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alikatson's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars. Ok, Bowen is a really good author. I spent some time being very irritated with the heroine but made my peace with her by the end.
Zack, oh Zack. He is just the sweetest. I think part of my irritation with Lark was just that she wasn't appreciating the amazing Zack enough.
Anyway for a review of the book - Bowen delivers another great romance set in rural Vermont. I love reading about apple picking and cider. It is an idyllic setting for some troubled lovers to come together.
Zack grew up in a cult that punished him for pretty much everything, but especially sexual thoughts & deeds. Lark is from a wealthy Bostonian family and recently home from a kidnapping ordeal in Guatamala. Interestingly enough neither character is particularly angsty If this was historical romance they would have worked up a lather of angst but not so in this sweet story. Zack is adorable and clueless, always eager to help out and soaking up affection. Lark is dealing with PTSD and avoiding treatment by working at her best friend's farm for a few months.
Anyway, I love Zack.
Zack, oh Zack. He is just the sweetest. I think part of my irritation with Lark was just that she wasn't appreciating the amazing Zack enough.
Anyway for a review of the book - Bowen delivers another great romance set in rural Vermont. I love reading about apple picking and cider. It is an idyllic setting for some troubled lovers to come together.
Zack grew up in a cult that punished him for pretty much everything, but especially sexual thoughts & deeds. Lark is from a wealthy Bostonian family and recently home from a kidnapping ordeal in Guatamala. Interestingly enough neither character is particularly angsty If this was historical romance they would have worked up a lather of angst but not so in this sweet story. Zack is adorable and clueless, always eager to help out and soaking up affection. Lark is dealing with PTSD and avoiding treatment by working at her best friend's farm for a few months.
Anyway, I love Zack.
morglemore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A really sweet story about how traumatized folks can come together, heal, and love each other. Zach is the king of patience and selflessness. Also love how this didn’t demonize religion as a whole, and how many characters still found comfort in religion after being hurt by institutions in the past/present
rcrg's review against another edition
5.0
My heart exploded with Zach and Lark's love story. These 2 could not have been more different, yet perfect together. I loved Zach from the moment I met him in previous books, so this was just perfect.
mooreamyd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jotiboqc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tinalynn510's review against another edition
5.0
By far, my favorite in the series so far! I'm in love with this series and these people!
amyreadsandsails's review against another edition
5.0
MF - contemporary romance - moderate steam - pov first dual - white MCs - autumn vibes - class gap (wealthy FMC) - mental health rep (PTSD) - hurt comfort - epistolary - grumpy/sunshine - small town - virgin (MMC) - workplace - 5 stars.
Another much darker one - the FMC had been kidnapped in Latin America while doing humanitarian work and the MMC had escaped from a polygamist cult - but Zach is, I think, my favorite hero of the series.
Sarina Bowen definitely writes these heroes that are all in, and just like Jude in Steadfast Zach has to realize that he's earned the love and place in the Shipley family.
Sarina Bowen definitely writes these heroes that are all in, and just like Jude in Steadfast Zach has to realize that he's earned the love and place in the Shipley family.
As with Steadfast, the ONLY thing I didn't like about this book: frequent use of the word crazy and one instance of use of the word slave (in a trivializing manner ie sex slave)
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping
caseroo7's review against another edition
4.0
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick
Let me just say that I absolutely love this series! Sarina Bowen's True North series is seriously one of my favorites ever! These books are so unique and each one is just fantastic from start to finish. Keepsake definitely didn't disappoint, and I cannot recommend these books enough. Each book is a standalone story, but I recommend reading them all because they are such great books!
Lark arrives at the orchard to help her friend at the farmer's markets and to try and heal after a tragic event. Zachariah is battling his own issues after growing up in a cult and being tossed out at the age of nineteen. As Zach and Lark get to know one another, they grow close and things begin to heat up between them. But can Zach show her that she can trust him enough to have a chance at a relationship?
I loved these two so much! Lark was strong and she was such a fighter. After all that she had been through she was still sweet and continued to move forward. Zach was sweet as well, and he had always been the quiet guy that we knew had so much more to him. I was absolutely fascinated by his character and the life he had come from. It shaped who he was, and I loved that he was able to survive just like Lark had. These two were such a perfect match for each other. While he helped Lark and was caring, he didn't push her beyond what she could handle. Their chemistry was there right from the start and their connection was so real and genuine.
