Will he pass the daddy test?With his job in jeopardy, it couldn’t be a worse time for Sheriff Nate Landry’s recent past to come back to haunt him. But it would take an army to stop SWAT team leader Julie Smith. The fellow cop—and sister of his ex-fiancée—wants one thing from the beleaguered lawman: custody of the toddler son that Nate didn’t know he had.He may not be natural daddy material, but … not be natural daddy material, but he quickly takes a shine to little Duke. And then there are the feelings Nate’s been hiding for years. Only now Julie’s running for sheriff of Harmony Valley—against him. Time to retreat? Not if he wants a future with the woman he loves.
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I really enjoyed this sweet romance. While it is mostly lighthearted, the story line does contain a few more series situations. Fortunately, like most romance books, love helps resolve problems, friends unite for support and happily ever after is in the future.
I recently discovered Melinda Curtis’s work and I add this books to the others that I have read and enjoyed. She does an excellent job of creating life-like characters that I care about. I look forward to reading the other books in the Harmony Valley series.
5 stars
I purchased a copy of the full length novel Harlequin Heartwarming: A Harmony Valley Novel book 10: Support Your Local Sheriff by Melinda Curtis and this review was given freely.
A Harmony Valley power struggle with flashbacks to Nate’s broken childhood and Julie’s accident are blended with small town life and a sweet second chance romance. Sheriff Nate Landry is just getting comfortable in the quiet town of Harmony Valley when a disgruntled citizen brings about a sheriff’s election and his ex-fiance’s sister and LA SWAT sniper Julie moves to town with her nephew and the “Daddy Test”.
“Support Your Local Sheriff” is part of Melinda Curtis’s Harmony Valley series. For those who have been visiting Harmony Valley from the beginning, or if this is your first time, this is a story that will grab your heart from the get-go.
“Support Your Local Sheriff” features Sheriff Nate Landry and newcomer Julie Smith.
Nate has always been a man of few words and even fewer smiles. We find out why by learning about his past and the turmoil he’s been through that gives him the strength and patience to be the compassionate man he is to the citizens of Harmony Valley. And that includes newcomer Julie, who is the sister of his ex-fiancé.
Julie is only in town for one thing – gain custody of Nate’s son Duke. After all, Nate has said he’s not the fatherly type so she assumes he’ll sign the papers and she’ll be gone. But Julie needs to heal too. From an on-the-job incident and to get back at Nate for hurting her sister.
What better way than to run for Sheriff? Except things don’t work out as one thinks they should. Or maybe they do.
Both Nate and Julie learn about love and forgiveness, on their own and with a little help from the elderly citizens of Harmony Valley. Citizens like Terrance and Rutgar, Leona and Doris, who make the story richer and more rewarding.
“Support Your Local Sheriff” will make you snort-laugh in one chapter and want to shed a tear or two in the next. Ms. Curtis has created a town and a cast of characters that will fill your heart and make you wish you could be a part of.
I can’t wait for my next visit to Harmony Valley.
Nate Landry has been sheriff of Harmony Valley for the last few years – long enough for him to understand all the inner workings and idiosyncrasies of the town. Everything seems to be going smoothly until a disgruntled resident challenges his authority.
SWAT team member Julie Smith has just arrived in Harmony Valley to track down Nate and introduce him to her nephew who also happens to be his son. The son he doesn’t know about. What she doesn’t expect is for him to be embroiled in a challenge to his job that pulls her into a competition for his job. Nor does she expect him to accept being a father. What other surprises await her?
Nate can’t believe his eyes when he sees his ex fiancee’s sister with a little boy who turns out to be his son. Now he’s got some big decisions. Does he try to get them to stay? Does he be honest with her and watch her walk away? And, how is he to respond now that she’s running for sheriff against him?
Nate is a man on the mend from a broken past. Julie is on the mend from more recent hurts and injuries. They are tied together through Nate’s son, Duke. Can Julie move beyond her hurt and anger and see the real Nate? Is she prepared to hear his answers?
Themes covered in the story are – domestic violence, police shooting, forgiveness, and good vs bad parents. Consequently, the humor is rather limited to scenes in the story where it’s appropriate.
Romance – PG – kissing
Language – PG
My rating – 5 stars.