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…
Comment: This is the most recent book by ms Anderson. Since I found out one of her books once in a shop and after reading it becoming so marveled with it, I went on a attempt to get more of her books. I've read many of them and loved most of those. However, I've came to realize that ms Anderson, like so many other authors, seems to be going on a path I think is on its way to lose me...
This is the story of Amanda Banning, a woman running from a abusive husband. She has her young child with her and they are living in Oregon. Unfortunately, the house she's renting isn't good or safe enough to stand against the cold weather and snow piling on the roof.
In comes Jeb Sterling, a wonderful man that keeps finding pink pieces of paper all over his property. The messages are clearly feminine and from someone with personal issues and problems in her life.
Jeb meets Amanda and her daughter when he's traveling through the are to rescue or help people that have been caught up in a storm and who may be in danger. Jeb rescues Amanda to his own house and with time they start to become closer and Amanda gains the courage to fight her husband once and for all.
This plot had everything to be successful, all the characters were well picked to better put in evidence the idea of a situation we might be interested in seeing getting solved.
Amanda is someone afraid but brave to save her child and we see through the book why the situation was dangerous and hard to let go of. I think this is one of the details that was better chosen but at the same time it feels like some things weren't as precise as I'd have liked, mostly because the way things progressed wasn't very appealing to me all the time.
The story has very good moments. Again, the author has this character, Jeb, that grew up in a loving family and that same family is an important part of the story and in how Amanda gets a purpose to fight, because she sees not only how things could be for her daughter, but she also knows that family could be theirs.
Of course, in terms of romance, this works out really well.
Also amazing is Jeb and everything he does to make Amanda's life better, more positive, free of her abusive husband.
This actually brings me to my biggest issue with this novel. Jeb is too perfect. Usually all ms Anderson heroes are perfect or very close to it in their own way and while part of me cherishes the dream of someone like this, the more practical side of me also wrinkles the nose at such lengths to show a man anyone would love to be in love with. Jeb's faults and less than good qualities are never really evidenced and we are almost led to believe his character is flawless and immaculate. I wish I could have seen some of his faults, to see he wasn't perfect and that being stubborn here and there wasn't his biggest problem.
Amanda is a sweet woman battling someone who abused her and her confidence, her parents...I understand her situation and the need to get away. I just think all the situation after going to Jeb's house became almost "staged" you know, and it didn't make me feel like this was a romance I couldn't not like.
In fact, the romance between Amanda and Jeb is slow and sweet but at a certain point it no longer felt like something I was interested in because the way it happened just seemed bland and predictable. It wasn't even passionate which in a way I get, after all Amanda came from a very bad situation, but if they are in love...I don't know..
There many secondary characters, Jeb's family and Chloe, Amanda's daughter provided interesting glimpses of secondary relationships. Still, after everything considered, I think this novel wasn't the most amazing or fascinating like some others by her I've read and loved.
Anyway, it seems this is the first of a possible series that might feature Jeb's brothers and sisters. Who knows if those might be better?
Grade: 6/10
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