I received an ARC of All this Time free for review. All opinions are mine.
All This Time
Bear McKinley’s past refuses to let go.
Ten years ago, Bear gave up everything—his freedom and his reputation—for his mess of a family. But after years of distance and too many attempts at starting over, he finally has a new life doing noble work in Brazil . . . until his past catches up to him once again. Suddenly he finds himself back in Maple Valley, charged with the care of his missing brother’s children, convinced he’s out of second chances to make his life count. And yet, with every day that passes, these kids, this quirky town and the woman he never stopped missing help patch the holes in his heart. Maybe this is the fresh start he’s been longing for all along. But as his newfound hope grows, so does the mystery surrounding his brother’s activities—and when the threat reaches into the lives of those he loves, it’s clear he can’t run away this time.
Fear holds Raegan’s future captive.
Raegan Walker is fine. She’s happy working a slew of part-time jobs, still living in her childhood bedroom and rarely venturing from her hometown. At least, that’s what she tells everyone . . . and herself. But she can’t help wondering what might’ve happened if she hadn’t abandoned her art so many years ago—and if Bear McKinley had never left. When Bear returns and she’s commissioned for a painting that just might revive her artistic ambition all in one week, it’s time to finally reach for more than fine. But doing so means facing the fears that have held her back all this time, including admitting the secret she’s kept from Bear and her family. With her dream and her heart on the line, how much will Raegan have to risk to finally chase her happy ending?
My Review
The end of a series, books, television, movies, is always bittersweet. The characters you’ve known and loved take a bow. The lights dim and you cry tears of both joy and sadness. Joy, because you’ve been allowed to take this journey along with these characters. Sadness, because, though all good things must come to an end, you’ll miss them. They’ve become a part of your life. They might feel more real to you than your neighbors. The town that they’ve lived in all these years feels familiar. In Stars Hollow, you feel like you could walk into Doose’s and run into Babette buying cat food. In Maple Valley, you want make plans with your friends to go to the Red Door for dinner.
On the page, this is the end for the Walker family. In our hearts, they’ll keep on living. We’ll wonder how many Walker grandkids gather around the tree at Christmas. We’ll reminisce about the beginnings, middles and endings (and new beginnings) of relationships. Raegan Walker’s relationship with Bear may be the final one written about in a book, but hers won’t be the last in Maple Valley. Time will march on in the Maple Valley in our hearts.
All This Time was the perfect conclusion to this series. We learned so much about Raegan…how she hides her true self from her siblings, her dad, and herself. Bear finds that things aren’t always as they appear to be…that the anger he’s been holding onto isn’t justified. Forgiveness, love and taking a chance are all themes All This Time explores.
You’ve got to start at the beginning with The Walker Family. I’d suggest starting with Three Little Words, which is FREE, because it’s got a Walker Family cousin in it and is sort of the prequel to the series. Then take a leisurely journey through the books. Get to know the characters and fall in love. You’ll love Maple Valley and want to move right in. When you finish with All This Time, you’ll be so glad you took the journey. I highly recommend this series. You’re gonna love it.
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