Bookish Thoughts: Under an Adirondack Sky by Karen Rock

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

Rebecca Day shrugged on her raincoat and eyed the rain tapping against the Koffee Kat's storefront window. It turned SoHo's block-paved streets into an impressionistic blur, the sidewalks uncharacteristically empty of tourists, the iron-trimmed buildings seeming to slide down like melting wax. A cab lurched along the road, sending up fans of dark spray.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from Books And A Beat hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

Teaser from 49%:

Time did fly. In fact, in his life, it simply disappeared. Great chunks of it, gone without him noticing . . . only now, he couldn't stop wanting it back. Or at least a way to slow it down.

What do you think? Would you keep reading?

Under an Adirondack Sky by Karen Rock

Harlequin Heartwarming, 2016

Romance; 384 pgs

In this sweet contemporary romance, our hero and heroine couldn't be more different--at least on the surface. Rebecca has a big heart she wears on her sleeve. Aiden keeps everything inside. Aiden is struggling to keep his father's business afloat and raise his siblings. He has little time on his hands for much of anything else. Rebecca is worried about her job as a school psychologist. Not all of her workmates accept her methods, feeling she's way too soft, and she has yet to gain tenure, which she desperately needs. Aiden's teenage brother Conner, is in serious trouble, facing being expelled from school. Rebecca is Conner's last chance--and maybe Aiden's last chance to save his relationship with his brother.

Rebecca has two weeks in the Adirondack Mountains to prove to the school board she has what it takes to help troubled teens. Aiden can't afford two weeks away from the tavern, but he has no choice if he wants to help his brother.

Both Rebecca and Aiden have their hearts in the right place. Orphaned at a young age, Rebecca was raised by a workaholic aunt. She knows what Conner is going through, vying for attention from his brother who won't give him the time of day. Aiden loves his family fiercely and keeping a roof over their head and food on the table is the one sure way he can do it, even if it means sacrificing social time for himself or with them. Aiden doesn't have time for love. And Rebecca won't settle for someone who doesn't have time for her. Yet neither can resist their attraction to each other.

The attraction between the two main characters is obvious from the moment they meet, and both struggle with it. Every time they give in, something comes up to make them regret it. The obstacles seem insurmountable.

While the romance is the main focus of the novel, it was impossible not to get attached to the kids Rebecca is trying to help. The wilderness program she and other child psychologists have put together to help troubled kids gets off to a rough start, but that was expected. The hope is giving the kids new experiences outside of their home environments will help them with their various issues. Conner in particular proves to be a challenge. All of the kids are basically good kids who have made crappy decisions. Whether it be from their past or family lives.

Is everything a little too perfect? Probably. It's a Heartwarming Romance after all. I found Under An Adirondack Sky entertaining and enjoyable. The characters were relatable and good together. I like that things didn't come easily for Aiden and Rebecca, especially where Conner was concerned. Under An Adirondack Sky was a nice escape.

To learn more about Karen Rock and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about Under the Adirondack Sky on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour.  Review copy provided by publisher for an honest review.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.