Caroline Rogers is no stranger to tragedy. Her mother died on Christmas Eve, but instead of being taken to an orphanage, she went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers and was eventually adopted. But tragedy struck yet again when she lost both of her adoptive parents and had to put her career on hold to raise her siblings, Macie and Sam, and sell the family farm. Caroline always felt guilty about having to sell Macie and Sam's home, so she asked the realtor to inform her if the farm ever went on the market. It's quite a shock when Caroline drives by and sees someone moving into the house.

Dr. Mick Larsen is the new owner of the homestead. Having left his psychiatric practice in Chicago, Mick has come home to Redbud Hill to begin a new life. He hasn't seen his parents yet, and since his dad makes him feel like a failure, he's not looking forward to that reunion. When he meets Caroline, he's drawn towards her beauty and courage.

Caroline also has an immediate attraction to Mick. But now that Sam is in his first year of college and Macie is in her senior year of high school, it's time for Caroline to get started with her career. She's a photographer and is waiting for an interview with National Geographic. If hired, it would mean being on the road a lot, leaving no time for a relationship. Caroline is also curious why Mick decided to leave his practice and take up farming. What is he hiding?

As Mick and Caroline slowly get to know each other, someone starts vandalizing local landmarks. Then Caroline realizes they are landmarks she has photographed for a calendar. The police don't take it seriously until something is delivered to her house and it appears the vandalism is personal.

A KISS IN WINTER is a well-written mystery with a great love story. It's an emotionally charged story about following your dreams, going home again, relationships, family conflicts and struggles. The characters are compelling and complex. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. Then when I finished, I called my local bookstore and ordered all of Susan Crandall's backlist titles.

Book Summary

Six years ago tragedy struck and Caroline Rogers had to make tough decisions to sell the family farm and put her life on hold to raise her younger siblings. Now that they're entering adulthood and her long-delayed photography career is taking off, she can almost taste the freedom.

Shaken by self-doubt, Dr. Mick Larsen turns his back on his big-city psychiatric practice and settles for the small- town quiet of Redbud Mill, where he can hide his past successes and failures. To Caroline, he shows only a man who wants to put down roots and start a family-good reasons for her to stay away. Then someone starts vandalizing local landmarks she has photographed. Now Caroline must convince a man with little faith in his own abilities that he can help her find the disturbed mind in their midst. But even as she teaches him to trust himself, she must fight the temptation to trust him with her future and her heart.