When Emma’s husband loses his job, and she learns she is pregnant,
she has no option other than return to her childhood home – the site of her
parents’ grisly murder fourteen year ago. There Emma is confronted with her
past: the cop who considered her the prime suspect, the locals who spread gossip
and rumors, and her estranged sisters. As she beings to ask the questions she
did not dare to ask all those years ago, she learns all what not as it seemed.
And someone is willing to kill to keep their secrets.
Palmer and Hudson were best friends who crossed the line one
night. The result: their daughter Adley who they successfully co-parent. Palmer
returned home to Lake Starlight, Alaska, knowing she would need the love and
support of her family and Hudson followed her there. Now, living next door to
one another, and raising three-year-old Adley together, their friendship
has endured. Any feelings they had for one another were ignored for fear of
upsetting the family dynamic they had created for their daughter. One of them
just had to be brave enough to take the plunge and admit they wanted more.
Both Palmer and Hudson were likable characters and I loved how they were so dedicated to Adley. They started as friends and that bond remained, even when they both (privately) wished for more. I appreciated the representation of Palmer as a deaf heroine and that aspect was integrated smoothly and respectfully. As much as I enjoyed both main characters, I never truly felt their chemistry or was overly invested in their romance. Much of that is likely due to that fact that Hudson was involved in a relationship for much of the story, something I wasn’t a fan of. While this entry wasn’t my favorite of the series, there was still a lot to enjoy, and I always love returning to Lake Starlight.
As a professional hockey player, Boone is lauded for his
skills on the ice, but it’s off the ice and behind the scenes where his light
truly shines. Volunteering his time at a children’s hospital, Boone develops a
special bond with Aiden, a 12-year-old boy battling cancer for the second time.
When Boone meets Aiden’s older sister, Lilly, it’s obvious she has the weight
of the world on her shoulders. Trying to keep the family business afloat and overseeing
Aiden’s care, while their father increasingly finds escape at the bottom of a
bottle, leaves Lilly completely overwhelmed. Boone uses his contacts and
resources to help this struggling family, while growing even closer to both
Lilly and Aiden.
Saying this was an emotional read is an understatement. I
adored these characters - so much. But there came a point when I was
cursing Sawyer Bennett and vowing I would not continue the series. And yet… at
the same time I loved these people, their kindness, their strength and
resiliency, their innate goodness. Boone certainly fell into the too-good-to-be-true
category, but I didn’t even care. He was humble and genuine and quick to act
when he saw a need he could fill. His selflessness was staggering. And then there
was Aiden, a kid who was dealing with more at the age of twelve than most do in
a lifetime. His bravery and his humor made me want to jump into the pages and
hug him fiercely. This book gutted me (and I still don’t forgive Sawyer
Bennett) but I also won’t forget it.
