Strawberry Hill by Catherine Anderson – Review & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
As a camp cook, Vickie Brown loves feeding any size crowd in the great outdoors–with one notable exception. She never would have predicted she’d join the crew led by gruff cowboy Slade Wilder, the man who broke her heart just days before their wedding.

Life has gone on since Vickie left him, but Slade can admit his attraction to the one woman he’s ever loved remains stronger than ever. If he wasn’t in such desperate need of an experienced cook for his paying guests, he would send Vickie packing. He knows better than to seek out the company of the woman who broke off their engagement so many years ago.

Except there’s no escaping each other in the confines of the wilderness area, especially once their anger begins to soften in the shared close quarters. But after Vickie finds the courage to confront Slade, it will take a leap of faith for them to put their past behind him, even if it’s the only way to recapture their once-in-a-lifetime love

 

 

 

Review:

Strawberry Hill by Catherine Anderson is the 5^th book in her Mystic Creek series. Each one of the books in this series usually centers on two couples; one being an older couple.  In Strawberry Hill, the older couple is the main couple, though early on in the book, it seemed to be focused on the younger couple.  I was surprised, especially since the younger couple was centered   more at the start of the book, and the official description doesn’t even mention them.

We meet Erin, a new cop, who is sent by her commanding officer to make sure riders are following the rules.  She comes across Wyatt, a rancher, whom she finds out later works for her uncle, Slade, whom we met in the prologue, which took place 40 years earlier when he was rescuing a baby bear.   Unbeknownst to Erin, when she tries to question Wyatt, he rides on ignoring her.  She later finds out that he is deaf, and slowly after a bad start they become friends, with a common bond to help her uncle. 

At this point, they become the back story, and Slade Wilder takes center stage, trying to hire a cook for his ranch.  When Slade meets his new cook, Vickie Brown, to his chagrin, he recognizes her as the girl who broke his heart 40 years ago, whom he never forgot.    Vickie came to the Wilder Ranch to confront Slade about his ignoring her letters years before, telling him she was pregnant and now is determined to confront him with the truth about his son. 

What follows is a nice romance about  a couple that never has forgotten their love years before, and in a short time the chemistry  between them comes flooding back, but first they need to resolve the misunderstandings from the past that cost them all those years.   Vickie had left Slade when she find out he slept with a friend, which he denied, but she had proof.  When she sent him three letters about his son, she went on with her life til now.  Slade was upset that she didn’t tell him; despite her saying he ignored her letters.  They will discover the truth about the sabotages to their relationship, and who was responsible.  Will they find a way 40 years later to stay together and  resume their love for each other?

It was a nice romance of a likeable older couple, and Vickie was a riot pulling pranks on Slade.  I did keep waiting for the continuation of Erin and Wyatt.  I really enjoyed the glimpses of the bear (the baby he nursed back to health all those years ago), as this was a fun part of the story, as some of the bear’s antics were hilarious.

Catherine Anderson once again gives us a wonderful story that was very well written.  I suggest if you have not read the Mystic Creek series, you need to do so soon and start with the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Catherine’s publisher, Berkley, is offering a paper copy of STRAWBERRY HILL to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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