Staying Home would mean leaving his dreams behind...
Dan Burrows left Windsor Peak and never looked back, even toward his first love, Kendra Knight. When he was called home for a family emergency, he never expected his whole world to flip upside down. Originally expecting to return to Manhattan and the high-powered life he led, instead he finds himself jobless and realizing that he made a major mistake when he left Kendra behind.
Kendra Knight never left Windsor Peak. After recovering from the heartbreak of Dan's departure, she made a life for herself as a single mother, business owner, and valued member of their small hometown. Having Dan walk through the door of her restaurant months ago rocked her world, but she assumed it would be a short visit. Now she can't get rid of him, and he's slowly breaking down her defenses.
As Dan struggles to decide what his future holds, Kendra’s past is reappearing as her ex-husband appears to be plotting against her. Scared for herself and her daughter, she turns to the one person she knows she can trust.
The holidays approach along with excitement for the Burrows family, and Dan takes steps to show Kendra he is serious about their second chance. As they battle the ghost from Kendra’s past and the threats to Dan’s career, both have to decide if their first love is worth fighting for. Will they be able to overcome the odds and have their second chance? Will ghosts from her past haunt their second chance at love? Or will Dan's dreams that pulled him away the first time send him make history repeat itself?
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!
This is the second book in the series. Just as good if not better than the 1st. Can be read as a stand alone if you have not read the first in the series but trust me you want to read the 1st one at some point. I love this family and really looking forward to the next one!!!
PERFECTION! I didn’t think it could get any better after Book 1… but somehow Denise did it!
Why you need to read this book:
1. Windsor Peak - the most perfect small town ever!!! I wish I could just live inside this town. Meeting new characters from the community is one of my favorite parts of the book. Everyone is so kind and supportive. I also loved being inside the Windsor Peak Palace more in this book!
2. The family - let me introduce you to your new favorite book family. I cannot even explain how much they have taken over my heart. They are the most loving, supportive, wholesome family you will ever read. I love seeing the family expand to love new members. Also! Denise does an amazing job of focusing on the children in the family - Charlie and Calle are so loved and it warms my heart so much!
3. Beautiful love stories - not only do we get to see Dan and Kendra reconnect after years of resentment, pain, and trauma, we also get to see Dan connect with Calle, Kendra’s 6 year old daughter. The most heartwarming part of the book!!!!!
4. It will get your heart rate up - There is a plot point within the book that will definitely get your heart racing! The stakes are high and it made me realize how much this family means to me. It also shows how special the town is - they will do anything to support each other in times of crisis.
ALSO- I LOVED trying to guess who Patrick might end up with! I cannot wait to read about the third Burrows brother. He is so generous and kind… I cannot even wait to see his love story unfold!
Highly recommend the Windsor Peak series - the most heartwarming books I’ve read in a long time 💜
Thank you Denise for allowing me to read and advanced copy of Staying Home!
After enjoying the first book in this series (Coming Home), there was zero chance I wouldn't read Staying Home. I will drop any book and completely forget my TBR for a second-chance romance. And this was a good one.
Dan and Kendra were high school sweethearts, but then Dan left Kendra behind in their small town when he went off to college to pursue his dream of becoming a lawyer. In the decade and a half since they've been apart, Dan has had a successful law career and Kendra has become a mother, a bar owner, and survived an abusive relationship. When Dan comes home for an extended time to help his brother recover after a military career-ending injury, he realizes his feelings for Kendra are still there and decides to win her back. Kendra, with good reason, is reluctanct to let Dan back into her life.
The thing I liked best about this book is that, again, we get a hero and heroine who behave like the mature adults they are. Dan doesn't expect his wit, charm, and a big smile to get him forgiveness - he knows it needs to be earned and does what he can to regain Kendra's trust. Kendra doesn't get all stupid because Dan's smile makes her girly parts all tingly again - she's appropriately cautious, but also doesn't get in the way of her own happiness once Dan puts in the hard work to earn her forgiveness and trust. This was a sweet story of two people finding their way back to each other after a long time apart.
