An uplifting page-turner about hope, the will to start over, and the power of friendship.
In this first Friends & Neighbors novel--a spin-off of Ava's beloved Merriams series--meet a woman determined to realize her dreams and revitalize a beloved neighborhood with two things she believes most in: hope and chocolate.
From the time she was a little girl, Alice Bailey dreamed of opening a chocolate shop. After all, chocolate heals everything, from heartache to woes. She’s certainly had plenty of those lately, drilling home the whole “life is precious” motto. It’s now or never—carpe diem time.
Only opening up a chocolate shop in this close-knit Hudson Valley community proves harder than she imagined, especially when other neighborhood businesses are experiencing hard times. She’s not only an outsider, but resentment over her circumstances breeds mistrust among some business owners.
Except for Hank O’Connor, the sexy owner of the Irish pub in town. Even though he’s experiencing his own share of troubles and is downright grumpy, he’s looking for hope and sunshine Alice-style. Maybe it’s their instant attraction, but they end up bonding over more than just chocolate as the difficult currents in town swell.
As she struggles to rebuild, she shows her new friends and neighbors that life offers more richness than they realize. Only she discovers it’s her hope that creates her very own happily ever after.
Psst…To Ava’s readers: you’ll be delighted hearing Clifton Hargreaves, Arthur and Clara’s beloved butler, both opens the chocolate shop with Alice and finds his soulmate at last. We all fell in love with him at the end of the Dare Valley series, and of course, learned more about this fascinating and talented man in The Merriams series. Enjoy! By the way, Arthur and Clara adore Hargreaves’ fated mate.
Ava’s Friends & Neighbors series is a feast for the senses…
Make sure to check out A DREAMER’S FLOWER SHOPPE.
