Wild Iris Ridge (Hqn) (English Edition)

I received the book before release as a member of the review crew. I have enjoyed all of RaeAnne Thayne's books set in Hope's Crossing. This one was the best. I am disappointed that this is the last story in the series. There are still stories to be told. How can you not love a story that includes little children, puppies, a big sister looking out for her younger sister and the growing love between two people who thought they couldn't be in the same room?

Lucy Drake moved away to Seattle hoping to escape the one thing that she wanted most Brendan Caine. They shared one steamy night together and she was hoping for more but then she never called. Once she finds out that her cousin/best friend Jesse and Brandon are now together she hopes that distance will help her forget what happened.

Fast forward a couple years later and now Lucy Drake is back in the town she never thought she would step foot in again. However, things have changed for her. Now she is jobless and in charge of a mansion that her great aunt left to her. Lucy hopes she will be able to restore the house enough to be able to sell it and get out of town before anyone recognizes she is home. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned when her fireplace starts and fire and it forces her to see the one man she thought she would never see again, Brendan Caine.

Will Brendan and Lucy be able to keep their distance while Lucy is in town fixing up her Aunt Annabelle’s house or will their romance rekindle?

Review

This is the second book of RaeAnne’s that I have read and the second book that I have read in this series. I thought that RaeAnne did a great job of giving enough detail about the characters that allowed you to feel like you really knew who they were. In addition, I think she did a great job of making this story able to stand on its own as if it wasn’t part of the series. The only reason that I knew that it was part of a series is 1) I read the previous book before this one and 2) it said it was number 7 in the Hope Crossing Series.

In addition, what I really liked about this book is that it was realistic. She had the characters laugh, cry, be mad at each other and make up. I really felt like these were two people that could be real people that I would know. What also was nice about the story was how she incorporated family into the story. She made you really feel like you were a part of the Caine family.

Although they say this may be the last book in the series I would have to disagree. I think that there is so many more great stories that she could get into this series. Can't wait to read what new book that she will come out with next.

Brendan has 2 small children with Jessie. Jessie died of an undiagnosed heart condition when she was pregnant with their 3rd child, a son. Lucy was Jessie's cousin and best friend. She moved back to Iris House, where she lived with her great-aunt, Annabelle, after she is fired from her job. Brendan and Lucy met before she went to an internship, and kissed, she gave Brendan her name and number but Brendan didn't call, he met Jessie, and started dating her, and one year later he proposed. Lucy has never
forgotten that kiss, and tried to undermine their relationship to Jessie, but after they become engaged, she stopped. Lucy watches the kids when Brendan has to work, he is the fire chief of Hope's Crossing.
Lucy wants to turn Iris house into a B&B, which was what Lucy and Annabelle wanted, and talked about doing before they passed away.
Lucy's half sister Crystal is brought to stay with her by their mutual father after Crystal is expelled due
to drugs. While going to the grocery store they meet Brendan and the kids, and Faith and Crystal hear a noise and discover 2 puppies in the dumpster! They get them out and take them to the vet and Faith takes the girl dog, Daisy, and Crystal takes the boy dog, Max. Brendan is not sure he wants to have a dog, but after seeing what the dog does for the kids, by teaching them responsibility, and bringing Faith out of her shell, he tells Lucy he can't take the dog away.We are also invited to Carter's 6th birthday party! He invites Lucy and Crystal and they both promise to attend.  Lucy and Brendan kiss, again, and Lucy says they have to stop because anyone could walk in and see them, and they are both not ready to deal with that.
Brendan and Lucy are tasked with cleaning the Wild Iris Ridge Trail, they kiss, and then fight when Brendan asks Lucy to wait for him to come to terms with Jessie's death,
and wants to start a relationship with her. Lucy looses her sunglasses and goes back to find them but Max slides down the hill and Lucy goes to get him but she falls and breaks her ankle. Brendan finds out she is missing when Crystal calls 911 and reports it, Brendan goes to the ridge and finds her and tells her he loves her, he was so scared he was going to loose her. He stays with her until help arrives, and stays with her at the hospital also.
The end of the book is weddings! Brendan's sister Charlotte marries Spencer Gregory and
his brother Dylan marries Genevieve Beaumont (who both have books in the series).

I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review as part of RaeAnne Thayne's review crew.

Lucy Drake comes back to Hope Crossing after she loses her job for being too honest. She inherited Iris House form her aunt and decides to turn it into a Bed and Breakfast like her aunt and cousin Jessie had wanted to do. Brendan Caine is the fire chief in town. Lucy and Brendan had shared a kiss years ago but Lucy left town to peruse her career. Brendan ended up meeting Jessie and marrying her. They had two kids before Jessie died. Lucy and Brendan need to get over their past before they can go on with their lives. Brendan's children fall in love with Lucy. Will they be given a second chance at love or will they just ignore their attraction to each other? A fast paced read that will have you wishing for more. So sorry for the series to end. It is an amazing series!

4 STARS

I enjoy Hope's Crossing series. The secondary characters are old friends that we can catch up on their lives. The main characters are likeable.

Lucy has come to Hope's Crossing at a time in her life is in a crisis. She has been left a big house and she is thinking of turning it into a bed and breakfast.

Lucy years ago had shared one kiss with Brendan. Then Brendan started dating her best friend. Since then she has tried to stay away from him. But she loves his children. So she is not happy to run into him with just being in town for a short time.

Brendan Caine is the fire chief. He has been a widower for two years. He has two cute children. His late wife was Lucy's cousin and best friend. He is not ready to start dating. He can not stop thinking about Lucy though he keeps trying to stay away from her.

Carter Caine is a cute five year old. Who is active.

Faith Caine is a nine year old. She loves to read.

It even has cute animals that are loveable and make you want to take them home with you.

The setting is beautiful sounding and makes me want to go for a walk in the mountains. Hope Crossing is in Colorado right close to the mountains.

I liked the drama it was not drastic but easy to read and care about the characters. I really like how the town has a day of service and every year more people get involved to help each other and the town.

I was given this ebook to read and agreed to give honest review of it in return by Net Galley and Harlequin.

Lucy Drake was a Marketing Director at a Fortune 500 company but she has just lost her job due to a bad product launch. Now she has returned to her Great Aunt's house in Hope's Crossing. This is the only place she feels safe and comfortable and that's what she desperately needs right now as she puts the pieces of her life back together. As luck would have it, her arrival had it's challenges which almost immediately called for the need of the Fire Department. This is exactly what she needed to run into the one person she didn't want to see, the Fire Chief Brendan Caine. Lucy and Brendan have a rocky history. Brendan's late wife Jess happened to be Lucy's best friend and cousin. It was clear they despised each other. For years Lucy told Jess that Brendan was a washed up jock with more muscles than brains, but Brendan never could figure out why she hated him so much. Lucy and Brendan's paths kept crossing especially since she was the honorary Aunt to his children Faith and Carter. The more time they spent together they started to develop feelings for each other. Is it possible that Brendan could actually open his heart again and let another person in? Can he let someone get that close to him and his children? Will Lucy ever want to settle down in a small town or will she go back to the city life at the first chance she gets? Will they ever express their feelings for each other before it's too late? After reading this book, I will be getting the others in the series soon!

I was lucky enough to receive and advance copy of Wild Iris Ridge to review. I discovered RaeAnne Thayne about a year ago, and have since devoured pretty much everything thing I can find written by her. She has a great way of writing characters who feel real, and who have depth. The towns about which she writes become almost characters of their own, and Hope's Crossing is no exception to this rule. The families and characters that make up the town of Hope's Crossing remind be a bit of my own growing up in a small town. While a small town can be an ideal place to be, it does not exempt you from problem and trials, and adding to it, everyone knows about everything that goes on in town.

Brendan and Lucy's story is an interesting one of misunderstanding and hurt. They have a muddied past, but are brought together by two sweet children (with the help of a couple puppy dogs and an entire town rooting for them). Both characters fight against their growing attraction to each other, and do everything they can to avoid each other, but seem to be thrown together at every turn (and when that happens, sparks fly..romantically and often tempters too).

I loved Wild Iris Ridge, as well as the other books in the Hope's Crossing series. You could start with just this book alone, but it helps to know about the other characters by having read the others in the series.

I had the tremendous pleasure of reading a paperback ARC of WILD IRIS RIDGE by RaeAnne Thayne, and gladly submit an honest review. Ms. Thayne is a master storyteller, evoking emotion through fully developed characters I couldn’t help but care about. I loved watching Lucy Dake and Brendan Caine gradually and sweetly develop a lasting love. I adore Second Chance themes, and Ms. Thayne did a splendid job cultivating this story and bringing two very deserving characters together. Their pasts and all they’d been through made these two uniquely perfect for one another. The chemistry between the characters is vibrant, real, and believable.

Throughout, the characters remained true to themselves, the difficult decisions had just the right attention and pacing, and it was all so well motivated. Dialogue sparkled. Descriptive scenes evoked a beautiful sense of setting. The book is rich with themes of second chances, loving after loss, the meaning and value of family, and taking a chance at (romantic) love.

Everything came together beautifully at the ending—such a rewarding conclusion. Reading those last few pages left me with a sigh of satisfaction, a warm feeling in my chest, and a smile on my face. Kudos to the author! Highly recommended.

Sensuality Level: Wholesome/PG and yet fiercely romantic
Language: clean side of PG

Wild Iris Ridge, written by RaeAnne Thayne, is our last chance to peek into the life and times of Hope's Crossing as Brendan and Lucy reconcile their past with their present and navigate towards a future together. This contemporary romance exemplifies how people traverse through lives with children, puppies, deal with misconceived ideas and notions while balancing love, joy, and the fear of hidden thoughts and feelings. Brendan and Lucy's past both aide and hinder their present as their lives become entwined in a small town setting where friends and family surround them.

RaeAnne does an outstanding job at creating an atmosphere where the realistic emotions and characters blend together to create a believable setting. While this book focuses on Brendan and Lucy, we still get to witness and experience the greater picture of the love of family and friends. This includes a glance at love found later in life as Brendan's father finally moves on after the death of his wife.

I think what many readers can appreciate most about this author and book is how down-to-earth the characters and emotions are. I appreciated that while the people were simple the emotions were complex. We all know life is rarely as simple as it seems. Wild Iris Ridge is a wonderful place to visit and to carry around in your heart forever!

We return to Hope's Crossing with Lucy Drake. She has come back to take care of her the home left to her by her aunt. While excited to be back she is not excited to see Brendan Caine. Brenden was married to Lucy's best friend, Jessie, who recently passed away. They had a little thing before Brendan even met Jessie. They both remember that steamy hot kiss and while Lucy has been an "aunt" to his kids, they only had to endure each other's presence on rare occasions. Now she is back in Hope's Crossing and that means trouble with a capital T for both of them.

Dollycas's Thoughts

I love this series!!

RaeAnne Thayne brings us such terrific characters. Characters that are real and flawed and have issues and in Hope's Crossing things happen to bring the right people together and overcome any obstacle. Of course there are residents of the town the push and sometimes shove people together so that can finally let down the walls they have built around their hearts and open their eyes and realize what or who is right in front of them. In this story two children and two little pups are key players. Lucy's step sister also comes to Hope's Crossing to shake things up a bit.

I have broke my rule about reading these books in order twice now and am glad I did. I also plan to catch up on the couple I have missed. I was so happy to learn that Christmas in Snowflake Canyon was not the last in the series. These stories have become my go to books when I just need to escape from everyday stress and relax and know there is going to be happy ending.

All of my visits to Hope's Crossing have been wonderful and I hope I get to visit again very soon as I catch up on the ones I missed. You can read them order but they do read well as stand alone too. I am really sorry to see this series end but it goes out on a great high note.

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of Wild Iris Ridge to review. The cover alone would make me pick the book up to check it out. It gave me a great mental backdrop as I read. RaeAnne's writing had me right there, trying to nudge Lucy and Brendan along to the ending they well deserved. I really enjoyed the relationship Lucy had with Faith and Carter. Lucy was so gentle with Faith as she expressed her emotions about the loss of her mother. I found all of the characters to be interesting. Their lives were not all rosy. Just like most of our lives, some had faced emotionally devastating events. But...there is always hope, and there can still be a happy ending. The relationship of the more mature in age Katherine and Dermot was a favorite too. I have read several books by RaeAnne Thayne and she is definitely one of my most favorite authors. I am eager for her next book. You will not be disappointed!

I've been enjoying this small-town romance series by RaeAnne Thayne. The romances are sweet (as opposed to steamy) and the small Colorado town of Hope's Crossing is charming and appealing. You can almost breathe the crisp mountain air, and the residents are, for the most part, good folk without being goody-goody. It's the sort of place I would enjoy living, and not unlike Emily March's Eternity Springs, without feeling at all like a copy.

We've seen Brendan before; he's the son of diner proprietor Dermot Caine and the brother of Charlotte and Dylan, the heroine and hero of Willowleaf Lane and Christmas in Snowflake Canyon, respectively. Lucy is new on the scene, at least as far as the books I've read (I missed books 3 and 4), but she's not new to Hope's Crossing. As a rebellious teen, she was sent by her disinterested father to live with her aunt in Hope's Crossing. In her aunt's home, the teenage Lucy found her bearings. Now, over thirty and newly fired from her high-profile marketing position, she's going home to lick her wounds, fix up the Victorian mansion she inherited after her aunt's death, and figure out her next step.

The tension between Brendan and Lucy has deep roots -- Brendan was married to Lucy's cousin Jessie until her death a few years ago, and Lucy had originally opposed the marriage. There's more to it than that, but it takes a while for the hurts on both sides to be acknowledged and dealt with. I particularly liked that both main characters's past actions contributed to the issues between them, leaving neither in the "good guy" or "bad guy" position.

On the other hand, Lucy feels nothing but love for her young niece and nephew, so living just down the street from the little family is a mixed blessing. Both adults are willing to try to get along for the children's sake, but neither feels very comfortable with the situation. The mixture of attraction - emotional as well as physical - and mutual determination to keep one another at arms' length leads to some humorous as well as awkward, even painful moments. In addition, Brendan, a widower, isn't sure he's ready or able to love again, which adds another layer of complexity to their relationship.

The author does a nice job with the couple's conflicting feelings, making each of them understandable and believable. There aren't any major surprises; Thayne takes a fairly standard plot line and makes it both pleasing and satisfying through the realistic tensions and ups and downs of ordinary life. Recurring characters and a familiar landscape add to the charm, but this novel can easily be read as a standalone.

NOTE: I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.

