Come Home to Deep River

COME HOME TO DEEP RIVER is the first instalment in Jackie Ashenden’s contemporary, adult ALASKA HOMECOMING erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women of Deep River, Alaska. This is former US soldier and pilot Silas Quinn, and bar owner Hope Dawson’s story line. Told from dual third person perspectives (Hope and Silas) COME HOME TO DEEP RIVER follows the rebuilding friendship and relationship between former US soldier and pilot Silas Quinn, and bar owner Hope Dawson. Thirteen years earlier Silas Quinn, along with his best friend Caleb West, swore never to return to Deep River but with Caleb’s death came the ownership of the town of Deep River, owned by the West family for close to one hundred years, now passed on to our hero, and his friends Damon and Zeke. Silas’ return to Deep River brought with it too many memories of a time long ago including the rejection of the woman that stole his heart. Enter bar owner Hope Dawson and the woman with whom Silas is still in love. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Hope and Silas, and the potential fall-out as the town of Deep River sits on a field of oil, a field that the Big Oil companies are hoping to own. Silas Quinn left Deep River, Alaska a broken man-with the death of his mother, his father fell deep into a years long drunken stupor, and his eventual demise forced Silas to face the an awful truth. With only one reason to remain in Deep River, Hope’s rejection of our hero pushed Silas over the edge, swearing never to return to the land he once loved. With Damon and Zeke, Silas owned and operated a business in Juneau, business from which Damon is currently trying to let go. Hope Dawson once believed she was in love with Silas’ best friend but his rejection was heart breaking and pained. Having remained in Deep River to keep an eye on her mother, Hope had always wondered about moving on and out of the town she continues to call home. The relationship between Hope and Silas is one of second chances, of a sorts, between former friends whose unrequited love for one another has never been acknowledged. Thirteen years hardened Hope’s heart to the man with whom she would fall in love but thirteen years also brought memories from a time long ago The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. We are introduced to many of the townies of Deep River Alaska including Hope’s mother Angela, bartender Axel ; ferry operator Kevin Anderson; general store owner Malcolm Cooper; tourism operator Sandy; mayor Astrid James; and wannabe luxury motel owner Mike Flint. We are also introduced to Silas’ partner Damon. COME HOME TO DEEP RIVER is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; power, money and greed and control. The fast paced premise is engaging and entertaining; the romance is captivating; the characters are energetic, colorful and charismatic.

Poignant, lyrical second-chance romance A tragedy brings Silas home after more than a decade, but he's determined to protect his heart by not staying any longer than necessary. Finding himself face to face with Hope - the only woman he's ever loved - is harder to bear than losing his best friend and inheriting the town that has been in Caleb's family for over a hundred years. I love the world-building in this story - Deep River is everything a small, remote town should be, with amazing characters and histories so intertwined that belonging is a real, tangible thing. I adored the way the author tore down all the walls, exposing both Silas's and Hope's inner hearts and all their insecurities and misconceptions that have kept them from finding their happiness. It's a wonderfully deep sociology study and I loved every bit of it. The romance gets a solid HEA, but the story of what Caleb's death really brings to the town is only partially solved in this book. I highly recommend reading all three books in this series for the full story about the crisis they face and the spirit that pulls them all together.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jackie Ashenden and I enjoyed it. This is centered around Silas and Hope. Silas, Hope, and Caleb were best friends and then Caleb and Silas left thirteen years ago. Caleb came back to visit, since his family is the town’s founder. Now Caleb is dead and Silas and two of his buddies have inherited Deep River, Alaska. He’s going to turn it over to Hope and get back to his business in Anchorage. Things don’t go as smooth as Silas would like and his departure is delayed. Silas has always loved Hope, but she wanted Caleb. Will they be able to rekindle their friendship before he leaves? No spoilers, so grab your copy and see what happens, especially when the town leaves about the oil in the ground. This book may not cover a great amount of time, but it’s a long book. I enjoyed reading about all the different characters and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my my voluntary and honest review.