Harmony's Embrace

Amber Daulton

Nov 2020 · The Wild Rose Press Inc

About this ebook

Divorced dad Birley Haynes is too busy raising his children and running his family's music academy to start a relationship. Then accountant Harmony Holdich, his high school sweetheart, returns home to Willow Springs, Vermont for Christmas and falls into his bed. She brings light and fun back into his life, but he can't brush aside the threatening incidents around his workplace. Harmony hadn't expected a complication like Birley, especially so soon after the death of her unfaithful husband. With her life a mess, she plans to move across the country and start over. All she can offer him is a fling, but her heart yearns for more. When the threats rise, how will Birley keep his children safe and convince Harmony to give love another chance?

Ratings and reviews

I enjoyed this "Deerbourne Inn" story about second chances. The story is about high school sweethearts finding each other again. Both Harmony and Birley have failed marriages. His ended in divorce and now he focus on music and his kids. Hers ended in death and now she has returned Willow Springs. He never forgot his first love and quickly sets things in motion for them to reconnect. This is a fairly quick read with some drama, excitement, threats, passion and love.

RETURNING HOME The story is an addition to the various author's tales featured around Deerbourne Inn in Willow Springs, Vermont. Deerbourne Inn is a local bed and breakfast that is a historical home. The books are each designed to be read as a stand-alone. The story is a second-chance romance for two people—childhood to high school sweethearts that drifted apart. Now, they find each other again—but will they be two lovers reconnecting temporarily, or will they find their happily ever after ending. Harmony Holdich will come back to Willow Springs, Vermont, and visit with her Uncle Stan. She has been living in Miami, Florida, but that will be changing. Harmony's life has had some significant changes in the last year—she first filed for divorce because her husband, Claude, was cheating on her, but he was killed in an accident several weeks later, so instead, she was widowed. She learns that the marriage was riddled with lies and problems. After visiting Vermont, she plans on moving to California to be closer to her parents. Birley Haynes is now in charge of the family music academy so his parents can retire and travel. He will be handling its financial aspect while teaching classes. His two siblings also teach classes. Birley had been married, has two children, and has custody of them after their mother left. The story's plot will have Birley learn that Harmony is back in Willow Springs and decides he needs to see her. They were sweethearts, first loves, but youth and foolishness broke them apart after high school. She is the one he regrets letting get away. The connection shows there is still chemistry between them—but she also lets him know that this is just a temporary visit, that she plans to move to California to be near her family. "The thirteen years from their breakup to now had been a stupid waste of time. Could he spare a few months, another year, to give her time to heal? He'd do anything for Harmony, but he didn't have much time to spare." Birley: I don't want to take advantage, but would you like to hang out sometime? Harmony: Hang out? What are we—fifteen again? Birley: Nope. We're no longer cash-strapped teenagers. I'll treat you to a real dinner. Candles, tablecloths, the works. Harmony: You've gone from friends hanging out type deal to a date. Which is it? Birley: Whatever you're game for. If you want to be friends, that's fine, but we're both single now. The stars have aligned in our favor. A date could be fun. Harmony: I was planning to borrow Stan's car and go skiing tomorrow. Do you want to join me? Birley: All right. You, me, and the slopes. It's a date. Harmony: You're still a charmer. The story is a second-chance romance with angst, mystery, suspense, danger, and trouble-makers. It will have Birley and Harmony reconnecting, but she doesn't have plans to stay, only visit. Will being with Birley again change her mind? Who is threatening Haynes Music Academy and why? When things go from messages to violence, lives are at risk—it isn't just the Academy threatened; Birley, his children, and even Harmony face danger. I loved the chemistry between Harmony and Birley—and how well she interacts with his children. When his ex-wife shows up and disrupts things, Harmony steps back, and Birley will have to make a move to bring about peace. The story does have steamy scenes between the couple, and it does have the coveted happily ever after ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. A slow burn second chance for Birley and Harmony that almost doesn't make it until both of them decide to fight to be together. Along the way they have to deal with a greedy ex and a vengeful ex employee but both are finally dealt with. I hope everything they wish comes true for this couple.

About the author

Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and are available in ebook, print on demand, and audio formats. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.