It was only supposed to be a temporary home… He interrupts her plans… When police chief Anson Curry returns a lost little girl to her frantic mother, his only goal is to ease the single mom’s anxiety. But it doesn’t take long for Tess Harper’s amazing child to have Anson wrapped around her little finger–and for Tess to have him thinking about a possible relationship. As for Tess, she’s … for Tess, she’s tempted–even though she had planned to be in Oak Hollow, Texas, only temporarily. But after losing her father and brother in the line of duty, Tess thinks Anson’s job poses too much of a risk to her heart. And Anson has no plans to get involved with someone who’s planning on leaving.
From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
Home to Oak Hollow
Book 1: A Sheriff’s Star
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A SHERIFF’S STAR (Home to Oak Hollow Book #1) by Makenna Lee is the start of a new Harlequin Special Edition series contemporary romance set in the Texas Hill Country.
Single mother Tess Harper has arrived in Oak Hollow with her four-year-old daughter, Hannah to work a temporary job setting up exhibits for the new Historical Society. While shopping, before checking out their temporary rental home, Hannah walks away. Tess is frantic until a handsome lawman brings Hannah back to her mother.
Chief of Police Anson Curry is enchanted with the little girl he finds who calls him “Sheriff”. He is also interested in Tess, but she no pushover. Anson has had his heart broken in the past and is not sure about Tess. While Tess has been a single mother on her own even before the birth of her daughter and is not interested in a relationship. Anson is not willing to give up though and is willing to work to get Tess to give them a chance.
Tess has experienced several losses and is worried Anson’s job is too dangerous, but Anson wants to prove to Tess that he has no plans to leave her and Hannah.
I loved this single mother romance and the determination of Anson to make Tess understand that she had so many people who wanted to help her if she would just let them in, including him. Being a single mother myself, I know how difficult it can be and how protective I was of my child, so with Hannah having special needs with her Down syndrome and being rejected by her birth father and his family, I feel that Tess’s fight against letting anyone into their lives was very realistic. Hannah’s love and innocence will steal your heart and Nan, Anson’s grandmother, adds to the healing that occurs in all their lives.
I can recommend this heartfelt small-town romance and I am looking forward to the future stories in this series as well.
This book! I can’t even describe how excellent it was. Superb, magnificent, outstanding, wonderful, splendid, I could go on awhile.
I’m not even sure I could write a review that would do this book justice. The best I can say is to read it! You won’t be disappointed at all! And hopefully you won’t break into a sobbing mess like I did when Hannah found her circle. My Heart!
I absolutely loved this book. Both Anson and Tess are moving away from their demons in the past, and little Hannah along with Nan is making it easy for them to trust and fall in love. The only bad thing about the story is that it ended. It’s kind of like a good soap opera and you don’t want to see it end.
Fantastic book about two people who are wary of risking their hearts again brought together by a little girl with a heart full of love to share. Tess is the single mother to Hannah, a four-year-old girl with Down Syndrome. She came to Oak Grove to work on a museum job until it is time for Hannah to have surgery.
I loved Tess. Her life has not been an easy one. Her police officer father died in the line of duty, as did her Navy brother. Shortly afterward, her mother died of cancer and a broken heart, leaving Tess alone in the world. Then the man that she loved and married left her when they found out that the baby she carried has Down Syndrome. For four years, Tess has raised Hannah on her own, dealing with all of the ups and downs of having a child with special needs. Tess is a fierce momma bear when it comes to taking care of Hannah, as is shown throughout the book.
Tess’s arrival in Oak Hollow gets off to a rough start. While shopping, Tess loses sight of Hannah, who loves to play hide-and-seek in the clothes racks. Frantic, Tess is relieved when Chief Anson Curry discovers Hannah and somewhat dismayed to find out that the handsome police chief is also her new landlord and neighbor. She has no room in her life for men or relationships.
I loved the development of the relationship between Tess and Anson. He is just as wary and guarded as Tess is. His ex-wife betrayed his trust, and he has been cautious ever since. It doesn’t take long for little Hannah to steal his heart. Tess is reluctant to trust him, but she can’t deny how happy his attentions make Hannah. Anson quickly becomes a regular part of their lives. I loved the sweet relationship between Hannah and “my chief” and the many heartwarming scenes of the two of them together. As Tess and Anson spend more time together, the attraction they felt at their first meeting continues to grow. So do deeper feelings and a sense of family. But Tess fears risking her heart to another devastating loss. When an incident involving Anson brings those fears back to the surface, she panics and runs. I loved that Anson didn’t give up on her. The hospital scenes were emotional, especially as Tess took a good look at her fears and made some crucial decisions. Anson’s Christmas Eve moment was sweet and romantic and perfect.
I loved the small-town setting and look forward to more stories set there. Anson’s grandmother, Nan, was one of my favorite characters. She, too, had suffered a significant loss and was a remarkable example and mentor for Tess. I loved seeing how Hannah helped pull Nan out of her funk and give her a reason to rejoin life. Nan turns out to be quite a character, and I had to laugh at some of the things she said to both Tess and Anson. I liked the friendliness and support shown by most people and the realism that not everyone fits that mold. The scene on the playground was heartbreaking, but there was also more to that story.
