Le Clan Wilde à Aster Valley

Forever Wilde #9

by Lucy Lennox, Amelie De Luca (translator), Emmanuelle Guthmann (translator)

Quand Miller Hobbs se retrouve en vacances d’hiver au Colorado avec les énormes et excessivement bruyantes familles Marian et Wilde, il ne sait plus vraiment où se mettre. Il n’est pas vraiment un Marian ni un Wilde, bien qu’il partage leurs ADN à tous.

Alors, chaque matin, avant que le reste de la famille se réveille et remplisse l’hôtel Rockley avec une gaieté (et un bruit) de fêtes, il s’échappe vers le centre-ville au charme désuet d’Aster Valley où il espionne un homme par la vitre de la boulangerie qui pétrit de la pâte et danse sur une musique qu’il est le seul à entendre. Miller est fasciné par le boulanger-danseur et, quand Darius lève les yeux et surprend Miller qui le fixe, l’intérêt est soudain partagé.

Deux étrangers peuvent-ils trouver l’amour au milieu du chaos pittoresque d’un Noël à Aster Valley? Même si cela englobe les deux familles les plus écrasantes et les plus indiscrètes se disputant le titre de plus grand entremetteurs de tous le temps?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Christmas, Holiday, LGBT, Humor

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 16, 2021

About the author

I write M/M romance with humor, heart, and heat. Check out my backlist here on GR for a selection of series and standalone or visit www.LucyLennox.com!

I only keep a small list of my very favorite books and series in my bookshelf here. I read A LOT and it's hard to keep the list updated!

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever Wilde in Aster Valley by Lucy Lennox is a Marian, Wilde, Aster Valley crossover holiday romance that is going to melt your heart. It is not required to have read all of the books in any of these series. Big reveal here, I’ve read a few of the Marian books, none of the Wilde books (yet) and ALL of the Aster Valley books. And I had no problem loving this one with all of my heart.

Miller Hobbs has received both the greatest gift and the hardest loss in a very short period of time. Through DNA testing, he realized he was Tilly’s biological grandson. Miller grew up an only child and now has more relatives than he could ever even keep track of. At the same time, he’s lost his mother to cancer. It’s been seven months since he lost her. Tilly has gathered all of the Marian and Wilde clans in Aster Valley at Rockley Lodge for Christmas, Miller included.



Darius Grant gave up his very successful chain of bakeries and moved to Aster Valley to open a small Greek bakery to remind himself of his love of baking. To get away from the chaos and just enjoy having his hands in the dough. He loves this little town and has made some wonderful friends in the year he’s been here. Then, one morning, his eyes seem drawn to the window and there he is standing out on the street watching him, a man he just knows at first glance that he is going to be important to him.



If you have read more of these previous books than I have, you’re going to love getting little snippets of all of your beloved characters. But if you haven’t, what you’re going to get is a huge, chaotic group of people that love each other with abandon, who hold nothing back, to laugh and tease and who all accept Miller without hesitation.



For Miller, though, he can’t help but feel a little set apart. He’s never been a part of something like this, ever. And then there’s Darius. A man who both takes his breath away but also makes him feel peaceful just by being near him. How can he feel happy and festive about all of this while still mourning his mom?

“When you meet your person, you’re going to know.”

As Miller and Darius get acquainted, you are going to get plenty of expected craziness with all the Marian/Wilde clan, Granny included. This is a true story of love, both romantic and familial, and of plenty of Christmas magic. I once again can picture myself standing on the downtown decorated streets of this gorgeous little town. I want so badly to go into this bakery, to eat in Pim and Bill’s diner, and buy spices at Truman’s shop.

The next book in the Aster Valley series will be Thick as Thieves, Julian’s book. We get a tiny little peek of what’s to come in the epilogue of this one and I can’t wait.

“You’re the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.”

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read and liked the Wilde books but not the Marian ones. Well, I tried, but the crude grannies sexually harassing every guy in their vicinity, including their own grandsons, got on my last nerve.

Unfortunately, these grannies were present in this holiday family reunion story, as was every other character Lucy Lennox has ever written.

It was too much, and the romance between Miller and Darius got lost in the shuffle.

I also didn't like Miller much. I understood his grief, but he didn't react consistently and was kind of rude to poor Darius.

I don't mind love-at-first-sight, but the MCs were proclaiming their love for each other within a few days. Whoa there!

