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Alaska Homecoming #3
That Deep River Feeling
Jackie Ashenden brings the heat to Alaska in her contemporary romance featuring:
Zeke Montgomery doesn't care much about Deep River, but he'll do just about anything to keep the promise he made to look out for his best friend's sister.
As the sole police officer in Deep River, Morgan West won't be bossed around, but Zeke is irresistible. He's tough, challenging, and all kinds of sexy, but getting involved is the last thing on her mind. Or is it...?
- An independent woman dedicated to protecting her town―and her heart
- A mysterious mountain man with a past shrouded in secrets
- A small Alaska town that'll take your breath away
Zeke Montgomery doesn't care much about Deep River, but he'll do just about anything to keep the promise he made to look out for his best friend's sister.
As the sole police officer in Deep River, Morgan West won't be bossed around, but Zeke is irresistible. He's tough, challenging, and all kinds of sexy, but getting involved is the last thing on her mind. Or is it...?
- GenresRomanceContemporary
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2021
8 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Ashenden
488 books976 followersJackie has been writing fiction since she was eleven years old. Mild mannered fantasy/SF/pseudo-literary writer by day, obsessive romance writer by night, she used to balance her writing with the more serious job of librarianship until a chance meeting with another romance writer prompted her to throw off the shackles of her day job and devote herself to the true love of her heart – writing romance. She particularly likes to write dark, emotional stories with alpha heroes who've just got the world to their liking only to have it blown wide apart by their kick-ass heroines.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband, the inimitable Dr Jax, two kids, two cats and some guppies (possibly dead guppies by the time you read this). When she's not torturing alpha males and their stroppy heroines, she can be found drinking chocolate martinis, reading anything she can lay her hands on, posting random crap on her blog, or being forced to go mountain biking with her husband.
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July 25, 2021
That Deep River Feeling by Jackie Ashendon
3rd book in the the Alaskan Homecoming series. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series since the first two couples are part of the town and background stories.
Morgan is the town police officer. She takes care of the people and the town problems. And the people look after her in return.
Zeke is at home in the wilderness. It’s the only place he felt like he belonged. Being in Deep River to look after Morgan is temporary. Owning a piece of the town is something he needs to figure out.
The heroine is intuitive and nurturing. And alone.
The hero is alone but skittish and trained to run. There were several times I was mad at his decisions but Phil, the self proclaimed hermit, gave him some really good advice.
“You have to accept yourself before you can accept anyone else.”
Because trust was hard. Because people lied.
Love wasn’t a lie. Love was powerful.
“someone told me tonight that it’s not about changing myself, it’s about changing my attitude“
I’ve used this last one many times in my career and life. It’s an unexpected gem to find in a romance novel.
The book was ultimately a huge tug on the heartstrings.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Sourcebooks. Opinions are my own.
3rd book in the the Alaskan Homecoming series. Contemporary romance. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series since the first two couples are part of the town and background stories.
Morgan is the town police officer. She takes care of the people and the town problems. And the people look after her in return.
Zeke is at home in the wilderness. It’s the only place he felt like he belonged. Being in Deep River to look after Morgan is temporary. Owning a piece of the town is something he needs to figure out.
The heroine is intuitive and nurturing. And alone.
The hero is alone but skittish and trained to run. There were several times I was mad at his decisions but Phil, the self proclaimed hermit, gave him some really good advice.
“You have to accept yourself before you can accept anyone else.”
Because trust was hard. Because people lied.
Love wasn’t a lie. Love was powerful.
“someone told me tonight that it’s not about changing myself, it’s about changing my attitude“
I’ve used this last one many times in my career and life. It’s an unexpected gem to find in a romance novel.
The book was ultimately a huge tug on the heartstrings.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Sourcebooks. Opinions are my own.
February 21, 2022
That Deep River Feeling was an excellent small town romance between a woman sworn to protect the town and one of the men who just inherited it.
Since the death of her brother Caleb, Morgan West has been alone as the last of her family. Then one day Zeke Montgomery shows up and tells her his brother asked him to look after her. Morgan has never taken well to being bossed around but Zeke isn't taking no for an answer. Zeke isn't one for sticking around so his plan is to fulfill his late best friend's last request, figure out how to offload his share of the town, and get out of dodge. But Zeke finds himself drawn to Morgan and the more time he spends with her, the harder it gets to walk away.
Morgan grew up in Deep River under the shadow of the West name. Morgan has never felt she's been enough for her family and even to an extent blames herself for them leaving. Despite her family issues, Morgan loves Deep River and has dedicated herself to keeping the town safe. Zeke never fit in with his family and so he left at the first opportunity. Zeke is very socially awkward and comes across as quite abrupt as he simply tells it like it is. He feels most at home when he's on his own in the wilderness, so he tends to avoid being in populated areas/towns as much as possible.
Morgan and Zeke's romance gets off to a bit of a slower start. Morgan doesn't want someone to take care of her as she can do that herself and Zeke is determined to help as it was Caleb's last request of him. Despite reservations on both sides, the two are immediately attracted to one another and their chemistry was fantastic. At first Zeke is very reserved in his interactions with Morgan and I enjoyed watching him open up more as the book went on. Due to Morgan being a West, the entire town is watching these two closely and offering their opinions. Personally something like that would annoy me more than it did Zeke and Morgan who took the meddling in stride. There is a bit of conflict towards the end but thankfully that was dealt with quickly.
Overall That Deep River Feeling was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend the series if you're looking for some great contemporary romances.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Since the death of her brother Caleb, Morgan West has been alone as the last of her family. Then one day Zeke Montgomery shows up and tells her his brother asked him to look after her. Morgan has never taken well to being bossed around but Zeke isn't taking no for an answer. Zeke isn't one for sticking around so his plan is to fulfill his late best friend's last request, figure out how to offload his share of the town, and get out of dodge. But Zeke finds himself drawn to Morgan and the more time he spends with her, the harder it gets to walk away.
