Book: Goode Tidings by Jennifer Millikin
Reviewed by Maggie Hayes
Rating: 4/5
Goode Tidings by Jennifer Millikin
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
I really enjoyed Eden and Callum's grumpy man meets single mom romance.
I loved Eden. She has an excellent sense of humor, very little filter, and a kind heart that wants to help everyone around her. As a parent, I relate to her sadness at her son growing older and starting to drift away from the little boy who needed her. I appreciate that she is a single mom, but that isn't her only defining character trait. She is also a talented creative who grabs her future by the horns and chases her dreams. Basically, she's amazing, and I am obsessed with her.
And Callum? YES, PLEASE. He is such an interesting character—a touch-starved grump who hides in his cabin while also looking for the best in humanity by creating and running a website focused on delivering only good news. I love this kind of complex depth because it feels so much more authentic. He checks so many of my boxes. Wounded due to a sad romantic history? Check. King yearner of Yearningville? Check. Falls first and arguably harder? Check and check!
My favorite part of the story was the bond that forms between Callum and Eden's teenage son, Oliver. Oliver's relationship with his father is super complicated, and Callum offers him the stability and presence he's been missing. I definitely got a little choked up during some of their scenes together. Truly loving a single mom means loving her child(ren) too, and Callum can't help but fall for both of them.
While Goode Tidings can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Here for the Cake and Hard Feelings first, as the couples are related to Eden and make appearances here.
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for providing an ARC.