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Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter

About the Book

Title: Mulberry Hollow
Series: Riverbend Romance #2
Author: Denise Hunter
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Publishing: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: April 19, 2022

Living life to the fullest always requires sacrifice.

Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again, this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

The second book in Denise Hunter’s popular Riverbend Romance series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free.

Grab your copy here!

About the Author

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest.

Connect with Denise: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

Mulberry Hollow
by Denise Hunter
Book 2 in the Riverbend Romance series
Rating: 4.5/5

Yay for sequels! After loving Riverbend Gap from Denise Hunter, I was excited to read the next book Mulberry Hollow and discover Avery’s story. However, this story can be read as a standalone but where’s the fun in that? 😉

First, the book cover is stunning. I did not think they could outdo the first book’s cover, but the design team did an amazing job and it looks like a place that I would love to visit.
Second, the premise got me because I am a soon-to-be doctor (I graduate in May) and was very interested to see how the author portrayed a small-town rural doc. Let’s just say I feel like she did a great job. I also liked how the author was not afraid to address Avery’s fears regarding her mother’s illness and how it affected her. And since I’ve never read Wild or seen the movie – only seen that special Gilmore’s Girl episode), it was interesting to address some of the conditions with Wes’ character. Wes’ background was also very interesting with his work overseas and with his PTSD. The author gave a brief glance at what living with PTSD was like for Wes.
Third, the chemistry between the two main characters was swoon worthy and so romantic. I loved them together and felt the bond between them.
Fourth, I always love when the author can weave their faith into the story and bring a message of hope and healing.

Highly recommend if you enjoy Christian romance with humor, small-town charm and second chances.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

More in the Series

Read my review of Riverbend Gap here.

April 19, 2022 by Kim Book Reviews

Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter

About the Book

Title: Riverbend Gap
Series: Riverbend Romance #1
Author: Denise Hunter
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: October 19, 2021

She came in search of the family she’d always wanted—and found the kind of love she’d never dared imagine.

When Katelyn Loveland’s car veered off a winding Appalachian Mountain road, she thought she was done for. That is until Cooper Robinson, local sheriff’s deputy, came to her rescue. And though Katie narrowly escaped her brush with death, she still fell. Hard.

She wasn’t the only one. But soon Cooper learns that the woman he’s more attracted to than any he’s ever met is his brother’s new girlfriend—and therefore unquestionably off limits. Yet, despite their best efforts, Cooper and Katie can’t seem to avoid running into each other. Or ignore the undeniable chemistry between them.

As they grow closer, Katie shares secrets from her past and the real reason she moved to their small North Carolina town. She also wins over Cooper’s welcoming and bighearted family. But they don’t know that her feelings for Cooper keep growing—all while she’s dating his brother. Soon the stakes of their emotional connection become higher than either could have imagined.

Katie stands to lose the first family she’s ever had, and a scandal could doom Cooper’s campaign for sheriff. Suddenly they find themselves on the edge of another precipice—and they’re forced to make a decision that could change their lives forever.

“A perfect blend of romance and women’s fiction.” —SHERRYL WOODS, #1 New York Times bestselling author for Summer by the Tides

“I have never read a romance by Denise Hunter that didn’t sweep me away into a happily ever after. Treat yourself!” —Robin Lee Hatcher, bestselling author

“If you like Robyn Carr, you’ll love Denise Hunter.” —Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author of One Little Lie

Sweet and thoughtful contemporary read
First in the new Riverbend Romance series
Book length: approximately 82,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Purchase your copy here!

About the Author

Connect with Denise: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Review

Riverbend Gap
by Denise Hunter
Book 1 in the Riverbend series
Rating: 4/5

“All her life she’d been searching for a place to belong, a person to belong to, and she’d finally found him. But she couldn’t have him.”

As someone who enjoys Denise Hunter’s books, I was excited to read the first book in a new series. As dramatic as the beginning of the novel was, the rest of the story was all about the aftermath of what happened. I was immediately drawn into the story at the start – talk about an engaging hook.

The chemistry between the two main characters was palpable. I especially loved the hiking trip part. This new family, the Robinsons, was a lovely family that had its faults but still knew how to come together. I’m hoping that the other books will involve the other siblings. The setting of Riverbend sounds amazing – just look at that gorgeous cover! I’m always excited to visit new places through books and I can’t wait to read more. I also enjoyed how the author was still able to weave her faith into the story in a nonthreatening way.