Morgan grew up in Deep River under the shadow of the West name. Morgan has never felt she's been enough for her family and even to an extent blames herself for them leaving. Despite her family issues, Morgan loves Deep River and has dedicated herself to keeping the town safe. Zeke never fit in with his family and so he left at the first opportunity. Zeke is very socially awkward and comes across as quite abrupt as he simply tells it like it is. He feels most at home when he's on his own in the wilderness, so he tends to avoid being in populated areas/towns as much as possible.
Morgan and Zeke's romance gets off to a bit of a slower start. Morgan doesn't want someone to take care of her as she can do that herself and Zeke is determined to help as it was Caleb's last request of him. Despite reservations on both sides, the two are immediately attracted to one another and their chemistry was fantastic. At first Zeke is very reserved in his interactions with Morgan and I enjoyed watching him open up more as the book went on. Due to Morgan being a West, the entire town is watching these two closely and offering their opinions. Personally something like that would annoy me more than it did Zeke and Morgan who took the meddling in stride. There is a bit of conflict towards the end but thankfully that was dealt with quickly.
Overall That Deep River Feeling was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend the series if you're looking for some great contemporary romances.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
July 18, 2021
Let me start by stating that I'm a Jackie Ashenden fan and a fan of her Alaska Homecoming novels, and this third book in the series was another excellent read. If you're new to this series, I strongly suggest reading these novels in the order they were written, since so much of what happens in this novel is dependent upon understanding what occurred in the previous ones. It was another 5-star novel for this reader.
The heroine in this novel is Morgan West, who was born and raised in Deep River, Alaska, a quirky town filled with quirky characters that always reminds me of the TV series, Northern Exposure. Morgan is what passes for the law in Deep River, and her older brother, Caleb (Cal), was killed in the first novel. The West family founded this town, and owned it, leasing the land for a pittance to anyone who wanted to make Deep River their home, and much of the previous novels dealt with the fact that Deep River is sitting on millions of dollars of oil, offers are being made to residents to sell their piece of the town to the oil company, and after Caleb's death, ownership of the town changes hands, not something Morgan West, the last member of the West family still alive, ever wanted. She's happy with her job and role as a caregiver and law officer to the local populace, at least until Zeke Montgomery shows up at her home.
Zeke is one of the most unique and enigmatic characters in Ms. Ashenden's series. He's a great big bear of a man who prefers living and exploring the Alaskan wilderness alone to living in a town, even one as small as Deep River, where he'd have to deal with others, but a letter from his late army buddy, Caleb, asked him to look after Caleb's sister, Morgan, and that's what he intends to do, whether Morgan likes it or not.
Zeke barely speaks, never smiles, and it was not difficult to discern that from his behavior, he most probably suffers from some degree of Asperger's syndrome, making him something of an outsider even within his own family, who viewed him as defective and often called him that, a view he accepted, never comfortable in social settings, and certainly not happy being born into a family of high achievers, great wealth, and high social standing. But all that is about to change when he shows up in Deep River six months after Caleb's death to fulfill his promise to take care of Morgan, and take care of her he does.
It was hard not to fall in love with Zeke, an emotionally wounded man who has never had a close relationship with anyone outside of his military friends, and whose love of the wilderness and wild nature of Alaska, his blunt honesty, his inability to lie, and whose kindness and thoughtfulness have gone unrecognized and unappreciated until he insists on keeping his promise to Caleb--whether Morgan wants it of not. Of the heroes in this series, Zeke grew to become my favorite--I have a penchant for stories about wounded warriors, those who don't quite fit in, the outsiders, and the misunderstood, whether they are physically and/or emotionally wounded, and Zeke's self-isolation, humility, and self-effacing view of himself called to me on every level, just as they called to Morgan.
To tell you more about this novel and what happens in it would spoil it for you, so I'll simply state that of the three novels in this series, That Deep River Feeling appealed to me most, on every level, and I cannot recommend this novel and this series highly enough. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
The heroine in this novel is Morgan West, who was born and raised in Deep River, Alaska, a quirky town filled with quirky characters that always reminds me of the TV series, Northern Exposure. Morgan is what passes for the law in Deep River, and her older brother, Caleb (Cal), was killed in the first novel. The West family founded this town, and owned it, leasing the land for a pittance to anyone who wanted to make Deep River their home, and much of the previous novels dealt with the fact that Deep River is sitting on millions of dollars of oil, offers are being made to residents to sell their piece of the town to the oil company, and after Caleb's death, ownership of the town changes hands, not something Morgan West, the last member of the West family still alive, ever wanted. She's happy with her job and role as a caregiver and law officer to the local populace, at least until Zeke Montgomery shows up at her home.
Zeke is one of the most unique and enigmatic characters in Ms. Ashenden's series. He's a great big bear of a man who prefers living and exploring the Alaskan wilderness alone to living in a town, even one as small as Deep River, where he'd have to deal with others, but a letter from his late army buddy, Caleb, asked him to look after Caleb's sister, Morgan, and that's what he intends to do, whether Morgan likes it or not.
Zeke barely speaks, never smiles, and it was not difficult to discern that from his behavior, he most probably suffers from some degree of Asperger's syndrome, making him something of an outsider even within his own family, who viewed him as defective and often called him that, a view he accepted, never comfortable in social settings, and certainly not happy being born into a family of high achievers, great wealth, and high social standing. But all that is about to change when he shows up in Deep River six months after Caleb's death to fulfill his promise to take care of Morgan, and take care of her he does.
