Reckless

Winter Hamilton is one of the novel’s primary characters and the female romantic lead. At the novel’s start, she is 28 years old and married to Rob Valentine. She works as a doctor at the same hospital where Rob and her mother Marina practice. For years, Winter has devoted her life to medicine, rarely pursuing any other relationships outside of her family and marriage. Her vocational priorities however do not satisfy her heart’s desires. She feels unloved by Rob, and resents him for hurting her estranged sister Summer Hamilton. She has been unable to have children and start a family. She feels stifled at work and unable to be the sort of doctor she wants to be without her mother’s and husband’s disapproval.

Winter’s decision to leave Rob catalyzes her personal growth journey. She initially leaves home to take a few shifts at Chestnut Springs General Hospital, but ends up staying in town when she realizes she must leave Rob once and for all. This is the first time in Winter’s life that she has defied her mother and made a choice solely based on her desires. Moving to Chestnut Springs offers her the opportunity to restart her life on her own terms.