The Coldwater Warm Hearts Club

August 15, 2016
A jaded woman returns home, discovering the magnetism of love and a small town’s compassionate charm, in Eddings’s strong debut. Entrepreneur Lacy Evans was ruined after her business partner (who was also her boyfriend) absconded with client funds. Lacy has cut a deal so she won’t be prosecuted for the loss, but she’s homeless, penniless, and in debt to loan sharks. Reluctantly, she leaves Boston and returns to her hometown, Coldwater Cove, Okla., to lie low for a while. Wounded warrior Jake Tyler, owner of the Green Apple Grill, greets Lacy’s return with a warm embrace and a personal agenda. Since Jake’s return from Afghanistan with a prosthetic leg, he has not had a meaningful relationship with a woman, and he intends to change that. As Jake sets out to woo Lacy, each of their planned outings has a hiccup that enlivens and challenges their alluring attraction to each other. Over time, Lacy becomes more appreciative of Coldwater’s quirkiness, and returning to her Boston life seems less appealing. Then a dramatic event pushes the couple to their limits. Sensitive handling of Jake’s PTSD makes this sweet romance even sweeter. The heart-tugging scenes, stellar characters, captivating secondary story lines, and small-town charisma will whet readers’ appetites for a return visit to Coldwater. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency.

September 1, 2016
Lacy Evans thought she had what it takes to make it as a designer in Boston, and returning to her quaint hometown of Coldwater, Oklahoma, was never part of her plans. When her partner leaves the country with their receptionist and the money he's embezzled, Lacy realizes her plans need to change. Back home, Lacy quickly finds an apartment that comes with the cat-from-hell and a job writing for the local newspaper. She runs into Daniel, the one who got away, and Jake, the guy every girl crushed on before realizing he'd never commit. Jake has been running the Green Apple Grill since he returned from Afghanistan with a prosthetic leg and traumatizing flashbacks. He's happy to be back home and even happier to see Lacy. But her new plan is to repay a crippling loan, keep her name off the Methodist prayer chain, and stay away from men and romance. The quirky characters, a minor mystery, and the down-home feel in the first installment in Eddings' Coldwater series will delight readers looking for a sweet small-town romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)