Falling Like Snowflakes
(Summer Harbor #1)
by Denise Hunter
by Denise Hunter
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 352 Pages
September 8th 2015 by Thomas Nelson
Summary
Eden Martelli is too busy fleeing the clutches of danger to realize she’s running straight into the arms of a new love.
Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how her life came to this—on the run with her mute five-year-old son dozing fitfully in the passenger seat. When a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Eden has no choice but to stay put through Christmas . . . even though they have no place to lay their heads.
Beau Callahan is a habitual problem solver—for other people anyway. He left the sheriff’s department to take over his family’s Christmas tree farm, but he’s still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first Christmas alone.
When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau’s feisty aunt gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he’s finally caught a break. Eden is competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—and a knockout to boot. But, as he soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets.
Eden has been through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As Christmas Eve approaches, Eden’s past catches up to her.
Beau will go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. But who’s going to protect his heart from a woman who can’t seem to trust again.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
FALLING LIKE SNOWFLAKES is intriguing from the first page to the last. The story could be characterized as having small-town charm, a close-knit family, sweet romance, and a slowly-building suspense plot. Those who enjoy this author or inspirational romance will enjoy this one.
This story gripped me from the first words with a mother who is seeking safety for her and her son. I loved Eden. She was such a study of contrasts in the best way. She is fierce, independent, strong, and very protective of her son, and yet she has been so deeply hurt, is so afraid, and has the softest heart. I loved Beau too, even though there were times when he frustrated me to no end. He's such a good guy and wants what is best for all he feels are under his protection. I loved how they worked together and how their romance slowly builds. They are very good friends before anything else.
Then there was the suspense aspect of the story... It was always in the background and I knew it would eventually come into play and then it did. In a very big way. I was hanging on to my seat and yelling at Beau to hurry... It was very well done.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes. I love how this author can take less-than-ideal situations with characters who struggle and learn and change, making me fall in love with them, hoping that they'll get their happily-ever-afters. She did that again here with this story.
Content: Some violence and innuendo, but clean.
Source: Received an ARC through NetGalley, but also purchased a copy, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
This story gripped me from the first words with a mother who is seeking safety for her and her son. I loved Eden. She was such a study of contrasts in the best way. She is fierce, independent, strong, and very protective of her son, and yet she has been so deeply hurt, is so afraid, and has the softest heart. I loved Beau too, even though there were times when he frustrated me to no end. He's such a good guy and wants what is best for all he feels are under his protection. I loved how they worked together and how their romance slowly builds. They are very good friends before anything else.
Then there was the suspense aspect of the story... It was always in the background and I knew it would eventually come into play and then it did. In a very big way. I was hanging on to my seat and yelling at Beau to hurry... It was very well done.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes. I love how this author can take less-than-ideal situations with characters who struggle and learn and change, making me fall in love with them, hoping that they'll get their happily-ever-afters. She did that again here with this story.
Content: Some violence and innuendo, but clean.
Source: Received an ARC through NetGalley, but also purchased a copy, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
(Summer Harbor #2)
by Denise Hunter
by Denise Hunter
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 336 Pages
March 8th 2016 by Thomas Nelson
Summary
She only remembers loving him. But he can’t forget the way she left.
Following a concussion, Lucy Lovett can’t remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn’t remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn’t remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.
It’s taken Zac months to move on after Lucy left him with no explanation. He’s thrown himself into his family’s farm and his restaurant business in Summer Harbor. Now Lucy’s back, vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. She needs his help putting the pieces together, but letting her back into his life is a risk—and the stakes are high. If he follows his heart he’ll win back the love of his life. But if her memory returns he’ll lose her all over again.
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
THE GOODBYE BRIDE was not your usual runaway bride story. It was complex, with lots of feels, heartbreaking in parts, lovely in others. A beautiful story of loss and forgiveness and learning how to fall in love again. Readers who enjoy inspirational romance should enjoy this story.
I knew the situation for Zac somewhat from the first book in this series, but I didn't know Lucy's side at all, obviously. I wasn't sure what I would think of her and her reasons, but as things unfolded, I found myself equally in camp Lucy and Zac. The chemistry was off the charts in this one, but I liked that is was still a slow burn in how things progressed, especially under the circumstances. And if I didn't already like Zac, he melted my heart by the end of the story.
There was a slight suspenseful feel to this story. I understood the plot point, but it felt like it was building up to something big and then... nothing. So a bit of a letdown, especially after the first book being really intense and dangerous at one point. I was kind of expecting that here, especially with how much attention a certain man was getting.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a beautiful story with a few flaws, but overall one with themes of forgiveness and letting go. The romance was swoon-worthy and fit perfectly in this story.
Content: Some innuendo, but clean.
Source: Received an ARC through NetGalley, but also purchased a copy, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
I knew the situation for Zac somewhat from the first book in this series, but I didn't know Lucy's side at all, obviously. I wasn't sure what I would think of her and her reasons, but as things unfolded, I found myself equally in camp Lucy and Zac. The chemistry was off the charts in this one, but I liked that is was still a slow burn in how things progressed, especially under the circumstances. And if I didn't already like Zac, he melted my heart by the end of the story.
