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Windsor Peak #1

Coming Home

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Coming Home may be the biggest battle he has faced…

Fourteen years ago, Jake Burrows enlisted in the military after the sudden death of his wife, leaving an infant son behind. When he is injured overseas, he decides to recuperate in the small town where he grew up and use the time to try and connect with his son.

The calmness and peace of Windsor Peak are a sharp contrast to the war zone Jake has returned from, and the memories that haunt him. As Jake tries to bond with his son Charlie, the physical and mental damage from years at war continues to wreak havoc on his life.

After years of writing to Shea Kerrigan, Jake is stunned by the sparks that fly when they are finally face to face. Jake has to consider if he is finally ready to move on from his late wife and allow himself a future with a new love. Shea realizes quickly that her feelings for Jake run deep, and that maybe her heart was waiting for him all these years. But should she let herself completely fall for someone who could leave her soon?

As people from his past pop up in his life, Jake is forced to relive some of his worst days in the military, and the guilt he carries with him. The decision of whether to return to his military life or remain in Windsor Peak looms over his head as he recovers and could mean the difference in more than one relationship in his life.

Will Jake allow himself to fully come home and build a future with Shea and Charlie? Or will obligation and his past send him back to battle?

339 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2023

350 people are currently reading
9471 people want to read

About the author

Denise Latham

18 books74 followers
Denise Latham writes heartwarming novels that readers find difficult to put down and that pull on the heartstrings. Her writing of dialogue makes readers feel they are a part of the conversation and helps readers fall in love with the characters. With stories that both tell an important story and also have a hint of romance, her books appeal to readers of multiple genres.

As an Army wife (Ret.), Denise pulled on her own personal experiences to tackle the subject of PTSD and the difficulty soldiers can face when coming home from war and attempting to fit back into the life they left. Coming Home balances that difficult subject with a romance and the lighthearted, fun banter that will draw you in.

Denise lives in Plymouth, Massachusetts with her husband Tom, two sons Camden and Calum, and two dogs.

As an avid reader, Denise loves books that make her laugh, or fall in love with the characters - and hopes that's what you'll do with her books!

For giveaways and more information, visit https://www.deniselatham.com/

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5 stars
354 (60%)
4 stars
167 (28%)
3 stars
61 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,054 reviews
August 6, 2023
I don’t even know how to describe what I read.. this took me on a rollercoaster that had me hooked from the beginning. Jake has gone through so much but is Shea right for him and has she been waiting for him after all of this?? No spoilers(;

I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are completely my own.
Profile Image for E-Reader Addict.
1,327 reviews46 followers
November 20, 2023
I saw this book on Instagram, and since I love finding new authors, I decided to give this debut book a chance.

How did that pan out for me? Well, overall it was good.

Jake has been in the military for 14 years, but faced with a career ending injury he has decided to spend time at home where he has to face the prospect of an uncertain future, along with the anger of his teenage son.

What I liked about this story:
> A very realistic portrayal of an angry teenager
> The positive representation of getting professional help for mental issues
> A warm, caring family and brothers that were serious and supportive when appropriate, but also dished out requiste and copious amounts of hiliarious crap
> Mature characters - I love when an author doesn't use cheap plot elements like miscommunication or immature behavior to drive conflict

What I think needed some developing:
> More backstory of Shea and Jake's correspondence while he was in the military; we know from the synopsis they had been writing each other for years, but the way it was introduced in the story felt abrupt and sort of off-handed
> There were a lot of typos - as someoone who reads a good deal of indy-published books, I've gotten better at ignoring mispelled/wrong words, etc (and I admit this is a me problem because I am incapable of reading anything without using my "proofreading" eyes), but when there are a bunch I make note of it in hopes that at some point down the road I can say "this author has upped her game and found proofreaders who really polished her manuscript!"
Sidenote: I generally don't take stars off my rating for proofreading issues, unless the number/type of error is egregous, which is definitely NOT the case here, AND it's a more seasoned author.

