"The Truth About Lilly" by Christy McKee is the first novel in "The Shores of Lake Champlain" series. The story follows Lilly Talbot as she tries to rebuild her life after a series of blows. Her relocation to the town of Haley, Vermont is a culture shock to her Southern sensibilities, but even more shocking is the man she finds in the home that she is moving into. Connor 'Mac' MacQueen has his own agenda and, just like Lilly, a painful history to overcome. They each must find a way to get past family issues and go on, the question is whether it will be alone or together.

This fun and exciting contemporary romance has elements of suspense to add to the excellent storyline that explores the parameters and repercussions of guilt and forgiveness. I love the gradual exposition of details and the way the main characters slowly grow into a relationship. The unexpected roommate scenario is a commonly used device but it was so much fun to watch the sparks fly as the apparently diametrically opposed personalities interact, and the north vs. south divide is bridged through food, family, and manners.

The emotional wounds that each character has suffered gives texture to their respective personalities and the deft depiction of their family ties and interactions provide a great contrast to the sensual and sizzling connection that evolves between Lilly and Mac. There are intriguing twists that give glimpses of some of the secondary characters who I suspect will have their own time in the spotlight, and although some seem a little farfetched, they do provide an interesting storyline.

I like the way humor, passion, small-town life, and mystery are combined in this story and I look forward to getting to know more about some of the yummy secondary characters as the series continues. Be forewarned, one may develop a craving for fried chicken or something else to eat while reading this story because the author does such a great job of creating a vivid word portrait that one can almost smell the meals being served!

A copy of this title was provided in exchange for an honest review