As a big fan of a book series, this sequel hit all the warm and fuzzy spots - it's always great to get a glimpse of characters from the previous books and get to know them better. The suspense storyline in this book was well done and helped the pace of the story move a bit more quickly than the first book.
I'm looking forward to reading about the third Burrows brother. Not sure when it's scheduled to be released, but I'll be here for it!
This was so beautiful! I didn’t want it to end. The suspense at the end had my momma heart beating so fast! I feel honored to get to watch these two fall back in love with each other, after so many years apart. My only complaint is the double wedding/reception. It felt a little bit of rushing into their marriage but at the same time, for the 4 of them, I don’t think it would have worked any other way. Why wait for the one you love! Thank you Denise for letting me be apart of Windsor Peak!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Staying Home by Denise Latham is book two in the Windsor Peak Series. I will start this off by saying this is an interconnected series so I suggest reading the first book to meet the characters. Don’t worry there’s no spoilers in this review! What can I say except I absolutely loved this book. I loved reading Dan working and proving to be a better version than the man that left Kendra behind was so perfectly done. I was fully invested in him, showing that she could put her trust in him. But I totally vibed and understood Kendra… she just had such realistic reactions and decisions. But the highlight for me is the obvious feeling of family that is woven through the pages. The support that was given in this book really touched my heart. Not to mention I just enjoyed the dynamic of Kendra, Dan and Calle. They were sweet and perfect. Absolutely team Burrows family. I will say that Dan, while amazing, wasn't able to take my favorite character away from Jake ( he’s from book one) but it was close. I thought this book was beautifully written with so much heart and soul poured into it. If you enjoy an amazing story that has a second chance romance, small town with a great family then this is one hundred percent for you. I highly recommend checking out this series! As for me, I'm off to read book three.
This is the 2nd book in the series, and I absolutely loved it, I just couldn't put it down and spent a pleasant afternoon reading the majority of the book. It's a small town romance series, the 1st 3 books being about 3 brothers, and then other characters get pulled in.
In this book, Dan, the eldest brother, and Kendra, the owner of The Windsor Peak Palace (a bar and restaurant in the town), are the 2 main characters. They used to date in their teens, then Dan left for New York and his studies to become a lawyer, a very successful one. After leaving his law practice, he comes home to try and win back the only girl he ever loved. Kendra was very hurt by Dan's leaving before, and now she has a 6-year-old daughter; she's even more reluctant to rekindle their relationship. Can he break down her barriers and find a future with them both?
There are a few typos but nothing to spoil the enjoyment of this delightful book.
Whilst the books are standalone stories, they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.
I cannot wait to read book 3, about the youngest brother, Patrick, the movie star.
Wow! I didn’t think Jake and Shea could be topped, but Dan and Kendra did it, with Calle totally stealing the show!
I enjoyed watching Dan trying to win Kendra back, his big gesture and his commitment to her and Calle. The whole storyline with Calle’s dad and the rescue mission was intense and unexpected and I loved it.
Seeing all the Burrow brothers back together and loving and supporting each other was great, this is a great series, and I’m crossing everything for Patrick who’s the only single brother left.
A beautiful heartfelt story of second chances and family. I so enjoyed this heartwarming story, the characters are a close knit family and community. This is such a cozy, warm feel good and uplifting series. I hope you find this review helpful because I highly recommend it. Enjoy
It is a continuation of book 1amd it is seamless/the 3brothers experience life’s ups and down with sheer passion&somehow we all feel so connected to the Barrows family ….enjoy
If you love romance with heart, family dynamics, and a little intrigue, you’ll adore Staying Home. Perfect for fans of second-chance love and small-town series!💌❤️
Dan and Kendra’s story is everything you want in a cozy romance. Dan returns to Windsor Peak thinking it’s just a pit stop, but, how wrong he is. The chemistry between them is nonstop these two? Off the charts! 🔥
But it’s not all smooth sailing. Kendra’s past brings some serious drama, and Dan has to figure out if he’s ready to let go of his big-city dreams for something much more meaningful. Their journey is heartwarming, sometimes tense, and full of swoon-worthy moments. 😍
With holiday vibes, Staying Home is the perfect mix of small-town charm, second chances, and just the right touch of mystery to keep you hooked. 🏡✨