Emery Bliss is a Los Angeles television news anchor with a promising career ahead of her. It all changed in an instant when a disgruntled ex-boyfriend uploads a sex video he secretly taped and ruins her professionally and personally. She returns to Silver Springs where she grew up, in retreat and hiding out at Aiyana Turner’s home who graciously offered her help. Christmas is fast approaching and all of Aiyana’s sons will be home for the holidays, the first time she’ll have them in the same town in years. That includes Dallas, a professional mountain climber, who had a crush on Emery back in high school but is a confirmed bachelor because of the demands of his career. However, his decision to help Emery regain her confidence and footing is threatening that choice.
What happened to Emery is called revenge porn (or nonconsensual pornography) and there are laws against that in many states, including California. I appreciated the educational aspect included in this story as so many women are victims of this kind of assault and may be unaware that there is recourse. Dallas focused on Emery standing up for herself, going above and beyond in doing so. He didn’t try to have all the answers, just being that rock when she needed one and getting her to reach out for legal assistance. That aspect of the story was fascinating and was the foundation for their developing relationship. It was a slow burn and needed to be, which suited my sensibilities.
I don’t know what it is about this series but I’m forever hooked and drawn into the stories. Watching Emery stand up for herself and recognizing Dallas’s merits was empowering. There were other issues going on involving Dallas’s biological father, Emery’s parents and her former job. I liked how it all connected with both characters’ growth and enlightenment. There’s also a nice surprise related to Aiyana that was an added bonus. This was a wonderful story for the beginning of my holiday season. Even though there are many uneasy moments, the strength and resilience of this family seems to always override the conflicts. I switched to the audio format after the first book and am still enjoying the narrator. She’s a good storyteller and delivers a strong performance.
Book Info
- Release Date: October 13, 2020
- Series: Silver Springs #7
- Narrator: Veronica Worthington
- Audio Length: 11 hours, 15 minutes
- Publisher: Harlequin Audio
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(Thanks to Harlequin Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Blue Mood Café 
Yes, I am loving this series too
Gill
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Yay, it’s not just me! Glad you’re enjoying it too, Gill.
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I pretty much always love her books. This one sounds really good. 🙂
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It really is, Lorilin. There’s a lot more going on in the story but I don’t like revealing much.
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Can they be read as stand-alones, or must I read the series from the start? And I’m thinking (again) about my sister, who would love this series.
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This one stands alone very well as neither of the main characters have ever appeared before. The first book in the series gives the backstory of the family but it’s explained pretty well in this one.
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Oh, now that I can work with. I’m looking for reads that are more standalone as I have way too many series on the go at the moment. Like my current read. Thanks, Jo!
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I love the themes you described in this one!
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Family rings strongly in this one.
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I love that! 😍
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I love this series too. I skimmed as I have it on reserve at the library but I don’t like to read these until after Thanksgiving so I didn’t want to make the publisher wait.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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You’re going to enjoy this one, Anne!
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Sounds like a great series! I really like it when the characters go through a lot of growth. I’m glad there are now laws that protect victims of these vile and cowardly crimes. Great review, Jonetta!💜💜💜
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Thank you, Toni💜 It’s a wonderful series! Both characters evolve rather dramatically but authentically.
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Sounds like another marvelous series, Jonetta! So glad you loved this book.
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Thank you, Marialyce💜 Novak is one of my favorite romance writers. Her stories are always layered.
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This sounds like a wonderful series. I’m getting in the mood for some holiday reads so I’ll have to check this one out!
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I love this series, Suzanne. However, this one stands alone very well.
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Great review Jonetta. I wanted to wait until I finished it before reading your review. I liked how it all pulled together, but I really wanted more Christmas. To me, it was a family drama/romance that just happened to be set at Christmas time. I did enjoy it though.
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Thanks, Carla💜 I’m so used to Novak’s writing style that it never occurred to me that she’d write a lighter story. I can see how this wouldn’t have delivered more on the Christmas angle.
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