She’s playing it safe…

He’s anything but!

Famous race car driver Declan Cartwright is only in Butterfly Harbor to recuperate from a devastating crash.

But when food truck operator Alethea Costas literally falls into his arms, he realizes the sleepy seaside town has more to offer than he imagined.

Alethea is drawn to the charming daredevil despite her cautious nature.

Can he show her that taking a chance on life—and love—is worth the risk?

Titles in the Butterfly Harbor series include – The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor – Recipe for Redemption – A Dad for Charlie – Always the Hero – Holiday Kisses – Safe in His Arms – The Firefighter’s Thanksgiving Wish – A Match Made Perfect – Bride on the Run – Building a Surprise Family  – Worth the Risk – The Mayor’s Baby Surprise –

This is a romance that includes no swearing, no violence, and no sexual content (beyond a few light kisses).

Title:  Worth the Risk
Series:  Butterfly Harbor #11
Author:  Anna J. Stewart
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  December 28, 2021
Publisher:  Harlequin Heartwarming
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Worth the Risk is the 11th title in the Butterfly Harbor series… gotta love a great series that continues to keep on giving beautiful stories involving believable people – and one very unique town/community!

Declan has faced his mortality recently in a horrific crash doing his job and what he loves beyond anything else… a professional race car driver.  Luckily, he came away from that crash with his life, but his body has some major healing to do if he ever intends to race again – which he does – or perhaps that should be if he’s able to race again.  Racing is how Declan defines himself, if he cannot race then… what is he?  Renting a somewhat rundown property on the edge of Butterfly Harbor is one way he can recoup away from the prying eyes of the press and his fans.  His injuries are severe enough to have him not quite so confident that he really can overcome them… but he’s going to do everything possible before giving up.  The last thing he expects is to find a broken-down food truck on his property or the cautious, lovely lady asking for help.

Alethea has closed herself off to doing much beyond existing because of one risk-taking moment.  Her reasoning may not make sense to anyone else, but they don’t have to.  As long as Alethea avoids risks of any kind, including emotional, she’ll be just fine running the food truck and letting those other dreams remain buried.  But an offer too good to avoid completely and a stubborn man is about to rock her world… now it’s up to her to let some risks in, the ones worth taking.

I love the community of Butterfly Harbor.  The people we never completely leave behind but like any small town will pop in now and then.  Each time I come back to this series there is a “welcome home” feel to the experience.  Declan and Alethea have their reasons for the fight they put up against falling in love, but perhaps Alethea most of all.  I understood her concern but also waited for her to see that emotions are always going to be risky but what is life without either.  I loved the eventual compromise between them, it’s what mature couples in love do all the time which adds another layer of believability to their story.  I had fun here, once again, and cannot wait for the next visit soon.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

Available in print or for your favorite e-reader