He’s a single dad starting over in a new town. She’s a relentless flirt with a penchant for trouble, ten years younger than him, and the babysitter. What could go wrong?
Eve has just graduated from high school, but she doesn’t know what’s next aside from working at the local motel, spying on Kyle, her neighbor, and stealing apples from his orchard. If she doesn’t figure things out soon, she’ll be stuck at home and treated like a child forever.
Kyle is a single dad and the new football coach who needs a babysitter for his adorable son. When he meets Eve, there’s an instant connection because she reminds him of someone—himself. But Eve is the preacher’s daughter, off-limits, and Kyle has already had his heart trampled by his ex.
After earning his son’s affection with her homemade apple sauce and youthful spirit, Eve asks Kyle to teach her things like driving his fishing boat and shooting his hunting bow. Despite his better judgment, he agrees, but swears Eve to secrecy so no one gets the wrong idea about them.
Their playful banter and innocent flirting crosses a line, and Kyle misses the heartbreaking secret Eve’s hidden in plain sight.
When tragedy strikes, can they find their way back to each other?
REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"Show them that your strength is greater than your mistakes and imperfections."
"I was wind and fire - destructive and out of control. He was earth and water - a grounding, calm force."
For the second book in JEA's Sunday Morning series, she wrote The Apple Tree so effortlessly separate, but provided just enough of a dangle for Sarah and Isaac's can't miss read. We initially met Eve in Sunday Morning, so knowing all the trouble she was already getting into made this book that much more fun to read. Don't skip the first book, but just know you can read this one as a complete standalone as well.
For the second book in JEA's Sunday Morning series, she wrote The Apple Tree so effortlessly separate, but provided just enough of a dangle for Sarah and Isaac's can't miss read. We initially met Eve in Sunday Morning, so knowing all the trouble she was already getting into made this book that much more fun to read. Don't skip the first book, but just know you can read this one as a complete standalone as well.
JEA allowed for a symbiotic relationship between innocence and naïveté with Eve's age and stubbornness. That huge, yet very small step between curiosity and emotional exploration with her bravado was so easy to read and laugh through. She gave me so many awww moments, so many giggle worthy moments - but she made sure to throw in plenty of head shaking moments as well. Looking back on life at Eve's age with the knowledge of love now, it sure makes me feel that awkwardness with a harsh laugh. But love works out, and JEA is a mastermind at proving that point.
It’s not black or white
It’s not right or wrong
It’s not easy or hard
It’s a journey through an all consuming love that was a bumpy ride...
But it was a worthy journey
"Eve didn't just gravitate toward trouble, she was trouble."
This was the most awkward, yet truly innocent love story and JEA excels at telling those types of stories. Her stories suck you in, make you comfy, and then she works her magic. Eve and Kyle were a love that shouldn't have been, but couldn't have NOT been. She hit on a romance that was made for my eyes. I love forbidden...and I love the way JEA tells it. Let's be honest, I love the way JEA tells any story. I feel like that's a disclaimer, but not really. Shhh....
This was the most awkward, yet truly innocent love story and JEA excels at telling those types of stories. Her stories suck you in, make you comfy, and then she works her magic. Eve and Kyle were a love that shouldn't have been, but couldn't have NOT been. She hit on a romance that was made for my eyes. I love forbidden...and I love the way JEA tells it. Let's be honest, I love the way JEA tells any story. I feel like that's a disclaimer, but not really. Shhh....
However, this is not to take away from the very serious situation that is broached in this book. JEA touches on a very delicate and harsh reality that I'm assuming probably didn't have a lot of discussion readily available for teens back in the 80's, but it sure struck a chord with me knowing what I saw in the 90's during my high school days - here I am again aging myself. Watching it happen was concerning, but watching it come to a head was a whole other level of concern and so super sad.
She gave a voice to those of us awkward teenagers out there. We thought we knew everything. We thought we could handle anything. We had a sense of independence, but didn't have the first clue what life was going to hand us. We knew we crushed on others; we were far from smooth - but we knew we were worthy of that love and that fight for love. I smile looking back on this story because I feel like she nailed that oh-so-real curious awkwardness. Take a journey back to the 80's with this nostalgia-loaded read - I sure hope it makes you smile as much as it did me. I absolutely loved this story!! It was the easiest read and what a wonderful welcome to 2025 with a renewed excitement for reading again.
She gave a voice to those of us awkward teenagers out there. We thought we knew everything. We thought we could handle anything. We had a sense of independence, but didn't have the first clue what life was going to hand us. We knew we crushed on others; we were far from smooth - but we knew we were worthy of that love and that fight for love. I smile looking back on this story because I feel like she nailed that oh-so-real curious awkwardness. Take a journey back to the 80's with this nostalgia-loaded read - I sure hope it makes you smile as much as it did me. I absolutely loved this story!! It was the easiest read and what a wonderful welcome to 2025 with a renewed excitement for reading again.
Knowing I have one more book in this series about the baby sister is bringing me all the smiles. I look forward to THE GOOD BOOK knowing JEA will give Gabby all the love - when it releases in May. Thankfully the wait won't be tooooo....oooo long.
"Her insatiable curiosity and rebellious desire."
~BEE
Jewel is a free-spirited romance junkie with a quirky sense of humor.
With 10 years of flossing lectures under belt, she took early retirement from her dental hygiene career to stay home with her three awesome boys and manage the family business.
After her best friend of nearly 30 years suggested a few books from the contemporary Romance genre, Jewel was hooked. Devouring two and three books a week but still craving more, she decided to practice sustainable reading, AKA writing.
When she’s not donning her cape and saving the planet one tree a a time, she enjoys yoga with friends, good food with family, rock climbing with her kids, watching How I Met Your Mother reruns, and of course . . .heart-wrenching, tear-jerking, panty-scorching novels.
~CONNECT WITH JEWEL~
ARC REVIEW
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