This was such a charming book. It was emotional and heart-warming. The H and h were both very realistic and well developed characters who I enjoyed watching come together. My only real complaint is that it was a bit rushed at the end and I wish we had spent a bit more time on Thanksgiving day itself with the characters. ( )

3.5 stars--The theme of family plays a big role in this book. Clay comes back to his family (brother Jesse and sister Maya). That part of the story reminds me a bit of the Biblical story of the Prodigal Son. Maya, Greg, Layla, and Tommy are trying to form a family through Maya's and Greg's marriage and through adopting Tommy. Nicki is forging a family with Kacey, whom she hopes to adopt. And, in a way, the whole town is one big family, helping each other out after the storm.

This book in the series focuses mainly on Clay and Nicki, though we do get some glimpses into the other characters in the series as well. Clay and Nicki dated during high school, but after a confrontation with his brother, Clay left town, and Nicki, behind. It seems they've both retained feelings for each other, but those feelings are now tempered with distrust--not helped by Nicki's mother's views on Clay.

We do get to see Jesse's fourth nanny briefly in this series--she seems to be a youngster who's a bit overwhelmed by having 3 babies to take care of on her own and who is a bit self-centered in that her own date is more important than the babies she's been entrusted to take care of. Yes, she does leave them with their uncle (whom she does not know) but she doesn't even make sure he knows how to take care of babies before taking off. I can see why Jesse wasn't keen on giving her a second chance to do the right thing--his girls are just babies and I can understand why he feels he has to trust the person he's leaving them with. We have mention of the fifth nanny but (spoiler alert!) no idea what happens with her that she'll be gone by book 6 of the series.

Avery's blushes around Jesse may also be explained in book 6. ( )

A wonderful read for those relaxing evenings by the fireplace. Davids packs faith, forgiveness, love, and family into this story. I loved all the characters, as well as the plot.

Davids writes about a rekindled love, a little girl in need of a family after being orphaned during a twister, and a torn apart by that twister. As I read this book, I found myself wishing it wouldn't end. I could feel God moving through the pages as He guided the characters.

After the book ended, and I said goodbye (though I didn't want to!) to the characters, I knew the message that Davids wove between the lines of this amazing story. The meaning of family and what it truly means to be thankful. I know what I'm thankful for.....do you???

Five stars and two thumbs, definitely!!!

*This book was purchased by me for my own collection* ( )