5 Stars
Book Description:
It's Christmas in Twilight, Texas. The Cookie Club is baking, the town is decorated, and Delta Force Operator "Hutch" Hutchinson has finally, reluctantly, returned home . . .
. . . only to get pepper sprayed by the delicious- looking stranger who's taken over his house. She says her name is Jane, and she immediately sets down ground rules. Top priority: no touching. For Hutch that isn't easy—he was wounded in action, but one part is still working very well.
Then Hutch learns the truth. Jane harbors a frightening secret—she's really Meredith Sommers, on the run from a dangerous ex-husband and desperately in need of the safety Hutch can provide. In that moment, he vows he'd do anything in his power to protect her. And as Christmas approaches, they discover that their love can conquer the past and overcome any obstacle—but what price will they pay?
. . . only to get pepper sprayed by the delicious- looking stranger who's taken over his house. She says her name is Jane, and she immediately sets down ground rules. Top priority: no touching. For Hutch that isn't easy—he was wounded in action, but one part is still working very well.
Then Hutch learns the truth. Jane harbors a frightening secret—she's really Meredith Sommers, on the run from a dangerous ex-husband and desperately in need of the safety Hutch can provide. In that moment, he vows he'd do anything in his power to protect her. And as Christmas approaches, they discover that their love can conquer the past and overcome any obstacle—but what price will they pay?
My Review:
Wow!! I totally loved this book.
Lori Wilde has definitely hit the ball out of the park with this book.
I do believe this is my favorite of the Twilight, Texas series. This story addresses domestic violence, PTSD, a crisis of faith and love.
We are introduced to Brian "Hutch" Hutchinson, a Delta Force Operator, who left the battlefield on a stretcher, but keeps reliving the battle in his thoughts and dreams. Unfortunately his recovery at Walter Reed Military Medical Center isn't going as planned. Sure his physical injuries have healed to an extent. Shrapnel had struck his throat causing damage and his only way to communicate is now via writing. The author does an excellent job conveying both the character's frustration and pain of not being able to communicate normally. My heart breaks for all he's endured. The doctor's have decided that his difficulty communicating eludes to a much deeper problem than the physical injuries and releases him from active duty. Hutch heads home to Texas unsure of his future, but feels it will all work out. I admire his determination to find normal in his messed up life.
Of course his arrival in Texas is not anything he expected. A strange woman, Meredith Sommers aka Jane Brown, and her son are living in his house. Ashley, his sister, has rented part of his home to Jane and her son, Ben. Jane is not all she seems and Hutch plans to find out her true story.
Meredith has been running for so long that sometimes it's hard to remember who she is anymore. Keeping Ben safe was on the top of her list of things to do. A couple of months ago when she and Ben arrived in Twilight by a stroke of luck she met Ashley and her little girl, Kimmie. She has literally been running for her life. She and Ben never stay in a place long and never let anyone get close to them. After all she endured 5 years ago she can afford to let anyone close. Unfortunately when Ashley takes off on vacation with her boyfriend Meredith feels a responsibility to protect Kimmie like her own.
This is a wonderfully written romance interlaced with suspense with a holiday theme. The well developed characters will pull the readers in and the wonderful plot line will keep them turning the pages. I would recommend this book to anyone. I was given this book by the author for an honest and unbiased review as stated above.
Meet the Author:
New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Lori Wilde has sold seventy-eight works of fiction to four major New York Publishing houses. She holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Texas Christian University and a certificate in forensic nursing from Kaplan University . She is a member of the Internal Association of Forensic Nurses.
A popular writing instructor, Lori is a two time RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She’s won the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Wisconsin Write Touch Award, The Golden Quill, the Lories, and The More than Magic. Her books have been translated into 26 languages and excerpted in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Complete Woman, and Quick and Simple magazines. She lives in Texas with her husband, Bill, and her New American Shepherds, Sassy and Cookie.
I haven't heard of this author before! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteLaura, she has some really good books. This is one of my favorites though. Thank you for stopping by.
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