This book is so heartwarming, so full of love and I love it and it’s like those Christmas movies, once you start you just can’t stop.
It’s an easy-to-read sweet books, it has an adorable little girl that melts your hard from the get go, she brings the light and definitely a star in this book, a wonderful single mother and a great sheriff that so good with children.
Yup it’s all about family and love.
Totally recommended for harlequin fans and anyone who’s looking for a heartwarming read.
A Sheriff’s Star by Makenna Lee was so precious and I loved it so much. This needs to be made into a Hallmark Movie immediately, in which case I would drop everything to watch it.
Tess Harper, new to Oak Harper, starts her stay by losing an eye on her 4-year-old daughter Hannah while at the store. Thankfully she’s quickly discovered by handsome police chief Anson, who just happens to be her new landlord and neighbor. Tess has been raising Hannah alone since her no good ex-husband walked away before she was even born. Anson has trust issues of his own after being lied to and deceived by his ex-wife. Both are very hesitant to do anything with their attraction to either after both being burned in the past and with Tess’ stay only temporary. However, Hannah immediately bonds with Anson and when he becomes a regular part of their day to day it’s hard to keep their hearts from getting involved.
A Sheriff’s Star is filled with so many ridiculously heartwarming moments between little Hannah and Anson, along with sweet/tender moments between Tess & Anson. As a mother to a child with special needs, I could relate deeply with more than one of Tess’ struggles. Her ability to handle it all on her own was inspiring and her momma bear qualities made me proud. Anson was just the perfect leading man, dependable, supportive, charming and caring. He fits so well into Tess and Hannah’s life that I was rooting for Tess to let down her walls and accept all he was offering.
This is a romance so while family is the main focus’ the relationship between Tess and Anson fit cohesively with the story. It was a little angsty in the beginning while they fought their attraction but when they give in it’s a sweet and steady as the rest of the story. Their first time focus’ on their feelings and emotions of the act rather than a detailed play by play and the rest of the time its off page encounters. I feel like anything more wouldn’t have felt right with the story.
The story itself was Hallmark movie worthy. Heartwarming, sweet, and one or two slightly cheesy declarations of feelings but my only real complaint about the book was the fact that the ending seemed to be a little rushed. I was at almost the end of the book, and I was wanting much more to happen and while the very ending was exactly what I would want for the characters I felt the getting there was on fast-forward a little.
I can’t get over how happy this book made me. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting darling Hannah or the people who love her anytime soon. A Sheriff’s Star will probably a holiday romance that I’ll reread every holiday season.
Tess Harper has rented a house in Oak Hollow, Texas. She has taken a job that will mean living there for a few months. In January she plans to move to Houston where her four-year-old daughter Hannah, who has Down syndrome, is scheduled for heart surgery. Upon hearing that Tess was pregnant with a baby with Down syndrome Tess’ ex-husband Brent practically divorced her on the spot. Tess knows she is quite capable of raising Hannah on her own. She has been blessed with the sweetest little girl. Upon arriving in Oak Hollow Tess meets her landlord Police Chief Anson Curry. She feels an attraction to Anson but men and especially a relationship is not in her life plan. Anson Curry may just end up making her adjust that life plan especially since he and Hannah get along famously. Hannah just adores Anson.
Anson Curry was once married but that didn’t work out at all well. His ex-wife probably tricked him into marrying her with a false pregnancy announcement which supposedly ended in a miscarriage. Anson has always envisioned his life with a wife and kids. His ex-wife never really wanted kids. Since he is divorced now the single ladies in town keep vying for his attention, stopping in at the station dropping off baked goods. It has gotten so bad his dispatcher, Betty refers to these women as the Pantie Posse. Anson is not interested in any of them. When Tess Harper and her daughter Hannah arrived in town and moved into his rental house Anson quickly fell for them both. Anson knew he had a long road ahead of him to convince Tess to take a chance on him. She lost her police officer father and military brother to occupational violence. She wants no part of having a relationship with a man with a dangerous occupation. Hopefully Anson can change her mind.
A Sheriff’s Star by Makenna Lee is the first book in her Home to Oak Hollow series. This is a truly heartwarming story. I loved the strength and love of Tess who was raising Hannah on her own. I especially loved the super caring, loving man that Anson is. The way he was with Hannah was enough to make my heart melt and his patience and love with Tess brought tears to my eyes. Little Hannah really made the story special. I look forward to more stories in this series.
This was a wonderful, at times heartbreaking as well as heartwarming story. It was also a great way to discover a new author.
Tess Harper is a single mom whose sweet 4 year old daughter, Hannah, has Down Syndrome.
She meets Police Chief Anson Curry when the little girl decides to play hide and seek and disappears from her mother’s side. Neither realizing that not only is she his new tenant, but also that their lives life would be forever changed by that meeting.
