*Summary and Spoilers*
Main Characters:
Dr Alexis Montgomery: 38 year old ER doctor who comes from a wealthy family of famous surgeons
Bri: Alexis' best friend and fellow doctor
Neil: Alexis' cheating, emotionally abusive ex
Jessica & Gabby: Alexis' uptight doctor friends
Daniel Grant: 28 year old small town carpenter, mayor, and B&B owner
Hunter: Daniel's messy, deaf, and loving dog
Why you should read or listen:
The dick pic scene alone in chapter 25 is worth listening to or reading this book! The summary obviously cant cover everything but it covers the main story line, but you miss meeting all of the people in Wakan like Popeye and Kevin Bacon. I truly fell in love with this little town and the people who live there. I listened to this book narrated by Julia Whelan and Zachary Webber. Their voices fit the characters well and made it enjoyable and easy to listen to.
But if you don't have time or need a refresher, continue reading!
Quick & Dirty Summary:
*Contains Spoilers*
Alexis gets into a car accident and Daniel helps her. They meet up later at a bar and have life changing sex. They continue to have casual, life changing sex while Alexis deals with her ex, career, and daddy issues and Daniel struggles to figure out what he wants in life. They end up falling in love and decide to stay together in the magical town where they met.
Complete Summary:
*This book comes with a warning because it deals with emotional abuse, physical abuse, and gaslighting.*
Alexis was on her way home from a funeral when a raccoon jumps out in front of her car. She swerves to avoid it and ends up in a ditch. Daniel drives by and offers to help get her car out. Although her car is fine, the fog prevents her from leaving the town, Wakan. She walks into the local VFW where she sees Daniel again. Alexis offers to let him walk her out so that he doesn't lose a bet. He offers to make her a grilled cheese and they end up back at his place where Alexis gets way more than a grilled cheese.
After the best sex of her life, Alexis sneaks home with Daniel's hoodie and one shoe. She is greeted by her twin brother, Derek, who breaks the news that he got married and is moving to Cambodia to be with his wife, Nicki. This means that Alexis will be the only remaining Montgomery at Royaume Northwestern Hospital. A Montgomery has always worked at the hospital since it opened, and with her brother leaving, Alexis will be forced by her parents to carry on the family legacy. Unfortunately, this means she has to continue working with her ex, Neil, who gaslights her into thinking everything she does is wrong.
A heated conversation with Neil about their shared house prompts Alexis to drive the 2 hours back to Wakan to see Daniel. They have a romantic date at the drive-in, but Alexis hesitates to open up to Daniel. She makes it clear that she doesn't want a serious relationship.
Back in Minneapolis, Alexis opens up to her friend, Gabby, about the emotional abuse she suffered while in a relationship with Neil and how she's been getting help from a therapist. Since Alexis and Neil share their house, she has to live with him until they can go to court. Alexis does her best to avoid Neil at home and work.
In Waka, Daniel receives a call from his uninvolved mother. She wants to sell the Grant house, the family home where Daniel lives and runs as a B&B. Daniel offers to open the B&B year round so, he can send her more money.
His first guest, after re-opening, happens to be Gabby who invited Alexis and their friend Jessica out for a girl's weekend. Daniel and Alexis are both surprised by her arrival at the B&B. Alexis asks Daniel to act like he doesn't know her. She isn't ready for her friends to know about Daniel because she knows they will judge him for not having a high paying career. Alexis spends the weekend sneaking away to Daniel's loft and avoiding her pretentious friends. Gabby and Jessica have a less than ideal experience at the B&B due to Hunter, Daniel's dog, and some acorns. They spend the weekend complaining and leave Daniel's B&B a 1 star review. After learning that Daniel reimbursed Gabby for the weekend, Alexis shows her uptight friends Daniel's handmade wood furniture and sells 2 items at a premium so that Daniel can get the money back that he lost.
Despite Alexis and Neil's breakup, her parents continue to golf and have dinner with Neil. They work hard to encourage her to get back with him even though she has explained that she won't ever do that. Alexis' mom is helping her plan a gala for the hospital and pressuring her to have the perfect speech, while her dad is pressuring her to be more than an ER doctor and to run for the chief of emergency medicine position.
