Slow Burn by Starlight

Jennifer Bernard created another amazing story with Slow Burn by Starlight, book ten in her Lost Harbor, Alaska series. This story takes us back to Lost Harbor connecting with Alastair Douglas, Ruthie Malone and all the quirky friends we have already met and love, along the way. Ruthie Malone was always the quiet, geeky, shy girl, until she left Lost Harbor and attempted to remake herself. At least she tried, but returning home affects her new, confident personality. She is perfect as the town's new museum curator. Lists, organization, and history are her areas of expertise. Except this is Lost Harbor, so nothing goes as planned. Not her attempt to kindle something with her childhood friend/crush, and not her attempt to record the oral history of the town from the seniors in the community, and descendants of the town's founding families; but she ends up stirring up the towns’ people. Then there's her “friend" and “work husband” Alastair Dougal. Alastair came to Lost Harbor to find out what really happened when his sister and her husband died in a plane crash in the Lost Souls Wilderness. Somehow along the way, he seems to have made a place for himself in Lost Harbor, working as a chef in the new brewery restaurant that is tied to the new museum. Life certainly isn’t boring, but he truly enjoys Ruthie Malone. He has learned not to trust her clumsiness, especially with the knives in his kitchen, yet she surprises him at every turn. Alistair never really feels he fits in. His beginnings as an orphan have set him up for a solitary life, and while he has friends in the small town, he doesn’t really feel a part of it. At least until Ruthie entered his life and had him looking at the world differently. I loved the fun banter between Ruthie and Alastair, the Scottish chef. He liked to push her buttons and it really added to the story. Ms. Bernard wrote an amazing, emotional, heartwarming, and magical story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with reconnecting friends, magnetic attraction, off the charts chemistry, and endearing eccentric characters, helping Ruthie and Alastair find a forever love as well as answers about those first residents of Lost Harbor. I highly recommend Slow Burn by Starlight to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

After earning her degree, Ruthie Malone returns to Lost Habor with something to prove. She is determined to prove to everyone that she’s not the awkward, shy girl anymore. She’s confident, determined, strong, and quirky. It’s the quirky that attracts Alastair Dougal. While they’re best of friends, Ruthie is hung up on Ralphie—her childhood friend. So Alastair takes a step back to allow Ruthie to work through her feelings. While working to make the historical museum a vacationers hotspot, Ruthie decides to conduct an oral history of Lost Harbor. Never in a million years did she think her “project” would tear the town apart. Alastair Dougal first came to the Lost Harbor area in search of answers. His sister and her husband were victims of a tragic plane crash. He felt as though there was more to the crash, so he arrived to conduct his own investigation. It was his quirky, sexy sous chef that kept him coming back for more. I loved the honesty the most in this novel. Ruthie WAS odd, quirky, nerdy, and curvy. She was NOT model perfect! Like so many women, we are so self conscious about our bodies, that I enjoyed seeing a really fit, gorgeous man fall for a curvy woman. It made the story more relatable. I have never read a Jennifer Bernard novel I didn’t enjoy. Loved it and highly recommend the entire series. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

This may have been my favorite book in the series & as you know this is an INCREDIBLE series by an EXCEPTIONAL author who always ups her WOW factor. I had been really looking forward to reading Alistair's story since we first met him in Lost Harbor& it was definitely worth the wait.Alistair originally came to town to find out what happened to his sister when her plane crashed & after he found out he decided to stay.He's the chef at the new Light House Brewery/Museum which is where he meets Ruthie who's now the town historian.Ruthie starts off on the wrong foot with Alistair.Ruthie is trying to prove herself to the townspeople especially her childhood crush Ralphie she's trying not to be the shy Ruthie everyone knew as a child.While running the museum she decides to find out how Lost Harbor was founded. Who knew the uproar that this would cause. I don't want to say anymore & ruin it for anyone else with spoilers.I will say that you definitely need to read this book to see what happens.