After a scathing blogger review and a negative Atlanta television newscast tarnish Willow Falls’ reputation as a secluded North Georgia tourist destination, the town council votes to use the remainder of its annual budget to hire a PR firm to restore the town’s image. At a town-hall meeting, angry residents brainstorm ideas to boost Willow Falls’ appeal. When a second Atlanta television station … station announces plans to film a segment for its Around Georgia series, residents invest their time and limited resources to spruce up Main Street’s appearance. Willow Post editor Emily Hayes can’t help but shake her head at her town’s desperate efforts.
For months, Emily has submitted her novel to numerous publishers but received only rejections. When famous artist Naomi Jasper offers Emily much-needed cash to finish writing, then cast and direct a play about Willow Falls’ colorful history, Emily faces a difficult decision—postpone the rewrite of her novel or accept the project. After convincing her sister, Rachel Streetman, to partner with her, Emily puts her dreams on hold and agrees to take on the play. Failure to deliver is not an option.
All her life Rachel has dreamed of becoming a stage actress, so when she receives an invitation to audition for a respected Broadway director, Rachel abandons her sister and the Willow Falls play. But an incident with the director sends her reeling back into the arms of Charlie Bricker, her one true love. Out of options, Rachel reluctantly accepts her part in the town play with the slim hope that her performance might kick-start her career.
If anyone understands broken hearts, it’s Willow Inn’s beloved innkeeper, Sadie Liles. Sadie has learned to live with the fact that love is the last thing she’ll ever find. Then he walks through the front door.
As the town prepares for Redding Arms’ grand opening, five newcomers and one British tourist test the town’s quirky, lovable, argumentative residents’ souls. Digging deep to deal with the strife, bickering, and personal backstabbing will test Willow Falls in ways the small town never imagined. Could it be that the trouble in Willow Falls is the very thing that reminds its residents that honesty, love, and loyalty to one another is what binds them together?
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Willow Falls, Georgia a town on the bring of failure. Even so, the residents are passionate about their small piece of the world and when their town is bashed on the internet, there is an uproar (like only small towns can cause).
Long-time resident Emily Hayes and her newly-found twin sister Rachel Streetman are thrust in the middle of a massive town renovation project that includes a theater remodel and putting on a play—this includes the writing, directing, and acting. And, of course, everyone has their opinions to express.
Pat Nichols fictional town is one to admire. The people are resilient and, despite their often differing opinions, the residents pull together when it matters most. Even the newcomers to Willow Falls pitch in—some more than even the residents.
Humor, heart, and a touch of mystery infuse the second book in Nichols’ Willow Falls series.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
When I seen the cover of this book I knew I had to pick it up. I wasn’t disappointed.
Nichols is a new to me author and I am now a forever fan.
I was hooked from page one until the very end!! This book will also leave you thinking about it long after it’s done.
Nichols has made this story believable and realistic.
I can relate to a small town feel. I’m from two of them. I didn’t care for the last one I was in because everyone knew everyone else’s business and I don’t like that! In this last town, most of the residents were my husband’s kin folk.
I loved everyone’s determination to save their town from a blog post about how their town wasn’t much to look at and that there is nothing to do unless you want a quiet vacation time. In other words, I think it would be up to the people who come to visit should be allowed to make the decision on how they feel about it.
Rejection can be cruel but I felt that Emily handles that pretty well. I also love that she jumps in to help everyone in trying to get Willow Falls back into shape so to speak.
I would love to have each and every one of the residents as my neighbors. They sure are awesome!
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I’ve been watching for this second book since I read and reviewed book 1 in this series. I love the town of Willow Falls with its interesting mix of people who live there. Emily, Rachel, Charlie and Sadie are some of the main characters in this story, and each one brings a different flavor of personality to the town. I even enjoyed the bickering in the story, it makes it more realistic for me. The Trouble in Willow Falls is very well written, and with each vivid scene, it was enough to keep me reading.
If you enjoy small town, where every one knows everyone else’ business, you will love this one. The characters will pull you in from the beginning. And the story will give you lots of entertainment and enjoyment. This is one I highly recommend. And don’t forget to check out book one in this series, The Secret of Willow Inn.