It was hard not to fall in love with Zeke, an emotionally wounded man who has never had a close relationship with anyone outside of his military friends, and whose love of the wilderness and wild nature of Alaska, his blunt honesty, his inability to lie, and whose kindness and thoughtfulness have gone unrecognized and unappreciated until he insists on keeping his promise to Caleb--whether Morgan wants it of not. Of the heroes in this series, Zeke grew to become my favorite--I have a penchant for stories about wounded warriors, those who don't quite fit in, the outsiders, and the misunderstood, whether they are physically and/or emotionally wounded, and Zeke's self-isolation, humility, and self-effacing view of himself called to me on every level, just as they called to Morgan.
To tell you more about this novel and what happens in it would spoil it for you, so I'll simply state that of the three novels in this series, That Deep River Feeling appealed to me most, on every level, and I cannot recommend this novel and this series highly enough. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 30, 2021
I enjoyed this one even more than the first two. Zeke and Morgan were fabulous characters who engaged my interest and concern from the very beginning.
JA has a gift for making this kind of unusual hero come to life and engage one’s emotions. Zeke has certain social/ psychological problems which have haunted him over the years but he still comes across as a delightful, deeply engaging character.
Morgan is the equivalent of the law and a rather sad, lonely figure despite being surrounded by people who love and care for her.
The oil company returns in this book and the revelation about Zeke was an interesting aside and I loved the way he dealt with it, but my attention was firmly on the developing relationship between Morgan and Zeke.
Sexy, tender, romantic and just so rewarding. I loved it.
JA has a gift for making this kind of unusual hero come to life and engage one’s emotions. Zeke has certain social/ psychological problems which have haunted him over the years but he still comes across as a delightful, deeply engaging character.
Morgan is the equivalent of the law and a rather sad, lonely figure despite being surrounded by people who love and care for her.
The oil company returns in this book and the revelation about Zeke was an interesting aside and I loved the way he dealt with it, but my attention was firmly on the developing relationship between Morgan and Zeke.
Sexy, tender, romantic and just so rewarding. I loved it.
did-not-finish
July 11, 2023DNF @48%. We're halfway through the book, so obviously the sexytimes need to happen, whether it makes sense at this time in the story or not. So the heroine, who has barely acknowledged her tingly feelings are sexual attraction, is going to proposition the hero for no-strings-attached sex, because he's too reticent to do it. And without so much as an actual touch or kiss between the two thus far.
Sigh.
There's a time and place for sex (of all kinds!) but this just feels misplaced to me. I've enjoyed the category-length book I've read by this author and loved the push-pull tug of emotions between the characters, and I thought a single-title length would give her room to explore that, but unfortunately that hasn't been my experience, at least not with this series. The story also feels quite loose and disjointed, lots of repeated inner monologues, etc. So obviously a firm-handed editor really helps this writer shine. I, personally, will stick with her category titles.
Sigh.
There's a time and place for sex (of all kinds!) but this just feels misplaced to me. I've enjoyed the category-length book I've read by this author and loved the push-pull tug of emotions between the characters, and I thought a single-title length would give her room to explore that, but unfortunately that hasn't been my experience, at least not with this series. The story also feels quite loose and disjointed, lots of repeated inner monologues, etc. So obviously a firm-handed editor really helps this writer shine. I, personally, will stick with her category titles.
June 15, 2021
Morgan West first met Zeke Montgomery at her brother Caleb’s funeral. Earlier Zeke had received a letter from Caleb after the reading of Caleb’s will Caleb’s instructing Zeke to take care of Morgan when once Cal’s gone.
But Morgan is adamant and refuses any help from Zeke. Not to mention that she was also a Village Safety Protection Officer, the rural equivalent of an Alaskan State Trooper.
Zeke had arrived in Deep River a tiny, Alaskan town he and his two best friends and ex-army buddies, Silas Quinn and Damon Fitzgerald had inherited after Caleb’s death, a couple of nights earlier.
Oil reserves had been discovered lying beneath the town, oil that now belonged not only to Cal’s three friends who’d inherited the town from him, a fact that Caleb kept from his sister.
As a flicker of romance lights between Morgan and Zeke, could their circumstances lead to true love?
A cute romance story. Would recommend
Thank you to Jackie Ashenden, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC of this book.
But Morgan is adamant and refuses any help from Zeke. Not to mention that she was also a Village Safety Protection Officer, the rural equivalent of an Alaskan State Trooper.
Zeke had arrived in Deep River a tiny, Alaskan town he and his two best friends and ex-army buddies, Silas Quinn and Damon Fitzgerald had inherited after Caleb’s death, a couple of nights earlier.
Oil reserves had been discovered lying beneath the town, oil that now belonged not only to Cal’s three friends who’d inherited the town from him, a fact that Caleb kept from his sister.
As a flicker of romance lights between Morgan and Zeke, could their circumstances lead to true love?
A cute romance story. Would recommend
Thank you to Jackie Ashenden, NetGalley, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC of this book.
December 30, 2023
Morgan West is the sole police officer in Deep River, who spends all of the her time taking care of the town and its inhabitants. Her family founded the town, and she remains the last West after her brother, Caleb, passed away unexpectedly.
Zeke Montgomery was one of Caleb's best friends, and is now in Deep River after Caleb's passing to make good on his promise to take care of Morgan. Despite being a man of few words and very stubborn, Morgan seems to be crawling under his skin. An untold secret may turn things around, but will it change for the better or the worse?
4 out of 5 stars.
I received a free ARC from the publisher and NetGalley; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
Zeke Montgomery was one of Caleb's best friends, and is now in Deep River after Caleb's passing to make good on his promise to take care of Morgan. Despite being a man of few words and very stubborn, Morgan seems to be crawling under his skin. An untold secret may turn things around, but will it change for the better or the worse?
4 out of 5 stars.
I received a free ARC from the publisher and NetGalley; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
June 9, 2021
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
Not your usual love story, but a wonderful one featuring a different, unique hero and an interesting heroine, too, “That Deep River Feeling”, by Jackie Ashenden (SourceBooks Casablanca), takes place in the small town in Alaska, presenting characters from previous books in the series.
