A Wink and a Smile: A Small Town Madison Romance

by S.J. Cunningham

Rose Glasser is content with her life in the small town of Madison, Pennsylvania. After younger years filled with trauma and regret, she’s settled into her role managing My Pink Wink, a popular hair salon owned by Rose’s surrogate mother, Mid Higgins. But when Mid unexpectedly dies, Rose’s life is thrown into upheaval, and the future of the salon—and Rose’s life—is suddenly in question. What’s more, Mid has kept a heartbreaking secret she’s shared with very few people, Rose included.

Former baseball player and current bad boy Griffin Stangel can’t seem to get his life on track. After an unceremonious dismissal from his athletic career and a stint as a newscaster, where he’s gone from heartbreaker to homewrecker, he is a joke and a punchline. And his latest screw-up thrusts him back into the spotlight and lands him in jail. So when an unknown aunt unexpectedly dies, he’s pressured into checking out an inheritance he doesn’t want in a small town he’s never heard of.

Rose and Griffin have opposing lifestyles, opposing personalities, and opposing interests, yet sparks fly and misunderstandings abound in this feel-good romance. Both Rose and Griffin discover the past is not always as it seems, motives are not always clear, and loved ones are infinitely more complicated than they previously appeared. And so, it seems, is love. But in the end, they just might be able to overcome their differences…with a wink and a smile.

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 16, 2024

About the author

Author Bio
With nearly two decades of experience as a professional communicator, S.J. Cunningham has had plenty of time to hone her writing craft and observe human behavior. She is the author of All This Was Mission, a literary work that explores the power of self-reflection, the importance of forgiveness, and the overwhelming beauty of the journey of life, which we all have the privilege to travel.

Sarah holds an M.A. in The Writing of Fiction and a B.A. in English Literature from Seton Hill University. She is the proud mom of three amazing children who fill her with joy, laughter and appreciation each day. Sarah loves to hear from readers and fellow writers.

Reviews

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classical romance novel with all the bells and whistles


The plot of this romance is starting a bit slow burn. We learn about the daily life situations of both of the main characters at their respective places: Female MC Rose is living a rather uneventful life in small town Maddison, Pennsylvania as a hair stylist and former Baseball player Griffin, living up to his bad boy image, is leading a rather aimless life in Boston.
The descriptions of those locations and the different situations of both of the MCs, which each on their own live in, are very well done, and they are setting a really great mood for the whole book.
The plot is written from dual POV and soon after the first few chapters, I was captured.

Then story is picking up speed, when caused by the death of Griffin’s Aunt Mid, who was also Rose’s mentor and quasi her surrogate mother, both MCs meet each other for the first time.

What happens further during the story is written in the classical kind of romance novel way. Griffin and Rose have to overcome the usual obstacles like misunderstandings, interference-attempts by some not so well meaning people and they have to learn to trust each other.
They also have a „situation“ regarding Mid’s heritage, which was left behind a bit of a bind. Because of a handwritten testament, that was not correct filed by a lawyer now there is a legal heir, who didn’t know anything about Mid’s life before and there is also a not legal one, who had a deep and trusting relationship with Mid. Additionally distracting is a complicated history between two sisters.

Griffin is a good at heart person, who doesn’t like to think about the results of his spontaneous actions and he suffers from missing real self confidence, because he still believes, what his mother always told him, that he was bad and good for nothing. Rose has her own ghosts, a tendency to avoid difficult situations and some anxiety to overcome.

I enjoyed reading this book very much, even if in my opinion there are some (very small) storylines which are not totally followed through or don’t seem to be logically or maybe a bit superficial, but those small parts are not really important for the story of this sensitively written romance novel.
There are scenes to laugh about, scenes to feel a strong empathy with the characters, scenes to wonder why they are acting as clueless as they are and scenes just to smile about.
Oh, and I loved the choice of songs, which are a bit like a soundtrack of the novel!

