Carly Phillips has written over 30 contemporary romance novels. I’ve read her Lucky series, which starts with Lucky Charm. I was expecting Serendipity to be similarly breezy and fun, and was pleasantly surprised there was more depth to the story.
Ethan Barron was the town bad-boy. He has returned home after making a fortune to mend his relationship with his younger brothers whom he abandoned to foster care when their parents died. He bought the biggest house in town as a way to show them he was planning on sticking around.
Faith Harrington has also returned home. She has divorced her cheating husband and is looking for a new start. Unfortunately she has more to worry about than finding herself and establishing a career. Her father was recently convicted of running a Ponzi scheme and many in the town were caught up in the financial disaster. She’s never sure how she’ll be greeted when she runs into people from her past.
Ethan unexpectedly sees Faith, the privileged princess who tied him up in knots as a teen, staring at her former home (the home Ethan now owns). And from that simple meeting they both realize there’s still a powerful attraction.
I liked that there was more to the story than that attraction, including the arrival of Ethan’s half-sister, a misguided teen who needs a stable family. Both Ethan and Faith have some tough challenges to face from their past. Not everyone accepts the extended olive branch. Even the romantic relationship has ups and downs, though I must admit I’m pleased with the “happily ever after” ending.
The story is set up for two sequels, Destiny and Karma, featuring Ethan’s brothers.
Check the WRL catalog for Serendipity