Such a tortured Alpha: serious, grumpy Zach is a wild mountain man, too honest, too blunt, incapable of deciphering others’ feelings and reading social clues, wary of human contact.
His loneliness is palpable and depicted well but other issues seen as limitations or weaknesses are told so often that it might become redundant.
His self-awareness of the “defects” – he admits having no sense of humor, disliking flirting or being unable to “do emotion” – is sometimes hard to read.
I liked that Morgan, the “small, tough no-nonsense cop”, was so good reading and dealing with Zach’s idiosyncrasies and helps him overcome the sense of being defective.
Watching him trying to resist Morgan and the monologue going on is so fun.
I’m not sure how I feel about the author’s option of only implying about the hero’s condition; some aspects remain unclear or vague.
But I do love a gruff hero, and Bear is a fantastic and reluctantly romantic male.
Not your usual love story, but a wonderful one featuring a different, unique hero and an interesting heroine, too, “That Deep River Feeling”, by Jackie Ashenden (SourceBooks Casablanca), takes place in the small town in Alaska, presenting characters from previous books in the series.
Such a tortured Alpha: serious, grumpy Zach is a wild mountain man, too honest, too blunt, incapable of deciphering others’ feelings and reading social clues, wary of human contact.
His loneliness is palpable and depicted well but other issues seen as limitations or weaknesses are told so often that it might become redundant.
His self-awareness of the “defects” – he admits having no sense of humor, disliking flirting or being unable to “do emotion” – is sometimes hard to read.
I liked that Morgan, the “small, tough no-nonsense cop”, was so good reading and dealing with Zach’s idiosyncrasies and helps him overcome the sense of being defective.
Watching him trying to resist Morgan and the monologue going on is so fun.
I’m not sure how I feel about the author’s option of only implying about the hero’s condition; some aspects remain unclear or vague.
But I do love a gruff hero, and Bear is a fantastic and reluctantly romantic male.
August 4, 2021
This one started out slow for me, it took me a bit to warm up to Zeke. But man...once I did, I really wanted him to see what he had all there for the taking for him, everything he could want. I liked how Morgan was with him, almost like a skittish animal, never pushing, just letting things happen. But when it really came down to things Morgan let Zeke know what she felt and what she wanted.
I really liked how Zeke talked to the town at the meeting. It was what they needed to hear in order to stay "safe". They made the right choice and so did Zeke at the end.
I really liked how Zeke talked to the town at the meeting. It was what they needed to hear in order to stay "safe". They made the right choice and so did Zeke at the end.
August 3, 2021
Oh, this was just lovely. In a strange coincidence, I chose to read three books fairly close together that all have the grumpy one and the sunshine one trope in them (
It Happened One Summer
,
Neon Gods
, and this one) and though they're all very different--and very good!--I think Ms Ashenden might win the award for best grumpy bear hero out of the three.
Though I'm still in the middle of Katee Robert's book. If that changes, I'll let you know ;)
I loved the whole atmosphere of this book--the town of Deep River, its people, and OMG Zeke and Morgan--the spell the author wove with her words here was really something else. At first glance Zeke and Morgan are one of those couples that really shouldn't work--she's a small town cop who is used to making things right for everyone around her, the little sister of one of his best friends, and the last remaining West in a town that was founded and owned by Wests; he's left his home and his family behind and is happier living on his own in the woods than with anyone else, barely even lets his friends get to know him, and doesn't even attempt to develop any type of people skills, ever. He's determined to help her and then duck out of town; she is just as determined that she doesn't need to be helped.
They should repel each other, but instead they find themselves inexplicitly drawn together--and Ms Ashenden makes it all 100% believable. I loved the glimpses she gave us into Zeke's head as much as those we get into Morgan's (poor Morgan! She's the one who takes the most risks the earliest, and Zeke just tramples all over her. I wanted to have his head for a hot minute or ten.)
The black moment here is black, black, black, and soooo hard to read. Though the resolution is ultimately satisfying, I did think Zeke got off a tad bit too easily in figuring out what he really wanted (a conversation with someone else essentially did the job...) Still, I put this one down with a warm glowy feeling inside.
That Deep River Feeling is the third book in her Alaska Homecoming series. I haven't read the first two (yet! You'd better believe they're on my TBR now!) and it did work OK as a standalone. Reading the other two books first would definitely give readers a fuller picture of what is happening with the town and the oil company and Zeke's two friends and their place in the town, so if you are able I would recommend reading them in order.
(Just don't plan on doing so using the NYPL digital offerings or Audible, though--NYPL only has the first book on audio and in ebook, and Audible only has this book available. :( )
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Though I'm still in the middle of Katee Robert's book. If that changes, I'll let you know ;)
I loved the whole atmosphere of this book--the town of Deep River, its people, and OMG Zeke and Morgan--the spell the author wove with her words here was really something else. At first glance Zeke and Morgan are one of those couples that really shouldn't work--she's a small town cop who is used to making things right for everyone around her, the little sister of one of his best friends, and the last remaining West in a town that was founded and owned by Wests; he's left his home and his family behind and is happier living on his own in the woods than with anyone else, barely even lets his friends get to know him, and doesn't even attempt to develop any type of people skills, ever. He's determined to help her and then duck out of town; she is just as determined that she doesn't need to be helped.
They should repel each other, but instead they find themselves inexplicitly drawn together--and Ms Ashenden makes it all 100% believable. I loved the glimpses she gave us into Zeke's head as much as those we get into Morgan's (poor Morgan! She's the one who takes the most risks the earliest, and Zeke just tramples all over her. I wanted to have his head for a hot minute or ten.)
The black moment here is black, black, black, and soooo hard to read. Though the resolution is ultimately satisfying, I did think Zeke got off a tad bit too easily in figuring out what he really wanted (a conversation with someone else essentially did the job...) Still, I put this one down with a warm glowy feeling inside.
