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Fiction. Literature. Romance. HTML:New York Times bestselling author LaVyrle Spencer, �??famous for her heartrending slices of Americana,�?�* is at her best in this sweet, small-town romance about a country music star discovering the true meaning of love... Eighteen years ago, Tess McPhail left her tiny hometown of Wintergreen, Missouri for the bright lights of Nashville and never looked back. Now, one of country music�??s biggest stars, �??Mac�?� is a hardworking woman with little time for a personal life�??until her sister insists she come home to help care for their widowed mother. The welcome Mac receives is less than warm, especially from her former next-door neighbor Kenny Kronek. With a teenage daughter to raise, the handsome divorcé refuses to give Mac the time of day. But when Mac discovers that Kenny�??s daughter is a promising country talent, she begins mentoring the girl in the music of love�??and opening her own hardened heart to a man… (more)
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As a reader, it was sad to read the author's letter dated 02-Jul-1977, at the end of the novel to learn of her retirement from writing. I did not realize this novel was her 'swan song'. However, also as a reader, I can only hope that LaVyrle Spencer has fulfilled some of the best of her retirement dreams and enjoys many unexpected delights and treasures of life yet to come.
Assuming that staying in Wintergreen for the next month will be merely dreary, Mac is totally unprepared for what awaits her. After almost two decades spent basking in the public's adoration of her, she is suddenly an inconspicuous, almost inconsequential person - insulted by her jealous older sister, enraged by her intractable mother, and ignored by Kenny Kronek, the next-door neighbor she mercilessly taunted all through high school. Now a handsome divorcé who dotes upon his teenage daughter, Casey, Kenny is widely respected in the community. And he seems downright indifferent towards Mac, refusing to even give her the time of day.
Once she discovers Casey is a promising country music talent, Mac assumes the role of singing mentor for the girl. She gradually becomes an integral part of life in Wintergreen, and the feigned indifference between Mac and Kenny soon turns from playful bickering to sudden passion. By month's end, Mac McPhail is a completely changed woman; she has not only grown to treasure the priceless solidarity of family and community, but also opened up her heart to love.
Yet what was possible in the small town of Wintergreen, appears to be nothing more than a naive fantasy back in Nashville. Under Nashville's bright and harsh stage lights - in the realm of super stardom - is there room for caring and commitment; or is a woman who is worshipped by millions destined to always be alone?
While I certainly enjoyed reading this book, the story was somewhat predictable to me in places. I appreciated that it was an easy read, and it was definitely well-written. However, I must admit that this wasn't my absolute favorite book by LaVyrle Spencer. I give this book a B+!