The Plan is the third book in The Creek Water Series by Whitney Dineen featuring a multidimensional female protagonist, Amelia Frothingham. Amelia looks like a cool and easy-going woman, and perhaps that's true when she runs her bead shop. But deep inside, she carries the wounds of failed relationships. She has herself to blame for being a control freak. But things are about to change when Huck Wiley comes into town. He begins to frequent Amelia's shop and it is hard for her to resist his charm. But this attractive man has his own secrets and may not want to hang around for long. As the attraction between the two deepens, they must make choices. And the choices can take directions they never envisioned. Can Amelia trust this glamorous guy and try to love again?

I loved the fluidity in the language and the care Whitney Dineen takes in exploring the emotional depth of the characters. The romance is not explosive; it builds up slowly, and this allows it to stay real as feelings and subtle emotions are explored. I want to see characters that look like people in everyday life and the author creates those characters and develops them against a cultural and social backdrop that is colorfully depicted. The conflict has strong emotional and psychological contours and the author builds exciting and focused scenes. The Plan will entice readers who enjoy strong settings, memorable characters, and well-written romance. The writing is beautiful and it is sprinkled with strong descriptions and good dialogue. It is real; it is delightful; it is entertaining.

The Plan is the third book in Whitney Dineen’s Creek Water series. Amelia Frothingham and her family have lived in Creek Water, Missouri for ages. Amelia clings to the safety of her little town; she doesn’t wander far from its boundaries. Amelia is single, lives alone and owns a bead shop. Although Amelia appears to be carefree, she is far from it. A childhood trauma haunts Amelia. As a result, she suffers from anxiety and unusual compulsive behaviors. Her life has become “an exercise of control.” Amelia’s controlled life is shaken to the core when a rock legend enters her bead shop. When the infamous Huck Wiley stands before her, she is awestruck. Amelia learns that Huck and his daughter, Maggie, are staying in Creek Water for two months. There is an immediate connection between Huck and Amelia, a kindred vulnerability intensifies their attraction. The more Amelia learns about Huck, the more she wants to know. A relationship with Huck is risky and Amelia doesn’t take risks! Huck Wiley, the rock star, rocks Amelia’s world. What’s the worst that could happen? And then, there is Maggie. Amelia must decide between a life of fear or one of hope.

The Plan by Whitney Dineen catches your attention and doesn’t let you go. The narrative gives insight into a mind driven by worry and fear. The effect of anxiety brought on by a childhood trauma creates the internal conflict within the main character, making anxiety the villainous antagonist of the story. To cope, the main character lives life according to a “plan.” In her mind, deviation from her devised plan would be unbearable. The collision of the hope of something better with the lack of control is the bread and butter of the plot. Dineen pens an entertaining cast of characters. As much as I enjoyed the budding romantic relationship between Amelia and Huck and Amelia’s intrinsic family dynamic, it was the empathetic connection between Amelia and Maggie that captured my heart. Touches of humor, the pushes and nudges of supporting characters, and the piercing reality of facing the demons of her past all contribute to the growth of Amelia. Some of the most pivotal words written within the narrative are found in the lyrics of the songs. The lyrics create depth and understanding that mere dialogue could not. The short chapters set a great pace, and with each page, you are drawn deeper into the heroine’s life. I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning to reach its perfect ending. The Plan was a pleasure to read.