The Wilderness (Lavender Shores Book 8)

While a new addition to the Lavender Shores is always welcome, THE WILDERNESS is particularly welcome when two familiar characters come together to share their grief, the unfairness when life is changed without giving permission.Will Epstein, still the gorgeous blond left at the altar in front of a national television audience and Andre Rivera sweet, sexy widower, and single father. As two members of the founding families of Lavender Shores, having grown up with the heritage and expectations the positions required, they find in each other companionship, humor, and sharing the sheer ridiculousness of their positions. Will after nearly 40 years, is still trying to measure up to his father’s unobtainable expectations. Andre is trying to be a loving father to a 12-year-old daughter, while fending off his mother’s effusive attempts for him to date. Luckily his business as a private pilot fly allows him the ability to escape the confines of Lavender Shores. Wishing sometimes he could leave and begin again somewhere new without memories, but Andre knows he could not do this to his daughter.A family confession finds Andre and Will flying overnight to the Alaskan Wilderness, to see Nick Epstein. A little too much spiced rum and heartfelt confessions has Will leaving for London on the return to Lavender Shores and Andre missing his confidant and best friend while compounding the loss in his past.The underlying contract of THE WILDRENESS is that it will be a good book. Good will not begin to value this story. It is that rare writing which captures the reader page by page, into Andre and Will’s intimate thoughts for a unique love story.Deeply romantic as only a love based in friendship without expectations of finding a soul mate and finally realizing that both men are going through their own wilderness to unexpectedly find each other in a new perspective. This will undoubtably be my most favorite Lavender Shore.

I gave the book four stars, because I loved it and really enjoyed it. But I did have a few lingering questions. When Andre found out Will had feelings. I understand he didn't know and was kinda caught off guard. I just wasn't satisfied with how the situation was brushed over. I thought they should've talked more about how Will was hurting. Instead he runs away...doing what Harrison did to him. Ok I can kinda see how he'd do that, but I thought Andre would at least try to examine it more. Apologize better. Maybe once he figured out he had feelings too...go after Will, but instead he was upset because Will left him. Focused more on how Will hurt him by leaving, but what about Will's feelings when he was so heartbroken he fled. My opinion...the author did come back to it afterward, I was somewhat satisfied, but I just felt it needed a little more detail in that area. All in all it was a very good book and i did love it as i do all Lavender Shores and I will continue to follow the series til the end.

I will admit to some hesitation approaching the pairing of Will and Andre in The Wilderness, but there was no need to worry! Will and Andre are perfection and The Wilderness is everything I had hoped for from the eighth book in the Lavender Shores series!After having had considerable disdain for Will and a sizable soft spot for Andre following their respective portrayals in The Glasshouse (Lavender Shores, Book 6), I was interested to see how Rosalind Abel would bring together characters that I had cast (in my own mind) as villain and tragic hero. Abel immediately casts Will in a new and sympathetic light from the onset of the prologue. Abel uses their shared pain to bring them together in a way that is realistic, and Lavender Shores’ favorite bartender, Seth Marino, provides just the right amount of slightly comic discourse to relieve the tension of the scene. Abel also makes Will delightfully self-aware so readers have no choice but to be drawn to his side regardless of past perceptions. Will’s relationship with his brother Nick, a character that has been seen only briefly up until this point, is another highlight of the story that provides an interesting counterpoint to Will’s relationship with the rest of the Epstein clan. Andre’s brooding angst is set apart from Will’s more humorous self-flagellation and internal monologue, and Andre’s depth of feeling illustrates the bond between the two main characters as built over time on the foundation of shared stresses and respective losses.As with all of Abel’s previous Lavender Shores novels, The Wilderness maintains the ethereal quality of the namesake town and Abel’s ability to spin a cohesive tale inclusive of many of the Lavender Shores characters readers have come to know and love over the course of the series remains constant through this eighth offering. Abel’s descriptive style is what makes the town and all of the novel’s settings and people feel so real and it is what makes this series a distinctive joy amongst the genre. One of the things I most enjoy about the Lavender Shores series, is the time devoted to capturing the description of the titular setting. The Wilderness offers scenes of beautifully descriptive language illustrating the sky between Lavender Shores and Alaska, the Alaskan Wilderness, and the Northern Lights.Abel is also a genius of comedic timing and this novel delivers everything from a Latina Kelly Kapowski, banter between Will and Andre which is exceptionally written, descriptions of founding family drama, brotherly recollections of terrifying Teddy Ruxpin toys, an internet scandal, and allusions to Kermit the Frog. The humor is perfectly timed to keep poignant moments from becoming to heady and to add complexity to Will and Andre that makes them, and their relationship, all the more endearing to the reader.I always leave each Lavender Shores novel slightly teary eyed, because of Abel’s lovely storytelling and because each new Lavender Shores novel brings us that much closer to the end of this series!

Will and Andre will touch your heart! All the feels for me!! Beautiful story telling and wonderful writing that bring the characters to life and give them breath.Both MC's have experienced life and loss. They have a soul deep sadness that gives them a place to bond and grow into friends. I loved how these men let their friendship grow and they were so authentic.I love their journey allowed them both time to grow and heal and become better men. Together Will and Andre become one of the sweetest couples who also find an incredibly steamy connection.I love the epilogue! Highly recommend this whole series, however this is one of my favorites of them all.

(Verified purchase, Sept 12 2018)This is book 8 in the Lavender Shores series, and you don't NEED to have read the others before this one. I would, however, probably recommend that you read book 6, The Glasshouse. You'll get a better picture of what Will suffered, and it gives a hint to this book!Will was left at the altar in font of a multi million viewing audience. Andre's wife passed away. Together, they get themselves through a really tough period. But it's not until Will decides to run clear across the world, does Andre realise what Will means to him, and just how much his heart would break, if he lost him.For me? The weakest of the series, and I've no idea why! And you KNOW how much that pains me!!I loved the other books, all 4 and 5 stars reads, and I really was looking forward to this one, especially after that hint in book 6, and I really don't know why in falls flat *insert wailing*It's well told, from both Will and Andre's point of view, in the first person, just like the rest. It's extremely well written and well delivered and I saw no spelling or editing errors to spoil my reading. And I DID read it in one sitting, just like the rest!It has very early (internal) professions of love, from both guys, and I don't usually like that but its quite some time before they SAY the words. It's a bit more . . . whats the word . . . lovey dovey . . . hearts and flowers . . . . .type of thing, than the rest, or at least I thought so? Maybe that's it?? **insert more wailing**I just don't know WHY this one didn't hit the spot, and for that I'm sorry. But still a nice read and a good addition to the series.3 good solid stars**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

I seriously can't get enough of this series! The Wilderness delivered two of my favourites, a slow burn and friends to lovers. The location tickled my wanderlust, and with all of Rosalind's books in this series, there's always one scene that sticks in my head as just perfection. The Northern Lights did it for me this time, bravo.