I think this author has a very encouraging start with this first book in her Windsor Peak series. She seems to stay away from the things that make me cranky and has the things I appreciate - likable characters dealing with realistic situations and good dialog. I'm also a big fan of close families and small towns. I enjoyed this book...but it did also take me a week to read it, which tells me a lot (and reflects in my rating). That said, I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series because I am a total sucker for a second-chance love story!
Profile Image for Madison Rawlings.
132 reviews35 followers
June 24, 2024
WOW! I didn’t know what to expect going into this book besides knowing that it was a closed door romance. It completely blew me away!

Jake married his high school sweetheart, Jenna, and had a baby with her at a very young age. After losing her in a tragic accident shortly after their baby was born, Jake was lost and didn’t know what to do with his grief and his infant baby. He ultimately decided he needed to enlist in the military.

After serving for 14 years, Jack was impacted by an injury overseas and he finds himself back home in Windsor Peak indefinitely. His parents have assumed guardianship over his son, Charlie, who he hasn’t spent a significant amount of time with his whole life. Now Jake feels it’s finally time to bond with his son while he can.

While he was away, he has been messaging with a girl from his hometown, Shea. They started as platonic friends but confided in each other with their feelings and experiences. Now that he’s back home, their friendship could lead to more.

Now Jake has to decide if he will go back and finish his duty or stay home and build a future with Shea and Charlie.

This is so much more than just a romance. The author tackles difficult topics like PTSD, grief and family relationships. I felt so connected to every character and the small town feel this book gives is so comforting. While handling these sad topics, it still ended up being a very wholesome story with a happy ending.

The author uses her own experiences as inspiration for some of the aspects in the story and it shows! She makes the characters experiences feel so realistic which connects you to them even more. I have a soft spot for Charlie and I feel his anger toward his dad was so believable which I think is difficult to do as writing a teenager, realistically, is not often done well in adult books.

I didn’t expect how much I would care about these characters throughout the book and I can’t wait to see what Denise does with the other brother’s love stories next.
Profile Image for Susanne Scott.
1,493 reviews18 followers
August 22, 2025
Wow! This book was so much. I’ve recently got into my small town family romance saga after reading Virgin River and Ransom Canyon, this was the perfect addition. Jake is such a well rounded character. He has been through a lot and he isn’t afraid to take the time to deal with it. It was honest and refreshing. Returning from the military has its own set of barriers when trying to acclimatise into society, but for Jake he still has trauma from before he joined up, he slowly works his way through it, whilst trying to bond with his son who is now nearly 15 and also connecting with a pen pal who he confided in whilst in the service and he tries to navigate his growing feelings, not just for Shea but also for his lost wife.

The whole Burrows family were great characters and I loved the dynamics between them all, they each listened and cared for the others, strong support when needed, no one’s gets to feel left out.

I’m looking forward to read the next in the series.
Profile Image for Jennifer Owens.
30 reviews
July 20, 2025
This book was a wonderful escape to a new town, meeting new friends, sharing their struggles and pain, triumph and joy. I love books where I can watch the characters grow and this book delivers. Windsor Peak is a place I want to come back to again and again!!!
Profile Image for Sarah (tn.bibliophile).
414 reviews17 followers
dnf
August 27, 2024
I didn’t realize how much language there was. I think the language fits the character and story. I’m just not in a space to read it at this time, so I didn’t finish the book.
Profile Image for Maria.
2,493 reviews46 followers
February 16, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, given to me by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars.
An engaging approach to the dilemmas and issues of soldiers readjusting to civilian life, “Coming Home”, by Denise Latham, is a story about a romantic couple but also a tale about family and friendship.
Watching Jake struggle with both worlds – the military and civilian – and not knowing which to choose, while trying to ease into family life and mend family ties, was interesting and realistic.
I liked the characters, the slow burn romance with the epistolary dimension, and the strong family and community bonds.
I also appreciated how Jake’s injuries were addressed and the fact PTSD and guilt didn’t just disappear and demanded real therapy.
Seeing Jake and Shea address delicate issues like their relationship with Jenna or the hero’s PTSD was also interesting.
While I enjoyed the relationships and interaction between Jake and Shea, and the other characters, which are, in general, likeable and relatable, I felt too much of the information was conveyed through dialogue.
I felt the recent injury was handled a bit vaguely, I don’t even remember if it was the dominant shoulder.
Profile Image for Dea Farrell.
847 reviews12 followers
November 15, 2024
Jake is heading home to Windsor Park after he is injured overseas. He's using the time there to heal from his wounds and to repair his relationship with his teenage son Charlie. This will also be the first time he meets Shea in person after spending years writing back and forth to her online. It's undeniable to him that they have chemistry, but he's not sure if he's ready to move on from the wife he lost fourteen years ago. Jake is also still battling with the decision of whether or not he's ready to leave his military career behind and stay in Windsor Peak and build a new life for himself with Shea.

