Serenity Harbor Series: Haven Point #6 on June 27, 2017
Pages: 384
Purchase: Amazon
Add to Goodreads
Also in this series: Snow Angel Cove, Redemption Bay, Evergreen Springs, Riverbend Road, Snowfall on Haven Point, Sugar Pine Trail, The Cottages on Silver Beach
In the town of Haven Point, love can be just a wish — and one magical kiss — away…
Computer-tech millionaire Bowie Callahan is about the last person that schoolteacher Katrina Bailey wants to work for. As far as she can see, he’s arrogant, entitled and not up to the task of caring for his young half brother, Milo. But Kat is, especially if it brings her closer to her goal of adopting an orphaned little girl. And as her kindness and patience work wonders with Milo, she realises there’s more to sexy, wary Bo.
Bo never imagined he’d be tasked with caring for a sibling he didn’t know existed. Then again, he never pictured himself impulsively kissing vibrant, compassionate Katrina in the moonlight. Now he’s ready to make her dream of family come true…and hoping there’s room in it for him, too…
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
Review
Katrina and Bo’s story fits the Haven Point series vibe well: it’s sweet rather than spicy, with characters you can care about in a small town you’d love to be a part of. This time around, young Milo steals the show. Thayne is great at writing kids who tug at your heartstrings, and Milo is charming despite his challenges (he is autistic and initially nonverbal.) Kat is a natural with him, a primary-school teacher who has a soft spot for, and training in working with, children with special needs. I liked Kat a lot, especially her fierce love for the Columbian child she wants to adopt. To be honest, she’s such a great young woman that I had a little difficulty buying into her insecurities, even though her backstory made them plausible.
It took me several chapters to warm up to Bo, but as I saw more of his commitment to Milo and his own backstory, I came to really like him as well. He’s stuck in a difficult situation between his job and the challenges of caring for his previously unknown brother, and he hasn’t yet figured out what and how he needs to change–but you know he’ll do his best.
I’m not quite sure what it was that didn’t pull me in as deeply as some of the previous books in the series. It may simply be that I was sick (literally) when I read it. And I don’t mean that I didn’t enjoy it, because I certainly did, just not quite as much as, say, Snow Angel Cove or Riverbend Road. Call it a 3.5 instead of a 4 – enjoyable, warm, and comforting. (And bear in mind that I rarely give 5 stars to anything unless it’s truly amazing, or I’ve re-read it multiple times; 3.5 stars means I liked it very much.)
There’s another Haven Point story coming out in time for Christmas, and I’m already looking forward to it. It features town librarian Julia Winston and another of the Caine siblings, Jamie. (Brother Aidan starred in the first Haven Point book, and several other Caines are featured in the earlier Hope’s Crossing series.) RaeAnne Thayne writes wonderful Christmas romances, so I’m sure it, too, will be delightful!
About RaeAnne Thayne
RaeAnne Thayne majored in journalism and worked as a reporter, then an editor, before she began writing fiction. She now writes full-time, and lives in the mountains of northern Utah with her family.
kimbacaffeinate
Despite not being a favorite, I do like the sound of this and the series. I have book one on my TBR pile. Lovely review.
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Ash and Quill by Rachel Caine
Lark_Bookwyrm
Oh, yes, I did enjoy it, and only slightly less than the ones I like the best. I always look forward to her books!