And the final straw was the "redemption of Tilly" storyline. The horse theft? Really? That's not cute or funny, and it bugged me that there were no consequences because she's a rich white woman.

I considered DNF but persevered. Even so, in my minority opinion, this book was a mess.

[Layla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

Well, this was... not good.

I mean it is 3-series crossover, and it's bound to have been chaotic at best.

Lucy's renowned for the crazy family trope... imagine when everyone's all together in one place.
Needless to say it was too much.

This was me while reading this book...


Keep in mind I've read every Wilde and Marian book there is.

Overall, it just didn't work for me.
- Too many characters
- Too many shenanigans
- The insta-love was very OTT
- The whole book happens in a handful of days. And yeah I know that it's kind of her trademark... But lately I've been very picky with my romance books and declaring love after 3 or 4 days isn't working for me anymore.

I skimmed when I passed the 60% mark.
After Hostile Takeover, which I loved, I had high expectations, and that's on me.

[Vanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 disappointing stars!! 😔 Ugh!! Ok, so I'll admit that this is probably me and not the book, And I really wanted to like Miller and Darius's story.. but this was less about them and more of a mega crossover book which had every character from the Made Marian series, Wilde series and Aster Valley series I mean how big was that lodge? 😳😳 And this is coming from a fan of LL who has read every single Marian book as well as every single Wilde book written. 😍 I'm not as up to date with the Aster Valley books, having read only the first one... nevertheless this was a very chaotic plot. The background was Christmas so the holiday trope was a given; then the falling-in-lust-right-away trope which I grant you is adorable in many books but here I was like what?, who? how? 😳😳
The premise of the story was great, Miller is celebrating his first Christmas since his mother's passing with a family he's still getting to know, a grandmother he still blames for many of the problems his mother and he faced. He's an outsider, looking in... trying to belong into a family he isn't quite comfortable with. Darius provides him that support and friendship he needs when he feels overwhelmed or left out ❤️. But the bawdy inside jokes, too many cameos and rushed love between the couple just ruined the whole sweet-vulnerability of the romance. It could have worked and probably will for many, but it didn't for me. I can't recommend it 😬, especially if you haven't read LL's books from those series.

[Gustaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

As most of you probably know by now, I've had a hard time connecting with this author's work lately, but I keep picking up her books. Well, I'm glad to say that with this one, she brought back everything I loved about her books when I started reading them.

Sure, there's a ton of people in this book. I mean like almost every character she's ever written. And there's some over the top humor. And grannies (yuck) okay that's a weird sentence but if you know, you know. But I loved every single page of this book. I loved Miller and Darius. And I loved the christmasy feels.

All in all, this was such a sweet read.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

The crossover to end all crossovers 😁

This is a really fun meeting of three of Lucy's series' which sees the Marian and Wilde families make their way to Aster Valley for a big reunion.

Central is the romance between newly discovered Marian and Wilde cousin Miller and bakery owner Darius.

It's perhaps a little insta-lovey but i honestly didn't mind, the connection was there from the off.

Having everyone in one place means we also get to check in with all the couples we know and love from the other books, which was cool.

I was also pretty happy to see that the level of 'obnoxious old ladies' was vastly reduced too.

There's a few choice comments and they're still up to no good and interfering left, right, and centre but without the overtly crude sexual references of earlier Marian books.

I'm definitely a fan of Darius, he's straight forward without any manipulation or artifice. He's attracted to Miller from the off and doesn't play games about it.

Miller's attitude occasionally wandered a bit close to an air of - not quite martyrdom - but definite overly wallowing.

While at the same time, I could still sympathise following his mother's death, for me, it was frustrating how he seemed to be incapable of seeing any other side to what happened.

Thankfully, it didn't actually end up that way and his kind heart and thoughtful nature allowed him to forgive Tilly but also accept that her behaviour was just as valid.

Ultimately I felt this part of the story was very truthful and honestly told, it was a situation where there were no good or bad guys, just humans dealing with pain, grief and fear.

The humour and zany nature of these two families, and their inherent kindness made for a wonderfully festive gathering to which the Aster Valley guys just added icing to the cake.

A perfect festive read imho and perfectly spiced with some steamy scenes as well as lovingly supportive ones between Miller and Darius.

Lucy still uses the Epilogue to set up the next book but it's nowhere near as obvious as the Aster Valley ones.

Here we get to properly see into the future some months later with Miller and Darius firmly established in their new life together.

