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msethna's review against another edition
5.0
I am a huge fan of Denise Hunter's books. Her latest book, Blue Ridge Sunrise, does not disappoint. There is nothing that a little love, romance, friendship, and family can't do to brighten my day. Definitely a quick read and I am glad she will be adding more books to this series. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction Publications for my free ARC.
sasartin's review against another edition
4.0
5 stars for writing, 3 for lack of depth in the lead female. Denise Hunter is an amazing writer. I just found Zoe to lack the depth to match Cruz.
finnelyslibrary's review against another edition
1.0
Blue Ridge Sunrise has been on my tbr for a few years now so I thought that it was finally time to pick it up. However, it quickly became a reading just to finish it book for me.
Oy vey, where to even start. First, the reviews about it being too secular is what encouraged me to read it. I tend to like CF that explores honest, real and raw life choices instead of the Christian bubble many CF reads can be. However, this time they're right. God was mentioned at the end out of convience to tie a bow on a messy story.
Second, I pushed through the past portion counting the pages down to get back to the present. I feel like the story could have been richer had their past been woven into the present throughout the story. It's harder to do, but the reward would have been worth it. The past just made me dislike Cruz even more, which it's hard to read a book if one of the love interests isn't worth rooting for.
Third, Oh, Cruz. In the past portion he was acting purely on lust and intrigue by Zoe, not love. In his POV he kept mentioning how Zoe is his girl, how she is precious and weak and needs him to be complete. The times where he checked her out and noticed the flesh of her neck and being overwhelmed with kissing her and realizing that now he can because she's his.. yeah, it was problematic for me. Cruz even said over and over, my leona, claiming her as his. I'm married and I've never once thought of my spouse as mine, because he is his own person. Both Cruz and Zoe need separate personal therapy before jumping into marriage, let alone finding strong footing with God so that their foundation together is built on strong ground.
How is this type of character supposed to be replacing a mentally and physically abusive one? Possessive can be just as bad and I just couldn't root for him. Even more, Zoe should have had been alone to rebuild with God and Gracie before jumping into a new relationship. The only foundation was memories, lust and a new man doubting that a woman can take care of herself. Then there was the moment where he roughly grabbed her wrists and wouldn't let go when asked, which no matter what information one realizes this is never okay.
Fourth, Zoe's decision making skills are just lifetime movie worthy terrible. I understand her dad issues, but to be so aware of her disgust towards his controlling mean ways, yet run from his control straight into a relationship where someone is just as bad as him.. I don't understand how she could be so aware of one and unaware of the other. Then her decision making at the end was flabbergasting. Look, I hate when attention is taken off of the abuser by saying that the victim should have known better. However, in this case she really truly should have. Between Zoe and Cruz poor decision making, it's a wonder how Cruz didn't end up in jail for accidentally murdering Kyle.
Lastly, speaking of Kyle, what an overwritten character. He also gave a lifetime movie worthy performance. I guess one good thing that I could say is that the author at least got the slight eye movement changes that tell a whole different thing between that of an abuser and the abused realizing their true intentions.
There's many, many things that I could bring up as problematic in this book. I'm going to end it here though. If you like problematic characters and many scenes that wouldn't happen in real life (Including conversations. Most were unrealistic and lacked any flow) then sure, go ahead and read this. It's a one star from me.
Oy vey, where to even start. First, the reviews about it being too secular is what encouraged me to read it. I tend to like CF that explores honest, real and raw life choices instead of the Christian bubble many CF reads can be. However, this time they're right. God was mentioned at the end out of convience to tie a bow on a messy story.
Second, I pushed through the past portion counting the pages down to get back to the present. I feel like the story could have been richer had their past been woven into the present throughout the story. It's harder to do, but the reward would have been worth it. The past just made me dislike Cruz even more, which it's hard to read a book if one of the love interests isn't worth rooting for.
Third, Oh, Cruz. In the past portion he was acting purely on lust and intrigue by Zoe, not love. In his POV he kept mentioning how Zoe is his girl, how she is precious and weak and needs him to be complete. The times where he checked her out and noticed the flesh of her neck and being overwhelmed with kissing her and realizing that now he can because she's his.. yeah, it was problematic for me. Cruz even said over and over, my leona, claiming her as his. I'm married and I've never once thought of my spouse as mine, because he is his own person. Both Cruz and Zoe need separate personal therapy before jumping into marriage, let alone finding strong footing with God so that their foundation together is built on strong ground.
