When you are accustomed on being alone, is it too late to have a change?

Synopsis

Rhana Black has always been content with her quiet life in the Pelican Crossing hinterland, where she spends her days breeding spaniels. Following a traumatic incident at her school formal and weighed down by her own insecurities about her appearance, Rhana has shied away from any romantic relationships. That is, until a chance encounter with a hot air balloonist changes everything.

Steve Morton has been struggling to move on after the tragic death of his pregnant fiancée. In search of solace, he finds himself in Pelican Crossing, where he rediscovers his love for flying and starts offering hot air balloon rides and scenic helicopter flights along the coast. When he meets Rhana, he is taken aback by the intense emotions he feels towards her.

As Rhana and Steve navigate their complicated pasts and undeniable chemistry, they must decide if they are willing to break their self-imposed barriers and take a chance on love. But with their old wounds and deep insecurities threatening to keep them apart, can they be able to overcome their fears and find happiness together?

My review

Rhana has always enjoyed her rather solitary life in Pelican Crossing. She doesn’t need more than spending her time breeding spaniels and finding the perfect homes for the pups. Romance is absolutely the last thing on her mind, especially after a traumatic incident while she was at school. Even too many people around her are tricky, her new neighbour Steve Morton included. Yet she ahs to admit, she likes seeing his hot air balloon flying over Pelican Crossing! Steve himself has been struggling since years ago he lost his pregnant fiancée. But with his fresh start at Pelican Crossing, he hopes he has finally found a place that he can call home. He for sure rediscovered his passion for flying, whether it is by offering hot air balloon rides or scenic helicopter flights. What he didn’t expect, is to find himself intrigued by his introvert neighbour, Rhana. However, with both of them having troubled pasts and high built walls, will they find the courage to give love a chance again? Or are they both too stuck in their loneliness to change?

Whenever I start a book of this series, there is a sort of calmness and peace that comes over me. And that is all because of the lovely characters that I have met here over all the different books. Yes, calmness and peace, even if the main characters all have to face their struggles in life and need to find the courage to give love another chance.

Having read the previous books, of course I already know a tiny bit who Rhana is. But it is not that I knew her all that well, so obviously I was eager to get to know this mysterious woman with a passion for spaniels better.

Being a bit of an introvert myself, I could quickly connect with Rhana. I could understand perfectly why she doesn’t need anyone around her, why she enjoys her own company and those of her spaniels. And that was even before I knew about her past, and that made me understand her solitude even better.

Obviously, reading those bits, truly broke my heart, especially reading how it still affects her, and how it only deepened her own securities even more. No one should ever go through what Rhana has been through, yet unfortunately we read how even in the present these things are still happening…

But no matter how reclusive Rhana is, we also see her gentle, kind and caring character. Not only with her spaniels, but also when she sees a young woman that may need help. Even when her friends try to warn her, as it may not seem smart to take a complete stranger in house, Rhana feels it in her heart it is the right thing to do, and is even more convinced when she in fact finds a young woman going through the same turmoil she herself once went through. And it warmed my heart to see how protective, motherly, Rhana becomes…

And slowly, very slowly, we see Rhana stepping more outside in the world, or rather Pelican Crossing. And yes, Steve also has something to do with it, even if Rhana is initially not all that happy with the helicopter flights Steve organises.

Steve arrived in Pelican Crossing after living somewhere else before, but now he feels the need to settle in one place, and when the opportunity arose to buy property in Pelican Crossing, he just had to grab this chance.

I could understand how he felt that need, because even after years, the pain over his losses is still something he is carrying around. Such losses are not easy to overcome, and it for sure somehow blocks you to move forward, to give someone a chance.

Yet the better we get to know Steve, the more I was in fact a bit in awe. Because he has already proofed in the past what a generous person he is, and still is. And he is also a modest person about it, he isn’t bragging about what he has done or wants to do. On the contrary, he feels very uncomfortable the more people know about his actions…

I also liked it how understanding Steve is. Not only with the compassion he shows when his usual helpers are unable to help for the moment, but also with Rhana. No matter what he is feeling for her, he understands that Rhana needs more time and he is willing to give her all the time she needs, and is willing to go at her pace.

For me, the more I was reading in this book, the more it felt that this book was a work – in – progress – book. Because while there is absolutely some sparks flying around between Rhana and Steve, it was more about both main characters slowly getting out of their shelves, stepping more outside and let people (back) in. We see with both Rhana and Steve, that it is never to change, to become more outgoing (but not losing the essence of you). And that speaking out about the haunting secrets of the past can truly be alleviating.

This for sure was another heart – warming, inspiring story. It was exactly what I was expecting from this author, in another brand new story of a series that captured my heart, despite the age difference between myself and the characters in it 😊.