⭐⭐⭐☆★
Sweetness. That’s the one word that springs to mind about
this romance.
Jules Wakefield, a vet, lost her beloved parents suddenly
and hasn’t come to terms with her grief. For as long as she can remember, her parents
ran a rabbit rescue on their sprawling forty acre land. She is now struggling
to manage the rescue plus her practise. Jules wants to sell the property with
the caveat that the buyers continue running the rescue. The caveat is
non-negotiable and chases potential buyers away. In a moment of despondency,
Jules has a brainwave: run an essay contest about the rescue. The prize is that
she’ll sign over the rescue, house and property to the winner. Of course, her
lawyer advises a three-month waiting period before signing the papers so that
Jules can make sure that the winner of the contest is indeed up to the task of
running the rescue and committed to it.
After twelve years of being with her boyfriend and supporting
his dream of making partner in a law firm, Parker Rose has realised that she is
never going to count in the relationship. Her dreams of simpler, rural (at
least suburban) living that she’s deferred were never going to be considered. Parker
chooses to walk out of the relationship which is basically killing her. With a
soft spot for rabbits, Parker has started a small online business specializing
in bunny treats, but that doesn’t generate a lot of income, so Parker moves
back with her parents.
When Parker wins Jules’ contest, it’s a dream come true,
except that she’d not written or sent the essay (which is admittedly authentic
about Parker) – her best friend wrote and sent it in Parker’s name. Parker
loves the bunnies, the rescue, the life and above all Jules who falls as much
in love with Parker. But the ‘lie’ of the essay could well be the undoing of
paradise.
Jules and (especially) Parker are instantly appealing. Both
the ladies have been written with depth and are well realised characters. The relationship
between the two is all aww-some, in particular all the ways Parker takes care
of Jules. And, of course, bunnies.
There is a little bit of angst in the relationship when Parker
confesses but mercifully it wasn’t overblown or stretched too long. The behaviour of both the ladies in that
situation didn’t devolve into drama or unreasonableness. The accompanying
outside threat was also dealt with totally convincingly.So it was all good.
This book is one happy sip of feel-good-ness.
⭐⭐⭐☆★
