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Five stars! I loved this book! I loved the characters and the setting! A must read! ( )

Autumn Skies by Denise Hunter is a 2020 Thomas Nelson publication.

The plan was to get the Bluebell Inn in shape to sell it. Now the Bennett siblings feel that time has come. With Levi and Molly all set to move forward with their lives, Grace is the one who will be staying in Bluebell, North Carolina. She still has a few moves to make before the inn sells so she needs to get busy getting her business in shape before the inn sells and her siblings leave. But her plans are diverted when Wyatt Jennings shows up for an extended stay at the inn.

When Grace realizes Wyatt needs a mountain guide, she readily volunteers despite some reservations and her sister’s concern. But once they are alone together, they find it easy to discuss their pasts, and get to know each other a little bit, yet they each hold back information about themselves not knowing that key events in their past are about to have huge impact on their future.

This story has a little bit of suspense mixed in the family drama and romance, which I loved. Grace is the youngest and her siblings still treat her like a child, though she is twenty-one, and is a business owner in her own right- but even Wyatt believes she’s too innocent to get involved with him. But Grace is determined to prove herself, while also finally facing a nightmare from her childhood that resurfaces in her nightmares and occasionally causes full blown panic attacks.

Wyatt works in security, specialized security- but is still haunted by his mother’s death. So, when circumstances arise that put him on leave, he decides to return to Bluebell, hoping to somehow come to terms with what happened all those years ago.

Survivor’s guilt is a big theme in this story with our two MC suffering from this syndrome. I liked the way the past merged with the present and offered them both a bit of long overdue redemption. The situation presented in the story is definitely an unusual one- but the way it brought two people together who needed to find closure, despite the oddity of the circumstances, could only have come from divine intervention.

Overall, a lovely story all around. I’m so glad I found this author- I get the romance and family dramas, with a sweet Christian message- without the language and explicit content I have grown so weary of. I’m looking forward to going back and reading Molly and Levi’s story someday.

4 stars

*Note: This is the last book in a trilogy- but I think these can be read as stand-alone novels- I just wanted to read a book set in the fall season. Other than knowing the two other siblings get a HEA- there’s no hint of how they got to that point – so no real spoilers if you happen to read them out of order. ( )

I've enjoyed Ms Hunter's novels in the past because they usually combine romance with spiritual growth/healing. But this story is mostly romance and not much else, which makes it entertaining enough but mostly fluff. The biggest character development is Wyatt realizing he is ready to move on from professional recognition to making a family his priority. ( )

Autumn Skies is the third book in the Bluebell Inn Series, following Lake Season and Carolina Breeze. In Autumn Skies, Grace Bennett, along with her sister, Molly, and brother, Levi, are making a success of running the Bluebell Inn. The three are finally ready to sell and move on with their lives, and for Grace, that means focusing full-time on her outfitter business, starting with finding a location outside of the inn from which to run it.
Wyatt Jennings is a secret service agent recovering from a bullet he took in the line of duty. He needs some down time before he can return to work so he can recover physically, but also to do some emotional healing. His search for healing takes him to Bluebell, to the Inn, and to the front desk where Grace Bennett is working. Grace and Wyatt both have healing to do, having both survived situations in which they lived because someone else died. Can they find healing together? Or will their pasts tear the two apart?
I really loved this story. I think that Grace and Wyatt are both interesting and likable characters. I like that they are seeking healing from trauma events in their pasts, seeking closure so they can move forward without the trauma continuing to affect their lives. I like that they were a strong and safe support system for each other. I appreciate that Denise Hunter writes cleans romance, and I appreciate the focus on faith in the story. I look forward to her next book.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ( )