Book Review: The Maple Ridge Collection

 


Coming home for Christmas wasn’t supposed to break me open, but here we are. My sisters and I return to Maple Ridge, expecting goodbyes, and end up facing every version of ourselves we had tried to outgrow. Grief hits hard. Love hits harder. And somehow, in the middle of loss and holiday chaos, we’re learning how to be whole—together, messy, and more vulnerable than we’ve ever allowed.


This is an interconnected christmas novella. It is highly recommended for the series to be read together. Be sure to continue this story by reading Kept for Christmas by Brianna Rusler and Home for Christmas by Elsa Wilde & Jade Katzchen .

This story contains details that some readers may find triggering. Reader's discretion is highly advised.


My Review

Talk about an opening scene. From the little bit I knew about Margaret, I loved her. She was so kind to open her doors and heart for Kilah, Emery, and Lily Anne. These three women would not be where they are now if not for Margaret. 

This is Kilah's story. Kilah and Beau were never involved romantically when they were younger, but Beau has already been there for Kilah when she needed him. Now years later, Kilah needs Beau's help again. I felt like the connection they shared ran deeper than just a physical one. 

I liked this story. There was brief mention of trauma that Kilah experienced when she was younger that drew Beau to her side. Yet, it was not expanded on too much in the story. The story, despite a death in the opening scene was a charming story. 



Emery Rhodes returns to Maple Ridge expecting grief, but the last person she expects to face is Noah Beckett—the first boy she ever loved and the one she walked away from. Now he’s older and living a life she never let herself imagine. Grief softens their defenses. Familiar sparks burn hotter than either of them planned. A sudden snowstorm traps them under the same roof, pushing old feelings dangerously close to the surface. As Christmas settles over the small town they once shared, Emery begins to wonder if the future she ran from might be the one she wants most.


My Review

This second story in this collection features Emery and her former boyfriend, Noah. She broke his heart years ago. There is some past hurt from Noah, but he is not heartless. When Emery is hurting with the loss of her mother, he comforts her. 

This story featured only one intimate scene between Noah and Emery, but it was enough. It showed the true feelings that these two still shared with each other. Yet, the lead up to the moment was natural. Because Noah and Emery were not planning on the moment, but it happened, felt even better. 



I return to Maple Ridge with my sisters to say goodbye to the only woman who has shown us what a home is meant to be. Everything is moving and changing, and I'm afraid I'll be left behind again. Enter Kingston, the man who hired me to paint for him. One thing leads to another, and I find myself learning that I can always find home.


My Review

Out of the three stories in this collection, this story is my favorite. Of the three sisters, Lily Anne seemed the most lost. When she had that breakdown and recoiled into herself. my heart was breaking for her. Yet, the way that Kingston rushed to show Lily Anne, she was ok and he would never leave her was great. 

This story mixed a bit of enemies to lovers with grumpy and sunshine tropes. Despite Kingston and Lily Anne not knowing each other that long, I was fine with how it did not take too long before these two hooked up. This story is a really good ending to this collection. 



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