Autumn Skies by Denise Hunter

 

Autumn Skies by Denise Hunter

Autumn Skies is book three and final installment in the Bluebell Inn romance series.

Let’s begin with the summary:

When a mysterious man turns up at Grace’s family-run inn, there's instant attraction. But she’s already got a lot on her plate: running the Bluebell Inn by herself now that her siblings and co-owners have moved on, getting her new store Blue Ridge Outfitters off the ground, and coping with a childhood event she’d thought was long past.

A gunshot wound has resurrected the past for secret service agent Wyatt Jennings, and a mandatory leave of absence lands him in Bluebell, North Carolina. There he must try and come to grips with the crisis that altered his life forever.

Grace needs experience for her new outfitters business, so when Wyatt needs a mountain guide, she’s more than happy to help. As their journey progresses, Wyatt begins opening up to Grace, and he finds himself drawn to Grace’s fresh outlook and sense of humor.

There’s no doubt the two have formed a special bond, but will Wyatt’s secrets bring Grace’s world crashing down? Or will those secrets end up healing them both?

And now, my review:

This series is based on both a location and sibling group. Grace is the youngest sister, and she has watched her older siblings find romance as potential love interests visit the inn. Now, it’s her turn.

I enjoyed the location, so picturesque and homey—their inn on the lake. Again, the same overarching noble quest remains—keep their late parents’ dream alive. Each sibling uses their specific gifts to benefit the family business. Grace dreams of venturing out, as a businesswoman and as the youngest, leaving the nest.

We root for her from the beginning. Denise is a masterful storyteller who creates likable heroines and heroes.

Both Grace and Wyatt need healing from severe past wounds. I like how the past issues weaved into the present, demanding attention and pushing the hero and heroine toward healing—a journey they’d end up taking together as the story plays out.

The heroine is a competent, strong heroine with a caring manner. We want to see things turn out well for her. As the youngest, she has to tolerate her older siblings seeing her as a child but readers will respect her.

The hero’s occupation and nobility elicit readers’ respect as well. We want him to succeed, to be able to move past his previous pain and find freedom.

One of the novel's themes is misplaced guilt. Readers may relate to this because sometimes we blame ourselves when past incidents aren’t our fault, especially if we were children and did not have agency, resources, maturity, strength, wisdom, or opportunities.

I read this book about 2.5 years after its release, and I’m so glad I got to revisit this series, this location, and these great characters. 

A satisfying end to the Bluebell Inn series.