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Claire Bradford’s horoscope claimed that something exciting was coming her way. Exciting would have been fun in the sun, a big sale at her bead store, String Fever, or even a nice quiet getaway. Certainly exciting did not include her store being vandalized, a car wreck resulting in a broken leg and arm, or the return of her best friend’s younger brother in all his handsome, male glory.
Riley McKnight, a decorated and seasoned cop in California, returns home to his childhood town as newly crowned police chief of Hope’s Crossing. He’s eager to get back to his roots and away from the pain-filled past of undercover police work. What he’s not ready for is his boyhood crush, Claire, to awaken unknown desire and tenderness. Nor is he ready for the tragedy of a deadly car wreck, that leaves Claire battered and many of the town’s residents easily relating the incident to his misspent youth.
Regardless of obstacles, physical and emotional, desire smolders between these two. Claire wants to steer clear of a fling with Riley, the notorious pest she knew in her adolescence. Riley can’t help, but feel he is all wrong for Claire whose goodness and desire to see the best in everything rubs against his cynic nature. Regardless the two are drawn together.
One of my favorite scenes is where Riley and Claire are talking about their relationship, but she throws a jab at him:
Her stomach swooped as if she’d just dived off the top of the waterfall into the small pool below.
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “The old Claire was pretty stupid.”
“What about the new Claire?”
She curled her fingers, nails pressing into her flesh.
“She would probably wonder why you’re wasting your time with a divorced mother whose husband left her for a ditz with perfect teeth and a boob job.”
He closed his eyes. “You won’t let me forget that, will you?”
“I would still like to know the answer to the question. Why are you here, Riley? Why do you keep coming back, even though both of us know you shouldn’t?”
This story resonated with me because it had such a grip on the reality of life, and the troubles that tend to happen even when you live in idyllic small town. Claire is easy to relate to, a single, divorced mom, trying her hardest to make the best life for her children as possible. The character is the epitome of a typical woman in ‘a rock and hard place’, dealing with maintaining peace with her ex-husband and his new wife, a needy opinionated mother, and all the responsibilities herein.
What I really loved about this story is the relationships. The interactions, the awkwardness of old feelings bubbling to the surface and the way that all the characters interact with one another made the book a great read. Plus, you get transported to a small town that you long to be a part of. From the descriptions of the town and its location to the acts of kindness, you want to live in Hope’s Crossing and get to know every single person over a cup of coffee and a batch of delicious pastries.
My only caveat is that I felt that some of the underlying subplots were not resolved, and that the book ended a little abruptly for my taste. Overall, it’s a good read and gives a sense of love and foundation found in surprising places.
~ Landra
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