Title:  Return To Jacaranda Avenue
Series:
Author:  Kerrie Paterson
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  May 1, 2016
Publisher:  Escape Publishing – Harlequin Australia
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Twenty-five years ago, Polly and Matt were in love—but their relationship came to a traumatic end following the death of her best friend.

Now Polly Chappell has moved back to her home town to open a patisserie and care for her elderly parents, and the last person she wants to see is Matt Enright. Until she actually sees him, that is…

Their attraction turns out to be stronger than ever, but both have their reasons to resist rekindling their romance—until someone attempts to run Polly out of town with escalating threats and vandalism, and Matt’s protective instincts surface.

Will the secret she keeps bring them together—or get them killed?

Read on for my thoughts on Return to Jacaranda Avenue.  No true spoilers, promise.

When Polly returned to her home town after twenty five years she knew it wasn’t going to be exactly easy, but it was necessary.  Her parents had reached an age where they really needed her help.  The chance to open up her pastry shop and raise her teenage daughter in the small town where she grew up was, if not a great idea at least it was acceptable now.

Years ago she had run from her home town after the death of her best friend.  While her death had been ruled an accident, Polly still shouldered guilt and many others blamed her as well.  Matt, the young man she’d been so in love with had pretty much turned his back on her when she needed him most.  Yet it had been more than two decades ago, surely they were both adult enough to live in the same town and avoid each other, right?

Return to Jacaranda Avenue is very much a second chance romance with a mystery thread woven through it.  Someone doesn’t want Polly back in town and they will resort to threats, vandalism and more to insure that she does not stick around.  Too much is at stake and Polly will not be frightened away.  She’s stronger, and she has Matt in protective mode – she’s staying put.

I enjoyed Return to Jacaranda Avenue, especially since we have a couple who are not in their first blush of youth any longer.   They may have history, but they have grown and experienced life and that reality is also brought into their new relationship.  We don’t often get a “do over” in life – grab it if you can and turn those mistakes around into something good for the future.  The chemistry between Matt and Polly was strong, even after all these years and that mattered, that proved that they did belong together.  The mystery is wrapped up, but it was intriguing to try to figure out who was behind it all.

I would definitely recommend this one for Romance fans, and those who like their Hero and Heroine to have a few years of life experience on them to bring to the story.

*I received an e-ARC of Return to Jacaranda Avenue from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available for the Kindle