3.5 Stars

Going in to Strawberry Hill I thought this was a romance between Erin, the new Mystic Creek Deputy and Wyatt, a ranch foreman who is deaf, because there are two book descriptions out there and the one originally read was about Erin and Wyatt. I didn’t realize this until I got to the epilogue and Erin and Wyatt hadn’t exchange as much as a kiss through the story, and I went onto Goodreads to investigate. I think I would’ve enjoyed this story more if I’d known this was Vicky and Slade’s romance going in. I wouldn’t have had expectations for Erin and Wyatt only to be disappointed.

I’ve featured the accurate book description for this story above, because this is mainly a romance between Vicky and Slade, a couple torn apart right before their wedding day some forty-years earlier. Now, in their 60’s Vicky feels it’s time to confront Slade about the past and she intends to make him own up to responsibilities she thinks he’s knowingly ignored all these years.

I had fun with all the characters, Vicky and Slade were very likable and hilarious at times, and I loved all of Erin and Wyatt’s interactions. Erin kind of made a fool of herself as a Deputy Sheriff when she doesn’t realize Wyatt is deaf. They’re both very much attracted, but Wyatt is hesitant for reasons I’m not yet sure of at this point. I was totally enamored with Wyatt and in awe of his abilities with horses and people even with his disability. It was almost uncanny. Erin and Wyatt had a lot of page time and I kept thinking they’d transition into more.

But I think the biggest hang-up for me here was the forty-years Vicky and Slade wasted being apart, mainly Vicky’s fault, in my opinion. Instead of hashing out an accusation, Vicky broke off their engagement and took off. Also, Vicky seemed to think the world of Slade but still wouldn’t take his word even when never wavered about his innocence all these years later. I was baffled by Vicky’s stubborn refusal to believe Slade when she supposedly had such a high opinion of him. It bothers me that they could’ve been happy together all those years, especially because neither healed or moved on after the breakup. When I finished, I just kept thinking about all that wasted time and it just made me sad.

Still, while I was reading, I wasn’t as stuck on these things, I was more in the moment, so I did enjoy the story as I was reading it. Vicky’s lack of confidence in Slade’s word was annoying, but they just seemed so meant-to-be every time they were together. They had an easy rapport, and their chemistry was impossible to ignore.

I really liked the little town of Mystic Creek Catherine Anderson created. It’s beautifully described, and the characters were both quirky and charming. The idea of a camp vacation with horses sounds like a lot of fun. The pine, moss, and starry nights came to life with Ms. Anderson’s writing.

While I think Vicky and Slade’s romance was bittersweet, even with the wonderful ending, I am totally looking forward to Erin and Wyatt’s romance which I hope is next!

Strawberry Hill by Catherine Anderson is the 5th book in her Mystic Creek series. Each one of the books in this series usually centers on two couples; one being an older couple. In Strawberry Hill, the older couple is the main couple, though early on in the book, it seemed to be focused on the younger couple. I was surprised, especially since the younger couple was centered more at the start of the book, and the official description doesn’t even mention them.

We meet Erin, a new cop, who is sent by her commanding officer to make sure riders are following the rules. She comes across Wyatt, a rancher, whom she finds out later works for her uncle, Slade, whom we met in the prologue, which took place 40 years earlier when he was rescuing a baby bear. Unbeknownst to Erin, when she tries to question Wyatt, he rides on ignoring her. She later finds out that he is deaf, and slowly after a bad start they become friends, with a common bond to help her uncle.

At this point, they become the back story, and Slade Wilder takes center stage, trying to hire a cook for his ranch. When Slade meets his new cook, Vickie Brown, to his chagrin, he recognizes her as the girl who broke his heart 40 years ago, whom he never forgot. Vickie came to the Wilder Ranch to confront Slade about his ignoring her letters years before, telling him she was pregnant and now is determined to confront him with the truth about his son.

What follows is a nice romance about a couple that never has forgotten their love years before, and in a short time the chemistry between them comes flooding back, but first they need to resolve the misunderstandings from the past that cost them all those years. Vickie had left Slade when she find out he slept with a friend, which he denied, but she had proof. When she sent him three letters about his son, she went on with her life til now. Slade was upset that she didn’t tell him; despite her saying he ignored her letters. They will discover the truth about the sabotages to their relationship, and who was responsible. Will they find a way 40 years later to stay together and resume their love for each other?

It was a nice romance of a likeable older couple, and Vickie was a riot pulling pranks on Slade. I did keep waiting for the continuation of Erin and Wyatt. I really enjoyed the glimpses of the bear (the baby he nursed back to health all those years ago), as this was a fun part of the story, as some of the bear’s antics were hilarious.

Catherine Anderson once again gives us a wonderful story that was very well written. I suggest if you have not read the Mystic Creek series, you need to do so soon and start with the first book.