How is this type of character supposed to be replacing a mentally and physically abusive one? Possessive can be just as bad and I just couldn't root for him. Even more, Zoe should have had been alone to rebuild with God and Gracie before jumping into a new relationship. The only foundation was memories, lust and a new man doubting that a woman can take care of herself. Then there was the moment where he roughly grabbed her wrists and wouldn't let go when asked, which no matter what information one realizes this is never okay.
Fourth, Zoe's decision making skills are just lifetime movie worthy terrible. I understand her dad issues, but to be so aware of her disgust towards his controlling mean ways, yet run from his control straight into a relationship where someone is just as bad as him.. I don't understand how she could be so aware of one and unaware of the other. Then her decision making at the end was flabbergasting. Look, I hate when attention is taken off of the abuser by saying that the victim should have known better. However, in this case she really truly should have. Between Zoe and Cruz poor decision making, it's a wonder how Cruz didn't end up in jail for accidentally murdering Kyle.
Lastly, speaking of Kyle, what an overwritten character. He also gave a lifetime movie worthy performance. I guess one good thing that I could say is that the author at least got the slight eye movement changes that tell a whole different thing between that of an abuser and the abused realizing their true intentions.
There's many, many things that I could bring up as problematic in this book. I'm going to end it here though. If you like problematic characters and many scenes that wouldn't happen in real life (Including conversations. Most were unrealistic and lacked any flow) then sure, go ahead and read this. It's a one star from me.
budigt's review against another edition
3.0
Wowww. Wish I could give it a better review. I knew what would happen as soon as I read the first couple of chapters. I wasn’t a fan of the ending at all. I just wish this book was more exciting
katescene91's review against another edition
5.0
Although The Convenient Groom will always be my favorite Denise Hunter novel this one ranks towards the top of my favorites list. I love the settling of Copper Creek and the peach orchard. The characters are well developed and are people I would want in my circle of friends. Overall, I loved the book and am looking forward to the other books in this series.
melitajr's review against another edition
3.0
Okay read with a pretty solid story and some very complex characters. It was easy to assume how I was going to feel about certain characters after some revelations but it wasn't as black and white and simple as that and credit to DH for how well she mapped out everything when it came to all the... Feelings.
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
****Copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review******
I quite enjoyed this - but it's patchy. The romance is quite good, but the suspense element felt rushed and a bit tacked on, and the Christian element was really...odd. I'm not a big reader of Christian/inspiration romances, but the faith element in this didn't seem to be integrated enough into the story. I read the sampler for this in Buzzbooks Romance and requested the novel off the back of that - and didn't realise from the sampler that this was meant to be a Christian romance. When the faith elements do turn up they just drop into the text in a way that feels jarring.
Slightly spoilery but important Side note: As the H and h have premarital sex which results in a (secret) baby, and in the interim the heroine has been dating/living with/touring with another guy this may not be what some readers of Christian romances are after.
I quite enjoyed this - but it's patchy. The romance is quite good, but the suspense element felt rushed and a bit tacked on, and the Christian element was really...odd. I'm not a big reader of Christian/inspiration romances, but the faith element in this didn't seem to be integrated enough into the story. I read the sampler for this in Buzzbooks Romance and requested the novel off the back of that - and didn't realise from the sampler that this was meant to be a Christian romance. When the faith elements do turn up they just drop into the text in a way that feels jarring.
Slightly spoilery but important Side note: As the H and h have premarital sex which results in a (secret) baby, and in the interim the heroine has been dating/living with/touring with another guy this may not be what some readers of Christian romances are after.
ntbarrin's review against another edition
2.0
I love Denise Hunter, but this book was not good :( I did not connect with the characters, at all. I really didn't even like them. It was predictable , kind of dark, cheesy love lines (this is coming from someone who is obsessed with Hallmark movies), shallow story....not much "Christian" in this fiction book...hmm....I just read Driftwood Lane before this and it was WAY better. Hmm
kazeneko20's review against another edition
4.0
Thes was a very nice read. The characters are engaging. The story is very good. The characters growth during the book feels very organic and true to the characters.