🏔️📰 “Her Alaskan Return” (Serenity Peak #1) (2023) 📰 🏔️ – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

Series: Serenity Peak (Book #1)
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: Love Inspired Books (March 28, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN: 133558563X
ISBN-13: 978-1335585639
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“To truly come home,

 

She must face the reason she left…

 

Moving back to her Alaskan hometown was an easy decision for soon-to-be-single mom Autumn Hines. It’s the perfect place to raise her baby. When her path crosses that of her old flame, widowed fisherman Judah Campbell, new sparks are ignited. There’s just one thing standing in their way: Autumn has a secret. Revealing it could set them free, but can she find the courage to speak the truth?”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Belle Calhoune, for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

 

Belle Calhoune has a wonderful way of delivering beautiful stories of second chances, dramatic backgrounds, heart-breaking loss, and uplifting romance.

 

This is seemingly the second book in her Serenity Peak series, and about the third of her Love Inspired books I’ve read, though I have quite a few on my TBR list. I’ve also read her Forever published book, No Ordinary Christmas. I have the other two books from her Mistletoe, Maine series on the TBR as well.

 

What’s interesting; is that the book prior to this is labeled as book #1, though it is connected to her HOME TO OWL CREEK series as well. One of the characters from that series, Ace Reynolds is only mentioned in this book.

 

However, this truly acts as a standalone book.

 

Calhoune introduces us to:

 

🎣 Judah

📰 Autumn

✳️ Cecily (Autumn’s sister)

🦪 Sean (Autumn’s brother, friends with Judah, owner of restaurant)

✳️ Leif (Judah’s brother)

🚓 Ryan (Leif’ son, police officer)

 

Along with other members of the community.

 

Even though this is an uplifting and clean read; there are references to infidelity (prior to the story), infertility (endometriosis), addiction to pain killers (prior to the story), child death (prior to the story). These might be a bit problematic for some readers.

 

Slight spoiler: at one point, to celebrate what would’ve been his son’s birthday, Judah releases some balloons. This is a TOUCHY and VERY SENSITIVE topic with some people given the impact to wildlife as well as environmental dangers from such. There are people who want to ban balloons (release, sales, and possession to combat this issue. I am definitely not taking a stance on this. I do believe it is a sensitive topic. As of note, I still have my balloon from Disneyland’s 60^th anniversary. It was brought home with me, deflated naturally and packed in a box with my memorabilia. They can be preserved responsibly.

 

That said ...

 

Calhoune starts off with Judah and his work – fishing. [Note: don’t read when hungry].

 

After he dismisses his crew, he sees someone in the bad weather needing help. It’s his ex-sweetheart Autumn. Naturally, in the 12 years since they’ve been a couple – their lives have been altered. Judah, four years earlier, lost his wife Mary and son Zane in a car accident. And, given Mary’s past, some rumors circulated regarding her. This has put him at odds with some of his family and some members of the community.

 

And, he’s also at odds with how Autumn left him. Though he can’t leave the poor pregnant lady out in the bad weather.

 

But, he takes her to his place to get dry before taking her to her sister’s place.

 

Judah learns that Autumn is divorced and returned to raise her baby there. She’s grown to love small towns after living in New York. [I can relate. I thought I’d love a big city, as I get older – not so much.]

 

Of course, their reunion is brief and he takes her home. Cecily is waiting for her sister and remarks about eating crab every day. I had to set the book down, I was getting hungry. I, like Cecily, could eat crab every day. I miss the days of $3.99/lb snow crab and $7.99/lb king crab. I mean, it’s just SO good!

 

Moving on …

 

In addition to her assignment on the fishing industry, Autumn is worried about her pregnancy given her past medical issues – the reason she left Judah in the first place. Her doctor gives her a clean bill.

 

Judah also has his own worries, in a way – the federal investigation in the allegations about the industry. He’s lost so much, and is only holding on because of his business.

 

Judah finds out about Autumn’s assignment by accident, but he eventually helps her. But, being around her reminds him of what he lost; yet being around her helps him heal as well.

 

It’s clear he wants to move on, but is stuck in the past. Part of it has to do with his brother Leif.

 

Like always – there is going to be the “break up to make up” part of the book. (I LOVE that song by The Stylistics).

 

Calhoune fills the story with themes of resiliency, faith, finding oneself, forgiveness, and grace typical of the line and genre.

 

She keeps the reader’s attention from beginning to end. And, I say that because I was really drawn right in and kept reading this off and on within a day. The pacing was absolute perfection – not too slow that I felt I needed to read ahead, but it didn’t feel like it was being rushed either.

 

My “reading” pace was on par with house I used to read about 21 years ago with the Intrigue line. And, speaking of intrigue, I do have to admit that I was SLIGHTLY disappointed with the fraud arc of the story. I was expecting a bit more than a “blurb” to it as I wanted to know who was behind it, why – those things. I felt there was a deeper story there and wanted a bit more to add to the dynamic. Perhaps Calhoune will revisit this in future stories.  

 

Other than that, I absolutely ADORED the book.

 

This has the “Hallmark movie” vibe to it. Which isn’t surprising. One of the author’s Love Inspired books was made into a Hallmark movie.

 

There is a term some might find offensive, but is 100% accurate – GERIATRIC PREGNANCY. This refers to a pregnancy where the woman is over 35, as Calhoune explains in the book. I actually learned about it about 10-12 years ago when a mutual friend was pregnant and she was over 35. Her pregnancy was fine, but we all had a laugh over the terminology.

 

Calhoune expertly balanced the tragedy and second-chance romance. Fans of the author and genre are sure to enjoy this, and I know I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

 

Even though this is from the faith-themed line of Harlequin, the references are slight and not overwhelming. It doesn’t feel like the author is preaching to the reader.

 

 

 

RATING:

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update) https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Belle Calhoune grew up in a small town in Massachusetts as one of five children. Married to her college sweetheart, she is raising two lovely daughters in Connecticut. A dog lover, she has one mini poodle named Copper and a black lab, Beau. Writing for the Love Inspired line is a dream come true. Working at home in her pajamas is one of the best perks of the job. Belle enjoys summers in Cape Cod, traveling, and reading.

 

 

She can be found on the following social media networks:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellecalhounebooks

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellecalhoune/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BelleCalhoune

 

Website: https://bellecalhoune.com/

 

 

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