GRR Reviews Saving Sara (Redemption Series Book 1) by Nicola Marsh

Saving Sara was about Sara's rediscovery of herself and possibly a romance. A secondary romance involving Aunt Cilla was somewhat distracting but sweet.

To recap... Sara Hardy had a perfect life... She had a successful career, a husband, and a beautiful young girl... then in a few days, her life turned upside down... When she inherited a cottage in Redemption, CT, she decided to start over, on her own. Elsewhere, Jake Mathieson was reeling from a tragedy for which he felt responsible when he was suddenly thrust into caring for a six-year-old nephew when his sister Rose went into rehab. Overwhelmed by parenting, he sought out his only other relative... Aunt Cilla in Redemption, CT whom he had not contacted in 12 years... Aunt Cilla is a widow who put up with abuse for years, an act that even drove her only daughter, Tam, away. Aunt Cilla found herself suddenly overwhelmed with Jake and the kid, a new neighbor Sara, and also found herself being wooed by the doctor at the hospital where she volunteered... a man 18 years younger than she is, while Jake was intrigued by Sara and slowly drew her out of her shell... Sara desperately wanted to move on from her tragedy, but she's not sure how... Can she trust Jake enough to give love another try?

The book overall feels somewhat slow, as you don't see the two characters coming together. The intro teaser only made sense after you read through several chapters and I felt it was too weird, and Jake's relocation to Redemption seems to be too "forced". The push-pull between Jake and Sara is good, with some trope about Olly interrupting in the wrong time and all. Do we really need Aunt Cilla's romance in there? Or does that doc (in his 40's) wants aunt Cilla (in her 50's to 60's)? I honestly don't know. Don't feel too much chemistry there other than Aunt Cilla coming out of her shell as well. But I liked the book enough to recommend it.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman Rocked By Devastating Loss Decided to Start Over, Met Hunky Guy Trying to Care for His Nephew (and Failing)

Tropes: single parent, sudden family, grief, scars, cougar, small town

Overall Rating: 4/5 (rounded up from 3.5/5)