What’s interesting about this series is the stories span genres…mystery, suspense, paranormal, romance…and time (historical and contemporary). Since many, but not all, have romantic elements, the heat level is a spectrum from sweet to spicy to hot.
Willow Springs is in the Mad River Valley of Vermont. All the stories revolve around the townsfolk and visitors. Each story has at least one character staying as a guest at the Deerbourne Inn, a rustic, renovated B&B in the middle of town. There is no need to read them all in order. I’ve jumped around. Each story is its own. But as you read more, you may have little moments like me where you go “Ah! I remember him/her from the other book.” Each story adds flavors and layers and depth to this town.
P.S. I enjoyed researching for my own book in the series. For a few pictures from the Mad River Glen hop over here.
I’ll keep updating this page as more books are released. Without further ado, may I present the Deerbourne Inn:
Note: My own sexy scale is indicated: [sweet - behind close doors, sexy/spicy - love scenes, or hot - very detailed love scenes]
The first book in the series sets us up with the Inn, and we learn about its owner, Nate, a former NYC chef. Along comes a mysterious woman searching for clues to her past. And…there is a mysterious arsonist among the townsfolk! HIGHLIGHTS: Lovely set-up, and mouth-watering meals! A wee bit of mystery tossed in.
Hope’s Dream (Peggy Jaeger): [Romance, Sweet]
A delightful winter cozy! Hope lives in town and works the ski slopes and at a bar to take care of her ill mother, though medical bills prevent Hope from pursing her career dreams. Along comes lawyer Tyler, who needs to get her to sign some estate papers that would be a windfall of income to Hope. Love strikes, and the more he is with her, the more muddled his situation gets (he hasn’t exactly told her the reason why he is in town). Well, you guessed it! Love. HIGHLIGHTS: I enjoyed Ms. Jaeger’s writing style and the sweet, slow burning romance that built up between Hope and Tyler. The imagery made me envision the crisp, powdery slopes of Vermont and warm cozy firesides.
Freedom’s Path (Linda Carroll-Bradd): [Historical Romance, Sweet]
This is the first (I hope of many) historicals in the series. 1855. Freedom-fighter Sidonie works as a maid at the Inn. An Army Corporal, Colin, comes to town under the guise of salesman to root out abolitionists. The cause is personal to Sidonie, as her grandmother escaped bondage years ago. Love builds between these two, opposites, but Colin has an empathetic heart. Then another slave-hunter comes town. Will Sidonie be caught? Will Colin turn her in if he learns of her involvement? HIGHLIGHTS: I enjoyed the suspense, Sidonie’s bravery (she hangs special quilts as “code” to other abolitionists), and the spark between her and Colin. This book was a pleasure to read and I liked the ending.
Spirited Quest (Julie Howard): [Paranormal, Sweet]
Paige runs the town newspaper, a dying art, and she is still figuring out what to do with her life in the wake of a divorce. In her early-50’s, she has spunk and a strong personality. Her niece, an acclaimed blogger and “ghost whisperer” comes to town to visit with the Inn’s local ghost. This story is paranormal meets suspenseful mystery (is the ghost real? Is somebody stalking her niece? Is she in danger?). HIGHLIGHTS: I loved the perspective of Paige and that she never really believed in this ghost nonsense. Well-polished writing kept me turning the pages.
Lyrical Embrace (Amber Daulton): [Romance, Sexy/Hot]
Erica is on the run from an abusive ex in NYC, with a load of his cash in her bag, and her violin at her side. The last thing she wants is a romance. Enter Dylan, former rockstar and player. But Dylan wants a quiet life back home in Vermont, teaching kids music. Sparks fly fast with these two. Enter trouble: has her ex found her? Is Erica ever going to be safe and find a happy ending? HIGHLIGHTS: I liked that Dylan was not your typical bad-boy. This story is hot and heavy, but well-written and believable. I liked the secondary character development as well.
Not sure I feel justified to review my own work! A quick summary: Charlotte is haunted by a past: a sister lost on a hiking adventure but her friend persuades her for a week away in VT to rest, not dwell on a mistake. She blames herself and her lying/cheating ex-husband. Matiu is aching to return his restless spirit back home to New Zealand, and works many jobs in town to pinch pennies. Neither are looking for love but both can’t deny their attraction and shared love of the outdoors. When the Search & Rescue team falls ill and a snow storm blows in, can Charlotte help Matiu on a rescue? Will love help her summit one last peak? HIGHLIGHTS: Flavors of Matiu’s Maori upbringing and a fun story for outdoor enthusiasts (hiking, kayaking).
Caitlyn is in town visiting her friend, while on a year-long “holiday” trying to find herself and avoid going home to California in the wake of a bad break-up. Corey is a wholesome (adorable!) young widower. The two have an instant (well, they try to deny it) connection. Their romance is believable and enjoyable. Is Corey ready to move on, and can love keep Caitlyn in town? HIGHLIGHTS: I enjoyed both characters’ backstories (Caitlyn is Chinese-American and let’s just say she gets this widower to dust off his dancing shoes to help her in a special Lion Dance). I learned a bit about this important ceremonial dance and I adored Corey. This is another hotter romance when it comes to love scenes.
Sam’s fiancé dumped her days before their wedding and she’s looking for an escape from her too-serious, too-predictable life in NYC as a lawyer. Enter her “honeymoon” for one in Vermont at Christmas, a broken down car in the snow, and a ruggedly reclusive dairy farmer named Jed. These two can’t fight their attraction, but with Jed’s painful past and her own secret, can these two get their act together for a HEA? Can Sam say goodbye to the routine and start anew in small-town VT? HIGHLIGHTS: The fresh, first person/present tense style by the author really highlights the voice of the characters, brings them to life on the page. I loved Sam’s candidness and Jed’s sincerity (Ah, a hot, sensitive farmer!). The love scenes are sexy but not too hot. A fresh, keep you in your seat read!