I'm definitely looking forward to Julian's book though which has been delayed a short while but I'm sure will be worth the wait.

#ARC kindly received from the author via Social Butterfly PR in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that I've read all the Marian and Wilde books as well as Aster Valley this book made so much more sense 😂 the only thing that bothered me was when they said Ammon was only 20 - I'm sure he should be at least 22 by now if this takes place after all the stories in Made Marian Mixtape, because I thought it was mentioned Gideon was 21 in his story and he's younger than Ammon?!

There needs to be more family reunions because there wasn't enough of each character for me!

[MM Romance Most Wanted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable Catnip for Lucy Lennox Fans

She's spoiling us. Giving us brooding Miller, who's so freaking conscientious, and Darius, the HOT baker who's great with his hands and hiding his stacks of cash deep in a fancy mountainside chalet in Aster Valley. Get me a one way ticket to Colorado, cause who doesn't want to live in Aster Valley? A rich, sexy playground for all the pretty men of Lucy's swoonbin of imagination. The book is all the yum and none of the tummy ache. A perfect Christmas confection that stayed in my heart, plus it's full of all the flirty, filthy moments you expect from the Mistress of the Marian Wilde Clans.

What I loved about this book: Mickey and Tiller, duh! That hulking snowman cameo and his sweet role-playing twink. Declan bailing out Tilly and Finn getting fangirled by the Marian and Wilde women. And the food, the visuals and all the dirty desserts I never knew I needed!!! OMG the first few chapters my mouth watered (and not just for Darius and Miller lol) I wanted to know how to cook each delicious treat but the developing story between our insta-love leads kept me glued to my kindle. Great pacing and plenty of shout outs.

ETA: her grief writing and dealing with Miller’s loneliness and loss— and Tilly’s heartache, and how those dialogues went down, that entire arc, was so so good.

I'm an Aster Valley girl and I FLOVED seeing my fave callbacks. This is a sweet insta-love story that will satisfy any Lennox fan, and before I knew it, the story was over and I just hope there are a few sequels. I've only read one Marian book, and I still loved this Aster Valley treat. Cannot WAIT for Julian's book.

I'm KC Caron reviewing as MM Romance Most Wanted

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the feels, fun, sexiness and characters we love from Lucy Lennox !
In our wonderful preamble, we are reminded of how Miller became a member of the family, and he's here for the giant family reunion in Aster Valley.
Miller is about 30, blonde, (on cover) a Marketing Director,

who's Mom died a year ago, he is still grieving. Fierce Tilly is his grandmother.
Darius is 35-40, a Bakery owner with a messy

brown bun, beard, tattoos, a muscled hottie who comes from a huge family himself. We learn both men's pasts.
We get fun and touching conversations with many family members, wrapping presents, kid's cuteness and loving couples. The big heartwarming family is full of happiness, sass, and fun times. Miller is a bit overwhelmed, and feels new emotions while he's there. Where were these folks when his Mom was dying?

When Darius sees Miller come into the bakery for an order, he knows right away, "...this man will be something important to me..."

They spend time at the bakery kitchen, and both feel the attraction. Miller lives in CA, but is unhappy there. Darius had sold his successful chain of bakeries in Chicago to have the peace and quiet he has here.



We like them both right away. We like the two men's intense magnetism, and we want them together.
Their is a sleigh ride hijacking, other cute scenarios and lively folks, as this sweet story moves along.

Miller has a tough moment and confronts Tilly, then with time apart, she and Miller finally get to have a talk about it.

Miller and Darius are fabulous together, Darius thinks Miller is extraordinary, unique and precious, and the holidays are super special for everyone.


Everything we love is here, with a beautifully written tale for the fans of these fantastic families. Plus the epilogue is marvelous!
Thank you Lucy Lennox !
ENJOY !

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[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was utter perfection.

[KaylaMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰3 stars✰

This is an extremely insta-love holiday romance with incredibly low-angst. As in, almost none. With being under 200 pages, this reads very much like a novella that I think it's intended to be.

There’s not really a moving plot here, just the story moving from a few days before Christmas to right after. We get a lot of cameos from all the past books in the series, and if you haven’t read them recently it might be hard for you to keep track of who’s who.

I’d say reading this in July like I did was probably not the move. This book feels like it needs to be read on a snowy day in December with a cup of hot chocolate. I could see how in that setting it would be a perfect book to read on a cozy day, and maybe even get another star if I was in that right setting and holiday mood.

