Taking Root

Candlewood Falls World

by Stacey Wilk

After her assault one year ago, Brooklyn Wilde left her husband and her nursing career to return to her family circle in Candlewood Falls and heal her broken soul. A stranger arriving at her door in the middle of the night turns her world upside down, because he isn’t any stranger. He’s the man who went to prison for killing her uncle.

Caleb Ransom accepted his life sentence to wander from town to town without a family or a home. Even though he was wrongly accused of murder and released, suspicion hangs over him like a bank of rain clouds. Only Brooklyn sees the man he truly is, and he falls hard for her.

But someone in Candlewood Falls has different plans for these two and will stop at nothing until Caleb disappears. As long as they are together, lives are at stake. They will have to find the person determined to destroy them before it’s too late or lose the thing they have wanted all along – deep rooted love.

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2021

About the author

From an early age, Stacey Wilk told tales as a way to escape. At six she wrote short stories in composition notebooks, at twelve she wrote a novel on a typewriter, in high school biology she wrote rock star romances in her binder instead of paying attention.

But it wasn’t until many years later, inspired by her children and a looming birthday, that she finally took her story-telling seriously. And published her first novel in 2013. Since then, she’s gone on to publish fourteen more so women everywhere could fall in love and find an escape of their own.

She isn’t done telling stories. Not by a long shot. If you want to read her emotional and honest books about family, romance, and second chances, visit her at www.staceywilk.com

To see what she writes next, follow her Facebook group for her amazing readers – Stacey’s Novel Family https://bit.ly/2FK8Lae
Or join her newsletter - https://bit.ly/2A0jEFk

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5.0

A feisty Alpaca on a remote ranch, a cold-case murder mystery, and a bounty of suspense liven this story.

Read full review in the 2022 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was caught up in the drama and tension along with Brooklyn and Caleb. Desperate to learn if they’d get their second chance, and anxiously scanning the shadows to spot who was determined to never see it come to pass. Brooklyn and Caleb were fascinating characters. Each had been beaten down by life and were struggling to make a new start, but both of them are determined to overcome those bad circumstances. Though neither one of them ever expected a second chance would ever happen, all those feeling for one another are still there and practically sizzle from the page. This is an author who has a true gift for romantic suspense, showing us the growing feelings and trust between our leading couple while also creating an atmosphere of menace around them. I had my suspicions, but there are plenty of clever red herrings and almost too many suspects to choose from. I spent a lot of time waffling from one culprit to the next. And even though we finally know who was behind this particular threat, there are still a couple of mysteries that need to be solved in Candlewood Falls. I can’t wait to come back to find out more.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.

[J.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both main characters expect the worst in life given their pasts and are in desperate need of protection, safety, trust, a place to call home, and, of course, love. Although there are suspense elements, this is really small town contemporary romance at its core—which Wilk always nails! Supporting characters are a fabulous addition to the story and surely will grace the pages again, as this is the first story in the Candlewood Falls series.

[J.J. Lair · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alpaca farm is the setting of inter-family squabbles and a troubled love story. This tight 217 page story begins with action and suspense. There is a history between the characters, family issues and small town conflicts.
This is part of an on-going series but it doesn’t matter. I never felt like I missed something or there were unanswered dangling storyline threads.
This author has a lot of novels out there and I would like to explore more.

[CarolKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last person Brooklyn Wilde expected to see pounding on her door at midnight was Caleb Ransom. Battered and bruised from being run off the road on his motorcycle, Brooklyn helps him clean up and puts him to bed.

He had been charged with her uncle's murder and sent to prison. He spent two years there before he was released on a technicality. The thing is he didn't kill anyone, he found the body and the circumstantial evidence put him away. Brooklyn never believed he did it but unfortunately most people in town did.

When her brother Brad shows up in the morning, he isn't pleased that Caleb is in town let alone in his sister's home.

A closer look at his motorcycle tells him he's not going anywhere for a while. There's a lot more damage than he thought.