Witches’ Cliff (Peggy Chambers): [Paranormal, Sweet]
Penny’s returned to town after leaving with her mother after her birth and the stigma of being witches. She descends from a family of witches and lives in Salem, MA. On the heels of a marriage proposal she is uncertain about (he’s a bit slimy), she comes to town to seek guidance of a different kind…from an ancestor. This requires climbing the Witches’ Cliff (where witches were tried and tossed off) on Halloween and summoning her great-many times over-grandmother. Oh, there’s also a handsome electrician who has eyes for her and another local witch she is skeptical about: is she friend or foe? HIGHLIGHTS: I enjoyed the paranormal elements, Penny’s down-to earth attitude, and the overall story line.
Mystic Maples (Tena Stetler): [Paranormal, Sexy]
I enjoyed digging deeper into the mystical history of Willow Springs. Mercy is a modern day witch with unique ties to the land and flowers (I love flowers!), who travels to Willow Springs to get away from some bad stuff life threw at her in Colorado. Sil is a local maple harvester in Willow Springs who has a tarnished family tree filled with treachery, witches, gypsies, and fae/faeries. Toss in time travel, and it's a sexy story of romance, family, and maple syrup. HIGHLIGHTS: paranormal elements and a spicy farmer.
I liked the concept of this book right off the bat...a gal who left her sleepy, cold New England town for a bigger sunny career and life in Miami...but work calls her back home. Stephanie and Donald hit the ground running with sparks: from former childhood buddies to a blooming adult romance. And Donald's a charming librarian to boot! This is a great summer read to load into your Kindle. Bring it poolside! HIGHLIGHTS: A sexy librarian.
Love Proof (Luanna Stewart): [Romance, Sexy]
Fiona is a bakery shop owner (oh so many sweets in this one!). In comes Raynor, her former high school classmate/crush/and oh, yeah, she did something awful back in the day that tarnished his rep. And he doesn’t know SHE Is the one behind it all. The sweetness piles up when these two get closer while he is in town, he garners a new job as a photojournalist, and has to highlight her bakery. Engaging, great voice, and kept me turning the pages. Delicious baked goods (and sexy scenes) made me want to go home and bake something! HIGHLIGHTS: So much bakery yumminess. Made me hungry!
History and science meet with the finding of a mammoth tusk in the Green Mountains. The Bean and Pea? Well, that has to do with a Twelfth Night king and queen celebration at the Deerbourne Inn. Toss in a gentle, sweet principal (Stephen) and a humbly-raised cop (Meghan), budding friendships, planning, and a small-town mystery as they celebrate the Christmas holidays and decide what to do with this massive museum find in the woods of sleepy Vermont. HIGHLIGHTS: A mammoth tusk (cool!) and a lesson on Twelfth Night.
A very hot read. Skylar's car breaks down in Willow Springs and she happens to run into her old fame, Cameron, who is as hot as ever and now an accomplished author. Sparks fly immediately and these two pick up where they left off. But resentment bubbles beneath the surface about how their highly physical courtship 14 years ago ended. Both have matured, but both have their own lives: hers far away from Vermont, his he can pick up anywhere and move but the small town is now his home. Do they have what it takes to rekindle that flame...but for the long haul? HIGHLIGHTS: Autumn in Vermont!
I liked Brianna and Kyle right away. Both seemed down to earth and found a kindred friendship in exploring Willow Springs, night photography, and friendship together while spending a Thanksgiving away in the homey small town. Both need an escape: Brianna from an ex and her family’s meddling, and Kyle from the rush of fame. But will Brianna pull away when she learns of Kyle’s fame? She’s been hurt before and still needs to work through healing a broken and betrayed heart. HIGHLIGHTS: Starlight walks, photography, natural chemistry of the two leads.
A sweet romance between Tad (the mechanic/garage owner we’ve encountered in numerous previous books), widower with twin 4-year-old girls, and Ciara, military nurse home on leave. Can they rekindle the romance they’d left years ago when she left? Matchmakers abound: the twins, Tad’s mother, Ciara’s great aunt Noelle. I enjoyed this cozy, sweet romance, just in time for the Christmas season. HIGHLIGHTS: Christmas events, sweet twins, spunky matchmaking great aunt, and a up front story line for one of the town staple characters.
My Past, Your Future (Gabbi Grey): [Romance, Erotic Romance, Hot]
Ms. Grey lured me in with her polished voice and vivid storytelling as a Civil War ghost and modern day history professor fall in love. In this m/m romance, Scottish Callum is visiting Willow Springs and sees the ghost, a former slave/Civil War soldier named Elijah inhabiting (haunting?) the town cemetery—Callum is the first person ever to see Elijah since his death. They spend a snow storm and hot night together. Is Elijah reappearing in his human form? Find out. HIGHLIGHTS: history, vivid writing, compelling characters (I loved both the Scottish vernacular of Callum, and Elijah’s 1800’s dialect). Note: the heat level is hot level. Not my usual, but I did enjoy Grey's storytelling and writing and found that compelling, plus her take on ghosts was interesting.
He is Watching (Denise Carbo): [Suspense, Romance, Sweet]
Where to go when you have a stalker haunting your every move? Julie gets "out of Dodge" (alright, Boston...) and just drives, until she finds herself in my favorite (fictional) small town in Vermont: Willow Springs. She meets charming Joe and quickly finds herself feeling safer and protected by him and other small town folk. But is it enough when her stalker shows up? HIGHLIGHTS: Suspense with a sweet twist.
