A mountain country town is the setting for the fourth story in the Colorado Grooms series. Addie Ricci is restoring an old family B&B in the town of Westbend, Colorado, and her two-year-old son may be a blessing but is a serious inconvenience when sanders, chemicals, and paint are involved. No way she can get everything done in time. HER HIDDEN HOPE turns out to be the unexpected arrival of Evan Hawke.
Colorado seems like a generous, larger than life place, where weather and time chew away at woodwork, and much friendly effort goes into keeping buildings in good shape. Evan is home briefly to patch up and sell his late mother’s house. He is surprised to meet his high-school girlfriend, the lovely Addie, now twenty-six, divorced, and starting her business. Their parents split them up a decade ago, right after bull-rider Evan lost a foot. They lost touch in the aftermath and now have a chance to reconnect over shared redecorating. But Addie has a secret Evan doesn’t know about, and she’s got to live in agony over telling or not telling.
Quite a few bouncy characters fill the pages. Addie Ricci is Filipina-American, and even though it’s not alluded to in the story, her parents might have been more worried for her than if she wasn’t from a minority background. They brought her up as best they could, to be hardworking and consider others, but were also extremely strict and expected obedience. This doesn’t always pay. Addie is clearly devoted to her son, Sawyer, making up for his dropout dad who doesn’t grace the pages. She’s a credit to her town – but just once I’d like to see the absent father made to contribute to the child’s keep. A young woman should not have to do all this herself. And Sawyer keeps his mom on her toes as he gets into everything.
A gorgeous addition is the Golden Retriever on the cover, Evan’s dog Belay, who didn’t make the grade as a guide dog but has the instinct to care for her partly-disabled person. I also love the local mechanic Charlie, who shares business tips with her friends. Author Jill Lynn refers to other series characters, so readers may be interested in seeing how they’re getting on. If you’re a new reader, just enjoy this heart-warming story of choices made and not made, of bad days overcome and new beginnings. HER HIDDEN HOPE is a family-friendly summer read for everyone who loves romance.
With only two weeks to renovate her family’s Colorado B and B, struggling single mom Addie Ricci can’t turn away help. Especially not when it’s her handsome high school sweetheart, Evan Hawke, who’s offering to pitch in. As they repair the B and B, Addie and Evan also begin rebuilding their relationship…until a secret from their past threatens to bring it all crashing down.
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