It’s Christmas in Twilight, Texas. The Cookie Club is baking, the town is decorated, and Delta Force Operator “Hutch” Hutchinson has finally, reluctantly, returned home . . .. . . only to get pepper sprayed by the delicious- looking stranger who’s taken over his house. She says her name is Jane, and she immediately sets down ground rules. Top priority: no touching. For Hutch that isn’t easy—he … that isn’t easy—he was wounded in action, but one part is still working very well.
Then Hutch learns the truth. Jane harbors a frightening secret—she’s really Meredith Sommers, on the run from a dangerous ex-husband and desperately in need of the safety Hutch can provide. In that moment, he vows he’d do anything in his power to protect her. And as Christmas approaches, they discover that their love can conquer the past and overcome any obstacle—but what price will they pay?
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Although an older book, I just grabbed it as one of the Christmas books I’m reading this year. I’ve not disliked anything Lori Wilde has written. This story grabs the heartstrings with all the sadness and tragedy. The children just pull the mommy/grandmommy strings in my heart. Hutch comes home from the military after a tragic string of events, only to find his niece abandoned by his mentally unhealthy sister to a virtual stranger. The stranger, Jane/Meredith, has problems of her own, but Hutch needs her to help take care of his niece, Kimmie and she has great references, her adorable son, Ben. The twists and turns made for a complex and startling story centered around Christmas in a fairytale town where they go all out celebrating the season. But you won’t believe how they reach the “happily ever after” unless you read it for yourself and I strongly recommend you do just that!
Rich with emotion and longing, “Christmas at Twilight” is a touching holiday addition to author Lori Wilde’s popular “Twilight, Texas” series. Captain Brian “Hutch” Hutchinson, war-wounded, and scarred inside and out, is discharged from the Army after being the lone survivor of the battle which took the lives of his men. Unable to speak and suffering from PTSD, he has no place to go but back to his home in Twilight, TX. His sister and young daughter have been living in his house, but that’s not who greets him once he makes it home. Instead, a small, uber-defensive woman blasts him with concentrated pepper-spray, and the neighbors who know him as a friend have to come to his rescue. After realizing her mistake, Meredith Sommers does what she can to make amends–not easy with someone she has just disabled, especially when the man can’t speak. As soon as she is able, Meredith, who goes by the name “Jane Brown”, explains that Hutch’s sister Ashley had taken her in after her van had broken down on the side of the road. Ashley’s daughter, Kimmie, and Jane’s son, Ben, had immediately bonded, and staying at Ashley’s house turned out to be the break she needed. Unfortunately, Ashley, who has emotional issues of her own, has just taken off to Mexico with a man she just met, leaving Kimmie and the house in Jane’s care. Hutch communicates to Jane that the house is actually his, and seeing that he will need help with his niece, he asks Jane to stay. They work out an agreement, Jane’s rules apply–or nothing doing, and they both agree to make a happy holiday for the children. “Jane” is not fooling Hutch, however. He knows walking-wounded when he sees it, and he hasn’t missed her own scars and her attempts to alter her appearance. That doesn’t keep him from being attracted to her, a feeling which he knows is mutual. Meredith can’t help but being drawn to Hutch, and that scares her because he makes her vulnerable with the feelings of need he stirs. Meredith can’t afford to let her guard down–she’s “Jane”, and she’s on the run from a danger as real to her as the nightmares which haunt Hutch. Can these two hearts find healing and mutual support with each other? Can passion and love and a lifetime of happiness be theirs for the taking? Author Lori Wilde has written a beautifully poignant holiday love story which will resonate in the hearts of readers.
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Awesome Series
Another great book from Lori Wilde. Love the Twilight series.
4.5 Stars
Lori Wilde seems to be either a hit or a miss for me. All the books in the Twilight, Texas series have been a hit! Including this one.
Ms. Wilde dealt with some really heavy topics in this book. Domestic violence, mental illness and PTSD in war veterans being the main issues. It’s amazing to me that she could put so many heavy topics into one romance novel and have it still be a really sweet story!
The two little 4 year old kids were probably my favorite part! I was pleased with the way their dialogue was written. It made if very clear that they were 4 and not older. Sometimes I feel like kids are older when they’re not supposed to be because their dialogue is written to much like an an older kid’s.
Despite Hutch being mute for 60% of the book, there was enough internal dialogue to know him and Meredith was his perfect match so she was able to understand him most of the time through facial expression and hand gestures.
I was very pleased that both hero and heroine weren’t super closed off to each other despite their individual struggles. Overall, character progression was awesome! Even though both characters took longer to open up to other town members, they opened up to each other, which was the most important part!
I did find a bit of Hutch’s emotional confessions of love and the future toward the end to be a bit fantastical. I’ve never heard a man speak that way in real life. I rolled my eyes several times at some of his dialogue.
There was a little bit of foul language, a few f bombs and the other four letter words, but not an over excessive amount. Two love scenes. Both pretty tame and not super detailed.
Overall, really great book!