Andie Carson has to do three things to inherit her grandmother’s lottery winnings—sober up, spend a month running her grandmother’s Georgia coffee shop, and enter homemade jam in the county fair. If she can’t meet those terms, the money goes to the church, and Andie gets nothing. She figures her tasks will be easy enough, and once she completes them, Andie plans to sell the shop, take the money, … money, and run back to Boston.
After a rough breakup from his crazy ex-fiancée, Officer Gunnar Wills decides to take a hiatus from women. All he wants is to help make his small town thrive the way it did when he was a kid. But when wild and beautiful Andie shows up, Gunnar’s hesitant heart begins to flutter.
Gunnar knows that Andie plans to leave, but he’s hoping to change her mind, fearful that if her coffee shop closes, Main Street will fold to the big-box corporations and forever change the landscape of his quaint community. But convincing her to stay means getting close enough to risk his heart in the process. Even though Gunnar makes small-town life seem a little sweeter, Andie has to decide if she’s ready to turn her world upside down and give up big-city life. One thing’s for sure—it’s a very sticky situation.
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Wonderful book filled to the brim with fun and interesting characters. The book moved along at a nice steady pace, really grabbing you and fully investing you in the lives and loves of small town people. Andie is a hoot and a half, while Gunnar simply oozes southern charm. I read a Hidden Gems copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I am so grateful I was able to receive an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Not only did I get to read a fantastic book, but also discovered a new author that I love! I was immediately drawn in from the beginning to Andie’s story, wanting to read more about how she ventured into running her grandmother’s shop, made friends and found it wasn’t so bad in a small town. I loved the characters and the romance that blossomed between Andie and Gunnar. This story had so much great detail and made me want to walk around their small little Georgia town. I would love to see this as a movie!
Southern style romance is the best and this books just strengthens that belief.
Andie is a woman that some could probably relate to in their own lives. She is out all the time getting drunk but why? Probably because she is lonely and has no true friends. She doesn’t have any family either. But this twist of fate changes all of that and she learns that family isn’t just those that you are related to by blood. Gunnar has his own issues, from a scandal in college to being dumped nearly at the altar (the day before which is just as bad). He does have a family but that doesn’t mean he has it all together. So really, Andie and Gunnar are made for each other!
I enjoyed all the southern aspects of this book, the various storylines, the characters…all of it! Several characters are put in their place in some amusing ways. I felt like this book was well rounded with romance, some tension between characters, and even some life-altering realizations.
We give this 5 paws up and suggest you pick up this book soon!
4.5 stars – sweet like sugar and sour like two greedy blue-haired biddies.
Andie is in a bad way. Waking up drunk in a police cell and not for the first time… She doesn’t seem very likeable at first and is very selfish. But she grows and turns out to be really sweet. Still plenty of sass; she’s a spitfire! Her own words: “I’m the most messed-up person on the planet, but I own my mistakes and try to do better.” I liked watching her learn and become the person she wants to be.
When she hears she inherited a s***load of money she’s not immediately enthusiastic; there are some hefty stipulations! She needs to get her act together in a big way, try fitting in in the Southern small town where her Granny lived, or the money will go to the local church. Needless to say, a lot of people would love to see the money go to the church instead of to her.
A quote to show how she felt at the start of all this: “I cried when I reached Atlanta because I knew it was the last of real civilization that I would see for a long time.”
Gunnar (and not ‘Gunnah’, inside joke) is Smithville’s police officer. When he first meets Andie he thinks she’s crazy. He’s on a sabbatical from females. But maybe, just maybe…?
It’s written in first person present time. Alternating POV’s Andie and Gunnar. There were times I had a little trouble adjusting to Gunnar’s POV; Andie’s seemed a bit more natural. But I really liked it. It had some fun moments! I didn’t want to put the book down 🙂
I received an ARC of this amazing book and loved it! Andie Carson is such a amazing character in this story. I was so proud of the way she turned her life around and was able to find herself through a journey her grandma put her through. The town she thought would be easy to get out of once she fulfilled her grandma’s wishes, embrased and loved her, turning her life right side up. The strength she showed as a child growing up in a miserable and deceitful environment made her stronger. I loved reading how strong, passionate, determined, proud and honest she was. It was truly amazing how much strength she showed throughout the story. Gunner is such a messed up great guy who has given up on love, until Andie. However Gunner has a secret he believes will ruin his chances with Andie and his spotless reputation as a cop. The chemistry between Gunner and Andie is undeniable and so sweet. I loved their banter and how they tried to resist their attraction. I loved the townfolk and the iteraction with Andie. I especially loved the small town appeal and how everyone collaborated together. This is such a great story to read. I plan to reread it over and over again. This story is full of hope, understanding, small town gossip and support, undeniable attraction, secrets, trust, family and love.
cute story.
I enjoyed this book and would like to read another involving the same characters. I hope the author is busy writing that one!
I really enjoyed this one
Loved thisbook!!! This has to be one of my favorite books ever!! Great story, great characters, no graphic sex! You had empathy for all of the characters and I was actually sad when I finished thebook because I wanted the stories to go on. Being from the south I found it relatable. A really great book!!!