That Deep River Feeling is the third book in her Alaska Homecoming series. I haven't read the first two (yet! You'd better believe they're on my TBR now!) and it did work OK as a standalone. Reading the other two books first would definitely give readers a fuller picture of what is happening with the town and the oil company and Zeke's two friends and their place in the town, so if you are able I would recommend reading them in order.
(Just don't plan on doing so using the NYPL digital offerings or Audible, though--NYPL only has the first book on audio and in ebook, and Audible only has this book available. :( )
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
July 14, 2021
Stunning, unique, powerful romance!
Having loved the first two books in this series, I was eager to learn about the mysterious Zeke and was thrilled to see him paired up with Caleb's sister. The series starts off with Caleb's death and each book shows how he set things in motion with his will and personal letters to his friends, making the reader believe that he'd been doing a little matchmaking along the way. Each book moves rather quickly, resulting in less than six months from Caleb's death to the epilogue of this third book.
Zeke is a bear of a man, part wild mountain hermit, someone who appears to be happy as a loner. However, as we get to know him throughout the book, it becomes clear (though never directly stated) that he's got all the markers of a man on the autism spectrum. It's nothing short of inspirational to see how he's made such a success of his life in spite of the way the deck was stacked against him - not because of his differences, but due to his parents' treatment of him.
Morgan is a caregiver, someone who has dedicated her life to taking care of the town she belongs to, despite the fact that she has no family left. I love the way the author showed her coming to grips with the reasons behind her drive to take care of people, and what that meant in her relationship with Zeke. That they each found themselves acting out of character for each other was not just exquisitely demonstrated, but it was clear that this was the entire point of their relationship - to make each other whole by filling a role that neither knew they even needed.
This story also brings the situation with the town's oil reserves to a climactic and triumphant conclusion. You'll understand this dilemma more if you've read the previous two books, but this story does stand on its own with enough explanation that you won't be lost if it's the first one you've read. That said, I highly recommend reading all three books as this is a terrific series from start to finish. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Having loved the first two books in this series, I was eager to learn about the mysterious Zeke and was thrilled to see him paired up with Caleb's sister. The series starts off with Caleb's death and each book shows how he set things in motion with his will and personal letters to his friends, making the reader believe that he'd been doing a little matchmaking along the way. Each book moves rather quickly, resulting in less than six months from Caleb's death to the epilogue of this third book.
Zeke is a bear of a man, part wild mountain hermit, someone who appears to be happy as a loner. However, as we get to know him throughout the book, it becomes clear (though never directly stated) that he's got all the markers of a man on the autism spectrum. It's nothing short of inspirational to see how he's made such a success of his life in spite of the way the deck was stacked against him - not because of his differences, but due to his parents' treatment of him.
Morgan is a caregiver, someone who has dedicated her life to taking care of the town she belongs to, despite the fact that she has no family left. I love the way the author showed her coming to grips with the reasons behind her drive to take care of people, and what that meant in her relationship with Zeke. That they each found themselves acting out of character for each other was not just exquisitely demonstrated, but it was clear that this was the entire point of their relationship - to make each other whole by filling a role that neither knew they even needed.
This story also brings the situation with the town's oil reserves to a climactic and triumphant conclusion. You'll understand this dilemma more if you've read the previous two books, but this story does stand on its own with enough explanation that you won't be lost if it's the first one you've read. That said, I highly recommend reading all three books as this is a terrific series from start to finish. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
July 28, 2021
Zeke Calhoun made a promise to his old army buddy to take care of his sister, Morgan. That's how Zeke finds himself in Deep River, Alaska. Morgan West takes her position as a police office seriously She sees the the people of the town as hers to personally protect. She isn't at all sure how to feel about the big, burly bear of a man who just showed up at her door.
Zeke stopped believing in himself a long time ago. Once he has fulfilled his promise he intends to return to his solitary life and the wilderness that gives him peace. When his past unexpectedly shows up in Deep River it's Morgan who stands behind him, offers him her support - and her lover if he'll let her.
Zeke first comes across as your basic cocky alpha male. We find he hides vulnerabilities and insecurities behind his gruff, sarcastic attitude. Morgan is the perfect match for Zeke. She has the patience and persistence to break through his barriers and help him start believing in himself again, Despite his loner ways, though, he wants to be the one taking care of Morgan. The romance here never feels forced or phony. The emotions are sweet and understated and I felt them throughout the story. I read the first of the Deep River stories some time ago. After reading Zeke and Morgan's story I think I'll go back the beginning and catch up on what I've missed.
Zeke stopped believing in himself a long time ago. Once he has fulfilled his promise he intends to return to his solitary life and the wilderness that gives him peace. When his past unexpectedly shows up in Deep River it's Morgan who stands behind him, offers him her support - and her lover if he'll let her.
Zeke first comes across as your basic cocky alpha male. We find he hides vulnerabilities and insecurities behind his gruff, sarcastic attitude. Morgan is the perfect match for Zeke. She has the patience and persistence to break through his barriers and help him start believing in himself again, Despite his loner ways, though, he wants to be the one taking care of Morgan. The romance here never feels forced or phony. The emotions are sweet and understated and I felt them throughout the story. I read the first of the Deep River stories some time ago. After reading Zeke and Morgan's story I think I'll go back the beginning and catch up on what I've missed.
July 28, 2021
That Deep River Feeling is a wonderful third addition to the Alaska Homecoming trilogy by Jackie Ashenden. This has been my favorite series written by her. I wasn’t sure what kind of secret Zeke had but I found it to be quite a surprise. There was a lot written about his lack of social skills but really that didn’t make him defective. I found him just as refreshing as Morgan did. It was not a surprise to see that they both had family struggles that had affect both emotionally adversely.
