Southern Sunshine

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.📚Southern Sunshine by Natasha Madison is the eight book in the Southern series. Each of the books in the series works well as a stand-alone. Having enjoyed the series in the past, I looked forward to slipping back into this world and visiting with the characters both old and new. 📚Southern Sunshine gave us Reed and Hazels' story.  Tired of living in his father and big brother's shadow, Reed left home to join the military.  However, before he left he spent a night of passion with Hazel, his best friend and crush.  Reed had no intention of returning home.  However, a terrible accident six years later forced him to return to the place he tried escaping. Itching to get back out in the field he silently counted down the days when his medical leave would expire. Fate, however had other plans. Hazel's life changed forever after the night she spent with Reed.  Her plans for college may have been derailed, but with the help of her beloved grand-father she  completed her studies, became a CPA while single handedly raising her daughter. Like Reed, Hazel had no plans to return home.  However, when news of her grand-father's death reached her, she had no choice, but to go back to the town where her heart had been broken.Madison did a great job with the surprise baby trope.  Initially, it seemed Hazel deliberately kept Reed in the dark about their daughter, but as the  story developed the reason for his lack of knowledge in this regard came to light. His insecurities played a major role in him not knowing about his child.Hazel and Reeds' emotionally charged reunion will tug on your heart.  Their chemistry and connection could not be denied.  However, the  scene where Reed discovered he had a child packed the greatest emotional punch. He harbored no reservations, and fully embraced his role as a father. This recent discovery brought new meaning to his life, and for once he didn't feel the need to run from his past.The slow burn romance fit well into the story. Their feelings for each other may not have diminished despite the loss of contact. However, they didn't immediately pick up where they left off. It took them sometime to trust their feelings, knowing they had major decisions to make. Conclusions/RecommendationsReturning to the Southern series  proved to be a delightful experience.  If you love second chance romance, then 📚Southern Sunshine would make a great addition to your reading. I recommend the Southern Series without reservation.  This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading