Looking for Leroy by Melody Carlson: Book Review

  **I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own. 

It's official: Brynna Phillips is done with men. They only break your heart. But just when she makes this declaration, her friend Jan convinces Brynna to join her on a camping vacation in Sonoma Wine Country. As they wind their way toward their destination, spanking-new mini camper in tow, Brynna recalls her teenage camp romance with a boy named Leroy. How can it have been nearly 30 years ago? All she remembers is that Leroy was a genuinely good guy and that his family owned a vineyard--in Sonoma. She doesn't even remember his last name. Jan insists they look for him, and the search begins.

Beyond the slim chance they'd ever be able to find him are questions that have haunted Brynna for decades, including What is the point of digging up the past? and Can Leroy ever forgive me for losing touch?

Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you on a trip to rediscover the carefree days of youth and, just maybe, to get a second chance at love.

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of more than 250 books with sales of more than 7.5 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice, and her novel All Summer Long was made into a Hallmark movie. She and her husband live in central Oregon. Learn more at www.melodycarlson.com.

Looking for Leroy is a bit different from most books in the romance genre in that the romantic leads didn't meet each other (or re-meet, as the case may be) until probably over halfway through the story. As such, we didn't really get to see them together as a couple as much as I would typically like... and I admit I did find myself wishing there was a bit more of that... Still, there was something about that anticipation of when they would bump into one another that certainly kept me turning the pages to see how it would all play out. Second chance romances are some that I have always really enjoyed, and this was certainly no exception. Beyond that, I adored the beautiful picture Melody Carlson pained of this setting... As a non-drinker, I can't say that visiting a vineyard has ever been high on my list of things I wanted to experience, but this book certainly might have changed that with its beautiful descriptions of the landscape and the serenity of it all. While I cannot say this has been my favorite from this author, it certainly was a quick and enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to fans of clean romance!