Riding in a bus in the thickly falling snow, Eden Davis wonders how it ever came to this--fleeing under cover of night with young Micah sleeping fitfully in the seat beside her. When a winter storm strands them in Summer Harbor, Maine, Eden wonders if what might have been the end could be a new beginning.
Beau Callahan is a habitual problem-solver. He's recently left his job with the sheriff's department to take over the family Christmas tree farm to save it from insolvency. But he's flummoxed. During the busiest season of the year, he's shorthanded. Then Eden shows up looking for work, and Beau believes he's been rescued. Competent, smart, and beautiful, Eden's also guarded and quiet. He soon figures out she comes with a boatload of secrets. But Beau can't seem to help himself from falling for her.
As Christmas Eve approaches, Beau discovers he'll do anything to keep Eden safe. But who's going to protect his heart from a woman who can't seem to trust again?
My source for book: Review Copy
My Thoughts:It's the start of a new series from Denise Hunter, and it's another winner! With Eden and her son, Micah, on the run from people who want to do them harm, this story immediately grabbed my attention and didn't let it go. I thought it might be a bit difficult to keep things straight when they had to assume new names for safety, but surprisingly it wasn't.
I wasn't excited about the fact that Beau already had a girlfriend when Eden entered the picture, as that just makes things sticky, awkward, and can easily toe the right/wrong moral line. But thankfully Beau handled it as well as he could when he realized his feelings were starting to change, and ultimately he did the honorable and right thing. He's a good guy and his law enforcement past made him very knowledgeable and helpful for Eden's situation which I thought was pretty cool!
The storyline of a kid (Micah) who doesn't talk due to a traumatic situation seems a bit cliche, but in this case it's actually done pretty well and it doesn't make any of the scenes awkward. (In truth it actually makes things a bit easier for Eden as she doesn't have to worry about Micah accidentally revealing too much about their situation.) I liked how things came about for Micah to slowing start talking again, and how his first word showed the surprising trust he had placed in a new friend.
Overall, I really enjoyed "Falling Like Snowflakes". The story is set in winter and around Christmas, but it's not necessary to read it at that time of year...though the descriptions of the cold snowy weather--especially at the beginning--were so vivid that for a second I really thought there was snow outside my window! I really liked Eden and Beau, but the rest of the characters were also very good and each was portrayed with lots of individual personality. It's easy to imagine the series switching the focus onto these other characters as it progresses, and I'm anxious to see what happens in their lives. The Summer Harbor series is off to a great start, and I'll definitely be picking up the rest of the books as they release.
My Rating: 5 stars
Thanks to the publisher (Thomas Nelson) for providing me with a review copy via NetGalley.
Reading this one now and it's so good. I love the characters and the promise of this new series. Should be as fun to read about Beau's brothers - book two already has me intrigued by its synopsis alone. :)
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