The rebuilding of Sweetness Georgia is about a year into the brothers 2 year grant. They have over 500 people now living there, new businesses have started popping up, a general store, a school, things are growing slow but sure.
Kendall Armstrong, still in love with Amy Bradshaw for the past 12 years, tried to get her to move back to Sweetness by placing the ad to draw women to the town. She didn't bite, but when Kendall's older brother Marcus calls her with a job offer, rebuilding an old bridge in town, she initially says no, but needing a job and money win out and she accepts.
The temporary move back to Sweetness brings up many unresolved feelings for both Kendall and Amy and just when they're starting to find their way back to each other, a huge secret Amy's been keeping for 12 years comes rolling into town.
***SPOILERISH TERRITORY***
The story is all about Amy and Kendall trying to find a way past everything that's kept them apart for 12 years. I'm not a huge fan of one of the plot devices used in this book - Amy having a child with Kendall and not telling him about it. It just didn't feel like the reasons behind her not telling him for 12 years were strong enough. She was hurt when Kendall left her in Sweetness for his job and she wanted out. She didn't want to wait for him and because he never said the 3 magic words "I love you" to her, she was convinced he didn't care at all, so she picked up and left. No looking back. I can understand her being hurt, very scared and alone, but I just can't understand keeping this secret from Kendall. At one point Kendall even tells Amy that he had a right to know about their son, Tony, and her response was, "it was easier for me if you didn't know." I just can't root for someone who has that attitude.
The HEA felt a bit abrupt as well. It's said over and over through the entire book that Kendall is committed and dedicated to staying and helping rebuild the town and Amy is only here temporarily and she's counting down until she's able to get back home to Broadway, Michigan. But suddenly at the very end, Kendall is ready to move wherever Amy goes and Amy is suddenly fine with staying in the small town permanently. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my happy endings, but this just felt tossed in at the end.
The book gets 2 stars - I do like the small town setting, the brothers crack me up whenever they have a scene together and Dr. Cross was a fun addition. It'll be interesting to see if he manages to "woo" Rachel in the final book. But I just didn't care enough about Amy to become invested.