I enjoyed the characters and their down to earth personalities the ending was a surprise i recommend this to anyone who wants to believe in happily ever after
A fun read!
This was not a book with perfect characters. This is one reason I liked it. It had its moments of humor which I enjoyed. It is an easy read. I may read it again later.
I read IN A JAM in one sitting, unable to put it down because I loved it so much.
If you enjoy small town romances, with a cast of crazy characters, hot police officers, jam contests, and lots of charm, you’ll love IN A JAM. The premise is that Andie must go to the small Southern town where her grandma lived and died in order to claim her inheritance. There’s a catch though- she has to fulfill a couple of grandma’s wishes first, like live there, run grandma’s store, and enter grandma’s jam in the local contest. Many in the floundering town would love to see Andie fail, so they can get their hands on grandma’s money. But Andie pushes through and finds herself, forgives herself, and learns to love herself.
The challenges Andie faces, the humor and love from her new friends and the cute cop love interest, and the quirky townspeople, all make this a wonderful read.
A quick read….cute book…..easy to read…….
In a Jam is southern chick lit at its best. I am fairly new to southern chick lit but am quickly becoming a huge fan. Cindy Dorminy has the talent to take her reader right into the south making the towns come alive, the people be real, and the story come to life.
The romance of the book was fun. Andie and Gunnar having an interesting relationship with Gunnar being asked to keep an eye on Andie while Andie isn’t very thrilled with moving to a small town just so she can get the inheritance her grandmother left her. The thrill of the chase between these two was fun. I liked that they circled each other, touched each other’s hearts, pushed each other’s buttons , and just had fun together. They had a relationship that was real, it wasn’t just lust, it was feelings, it was fear of falling, and the fun of the chase.
The town of Smithsville was amazing. The setting was perfect for this story. Smithsville is a small town, with small town people, and small town stores. Everyone knows everyone. There are no secrets within the city limits and they are all shared on a blog for the rest of the world to know. The small town shops are perfect, I can see the doors being open for customers, the towns people just hanging out sharing their lives, and the help they give each other help without so much as a plea for help.
In a Jam is a story that I recommend to anyone who loves Southern Chick Lit, who loves realistic small town, and fun characters. I will be looking for more from Cindy Derminy.
Glad I found it..it’s grabbed me from the 1st 2 pages and was such an enjoyable read.
I fell in love with this book and the ensemble of crazy, quirky but lovable characters. I laughed out loud at the first sentence in this book, Andie has yet again overdone the partying and finds herself once again in a jam! Her guardian angel/protector Tinsley comes to her aid but this time her life is about to change, for the better? I thought so! Did Andie? Absolutely not! What unfolds is a laugh out loud tale of a small southern town full of characters that I wanted to meet. Andie finds out about true friendship and love. Love? Yes her love interest Gunnar-what a name- is hot , hot , hot! Who in her right mind coulkd resist him? It is not smooth sailing for Andie and Gunnar , there are some hilarious scenes and some steamy ones as well. In A Jam is what Andie finds herself in many times in this book.
I devoured this in one sitting and was actually bummed when I finished this story. I want more of these characters and I am hoping for a sequel so fingers crossed, the author will write a story about Mel and Regina, Andies’ new found friends.
Sweet Home … Well… Er… Georgia. This was a sweet and fun yet angsty look at small town Southern life mostly through the eyes of a woman who was raised as a damned Yankee. Being a native Georgian and actually having lived in Leesburg – home of Luke Bryan, Buster Posey, and Phillip Phillips and County Seat of Lee County, where the *real* Smithville, Georgia is located – I can testify personally that the small town life depicted here is pretty damn realistic. (And if you can’t tell from the pair of D’s I’ve already used, I can also testify from the side of being a bit of a black sheep/ outsider in these realms, despite arguably having a *deeper* connection to Southern History than many I’ve encountered in these real-life small Southern towns. 😉 )
But you’re not reading this book for reality. You’re reading it for hilarity. And if you like the style of Southern rom-com ala Reese Witherspoon’s Sweet Home Alabama, you’re going to enjoy this tale. It’s got plenty of fish out of water hilarity as this Yankee tries to learn Southern speech and customs. It’s got the crazy old lady hilarity. It’s got the zaniness of various family / friends / neighbors oddballs and their connections. And yes, it has a bit of heat (though nothing more than heavy kissing “on screen”, for those that care about such things – either direction) and a lot of savory.
Overall, a solid “homemade” jam that has a deeper profile than many might expect, but hits all the notes it has to hit to be beloved by many who appreciate what it is. Very much recommended.
This is my first book by this author and I am glad I chose to read this.
It is an interesting and charming romance. Andie is in trouble again but her grandmother has left her an inheritance requiring her to get cleaned up. Gunnar is the hot lawman with some secrets of his own. They are opposites in some unusual ways, while her life is an open book his is not. Well-written, there are scenes that almost brought me to tears that kept the story from being trite. And there is a happy ever after ending. This is on my recommended list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Red Adept Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
Quirky small town romance,, fun characters , sweet story ! Great storyline , Small town life , second chance for Andie who is on the brink of becoming a Alcoholic with no way forward, when she gets the wake up call that will change her life !