Welcome to Maplewood, Vermont. America’s Most Charming Small Town has some dark, sticky secrets. Come for the maple syrup, festivals, and cheese wars; stay for swoon.
Maple & Moonlight is Book #2 in Daphne Elliot's Maplewood series.
About the Book
As a single mom rebuilding my life from scratch, I don’t need help. And I definitely don’t need the attention of a six-foot-three maple farmer with a beard and a hero complex who looks at me like I’m a problem he didn’t sign up for.
My landlord is broad-shouldered, permanently unimpressed, and entirely too comfortable telling me when I’m wrong. I think he’s grumpy, rigid, and overprotective. He thinks I’m chaos in Crocs.
Falling for Josh Lawrence was never part of the plan.
But then he starts showing up.
For my son when he’s overwhelmed.
For my daughters when they need someone steady.
And for me when my hands won’t stop shaking.
I didn’t come to Vermont looking for a protector. I don’t need rescuing. But somewhere between harvest festivals, pumpkin canoe races, and quiet mornings in the sugar shack, the man I swore was just an annoyance becomes my safe place.
And when my dangerous past resurfaces and threatens the new life I’ve built, the grumpy maple farmer next door becomes my fiercest protector, ready to stand by my side while I fight for my family.
Because it turns out maple farmers are a lot like their trees: quiet, stubborn, and surprisingly sweet when the pressure builds.
My Review
I found this book on Kindle Unlimited and it struck my fancy so I gave it a go. It took me some time getting used to the story before I settled in and started enjoying it though.
The FMC’s youngest child is a boy with autism. I was easily able to relate to her, and have a little trepidation about reading the story. As a parent of a neurodivergent child, I had my own preconceived notions about the book, but as I relinquished control over my own thoughts/fears about my own experiences and just let myself empathize with Celine, I was welcomed into the story with open arms.
I am a huge fan of small town stories and second chances and this had both. A single mom getting a second chance at life after ending an abusive marriage. A small town that welcomes Celine and her children with open arms. Townspeople who love to gossip, yet are always ready to pitch in and help their neighbor, who take pride in their town. I really enjoyed all these aspects of the story.
There's also a continuing story arc from Book 1. A scandal has devastated the town’s tourism industry and has put all the businesses in jeopardy. This fallout is continuing throughout the series and it’s pretty intriguing.
I love the respectful way the author created the extra special characters in the story. I thought the characters were crafted beautifully and the storyline reflected that. I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to more from the author.
Purchase Links*
About the Author
In High School, Daphne Elliot was voted “most likely to become a romance novelist.” After spending the last decade as a corporate lawyer, she has finally embraced her destiny. Her small town steamy novels are filled with flirty banter, sexy hijinks, and lots and lots of heart.
Daphne is a coffee-drinking, hot-sauce loving introvert who spends all her free time in her garden. She lives on a small farm in New England with her husband, two kids, two dogs, twelve backyard chickens and a hive of Italian honeybees.
Keep in touch with Daphne by subscribing to her newsletter here: daphneelliot.com/join-newsletter
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