Wild Iris Ridge
By: RaeAnne Thayne

Another great story written beautifully by RaeAnne Thayne. A wonderful romance story. Bringing the feelings back after a love marries your best friend. Lucy's friend Jessie marries Brandon. Jessie dies and leaves Brandon with two little ones to raise.
Lucy has left town but she is back to care for the Queen Anne home her aunt left her when she passed away. This shouldn't be a problem at all till she sees Brandon again. Or will it be? I love the way the characters are bought back together to learn about each other. I love stories of second chances don't you? I feel in love with little Carter and Faith. Melted my heart the relationship growing between them and Lucy. Wonderful story.

What a wonderful ending to the Hope's Crossing series! This is a book that you read and you cannot stop reading it! Lucy Drake returns to town after losing her job and deciding she wants to open a B&B in her aunt's old house. Brendan Caine, is the one who got away. The one who she dated and left to go to college and whom fell in love and married her cousin. He is now a widow with two kids who is trying to deal with Lucy returning to town.

The relationship that develops and gradually grows from that attraction is such a beautiful story. Bravo RaeAnne! I cannot find the words to describe how wonderful this book is.

This is the story of Brendan Caine and Lucy Drake. Brendan was married to Lucy's best friend and cousin Jessie that died leaving him behind with their two children. Jessie died of a heart attack and was pregnant with their third baby at the time. Brendan tries to move on after her death but finds himself still dreaming of Lucy. She comes back to Hope's Crossing to build a new life for herself and opens up a bed and breakfast after losing her job, making the old Iris House hers again. Many twists and turns happen. Brendan falls back into her arms again and their love story unfolds. I loved the ending of this wonderful book. Another wonderful book by author RaeAnne Thayne!! Can't wait for the next one!!

Brendan and Jessie shared one kiss in the past and then he married her best friend, Lucy. Brendan and Lucy share a life and two children. When Lucy dies Brendan is devastated and tries to get on with his life.

Lucy couldn’t wait to leave Hope’s Crossing but she is back to take care of her Queen Anne home left to her by her aunt. Brendan and Lucy get reacquainted and learn things about each other realizing that they thought they knew each other but really didn’t. They begin to build a friendship that turns into more.

Another great story by RaeAnne Thayne. I really hated to leave Hope’s Crossing as all of the books in this series have been wonderful stories of hope and love. Check out Wild Iris Ridge as well as the others in this series. You won’t be sorry.

Small town, community, family... that's Hope's Crossing. This is Brendan and Lucy's story. Brendan is the local fire chief, a widower with two young children. Lucy is his children's godmother. She left town after high school to make her way in the big city, only visiting occasionally, until she lost her job and decided to return to the only place that ever really felt like home.
Sparks fly right off the bat. Brendan and Lucy share a secret from their past, and a love for Brendan's children. Throw in Lucy's half-sister and some puppies, and this story is filled with the fun of small town life.
Returning to Hope's Crossing is like returning home. A sweet read!

I just finished reading Wild Iris Ridge by RaeAnne Thayne. I have read just about every book in this series and I have loved them all. I love small town romances and RaeAnne Thayne has a special way of writing them that I just adore! She never fails to reach out and touch my heart with a very emotional storyline.

Lucy Drake has lost her job so she returns to the one place in the world she feels safe the Iris House. However the house not only holds good memories for her there are some sad ones as well. She has lost her cherished aunt and her cousin that was not only more like her sister but also her best friend.

Brendan Caine is raising his two adorable little children after losing his wife. He doesn't want or need the feelings he has when Lucy returns to town. However when ever she is around he can't seem to keep his hands to himself or his lips. I loved how these two are so drawn to each other even though they really don't want to be.

Wild Iris Ridge is a wonderful story about two people that have both experienced great heartache. Lucy and Brendan have been through so much. They just be what they each need to heal.

Lucy also gets an unexpected visitor, her sister Crystal comes to stay with her. Hope's Crossing, the Iris House, Lucy, and a new little friend are just what Crystal needs. She is a young teenage girl that is not getting the attention she needs at home so she has been acting out. Lucy has the time and the attention for Crystal, she has also been in Crystal's shoes before so she knows how the girl feels. I loved watching Crystal blossom under Lucy's loving care with the help of Brendan and his sweet children. This girl's attitude really makes a huge change while she is visiting Hope's Crossing.

I don't want to tell you too much about the story but I will tell you that Lucy, Crystal, Brendan, Faith, and Carter find a couple of little surprises that really add a nice touch to the storyline.

I loved my visit to Hope's Crossing. This wonderful town is full of caring people that really reach out to do great things for one and other. I loved catching up with some of my favorite friends there and seeing what they have been up to since my last visit.

I absolutely LOVE this series and I can not wait to see what RaeAnne Thayne comes up with for her next release. If you love small town romances like I do then you REALLY need to check out this series. I think you will enjoy them as much as I have. You don't need to start at the beginning of the series to enjoy each story, they are easy to read as a stand alone. However, each story is so great I think you would enjoy them all.

One more thing that I must say about this book is I loved the cover. Ms. Thayne always has the most beautiful covers and I have loved each one.

I received a copy of this awesome story so that I may share my thoughts with you. As always it has been my great pleasure to share my thoughts with you on Wild Iris Ridge.