There was a slight suspenseful feel to this story. I understood the plot point, but it felt like it was building up to something big and then... nothing. So a bit of a letdown, especially after the first book being really intense and dangerous at one point. I was kind of expecting that here, especially with how much attention a certain man was getting.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a beautiful story with a few flaws, but overall one with themes of forgiveness and letting go. The romance was swoon-worthy and fit perfectly in this story.
Content: Some innuendo, but clean.
Source: Received an ARC through NetGalley, but also purchased a copy, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
Just a Kiss
(Summer Harbor #3)
by Denise Hunter
by Denise Hunter
Christian Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 336 Pages
September 6th 2016 by Thomas Nelson
Summary
Riley Callahan’s plans to reveal his secret feelings for his best friend are derailed when his life is drastically altered in Afghanistan.
Watching the love of his life fall for his brother was enough to send Riley straight to boot camp. But over a year later, he’s officially a marine, and Beau and Paige are no longer an item. When Riley’s tour in Afghanistan is up, he intends to confess his feelings to Paige and win his best friend’s heart once and for all.
But all that changes when an IED takes the life of a comrade and leaves Riley an amputee. Now he’s heading home, injured and troubled. His plans to win Paige are a distant dream. She deserves so much more than the man that’s left. All he can do now is put some healthy distance between them. But upon his return he discovers his family has arranged for him to stay with Paige.
Paige is a nurturer at heart and happy to take care of her best buddy. By all appearances Riley is adjusting miraculously well to his disability. But as the days pass, Paige begins to see that the smiles and laughter are just a mask for the pain he’s hiding. To make matters worse, her job is in serious jeopardy. The animal shelter that she’s poured her heart into has lost its funding, and she has three months to come up with the money needed to save it.
As the weeks wear on, Paige’s feelings for Riley begin to shift into uncharted territory. Why is she suddenly noticing his arm muscles and the way his lips curl at the corners? Will she be able to deny her feelings for another Callahan brother? And will Riley let his heart heal so he can let Paige in?
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
JUST A KISS is when Riley, the youngest Callahan brother, gets his story. There was so much emotion between Riley's PTSD and injury, and then his feelings for Paige and vice versa. Like the other books in this series, there is the small-town charm, close Callahan family, and an aunt who might lose her heart a second time that all add to the story. A sweet, heartfelt, and entertaining read inspirational romance readers are sure to enjoy.
Riley and Paige may be my favorite couple from this series. Riley is so stuck on him not being enough for Paige and Paige doesn't see what's right in front of her for some time. I loved the moments when Riley addressed the romantic tension and pushed Paige a little. I also loved the sweet moments when they were helping each other and just being the best of friends. Both characters had to dig deep in this one and also change some of their ideals and perceptions. The end was one of my favorites. Honestly, this story brought out all the feels. There were some seriously fabulous moments.
My only complaint about this one is that I felt like the tension between the Callahan boy's aunt and the sheriff was stretched too long and felt redundant. I might have felt so strongly about the redundancy because I read all three of these in a row just over a few days and the same bickering and issues between these too were repeated several times in each book, so by this third one I kind of felt like the issues should have been resolved at the end of the second book and then this one could have been what happened after they were resolved. Because it felt stretched out and like I'd heard it over and over it was a little frustrating and didn't come across as authentic, although I was also happy with how it turned out.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I loved Riley's and Paige's story! I loved who they are and who they become and the emotional roller-coaster that gets them there. Plus, it has one of the best happily-ever-after endings. Hard to beat that.
Content: Clean
Source: Purchased
Riley and Paige may be my favorite couple from this series. Riley is so stuck on him not being enough for Paige and Paige doesn't see what's right in front of her for some time. I loved the moments when Riley addressed the romantic tension and pushed Paige a little. I also loved the sweet moments when they were helping each other and just being the best of friends. Both characters had to dig deep in this one and also change some of their ideals and perceptions. The end was one of my favorites. Honestly, this story brought out all the feels. There were some seriously fabulous moments.
My only complaint about this one is that I felt like the tension between the Callahan boy's aunt and the sheriff was stretched too long and felt redundant. I might have felt so strongly about the redundancy because I read all three of these in a row just over a few days and the same bickering and issues between these too were repeated several times in each book, so by this third one I kind of felt like the issues should have been resolved at the end of the second book and then this one could have been what happened after they were resolved. Because it felt stretched out and like I'd heard it over and over it was a little frustrating and didn't come across as authentic, although I was also happy with how it turned out.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I loved Riley's and Paige's story! I loved who they are and who they become and the emotional roller-coaster that gets them there. Plus, it has one of the best happily-ever-after endings. Hard to beat that.
Content: Clean
Source: Purchased
Have you read this series or any other books by this author?
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