Joanne DuPree had no reservations about following her best friend to Cricklewood Cove. How could she when Amy and her daughter Cammie were as close to family as she had?JT Williams has come back home to Celebration with his daughter to connect with old friends. When JT and Deklan prepare to open their new art gallery together, the pieces quickly start falling into place.From a whirlwind romance … whirlwind romance to a horrific accident, secrets and unexpected surprises, the characters of the Heart of the Family Series are making one final appearance as the last pieces of the puzzle are revealed, and the Montenegro children are once again reunited.
The Heart of the Family Series
Mistletoe & Cocoa Kisses, Book 1
Roses & Champagne Kisses, Book 2
Orchids & Hurricane Kisses, Book 3
Carnations & Hot Toddy Kisses, Book 4
more
it all comes full circle with new possibilities…
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Sweet. Tender. Endearing. It has been a couple of years and things are coming together for a new couple with a connection to the others that none of them were expecting or looking for. Joanne was the friends, the honorary aunt, the nurse. She brought to life the joy in one little girl and was now making changes for her own life. In come a stranger or so she thinks a stranger, JT.
In this one we get some of the characters from previous books in other series from this author and we get to see more of the ones we have come to have a connection with. We see where they are now and what’s going on in their world. Then we get to meet some new characters. Some were pleasant other were not so much.
I enjoyed Lisa Beacom voice. I loved her pitches, tone change, inflection and just all around. I found home with her voice and this story.
Carnations & Hot Toddy Kisses
Heart of the Family, Book 4
By: Stacy Eaton
Narrated by: Lisa Beacom
Do you ever think that chance meeting could turn into love? Well ask JT Williams. He bumped into Joanne Dupree years before and now he literally bumps into her again. What is the chance? Now he thinks it’s his opportunity to find the love he always wanted. And he may be right. Joanne is in town to relocate. Her good friends are there and she is ready for a change. With JT there, things are looking up. Looking for houses, getting to know his daughter and falling in love are good things right? She has learned from her previous mistakes. As their love grows and things fall into place, there is always a shoe waiting to drop and it does. A terrible accident, the return of exes, the finding of family all are a whirlwind of experiences all coming at this couple! Is it their time? In true Stacy Eaton fashion, we are treated to a story that is all encompassing. I found myself lost in their story. Getting to see old friends, meeting new characters and the complex story line kept me engaged and wanting to know the outcome.It’s got excitement and frustration, along with thrilling happiness. I loved this addition to the Heart of the Family series, it completely warmed my heart.
Lisa Beacom continues her narration, and I just love her. She has an easy sounding voice and I enjoy her voices. She has become this series for me, and I love that her voices for the characters are consistent from book to book. She is a pleasure to listen to.
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A Wonderfully Delightful Story & Series! Fabulous Audible Listen
Carnations & Hot Toddy Kisses
Heart of the Family, Book 4
By: Stacy Eaton
Narrated by: Lisa Beacom
I loved every book in this amazing series and am sorry to see it end, but with every ending there is a new beginning including the the relationship of the featured characters fo this book, Joanne Dupree and JT Williams as well as other characters from earlier books. I loved how Stacy Eaton wrapped up an ongoing mystery and the storyline of the Montenegro children. The children are reunited, questions are answered and we are given insight of what happened and who their parents and grandparent were. Joanne relocates to Pennsylvania to be closer to her friend Amy and her daughter Cammie, whom we met in the previous book. Joanne takes Cammie ice skating and she catches the eye of a photographer, their eyes meet for a brief minute before she falls on the ice. He goes to see how she is and the two hit it off. J.T. Williams moved back to Celebration, PA, to be closer to friends and have his daughter grow up in a better place. He is a photographer and he and Deklan are opening an art gallery that will feature some of his work. Has fate brought him and Joanne back together, she does remember him but he never forgot her. I loved these two together, they were perfect for each other if only Joanne could get past her own insecurities and let him in. Then tragedy strikes close to home for JT, she is there for him along with the other great characters of this series. This one enjoyable and entertaining book, the story is brilliantly plotted and I loved how everything plays out, it was great to see all the pieces fall into place, including who JT was and his connection to Celebration and his long lost sisters. Stacy Eaton, thank you for this wonderful story and series, it is sad that this is the last book in the series but hopefully one day you will take us back to Celebration, PA and these fabulous characters.
I listened to the Audible edition, Lisa Beacom is a talented narrator and voice artist, she covers the roles for all of the characters, giving each their own unique voice which makes it easy to follow along and who is who. She does an awesome job portraying the characters, grasping each of their personas and playing their role with perfection, sounding just as I am picturing them to sound. She is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen
Audiobook review:
I have come to love this series about friends who are as close as family and how serendipity brings new discoveries.
This time the story belongs to Joanne DuPree, whom we met in previous stories, and JT Williams, a single Dad photographer.
