3 Stars from me.

This is the fifth book of the Silver Springs series by Brenda Novak.

Jada Brooks is back living in her mother’s house, with her wheelchair-bound brother, and her twelve-year old daughter. She is trying to deal with her father’s death, her mother’s illness, and her brother’s inability to move beyond the horrific incident that paralysed him years ago when they were both teenagers.

Maddox Richardson was there the night that Atticus, Jada’s brother, was shot. His own brother, Tobias, did the deed. With Tobias’s prison release coming soon, Maddox is trying to settle in to Silver Springs as the new headmaster at the New Horizon’s girls’ school.

It was inevitable that Jada and Maddox run into each other in the small town. Jada is keeping a huge secret from Maddox and she isn’t sure whether she should invite him back into her life or not. And for his part, Maddox isn’t sure that it is wise at all to become involved with Jada again. But neither one of them seem to be able to help it. Soon they are drawn together again and trying to connect despite Jada’s family’s resentments and Maddox’s family issues.

I liked the way in which Maddox and Jada started talking again. They had a lot to forgive between them and the story flowed really well in regards to this. Their conflicting interest in each other and reservations with each other were very well done. The animosity from Jada’s brother and mother towards Maddox and Tobias is completely understandable. Atticus probably underwent the most growth in the story. Maya, Jada’s daughter, was a cute addition to the story. I don’t feel like she was completely necessary to the story. Jada and Maddox would have gotten together without her presence in their lives and the history between all of them was a big enough hurdle to overcome, without throwing Maya into the mix. But she did provide an interesting perspective. Tobias was an intriguing character.

I’ve enjoyed this entire series so far and will continue reading any more books that follow. I like the idea of redemption – that someone whose life seemed to have no positive outlook can break free and become something more.

I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was I hooked by this book? Yes, it had some very heartwarming elements.

Genre: Contemporary Romance