinion but he has a good heart and that’s all that matters.

There’s a little mystery and some edge of my seat moments that added to my overall enjoyment of this book.

As much as I enjoyed their story, I admit I found the story of Joy’s daughter and her new Amish friend to be more to my liking and I hope to read more about them.

I voluntarily reviewed a complementary copy of this book. Opinions are my own