Silver Thaw Book Review

 I got another book in this series and then knew that I needed to start at the beginning.  Silver Thaw By  Catherine Anderson is the first book in the series which seemed like the best place to start.  I just didn't know how heart wrenching a start it would be because once I started the book I couldn't put it down which meant that I got no sleep the night I started.

 

After years of living in fear of her husband, Amanda Banning has left him and moved to Mystic Creek, Oregon, for a fresh start. But she’s having a tough time providing for herself and her six-year-old daughter. Writing her secret yearnings on slips of paper and sending them into the wind helps her cling to the hope that things will get better…and that she can find happiness again.
 
Jeb Sterling has no idea that the handwritten messages he finds scattered across his land are the first hints that his life is about to change. Nor does he understand why he feels so compelled to help Amanda Banning and her daughter when a cold snap leaves them temporarily homeless. Maybe he’s inspired by Amanda’s courage or perhaps by her beautiful brown eyes. Either way, the man who once renounced love suddenly finds himself willing to do anything for the pair. Amanda seems to have given up on her dreams, but Jeb refuses to quit until he makes her every wish come true.…

This book follows Jeb Sterling who is part of a big family but now that he is turning 30 years old, he realizes that he needs to have his own family to make his life complete. Jeb is a woodworker who mainly works out of his house which means that he often doesn't see that many people.  His mom always told him that he would meet the right women when he least expected it. Amanda Banning is living in a badly maintained rental house with her daughter after leaving her abusive husband.  A horrible storm rips through the small town and the power goes out.  She is left to put her daughter under all the blankets and towels in the house to try to stay warm.  It gets so cold that pipes are freezing and Jeb comes to the door to try to help every one on the street.  He almost misses their house because there is no car but he stops because he sees footprints in the snow.  He convinces them to come and stay at his house for the sake of her daughter, she finally agrees! She starts cooking and helping out around the house and Jeb finds that he can't live without her or her daughter but Amanda is hesitant to believe.  He decides that the best course of action is to offer her a job taking care of his house. She again only agrees because it is in the best interest of her daughter. Amazing things happen and have me cheering throughout this book as well as crying because it is an emotional roller coaster. I hope that you check out this book and the rest of the series. I am on to the next book in the series now.