Kaylie Newell

Good book about coming home, family, letting go of the past, and unexpected love. I liked how the author realistically included tough subjects like child abuse and Alzheimer's/dementia without overdramatizing.

Kyla left her teaching job and moved home to Christmas Bay to help her foster mom, Frances. She has become increasingly worried about Frances's memory lapses. She plans to spend the summer helping care for Frances's home and the candy store.

The story opens with Kyla in the store when a young teenager enters. Kyla is stunned when the boy grabs the tip jar and runs. She followed and watched him collide with the local police chief, her best friend's brother, Ben. After declining to press charges against the boy, Hunter, she's left alone with Ben. The memories come fast and hard - her crush on him as a girl, his kindness to his little sister's friend, and the betrayal that changed her life forever. Her feelings are mixed at seeing him again. She remembers her love for him but can't forgive him for his actions.

Ben lives in Christmas Bay with his six-year-old daughter, Gracie. His wife deserted them, leaving him with trust issues when it comes to women. Gracie is the center of his life, and I loved seeing what a good dad he is. Gracie is a sweetheart, and I loved seeing her with her daddy. Ben is well-liked by most residents and protective of those he serves.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Kyla and Ben develop. It started with the sparks of attraction that flared between them from the beginning, though each tried to ignore them. Ben wants to avoid getting involved with someone who will leave at the end of the summer. He especially doesn't want Gracie to get close and then lose another person she cares for. But Gracie bonds quickly with Kyla (I loved their "playdate"), and Ben cannot keep them apart. As they spend more time together, their feelings for each other grow, but the past keeps coming between them. It takes eye-opening conversations with unexpected people to open their eyes and hearts.

There are other things in this book besides the romance between Kyla and Ben. Kyla's foster mother has memory issues that cause Kyla a great deal of worry. My heart ached for both as Frances stubbornly tried to deny the problem until a frightening incident made denial impossible. I liked how Kyla and her foster sisters are determined to do what they can to help Frances. Their motto of "all of us or none of us" means they are in it together. Seeing how Frances's friends and family rallied around her was sweet. I look forward to future books and seeing how things go for her.

Kyla's other worry in this book concerns the teenage thief, Hunter. She saw something in him that day that touched her deeply and made her want to help. His backstory is heartbreaking; I was all for whatever she had in mind. I loved how she and Frances gave him a job and the difference it made to him. I ached for Kyla and the painful decision she had to make later. It was a heartwrenching dilemma that stirred up distressing memories and gave her a different perspective. I loved her final encounter with Hunter.… (mere)

The Moonshadow’s Daughter, book three, is based off of the town’s doctor as he seeks answers for the death of his wife a year prior, he discovers the mystery of the missing friend of Maggie from book one. As well as peeling back the layers of Wolfe Creek’s own secrets on his journey.

I really enjoyed listening to this series. It was a light storyline, entertaining and humorous at times. The characters are all likeable and the storyline wraps up nicely. I would definitely recommend if you are interested in some light reading and are into paranormal fantasy.

★★★★★… (mere)

Hunter of her Heart, book two, is based off of the first one. The younger brother of the sheriff’s deputy holds one of Wolfe Creek’s secrets within himself. The town starts to see him as the bad guy and his long term girlfriend helps him lighten his shadows and ground him.

I really enjoyed listening to this series. It was a light storyline, entertaining and humorous at times. The characters are all likeable and the storyline wraps up nicely. I would definitely recommend if you are interested in some light reading and are into paranormal fantasy.

★★★★★… (mere)

Lone Wolfe, book one, is about a human who moves to a town called Wolfe Creek to solve a mystery about her best friend who disappeared at the town a year before. She befriends a sheriff’s deputy who agrees to help her find her missing friend and falls in love with him. Maggie soon learns that the town she moves too has a lot of secrets and yet she’s drawn to the town and uncovering the mysteries that are within it.

I really enjoyed listening to this series. It was a light storyline, entertaining and humorous at times. The characters are all likeable and the storyline wraps up nicely. I would definitely recommend if you are interested in some light reading and are into paranormal fantasy.

★★★★★… (mere)