Smitten by Books

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Coulter and Harrigan Family novels comes a brand-new contemporary romance series about first love, second chances, and hope reborn.…

After years of living in fear of her husband, Amanda Banning has left him and moved to Mystic Creek, Oregon, for a fresh start. But she’s having a tough time providing for herself and her six-year-old daughter. Writing her secret yearnings on slips of paper and sending them into the wind helps her cling to the hope that things will get better…and that she can find happiness again.

Jeb Sterling has no idea that the handwritten messages he finds scattered across his land are the first hints that his life is about to change. Nor does he understand why he feels so compelled to help Amanda Banning and her daughter when a cold snap leaves them temporarily homeless. Maybe he’s inspired by Amanda’s courage or perhaps by her beautiful brown eyes. Either way, the man who once renounced love suddenly finds himself willing to do anything for the pair. Amanda seems to have given up on her dreams, but Jeb refuses to quit until he makes her every wish come true.…

Amanda Banning is on the run from her abusive husband. She needs to keep her daughter, Chloe, save from him and Mystic Creek is small enough to stay hidden and not draw too much attention. She never had to take care of herself before but she is determined to make sure that they survive with what little they have. The little run down house that she is renting gets damaged during an ice storm but her handsome neighbor, Jeb, offers for Amanda and Chloe to stay at his place.

For days, Jeb Sterling, has picked up little pink pieces of paper with messages of someone’s deep thoughts. The pseudo-diary broke his heart as he learned that a woman was out there hurting and struggling to keep her daughter safe. When Amanda and Chloe come to stay with him, he put the pieces together that Amanda is the author of the notes. He vows to help them in any way that he can.

When Amanda comes to temporarily lives with Jeb, her back story unfolds. The subject matter is heavy and at times it overwhelmed. Some of what Mark (Amanda’s husband) does make me cringe inwardly. He is a sick person. For someone who doesn’t want to go into details about it, when Amanda finally opens up she explains every story behind every bump on her body. I had to stop reading the story several times.

Amanda’s husband comes back and demands that they return with him. He creates issues for them but his arrival is almost lackluster after discovering all the malicious things he has done to Amanda and Chloe. The ending is sort of anticlimactic and everyone moves on fairly quickly.

The story at times is a bit cheesy and hokey but it distracts from the serious abuse theme that is laden throughout the book. The romance is very slow and that is expected. The loving doesn’t come until 80 % of the book. I really liked Jeb’s family and how protective and accepting they became over Amanda and Chloe. I’m sure the rest of Jeb’s brothers will receive stories of their own.

Overall, I recommend this for fans of slow, sweet and inspirational romances.

Reviewed by Samantha
Heat Level: Sensual