Coming Home is a smalltown military romance that will tug at your heartstrings and have you reaching for your tissue box. It gives voice to all those who are suffering from long-term, permanent disabilities from their time in service. In this book, we have Jake, who suffers from multiple physical impacts and PTSD from the years he has spent in the Army. It has a significant impact on his everyday life. Despite this, he still has the inner conflict on whether to continue serving or to retire. We also get to see how a soldier's service impacts their family's life, as we see the strained relationship Jake has with his son Charlie. Denise did a beautiful job writing this book and depicting military life behind closed doors. So much of this hits close to home and was very hard to read at times, but that just attests to the authenticity of the writing. I can't wait to read the rest of this series!
Profile Image for Kimberly.
833 reviews32 followers
June 2, 2025
Coming Home by Denise Latham is book one in the Windsor Peak Series. This is the first book I’m reading by this author but it will not be the last. I loved this book so much; the connection I felt with the characters and story was truly heartwarming. I related to many aspects of Jake ranging from feeling like you’re drowning in grief to the all encompassing feeling of PTSD. What truly made this book special to me was the relationship between the brothers and that there can be healing found within family. But I loved the relationship development between Jake and Shea with him unhardening his heart and opening it to loving again. This was a breathtaking tale of learning to live again and give yourself a second chance at love. Plus the reconciliation between Jake and Charlie was really well done. This story was truly beautiful that tackles deep topics with learning to feel safe again. I thought it was written well because it felt so realistic and the connection I felt with the characters was amazing. I couldn’t help rooting for Jake and all the others. At the heart of this story it’s about loss, redemption, love and learning to move through grief… about giving yourself grace and opening your heart again. I’m so excited to continue this series and experience even more from this author. I would highly recommend this book if you enjoy a closed door, small town romance with a man trying to get his happily ever after.

Final review:
5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Nikki.
1,425 reviews12 followers
April 11, 2025
I loved this book, the start of a new series, and a new author to me. It's a small town romance series, which is one of my favourite book genres.

Set in Windsor Peak, Vermont; this book is about Jake Burrows and his relationship with his son, Charlie, and family. His family comprises 2 brothers (Dan and Patrick), his Dad (Ben) and a family friend (Stella) who moved in many years before after his Mum died, to help Ben raise his sons. Jake enlisted in the military after a tradegy, leaving his young Son in the care of his father. Fourteen years later and Jake has a decision to make after being injured in the line of duty.

Shea is a teacher at Charlie's school, she has written to Jake throughout his career and now they've met. Can there ever be anything between them?

I really enjoyed reading this book and have already got the second book ready to read.

If you like small-town romance stories and authors like Debbie Macomber, Nora Roberts, and Barbara Freethy, then you'll like this author and her work
567 reviews13 followers
May 6, 2024
I saw this book as a recommendation being discussed on a FB group and then again on Bookstagram. Once I saw it the second time I read the synopsis and knew this was right up my alley. Without providing any spoilers (because trust me this novel is BEAUTIFUL and needs to be enjoyed fully) this novel will take you on a roller coaster.

Jake has been through so much in such a short period and has had to make decisions that has affected the one person he loves the most. When injured he returns home and begins to realize what he is missing and sees life in a different aspect. He works through therapy and finds Shae who helps him through a lot and is also a great person for him!

