I’ve loved Eileen Goudge and her stories since The Garden of Lies. Jo Myers is still processing her grief of her husband’s illness and death. It leaves her with 2 young daughters and finding a way to move on. She surprisingly buys her and Sean’s dream home with an unwanted boarder who comes with the deal. The story evolves with friends and a new love, if Jo is willing to take the risk.

This is the second book in the Gold Creek series.
The series is about a group of women who have become friends and help each other out. One of the women has recently lost her husband to cancer and is left to bring up her two young daughters on her own.
There are some really good characters in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Eileen Goudge, and all I can say is—Mrs. Goudge, where have you been all my life? I absolutely loved this book. Her writing style is so natural and grounded—it’s not overly poetic or dramatic, which made it feel real and drew me right into the story.

Jo, the main character, felt incredibly relatable. I could feel every one of her emotions—the joy, the grief, the fear. Even though I’ve never experienced becoming a widow, Goudge’s writing made me feel as if I had. My heart broke alongside Jo’s, and as she slowly began to heal after the loss of her husband, Sean, I felt myself healing too.

I appreciated that the story doesn't begin with Sean’s death but picks up a year later. It’s not a story focused on immediately finding a new love interest, but rather one of healing, growth, and family. Jo and her daughters are trying to move forward, and you can feel the love, friendship, and support surrounding them—especially from Jo’s close-knit group of girlfriends.

One of my favorite characters was Hank. Everything about him was wonderful. I even found myself wishing he were 40 years younger so he and Jo could be together. He steps in as a sort of adopted grandfather figure, and his presence brought so much heart to the story.

I cried multiple times while reading this book, but I also finished it with a smile—full of hope and courage. This story was a beautiful reminder that healing is possible and that love comes in many forms.

When I need a heartwarming book Eileen Gouge is my go to author. The House on Mountain Laurel Lane fit the bill like a great big hug. Filled with small town charm, found family, a realistic depiction of grief and a satisfying ending this book is a gem. I’m devastated that I have finished it as I fell in love with the characters and their story.

This is the second book in the Gold Creek series but it can be easily read as a standalone. All They Need to Know is the first book. I highly recommend it as well as you’re introduced to many of the characters that appear in the second book. Both are outstanding cozy reads and I highly recommend them both.

I hope the author is hard at work on a third book in this series. I’ll be waiting not so patiently to devour it in 24 hours as I did this one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — A heartfelt & relatable read

The House on Mountain Laurel Lane is a heartfelt story that resonated with me. As a widow myself, I appreciated how the book portrayed the ups and downs of moving forward…it’s not always a linear path. The main character, Jo, is a loving mother doing her best to navigate a difficult chapter, and I found her strength and vulnerability realistic. I also really enjoyed the strong sense of community, especially how her friends showed up for her in meaningful ways. A warm, emotional read that offers both hope and comfort.
#netgalley

This story is full of risk, resilience, and the courage to imagine a different kind of happiness. It’s the kind of book that leaves you feeling steadier somehow, like maybe starting over isn’t about forgetting, but about choosing joy anyway.

Jo and Sean were each other’s soulmates. Although they married young, they enjoyed ten years together, celebrating the births of their two precious daughters. However, their life took a devastating turn when Sean was diagnosed with brain cancer, leading to his early death.
Jo struggles to adjust to her new normal as a full-time photographer and a single mother. After two years of grappling with her grief, she receives a video message from Sean, delivered by his close friend Reggie. Sean had asked Reggie to wait a couple of years before sharing the video, hoping Jo would be more receptive to his words by then. In the video, Sean expresses his enduring love for Jo and their daughters while encouraging her to date and eventually remarry.
This heartfelt message provides Jo with the nudge she needs. She purchases a house that comes with an older man named Hank, who already resides there. Hank lives on the main floor, sharing kitchen and laundry privileges with Jo, and mows the lawn. Jo is willing to let him stay since his rent will help her pay the mortgage. Although she's not ready to remove her wedding ring, Jo cautiously agrees to go on a date.
Throughout her journey, Jo finds solace in a strong, committed group of long-time friends. This becomes even more apparent when a situation out of their control arises, and they rally around each other providing needed support to one another. As Jo survives this unexpected crisis, with gratitude to her friends, she feels she has crossed a huge hurdle and makes the decision to begin to live again.
The characters in this heartwarming story are loveable the relatable and left me with a satisfied, good feeling as the last page was turned.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.