Marietta native Miranda Evans has yet to find her niche…until a small legacy allows her to open a gift boutique featuring local artists in the historic Graff hotel. As Valentine’s approaches, Miranda, who’s always left romance to the pages of a book, reaches out to involve the community in random acts of kindness to celebrate the month of love. Miranda has no need for hearts and flowers until … until the boy next door she dreamed about in high school arrives back in town more handsome, brooding, and out of reach than ever.
Orthopedic surgeon Whitman Telford blew out of his small, Montana hometown at eighteen without looking back. When he’s told to fill in for a month at Marietta’s hospital before obtaining his dream job in LA, no is not an option. After getting sucked into the Valentine project along with half the town, Witt starts to wonder if he’ll still be eager to see Marietta in his rearview mirror.
Opposites attract or so Miranda’s heard, but will she have the courage to test this theory and take a chance on romance when so much more than her heart is at stake?
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I found Valentine’s at the Graff by Jayne Sinclair, book four in the Holiday at the Graff series, a sweet, warm and wonderful story that I really enjoyed. Miranda Evans loved living in Marietta, helping out her grandparents and finding a place where she fits in. She just opened a gift boutique in the historic Graff Hotel that would feature local artists, food and wine. Miranda decides to involve the community in random acts of kindness to celebrate February, the month of love. Miranda has had little time to find love, at least until her high school crush arrives back in Marietta more handsome and out of her reach. Orthopedic surgeon Whitman Telford left town right after high school graduation without planning to return. He resents being told to fill in for a month at Marietta’s hospital before he could work at his dream job in LA. Somehow after getting sucked into the Valentine project along with half the town, Witt starts to wonder if he will still want to see Marietta in his rearview mirror. Miranda shows Wilt that there’s so much more to life than what he anticipated and expected. These two opposites need to decide if a romance might be too much to take a chance on or what they really need.
I enjoyed reading this story. Ms. Sinclair is an excellent storyteller, keeping me interested in this story so that I had trouble putting it down. I highly recommend this outstanding book to other readers and look forward to the next book in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
There is just something extra special about the Graff Hotel. Not sure what it is but I have to think it has something to do with the ghost that appears somewhere in every one of the Graff books. Just a little Easter egg. Make sure to look for it while you are enjoying the storis. This story is more about one of the small boutiques inside the hotel and it’s owner Miranda. … AND What a wonderful story this is between Witt and Miranda too. Our author Sinclair Jayne gives us amazing love stories , ones that have you cheering for the nerd that looks like superman. He is our local super doc who can’t wait to leave our favorite town of Marietta for anyplace else. Yes, don’t worry we will all find out why inside the book and wow it was not at all why i thought either. Then we have Miranda who is really the opposite of Witt.
I love the way our author introduces us to Petal, Witts cousin who has been left to him care rather quickly and suddenly. To me Petal is the perfect mid of Witt and Miranda but hey don’t tell them I said so okay.
I love Marietta and it’s wonderful sense of community. There are some great ideas Miranda and Petal used in this book that all of us can use use everyday. Maybe even think of a way to do it from social media but for sure we can do it from our own websites. Oh this book has opened up a wealth of Paying it forward … Great Read and a Great Way to Help Others As Well.
Valentine’s At The Graff by Sinclair Jayne
Holiday at the Graff #4
Valentine’s Day – what does it mean to you? Well, Miranda Evans hears people talking one evening that remind her of grinches…Valentine’s Day Grinches. They spout off about the commercialization, expectations and how overblown the day has become and it makes her put her thinking cap on. She is opening a new store in the Graff Hotel on the first of February and decides to run a Valentine’s Day promotional event that will incorporate random acts of kindness and giving. She is a person who has given and given to family and community but hasn’t necessarily been given back in return.
As she is retrieving an item to be repurposed she falls from a ladder to the ground at the feet of handsome orthopedic surgeon Whitman “Witt” Telford. He was in her high school class but a bit aloof and never really saw her – or anyone else – though she had a crush on him. He is back in town for a month to help out at the local hospital until his fellowship begins in California but he has no desire to be in Marietta and is eager to leave as soon as he can. When his stepmother puts him in charge of a young female cousin he is a bit at loose ends until Miranda steps in to help out. With one thing leading to another he offers her the job of part-time Nanny until his father and stepmothr return.
Miranda is a cheerful, warm, positive and loving person that brings Petal out of her shell. She also begins to make an impact on Witt that provides them both with a warm friendship. There are conversations, activities, sharing and caring that end with the Valentine’s Ball at the Graff. Both know that Witt has to leave but Miranda really wishes he wouldn’t.
This is a story of family, community and friendship. It is a story of childhood misconceptions that have lingered and festered and need to be lanced. It is a story of becoming aware of what is really important in life and then learning to reach out and grab for it rather than letting it slip away. And, it is a sweet heartwarming story that made me smile and care and wish I could be there.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
A sweet romance of two complete opposites. Words are easy for her and so painfully hard for him. He has spent his life running away from love, and she’s running towards it. He’s awkward, goal oriented, a loner while she is very social, embraces life, warm and friendly. She is small town Marietta while he dreads his temporary job here. Written so you feel Witts painful social struggles and cringe as you just know that Miranda is likely to get her heartbroken. Cute story involving the towns involvement in Miranda’s Valentine’s project of encouraging random acts of kindness. I enjoyed watching their friendship grow as they become a temporary family. Petal was a bonus to this story and just what this couple needed to bond.
Thank you to Tule Publishing via Netgalley for the review copy.