This novel gives veterans a voice and shows the sacrifices their families also face often times. Highly recommend this novel to anyone who has enjoyed military romance and or novels about soldiers who return home. There are PTSD and nightmare reps in here too. Denise did a fantastic job on this novel!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
238 reviews11 followers
November 23, 2024
Single dad
Military
Brothers
Small town
PTSD
High school sweet heart

I felt the heaviness of Jake’s return after getting injured during a mission. His son is mad at him, he’s feeling guilty like he’s not done enough, and missing his wife who passed away before their son even got to know who she was. It was all so much for one person to handle. Shae kept in touch with Jake when he went overseas. She never expected to seem as more as friends, but her feelings for him ramped up when she heard he was back. This was a deep book to read. It’s dramatic but on the emotional side and had tugged at my heart feeling all of them try to manage things. Live as normal as possible, but it’s not for Jake in the beginning. I could see this being done as a tv series. I’d definitely check out the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Jane.
Author 6 books89 followers
June 16, 2025
I borrowed Coming Home ~ Windsor Peak ~ Book 1, by Deise Lathan, author from the Kindle Unlimited Program on Amazon.

Jake Borrows is home, just showed up one day with his arm in a sling, worry in his eyes and told his family he had be shot in the arm and was there to recover. He would be going to the VA for treatments and physical therapy and to see a counselor about his PTSD. His brothers came right home to be with him if he needed them.

Charlie his son (ate 14) was angry with him so he had to work to gain his respect and make things right.

With the loving support of his family and Shea, a friend that he had connected with after the death of his wife, he finds his way to happiness and feeling content. The plot is about family, support and love, trouble with PTSD and his memories and how they stick together through good times and bad.
Profile Image for Alexandra Grace.
Author 10 books190 followers
September 5, 2024
Such a sweet story about the healing power of family, finding a path forward after loss, and making space in the heart for forgiveness

“Jenna and all those soldiers, they didn’t lose their lives so that you would suffer for the rest of yours.”

I love a fractured hero and Jake was so tender. While he’d been through a lot and suffered with PTSD, he still found a way to help others and focus on family. His family is the best, and I swooned over the way his brothers supported Jake without hesitation. They were ready to jump in and do whatever he needed. I can’t wait to read their books.

Recommended if you like tender stories of redemption and unbreakable family bonds.
Profile Image for Emily | emilyisoverbooked.
902 reviews124 followers
November 9, 2024
Thanks to Denise Latham and Booked with the Emilys for the gifted copy of this book!

A touching tale of a single father who is put on leave due to an injury in Afghanistan and comes home for rehab and to reconnect with his teenage son, COMING HOME will pull at your heartstrings. This is a small-town story with closed-door romance, heartwarming family dynamics, and an insight into what it's like to be in the Army with trauma and PTSD. I loved that therapy was prevalent in this story, and that Jake's family was so supportive of him when he came home. The father/son dynamic was hard at first, but I loved the progress they made throughout the book. The whole town of Windor Peak is just so charming and I love knowing that all of these other lovely characters I met are going to have storylines in the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Phyllis.
299 reviews
November 24, 2024
A touching tale of a single father who is put on leave due to an injury in Afghanistan and comes home for rehab and to reconnect with his teenage son.. This is a small-town story , heartwarming family dynamics, and an insight into what it's like to be in the Army with trauma and PTSD. I loved that therapy was prevalent in this story, and that Jake's family was so supportive of him when he came home. The father/son dynamic was hard at first, but I loved the progress they made throughout the book. The whole town of Windor Peak is just so charming and I love knowing that all of these other lovely characters I met are going to have storylines in the rest of the series!
200 reviews2 followers
October 19, 2025
PTSD, is such a cruel sickness that never gets over come. You may learn how to deal with the trama's better, but the scars are still deeply rooted. This story allows us to have a glimpse at how this can damage relationships and at the same time strengthen them, if that makes sense. No soldier that has fought in wars talks about their experiences, we wouldn't have the capacity to wrap our heads around what they have seen, heard, experienced. As well as above all that the loss that took this character to enlist in the first place. This story does have a better ending than most. Thanks to family, friends and counselor, and just a special someone to bring it all. HOME!
869 reviews3 followers
September 4, 2023
Man, Jake really has been through the wringer and this book really shows the hard struggle that he had to just do day to day life, let alone trying to reconnect with his son. I get like he was my favorite character in this book and while there is definitely some fun romance, he stole the show and make this book difficult to put down once I started.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Chrissy HappilyEverAfterBookshelf.
330 reviews56 followers
October 13, 2023
This was a great debut novel from Denise! It was filled with emotion and depth. The subject matter was hard and really made you think, but at the same time it was sweet and you couldn’t help but root for Jake! The small town and cast of characters were endearing and the amount of dialogue made it just a little bit different than your average romance novel. This is perfect for your fall tbr and I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy.
Profile Image for Heather.
179 reviews15 followers
January 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!
I loved Jake’s family dynamic, the brother relationships and banter, the reconciliation of Jake and his son. I enjoyed the deeper topics - Jake is in the military and home from an injury so it talks about his struggles with PTSD and decisions regarding his future.
There were a few editing and consistency things that knocked the overall rating down for me but I’m downloading the second book in the series now!
Closed door, a bit of swearing
4,012 reviews35 followers
August 29, 2023
Coming Home by Denise Latham is a good, and enjoyable small town military romance read. The story has a great entertaining world building story line. The characters are great, and they have great chemistry. This story is a very entertaining page turning read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for PagesOfRaleen.
301 reviews12 followers
October 25, 2023
This book was absolutely amazing. The emotions were so raw and honest. Thank you Denise for bringing to light the challenges of PTSD for those experiencing it and for those who are watching their loved ones experience it. Such a simple and beautiful love story, as well. And I like the hint of intimacy while still giving the characters privacy. I can’t wait to see more from this family!!
695 reviews2 followers
June 12, 2024
Sweet Military Romance