RaeAnne Thayne has created a town and characters that make you wish you lived there, it's the kind of place that I would love to call home. Knowing her books end with a happily ever after should not stop you from picking up this series as it's the story that unfolds between the beginning and the end that takes you on an emotion roller coaster that has you flipping each page in anticipation.

Second chance of loving! 4.5 stars
Beautifully written WILD IRIS RIDGE is the conclusion of RaeAnne Thayne’s Hope’ Crossing series! I liked this story very much, but I hadn’t realized that is was the last one; it would have help me, if I had read her previous books, to fully understand her character’s journeys. I liked her characters Lucy and Brendan, two bruised persons, who finally find peace and love. If I understood correctly, her series was about adults in a community who had suffered and survived to a better life. This is my first book that I read by this author.

Wild Iris Ridge captures small town living. Lucy loses her job and comes back to take care of the house her Aunt left her. She runs into Brendan who is still reeling from the death of his wife two years ago. They try to avoid one another but that is hard in a small town.

This is a book about redemption, healing, love and family. There is the family we have and the one we wish we had. Even though this book is Lucy and Brendan's story, there are several people's stories expertly woven in. Loved this book and found I could not put it down!

Wild Iris Ridge is a great book. The author gives wonderful details about the small town and describes the characters so well until I felt they were real. The storyline is well-written, interesting, and emotional. I enjoyed reading this book and I loved the small town. Wild Iris Ridge would be a great summer read or to read anytime.

I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.

I enjoyed this book (but keep typing Wild Irish) If you are not familiar with the series about Hope's Crossing, don't worry. The main character has not taken a holiday day in eight years so she has a lot of gossip to catch up on. The townsfolk also gossip about the young lady - why has she suddenly returned from the fast track in Seattle to this small Colorado town; why is she thinking of doing up Iris House, inherited from a great-aunt, as a bed and breakfast?

The flower-covered ridge only occurs late in the book and most of the tale is taken up with awkwardness about young people whom the heroine Lucy has in common with a fire chief, Brendan. His wife has died and Lucy, her cousin, is the kids' godmother. But she hasn't been around, and suddenly she gets a teenaged girl with an attitude dumped on her by her remarried father. Life gets complicated and fun.

The more we learned about Lucy the more I got to like and admire her, and she is a hugely independent young woman who had a troubled start and turned herself around. I also liked to read about an emergency defibrillator being used. This is a worthwhile story, well written and involving, with a subtly building and real-feeling romance. I consider Wild Iris Ridge the finest book I have read by Rae Anne Thayne, but I have missed a few so I must catch up on those ones.

I received a free paperback copy of Wild Iris Ridge (Hope's Crossing #7) by RaeAnne Thayne in exchange for fair review. It is almost four stars.

This endearing story is about Lucy Drake who returns to Hope after losing her job in Seattle. She has a troubled relationship with the fire chief Brendan Caine. They had shared a passionate & memorable kiss a decade before. Two weeks later he married Lucy's best friend.

He is now a widower struggling to make a life for his family.

While sharing another passionate kiss with him she thought: "How could she ever have thought him taciturn, distant, cold? He was all fire and flame, heat and hunger."

On the way into the grocery store, Brendan, Lucy & his children hear a whimper. Two tiny puppies are found inside a garbage dumpster. They took them to the vet & after a checkup, they each took a puppy home. The police chief discovered who had dropped the puppies there & described the man as "a few peas short of a casserole."

Describing to Brendan that Jessica might have wondered about living a life like Lucy had, she explained: "Regret and curosity are not at all the same thing, Brendan. Here's the thing about women. Sometimes even when we have everything we dreamed, we wonder about the road we didn't take, the choice we didn't make."

The premise of this charming story is learning to live & love in Hope. Can Brendan & Lucy discover their attraction to each other can lead to more? Can she fit into life in Hope?

Sadly we will be leaving Hope's Crossing after this book. RaeAanne Thayne wrote 2 Hope's Crossing trilogies and a bonus book in the series. In an interview she said “My June book, WILD IRIS RIDGE, is my last planned Hope’s Crossing book and I’m starting a new series, Haven Point, with my November title SNOW ANGEL COVE. The hero of SNOW ANGEL COVE is Aidan Caine, yet another sibling of Charlotte, Dylan and Brendan Caine,”

But before we leave Hope's Crossing we get Brendan’s story. He has a history with Lucy Drake. There was a really great kiss between the two years ago but then Brendan married Lucy’s cousin, Jessie. Jesse died two years ago and Brendan is slowly recovering. Now Lucy is back in Hope’s Crossing and the sparks start to fly. Brendan starts to come alive again while Lucy realizes she still has feeling for Brendan.

I enjoyed the story. It had a nice vibe with plenty of tension between Lucy and Brendan. Neither were willing to admit to their feeling and it looked like they would go their separate ways. It took an accident to finally bring them together. It was a nice way to end the series.

Once again RaeAnne has hit it out of the ballpark (staying with the baseball analogy). Her characters are ones that you can feel like are your friends and neighbors. I am always wanting to know more about how their lives turn out. What happened next? I credit that to the ability to put myself into the story as I'm reading it because of the way RaeAnne draws you in. From the first page to the last RaeAnne has captured you. Way to go RaeAnne you haven't disappointed me yet!

