Melissa Tagg is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to see that her latest novel, Now and Then and Always, was on Kindle Unlimited. I was even more excited when I realized it was set in Maple Valley.
If you haven’t been introduced to Maple Valley yet, check out the Walker Family series. The quirky town shines as the true star of the series. Or, if you prefer shorter reads, check out her Enchanted Christmas novellas.
Not that you can’t read Now and Then and Always if you haven’t read the other books. But some of the characters make an appearance in this novel which I found very enjoyable. Because Tagg not only creates lovely small towns you fall in love with, she also creates characters you can root for. Characters that feel real.
For me, Mara and Marshall are a great example of this. Marshall’s wounds from his past made him relatable, but his personality shines through every comment, every time he teases Mara. Mara has her own wounds to contend with, but the way she pushes through hurdles and finds herself surrounded by a support system she didn’t expect is what made me root for her.
The backdrop of the Everwood Bed & Breakfast gave the story an extra bit of charm. I have a weak spot for stories that involve renovating a house. I think it’s linked to my newfound appreciation of HGTV. (If you share this, check out Denise Weimer’s Fall Flip.) I also liked the mystery of what happened to Lenora. Between that, Mara’s past, and Marshall’s grief, there was a lot to keep me flipping pages.
Overall, this was a fantastic book! I highly recommend it if you love small-town charm and sweet romances.
Further Information
If you want to check it out for yourself, you can click the picture to order it on Amazon or read it on Kindle Unlimited.
You can follow Melissa Tagg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also sign up for her newsletter and receive a free novella.
I also mentioned Melissa Tagg in my post 10 Best New-to-Me Authors of 2019.