The underlying theme of the town’s future was the perfect backdrop for this couple. Alaska is the place to go to be yourself, find your own kind of different and to find a place to belong. I was proud of the town’s choice for the future, as well as Zeke and Morgan finding each other. Not every action or person needs to be labeled but does need to be accepted. So while it was great to see Zeke’s friends and co-owners of Deep River again, this was my favorite of the three books. Loved the ending, under the fall night sky and loved what Zeke decided to do with his share. Loved this couple too. Perfect together.
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The underlying theme of the town’s future was the perfect backdrop for this couple. Alaska is the place to go to be yourself, find your own kind of different and to find a place to belong. I was proud of the town’s choice for the future, as well as Zeke and Morgan finding each other. Not every action or person needs to be labeled but does need to be accepted. So while it was great to see Zeke’s friends and co-owners of Deep River again, this was my favorite of the three books. Loved the ending, under the fall night sky and loved what Zeke decided to do with his share. Loved this couple too. Perfect together.
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 23, 2021
Thank you for Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thought are my own.
When I saw this cover I was immediately drawn to the book it is so beautiful and made me this I would love to go to Deep River, Alaska and meet the locals. However the book was a little disappointing for me. This might because I haven't read the previous books in the series so have no background on the characters but I just couldn't warm to them however hard I tried.
Zeke Calhoun made a promise he would always look after his best friend's sister. Living in the wilderness most of the time he has a hard time returning to Deep River to fulfil that promise but it is the last thing he vowed to his friend. Morgan West is the town cop, and doesn't think she needs looking after. She is usually the one who looks after everyone else, but she humours Zeke as he was her brothers friend. The guys have lots of chemistry, but for me it fizzled for too long and then sparked all at once.
This is the first book I have read by the author, I would definitely read one of her books again. Maybe would start at the beginning of the series next time so I get a background of all the characters. I think this would have really helped.
When I saw this cover I was immediately drawn to the book it is so beautiful and made me this I would love to go to Deep River, Alaska and meet the locals. However the book was a little disappointing for me. This might because I haven't read the previous books in the series so have no background on the characters but I just couldn't warm to them however hard I tried.
Zeke Calhoun made a promise he would always look after his best friend's sister. Living in the wilderness most of the time he has a hard time returning to Deep River to fulfil that promise but it is the last thing he vowed to his friend. Morgan West is the town cop, and doesn't think she needs looking after. She is usually the one who looks after everyone else, but she humours Zeke as he was her brothers friend. The guys have lots of chemistry, but for me it fizzled for too long and then sparked all at once.
This is the first book I have read by the author, I would definitely read one of her books again. Maybe would start at the beginning of the series next time so I get a background of all the characters. I think this would have really helped.
December 19, 2022
Morgan West was the only cop in Deep River, Alaska. Now, with her brother's death, she didn't have any family left, either. When the will was read, her brother, Caleb, left the ownership of the town to his three best friends from the Army. Silas and Damon had already settled in to Deep River, but Zeke, had disappeared. With his return, there were lots of questions. Where had he gone for so long and why did he come back? He was a mountain man that lived in the wilderness. He hated being around people but he had made a promise to take care of Caleb's sister, Morgan, and he would help her fix some things around her house and then he would be gone again.
Morgan didn't know what to make of Zeke. He was like a bear with a sore paw. She felt there was more to him that the grouchy mountain man, though, and she was determined to get below the surface to learn more about him. What she found was more than she had imagined.
This was a sweet story of forgiveness and healing and learning to love without fear. There was some foul language used and a few descriptive sex scenes which I don't particularly like but I enjoyed reading the story and learning about more characters in the series.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Morgan didn't know what to make of Zeke. He was like a bear with a sore paw. She felt there was more to him that the grouchy mountain man, though, and she was determined to get below the surface to learn more about him. What she found was more than she had imagined.
This was a sweet story of forgiveness and healing and learning to love without fear. There was some foul language used and a few descriptive sex scenes which I don't particularly like but I enjoyed reading the story and learning about more characters in the series.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
May 21, 2021
I received That Deep River Feeling as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Zeke Calhoun made a promise to his late friend, Caleb West: to take care of his younger sister, Morgan West, the only police officer in the tiny Alaskan village of Deep River. At first, Zeke is a man physically and emotionally apart; wounded by rejections and wrongs in his past, he lives off the land and refuses to engage with the community. Something about Morgan, though, is different, and as they send more time together, they identify a kindred spirit in one another. However, when a threat with ties to Zeke casts a shadow over the Deep River community, he will have to
This was a sweet romance. I'm a sucker for an emotionally-constipated hero being brought back to life. The story progressed at a nice pace, and I appreciated that when something in his life went wrong, Zeke went to Morgan when rather than letting it blow up in some dramatic fashion. It speaks to a maturity between the two characters that's often lacking in romance novels. Deep River is a cute little world that I wouldn't' mind revisiting again.
Zeke Calhoun made a promise to his late friend, Caleb West: to take care of his younger sister, Morgan West, the only police officer in the tiny Alaskan village of Deep River. At first, Zeke is a man physically and emotionally apart; wounded by rejections and wrongs in his past, he lives off the land and refuses to engage with the community. Something about Morgan, though, is different, and as they send more time together, they identify a kindred spirit in one another. However, when a threat with ties to Zeke casts a shadow over the Deep River community, he will have to
This was a sweet romance. I'm a sucker for an emotionally-constipated hero being brought back to life. The story progressed at a nice pace, and I appreciated that when something in his life went wrong, Zeke went to Morgan when rather than letting it blow up in some dramatic fashion. It speaks to a maturity between the two characters that's often lacking in romance novels. Deep River is a cute little world that I wouldn't' mind revisiting again.