Overall though it's super sweet and feel good.

[haletostilinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a nice Christmas story that brings the Wildes and Marians back together, this time focusing mainly on Miller, who they've all only known a year, who is the son of the daughter of Aunt Tilly, the matriarch of the Marian clan, who was given away my Tilly for adoption, so Miller had only recently, in the last year, learned of his biological family.

Miller is still trying to settling into the family, and this holiday he's expecting to be mostly sad and miserable, it being his first Christmas without his mom, who he was very close to. And it's only been 7 months, so he's not truly through the whole grieving process yet.

But joy comes in the form of Darius, who Miller meets one morning on the trip the families took to Aster Valley, when he volunteered to get bakery goods for Mikey (who is from the first fully length Aster Valley book and who is with Tiller) who is the owner of the lodge the families are staying at.

There is a connection between these two right away, and things happen quickly between them. I do give a little off for that, because things do happen fairly rushed between them. But, they were also so cute together and I liked their chemistry so much that it didn't bother me too much. And at least by the epilogue, a few weeks after the end of the story, they're taking it...relatively slow. (Well, there is moving into places happening already, but at least they didn't already get married or talk about getting married, which has happened in a Lennox book before lol)

I do wish there had been a tad more of these two building up to being in love, though, and a lot of this story was taken up by all the family surrounding Miller that it was a tad chaotic at times. I get that it's fun to see all these fun, funny and sometimes wacky family members, and I do enjoy most of them and they bring some good humor at times, but overall having ALL of BOTH families is just a tad too much for me.

Let's just say I very much felt Miller in this when he got too overwhelmed by everyone. Which I think is tiny detriment to this story. Not too much that I didn't enjoy this still and didn't adore Miller and Darius, but enough that I felt Miller was a tad cheated out of a full story that he could have had. There just wasn't as much of Miller and Darius as I would have liked, especially when these two were so good together.

There was enough for me to still overall enjoy this a lot, and I liked the added storyline with Miller and Tilly's drama, it brought some actual plot outside the romance into this, but like the last time both of these two families were put together at the end of Doc and Grandpa's book, it just was too much, a little too overwhelming, and could have done without all that chaos at many points in the book. It detracts from the main romance and MC's we're falling for and enjoying reading.

But still, Miller and Darius were so good together and were so sweet together that they carried this for me, and made me still enjoy it immensely.

So overall, I definitely recommend, as overall this is a well done holiday story with a well done romance at the center. It just could have improved in other parts to make it a true standout.

Still a thumbs up from me, though! <3

[Ana Nimity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This confluence of the Marian family and the Wilde family in Aster Valley was everything I hoped it would be and more. I was afraid it might be like the epilogue of Wilde Love where it felt, to me, like it was almost a reunion for the sake of having everyone's name mentioned, which was fine for an epilogue, especially after her best story ever, in my opinion, but not sustainable for a whole book.

Lucy Lennox did a beautiful job of reminding me why I fell in love with both families, as well as the residents of Aster Valley, without it being overwhelming. Well, not too overwhelming. Anytime you put that many characters from that many books in one place, it's bound to be a bit over the top, but for me, it was just the right amount of visibility from each of the combined ensemble casts to get the feeling of a reunion without marginalizing Miller and Darius' love story, and without ignoring Miller's grief over the loss of his mother. Lucy faced that situation head-on, and I'm so, so glad that she did, even though I was bawling at 1 am reading it. Those scenes - and I won't go into any more detail to keep from spoiling it - matched the very best of Lucy's work in Wilde Love.

This book is most definitely not a standalone. You need to have read at least some of the Made Marion series, and at least some of the Wilde Love series, and probably at least the first of the Aster Valley books, to have an idea of who's who. It IS pretty necessary to read Tilly's background story, which is in the book Made Marion Mixtape. Obviously, it would be best if you'd read them all, but it isn't completely necessary.

Also, don't read this book when you're hungry, because you'll end up stuffing your face because of the amazing food mentioned in it.

Five enthusiastic stars, and a huge thanks for the memories to the author!

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not good.
Instalove, dirty grandmas,
Cameos galore.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere between 3 and 3.5 Stars.