A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This is such a beautiful, heartwarming story. Willow Falls is a character in itself. A lovely little town with a HUGE heart. The townspeople are all characters too. They range from gossipy, self-centered people to wonderful artists to ex-cons. They all come together to make Willow Falls a mecca for tourists with a restored inn and hotel with an excellent, original play performed by the locals. Hope we get to see more of this charming town and all of its inhabitants.
I was so glad to spend time with these characters again. The theatre bit was a bonus for this actress!
Ms. Nichols brings her characters back for another whirlwind ride. One disaster is a fact of life; two disasters a crazy coincidence, but a third disaster is plain suspicious.
As the townspeople rally to recover from the derogatory blog post—disaster #1—they are divided in how best to save their town. The way they come together makes me wish I lived in a small town.
I was happy to see that Rachel and Emily have become so close, and how they teamed up to help save Willow Falls. Ms. Nichols threw a couple of twists again, and a tearjerker surprise. Once again, I look forward to the next Willow Falls story.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Monday, #TRD, Book Review, The Trouble in Willow Falls, Pat Nichols
I’m enjoying the Willow Falls Series and look forward to the next books. Pat Nichols writes in an easy style that reminds me of Jan Karon and her Mitford series. The characters are easy to get to know and offer a wonderful dimension to a delightful story. I highly recommend this book to those who are intrigued with small-town life in a picturesque setting. There’s plenty of intrigue mixed with mysterious characters and family issues – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
I loved this book from beginning to end. Problem after problem clobbers this small town that is trying to make their town into a destination town. Like every group, there are always those that resist change mightily, but with love, kindness and some experts thrown into the mix, they help their town (and themselves) to grow and be closer to what they envision.
I enjoyed the relationships and how they grew. I didn’t necessarily like all of the characters, but ultimately, they were presented as real people, warts and all. Just like real life people, there was something to admire and like about every character.
I loved the first book in the series and was delighted to preview and review this book.
I received a copy of this book to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Oh, my goodness, what an awesome book. Willow Falls can seem to catch a break. Will the good folks there be able to overcome all that is thrown at them? I love the characters. Add in some veterans to the mix and my heart just filled with emotions. We’ve also added some folks that you may think haven’t had the best past lives. Thank goodness for the love and generosity of some in this small town. Rachel is having to deal with mixed emotions and opportunities. What decisions will she make? I love this series and these wonderful folks of Willow Falls. They make me laugh and they make me cry. I cannot wait to be able to visit with them again. I received an ARC of this book, but my opinion is my own and freely given.
I received this book as an ARC (I had already read and loved the first book) This author shapes her characters realistically and after the first book, I felt I already knew them and all their good and bad points.
It seems that if anything can go wrong it will and does. But the people of Willow Falls do what all small towns do when something goes wrong, they get upset and then they get to work deciding what to do and doing it.
You have the lady mail-carrier who wouldn’t “gossip”, but she knows what everyone is doing or not doing. You also have the two sisters who were raised separately and were unaware of the existence of each other, learning to be sisters.
You’ll love this story and you’ll long for book three and the possibility of some future marriages. I hope Ms. Nichols writes it soon.
I’m a big fan of Jan Karon’s Mitford Series and am delighted to find a similar atmosphere in Willow Falls. The characters work together, for the most part, for the good of their town. There are some hilarious moments, a few heart wrenching scenes, and a surprising twist at the end. As I turned the last page (with my shoes off, like the main character), I wished for the launch of #3.
This second novel in the Willow Falls series by Pat Nichols is a treat for the heart and the soul! The setting is in Georgia and the characters are interesting and charming. Part “Mayberry” and part “Mitford” the tale is about two sisters fulfilling a promise to their parents. Their helpers along the way are ingenious and dedicated. Humor, romance, dedication and fast paced, this novel is delightful but not all “fluff” I loved the way Nichols brought us into small town life in all the best ways! Grab it and read!!
I read a bulk of this during a road trip to small-town Oregon, so found it all too easy to imagine Willow Falls in my mind’s eye. I’ve also been to Georgia enough, that lent depth to the experience as well! And Peachtree everything..so true! The author did a great job at infusing life into each setting.
