Behind The Pine Curtain by Gerri Hill is a romance about coming home and rediscovering the love of your life.
Jackie returns to her small hometown of Pine Springs, Texas, at the behest of her father’s lawyer. Her plan is just to attend her father’s funeral and then travel right back to her life in LA. After all, she is probably not wanted there more than she was when she was 17. She is still a lesbian and her mother made it really clear that she wasn’t to return home until she had come to her senses about that.
But Jackie isn’t the same 17 year old as she was when she left town with a hundred dollars in her pocket and a one way bus ticket. It’s fifteen years later and she is a successful novelist who has had a movie made from her first book.
The quick trip home takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that her father left her some business affairs to deal with, not to mention the fact that Jackie’s first crush still lives in the area and the feelings for her former best friend are still there.
Kay married the boy she dated in high school. He abused her and she divorced him. Now she lives alone and happily runs a small business that she built up from nothing. She is close with her family but has no interest in relationships or romance. When her best friend from high school, Jackie, comes back into town after fifteen years they reconnect as if no time has gone by. But there is something else there now too. Kay cannot help but admire how attractive Jackie is and she starts to develop feelings for her long lost friend.
But with a business and personal life in Pine Springs will Kay be ready to admit her feelings for Jackie and leave the life she has built? Or will Jackie move back to the town that she was shunned from all those years ago?
The Characters
One of my favourite things about Gerri Hill’s contemporary romances is how each pairing is different from the last they are always relatable.
Hill did a wonderful job of exploring Jackie’s feelings about being run out of town and the impact her father’s will had on her without making it super dramatic. You feel for Jackie but she is also a realist and a kind, strong woman who stands up for what is right.
Kay took a little bit of a backseat in this story with only a handful of chapters exploring her arc and her feelings but I still found her relatable and wanted her and Jackie to get together in the end.
The Writing Style
Hill is a master. The story flowed effortlessly, the chemistry between the main characters was there and I loved every moment of this sweet story of redemption and finding love.
The Narration
Abby Craden gets the romantic tension just right while enhancing the character traits with well thought out acting choices. All in all, this was a delightful audiobook.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
I loved this sweet romance. Everything about it.
Heads Up
Kay talks a little about her abusive husband beating and raping her. It’s not super graphic but it does come up.
The Conclusion
This is a delightful romance. I loved the characters, the story was sweet and gave me that feel good vibe that comes with a romance that explores the theme of overcoming.
Jackie and Kay are adorable together and I ended up saying them them, “kiss already!”
If you want a contemporary romance that leaves your heart happy then this is your next read or listen. And if you love audiobooks then don’t miss out on this one. I am a happy listener knowing that I can hear it again whenever I need a hit of happy.
Excerpt from Behind The Pine Curtain by Gerri Hill
“Did you fantasize about . . . kissing me?”
Jacqueline closed her eyes, her heart pounding so loudly, she could hear it echoing in the hallway.
“Did you?” Kay asked in a whisper.
“Yes,” Jacqueline breathed. She felt Kay’s hand touch her stomach, felt it travel higher.
“Did you fantasize about touching me?”
Jacqueline felt Kay’s thumb move between her breasts and she barely managed to swallow back her moan.
“Jackie, did you?”
“Yes.”
Kay moved closer still, their thighs brushing. Kay’s hand trembled as she moved it higher, between Jackie’s breasts, then higher. She lightly rubbed her thumb over the pulse pounding so in Jackie’s neck.
“Did you think about me touching you?” Kay whispered.
“Kay—”
“Tell me. Did you, Jackie?”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9781594930577
Publisher: Bella Books
Audiobook Publisher: Tantor Audio
Narrator: Abby Craden
Audiobook Length: 6 Hours 52 Minutes
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