Close to Home

I was so excited to return to Sanctuary Island, and my visit did not disappoint. A marriage of convenience between Johnny and Tessa has lasted many years. Johnny comes home from assignment to divorce papers, he sets out to find his wife. Tessa is now living on Sanctuary Island, she is willing to give Johnny four weeks to find out it is true love or just a pity marriage. They soon find out their is much love to their marriage. Soon their love is threatened by a mystery man on the island, but once again Johnny steps up to protect Tessa.

Loved this story of Tessa and Johnny, follow your heart and it will lead you home. Great characters, along with secondary characters. Can't wait to read Quinn and Marcus's story. Love the town of Sanctuary Island, such fun residents.

I was always hoping for more Sanctuary stories!! Thank you Lily Evertt!! I highly recommend this book, it is part of series but can be read as stand alone.

3.5 Stars, Rounded
Tessa made the difficult decision to leave a marriage that was unfulfilling and secretive, even though the love was there. See, Johnny was everything she wanted in a husband: faithful, loving and protective, but he always kept her out of his deepest thoughts and dreams – and she just wanted (and deserved) more. So she set him free, and went to Sanctuary Island to set up her new life, and has been finding her footing and comfort in becoming the person she felt she was meant to be: making friends, decisions for herself, and most importantly, making choices that make her happy.

Johnny never expected Tessa would go: he loved her, he cherished her, but he couldn’t share all of his life with her: it was too dangerous. But, now she’s gone and he’s not willing to lose her. He knows that he loves her, and that she loves him, or at least he hopes she still does. So he tracks her down to Sanctuary Island, only to find that the meek and rather quiescent woman he married is all grown up, making choices and decisions with alacrity, and is even more desirable than he thought possible.

A lovely story of second chances, commitment and forgiveness, as both characters grow from their old version of a marriage and relationship into the new one. Tessa has learned that she can’t, and won’t, accept a man who is closing off large portions of his life to her, even with the best of intentions. And Johnny has to learn that you can’t truly love someone if you are hiding major parts of your life. Together they discover a balance between his need to protect and her needs to feel valued and trusted. And most of all, Johnny has hidden just HOW much he needs and wants Tessa in his life: he’s got to find a way to share these feelings, no matter how scary or unsettling, to prove that he is worth her taking another chance on him.

Wonderfully developed and written, this story shows the transformative power in honest communication of true feelings, fears and desires, as Tessa found her courage to move on for what she truly wanted, even if that meant giving up the man she loved. As Johnny realized that the love was still within his grasp, he had to learn to reach for it and face his fears to reach for the one person that makes him feel safe.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

My first time reading this author. This is a clean romance story about second chances.Tessa ran away from her home at the age of seventeen. Her family lived in a commune and never ventured out into town. But Tessa gets sick and her mother takes her to the doctor and she is diagnosed with seizures, that can b treated with meds. Her father refuses, she runs away and ends up in a barn on Johnny's farm. He is a couple of years older and takes her in and marries her at eighteen.

Johnny was in the Army and the joined ATF. He was undercover for twenty seven months, when he comes out, Tessa has left and left him divorce papers to sign. Johnny isn't giving her up without a fight. So he locates her on a tiny island working in a bakery. Happier than he's ever seen her. They both agree to couples counseling.

Tessa has loved Johnny from the moment she meet him and eight years later hasn't changed that. But she needs his love in return and he doesn't believe in love. He believes in his promise to protect her. Can they work past their problems to find their way back to each other?

Secrets. Secondary characters interesting. Not exactly a cliffhanger but you know there will have to be a book about them. Better than I expected.

*Voluntarily reviewed from Netgalley *