I enjoyed book 1 so very much, and loved getting to revisit familiar characters and meet new ones!
The books don’t have to be read in order, but it’s definitely more enjoyable if they are, as earlier plot points and back stories are referenced.
The story lagged occasionally for me at times, but I still liked it immensely and would recommend, especially if you’ve read book 1.
I received a copy of the book from the author. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book. It’s a moving story of a small town and it’s inhabitants that pull together to try to survive after an internet attack on it’s reputation. The town is beautifully described and the characters are well developed. The story pulled me in immediately and I grew to love this town. I would love to visit it! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
If only we had half-stars! I rate this as 3.5 as it is above average. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the story of this delightful town in future books. It is not necessary for you to have read the first of the Willow Falls books in order to enjoy this one. The author does an excellent job of bringing in past material to blend with the current story of a town and its people who are desperately trying to hold on to the heart of the community by attracting tourism. The title could just as easily be the “Troubles” as it’s not just one thing that jolts the community and makes people wonder if they are on the right track or if perhaps they should give up. The characters are delightful and there are many stories featured so that at one point I questioned if the author would be able to deal with all the threads and bring it back together. She did! I especially enjoyed the town’s acceptance of people who had a hard life before becoming part of the community.
Homeless or ex-cons, we learn we should never make snap judgments of others, a good message to repeat many times. I have special respect for the author as she apparently entered the literary world as a second life. It is easy to give up before you begin when you see all those young authors out there or experienced authors with years of published work behind them. She brings a fresh and wise view, hitting on those things that make life truly worthwhile, which is not a new shopping center, and expresses the joy of family, whether by blood or by love and friendship.
I took a few days to review the characters from The Secret of Willow Inn before I started The Trouble in Willow Falls. I was glad I did because the second book was like continuing the story with friends. Pat Nichols has continued to showcase life in a small Georgia town and develop depth to the main characters. I found myself cheering as the town came together with support to overcome new obstacles. Pat Nichols has done a great job in this novel. I look forward to more books to come.
I would recommend reading the first book before reading the second book in the series so that you are familiar with the relationships between the characters. This was not fully explained in Trouble in Willow Falls so the reader has some catching up to do. The book is easy to read and you want to know what will happen in each chapter. There were too many new characters introduced too quickly so it was challenging to remember their names and their part in the story. In the end, everything seemed to be wrapped up with a ribbon and everyone was happy. So what will the third book hold?
How much trouble can one small town handle? The residents show time and again how a town can come together to better itself. As in any town, outsiders are not always embraced, but boy can they make a difference. There are lessons to be learned, and the book addresses some current-day issues, but the book isn’t preachy. It’s just a down-right good read.
Pat Nichols does a fabulous job of weaving the various storylines to a satisfying conclusion. It was a fun read and I enjoyed how the characters interacted with each other. As in any small town, you have a range of character personalities. Nichols develops these characters so that you feel as if you know them (or someone like them).
Some of the characters were from her previous book (which I read awhile ago), and I didn’t always remember their back story, but could usually figure it out. It might have helped to have just a little more explanation about Mama Sadie and Emily’s relationship and how Emily’s parents’ fit into the storyline.
I’ve enjoyed both of the Willow Falls books and look forward to many more books by Pat Nichols.
I love this series! This is book two in the Willow Falls series and it was wonderful to visit the town again and see old friends and meet the new people. The story grabs you on the first page and keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. If you like small town stories you will love this series. I received an ARC copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
What a real page turner! Once you start reading you can’t stop. You have to find out what happens next. Everyone can relate to this small town and its characters. Plan on setting aside some time once you start reading. You won’t be disappointed. Pat, Great job. Can’t wait for Book 3.
I received a copy of this book to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I very much enjoyed book two in the Willow Falls series. The characters are like old friends and you feel like you want to be right there cheering them on. I especially like this series since it takes place in the North Georgia mtns and also around Atlanta at places I’m very familiar with. The town has to come together to survive or go under. With help from some outsiders that are welcomed (a few ex cons and some war vets) to help with the town, this book really shows how acceptance and pulling together can accomplish many things. Definitely a heart warming book that will leave you wanting more.