I also love that this series while emotional, is also refreshing and different from anything else I have read before. These characters and their lifestyle are something I have no knowledge of, so I love learning things with each of these books. Sarina Bowen does a great job of describing everything for the reader that it is so easy to visualize and feels almost as if you are right there with these characters. I seriously cannot get enough of these books, and can't recommend them enough. This series is a must read, especially for contemporary romance fans. I think that they each have something that everyone can relate to.
**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**
Let me just say that I absolutely love this series! Sarina Bowen's True North series is seriously one of my favorites ever! These books are so unique and each one is just fantastic from start to finish. Keepsake definitely didn't disappoint, and I cannot recommend these books enough. Each book is a standalone story, but I recommend reading them all because they are such great books!
Lark arrives at the orchard to help her friend at the farmer's markets and to try and heal after a tragic event. Zachariah is battling his own issues after growing up in a cult and being tossed out at the age of nineteen. As Zach and Lark get to know one another, they grow close and things begin to heat up between them. But can Zach show her that she can trust him enough to have a chance at a relationship?
I loved these two so much! Lark was strong and she was such a fighter. After all that she had been through she was still sweet and continued to move forward. Zach was sweet as well, and he had always been the quiet guy that we knew had so much more to him. I was absolutely fascinated by his character and the life he had come from. It shaped who he was, and I loved that he was able to survive just like Lark had. These two were such a perfect match for each other. While he helped Lark and was caring, he didn't push her beyond what she could handle. Their chemistry was there right from the start and their connection was so real and genuine.
I also love that this series while emotional, is also refreshing and different from anything else I have read before. These characters and their lifestyle are something I have no knowledge of, so I love learning things with each of these books. Sarina Bowen does a great job of describing everything for the reader that it is so easy to visualize and feels almost as if you are right there with these characters. I seriously cannot get enough of these books, and can't recommend them enough. This series is a must read, especially for contemporary romance fans. I think that they each have something that everyone can relate to.
**ARC Provided by Bocci PR**
readfrenzy's review against another edition
4.0
Keepsake is the third standalone novel in the True North series. With each book I fall more and more in love with the Shipley family, life on the Shipley farm, the Shipleys’ friends—basically anything Shipley related. I’ve been curious about farmhand Zach, and now we finally get his story.
Zach has always been the quiet, kind, and hard working one. Other than the fact that he grew up in a religious cult and he’s a 23-year-old virgin, little is known about his past. Lark is May’s friend. She’s working at the farm during apple picking season and attempting to recover from a traumatic ordeal of her own.
I. Love. Zach. He knows what it’s like to painstakingly rebuild your life after horrific experiences. His gentle and gracious nature makes him the perfect partner for Lark. I really enjoyed the slow burn nature of their relationship and the way they unselfishly give to each other.
I have no issues with the plot itself, but the pacing is very slow making the book feel longer than necessary. I think editing some scenes out would have enhanced my overall enjoyment. That doesn’t detract from the numerous funny and sweet moments that make the story so appealing. The meals around the Shipley table, the gentle ribbing among the men, Zach and Lark’s experiences at the farmer’s market, and the integral roles Griffin and May play are just a few highlights. The epilogue is pure perfection.
Keepsake is a heartwarming addition to this winning series.
Recommended for fans of:
Cider donuts
Apple picking
Farm life
First love
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
Zach has always been the quiet, kind, and hard working one. Other than the fact that he grew up in a religious cult and he’s a 23-year-old virgin, little is known about his past. Lark is May’s friend. She’s working at the farm during apple picking season and attempting to recover from a traumatic ordeal of her own.
I. Love. Zach. He knows what it’s like to painstakingly rebuild your life after horrific experiences. His gentle and gracious nature makes him the perfect partner for Lark. I really enjoyed the slow burn nature of their relationship and the way they unselfishly give to each other.
I have no issues with the plot itself, but the pacing is very slow making the book feel longer than necessary. I think editing some scenes out would have enhanced my overall enjoyment. That doesn’t detract from the numerous funny and sweet moments that make the story so appealing. The meals around the Shipley table, the gentle ribbing among the men, Zach and Lark’s experiences at the farmer’s market, and the integral roles Griffin and May play are just a few highlights. The epilogue is pure perfection.
Keepsake is a heartwarming addition to this winning series.
Recommended for fans of:
Cider donuts
Apple picking
Farm life
First love
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**