I think this is the lowest I've rated a Lucy book, and that's definitely not because I didn't like it. I've been a huge fan of all Lucy's works, so it was tremendously fun to get to see all of the wildly huge cast interact together and revisit old favorites post HEA. It made me want to pick up some old favorites to watch them fall in love all over again. As always, it was a funny, heartwarming (did I tear up at times? yes I did), and just a wonderful look at family and love. The part that didn't work for me as much was the main romance. Miller and Darius were both great characters, and I have no doubt they will also be wrapped around each other if they make a cameo in later stories, but their story was kind of lost amidst all the other callbacks and reunions. I almost wish they would have gotten their own story then we got the reunion, or something of that nature. It was a good story, I laughed, I cried, just not as romantic as I was hoping for.

[Airy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very special to me. All the Wildes and all the Marians in one book combined with a fluffy instalovestory. It was really sweet.

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book 9 in the "Forever Wilde" series. When Miller Hobbs finds himself on a winter vacation in Colorado with the giant, exceedingly loud, Marian and Wilde families, he doesn’t quite know what to do with himself. He’s not really a Marian or a Wilde despite having DNA ties to both. Miller is Tilly and Harold grandson and this is his first holiday season since his mother's death. Miller was an only child and is not use to dealing with a large family he is grieving he feels guilty he is also angry at Tilly. While running an errand for the lodge owner Mikey he meets a hot sexy bakery owner Darius. I really liked both of these characters Miller was so sweet and sad and when Tilly was arrested for stealing a sleigh he was really worried and scared he was not use to her hijinks along with her two besties. This was my first book in the "Wilde" series and this book has definitely got me interested in reading the rest of the books in this series. I loved that Darius was there for Miller Darius moved to Aster Valley after selling his business. Miller is also looking for a change in his professional life as well. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Forever Wilde in Aster Valley is an ultimate Lucy Lennox crossover event. The book combines three of Lennox’s series that all exist in the same world — Forever Wilde, Made Marian, and Aster Valley. For those needing a bit of a refresher, Miller is the son of the child Tilly Marian gave away for adoption many years ago. Miller appears briefly in His Saint to try to enlist Grandpa Wilde’s help convincing Tilly to meet his mother before she passes away. When this story starts, Miller has already been brought into this extended Wilde/Marian family and basically all the characters who are the MCs of those two series books are his cousins (with Tilly being his grandmother).

So first off, this story is obviously going to be much richer if you have at least some familiarity with these three series, as pretty much everyone who ever appeared in any of these books gets some page time. I have read all of the Forever Wilde and Aster Valley books, but only have a passing familiarity with Made Marian from reading reviews. I was able to follow along pretty much by not trying to actually understand who any of the Marian cousins were and how they connected, as that doesn’t really impact this book. I was curious to see how Lennox would manage to craft a story featuring all three series, as the tone of Aster Valley feels very different than the other two, but Lennox does a nice job giving balance to both styles and working pretty much everyone and everything into this one story.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

“love is knowing someone will be the calm quiet in the middle of your storm. Love is someone who tucks a blanket around you and lets you sleep on his sofa. It’s someone who never hesitates to make you feel wanted and supported… even when you flounce out of dinner because you need a minute to process something alone.”

Talk about the ultimate crossover book! The Wilde and Marian families have descended on Aster Valley for a Christmas reunion and it is getting crazy up in Colorado! I absolutely adored this story! Miller is still trying to figure out where he fits in with everyone, but he is trying. He also desperately misses his mother and it is his first Christmas without her. Darius is the local baker and comes from an equally large and boisterous family. When he meets Miller, he instantly knows the other man will be special. He just has to convince Miller of the truth. These crazy families and found families are some of my favorites ever and I doubt that I will ever get enough. All the stars!!! Recommend like crazy!! You don’t need to have read the other series to enjoy it but it will help you know who all the people are.

[Szidi ☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The big family reunion spiced with cinnamon (because it's Christmas and because Darius is a baker ;) ). The Wilde and Marian chracters are all here so every reader will meet somene they know, and if you're knew to Lucy's world, you'll just love everyone in this book. I'm somewhere in the middle, because I'm not enterely new to this world but I haven't read all the books in it either - anyway, I enjoyed this story. I always find it fascinating and fun when a book has this big of a character list, especially if it's a family thing. And what's better then a family with gay guys coming together (no pun intended lol) for a Christmas vacation?

I liked both Darius and Miller, they were really cute and adorable. Their love was really, really insta, but somehow I didn't mind it at all. It was perfectly spaced for them and I just went with the flow and enjoyed their story.

The book has a teeny tiny drama at the end (what book hasn't?).

It was a great and lovely book.

