Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 28 Jul 20
I’ve read a few other books by Ms. Ashenden, but this deeply emotional love story of a second chance at romance is an unexpected surprise. Silas Quinn had a deeply conflicted childhood in Deep River and never expected to return after he left the small town behind. Now thirteen years later, his best friend Caleb is dead and Silas has returned to Deep River, where Hope, their third friend and the love of Silas’s life, still lives. To complicate things, oil has been found in Deep River and everything’s about to change, including Hope and Silas. Considering Silas once offered to stay for Hope, how will things turn out this time around?
It’s cute how Silas arrives determined to discharge his duty and flee back to where he came from. Aside from Hope, whom he has always loved, he has no ties to or happy memories of his hometown. He feels a strong sense of guilt for the death of Hope’s grandfather, who died trying to rescue Silas’s drunk father, leaving Hope forever imprisoned in Deep River. As Silas goes about talking to the residents in an attempt to sound out the people and get the lay of the land, you can see the ties to hold him there subtly falling into place.
However, Silas’s dreams of a future with Hope will forever remain a dream. Hope’s mother is determined to take her money and run and take Hope with her so Hope can finally realize her dreams. Now that Hope has finally realized what’s in her heart, will her love for Silas hold her in place, even as he frees her to fly? The conflict is well presented, and while I knew this would have a happy ending, I just wasn’t quite sure how it would play out until the very end.
I found the story about life in a small town that’s about to be disrupted by the smell of money changing things forever quite compelling. Will the town be true to the freedom and the environment that were the founding tenets or will the money change them forever? It’s no surprise, given Silas’s conversations with Damon that he show up in Deep River.
I can’t wait for Damon’s story, especially given that he does not want to stay in Alaska. But the one that has me really intrigued is Zeke. He is the true mystery. I am definitely looking forward to the reading of his story as everything plays out.
Grade: B
Summary:
Deep River, Alaska boasts a fiercely independent though small population. The people who live here love it, and they don’t much care what anyone else thinks. Until the day Silas Quinn comes back and tells them an oil reserve has been found below the town and now it’s neighbor vs. neighbor. Some want to take the money and run, while others want to tell the oil company to put its rigs where the sun don’t shine.
Hope Dawson never expected to leave Deep River. Her mom needs her. Her grandfather died and left her the local hangout to run. Her dreams of college and adventure died long ago. Until Silas comes back to town, holding the key to set her free. But freedom means she loses him again, and he’s the one she’s really always wanted.
No excerpt available.