I received a free ARC of this book, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cheryl Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wink and a Smile is a book about the heartbreak of having to say goodbye to a loved one while still trying to cope with everyday life. Rose manages a beauty salon named, A Wink and a Smile for her surrogate mom, Mid. When Mid unexpectedly dies, apparently without leaving a will, Rose is left to sort out Mid's estate and the uncertainty of what will happen to the salon. Griffin is Mid's nephew, who is more interested in his failing baseball career, women and getting into trouble with his bad judgement to want to mess with an estate from an Aunt that he has never met and never bothered to be a part of his life. Yet legal issues made it essential for Griffin to travel to his aunt's hometown and deal with her estate and Rose. I really didn't like the way the employees of the salon treated Rose. Telling her that she was too nice, like it was a bad thing. Blaming her for Mid's death, it was hard to feel any sympathy for their situations because of Mid's death and the uncertainty of the salon's future. I loved the road that Rose and Griffin traveled to find their romance. But with Griffin keeping secrets, I wasn't sure that they would find their HEA. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose had a tough childhood but when Mid took her underwing her life became better. Now she more or less runs the beauty salon because its easier for Mid who prefers to sit and chat the the regulars. Rose has little interest in finding a partner but as is a small-town there's a lot of matchmaking going on, but occasionally she'll humour them. When she finds Mid on the floor of her home she knows instantly its to late. Griffin hates his life nothing is going right. He's lost his baseball career and everything he does is just another nail in the coffin of his career. Now facing more trouble and possible incarceration for hitting a reporter with world is spinning out of control. Finding out his mom's sister his aunt has passed even though he's never met her this could be the solution. But moving to a small no where town cannot be the answer can it. This is one of those stories that makes you want to shake him and say grow up but then sympathise the next. Can Rose keep the salon and the employees jobs safe. Can she stand the most annoying man to keep Mid's memory going. Thiscis from an author I haven't heard of before but I will read more books by them in the future.

[Bette Reith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a Mid, a woman who dies without a will, and the people who are left in her life. The main characters are a woman whose mother died when she was 16. Acting out and rebellious until Mid took under her wing. She manages Mid’s hair salon. The other is a estranged nephew that had never met her, but is the only heir. He also suffered trauma at a young age. He spent his life search for attention, usually by letting his anger get out of control. They both feel an immediate attraction the first time they meet.
How do they navigate the estate, what happens to the house and belongings, and most important what happens to the staff at the salon? The characters are realistic, the miscommunications are genuine. It is a great read. Thanks to BookSiren for the ARC of this book.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose Glasser manages a hair salon, My Pink Wink, owned by her surrogate mother, Mid. Everyone is devastated when Mid dies leaving no will. Griffin is a former baseball player who has gotten himself in trouble too many times. After the last fight, he goes to the small town where he is Mid’s only surviving heir. Rose and Griffin are attracted to each other but need to resolve what happens to the salon. I loved how Rose was so dedicated to Mid and the people working at the salon. Griffin really showed his good side as he got acquainted with the town and Rose. Great story about doing what is right. Wonderful characters.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite sweet.
The story is of a local girl who helps everybody and a famous baseball celebrity becoming an unlikely love interest in this charming novel. Some people have a self-destructing streak which is what happened to our male lead. Griffin and Rose become joint owners of a beauty saloon and at times that feels like a bull in a china shop. The novel has a nice flow, scene-appropriate dialogue and a happy ending.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rose Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a lot of feels. I sometimes wanted to strangle both protagonists, then turn around and give them a hug. I liked the plot and the way the characters grew as their stories evolved. This is a new-to-me author, and she teased about a second book that I’m already wanting to read. Well done!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of instalove, this is a book for you! This was such a cute book and I loved the fact that it was located in PA! I live near Pittsburgh so it was super fun to hear all the references and see how close by Madison is. There wasn't a ton of spice in this book but the spice it had was good! It was a little slow at times but overall I really enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend!

*Thanks to BookSirens and S.J. Cunningham for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

great start
This is the first book I´ve read from this author but it surely won´t be the last.
I liked the sparks flying between Rose and Griffin, how while they struggled with their hardships they slowly opened their minds and thus helped themselves but also each other find healing. A great start for a new series, I can´t wait to read the next book.

[Dessie White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but didn't love it like I thought I would. It was slow to start, then felt rushed at the end. I liked the plot and the characters but it just didn't have the right rhythm.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.