Sweet and sentimental could just about describe Carolyn Brown and her stories. Fans of Carolyn Brown look forward to a happy ending even if the road is rather circuitous. My library is filled with favorites from this straight shooter about life, struggles and love. Lots of love. Lots of amazing characters. Every Carolyn Brown book is destined for wear and tear. After reading a new story by this prolific author I usually go right back to page one and start over. In her books, you make new literary friends, and SECOND CHANCE AT SUNFLOWER RANCH introduces many new additions to your list.

Sonny and Pearl own Sunflower Ranch – if you want to know how it got that name you must read the book. As always, I am going to let you discover the joy of reading SECOND CHANCE AT SUNFLOWER RANCH as I would any book by Carolyn Brown.

Sonny and Pearl adopted three boys now all grown adults each followed their own career paths. Jesse is now returning from military service after twenty years. He called and visited his folks on a regular basis considering his responsibilities. Sonny and Pearl raised all their boys to love and respect each other as well as understand that Sunflower Ranch is their home.

Not much really changed at the ranch apart from the aging of his parents. Sonny has MS and has had to delegate ranching chores. Jesse’s long time friend Addy, now a nurse, is living at the ranch with her daughter Mia to help Sonny manage the progression of the MS as well as take up some of the slack.  This is going to be the first time Jesse has ever met Mia. His friendship with Addy abruptly ended when he left to join the air force. But it is obvious that Addy and Mia have become honorary members of the family.

Jesse is grateful for all the help and support Addy has provided for his parents. He also understands that through the years it seems obvious that Addy and Mia had been helped by Sonny and Pearl. That is the ranch community way and is expected. Addy and Mia have become honorary members of the family in his absence. There is obviously much that Jesse has missed during his years on tours.

A lot of people are going to have to adjust to the changes in Honey Grove. Jesse finds himself still attracted to Addy. Sonny’s doctor, another high school classmate Grady, also has his eye set on Addy. Mia is experiencing some growing pains of her own and they are not very attractive at all. In fact, being with Mia makes Jesse relieved to escape marriage and kids. But all that does not prevent some old feelings toward Addy to surface.

For Addy, Jesse had always been the one right up to high school graduation and his recruiting. In the ensuing years, much had changed for Addy. Bringing up a child as a single parent and still following her dream to be a nurse had been a challenge. Lucky for her she had Sonny and Pearl.

SECOND CHANCE AT SUNFLOWER RANCH is about broadening your expectations and accepting some amazing challenges. Life is about love and family. SECOND CHANCE AT SUNFLOWER RANCH is about opening your heart and mind to possibilities that you never expected to face. This could be one of my favorites by Carolyn Brown. Certainly going to be dog eared.