Series:
Tuttle Sisters of Coho Cove (Book 1)
When two friends rediscover one another…
It might be for keeps.
Natalie Tuttle fled her hometown -- and its humiliations
-- for big-city life. When she must return after her mother falls ill, the last
person she wants to see is Jaxon Stringfellow, the one-time friend who
shattered her heart. But military veteran Jax is so much more than the boy he
once was. And he's coming to terms with his own demons. Can Nat grant him the
forgiveness he seeks…and so much more?
Terrific story about two people with painful pasts who
find peace, healing, and love when they return to their hometown. Natalie shook
the dust of Coho Cove from her shoes as soon as she graduated from high school.
The painful memories of those years still haunt her, especially the one
betrayal that broke her heart. When she returns to help her sisters care for
their mother, Jax is the last person she wants to see.
Jax also left town after graduation and joined the
military, returning home a changed man. Thanks to his PTSD, he craves solitude
and spends most of his time in his studio. Years of therapy and hard work have
helped somewhat. He is still haunted by his mistake with Natalie and hopes her
return will allow him to finally apologize.
I loved watching the relationship develop between Natalie
and Jax. A stunned Natalie listens to Jax as he apologizes despite her
lingering anger and hurt. She never expected that to happen. I loved watching
them reconnect and rekindle their friendship and then see that friendship grow
into more. I loved how they understood each other and their traumas and how the
depth of that understanding intensified their connection. The scene after Jax's
nightmare was incredibly moving, and his reaction was heart-wrenching. On the
other hand, I loved Jax's support when Natalie encountered the bullies of her
teen years and how that helped her put that past behind her. But as their
feelings for each other deepen there are obstacles to overcome, such as her
work in LA and his need for the peace of their small town. I loved how they
faced their fears, looking deep inside themselves to understand what had
changed and what they wanted moving forward. The ending was terrific; I hope to
see more of them in future books.
The secondary characters were fantastic, showing the
importance and complexities of family. Because of her flight from home and
reluctance to return, Natalie's relationships with her mother and sisters are
strained and complicated. Her mother's stroke has changed her. Gone is the
polished woman who did everything possible to enhance her husband's military
career. In her place is someone who is blunt and not much interested in what
other people think. Natalie's sisters, Amy and Celeste, have been carrying the
load and aren't shy about sharing that it's Natalie's turn. Jax's sister,
Sheida, was fantastic. I loved her caring nature and how it comes out with her
work, friends, and family. She worries about Jax and constantly fusses at him
about not getting out. She also tries to fix him up with random women. She's
excited when Natalie comes home and wants her to stay, so she tries to match Natalie
with her male friends.
I enjoyed reading about Natalie's background as a
military kid. As a Marine junior and Marine wife, I am familiar with the
challenges of a transient lifestyle, and Natalie's story hit home. It isn't
always easy to make friends as a child or adult, and I ached for Natalie and
her high school experience. I could also identify with her memories of the
benefits of her travels. Her comment about trips to Munich and Paris from
Stuttgart, Germany, resonated with me because I currently live in Stuttgart,
and the travel opportunities have been incredible. The culture shock from
Europe to a tiny American town made Natalie's transition much more difficult.
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