[Melissa Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was the best culmination of three series ever. I didn't even know I could smile that wide. Pure adorable fluff at its best.

re-read: yup, still love this. it's wild (ha. ha.) to me that anyone could write three interconnected series much less merge them so seamlessly.

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! 

So, confession time, I've read maybe a couple of books in the Forever Wilde/Made Marian series, however, that didn't detract from my enjoyment of Forever After in Aster Valley at all. Lucy Lennox gives us enough background information that I didn't feel lost, even with all the characters featured in the book.

I loved Darius, he was steadfast and sweet and sexy, a perfect book boyfriend. And I liked Miller a lot, I just wanted to hug him and make his grief over his mother's death more bearable. I felt his whole process was dealt with sensitively and realistically. And I adored them together, it was a little insta-lovey, but when you know you know and these two obviously belonged together. 

Darius and Miller and lots and lots of Wilde and Made Marian's characters to keep up with, made this a fun and light and low-angst read. A must-read for fans of both series or for someone new to them. 

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Mrs.V · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Lucy’s wonderful characters gathered in a mountain cabin!
So, if you have read and loved everything and anything Lucy Lennox has ever written, you absolutely NEED to read this book! All of the Marians, all of the Wildes and most characters from the Aster Valley series rally around the new couple.
Miller and Darius have an immediate attraction, and their love story is kind of fast-paced and evolves very quickly from attraction to connection to love without a zip of angst. Despite the expected fun and the moments of outright LOL, Miller’s grieving for the loss of his mother and his mixed feelings towards his grandmother (none author than the legendary Aunt Tilly) and his newfound, humongous extended family made me share a couple of tears, too.

[Titou · Rating 5 out of 5]

C'est assez mal traduit, mais c'est un tel plaisir de retrouver les Marian, les Wilde et de découvrir les couples d'Aster Valley... prochaine série que je vais m'offrir
On découvre une toute nouvelle facette de Tilly

[Kk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Stars !!!!!!

Ohhh this just makes me so happy after all the crap reading lately!

Miller and Darius have a this-person-will-be-important-to-me moment and they just dance around each other in great form. Add to the peppering of characters from the Made Marian, Aster Valley, & Forever Wilde series, its just a fun read all together. While yes, I haven't read all those books (Mostly the Forever Wilde series) its not that hard to follow.

Between snarky comments, hustling old ladies and Cookie Dick.. the story has lots of moments both sad and funny. We see Miller Hobbs find himself in the middle of the Winter Wonderland that is Aster Valley and find love in the local baker, Darius Grant.

If I have an issue with the book, its the naming.. Miller, Heller, Tiller, Tilly.. its a rhyming merry go round that you can't get off!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone who has enjoyed the Marian books, the Wilde books, the Aster Valley books, or all of the above! It is a wonderful job of bringing all the characters we’ve come to know and love together for a holiday story while giving us a new pair to love.

Miller is spending his first Christmas without his mother, with his newly acquired extended family, and with a lot of unresolved feelings towards his grandmother Tilly. While vacationing with the Marians, Wildes, and their partners, at the lodge owned by Tiller and Mikey, Miller runs into town to pick up Mikey’s order at the bakery. There he is stunned by the gorgeous baker, Darius. Darius is equally smitten when he meets Miller.

The relationship that develops is two fold…Miller and Darius as well as Miller with this huge, chaotic, extended family. Seeing Miller’s conflicting emotions is an emotional rollercoaster. Lennox does such a great job portraying the conflicts without being maudlin or making Miller come off as an ungrateful brat. It’s a tough line to walk. The crisis scene is just heart breaking. But the resolution is so sweet it pulls the reader right back up.

And in one of my favorite devices, the epilogue not only gives an update on the MCs but previews the next book for us. Bring on that next Aster Valley story!

**I voluntarily read an arc and this is my unbiased opinion.**

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever Wilde in Aster Valley, by Lucy Lennox, is a crossover for all times that brings individuals from Lucy Lennox’s Made Marian and Forever Wilde series together at the Rockley Lodge in Aster Valley, Colorado (her ongoing series) for the holidays. Since Forever Wilde in Aster Valley’s focus is on a new family member, it can be read as a standalone as the author states in her note to the readers. But I feel if you haven’t followed these series, you will miss some of the subtle nuances.

