By Denise Hunter
Thomas Nelson, 2023
336 pages
Amazon Description: He’s here to train her horses, and then he’s moving on. She’s keeping her true identity a secret. But their spark complicates both of their plans.
When her mother’s death leaves Charlotte Simpson bereft, she hopes the Robinson clan will accept her as one of their own and help fill the void. But a startling discovery dashes her hopes and leaves her wondering if she will ever know the father she’s always longed for.
Horse trainer Gunner Dawson has experienced profound loss and intends to avoid it. So he lives on the move without forming close bonds or putting down roots. When Charlotte hires him to work with her horses and help expand her ranch, he commits to staying for a few months. But he doesn’t count on getting caught up in Charlotte’s search for her biological father. Or on falling in love—with Riverbend Gap or with Charlotte. This time, he’s not sure if he’ll be able to move on—or if he even wants to.
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I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The fourth and final installment in the Riverbend Romance series, Wildflower Falls is a delight. The story follows Charlotte as she works to revitalize the horse farm her mother left her while also dealing with a surprising discovery about the father she never knew. Gunner is a nomad horse trainer who commits to six months of helping Charlotte, only to discover he fits in Riverbend and with Charlotte more than any other place he’s ever drifted through.
Wildflower Falls is a book about family more than anything else. The characters explore what it means to be a family, because that looks different for different people, and how significant and impactful the love and loyalty of family can be. It’s truly heart-warming to watch Charlotte wade bravely into some messy family drama and do her best to navigate it so as not to hurt anyone. She doesn’t do it perfectly, but it’s touching to see the grace and forgiveness extended by her siblings in a tough circumstance.
Charlotte and Gunner’s romance was just right. There was the perfect amount of chemistry and push/pull as they tried to figure out what they each wanted and needed. It has a sweet ending that I really enjoyed.
Even though Wildflower Falls is part of a series, it works just fine as a standalone. You’ll enjoy seeing some repeat characters if you’ve read the other books, but you won’t be confused if you start here. I love Denise Hunter and am happy that this most recent release of hers was as good as I’ve come to expect.