Joanne has moved to be close to her friend Amy and her daughter, whom she took care at one time. She meets JT at the ice rink not realizing that they had met when they were in their teens.
While their lives seemed to be moving in the direction of a romance between them, first misunderstandings and later a terrible accident interferes.
Then they are hit with an overwhelming discovering.
Will it make them all stronger and find their HEA?
This was another wonderful story in the series that ties all the loose ends and brings friends and family together.
In addition to the engaging plot, the author reminds us that as a society, we frequently cause others to have body image issues. Issues that can affect the individual for the rest of their lives and a stigma that should be corrected.
I wish to add that the narrator, Lisa Beacom, did an excellent job throughout the story by bringing it to life.
Another wonderful story. Joanne has been the caregiver for Amy’s daughter Cammie for ages. Now that Cammie has received her new heart, Joanne decides to start living her life for herself. She meets the extremely handsome photographer JT when he photographs her and Cammie at the ice rink. Love blooms from there. There are secrets. A strange house. Adoption. Sisters. A daughter. A terrible accident. And love. I enjoyed this one as much as the others in this fantastic series.
This is the fourth and final installment of the series set in Celebration. Once again, Stacy Eaton has written another excellent book. I really hate to see it end. I fell in love with the characters. The past comes to present with JT and Joanne, having met before. If you love tragedy, triumph and whirlwind romance this book is for you.
I really enjoyed Carnations and Hot Toddy Kisses by Stacy Eaton! It is the fourth book in the Heart of the Family series and definitely worth reading if you love small town romances.
JT recently moved back to Celebration to raise his daughter in the town he grew up in and to open a gallery with a friend. Meeting and falling in love with Joanne is an added bonus.
Joanne is looking for a job and home closer to Cammie and her mom since they are more like family than just friends. Everything seems to be falling in place when she gets the job she wants, a home she wants and so many new friends and meeting and falling in love with JT and his daughter make it even better.
When a horrible accident happens the whole community rallies with support and JT and Joanne realize just how much they have come to care for one another.
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
Great small town story that will make you want to live there. These stories are so packed with a wide range of emotions. It will keep you turning the pages.
This series is totally heartwarming and emotional and in this last fantastic story all the pieces and the family come together! Full of romance, friendships, surprises and I just love this world and wanna go there!
Carnations and Hot Toddy Kisses is one of the Heart of the Family series and it`s fun , sexy , all about friendship , family and HEA . This beauty is a nice mix of passion with humour, tears, heartbreaks and finding your true love.
Joanne is an amazing friend, a very compassionate nurse, a beautiful soul and yet she still hasn`t find that special person. She always wanted kids and now that she`s getting near 40 she thinks that maybe it was all just an empty dream; love and children. I think that a lot of lonely women will relate to her story. But when destiny has a mind of its own and brings back someone from her past that she had long forgotten about; she embarks on journey filled with emotions.
JT is raising a daughter on his own and still looking for the one that got away. One single moment turned his world upside down years ago and now, fate steps in years later to bring back some of that magic.
I really enjoyed their story and especially the fact that Joanne is not that perfect model type we often read about; she`s as real as they come. I was happy to see a connection between other characters from previous other in this series and the Heal Me Series and of course, Stacey has a few surprises of her own to keep us on edge!
Really looking forward to the next Stacy Eaton book!
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this story. JT is such a great guy. Joanne jumped to conclusions a few times but I liked how they always talked it out. I liked watching the growth that JTs daughter Arabella shows in this story. So great to see a lot of the favorites in Celebration as well.
Joanne moves to be closer to her best friend and meets JT. Their meeting is great. Joanne loses her temper quick and often. There are many things happening all at once, but I felt the situation with JT’s ex was unresolved.
This has been such a wonderful series. Joanne is a nurse who helped young Cammie through a heart transplant and became very close to her and her mother. So close she is Aunt Joanne and has moved to Pennsylvania to be close to her family. The Joanne and Cammie are ice skating one day when a man starts taking photos and Joanne looses her balance and falls. The man, JT, is a photographer who remembers Joanne from one night when they were teenagers. And his daughter Arabella and Cammie become friends skating out on the ice.
Joanne is such a caring and giving person who would love to have children. She is almost 36 and is afraid it may be too late soon. JT is divorced and his daughter is living with him, but would love to have more children as he was adopted and wanted brothers and sisters. Amy (Cammie’s mom) and Finley are Joanne’s best friends who giver her a lot of support. Joanne is fortunate to be hired by the hospital in Celebration in the pediatric department.
Joanne and JT’s relationship is up and down with some misunderstandings. I got frustrated with Joanne a few times. There is a big mystery that gets solved that made me so happy. There is so much happiness in this book that just melts your heart. I strongly encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy of the book and voluntarily wrote a review.
I have been looking forward to this last book. I am so sorry to see it end. Stacy did not disappoint. This is a must read. I would definitely start the series from the beginning.