Michael Dean has narrated all of the Made Marian, Forever Wilde and Aster Valley novels, so there is a lot of continuity with the portrayal of characters’ personalities. His narration is always a treat, giving a confident and astounding voice to the individuals. Maybe this is the result of his long-time connection to these characters, but it could also be pure talent on his part. His articulation of the individuals captures each scene, resounding with all the joy, love, anger and tension due at that moment.

Forever Wilde in Aster Valley is Miller Hobbs’ story. Miller was introduced in His Saint, Saint and Augie’s story, and then again at the end of Wilde Love, where the Marian and Wilde families are connected. These are books 5 and 6 in the Forever Wilde series… so how does Aster Valley fit the picture? Well, it starts right here and now as the location for a large, loud and overwhelming Marion/Wilde Aster Valley Christmas. While Miller has ties to both the Marian’s and the Wilde’s, he doesn’t yet feel he belongs and is deeply mourning the loss of his mother.

Miller is both happy and sad that he was included in the Marion/Wilde holiday celebration and at the same time is overwhelmed by the enormity of his new family. Miller meets the tatted, gorgeous Greek god, Darius Grant (briefly introduced in Hot as Heller Aster Valley book 3 as the new bakery owner in town), on a run to pick up treats from Darious’ bakery, Honey’s. Miller is smitten and unbeknownst to Miller, the feeling is mutual and will soon shape his future. To escape the family ruckus, Miller visits Honey’s multiple times after that first encounter, spending time with Darius for the comfort he finds in his presence.

As we have come to expect with Lucy Lennox’s writing, Forever Wilde in Aster Valley is chock full with sexual innuendo, elders who push the limits of the law, a freakishly scary, yet adorable snowman and an abundance of good intentions. But front and center is the budding relationship between Miller and Darius. With so much going on, their path to happiness could have been overshadowed, but with brilliant finesse, they take center stage in an outstanding holiday romance.

I totally fell in love with Darius and his utter honesty, that is anything but abrasive. He is kind, attentive and doesn’t have a manipulative bone in his body. From the start, he is infatuated with Miller giving him the space he needs to work through his issues while providing unconditional support. It is through the subtle distractions and gentle guidance Darius provides that his feelings for Miller reveal themselves.

At the same time, my heart goes out to Miller, suffering from and blinded by the staggering loss of his mother for the first holiday season. He wants nothing more than to become part of the Marion/Wilde clan, but heartbreak over the initial rejection from his grandmother, Tilly Marion, is holding him back. As with most things, a serious and heartfelt discussion with Tilly has the effect of putting things into perspective. In contrast, Miller wears his attraction for Darius on his sleeve, but feels undeserving of such happiness.

By the end of Forever Wilde in Aster Valley there is a new resident and power couple with Miller and Darius. Miller seamlessly integrates into life in Aster Valley, his confidence is back and the love that radiates off the new couple is hypnotizing. The holiday season is a time for miracles and this holiday Miller and Darius receive the greatest gift of all… true love!

[Larissa_S · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 stars* I adored this beautiful holiday romance that is as much about found family as it is about falling in love. NB: This is not a book you should read without reading at least some of the Marion series and Wilde series first. Reading Right as Raine in the Aster Valley series would help, but it’s not essential. The short story "Poker Face" provides Tilly’s backstory and is super helpful to read first as well.

The obvious draw for Forever Wilde in Aster Valley is the collision of three of Ms. Lennox’s successful series all wrapped up in one story. As promised, we do get to visit with both clans and see “after the HEA” for our beloved Wilde and Marian couples as well as, to a lesser extent, our Aster Valley contingent. Mikey and Tiller are prominently featured. Sam and Truman and Declan and Finn to a lesser extent. But the star of this story is not all of the characters we know and love - it’s the new entrant to the mix: Miller Hobbs.

Miller just recently discovered he is Tilly’s grandson and has now been brought into the huge and overwhelming Marian-Wilde family fold. That entire all-up-in-your-business, no filter, extended family has gathered at Mikey and Tiller’s chalet in Aster Valley for the holiday. The family dynamic is very different from what Miller’s used to and it’s all a bit much for him to take, especially when he is still mourning the death of his mother, Tilly’s daughter.

Miller has trouble sleeping and goes out wandering Aster Valley, ultimately finding himself at the bakery owned by Darius, a recent transplant to Aster Valley from Chicago. They fall into a charming, albeit rapid, courtship over cookies and croissants and find themselves head over heels for each other.

