Home at Chestnut Creek is the second installment in Drake’s Chestnut Creek series and it is a doozie! Both the main characters, Nevada and Joseph, are run through the wringer, stripped bare, and remade. They both have a tough, emotional journey to get to their happy ending. This story is well-written, with funny, endearing characters that make you feel like you are catching up with old friends. I was intrigued by Nevada’s character in the first book and I was happy to see her getting her own story and Drake found the perfect man to match her. This book tugs at the heart and is engaging from beginning to end.

Nevada is prickly, rude, brash, flighty, untrusting, and angry. She hides her vulnerability and fear beneath a tough, snarky exterior to keep people at a distance. Running from her past, she cannot let anyone get too close, let herself feel too settled or secure. She always has to look over her shoulder and be ready to run in a moment’s notice. However, she is tired of running, lonely, unsettled and just wants to be free of her past and have a normal life. When she stops in Chestnut Creek to visit an old friend and ask for a job at her café, she had no idea that her entire life was going to change. I enjoyed seeing Nevada’s character grow throughout the story. She was truly a lovely person at heart once she let her guard down and let others see the real her. I loved her interaction with Joseph and watching their slow friendship turn into something more built on a deep bond of trust, understanding and love. Their relationship was nicely paced throughout the story with believable bumps in the road and hardships they had to work through to get their happy ending.

Joseph is a troubled guy trying to get back to his roots, keep his promise to his deceased grandmother and live by the ways of his people while giving back to his community. He is trying his hardest to fit back in to the Navajo community where he was raised but because of past hurts from his youth, his guilt and haunted memories keep holding him back from his family and truly embracing all he can be. He is charismatic, easy going, and has a good heart. However, he still feels like an outsider in the Navajo community, no matter how much he tries to help out. He works as a cook at the café but has dreams and plans for more. When Nevada blows in like a tornado, he is intrigued by the quick-witted, spitfire. He glimpses the vulnerability she tries to hide underneath her rough exterior and wants to help. The closer they become, the stronger their bond and the feelings simmering beneath the surface grow to more. I love the comparisons Drake uses for Joseph to describe his ‘handling’ of her. They are a perfect fit for her personality and growth. I enjoyed the look into the Navajo community, their traditions, and language. I also love the name Joseph’s mother gives Nevada, it is very fitting.

Though Home at Chestnut Creek is the second book in the series it can be read as a stand-alone. I think it would be a more enjoyable reading experience to read the series in order to fully understand the background and characters but it is easy to understand and follow along, either way. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

*I received an advanced copy of this read from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am voluntarily providing my honest review. Thank you, Ms. Drake, for a lovely story.