I don't know why I always skipped this one when reading the series. It was quite good.

Tropes: character on the run, widowed MC, single parent

Content: remembering abusive marriage and murder

4 Stars ( )

Eden is on the run, at first we don't know from who or what or why, we know only that it is imperative that she and her young child get to their destination, she needs a safe place to hide out but we don't know why. Car trouble and lack of money to fix it leave her in desperate circumstances. Stranded on a bitter cold night with only the clothes on her back and nobody to turn to for help.

Her luck turns when she is offered a job of caring for a woman who recently had an accident, but as she begins to settle in and almost feel safe with this family they are suspecting that she is hiding a troubles past and some dangerous secrets.

This book is the first in what looks to be a promising series. I can picture this in my mind as one of those Lifetime holiday movies, it would be perfect for it. If you enjoy a little suspense and action mixed in with your romance this is the book for you.
I received a copy from Book Look Bloggers for review ( )

4.5 stars.

With Falling Like Snowflakes, Denise Hunter's Summer Harbor series is off to a delightful beginning. Centered around the Callahan brothers, this first novel in the series perfectly blends romance and intrigue when Beau hires mysterious newcomer Eden Martelli to help out around the house while his aunt recovers from a broken leg.

Eden and her young son, Micah, are fleeing for their lives when her car breaks down in Summer Harbor. When they become stranded after her money is stolen, she is desperate for a place to stay and although she is out of her element, she gratefully accepts Beau's job offer. With their lives at risk, she is afraid to trust anyone but herself and she skillfully dodges Beau's questions about herself. Eden's stubbornness puts everyone at risk when Beau begins secretly looking for answers about her past.

Finding out the truth about Eden is just one of the problems Beau is facing. His relationship with his girlfriend Paige is a little unsettled and things between them become even more strained after he meets Eden. A shocking announcement from his brother, Riley, adds to his stress and the rift between them continues to widen.

The romance between Eden and Beau is slow growing and there are many obstacles for them to overcome when they unexpectedly fall in love. It takes a while for Beau to work through his emotions and arrive at a decision about his relationship with Paige. Eden's tumultuous past has left her with little desire to enter into a relationship of any kind and her trust issues make it nearly impossible for her to discuss what happened prior to her arrival in town. Resolving her immediate problems is just the beginning of the healing process for Eden and much to Beau's dismay, a future together remains far from certain.

Falling Like Snowflakes is a charming romance with appealing characters and a gentle undercurrent of faith. Denise Hunter skillfully weaves all of the various elements into a realistic story that is fast-paced and quite engaging. A wonderful introduction to the Callahan brothers that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next novel in the Summer Harbor series. ( )

The biggest problem with this novel is that it is too much like other novels where the abused wife is on the run - the book even references "Safe Haven" by Nicholas Sparks. It got in the way of my enjoyment of the story - it just felt too cliche. ( )

I really enjoyed this sweet romance. While the storyline isn't made up of the most original idea, it was written in a way that had me wanting to turn the pages. Like most contemporary romance, the outcome is easily enough predicted, but it is that sweet ride that I love so much, and the ride was wonderful. I love these characters, and couldn't hope for them to be any more than they are. ( )