15 Summers Later - Fiction Review

Goodreads: 15 Summers Later by RaeAnne Thayne

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Library

Description:  Ava Howell seemed to have it all. She moved away from Emerald Creek, Idaho, married the love of her life and published a bestselling memoir. But she never expected that her husband would feel so betrayed by a secret from her past—the truth of what happened to her and her sister all those years ago—that he’d walk away. Now Ava is back home and trying to move on with the only person who can truly understand…

Following years of healing, Madison Howell is finally happy. After college she built a no-kill shelter where she works with animals every day, and she’s in love with the town veterinarian, Dr. Luke Gentry. But she can’t ever bring herself to tell him. Years ago, his dad died protecting Madi and her sister, so how could he ever love her back?

With the truth laid bare, and the past that Ava and Madison have worked so hard to leave behind threatening everything they have built for themselves, the Howell sisters’ reunion is bittersweet. And as Ava and Madi attempt to remedy the rifts in their lives and reconcile their futures, they must face the demons of their past together.

Genre:  Fiction - Contemporary

Why I Picked This Book:  I really enjoy the other books I've read by Thayne and the animal rescue element and I love books about sisters.  

My Impression: I've been a fan of RaeAnne Thayne for quite some time though I typically haven't loved her standalones as much as her series books.  This was an exception.  For starters the secret from the girls' past is some serious trauma so their issues in their relationship make a lot of sense.  

Madi is a tough woman who has overcome a serious injury to make her dreams of an animal rescue come true.  She's devoted and loyal and determined to not let her disabilities keep her from doing what she wants.  Ava was a little harder to warm up to at first.  While I liked her I didn't quite understand her motivations for doing what she did.  As the book went on I came to understand both sisters and couldn't help but root for them both.  

While there is a bit of a romance the focus on the story was really the relationship between Ava and Madison.  I did enjoy Luke and Madi's relationship - especially how they bond over animals and understand each other.  I enjoyed this story from beginning to end.  It deals with some tough subjects but there is so much hope in renewal that it never felt too dark.  This was a lovely read with characters I was sad to say goodbye to which I reached the last page.

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Absolutely!  I'm already looking forward to reading more of her books.

Would I Recommend this Book?  I would!  If you enjoy stories about families and love a good animal addition this is a wonderful read.