Book Review: In a Nutshell...plus a special giveaway

By Sara Steven

Mitchell Sorrow wallows in a major funk after his decades-long crush leaves town for good. Intent on powering through, he throws himself into his work as an EMT at Smithville Regional Hospital. He’ll steer clear of women, especially those who love their careers more than people.

Jackie Myers, chief development officer at a hospital association, is determined to climb the corporate ladder. The best way to do that is to show upper management she’s capable of making tough decisions, such as closing a fledgling rural hospital. When she’s assigned to visit Smithville under the guise of writing an article about small-town life, she’ll easily assess how dire the hospital situation really is.

After suffering an allergic reaction at the fall festival, Jackie blabs the true reason for her visit. Desperate to save the hospital, Mitch agrees to a deal. In exchange for keeping her secret, he gets one week to convince her the hospital is essential. But the more time they spend together, the more complicated things become. Mitch begins to open his heart, and Jackie’s decision becomes nearly impossible. He may never forgive her, and she’ll lose the only guy who can take her breath away – no Epi pen required.  (Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads)

It’s been a while since I’ve been back to Smithville! Having read the first two books in the series--In a Jam, and In a Pickle (links are to reviews), I felt like I’d slipped right back into small-town charm with familiar characters who’d left lasting impressions on me. I loved the introduction of Jackie into the midst. Everything she represents goes against everything that Smithville stands for: rural simplicity; rustic charm; idyllic living. She’s used to large cities, large corporations, and even larger corporate personalities that won’t take but a second to knock you off the ladder without another thought about it. She’s used to the rat race, so it was fun to see how different it could be for her while she tries to navigate what life is like in Smithville. 

It was great getting to re-acquaint myself with the former characters I remember from the other books in the series, like Andie and Regina, as well as the mainstays of Smithville, like the regulars at the coffee shop, and two meddling biddies who love to let everyone know about what goes on behind the scenes in their small town. Everyone plays a part in helping Jackie figure out what might be best for Smithville Regional Hospital, and I felt really bad for the predicament she’s in. It’s hard feeling torn between doing what might be best for you, and what might be best for a group of small-town inhabitants.

Mitch’s story is riddled with some tough living that stems from his childhood. Despite that, he seems like he’s a great guy and would be a great match for Jackie, but he lets his past dictate his future, while Jackie tells herself that there could be no way she’d ever get attached to a small-town guy. It felt like there were quite a few hurdles to get over, and I loved the various events that showcase that--like the whole allergy scenario Jackie finds herself in with Mitch. It not only highlighted the vast differences they have, but also the apparent need they could develop for one another, if they’d only give it a chance. Will Jackie be able to walk away and stick to the goals she has set for herself for her entire life, or will she become another member of Smithville? That becomes the driving question, and it’s one that I was excited to learn more about. In a Nutshell was a fun, five-star read!

Thanks to Cindy Dorminy for the book in exchange for an honest review. She has a $25 Amazon gift card for one lucky reader!

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends December 28th at midnight EST.

More by Cindy Dorminy:

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.