“Sometimes family isn’t the situation you’re born into but the people who’ve chosen to love you along the way.”

Highly recommend if you enjoy Christian contemporary romance with small town charm and lots of heart.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

November 10, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews

JustRead Blog Tour: Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Hooked On You
Series: Maple Falls Romance #1
Author: Kathleen Fuller
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance (clean/sweet)

She never wanted to come back. He never wants to leave. The town of Maple Falls has plans for them both.

Riley McAllister is living the dream in New York City . . . if the dream means being a struggling mixed-media artist, part-time food delivery driver, and having a carefully curated social media to hide all of the above. She refuses to admit defeat and move back to small-town Maple Falls, but when her grandmother breaks her leg sliding into third base during a softball game (she was safe, by the way), Riley reluctantly agrees to go home and help the woman who raised her—while secretly hoping she can convince Mimi to sell her house and yarn shop and move in with a good friend. Then Riley can return to her new life in NYC, on her own and for good.

But Mimi has her own plans, which include setting Riley up with local baseball star Hayden Price, who returned to Maple Falls after an injury ended his major league career. Now he works at his father’s hardware store, coaches the church softball team, and worries about the declining town. It’s not the life he dreamed of having.

With a little meddling and a lot of kindness from the town, Hayden and Riley find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other as they discover the true meaning of home.

Welcome to Maple Falls, where everyone knows your name and your business.

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With over a million copies sold, USA Today Bestselling author Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com

She and her husband James live in Arkansas and have three adult children. When she’s not writing, Kathleen is avidly crocheting, reading, and traveling, sometimes all at the same time. She runs the Facebook group Books & Hooks, which combines her love of books, crochet, and collecting recipes that she’ll never have enough time to make.

CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN: Website | Facebook | Instagram

MY REVIEW

Hooked On You
by Kathleen Fuller
Book 1 in the Maple Falls series
Rating: 4/5

I don’t remember if I’ve ever read anything from Kathleen Fuller before, but I loved the description of the book and couldn’t help myself. I was excited to be chosen to receive an ARC of the book and I was NOT disappointed. The book is everything you’d want in a sweet romance.

Riley McAllister’s life on Instagram is very different than her actual life as a struggling mixed media artist who has to be a part-time delivery driver in New York City. She is determined to not return to her small hometown of Maple Falls, but when her grandmother, “Mimi”, breaks her leg, Riley comes home to help take care of her and the yarn store. Coming home after almost 10 years is not easy for Riley who has always felt like an outsider due to her tumultuous past, but seeing Hayden Price again might make it worth it. Hayden Price, the golden boy of Maple Falls who made it to the major leagues only to hurt himself during the first game, is content to help run his parents’ hardware store. Can Riley help her grandmother’s store and home without the help of Hayden Price? Probably not but being around him so much might cause her heart to beat out of her chest. Can Riley learn to trust Hayden and open up her heart to her secret high school crush? When secrets are revealed, can Riley learn to forgive and let go of the past?

This book was a nice, sweet romance between two very different people. I liked Riley’s character because she had to deal with her very real, tragic circumstances and learn to overcome them. Hayden’s rise to fame and then quick fall affected him a lot but I loved how he was able to heal with the help of therapy and time. This story is definitely a light read with a couple more serious parts that just make the characters more authentic. I feel this book is more on the inspirational side of Christian fiction and does not get in your face about the Bible.

Highly recommend if you enjoy clean, sweet romance with a lot of heart and yarn! 😉

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(3) winners will receive a print copy of Hooked On You by Kathleen Fuller!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 17, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 24, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

May 18, 2021 by Kim Book Reviews Giveaway

Inside the Wong Mind: Reading is my therapy

Hello. This blog is all mine and I will do my best to post what interests me and what books I read with honest reviews. I am a lover of good Christian fiction with a touch of romance, mystery, intrigue, humor, fun, etc. I invite you to join me as I read my way through books and life. I am currently pursuing my residency training as a family medicine physician!!! I have to carefully choose what I want to read for fun. My name is Kim and you are entering the Wong Mind.