This is the first of this series that I’ve read – I remember coming across a couple of others and wanting to get an ARC but for the life of my I can’t remember why I didn’t … I loved Osburn’s Anchor Island series, so I have no idea what I was doing :) I don’t think that it make a huge difference but the previous couples are very involved in this story and I’m curious about how Carrie was portrayed before since she so entwined in everyone’s lives. You can definitely read this as a stand alone but I think that it will have more impact for returning readers.

Having said that, I will admit to really liking these two. Noah’s not your average hero – he’s not smooth or all that charming. He suffers from PTSD and a few rought deployments mixed with some disappointments in his recovery has led him to believe that he’s better off alone. He avoids most social situations and tends to be blunt in his conversation. But at his core he’s a very good man. He just has an awful way of showing it :) After a pretty rocky start, complete with some awful assumptions and not-so-nice things being said, time with Carrie has him hoping for something different.

Carrie has had a pretty hard life (and this is one of those places where I wish I’d read the previous books so I’d have a better feel for everything she’s gone through). She’s finally at good place – her own house, good job, supportive friends and only her daughter to be responsible to. There’s no man or family to beat her down and she’s actually starting to feel good about herself. Then she gets a new, crusty neighbor who just happens to have been good friends with her abusive husband. He doesn’t think the best of her and isn’t afraid to share his feelings … but once they have a chance to clear the air about things, they start to see each other differently. And Carrie sees the good man under the scruffy beard. And thinks that maybe she’s finally found something worthy.

I’m sure that having gotten to know Carrie already, returning readers will be even more invested in her story but I definitely felt for her and was happy to see her put a better life together. I’m curious how much growth she’s done in the earlier books because it seems like she moved pretty quickly into a relationship with Noah. However she does talk about how seeing the other couples be so happy makes her realize that there are good men. And Noah’s as good with his actions as he is with his words when it comes to his aversion to violence against women. I’ve seen some comments in reviews that a woman who has survived abuse would be more hesitant to get involved again within a year or so of her husband’s death but I get the feeling that Carrie has been heading that way for a while (even if just in her own mind).

Maybe since he’s a new character, and she has to do all of his development here, I feel like Osburn does a great job of giving Noah’s PTSD its due. It has a huge impact on his life and he struggles with how to handle it. I feel for him as he describes some of the things that he’s gone through but I was happy that “love” didn’t miraculously cure him. He needs real help and Osburn addresses that.

I’m reminded why I enjoyed my other Osburn books so much. She’s great at creating interesting characters and an involved plot, plus her easy-to-read writing keeps readers involved. With her newest, two wounded souls find each other and and work to find a happy, healthy place together. It’s not smooth sailing but it’s more satisfying for having to make it through those rough patches. I’m regretting passing over those other books but I’m definitely going to be picking up any I run across going forward :)

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***