Jake returns home from 15 years in the military after he is shot. He has trouble reconnecting with his son Charlie. He gets close to Shae a girl from his high school who had been emailing him while he was serving. This is a quick read with PTSD representation and sad realities that military members must face while serving and after coming home.
Profile Image for Connie Cook.
960 reviews7 followers
September 4, 2024
Story about an injured vet returning home and trying to figure out his life. It was heart warming because of his brothers support, but his son was an angry teenager (his dad left him to serve and mother was dead). There was a famous brother and an attorney brother. It was predictable and a closed door romance.
Profile Image for Rebecca Chaffin.
95 reviews18 followers
November 21, 2024
This is a story of loss, survival, and rebuilding broken relationships. It touches on what soldiers deal with on a daily basis after being in a war zone and the struggles their children also face. The possibility of love and trying to regain a sense of normalcy. I cried more than once reading this. It is beautifully written.
3 reviews
July 19, 2025
Absolutely loved this book. I want to move to Windsor Peak and be friends with these characters! Jake's journey really showed me the reality of a service member coming back to civilian life, and it was eye opening. His desire to have a better relationship with his son was tender and believable. The romance was perfect - they were adults, relatable, and no miscommunication! Love, love, loved it and will read anything from this author!
51 reviews
October 5, 2025
3 1/2 Stars. Much more than a romance. The writer handles difficult topics. Overwhelming love and support from family and friends. Enjoyed the good-natured teasing between the 3 brothers and nephew. An overall good book however I would have liked a bit of excitement or intrigue.
Although I appreciated the closed door romance, I did not feel the connection (despite being email pals for years) between Jake and Shae. That's due to the writers lack of skill.

Profile Image for Antonia.
3 reviews
October 7, 2025
I’ve read a lot of war-related books over the years, but this is the first one that really opened my eyes to the emotional and everyday struggles soldiers—and their families—face when coming home. On top of that, I absolutely loved the dynamic between the three small-town hottie brothers. I can’t wait to dive into the sequels and see where their stories go next!
12 reviews8 followers
October 17, 2025
Sweet indeedy

This story is so sweet that it doesn't verge on saccharine but bounds over the edge. The characters are so nice, except for the evil doer who is not nice. I felt like I was reading a coloring book everything was so heavily delineated . Couldn't finish it, and felt rather like Dorothy Parker, "Constant weader frowed up."
6 reviews
August 7, 2023
I couldn’t put it down once I started this book. I never thought about the problems of coming home from war and integrating back into your family’s life. I loved the relationship between the brothers and can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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