I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Blue Ridge Sunrise by Denise Hunter Series: Blue Ridge #1
Published by Thomas Nelson on November 7, 2017
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Clean & Wholesome, Fiction / Romance / General, Fiction / Small Town & Rural, Fiction / Women
Pages: 323
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley
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Former free spirit Zoe Collins swore she'd never again set foot in Copper Creek or speak to the man who broke her heart. But return she must when her beloved granny dies, leaving the family legacy to Zoe - a peach orchard nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.When Zoe returns home with her daughter and boyfriend Kyle, she finds that she's the only person in town who doesn't expect her to give up the life she's established far away from Copper Creek. Everyone believes she was born to run the orchard, but how can she make it her home after so many years?Cruz Huntley never quite got over his first love Zoe Collins, the little sister of his best friend Brady. Not when she cheated on him during their 'break,' not when she took off to parts unknown with good-for-nothing Kyle Jenkins, and not even now - five years later. As life-changing decisions and a history with Cruz hang over Zoe's head, tensions rise between her and Kyle. Even as she comes to terms with the shifting relationships in her life, Zoe still isn't sure if she can remain in Copper Creek with her new responsibilities ... and her first love.
If you saw my review for Sweetbriar Cottage, you may remember (or not, let’s be real) this line: Few Christian authors tackle the dark topics, and most with varying degrees of success. What I loved in Sweetbriar didn’t quite translate as well for me in Blue Ridge. Denise Hunter did a great job with the hard topics; the reactions and responses (overall) felt natural and real. But honestly, I didn’t connect with Zoe, and I started the book unsure of what was going on, and it took a bit for me to understand the character’s story.
I’m bringing back the Gibbs’ smack for Zoe and Cruz. I’m two books in, and all I can think is that the folks of Copper Creek don’t know how to talk to anyone. Like, communication is nonexistent, unless you count self-talk in your own head. Like I get, words are hard, but if you never share them, then you literally get nowhere. And life becomes complicated with omissions and lies – intentional or not. I get it, they both have some family trauma which leads to self-doubt to begin with, but oh the gravy, ya’ll let’s have a chat already. I know it’s hard sometimes to actually say what you are feeling. But you wasted years caught up in your own head, the falsehoods you believed or even told yourself, because you refused to communicate. And then once you figured it out, snap, crackle, pop Rice Krispies, you really figured it out.
Once I got the vibe of the story, I was settled in to really try to understand Cruz and Zoe. And here’s what I figured out. Cruz is super sensitive. I mean, they both have Daddy Issues, but his not having a father at all really didn’t help him come into his own. He constantly felt the need to justify himself. To the point he risked a friendship for love because, wait for it . . . communication. Zoe, with her own Daddy baggage, gathered even more baggage because communication. I wanted more when it came to her brother Brady and even her dad, but I’m super glad they figured out how to talk, finally. And got the ending they absolutely deserved.
About Denise Hunter
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 40 novels, three of which have been made into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.
Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who struggle with real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.
In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking good coffee, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband have raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest.
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