******
- Verified Buyer
Coming Home to Greenleigh by Cassandra Austen is a heart-warming work of American Fiction, including a fantastic cast of characters to root for and love.While reading, one can't help but be curious about all the characters, their backstories, and life choices. Who stayed in Greenleigh, and why? Who moves to Greenleigh, and why? And, especially in this first book, who comes back, and why?Austen's writing is so smooth, warm, and heartfelt that it immediately pulled me into Beth's life and the choices she faced. Born and raised in Greenleigh, Beth is a part of Greenleigh as much as Greenleigh is a part of Beth. Saddled with the cashless inheritance and burden of her old family house in need of costly repairs, Beth doesn't want to give up on Greenleigh, but she has already sacrificed everything.A small-town lawyer who is often paid by her clients via a barter system, Beth is cash-poor. Her water heater is about to blow, and her lifetime home is falling apart. She turns to a local law firm for some side work only to find out Shawn, the man she let get away, has come back for reasons of his own. It doesn't take long for Shawn to realize he still loves Beth, and he is ready to slide back into his old shoes--one where he thinks he knows what is best for Beth.But Beth has learned a lot since she last saw him, and she is tired of everyone telling her what's best for her. Change is in the air for Beth, and when she meets a tattoo artist who shares her craving for change and adventure, Beth makes plans to leave Greenleigh, but Shawn, the community, and memories aren't making it easy.Greenleigh, a small town in northern New England, is as much a character in this book as the people. Each page includes nuances of the northeastern "Yankee" attitude and mannerisms (not to mention the heavy snow), bringing the community to life. Since Cassandra Austen lives in northeast New England, her shares are authentic and charming. I've always romanticized residing in the snowy northeast, and this novel makes me wish I could move to Greenleigh, have a cup of tea, and sit by a wood-burning stove while peeking out the window to watch the goings-on of "my" neighbors.Coming to Greenleigh is a story about self-discovery, embracing change, and forgiveness, and based on this first book, I sincerely hope to see more characters from Greenleigh in the future. I'll be thinking about Greenleigh and it's residents for a long while.Fans of Fannie Flagg, American literature, and second chances will thoroughly enjoy this romantic read. Happy reading.
