Synopsis:~

“It was just a house. Just a weathered old house in a hidden grove, shuttered and still . . . ”

Last year, after traumatic circumstances forced her from her job as a nanny, Mara Bristol finally found a place to belong—the winsome Everwood Bed & Breakfast at the edge of Maple Valley, Iowa. For months, she’s helped its owner, Lenora, maintain the ramshackle property despite their shortage of guests. But when Lenora fails to return from a month-long trip and the bank threatens foreclosure, Mara worries she’s once again alone . . . abandoned . . . about to lose the only true home she’s ever known.

Detective Marshall Hawkins is no closer to whole today than he was two years ago . . . the day his daughter died. Between his divorce, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on medication, his life is falling apart. And when a reckless decision on the job propels him into administrative leave, he has no other plan but to get in his truck and drive. A one-night stay at the Everwood was supposed to be just that. But there’s something about the old house—or maybe its intriguing caretaker—that pulls him in.

Together, Mara and Marshall set out to save the Everwood. But its secrets run deeper than they could’ve imagined. As they renovate the house and search for its missing owner, they’ll each confront the pain that brought them to the Everwood in the first place . . . and just maybe discover a faith and love to help them carry on.

My take:~

Melissa Tagg has penned a tender and compelling love story that pulls heart strings loose, lets them fray a little, then embroiders them back up with threads of joy, hope, and healing. Beautifully wrought, from the wounded souls of Mara and Marshall, the ever delightful community of Maple Valley, to the Everwood, a home that has a character all its own. I can’t tell you how happy I am more Maple Valley love stories are to come! Melissa Tagg’s gift shines in Now and Then and Always – don’t miss the chance to experience it for yourself.

With thanks to the author for my review copy

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