Book Club: Sunflowers and Sweet Peas - March

Sunflowers And Sweet Peas by Leigh Macfarlane book cover

Fun secret - way way back, I completed a floral design diploma. Then I never used it other than to do the flowers for my own wedding. Still, part of me has always wanted to be a florist, so I was predisposed to liked Sunflowers and Sweet Peas, the second book in Leigh Macfarlane's Peachland Passions Series. The main character, Cassidy, owns her own florist shop -- called Sunflowers and Sweet Peas and located on Beach Avenue in Peachland.

Cassidy also is a cop's daughter, and she has sworn off dating cops. That is something that's going to be a problem, because rookie cop, Ian Roshan has got it bad for Cassidy. When her shop is vandalized and she starts receiving flowers from an unidentified stranger, Ian's protective instincts go into hyperdrive.

Reading Sunflowers and Sweet Peas, I loved the characters. In every way except for her approach to work, Cassidy is a free spirit. She wears tiny bikinis, goes for evening swims alone every night, and likes having sex in public places. She's also warm, and kind, and giving. She's down to earth and real, and I loved her from the first time I met her in the first book of the Peachland Passions series - Walking Walrus Cafe.

Ian is every bit as compelling. He's completely dedicated, solid, and strong, and he's absolutely gone on Cass from page one of the story. He's been biding his time with Cassidy, but now he's taking his shot, and it would take a stronger woman than me to turn him down.

Cassidy can't say no to him, either. Given her earthy approach to sexuality, things get intimate between them quickly. And there is steam coming off this couple. Not only that, though. With his steady strength, Ian balances Cassidy out, and she stretches him outside of his comfort level just enough to spice up his life nicely. This relationship just works. It's a lot of fun watching their journey towards one another.

The pace of the subplot works, too, although it wasn't hard to know who the stalker was going to turn out to be. Even so, there was an unexpected twist that I quite enjoyed. Also, along the way with the mini-mystery, we get to see Cassidy inside her shop, which is also fun.

Returning in this book are Nina and her daughter Louisa. Nina's baby daddy, Colton Boyd pops up in a couple of places in this story, and this surprises Cass. It also preps the reader for book three in this series, Smoking Hot Summer, which is Nina and Colton's story.

Overall, there was really nothing about this story I didn't enjoy. It's a fun time from beginning to end with just enough of a challenge for these characters to overcome to keep it interesting. If you are looking for a feel-good, happily-ever-after with some racy moments, Sunflowers and Sweet Peas is a good choice.