Wild Iris Ridge
RaeAnne Thayne
Harlequin HQN, Jun 24 2014, $7.99
ISBN: 9780373778591

After years away, recently unemployed Lucy Drake returns to Hope’s Crossing where she inherited her late Great-Aunt Annabelle’s Victorian mansion. As she muses no longer working eighteen hour days, Lucy considers converting her home into a B&B, which she thinks means 24 hour days. Lucy also reflects back to why she left town years ago; when she fell in love with Brendan Caine, but he fell in love with her BFF cousin Jess.

Fire chief Brendan hopes Lucy leaves town as his memory of her is unfavorable. A widower single dad for two years, Brendan raises five year old Carter and nine year old Faith; and believes he has enough on his plate rather than have to deal with cold Lucy. She prefers to avoid him as she cannot handle a second rejection from him. When they meet each feels a deep attraction that neither desire.

The latest Hope’s Crossing contemporary (see Willowleaf Lane, Blackberry Summer and Woodrose Mountain) is a warm second chance at love family drama. The changing relationship between the lead adults cleverly goes through Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’ phases: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Though the acceptance phase seems too abrupt fans will enjoy this warm tale.

Harriet Klausner

I LOVE JUMPING INTO A SERIES SEVERAL BOOKS IN! While I feel like I am missing some things I was not completely clueless when it came to the goings on in Hope’s Crossing. I know I definitely want to read back on some of the Caine romances. Particularly Dylan and Guinevere which happens to be Christmas in Snowflake Canyon. Though they all seem to have an interesting story.

This story though is about Lucy, shes a real go getter. She works hard and often as a marketing guru in seattle. However the last couple of months have been rough. Her best friend, Jessie, died 2 years ago of a heart condition they didnt even know of , sadly it didnt only take her but the baby she was carrying. She also recently lost her Aunt. Her Aunt owned a beautiful piece of property in Hope’s Crossing it was Her dream as well as Jessie (Oh they were cousins as well) dream to turn the house into a bed and breakfast. Well after a marketing disaster finds Lucy out of a job she decides to go to Colorado and fulfill their dream.

The story is also about Brendan Caine, Jessies widower. Hes surviving without his wife. Not exactly living. He does the best that he can to raise their 2 kids with tons of help from his HUGE family. Hes the fire chief in town and on Lucys first night in town she accidentally sets a chimney fire. They are thrust into each others life again. Sure Lucy is his childrens godchildren and shes been around forever, the two havent always gotten alone. But theres a story behind that.

Years ago one drunken night they shared an amazing moment.. It was a good evening that ended with a kiss. THATS ALL I SWEAR! He promised to call her and guess what that ass does! Yeah he never calls her and meets her cousin. The rest is as they say history. HURT Lucy threw herself into her work and accomplished a lot but that didnt ease her lonely heart.

Okay so I went back and forth. Is there like a girl code if your friend is dead?! Do you really date your bf/cousins husband after she dies?! While they have undeniable chemistry I feel like its a hard choice. I really dont remember a thought about this in the book. It could very well have happened. I dont have a photographic memory though I greatly wish I did that would be amazing! I really did enjoy the debate in my head and hope to actually debate this with other readers of this book. I love a good book dialogue.

Heres the bottom line. I totally dig this book and couldnt put it down. Like I said I have to go back and read a few others (okay kay the whole series). I read this book way faster than I thought I would I just couldnt put it down.

I really enjoyed how this book wrapped up the series! Hope's Crossing has become such a wonderful town and I have loved getting to know the characters in it! this time around, it was Brenden and Lucy's turn but I loved how the author brought so many of the former characters in. That's the best part of a series for me! Brenden is a widower with 2 children and is the local fire chief. Lucy was the cousin and best friend of Brenden's wife. The two of them shared a wonderful kiss before Brenden and his wife got married "once upon a time" but that was years ago. Lucy has returned to Hope's Crossing because she got fired from her job in Seattle and since she inherited her great aunt's Iris House mansion, she has decided to remodel it into a bed & breakfast. Brenden can't believe that Lucy has changed & wont leave again and Lucy doesn't think she will ever be the type of person who can settle down! I loved seeing these two characters develop and grow. I loved Brenden's two children! They were darling! I also loved the other townspeople! I will miss visiting Hope's Crossing very much. This has always felt like a real town to me!

I really enjoyed Wild Iris Ridge by RaeAnne Thayne. It is book #7 in the Hope's Crossing Series but works well as a stand-alone.

I jumped into the Hope's Crossing series at book seven but I didn't feel that I was missing anything other than the joy of having read the other books in the series. I've already added the other books in the Hope's Crossing Series to my wish list.

The things I enjoyed most about Wild Iris Ridge.

The Characters

Lucy is/was a big time advertising executive that was living large in Seattle until everything fell apart. She returns to the one place she considers home, Hope's Crossing with plans to renovate her great aunt's home into a bed and breakfast, hire someone to manage it, and then move on. Lucy is strong, smart, and independent. She has a lot to learn and has some old baggage to get rid of before she is ready to move on.

