Beautiful second chance story. Travis has wonderful intentions to right a wrong. Hannah had an abusive marriage and needs a man she can trust. Her uncle Red is quite the character and a hard working one too. Margaret seems out of place at the ranch but eventually her presence makes sense. There is an incident that occurs and effectively changes the town. How they came together was inspirational. Living in California, having family that are victims of the Camp Fire, their actions brought tears. Travis and crew are easy to love and only wish the best for them. Netgalley provided my copy and I wrote this review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley, Janet Dailey and Kensington Books for the ARC of Paradise Peak. This is my personal review.
Paradise Peak is a story of Travis and how he is out to seek forgiveness for a mistake he made twenty years before. He served the time in prison for his actions and was out to become a better man.
The people he meets on his journey change his life and makes him see he can become the man he wants to be with the friendship, love, and family he makes on his way to his life he knows by the end of the story.
I was drawn into the lives of the people in the book. It has me holding my breath as I read and in tears during other parts. I enjoyed every page of this book and can not wait to read the other books in this series.
This book is the 5th book in the New Americana Series by Janet Dailey.

Can we ever be forgiven by others if we can never forgive ourselves? This was a great story of second chance. I was swept up in the lives of the characters and was sad when I came to the last page.

Paradise Peak was fast paced and intense! It was action packed and full of emotions. However, I almost wished for it to slow down a little (which is not where I normally go). It was so fast paced that I felt like the relationships in the story missed a little depth. It was probably just what my brain needed, but I wished for a little more.

This was my first novel by Janet Dailey. If you enjoy second chance stories or stories about forgiveness, this book is for you. This normally not my genre, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It was easy to connect to the characters and i loved the author's writing style.

This is an emotionally intense and impressive plot about redemption and forgiveness. The characters, each in their own way, are flawed but you can't help but love them. Such a great story. This author truly has a gift for drawing you into the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

After 20 year Travis returns to confront something he thought would never happen. Hannah full of fear and restraint when it comes to men, gets frustrated with the strays her Uncle Red brings home. Can Travis overcome the event that happened 20 years ago to change his life, and become a man that Hannah can trust?


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Beautiful story of guilt, forgiveness and love. Travis has spent 20 years in jail for vehicle homicide and seeks forgiveness from the mother of the girl who died in the accident. Hiking through the Smokies to reach Paradise Peak he meets Red, who invites him for dinner and a place to spend the night. Red feels sorry for the quiet stranger and wants to help someone who looks down on his luck.
Small world that it is, once Travis gets to Paradise Peak Ranch he meets Margaret the women who he wants to asked for forgiveness. She give him a friendly welcome and doesn’t recognize the man he is today. Not seeing the youth Neil Travis Alden, who was a addict and killed her daughter. He doesn’t get the same welcome from Red’s niece Hannah. There are many ups and downs and a hero is born, but the guilt of keeping his true identity a secret is tearing Travis apart. Have the tissues handy.