STRAWBERRY HILL is book number five in Catherine Anderson’s Mystic Creek series. As always each story in this lovely series stands alone.
Ever get so bad – just crazy angry. Well be prepared for that to happen while reading STRAWBERRY HILL by Catherine Anderson. Ever heard the expression – life isn’t fair. Well for many of the characters in this book that would be an accurate mantra. Life just didn’t play fair and circumstances piled up against them. Luckily they were tough enough to break through barriers and find a measure of success perhaps or at least find a life that did ultimately provide some goodness.
Slade spent most of his life building a successful business and was a well-respected rancher. The one thing he always wanted was a family. Sure he has some extended family but the one woman he had seen as his future abruptly ended their engagement. And believe it or not Slade never filled the void she left.
The future of his ranch, as he approaches mid sixty, is in question. The likely candidate to take over is his niece but Erin had joined the sheriff’s department and lately is candidly too busy to even visit her favorite uncle. Not making Slade a happy camper.
Wyatt, Slade’s foreman, has developed a tough demeanor with Erin. He know that his boss covets idea of family. But what most don’t truly realize is behind that façade of being okay Slade is still nursing a broken heart missing Vickie. Slade hasn’t seen Vickie in over forty years. Sounds rather silly. But some loves just don’t die. Sure there are regrets. Decisions that perhaps were too quick or hasty. But what’s in the past is gone and done. Or is it?
And that’s the core of STRAWBERRY HILL. For many folks the past just doesn’t want to fade away in the background. For some it leaves just a glimmer of hope. For others it opens a previously unknown door. And some it lays some harsh reminders of deceit.
As always Catherine Anderson creates some totally awesome and unforgettable characters in her newest book STRAWBERRY HILL. Slade is a wondrously silent hero that actually speaks the loudest as one of the stars of STRAWBERRY HILL. STRAWBERRY HILL breaks the rule that in the end all should be forgiven. Some seemingly innocent deeds can impact the future in unspeakable ways. STRAWBERRY HILL is a romance about what could have been and what still can be. It’s about love and hope.

It was fun heading back to Mystic Creek in Strawberry Hill by Catherine Anderson. This is the fifth novel, but each can be read on their own. A second chance romance, a budding romance and a bear made for another interesting visit to this small mountain town.

Each year I've enjoyed a new visit to Mystic Creek, Oregon. This small-town series has introduced us to the townsfolk and ranchers in the area. Strawberry Hill shares the second chance romance of rancher, Slade Wilder and his high school sweetheart Vickie Brown. The two were engaged to be married when miscommunication and interference kept the two apart.  But when Slade needs a camp cook and Vickie's son needs help she applies for the job. Sparks, pranks and revelations occur as these two sort the past and plan the future.

A complete review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on January 3rd and will be shared on all social media. A review will cross-post to Goodreads and Amazon 3.5 coffee cups

Having read and enjoyed many romances by Catherine Anderson, I was excited to see she was releasing a new book. Although, I have to say that since she featured two couples in this novel, I wasn't really sure which couple was the focus of the romance until the very end. In the end, this was a romance between Slade and Vickie that started 40 years previously. That said, I really wish she had followed through with a romance for the second couple, Erin and Wyatt. Perhaps that couple will be the feature of a future book? In fact, I'd love to see if Erin is able to reclaim the life she wanted versus the one she was living! All in all, an enjoyable romance featuring a more mature couple than most romances normally feature.

This book is part of the Mystic Creek series. I love Catherine Anderson's books and this one is one of my favorites. Erin and Wyatt are wonderful characters that you can relate to. He is deaf and reads lips very well. This couple starst off on the wrong foot when Erin has no idea that he is deaf and is not very nice to him. This book shows how couples learn to deal with real life

I have read previous Catherine books in the past and was drawn into the characters and really enjoyed them. I always love when reading about hero and heroine who are senior citizens because they need love too. In this novel we meet Vickie who left mystic years ago after a lie tore her and beau Slade apart. Vickie returns forty years later to let reveal to Slade why he never reached out to get to know his son. The other couple Slade niece Erin whose a police officer and Slade ranch man Wyatt are both wary of relationships but yet are drawn together. I would have loved to read a bit more of Wyatt and Erin and what become of them. Catherine gave alot of backstory of why the couples did what they do and the life of a rancher on a farm. I would have loved more about the couples. Review on goodreads and amazon.

Another winner from one of my favorite romance authors

This is really a story of a romance that started 40+ years ago. Slade Wilder owns the Wilder Ranch outside of Mystic Creek, Oregon. He's never married because no one ever measured up to his first love Vickie.

Vickie left him, and through a series of orchestrated sabotages to their relationship, had her heart broken.

Now she's back in Mystic Creek working as a camp cook for Slade and the fireworks are getting ready to go off.

There is another start of a romance in the story between deaf cowboy Wyatt, who works for Slade as his foreman, and Erin, Slade's niece, who is a sheriff's deputy. But the main focus is on the older couple, which I enjoyed.

I do wish there had been more story at the end of the book. There's an epilogue but it felt a bit rushed. There were a couple of other relationships that I wish had been explored in more depth.

I received this book from Penguin Random House through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.