Roxanne Snopek embraces the complications of trauma and recovery in Sunset Bay Sanctuary, the first novel of her new series set in the beautiful beaches of Oregon.
Haylee Hansen trains therapy dogs at her aunt’s Sanctuary Ranch, a halfway house that provides tough love and support to foster kids, troubled adults and anyone else in need of a fresh start. Through a strange set of circumstances, including an unsettling blast from her past, Haylee meets Aidan McCall, the town’s new ER doctor, who later contacts her about getting a therapy dog to help with his PTSD. It’s difficult for Haylee to get Aiden to divulge his traumatic past, and Haylee is equally reluctant to share her tragic history. She’s learned to steel her emotions and has determined to keep her life simple, without romantic attachments. But Aiden sweeps her off her feet, and both must decide whether to face their demons or give up a chance at a lasting, profound connection.
Snopek beautifully incorporates her leads’ individual backstories within the central romance, alternating between Haylee and Aiden’s perspectives as they begin the delicate process of sharing their pasts and allowing the other to know them fully. And although Haylee and Aiden are front and center, Snopek also draws the reader’s attention to supporting characters and their struggles—building a community of fascinating people, all with their own burdens and journeys. Replete with surprising twists, Sunset Bay Sanctuary closes on a cliffhanger sure to entice readers to look forward to the next installment of this warmhearted series.
