"Learning to Like Yourself Is a Huge Task"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted March 26, 2014
Romance
Welcome back to Whiskey Creek in number six of Brenda
Novak's series that takes place in a somewhat-small, quiet
town with residents you will definitely come to know and
love. In COME HOME TO ME, I got the chance to catch up with
some of my favorite people--oops characters--Cheyenne and
Dylan from book two, When Snow Falls. As is the case in any
of Novak's series, each stands on its own merit, but I would
be remiss in not saying that I have read each and every one
of the Whiskey Creek series and loved every page.
COME HOME TO ME is no exception. Brenda Novak takes time to
remind us that her characters come with a past, but with the
strength she imbibes in them, they manage to land on their
feet--which is no small feat--no pun intended.
The last we knew about Presley Christenson was that she left
Whiskey Creek with her tail between her legs. She had been
mortified to admit that her relationship with Aaron Amos,
one of the bad boy Amos brothers, was a strictly one-sided
infatuation. No matter that she had done everything possible
to throw herself at this man, he made it crystal clear she
didn't hold a place in his heart. Presley knew all along
that Aaron pitied her and felt badly about how difficult her
life had been. But there came a time when his pity shamed
her. Her opinion of herself was in the gutter, thanks to her
mother Anita. Presley knew nothing about normal or nurturing
families. Hers had been a study in dysfunctional.
So for two years Presley licked her wounds, lived away from
the only place she had known, and apart from the only
person who really cared about her, her sister Cheyenne.
Cheyenne and her husband Dylan knew that it was important
for Presley to get her act together. But the real catalyst
in Presley's recovery was the birth of her son Wyatt.
Wyatt gave her someone to love with her whole heart and who
loved her back unconditionally. Her baby didn't see the girl
who made bad decisions with her life. Wyatt saw her through
the eyes of a child, and for once in her life, Presley
shined.
Her decision to return to Whiskey Creek wasn't without
reservations. But she knew this was the place to bring up
her son, and even if she had to face people whose memories
of her were less than gracious or complimentary, it was all
about Wyatt. But moving back meant coming face-to-face with
the man who had dismissed her feelings several years ago,
and now she has an even more important reason to keep her
distance.
Presley's self image was tarnished. She can't appreciate how
her image has changed after taking control of her life.
She's reluctant to accept any praise, especially from the
one man who had made her run. But the heart doesn't always
have the sense to protect itself from additional hurt and
pain. And while making amends and facing down her demons,
Presley finds herself once again attracted to the one man
with the ability to cut her back down to size.
The problem with small towns is that is it practically
impossible to avoid running into people, and running into
Aaron has become a somewhat daily occurrence for Presley.
The question is whether or not it is by accident or if Aaron
has some ulterior motive for keeping Presley in his sights.
The game is on and the prize couldn't be higher.
When I started COME HOME TO ME I questioned just how Brenda
Novak was going to get past all the ever present angst.
These characters had so much baggage it seemed as if there
could never be an amicable solution. I didn't give Novak
the credit she so richly deserves. Time-and-time again
Novak treats us to a story that compels us to stick around
for what is surely going to be a rewarding end. But in a
Whiskey Creek novel we also know that we will meet up
with these characters again and be treated to a view into
their new lives. I've already got number seven on my reading
bucket list.
SUMMARY
Home is where her heart is When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her
little boy after two years away, she has completely changed
her life. She's made peace with her past and overcome the
negative behavior that resulted from her difficult
childhood. Now she's back in the small town that was the
closest thing to "home" she ever knew—the town where she can
be with the sister who's her only family. There's just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey
Creek, at least until he moves to Reno to open a branch of
the Amos brothers' auto body shop. And no matter how hard
she's tried, Presley hasn't been able to get over him.
Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she
hopes she can get through the next few months, because she
can't fall back into his arms…or his bed. She's come too far
to backslide now. And there's a secret she's been guarding—a
secret she'll do anything to protect.
What do you think about this review?
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