A heart-warming, touching ‘clean’ romance with a charming setting and appealing characters.

I found myself absorbed in the story from the first pages, starting as it does with two frightened and traumatised children who pull at your heart strings, and their caring but way out of her depth aunt, Jenna. The story is simple, but powerful in its messages – the true meaning of family, the power of letting go and of forgiveness, the joy and peace that come with following your heart and being your authentic self and the fulfilment that comes from finding a true home at last.

I was particularly moved by the author’s exploration of the choice between career and success and the modern, fast-paced, image-conscious world – and a simpler, calmer more creative existence closer to nature. By the end of the book I found myself slipping into daydreams about cabins amid woods in rural Wisconsin, and small towns where communities thrive.

The romance that blooms between Jenna and her enigmatic neighbour, Dev, is expertly set up and developed, and I found myself really rooting for them to be together despite what seemed like irreconcilable differences, given that Jenna is a city girl and Dev has shunned that existence. Jenna is a warm and realistic heroine, and Dev is a most attractive hero – I have always found male characters with strong paternal and protective instincts very appealing.

In all, I had a wonderful afternoon curled up in an armchair lost in The Promise of Home, and I put the book down with a light heart and a smile on my face. Lovely.

The Promise of Home is available now from Amazon; click on the book cover below to visit the store.