At the garage he gets the bad news it will be a couple of weeks to get the parts and fix it. Caleb is about to call an uber and get a motel room, but he's stopped by Brooklyn, who insists that he should stay with her. Although it's her grandmother Cordy's home, Brooklyn is living there and helping take care of the alpacas. She's certain Cordy wouldn't have any objections, she always believed Caleb was innocent. She would call Cordy, who's away on a vacation, just to let her know about their unexpected guest.

Things start heating up from the moment that decision is made. Caleb is attacked in a parking lot and threatened, then someone ransacks the alpaca's barn.
Cordy also makes a decision to sell the farm but doesn't offer it to Brooklyn, but to Brad. Brad will tear everything down and plant more apple trees, Brooklyn wants the farm to stay as it is.

I really loved this story, there's a lot going on, with plenty of suspense, romance and a bit of sizzle.

[Kathy Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story of Brooklyn & Caleb. It was a great introduction to the Candlewood Falls series. As soon as I was done reading, I had to run to google which characters were in the other two stories being released this fall. Of course, I recognized all of them from Taking Root. I appreciate that the authors worked together to develop the characters and location of Candlewood Falls, so we feel like we are reading a series by the same author. I can’t wait to see what Brooklyn & Caleb are up to in the other books in this series.

When you read a lot of books by the same author, it’s always a pleasant surprise to see favorite characters from other stories as well as nods to even more. If you have read other books my Ms. Wilke, don’t be surprised to see a cameo from No More Darkness or a mention of the setting from one of her other series.

Ordering Rivers Edge and Wilde Temptation today!

[Wendy Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in one day, because I didn’t want to put it down.

It took me a bit to really get into the story, but when I did, I couldn’t put the book down. Brooklyn was quite the developing character and so were all the special people in her life!! It was so fun to see her evolve and grow! She went through a lot!!

I loved the farm and could see the smiling alpacas as I read the story and learned each of their names! Loved their names! I have been to an alpaca farm once, so I loved that this farm was full of these beautiful creatures and not your regular far animals!!

I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was wrong and I loved the way it ended! The book left me with a few unanswered questions, but I guess that means there will be another book taking me back to Candlewood Falls!!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're into well written suspense romance stories featuring terrific characters, Taking Root by Stacey Wilk is for you!

I'm a character driven reader and couldn't get enough of Brooklyn and Caleb. Fighting injustices of the past, they are both drawn to each other as they are attempting a reboot of their lives in the biggest way possible. The dialogue, strong emotions, and passion had my tablet smoking!

Second to characters to me is the storyline ... and this one is first rate ... the plot and subplot had me guessing ... a few twists and turns had me second guessing. I was super happy to realize that while Brooklyn and Caleb's story came to a great conclusion that there are a few other Candlewood Falls mysteries to be solved.

I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

[Sue Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in The Candlewood Falls Series, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Convicted for a crime that he didn't commit, Caleb Ransom made the mistake of stopping for a drink after visiting his mother's grave and ended up being run off the road.....
Brooklyn Wilde returned home to recover from a traumatic event and tried to rebuild her life until one night she heard a loud banging on her front door.... it was Caleb!
Brilliant storyline with wonderful characters and absolutely loved the HEA.

[Teresa Reitnauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an emotional story of two broken souls who find solace in each other's arms. Brooklyn Wilde comes home to heal after being attacked and her divorce. Caleb Ransom is not wanted in Candalwood Falls. However, with his motorcycle out of commission, he has nowhere to go. Together they find peace and comfort on the alpaca farm. Taking Root has drama, tears, fights, humor, and love. The alpacas are wonderfully entertaining.

[Amy Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Taking Root was very well written, but didn't grip me as much as a lot of the books that I've recently read. I still suggest that everyone should read it for themselves to form their own opinions and write their own reviews. Remember, reviews are important not only to the authors, but for prospective readers as well.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart Breaking

My heart just kept breaking for both Caleb and Brooklyn. Two broken souls taking kick after kick from life, finally finding and believing in each other. Great story.

[Katherine Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming Home!

Taking Root: WOW! Wonderful story! Caleb try be in town to stop by his mother's grave and then he leaves. Thinks happen and he ended up on Brooklyn's door step injured... Brooklyn took him in and took care of him. Fantastic writing and characters!