Autumn Skies - (Bluebell Inn Romance) by Denise Hunter (Paperback)

Oh, the Bennett siblings.... they're truly delightful and I'm sad that this is the end of our journey with them. But what a journey it's been! This book can be read as a stand-alone but reading the series in order will totally enhance the experience at the Bluebell Inn. I loved that Levi and Molly get married during this story and that we get to see more of Molly and Adam as a married couple. Grace is sweetness, fun playfulness, and loyal tenderness in an outdoors-loving package who is running her own outfitters shop. Wyatt is a Secret Service Agent whose emotional wounds bring him back to Bluebell so that he can dig through his painful past and find healing. Wyatt is a different type of hero from Adam and Levi and I really enjoyed his stoic protective vibe along with his deep thoughtfulness and steadfast love. Their romance is heart-stirring and their path to healing is heart-breaking but so gratifying at the end. No one writes contemporary romance like Denise Hunter!

This third installment in the “Bluebell Inn Romance” series does not disappoint. A nice way to finish off the trilogy, Autumn Skies ties up the loose ends and brings to a close the story of the Bennett siblings’ family inn and love lives. Following the story of Grace, the early twenties sibling who runs her own outdoor sporting equipment store out of the Bluebell Inn, readers are treated to a delightful story perfect for reading with a nice cup of tea or apple cider. Gunshot wound victim and Secret Service agent Wyatt comes to the inn for a little healing, both physically as well as from some painful childhood memories that have been haunting him. There’s an instant attraction with Grace, several years his junior, and this story follows as they overcome their childhood traumas and learn to heal as adults. I really enjoyed this story; there was a little bit of suspense as the characters’ backstories unfolded, and a quaint small-town feel that really emanates from the pages. It’s a nice cozy read for an autumn day, and a sweet love story to tie up the series. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Those dark eyes, so serious and observant. Did he make everyone feel like an ant under a microscope?" When Secret Service agent Wyatt Jennings arrives at the Bluebell Inn for some agency imposed rest and relaxation, he immediately catches Grace Bennett's attention. My goodness, he would catch anyone's attention. Dark eyes, dark hair, . . . . . .. well, quite honestly dark never looked so good. He's a man of few words, but the words he does use are direct and to the point, and admittedly Wyatt needs Grace's help. There are raging nightmares inside of him that demand to be tamed, so going back to where it all began seemed like the right thing to do, he just never anticipated meeting someone like dear, sweet, beautiful Grace. Grace Bennett's life is about to undergo tremendous change, she and her siblings are finally positioned to sell their beloved childhood home, the Bluebell Inn. Her sister is happily married, her brother's wedding is in a matter of weeks and Grace is poised to achieve her dream of owning and operating her own outfitters business. Then came Wyatt. Determined to help him locate a certain remote camp site near the Inn, that destination takes them far beyond anything that a map could provide. One of the sweetest romances that this author has ever written, Autumn Skies tenderly clutches the hopes and hearts of two guilt-ridden souls between its pages; the chemistry between Wyatt and Grace is pulsating and palpable, and their tentative , wobbly steps towards each other are absolutely endearing. The book was such a pleasure to read for the first time, and will be enjoyed many times hereafter.

This is the third book in the “A Bluebell Inn Romance” series. I will start off by saying that you will definitely enjoy this book better if you have not only read the other two but read them in order. Though if you have not, then you will still enjoy this book. As always Denise Hunter has a way of writing her characters and their story that just draws you in from the very beginning. This book is one that you won’t want to put down so be sure you have the time to read it in one sitting if possible or you will have to go through the struggle of putting it down. I do not want to give anything away about the book but the way this book ends will not disappoint those who love a good happy ending. If you read the other two books then you will have already read the stories of Molly and Levi Bennett which are Grace Bennett’s siblings. Grace Bennett is the main female character in the book and her leading man is Wyatt Jennings. She is so down to earth. I could see us becoming friends though I’m not as outdoorsy as she is.

“Reading people was part of Wyatt Jennings’s job, and judging by the look on his boss’s face, the news wasn’t good.” - Opening line of “Autumn Skies” by Denise Hunter Having thoroughly enjoyed “Lake Season”, and “Carolina Breeze, it was with eager anticipation I opened “Autumn Skies”, the final book in the Bluebell Inn Romance series. Denise Hunter delivers a cozy romance mystery like none other! I love spending time with these characters in this town, each carefully created, warm and sincere. We finally get to hear Grace’s story and she is both delightful and complex. She is struggling to accept her future as her siblings plan to leave Bluebell Inn. Though it was always the plan, Grace is concerned she will be lonely in their absence. A childhood trauma taints her ability to accept herself and she struggles with worthiness. Secret service agent, Wyatt, arrives in Bluebell to investigate a mystery in his past. Trauma clouds his memory and he hopes revisiting the scene will jolt him into recalling key details. In putting the past to bed, he hopes to find a purpose and acceptance in his future. Bluebell Inn is Wyatt’s former home and so, in staying there, he connects with Grace and hires her to help him navigate the area. The two go on an adventure in the wilderness, discovering more about themselves and each other. Whilst the mystery is sad, the combination of Wyatt and Grace is full of humour. They encounter all sorts of challenges and have to draw on each other’s strength and faith to get through it. It’s with the first two in the series, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale.

I’ve loved this series and don’t want it to end. But, since it must, I can say Hunter has done a fabulous job with the finale. I’ve liked Grace from the start, and have been anxious to see how her story would unfold. And what an intriguing story it is. I thought this installment was darker, and the subject matter heavier, but it really did show what Grace overcame to be the spunky, adventure loving gal she is. I liked Wyatt Jennings and the transformation he had. He was a good man with a good heart, who needed closure in order to move forward. Together he and Grace set out to unravel a mystery that interweaves their lives, and in the process find a love they hadn’t been looking for. There are plenty of lighthearted moments with the other Bennett siblings, and Levi’s wedding to Mia Emerson is a sweet diversion. For me, Autumn Skies was about finding what’s important and overcoming the bad things that can happen to us in life. They may change us, and we may never be the same, but we can learn to see the beauty God has placed in our lives if we trust in who He is. I wish we didn’t have to say goodbye to these characters, but it’s a bang-up conclusion that I think you’ll be pleased with. Hunter consistently writes stellar books and this one is another five-star for sure. I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed in this review are my own. Just as an FYI, I pre-ordered the book long before I knew I would receive the ARC through Netgalley, and I look forward to adding it to my Denise Hunter collection.