Dare Me Once by Shelly Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have enjoyed Ms. Alexander’s writing in the past, but I think this is my favorite of her books. Start with a single dad of a special needs son, add in a supportive family and watch what happens when a beautiful young woman takes refuge in the family’s resort as a way to hide from her past.
Every story has a moment of conflict, so the characters can deal with it and get their happily ever after. I really dislike when the conflict is the result of a “misunderstanding,” and either one or both of the characters overreact. I sometimes see the situation coming and it always makes me cringe. There was no such issue in this story. Lily had a secret, and we always knew that Trace and his family would find out about it, most likely not from Lily herself; what we didn’t know was how they would resolve it so they could be free to have their happy ending.
Having a special needs son myself, I could relate to Trace struggling to care for his child and often feeling like he wasn’t doing enough for him. I enjoyed getting to know Trace’s brothers, seeing them work together to support their family’s business, and I look forward to Elliot and Spencer’s stories as the Angel Fire Falls series continues.