July 25, 2021
A pleasant third book in this series. Zeke Montgomery is a loner, not used to being social with people and prefers the wilderness. Morgan West has lived in Deep River her entire life and is the Village Safety Protection Officer which is comparable to being an Alaska State Trooper. When Zeke arrives in town, it is to honor the request by Morgan’s late brother to take care of her. He does not find a willing and compliant Morgan, but a woman who is used to taking care of herself and the town that she loves. Zeke is endearing in his attempts to be there for Morgan and slowly she appreciates his friendship, but could there be something more between them? When she learns that Zeke kept crucial information about his family from her, will she understand or force him from her life and town? I enjoyed Zeke’s quiet strength as Morgan and the town enable him to accept the man that he has become. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
September 8, 2021
This is the third book in the series and having read the second book previously I had a better idea of the side characters involved.
This is Zeke and Morgan's story of both being able to accept love in their hearts. Morgan's brother Caleb passed away and left the town that he owned, Deep River to his three friends. Zeke is the final new owner to return to the town and is just their to fulfill Caleb's dying wish of looking out for Morgan. Morgan is the towns cop and is always looking out for other people so when Zeke comes along trying to look out for her, she doesn't take it well. Of course they can't avoid their attraction to each other and sparks fly. But when Zeke's secrets come out, can they survive it together.
I liked this more than the previous book and I really enjoyed these characters. I do wish their was more small town character involvement though as you barely even see the two previous couples from the series.
Overall a heartwarming Alaskan romance that had be in tears by the end.
This is Zeke and Morgan's story of both being able to accept love in their hearts. Morgan's brother Caleb passed away and left the town that he owned, Deep River to his three friends. Zeke is the final new owner to return to the town and is just their to fulfill Caleb's dying wish of looking out for Morgan. Morgan is the towns cop and is always looking out for other people so when Zeke comes along trying to look out for her, she doesn't take it well. Of course they can't avoid their attraction to each other and sparks fly. But when Zeke's secrets come out, can they survive it together.
I liked this more than the previous book and I really enjoyed these characters. I do wish their was more small town character involvement though as you barely even see the two previous couples from the series.
Overall a heartwarming Alaskan romance that had be in tears by the end.
July 21, 2021
I have truly enjoyed this three book series and to me this was the perfect ending. Now if Ms Asheden wants to continue writing about this small Alaskan town, I am all for it. However, having read all three books, this one to me was the most satisfying. Zeke Montgomery is one of the three owners of Deep River, after their buddy, Caleb, who’s family had owned the area for years, died and left it to his three best friends from the military. Each of the three come to Deep River and find their HEA. Zeke, though, truly interested me as he seemed to me to be on the autism scale in some ways, but mature enough to be aware of all he could and could not do. Morgan is Caleb’s sister and Zeke had received a note after Caleb’s death to look after his sister. These two made for an interesting romance, but because of their personalities, I really enjoyed the entire series and in particular this story.
July 27, 2021
Well the finale to the Alaska Homecoming series is here and it does not disappoint! We met Morgan in the first book. She is Deep River's police officer and the loss of her brother has changed the trajectory of not only her life but so many others. Zeke was one of his best friends and in a letter left to him by Morgan's brother, he is asked to help her out. Zeke and Morgan are both complex characters and not only are they trying to come to terms with their mutual loss of Caleb but they're trying to come to terms with their mutual attraction. I loved their story! It was emotionally charged and just all around a great wrap up to the trilogy. Even though each story stood on its own, I highly recommend reading them in order to get the most out of this wonderful series. Jackie Ashenden did an excellent job of taking me away to small town Alaska and all of its quirky characters. That Deep River Feeling was told from dual POV and should not be missed!
July 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this super sweet, romantic, and sometimes very steamy book about two seemingly loners finding solace together. Morgan West was the last West still living in the town of Deep River. She is kind of a badass, serving as the town’s VPSO (the equivalent of the police). You can tell she has a huge heart and takes care of everyone in the town and really doesn’t need anyone ever. Enter Zeke Montgomery, her brother’s best friend… He’s honoring her brother’s memory by taking care of her whether she wants him to or not.
Their story starts with some fun antagonistic banter that turns into a reluctant friendship and then heats up into a smoldering fire. Much of the story centers around the town and it’s future since apparently it is privately owned and there is oil and there is a whole to do about well what to do. Zeke has to step out of his comfort zone and Morgan has to put herself out there.
Their story starts with some fun antagonistic banter that turns into a reluctant friendship and then heats up into a smoldering fire. Much of the story centers around the town and it’s future since apparently it is privately owned and there is oil and there is a whole to do about well what to do. Zeke has to step out of his comfort zone and Morgan has to put herself out there.
July 26, 2021
This was the first book I've read in this series and by this author. It is a standalone, but I plan on going back to read the rest of the books in the series. I can't wait to experience the rest of this great town and the rest of the characters. I completely fell in love with this quirky, little town and those wonderful characters. I loved how the hero, Zeke, is a little bit broken. The author did a fantastic job of making him unique, gruff and without a filter. He's extremely memorable and definitely my favorite.. I enjoyed reading Zeke and Morgan's journey. The writing was solid, the conflict on point. I wanted to keep reading this book from the first page until the last. This was a great story. I highly recommend it. Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this story.
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October 8, 2021Just like that my time in Deep River has come to an end 😢 but I would have to say it everything happened exactly how I wanted it to.
Like the other two books, Jackie brought you right into the town of Deep River, & it felt like you were actually there! I also loved catching up with the characters from the other books again 👏🏻👏🏻
Morgan was the definition of a strong, independent woman, & Zeke was the perfect grumpy character to keep her on her toes 😂 also, Zeke’s growth throughout the book was great, & the two of them balanced each other out nicely 💕
I’m hoping there will be more Deep River novels in the future, but in the meantime I will be looking up Jackie’s new series set in New Zealand 😍
If you’re looking for a small town, heartwarming series, definitely look this on up ❤️ it’s worth the read!
