Trails Merge

Family is very important to Campbell Carson and she wants one of her own, but her partner doesn't, so, when an ultimatum is issued, Campbell feels she has no choice. She moves back to the family run ski resort at Bear Run and decides to devote her life to the family she has and become everyone's favorite aunt. The resort is in financial trouble though and the family decides to hire an expert on public relations to recruit customers. Parker Riley was a high powered operator in Chicago's political circles, famous for being able to get politicians elected to office and to maintain their images. When she found that she was working for a man who didn't live up to her image of him, she quit, fled Chicago and now finds herself at Bear Run. Parker is totally out of her element. She's supposed to rejuvenate a ski resort when she's never skied, she knows nothing about life in a small town and dealing with the dynamics of this family is foreign to her. As Campbell tries to help her fit in, the women develop an impending feeling of doom that they are falling in love. One loves the city, the other loves the mountain. When Parker's past catches up with her, it forces them to confront whether or not they can make the relationship work. Trails Merge is a mature love story. It's nice to read about two characters who know what they want and approach it in a mature way instead of stumbling around trying to figure out who they are. The tension in the story comes from the fact that they want very different things, so different that they don't seem reconcilable. The characters are complex in their feelings and these women deal honestly with each other without any game playing. The seriousness of the book is punctured with humor in just the correct amount. This is a pleasurable book to read. The story is strong and provides several hours of entertainment. The reader will feel like she got her money's worth from this book.

I totally enjoyed this lovely romance! Campbell's family manage and own a ski getaway call Bear Run in Wisconsin. She has recently broken up with her partner of five years when both realized they wanted different things in life. Twenty-eight year old Campbell has moved back from her job in Madison to the ski slopes where she is looking to make her career. Twenty-nine year old Parker is starting a new job at Bear Run, leaving her two year relationship and flaming hot political career behind her in Chicago. Filling out the book is Campbell's protective, suspicious of strangers and wary of change father Greg along with Parker's hilarious and wise best friend Alexis. I really like how Campbell realizes that she had wanted her previous girlfriend to change rather than loving and wanting her for what she was. I loved the gentle humor throughout the book, and the passion between Parker and Campbell is terrifically HOT! Both Campbell and Perker are tremedously appealing while still seeming to be anyone that you may know in your own life. Looking forwarward to reading the author's other novel 'Learning Curve'.

Trails Merge This book is an amazing tail of love lost, self discovery, and love found. This was my first time reading anything from this author who managed to maintain a believable plot while developing the characters she sought to explore. Would easily recommend. I read it in two days.

Earlier this year, I read Spangler's first book `Learning Curve' and was blown away. For a first time author, she really produced a great book. Many times, though, an author's second book takes a baby step backward and doesn't hold a candle to the first. In the case of `Trails Merge,' however, that is definitely not the case. This book is wonderful and is as good as, if not better than, the first. Spangler introduces Campbell Carson, a woman who is convinced she has to choose between two paths in life... She can either have a love life and live in civilization OR she can have no love life and live on the mountain where her family owns a ski resort. Given the choices, she decides to live near her family and the mountain she loves. She envisions herself as a favorite aunt to her brother's future children instead and hopes that will be a fulfilling enough life. All of that changes when Cam falls for Parker Riley. Parker Riley has a good heart. Her life's dream has been to make a difference in the world through work in politics. However, that dream is seemingly shattered by a scandal involving her partner, her partner's daughter, and a young intern. Taking time from her regularly-scheduled life to recover, Parker takes a job as a marketer for Cam's family's resort. Trying to resist the other woman is impossible, but Parker can't envision giving up her dreams to live with Cam at the resort. Both women fight their attraction, but fate intervenes and brings them closer than they could ever imagine. Cam and Parker have many secrets and many fears. Spangler uses these devices to weave an artful tale with depth and dimensionality. The supporting cast is hilarious, giving comic relief to the drama between the protagonists. One thing that should be noted... This book is one of the few I've run across lately that have multiple typographical errors. The text is edited well, but I think the copy editors we're distracted while doing their jobs. Not entirely distracting, for those who are bothered by such things should be prepared. Bottom line - Wow.

What better time for Rachel Spangler's latest book "Trails Merge" to be released? A December release for a book taking place at a ski lodge really got me in the mood for skiing and crackling fires. This book brings 2 people together who are total opposites, at least it sure seems that way. Both are damaged characters who bring their past relationships and lack of trust into interactions with each other. Campbell Carson and her family own and run Bear Run Ski Resort. Campbell's family means the world to her and she's recently left a relationship with Lynn, who didn't support her family closeness, and in fact ridiculed her for it. Campbell's returned home to the mountain she loves. Parker Riley left big-city Chicago politics to escape her personal and professional life there. She's not sure what she wants, and she questions why she left a place with theaters, restaurants and trendy stores for a backwater place like Bear Run. She's taken a job as the marketing director and she's driven to do a great job, despite the friction she feels from Campbell's father Greg, who is the oldest brother of the family of owners. Campbell sees Parker as a big-city snob who looks down her nose at everyone and everything. Parker sees Campbell as just another example of family-run businesses being "good ol' boy" networks where an "outsider" is doubted from the start. Despite their differences, they both feel themselves falling for each other and live in fear of what that mean. This is a great book to read with the fire crackling and a nice cup of hot cocoa.