Paradise Peak
Janet Dailey
January 26, 2021

Guilt, an emotion we all have, is a tough one to handle. How does one seek forgiveness for the sins we commit? In Janet Dailey’s Americanna series #5, Paradise Peak, Travis Alden finds himself traveling back to his homeland of Paradise Peak, the beautiful town in the Great Smoky Mountains. He has been released from prison and has made a vow to return to the scene of his crime to ask absolution from Margaret Owens. During his reckless years as a teen he was an alcoholic and drug abuser. The day that he was driving under the influence, hit a car and killed a girl who was coming home for a college visit. The last time he saw Margret and her husband, Philiip was in the courtroom where he was sentenced. Since then during his time in lockup he spent each day thinking about how he must revisit Margret’s family. He wrote letters to her while in prison and more since he has been walking the many miles toward the Smoky Mountains. He had attended monthly counseling sessions with others who also needed to find ways to seek forgiveness.
According to his calculations he was less than 10 miles from Paradise Peak. The area was just the same as when he left; beautiful, green and full of splendor. He hadn’t appreciated those things back then but now he knew he was becoming a new man. Down by the creek he saw an older gentleman fishing. It looked like he was on quite a streak as he caught sight of him adding another fish to his cooler. When the man saw him, Travis was concerned, but no worries, Red smiled and greeted him as if he was an old friend. They spoke a while when Red asked him for a favor. He needed Travis to haul a cooler he had left at the lower part of the river trail up to his truck. He said it was heavy with his catch and he felt he might not be able to carry it. Travis walked the trail and found the cooler at the bottom, just as Red told him. After returning it to him, he lifted it into the truck doing the same with the other. Red offered him a ride back to his ranch, giving him a chance to sleep in one of the cabins on his property. In return perhaps Travis could do work for him.
This story was a promenade that led to Travis meeting with Margret. The fears within him followed. Perhaps if he confessed, he would never have the opportunity to show her that he was worth forgiving.
I have read other novels in the Americana series, this was a heartbreaker. Travis was a symbol for all of us. As I read I found myself feeling his pain. Sin then guilt is part of human life. Finding a way for pardon is a necessity to the circle. Bailey’s novel is well written and a good romantic read. She works lessons into her novels, many of which we know but need a reminder. Paradise Peak by Janet Dailey will be published by Zebra Books of Kensington Publishing Corporation on January 26, 2021. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review this title via NetGalley. Her books are excellent reads. This one especially found its way into my heart. Do enjoy it.

Travis committed a horrible crime when he was 18, and paid for it for 20 years in prison, Upon his parole he sets out to find Margaret, the person whose family he took away, and beg her to forgive him. When he finds Margaret, she is with Red and Hannah, and before he knows it, Travis has become a part of their family. Falling in. love with Hannah only further shows Travis how much he missed out on and how much he longs for. But can he truly have a life with them if he tells them who he really is?
Beautifully written story of love, life and forgiveness. Get your tissues ready for parts of the story.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a good story of second chances. I liked the characters, the story line, and the setting. I would recommend this book.

This is the third book I have read by Janet Dailey, and I loved it. I love the clean romance aspect to the book, and the characters were really good. At first I didn't like Hannah, but as I got more into the book, I understood her story better. I loved the fact she took care of her uncle.

I don't have a complaint about this book, you can easily fall in love with the characters, and understand where they come from. I am grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This was a tough read for me, not going to lie. Coming from someone who started off thinking the emotions that simply fall off the page is sappy, to actively crying towards the end of the book, it was a rollercoaster ride.

Travis was... flawed. Human. He's made mistakes, he paid for them, and now he was trying to make restitution for them. It was difficult for me as a person who holds grudges till kingdom come to read about an MC who's not the traditional alpha macho hero. By the end of the book, however, I realised that it's more the fact that I've got blinders on regarding forgiveness and subconsciously having avoided actively reading about heroes with depth and emotions, than anything else to do with the book.

I guess as a whole, I haven't read many romance books in which the hero's emotions and mental state are in front and centre. It mostly always the heroines who deal with pesky things like emotions. Much like Ronald Weasley, most male characters I've come across had the emotional range of a teaspoon. So, Travis gave me whiplash, not going to lie, which took some getting used to. But, once I opened my mind (thank you Janet for doing so) I actively got into the story.

Did the book have issues? Sure. The plotlines could have been crisper. Some characters were superfluous - sorry! It did get a bit tedious to read about people's emotional problems (however, like I mentioned earlier, that's my problem, nothing to do with the book) But those are just minor quibbles.

If I had to criticize something, I'd say that as fleshed out as the character of Travis was, the rest of the characters weren't as detailed. Sure we find out a lot of information about the other folks, but it somehow didn't feel as weighted when compared to Travis. IMHO, obviously.

One thing that worked for in favour of this book, no OW/OM drama. Thank you! I'm so done with this trope, it's not funny!

The reason for the 5 stars rating, however, is simple: this book made me pause and question myself and my viewpoints. It made me take an honest and blunt stock of my own character. It made me realise that kindness is important and sometimes second chances can work it. In a nutshell, It made me second-guess my cynical nature.

Any book that has that effect needs to be given the highest rating - especially since I was expecting a light, if mindless read (not to insult the author or the book, but more to state that those were the fluffy kind of books I'd been reading recently which meant that it coloured my perception of the book going in. My mistake.)