Local fire chief, Brendan Caine is raising two children on his own and finally settling into a somewhat normal routine as a widower of 2 years. He is such a great guy. He works hard, loves his family, and is reluctant to love again. I loved Brendan's large family and his father was definitely a favorite of mine.

Faith and Carter are Brendan's children and Lucy's godchildren. Faith is regimented and has a lot of understandable fears and Carter is carefree and full of life. It was great getting to see the two of them have fun and enjoy life in Hope's Crossing.

The Town/Community

I love stories that are set in communities that rally around the characters. Wild Iris Ridge sends the message that family- in all its varied forms, friends, and love is what makes life worth living.

The Story

I feel like Wild Iris Ridge is a story that shows that tragedies change us, memories comfort us, but love is what heals us. It is a story of learning to open one's heart again to love even with all its uncertainties.

Recommendation

If you are a fan of clean romance, small town charm, wonderful relatable characters, and a message of hope that doesn't come across as preachy then this is a series that I think you will love.

My Book Source: Publisher
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

In ‘Wild Iris Ridge’ we meet Lucy, a thirty-one year old woman who’s in desperate need of some changes. When Lucy loses the job she worked so hard for she is devastated and she decides to go to her old home town Hope’s Crossing to hopefully get some peace of mind.
But in Hope’s Crossing there is Brendan Caine, a thirty-six year old widowed fire fighter with two little children. Lucy and Brendan have known each other for years since Lucy’s Best friend and cousin is Brendan’s deceased wife. But they aren’t really fond of each other. Unfortunately they soon find out that they can’t avoid each other in the little town. And feelings that seemed long ago are coming to the surface again.

From the moment I started in ‘Wild Iris Ridge’ I loved this story. This story was different than the previous books I read and I really loved that. I really fell in love with the little town Hope’s Crossing. I loved how kind and helpful everybody was and how everybody knew each other. This book immediately pulled me in and I really didn’t want to put it down. That meant reading until late at night and needing a lot of coffee in the morning when my alarm went off. But it was so worth it.

The character I liked the most was definitely Brandon. I just really loved his character. He was just such a loving but also really fun guy. When Brandon lost his wife two years ago he didn’t give up he made sure that his children had everything they could want. He really deserved to be happy again and find some love. And although I really don’t have a thing for children, I loved Brendan’s children. They were just so fun and they loved spending time with their dad.

This book was everything I hoped for and even more. I loved the story, the characters and the chemistry between Lucy and Brendan. This book even made me cry at the end and I’m really bumped I’ve finished it that fast. This book is definitely going on my favorite list. And I definitely need to read more books by RaeAnne Thayne.

Love Hopes Crossing and its fun character, this book delivers a solid story with believable characters. Im sad that this could be the last story in Hopes Crossing, Would highly recommend not only this book but all the books in Hope's Crossing story line. This author is writes a great story without littering it up with foul language or a lot of sexual stuff.

Wild Iris Ridge is the follow-up book to Christmas in Snowflake Canyon (the first book I read in the Hope’s Crossing series). It centers around Brendan,one of the Caine boys, and Lucy, the girl he had a brief but memorable history with – before he married her cousin. I promise, it’s not confusing when you read the book ;-). I enjoyed their story and understood their reluctance to start anything more than a friendship even when they both realized they had strong feelings for each other. RaeAnne Thayne paced the story perfectly. I also enjoyed the not-too-sacharine scenes with Brendan’s children. I loved that Lucy introduced young Faith to Anne of Green Gables. As Lucy, Brendan and his kids are working through their story Brendan’s dad has a storyline of his own. Even though I’ve only read one other book in the series I can tell Dermot’s story has been a part of most, if not all, of the previous books. Lucy’s step-sister Crystal also figures into the book. Lucy is able to do for Crystal what her great-aunt did for Lucy years earlier – she gave her a place to call home and be loved. This is a nice series and I’m looking forward to catching up with the first five books. Recommended to fans of small town contemporary romance and RaeAnne Thayne.
*I received a review copy in exchange for my opinion*

Lucy Drake, newly fired, goes back to Hope's Crossing to turn her great Aunt's old Victorian into a B&B, something her aunt had always wanted. Doing so will give Lucy the time she needs to figure out what she wants to do about a new job.

When she inadvertently starts a fire in the house, Fire Chief Brendan Caine recognizes her, his late wife's cousin, best friend, and maid of honor, in spite of Lucy's efforts to dissuade Jessie from marrying him.

Years earlier, Lucy and Brendan had shared a kiss. She still remembers it, but does he? He's now caring for his two children, whom Lucy loves and has always remembered with gifts. He has made Hope's Crossing his home and intends to raise his children there. Lucy is certain to leave once the B&B is up and running.

But what if something changes her mind, like her awareness that she still loves him and that he has feelings for her, too? It takes a frightening fall on Wild Iris Ridge before each of these great characters come to an awareness of what they want for the present as well as the future.

