Cinder Creek

Cinder Creek by SophieInPink
When the always-responsible, always-practical Sloane Lennox's father dies, the only way to keep her siblings together is to move in with an insufferable new guardian. Soon, Sloane must contend with a growing attraction to him, despite her better judgment. She fights hard not to care for him only to realize he is likewise battling feelings for her.
Banner Credit: Sarah

Melissa Thinks: I have waited a long while for this story to be long enough for me to review; I cannot say I’m disappointed with what I’ve found within “Cinder Creek”. It’s definitely reminiscent of a story I reviewed early on in my ADoR days by this same author, SophieInPink.

When her father dies, seventeen-year-old Sloane is left to care for her three younger siblings. This is nothing new considering she’s been doing it since she was twelve, their alcoholic father not willing to care for them properly. Of course, Sloane is still a minor and by law is not able to gain custody. On top of that, due to debt left behind by her deceased father, the Lennox’s childhood home is about to be repossessed.

Just as Sloane is about to lose all hope, John steps in. John is the stepbrother of Sloane’s long dead mother, Gracie. The only living relative of the children, John must either step up as their guardian or leave them to be split up by the foster system, despite the fact that he’s only twenty-three. The Lennox children weren’t expecting him to say yes, neither were they expecting him to invite them to live with him in his cramped two-bedroom home on the outskirts of town. This is where the story really begins, as Sloane has to learn how to work together with John to raise the kids.

SophieInPink has a way with words; her narration leaves little to be desired and her plot, though cliché, is mended by the reader’s love of her characters. Sloane is a mature and strong character. Both her willingness to do anything for her siblings and her hardened resolve give her substance. Even though the romance between Sloane and John is a slow build, I found each chapter enjoyable – every character interaction worth the time. Not all authors can say this, for I often see novels in which there is nothing natural about the way relationships progress.