I'm grateful for having read this book. Maybe it's not as emotionally hard-hitting to others, but I had to give a review and rating based on how I reacted to the book. I'll check out more books by this author for sure.

Final verdict: 4.75 rounded up to 5 stars.

P.S: I do want to read stories with male characters more like Travis, so if there's any suggestions, I'd appreciate it.

***ARC generously provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

A GREAT story of forgiveness and love. This one is so sweet and will warm your heart. Definitely a great read without so many characters that you can’t keep up.

Hannah and Travis share a broken soul. After five year has passed from her divorce of her abusive husband, Hannah’s trust in men is very little. After twenty years in prison for a fatal car accident when he was eighteen, Travis needs to apologise for his sin. Paradise Peak Ranch is a beautiful and peaceful place. Will it be enough to restore Hannah’s faith and for Travis to find forgiveness? An amazing love and life story about forgiveness, second chances and what’s worth living for.

I don't mind a second chance or starting over story. However, Paradise Peak, was too sad for me. I won't be telling my friends to read it, it was that sad. Not just parts but the whole book practically.

I have read a lot of books by Janet Dailey in my lifetime.. I am not sure why but this book to me was really difficult to get into. I also didn't realize at first that this is the fifth of a series...I might try to go back and read the first four also.

Travis Alden comes to his Paradise Peak with a past but with a hope he can redeem himself and contribute to society.

Hannah Newsome is a person who also is trying to heal from hurts from her past. She is wary of Travis but over the course of time, they become more than just acquaintances...to friends and more.

Thank you to the publisher, Zebra Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

It has bee a long time since i read a Janet Dailey book but always enjoyed them. This was a moving story and reminds me of why she is a joy to read! Thank you NetGalley for an ARC i exchange for an honest review.

I love Janet Dailey's book and this one did not disappoint.

As you start reading this book, you can envision the town and scenery of Paradise Peak. You can smell the acrid smoke in the air and you want everyone to be OK and their homes and businesses spared. The main characters of this book are well developed, interesting, fun to spend time with and downright nice. Take a few minutes to sit back and enjoy how neighbors are supposed to act, how people are supposed to treat one another, and share in the splendid details of this book. Enjoy!

Consider this goal. Redeeming yourself by finding and talking to the person your previous actions had devastated. Perhaps finding some way to truly apologize for ruining that person’s life by killing her daughter. Driving under the influence is an unconscionable act of irresponsibility if nothing more. But when it causes the accidental death of an innocent person then it is manslaughter punishable by time in prison. PARADISE PEAK is about what happens when and if you are fortunate enough to survive incarceration and released from prison. What would your future now look like – if there is a future to be had.
PARADISE PEAK is an idyllic mountainous place inhabited by peaceful, caring and compassionate people. Neighbors watch out for each other and extend a helping hand to strangers in need. Neil Travis Alden is an example of the latter. Going under his middle name Travis comes to Paradise Peak to find Margaret, the mother of the daughter he killed and finally apologize. His court appearance didn’t show him in the best light. Travis knows he could be and is a better man then what he was twenty years ago. Travis had been running wild with his brother his life spiraling toward disaster. But he wants salvation although he truly believes he does not deserve it.
Travis is taken under the wing of Red the owner of a rather disheveled ranch that has definitely seen better days. Red and his partner Margaret run the ranch with the help of Hannah. Hannah is a survivor too. Her marriage to a brutal husband is now in the past but the scars live on. Hannah is short on trust and that puts her immediately at odds with this stranger.
PARADISE PEAK is the story of perseverance in the face of danger. Danger comes in many forms and in PARADISE PEAK we witness the best and worst of human beings and nature. PARADISE PEAK is also about taking chances. Travis takes an enormous step seeking out Margaret. He can’t move forward until he makes peace with the woman who lost so much at his hands. Travis is no longer an unruly boy. He is a grown man who spent the major portion of his life behind bars. PARADISE PEAK is his journey toward real freedom. PARADISE PEAK is also about earning trust. Things got complicated when Travis is overcome with a sense of peace, kindness, friendship and trust from people who took in a complete stranger. In short PARADISE PEAK stars some fabulous characters.