I loved Miller’s character and how he simultaneously grapples with conflicting feelings of grief, guilt, and happiness, as well as anger towards Tilly. Tilly is a fascinating character. She is hysterical no doubt, and provides some of the best moments in the Made Marian stories, She even pops up in some of the Wilde stories as well. Her saucy, spicy, prickly demeanor is primarily what we see in those previous stories. But here we see Tilly's true struggles and fears. I appreciated that she is not made into an “angelic” character. She has good intentions (most of the time) and stands behind her decisions, even when they are not popular or even ostensibly sensical or acceptable. Her attitude and decisions are understood in context but it’s not context she reveals easily, if at all.

Miller and Darius’ relationship is excellent. My only complaint is that it moved too fast and got overshadowed by the family drama. I wish FWIAV had been expanded into a longer story with more time spent on their relationship. I’m hoping we see more of them in Thick as Thieves which is next up in the Aster Valley universe.

Overall, FWIAV is an extremely enjoyable visit with old friends and a lovely way to enjoy the glorious found family of the Marian and Wildes.

[Kim]

4.5 stars
An Aster Valley Resort
The Christmas holiday
A bajillion Marians and Wildes
An only child thrust into this family as a long-lost grandson
A hot local baker

Mix it all up and it equals chaos, confusion, laughs, tears, love, and plenty of shenanigans and innuendo.

But for Miller Hobbs it is a journey to truly understand his own feelings of the situation, face his grief, and figure out what the next steps will be for him. He has been running himself ragged at work and not dealing with everything that has happened to him. He is not sure how he really fits into this new family. He is more reserved, analytical, anxious, and overwhelmed.

Walking into Honey's, the new bakery in Aster Valley, brings him face to face with the long-haired, gorgeous Greek god of a baker that is good with his hands and also has a big, caring heart. Darius Grant has lived the city work-a-holic life and it burned him out. He has also lost at love. So he is enjoying the small-town life even if it does still keep him busy.

These two spark, connect, and find that as wild as it seems that they might have unexpectedly met their person. Sure it's insta-lusty and insta-lovey but it works in this story since there is a lot going on around them. They just have to navigate the holidays with all of the craziness and challenges and figure out what they want out of life to be happy.

I really liked Miller and Darius and felt like they were a great match. Miller is still processing loss and the changes in his life and is way out of his element in the middle of the family storm. Darius is calm and supportive and anchors him. They have this natural, organic connection and help balance out the other one. They both have seen how work can take over your life and beginning to see that you only live once and need to make the most of it. They just have to be brave enough to go after it.

This brings back everyone! Seriously, at times it is overwhelming because there are so many Marians, Wildes, and Aster Valley residents. It makes you feel like part of the mass chaos and fun, and makes you want to hang out in the lodge for the holidays. It is fast-paced, funny, and over-the-top, but there are also some raw and emotional scenes. The core to all the family crazy is the love and loyalty they have for each other.

It also teases Tiller's friend Julian's story Thick as Thieves and I am looking forward to it.

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[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just... too much. The story takes place at a Marian/Wilde Christmas/family reunion set in Aster Valley. I swear she shoehorned every couple from all three series into this one book. I spent the whole book going "wait, who is that again?" I thought I'd read everything up to this point, but there were a few couples I had no memory of, even after she dropped hints about who they were. So either I've missed a few or they were just super unmemorable characters.

There should have been enough story here without being bombarded with all those characters. (Seriously, there were over 40 returning characters. Just the adults! A lot of them had sprogged since their original stories, so there were kids everywhere, too. I didn't even bother trying to keep track of them.) Miller is Tilly's long-lost grandson. His mother died of cancer less than a year ago, and he is grieving and has complicated feelings about Tilly. Darius seems like a nice guy. In fact, he seems like a perfect guy, because we don't get a chance to see anything else. He's nearly crowded out of his own story. Miller has a personal growth moment where he acknowledges that his mother was not perfect, and neither is Tilly. But they only know each other for a couple days before they trade "I love yous," so he doesn't get the opportunity to get there with Darius. Ironically, Miller has a conversation with... one of the cast of thousands, I don't even remember who, early in the book about how if he wants a relationship like the ones he sees all around him, he's going to have to get past the small talk and be open and vulnerable with someone. And then the whole romance ends up feeling super shallow, because there's no room or time for them to make that connection. It's all "I can't explain it. I just know he's the one." Which can be fun sometimes, but it doesn't work if you can't back it up.

Well. I guess I was more annoyed by this book than I thought.