TITLE:  The Road to Happenstance
AUTHOR:  Janice L. Dick
DATE:  2020
PUBLISHER: Tansy & Thistle Press
STARS: *****

One man running from his past, two women he’s attracted to, and a peculiar town that won’t let him go.

Matthew Sadler rides his ’77 Harley into Happenstance, intent on passing through, but people and events conspire to prevent his leaving. The elderly Barlow sisters consider Matt their knight on a motorcycle. Matt is entranced by Roni, the other lodger at the Happenstance Hotel who bears an uncanny resemblance to Matt’s beloved, deceased wife. The young doctor in town, Paula Percy, adores Matt’s motorcycle. However, she is suspicious of the woman from the hotel.

As the days pass, the quaint little town, with its unique residents, begins to show its sinister side. When evidence of multiple thefts leads to Matt’s door, he must deal with a mystery and yet more false accusations.

Do the old diaries of Amanda Rutherford Barlow hold the answers Matt so desperately seeks? Will Happenstance finally let him go, or does he have a reason to stay?

The sign proclaimed: “Happenstance: A Town You Can Trust.” But can you? When Matt arrives—by accident, it seems—in the time-warp town, he’s running from trouble. But trouble may have followed or waited for him.

I quickly fell in love with the quirky residents of Happenstance, especially gas station owner “Bear” with his mis-quips, like “volunteers are thick as hen’s teeth,” the Barlow sisters with their squabble-y banter, and the puzzled hero, Matt. Each character description and speech pattern painted a clear picture in my mind, and their personalities came to life.

The appearance of Roni, whose eerie resemblance to Matt’s wife, Ginny, draws him even while others speak of their distrust. Is she who and what she claims? The mysteries continue to deepen until they come to a heart-pounding climax.
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I hope author Janice L. Dick writes a sequel; I miss her characters already. I loved “The Road to Happenstance” and award it five stars. I was given an ARC by the publisher; all opinions are my own.
 

TITLE:  Love on Assignment in Millcreek
AUTHOR:  JoAnn Durgin
DATE:  2019
STARS: *****
Lisbeth Lawrence never expected to be catapulted into a snowbank on a bitterly cold December night. Dazed and sprawled in the snow, she looks into the soulful eyes of the boy who’d stolen her heart ten years ago—he just didn’t know it. Rugged and more handsome than ever, he’s now a mystery man who travels the globe and turns up in town from time to time. The only person who knows the truth is one of Lisbeth’s physical therapy patients—and she’s not talking.

Miles Langston is close to personal and professional burnout when he’s given a unique assignment: go home to Millcreek, Connecticut, and regroup, recharge, and reconnect. What he didn’t plan on was accidentally sending a former classmate flying into a snowbank his first night back. “Lis” Lawrence, the quiet “good” girl with the prettiest eyes in school, has grown into a beauty who challenges his heart and mind from the get-go.

Brought together through their mutual love and care for his beloved grandmother, Miles and Lisbeth begin to experience miracles unfolding through the quiet good deeds of the “Millcreek Christmas Elf”…and in their own hearts. Can a man who rarely stays in one place for long find love and contentment with a woman firmly entrenched in little Millcreek?

Love on Assignment in Millcreek is a sweet Christmas story but can and should be read any time of the year. As yummy as Ginny’s hot chocolate, it hits all the right notes for a romance, with hero Miles sweeping—make that knocking—heroine Lisbeth off her feet in chapter one, plus a mystery in the form of the Millcreek Elf.

Author JoAnn Durgin is well-known for her multi-dimensional characters and witty dialogue, and this story follows her tradition. As Lisbeth and Miles get to know one another after so many years, their conversations show their character, witty and deep, and their growing romance is a delight.

As an older woman, I have a soft spot for older women featured in stories and loved Ellyn, Ginny and Agnes. Loving, wise, and at time a hoot, they added warmth in abundance. The rest of the supporting cast is well-drawn, also.
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I loved Love on Assignment in Millcreek and award it five stars. Recommended!