Daniel is trying to keep his mom happy by sending her money but is also trying to decide what to do with his life. He loves living in Wakan with his close friends and family but doesn't like having to work every day at the B&B. He doesn't want to leave the town that he loves or the people, especially his cousin, Liz, who is struggling in an abusive marriage. If his mom decides to sell the B&B then he will have no choice but to leave Wakan.
Daniel and Alexis find comfort in each other through phone calls and her visits. He slowly learns more about her as she learns more about the town of Wakan and the people. The town has a bit of magic that keeps her coming back not only to see Daniel, but the whole community. During her visits, Alexis sees the lack of medical facilities in the community and how it affects the people. Alexis is able to help the town when she visits but there is a need for more consistent medical care.
Alexis finds herself wanting to be with Daniel and the people of Wakan more than she wants to be at home. She struggles with her feelings for Daniel and the reality that they can never be together. Her career is 2 hours away at the hospital continuing the Montgomery legacy. Daniel's life is in the town that needs him. Even if the distance wasn't a problem, Alexis knows that her parents would never accept Daniel as a life partner for her and could cut her off like they did to her brother, Derek.
They agree to date as long as they can until Alexis hears about the chief of emergency medicine position. If she gets the position, she will be working too many hours to visit Daniel and that would make it even more impossible for them to continue dating. They date for 4 months. During that time, Daniel teaches Alexis how to cook, clean, and do yard work. All of these skills allow her to be more independent and give her power back that Neil had taken from her. Alexis encourages Daniel to work on his carpentry and helps him set up sites to sell his work.
Everything is going well until Daniel says, "I love you". Alexis freaks out and tries to leave but a random storm forces her back in Daniel's house. Alexis realizes that she's in love with Daniel and it's too late to back out of the relation. They decide to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Although they are official, Alexis still can't introduce him to her pretentious parents and "friends". Daniel offers to move to Minneapolis, but the town of Wakan needs him and Alexis doesn't want him to leave his community.
The next day at the hospital, Alexis finds out that she got the chief of emergency medicine position. Alexis' parents, friends, and ex, Neil gather around her to celebrate the big news. Daniel walks in the hospital with flowers for her. Alexis introduces him as her boyfriend and is met with rude responses. Alexis' dad breaks the news to Daniel that Alexis and Neil still live together. Daniel is uncomfortable because it is obvious that no one in Alexis' life knows about him. He heads back to his car to leave.
Before Daniel drives off, Bri finds him and hops in the car to talk to him. She explains that she is Alexis' best friend and knows all about their relationship. She also explains the whole Neil situation. Daniel agrees to meet Alexis at her house. He is hit by the reality of her wealth and the different paths they are on, but he wants to stay together. Alexis breaks his heart and hers by ending their relationship.
A month after the breakup, Alexis and Daniel are both miserable and lonely. Daniel considers leaving Wakan to avoid the memories of Alexis. After an emotional breakdown, Bri talks some sense into Alexis and Alexis creates a plan. She needs to stop putting the needs and wants of others before her own.
The ending
Alexis calls Daniel to try and fix things but he's blocked her number. She asks for Bri's help to get ahold of Daniel, while she finalizes her gala game plan. At the gala, Alexis finally stands up to her father and tells him that he will be a lonely man if he continues to threaten his children when they don't follow his wishes. She encourages her mom to find her own voice and informs them both that she chooses to be with Daniel, if he'll have her.
In Alexis' speech, she announces that Royaume Northwestern hospital will open satellite clinics to provide free medical care to the lower income communities. The first location will be opening in the town of Wakan and the second in Cambodia, where Alexis' brother lives. She also announces that she will permanently be relocating to Wakan to oversee the first satellite clinic. Daniel walks down the stairs to the gala after hearing the speech. They meet on the dance floor and decide to get married.
The epilogue
Daniel and Alexis get married and go on a month-long honeymoon in Europe paid for by Alexis' mom. They buy the Grant House from Daniel’s mom and move in. The clinic in Wakan is open and Alexis is working there along with some other members of the community. Alexis and Daniel are in love and expecting a baby.