A review by alstrath
Healed: Stone and Pepper by Tess Thompson

4.0

The nicest thing about a long-running series is that the author doesn't need to "set the scene" and develop all her characters from scratch - she can leap straight int the story!
Opening the pages of a Cliffside Bay book is like walking into your best friend's living room - you feel at home, you know where everything is, you know everyone - and the one's you don't know you learn to know and they become part of your life too.
This seventh visit to Cliffside Bay takes us deeper into Pepper and Stone's hearts and minds. What makes them tick, what drives them, what holds them back. And we get to watch them "dance" around each other, each step bringing them closer. Both have lived through difficult events which have influenced their lives deeply and which could still potentially wreck their fragile relationship.
The introduction of Kyle, Stone and Autumn's mother fits with the theme of "healing" too and her story is powerful in its own way and a nice addition.
Every Cliffside Bay book so far has highlighted some or other social injustice and/or health issue and "Healed" follows this path too. I find these sort of inclusions very positive.
I can't wait to see what happens next in the series - I am hoping Lavonne gets some time in the spotlight too as I feel there is a story in him too - perhaps a novella...............................