Both Anson and Tess have been hurt in matters of the heart. Additionally, Tess has lost family members in some type of law enforcement . She is determined not to get involved with one for fear of another loss.
In the meantime, Hannah has stolen Anson’s and his grandmother’s heart. A little girl fascinated by circles and the world around her.
The story was engaging from the first page to the last and the characters were complex .
Kudos to the author for giving us Hannah, the sweetest little girl whose Down Syndrome did not define her.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Harlequin Special Edition and Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
A Sheriff’s Star
( Home to Oak Hollow Book 1)
by Makenna Lee
*This title will be released on October 27, 2020 *
288 pages
5
What an amazing story with Amazing characters and a Amazing town! This gripping and emotional story is so beautifully written from the heart. It was so heart wrenching yet heart warming at times. You can 100 % tell it was written by a special needs mother. I am so glad I got the chance to read this book before it’s release.Thank you Makenna Lee.
I really enjoyed the setting of Oak Hollow. It’s the kind of place that everyone would like to visit, and some people like me would love to live. Tess however is only there temporary before she plans on moving to another part of Texas for her daughter to be around special doctors and to have Heart Surgery.
Tess Harpers 4 year old daughter Hannah has down syndrome and the biggest loving heart in the world. She stole my heart right from the beginning. I loved how so much of the book focuses on her.
Tess is a fiercely independent stubborn young woman who lost her parents and brother at a very young age leaving her alone in the world . Now she is divorced and raising her special needs daughter all on her own. I connected to her from the start. Being a special needs parent is hard and rewarding. You learn pretty fast to fight for your child.
Anson Curry is not only the police chief , he is also her landlord and neighbor. He moved next door to live and take care of his grandmother that had a stroke and seems to have lost her will to live. She is a great character and brings so much to this story.
Anson has always wanted a big family but was hurt badly after the Betrayal of his ex-wife.
These two families, devastated by so much loss and betrayal, must learn to keep going and get there happily ever after.
This book will definitely touch your heart and you may even shed some tears. I know I did. There is a scene that takes place at the play ground that had me crying and angry. Jo jo my 3 year old granddaughter asked me why i was crying. So i told her what happened to the little girl and she asked me why do people have to be so mean. Sigh…..The word would be such a wonderful place if everyone had the heart of a special needs child.
I stayed up all night just to finish it. When I was not reading it i was thinking about it. If i did not have to teach the kids i would have read it in one setting. I fell in love with this heartfelt holiday romance from the very first page. I loved every minute of their love story. Makenna Lee brings this story to life in such an amazing way. I can not wait to go back to Oak Hollow Texas. If i could give it more than 5 stars i would.
#HarlequinSpecialEdition
#Christmasromance
#Downsyndrome
#specialneedskids
#specialneedsmoms
#ASheriffsStar
#MakennaLee
Despite the picture on the cover, “A Sheriff’s Star” by Makenna Lee isn’t really a Christmas-themed romance, but it is a holiday romance with the majority of the story taking place around Halloween and Thanksgiving. Main characters Tess and Anson had each faced more than their fair share of heartache before the story began, and it wasn’t easy for them to open their hearts to love again. Tess was particularly afraid because she had a vulnerable young daughter, Hannah, to protect and knew that they would be leaving town again in just a few short months. Anson was determined to convince her to stay, and his delightful grandmother, Nan, proved to an excellent ally. She played matchmaker without being overly interfering or pushy and gave Tess valuable advice when she needed it the most.
Tess’s daughter Hannah was an adorable little scene-stealer, and her relationship with Anson was the highlight of the book for me. I loved when she would refer to Anson as “her chief” or ask him to read her a bedtime story. Hannah deserved to be settled and happy with a family of her own every bit as much as Tess and Anson did, and it was very easy for me to root for them to overcome the obstacles they faced and find a way to be together.
My chief complaint about this book is that the ending felt very rushed to me. Tess and Anson still hadn’t managed to resolve their differences with only 3 minutes left in the Kindle edition! That was a relatively minor annoyance, however, and I would still recommend this heartwarming story for all fans of sweet contemporary romance.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Who are Anson and Tess? How do they meet? Who is Hannah? Oh, I fell in love with Hannah very quickly! Just pages into the story even! Where are they all from? I was angry and sad for Tess and Hannah for a good chunk of the book. I was mad for Anson. All because of their pasts! I think I groaned several times at the phrase “Panty Posse”. What special date does Anson take Tess and Hannah on? What happens while they’re there/ What happens to Anson at work that makes Tess rabbit? Read to see what happens!
RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT from Netgalley FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin’ With M. Brennan.
After receiving an advanced copy of this book, I was quick to crack it open and what I found had me devouring this wholesome story in a day! The quirky characters of Oak Hollow are as warm and inviting to the reader as they are to newcomer Tess and her daughter Hannah Lynn. The storyline is bursting with love, and my only complaint would be that it ended far too soon