the setup…
Romance writer Wren Jensen returns to hometown Colton Valley, Iowa with her four-year old son after being left at the altar. It’s been about twenty years since she left for Boise and now the small town change of pace seems a perfect balm for her broken heart. She buys a small farmhouse adjacent to that owned by committed bachelor Hunter McCrae who had his own plans for that property. While they get off on the wrong foot so to speak, that soon changes as the two find themselves unable to ignore their simmering attraction.
the heart of the story…
Wren is also having writer’s block until she decides to write her developing feelings about Hunter in a daily journal. I liked how she immersed herself into her new life, resurrecting old friendships and exposing son Atticus to life in the country. Hunters bonding to the boy came more easily than his with Wren and I liked their relationship. But their shift from zero to warp speed in a nanosecond seemed to come out of nowhere and felt off.
the narration…
I’m a long time fan of Natalie Naudus with her silky warm tone and excellent storytelling skills. She captured Wren perfectly. Lee Samuel’s’ baritone fit Hunter just as nicely, too.
the bottom line…
I liked the bones of this story, the small town girl who finds success in the big city and later returns home with a young son to mend her broken heart. Hunter’s relationship with Atticus was endearing and I loved that aspect. But it was the romance that felt uneven for me, making it harder to connect. However, it’s still a lovely story with some interesting conflicts.
Book Info
- Release Date: March 24, 2026
- Narrators: Lee Samuels & Natalie Naudus
- Audio Length: 8 hours, 2 minutes
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
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