Serenity Point

Serenity Point is a fictional town, the setting for two book series by Canadian Christian romance author Kimberly Rae Jordan: The Halversons (an ongoing series featuring the Halverson family, centered around the family's medical clinic) and Christmas in Serenity Point (a series of three Christmas-themed novels issued in 2022 and early 2023, which feature some of the Halversons in crossover scenes).

The town is portrayed as being in northern Idaho, near ski resort areas and the city of Coeur d'Alene, and is small but large enough to have one "big box" chain store serving it and the surrounding area.

Halverson Family

Cathy and Dan Halverson are both doctors, who previously operated a medical clinic in Serenity Point (originally started by one of the couple's parents, not stated which one) until retiring to concentrate on medical missionary work. The clinic operates a "free clinic" on Saturdays.

The Halversons (a White couple) are parents of ten children, a mix of biological and adopted children (two of which are Black, taken in by the couple at the request of the children's terminally ill birth mother, a family friend).

The children (in order of book portrayal) are:

• Gareth--portrayed as the oldest biological child. His story is portrayed in Gareth, the first book in the series. He followed his parents into the medical profession, and now operates the medical clinic along with two of his adopted siblings (Jay and Janessa).
  • Aria (nee Jensen)--a friend of Janessa's from nursing school. Originally from Sacramento, after her mother's death she falls into depression and is fired as a nurse after coming to work intoxicated. She leaves the medical profession and eventually moves to Serenity Point to work as the clinic's receptionist. Ultimately she and Gareth begin dating and eventually marry; Aria returns to the nursing profession as the clinic's "backup nurse".
• Jaylen "Jay"--one of two Black children adopted by the Halversons. His story is portrayed in Jaylen, the second book in the series. He and Janessa are biological siblings (Jay is older by two years) whose mother died of a terminal illness (the father's absence is not fully explained). He is the business manager for the clinic, and frequently clashes with Gareth over operations (requiring Janessa to intervene).
  • Michelle "Misha"--the new (as of the second book) doctor at the family clinic. She, her mother (Denise) and adopted daughter (Ciera) move to Serenity Point from Atlanta, after her younger brother (Ciera's biological father) is killed by a gang (her older brother leads a rival gang; Ciera's mother planned to abort the baby, but Misha agreed to adopt).
  • Payton--Jay's son, whose existence is not known by Jay until the child's mother discloses it (she is signing away her parental rights (it is hinted that the mother's fiancé does not want to raise another man's child, especially one that is hinted at being mixed-race).
• Janessa--Jay's biological sister, also adopted by the Halversons. Her story is portrayed in Janessa, the third book in the series. She works in the clinic as a nurse.
  • Will--a long-time friend of Gareth and Jay, who begins dating Janessa. Their relationship ends after he and Janessa are seriously injured in a car crash (Janessa ends it, being consumed with fear of losing someone else close to her) but is later resumed.
• Kayleigh--works as a manager for a "five-star resort" located north of Serenity Point. Her story is portrayed in Kayleigh, the fourth book in the series.
  • Hudson--the illegitimate son of Alexander Remington, owner of the resort. After a series of incidents involving the resort (later discovered to be the work of a disgruntled employee, who believed that Kayleigh was given the manager's job because of Alexander: in the story, Kayleigh -- then an employee -- had previously summoned assistance after his wife was injured on the ski slopes; Alexander is impressed and offers to pay for her college education in hospitality).
• Charlotte "Charli"--works as an elementary school teacher in Serenity Point. Her story is portrayed in Charlotte, the third book in the series.
  • Layla--Charli's daughter, portrayed as a young school-age child. Her father (Blake) is originally portrayed as absent from their lives but returns (not knowing of Layla's existence) with another daughter (Amanda). They resume their relationship, and after Skylar announces her pregnancy and asks them to adopt her child (later revealed to be a daughter), they have a quick wedding.
• Lee--works in a veterinary clinic. His story was portrayed in Lee, the sixth book in the series (he is not introduced prior to this). He was adopted by the Halversons after was nearly murdered by his abusive parents (to protect him, law enforcement fabricated a story about his death; his older brother was murdered by them).
  • Aurora (Rori)--the daughter of a wealthy resident who was conceived as a result of an affair, she was raised by a grandmother until that person died, after which she was regularly shuttled between parents - neither of whom wanted permanent custody - forcing her to become self-reliant at an early age.
• Wilder--works during the winter as a ski instructor at the resort where Kayleigh is manager. Otherwise, he travels around the country and the world, seemingly without any plans (thus earning him the name "Wilder the Wanderer"). It is later revealed that he helps rescue children from human trafficking.
• Cole--initially a high school student who is a top-level basketball star, later goes to college.
• Skylar--initially a high school student who is a cheerleader, later goes to college. She discovers she is pregnant; when the father offers to pay for an abortion, she asks Charli and Blake to adopt the child.
• Zane--little is known about him except that he is also adopted.