Like the other two books, Jackie brought you right into the town of Deep River, & it felt like you were actually there! I also loved catching up with the characters from the other books again 👏🏻👏🏻
Morgan was the definition of a strong, independent woman, & Zeke was the perfect grumpy character to keep her on her toes 😂 also, Zeke’s growth throughout the book was great, & the two of them balanced each other out nicely 💕
I’m hoping there will be more Deep River novels in the future, but in the meantime I will be looking up Jackie’s new series set in New Zealand 😍
If you’re looking for a small town, heartwarming series, definitely look this on up ❤️ it’s worth the read!
July 10, 2021
An unusual romance. Couple has issues that are quite diverse yet seem to be similar in their feelings of self worth. It took a little time for me to understand Zeke and his sense of being. He is a functioning adult, but obviously has mental limitations. Probably not the proper terminology. Once I realized his issues I became more empathetic. Something his parents never were able to do as they wanted and expected him to be a normal child. I have not read the previous books in this series. I did skip over the intimate details. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. The blurb mentions a crime that he did not commit and being on the run. Nothing I read said anything about that.
July 13, 2021
Zeke is not a fan of people and has pretty much shut himself off from the world but he made a promise to his buddy Caleb that he would watch over Caleb's sister Morgan. Morgan believes she can take care of herself- she's a law enforcement officer- but she's intrigued by Zeke. Set in a small Alaskan town, this third in a series is a little deeper in some ways that you might expect from an opposites attract scenario. Zeke's got a secret and he's also got some issues which Morgan is able to see past. He's a different sort of hero. Fans of the earlier books will be happy to see returns of various characters but new readers will be perfectly happy with this as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A sweet read.
July 28, 2021
I’ve read each book in this series and this is my favorite. This book is centered around Morgan West, a descendant of the founding family of Deep River, and Zeke Montgomery, the son of the oil company wanting to drill for oil in town. Zeke was asked by Morgan’s deceased brother, Caleb, to make sure Morgan is taken care of. Zeke takes his responsibilities seriously, but he didn’t know Morgan and him would have such amazing chemistry. No spoilers, so grab your copy and see what happens when the secrets come out. I also liked getting to catch up with the characters from the two previous books.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
August 3, 2021
A story packed with emotional punch...and steamy sensuality!
Zeke and Morgan both have emotional baggage and secrets; and soul deep wounds that need each other to help heal them. The whole of the community at Deep River sees what they can’t; that they’ll be perfect for each other, or will be once Zeke takes on board some sage advice from one of the town’s oldest resident’s.
Another fully rounded and satisfying read from Ms Ashenden and all set in the familiarity of Deep River; which is its own character.
Small town Alaska is quaint and charming on the surface; with deep and abiding undercurrents ebbing and flowing for its people. Real issues make them join forces and collectively agree their environment is priceless. And they’ll do anything to protect it. Which they do.
Great message about community; kindness, caring & love.
Zeke and Morgan both have emotional baggage and secrets; and soul deep wounds that need each other to help heal them. The whole of the community at Deep River sees what they can’t; that they’ll be perfect for each other, or will be once Zeke takes on board some sage advice from one of the town’s oldest resident’s.
Another fully rounded and satisfying read from Ms Ashenden and all set in the familiarity of Deep River; which is its own character.
Small town Alaska is quaint and charming on the surface; with deep and abiding undercurrents ebbing and flowing for its people. Real issues make them join forces and collectively agree their environment is priceless. And they’ll do anything to protect it. Which they do.
Great message about community; kindness, caring & love.
August 10, 2021
That Deep River Feeling is a story about community, about learning to accept yourself, and about allowing others to be there for you. While this third book in the Alaska Homecoming series started off a little slow for me, I did find that by the 50% mark I was loving all of Deep River's quirky characters. The romance between the town VSP, Morgan, and the mountain man, Zeke, was very slow burn with lots of introspection-mostly on the part of Zeke. While I enjoyed getting to know Zeke and a little of what made him so wary of others, at times I felt as though those inner monologues were detracting from the rest of the story. In all, the story was a sweet (with a few spicy moments) romance, and the author's style of writing made me feel as though I was a part of the Deep River community.
August 29, 2021
This was a sweet yet steamy romance with intriguing characters. Although I read the previous book in the series, Zeke didn't make an appearance and whatever I learned about him was through Silas and Damon's conversations, so I was definitely looking forward to reading his story. I found Zeke's story interesting, unfortunately, he had a tendency to get into his head A LOT, which led to some lengthy monologues. As for Morgan, I enjoyed reading her story especially when things started developing between her and Zeke. Soon I found myself looking forward to their interactions, which solidified their connection. While their attraction was evident and the underlying chemistry palpable, I appreciated that the author made an effort to develop their connection as the story progressed.
October 12, 2021
~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~
I am loving Jackie Ashenden's "Alaska Homecoming" series! The stories take place in a quirky little town called Deep River- which is deep in the Alaska wilderness. That Deep River Feeling is the story of Zeke and Morgan. Together they discover that believing in and loving yourself first will open the door for a meaningful relationship. This is a story of commitment, love, romance, and duty. The overall plot of this book entails a large oil company trying to buy out the town... I liked how the town people all came together to save their town from these oil drillers and preserve the wilderness. This is a well written Alaskan romance (my fav!). I hope there are more books to come in this series.
I am loving Jackie Ashenden's "Alaska Homecoming" series! The stories take place in a quirky little town called Deep River- which is deep in the Alaska wilderness. That Deep River Feeling is the story of Zeke and Morgan. Together they discover that believing in and loving yourself first will open the door for a meaningful relationship. This is a story of commitment, love, romance, and duty. The overall plot of this book entails a large oil company trying to buy out the town... I liked how the town people all came together to save their town from these oil drillers and preserve the wilderness. This is a well written Alaskan romance (my fav!). I hope there are more books to come in this series.
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