Free To Live

One year after Joanna Sullivan's husband Kyle, a fireman, dies after saving two young children while fighting a house fire, Joanna makes a desperate attempt to start over. She moves to a new town, embarks on a new career as a field guide at the local coastal aquarium, and attempts to refurbish the dilapidated duplex she's purchased. Then Austin, her husband's brother, visits unexpectedly. He offers to stay and help her with the much needed repairs. Joanna soon discovers, however, that Austin's presence is proving more disturbing than helpful. His resemblance to Kyle is uncanny, thwarting her resolve to put her husband's memory to rest. Worse, she is strongly attracted to Austin. Austin, a veterinarian, shares Joanna's love of nature, and the two find much common ground as they team up to help clean up the beaches and save the native birds and wildlife from the encroachment of civilization. Can Joanna let go of her grief and love Austin in his own right? Or will he always remain the ghost of her husband?

Reviews:
V. Ardito. Pardon me while I dine on a healthy dose of crow. Normally, (and I've never hidden the fact) I dislike the "I'm in love with my brother-in-law" trope. And yet...Sydell Voeller did the impossible. She made me love her characters and believe they belonged together. It's a testament to the emotional pull she created that I couldn't stop turning pages. Joanna is a plucky heroine in a tough situation: her firefighter husband, Kyle, died saving kids from a fire. She's now moved to a small town in the Pacific Northwest to rebuild her life and create a new normal. Enter Kyle's brother, Austin, who made a promise to his brother he's intent on keeping, despite the difficulty of being in close proximity to Jo.
The author makes these two work hard for their HEA and there's an underlying reminder to the reader about the fragility of nature and mankind's often senseless destruction.
A wonderful love story, told with sensitivity and intelligence.

Amy. Great. Makes a person think about having or not having a relationship after the loss of a spouse. This shows where and why it is a great idea to not forget about the passed loved one but honor them with being happy and making them a part of hour life still. They will always be with you