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jessicabeel's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
vashtanerada's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
nebrish's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.0
livsliterarynook's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leahana's review against another edition
4.0
Reading a series is so much better than reading a standalone book. Its like hearing your grandma tell new stories about your family that you haven’t heard before. Not that Sarina is like my grandma...She’s several decades too young for that. Ok maybe it’s not like grandma stories at all. Maybe its more like family reunion stories-hearing about people you already know and love but in a new context. And that is so much better than starting a new standalone with characters you have absolutely no connection with.
We met Dylan and arguably saw him grow up in bits and pieces of scenes from other True North books like Bittersweet and Keepsake. We learned that he is a good time, ie dancing in the kitchen, and a hard worker on the farm. By the time Heartland was written, true Sarina fans were picketing for grownup Dylan’s book. Ok, well...maybe not exactly picketing...but we were ravenous for more Shipley drama and Heartland delivered.
Chastity, who we got glimpses of in Keepsake, was just the right mix of farm girl, independent, and accepting of Dylan’s flaws. She loved him without judging him.
Dylan was just the right mix of good guy and questionable choices. I adored the way Dylan wanted to take care of Chastity. She was everything he never knew he needed and she snuck up on him. He made mistakes but he was good when it counted and heaven knows I’m a sucker for a good guy.
By the end of Heartland it was easy to see that the Shipley family has more stories to tell. Little clues throughout the book suggest Daphne will get her own book too :) and even if I were a terrible detective, Sarina’s website says Daphne’s book is happening soon!
We met Dylan and arguably saw him grow up in bits and pieces of scenes from other True North books like Bittersweet and Keepsake. We learned that he is a good time, ie dancing in the kitchen, and a hard worker on the farm. By the time Heartland was written, true Sarina fans were picketing for grownup Dylan’s book. Ok, well...maybe not exactly picketing...but we were ravenous for more Shipley drama and Heartland delivered.
Chastity, who we got glimpses of in Keepsake, was just the right mix of farm girl, independent, and accepting of Dylan’s flaws. She loved him without judging him.
Dylan was just the right mix of good guy and questionable choices. I adored the way Dylan wanted to take care of Chastity. She was everything he never knew he needed and she snuck up on him. He made mistakes but he was good when it counted and heaven knows I’m a sucker for a good guy.
By the end of Heartland it was easy to see that the Shipley family has more stories to tell. Little clues throughout the book suggest Daphne will get her own book too :) and even if I were a terrible detective, Sarina’s website says Daphne’s book is happening soon!
corritos's review against another edition
I want to like contemporary NA books but I think I'm too old to connect with the characters
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Another strong entry in Bowen's True North series, this one featuring seemingly happy-go-lucky youngest brother Dylan Shipley, and the former religious cult member Chastity, who's been crushing on Dylan ever since she arrived in Vermont. Not as overtly feminist in plotline as some of Bowen's earlier books, but still with underlying feminist insistence on the right of women to have and embrace their own sexual desires. Both Dylan and Chastity's "issues" keeping them from being able to create a romantic relationship are resolved fairly easily, but in today's terrible political climate, I'm happy for every happy ending I can find...