I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy to review!!! What a wonderful book!! Not only is the cover stunning the story is so heartwarming. You really don't want to miss the last story from the Hope's Crossing series!!! RaeAnne Thayne has taken two characters who feel they shouldn't be together and given them a reason to be together. It is a story that will tug at your heart but keep you reading Long into the night until you finish this story!! Don't miss out on your last visit to Hope's Crossing and if you haven't read the whole series now is the time to do so!!!

This was a great book, but there was something missing for me and I couldn't quite figure out what it was. It could just be the community aspect of the story. The Angel of Hope was really barely mentioned at all. At least the Day of Hope was included in the story.

I loved Brendan and his kids. I really liked Lucy. I would have liked the Lucy/Crystal/Dad situation be more fleshed out. And it bothered me when Lucy would say "your dad" to Crystal. She didn't say it in a way of not claiming him as her father on purpose, it was just strange to say it that way to me.

As with the other books, the sexual tension/attraction was spot on and kept me reading. RaeAnne Thayne has a way with chemistry for her characters I greatly appreciate.

I've already read the first book in the Haven Point series not realizing it was an offshoot of this series. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be continuing that series next.

It’s more about the community than the couple. We don’t see the couple grow to like each other. We don’t see them enjoy being together. There is no sex. I don’t require sex, but that is a part of being together and can say a lot about the relationship. Instead there are a few kisses, and then they flee and stay away from each other. They are apart until the very end of the book. Technically it was a happy ending, but it did not feel good. It was not fulfilling.

A positive is that I did not wish it would be over.

The main story is Lucy comes to town. She has some decisions to make about staying or leaving and what kind of work to do. She interacts with local people. It’s a nice community to read about. The strongest emotions have to do with Lucy’s love and care for some little kids and puppies. But not romance. Lucy has some angst. She loves Brendan, but she doesn’t tell him, and she believes he doesn’t want her.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 338 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Colorado. Copyright: 2014. Genre: contemporary romance.

I started this book not knowing what to expect. I knew this was to be the last in the series. RaeAnne didn't disappoint. I loved the second chance at love story. As always the secondary characters played a big part in the story.

The book was realistic and easy to like. In fact, I wanted to visit Hope's Crossing and eat some french toast at the cafe! I'd definitely pass Wild Iris Ridge on to a friend. My sister loves to dream about remodeling houses; she would absolutely enjoy this novel. I didn't realize until nearly finished that this is a series. Wish list, please! The biggest takeaway I had from Wild Iris Ridge was the sense that it's never too late. It's never too late to right past wrongs. It's never too late to take hold of your dreams (or make new ones). It's never too late to start over. And it's never too late to fall in love. I received this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Lucy returns to the only place she can really call home, Hope’s Crossing, where her father unceremoniously dumped her so many years ago with a kind and compassionate great-aunt. In Hope’s Crossing she also bonded with her cousin, Jess, and together they create an unshakable friendship.

Now, years later, Lucy has left the big city in somewhat of a disgrace, seeking shelter and refuge while trying to figure out her next move…and complete a wish of her aunt and cousin, even though she has no intention of staying in Hope's Crossing.

Lucy plans to renovate her aunt's house, Iris House, and turn it into a bed and breakfast, but Hope’s Crossing is not all a bed of roses for Lucy. Years ago, on a starlit night, Brendan Caine kissed Lucy. And she thought he hung the moon…until he started dating her cousin Jess two weeks later! Now, with Jess gone and two little ones left behind, godmother Lucy is trying very hard to be civil to Brendan, but abandonment is a hard spoonful of medicine to swallow.

But history will repeat itself when her father comes knocking once again.

This is not a typical romance novel, for a couple of reasons, and I liked that. First, Lucy sparked something with Brendan all those years ago...and then he married her best friend. I appreciated that Lucy was a flawed character and that she admitted trying to undermine Brendan in Jess's eyes - all the way up to their wedding. Lucy's animosity toward Brendan has been no secret, but with Jess as the buffer gone and no reason to keep it quiet any longer, it brings about the opportunity for the two of them to work through that, which is a process all the way through the book since day one when Lucy reappears in Hope's Crossing.

The second thing that struck me was that Brendan Caine was the one ready to settle down, which is the root of all their issues sparking from that one night of passionate kisses...and hope. Another thing that stood out was that Lucy had her own dad busting down her door and had to deal with his parenting and parental issues.

Hope's Crossing is also embellished with wonderful townspeople, and the Caine family and the mayor's daughter (who is Lucy's interior decorator AND a future Caine herself) add rich depth, familial life, loyalty and love to the book. The Caine family, the townspeople, and some of the conversations Lucy had with various townsfolk was what created the truly authentic feel of this novel. I fell in love with the Caine family. Dermet Cain, the father of the unruly bunch, is a man that I would love to meet in real life.

The small town, down home feel of this novel, interspersed with the characters that appear in the first six books, makes me want to grab up those first six books! The Caine family is one I have no problem getting to know better, and they are a welcome and refreshing set of characters themselves.