Series:
Hope's Crossing (Book 3)
Love knows no season
Spring should bring renewal, but Maura McKnight-Parker cannot escape the
past. Still reeling from the loss of one daughter, the former free
spirit is thrown for a loop by the return of her older daughter, Sage,
and the reappearance of her first love, Sage's father. Jackson Lange
never knew his daughter-never even knew that he'd left the love of his
life pregnant when he fled their small town-but he has never forgotten
Maura.
Now they are all back, but Sage has her own secret, one that will test
the fragile bonds of a reunited family. Thrown together by circumstances
and dedicated to those they love, Maura and Jackson must learn to move
forward and let go of the mistakes of their past for the bright future
that awaits them and their friends in Hope's Crossing.
Very good reunion story. Maura is still reeling from the death of her younger daughter in a car accident. She tries to put a good face on things for her friends and family but she isn't really in the mood for the holidays. Her world is rocked even further when her older daughter comes home from college with a visitor - the father she never knew. Maura had never told anyone who he was after he left their town saying he wouldn't be back. She had tried to contact him but he didn't return her calls, so she continued on her own. Maura has built a good life with family and friends and owns her own business. Seeing Jack again has brought back memories, both good and bad. I loved seeing the way that she and Jack were able to deal with each other in a civil manner from the beginning. She was still angry with him for leaving and never contacting her, but she also admitted that there was still an attraction to him. She also has to deal with the idea of Sage getting to know her father, and having to share Sage with him. I liked the way that she was honest enough to admit to herself that she was jealous of Sage's new relationship with her father, fearing that she'll lose her special relationship with her daughter. When an issue comes up with Sage that needs both her parents' support, Maura and Jack have to learn to coexist. What they discover is that their love hadn't really died after all. I loved the fact that they didn't just jump back into an intense relationship but took the time to get to know each other again and make sure that they had something that would work.
Jack couldn't wait to leave Hope's Crossing when he was a teenager. His mother had had mental issues when he was growing up before killing herself, and his father had withdrawn to his business world. When his father basically stole the land Jack had inherited from his mother, Jack had enough and left. He wanted Maura to go with him, but she wasn't ready to leave everything behind. Jack worked hard and became a successful architect, frequently appearing as a guest lecturer at colleges, which was how he met Sage. After discovering their connection he was furious at Maura for cheating him out of all those years of knowing his daughter. As angry as he was, I appreciated the fact that he didn't get vocally mean to her and generally be a jerk. He let her know that he planned to stay around and get to know Sage. It was fun seeing his confusion about staying in Hope's Crossing when he had sworn he would never come back. He couldn't understand why he felt compelled to stay. I loved his growing feelings for Maura and loved it when he told her he wanted to see where their feelings would lead them. I liked the fact that it wasn't an overnight decision but a slow progression. Jack also had to deal with seeing his father again. He still had a lot of anger toward his father and it was very hard to let it go. That resolution wasn't an overnight thing either, which made it much more realistic.
I liked the part that Sage had in this book. Her feelings of betrayal were real when she found out about Jack, but she also still loved her mother and told her so. I wasn't surprised by the problem that she had and found the way it echoed her mother's life pretty ironic. That it did was one of the things that helped Jack and Maura deal with it so well. I thought she showed pretty good maturity in her decision making. I also enjoyed her relationship with her grandfather and the part she played in Jack and Harry's reconciliation. Her emotions over the decisions she had to make at the end of the book were very realistic and I loved the solution that Harry came up with.
Series:
Hope's Crossing (Book 4)
If you build it, love will come...to Hope's Crossing.
Alexandra McKnight prefers a life of long workdays and short-term
relationships, and she's found it in Hope's Crossing. A sous chef at the
local ski resort, she's just been offered her dream job at an exclusive
new restaurant being built in town. But when it comes to designing the
kitchen, Alex finds herself getting up close and personal with
construction foreman Sam Delgado....
At first glance, Sam seems perfect for Alex. He's big, tough,
gorgeous-and only in town for a few weeks. But when Sam suddenly moves
into a house down the road, Alex suspects that the devoted single father
of a six-year-old boy wants more from her than she's willing to give.
Now it's up to Sam to help Alex see that, no matter what happened in her
past, together they can build something more meaningful in Hope's
Crossing.
Good book. Alex is about to have her dreams come true as the head chef of a new restaurant in town, as long as the construction of the kitchen gets done on time. Sam has been hired to finish the kitchen. There's a heat that's obvious between them from the moment they meet. Alex sees no problem getting involved with Sam. She doesn't do commitments and he's only in town for a short time. Then she discovers that he and his son are moving to town permanently and he's interested in more than short term.
I loved Sam. He's a great dad who wants a fresh start for himself and his son. His wife died a couple years ago and then he discovered that his father-in-law was a crooked contractor. Now he's looking forward to living in a small town where people care for each other and look out for each other. He isn't really interested in a new relationship since he's going to be busy setting up his business and taking care of his son. He's attracted to Alex as soon as he meets her and looks forward to getting to know her better. He likes the way she's direct about what she wants. He enjoys her sense of humor and discovers that under her brash exterior is a very kindhearted woman. It's not too long before he's starting to think of Alex in longer terms, but he can't get her to agree. Every time he thinks he's making some progress she pushes him away. He senses that there is a deep pain that keeps her from accepting the idea of a future with him. I really liked the way that he kept trying to get close to Alex. He knew he was falling for her and he was pretty sure that she felt the same but he was having problems getting past her walls. Even when he tried to stay away from her he was aware of what she was doing. I loved his final attempt to get her to open up to him and share her pain. This expressed his feelings perfectly: "I
love you, Alexandra. Nothing you’ve told me tonight changes that. I
love you in spite of all the reasons you think I shouldn’t. In part,
maybe, because of the those reasons. You’re the person you are today
because of everything that has happened to you.”
Alex is a serial dater. She doesn't do more than a few dates with any one man, preferring to keep all her relationships light and casual. Part of her fear of commitment comes from the way her father deserted the family when she was a kid. She doesn't want to open herself up to that kind of pain again. Currently she is way too busy getting the new restaurant up and running to spend time with a man anyway. When she meets Sam she finds him very appealing and thinks it would be fun to be with him for the short time he'll be in town. She doesn't expect the intensity of her attraction to him and tries to pull away from him. She's willing to go for friendship with him, but is afraid what might happen if she goes for more. When she finds out that he has a son and that they are moving to town permanently she takes it as just one more reason to stay away from him. I liked the way that her soft heart doesn't let her stay away for long. She adds him to the people she cooks for, finds herself enjoying being around his son, and occasionally is tempted to let him get closer. But as much as she comes to care for him she has a secret pain that she hasn't even shared with her family and friends, that makes her feel that she doesn't deserve that kind of happiness. She doesn't seem to see the same good person that everyone else sees, the one who cooks for shut-ins, takes care of a friend who is dying of cancer, rescues a lost dog and takes it home with her, and is there for any friend who needs her help. I loved the way that she finally opened up to Sam, expecting him to reject her, and is stunned to find out that he doesn't, that he loves her just the way she is.
Series: Hope's Crossing (Book 3)
