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pattyfgd's review against another edition
5.0
Come Home to Deep River
By: Jackie Ashenden
Narrated by: Ava Lucas
Can you go home? Silas come home to Deep River with some news that will effect the entire town. He has been gone for years, has no desire to stay but has to let the people know what is going on. What he doesn't expect is the feeling that home can bring. Now seeing the one he let get away, things may change. Hope has never left Deep River. Upon the death of her grandfather, she took over the local pub and has not looked back. Silas makes her heart race, but she knows he isn't long for Deep River. Or is he? And now with his news, will she stay? I love small town stories, and Jackie Ashenden brings this one to us with fantastic characters and story that kept me guessing. Hope is an interesting character. Not only is she loyal to her family and the pub, but the sheer thought of change and moving brings out her insecurity, much like we all have. Silas is that man we all love. He is warm and caring, and the best is he knows what he wants. I love their push pull relationship, right to the very end. Surprises, twists and turns keep us guessing until the very end. It's a wonderfully warm, entertaining listen.
I can never say enough good things about Ava Lucas. Her narrations are always spot on. She gets into the heads of her characters, giving them the exact personality intended by the author. Her voices fit the picture I have of them, and she gives us all the feels. Another amazing performance!
By: Jackie Ashenden
Narrated by: Ava Lucas
Can you go home? Silas come home to Deep River with some news that will effect the entire town. He has been gone for years, has no desire to stay but has to let the people know what is going on. What he doesn't expect is the feeling that home can bring. Now seeing the one he let get away, things may change. Hope has never left Deep River. Upon the death of her grandfather, she took over the local pub and has not looked back. Silas makes her heart race, but she knows he isn't long for Deep River. Or is he? And now with his news, will she stay? I love small town stories, and Jackie Ashenden brings this one to us with fantastic characters and story that kept me guessing. Hope is an interesting character. Not only is she loyal to her family and the pub, but the sheer thought of change and moving brings out her insecurity, much like we all have. Silas is that man we all love. He is warm and caring, and the best is he knows what he wants. I love their push pull relationship, right to the very end. Surprises, twists and turns keep us guessing until the very end. It's a wonderfully warm, entertaining listen.
I can never say enough good things about Ava Lucas. Her narrations are always spot on. She gets into the heads of her characters, giving them the exact personality intended by the author. Her voices fit the picture I have of them, and she gives us all the feels. Another amazing performance!
timitra's review against another edition
3.0
Come Home to Deep River cute, sweet and heartwarming. It was also a struggle to read because of how slow paced it was. I am however intrigued by Damon so I'll probably read the next book in the series.
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
Copy provided by publisher through Net Galley
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
I've been to Alaska once on a cruise but have always been intrigued by the environment and wildlife. This book will give you a little peek into the possibilities of a small town in Alaska.
The town is different from any I have heard about, one person actually owns all of the land, and everyone leases from the owner. However, the leaseholders have more rights than normal tenants including mineral rights to that oil that was discovered. Silas, as the new owner, has to figure out what he is going to do. Will he stay in his hometown, or find someone to take over and let him leave?
I enjoyed the story and the banter between Hope and Silas. She never left Deep River because of her mother and while she has been content, she did give up some dreams like attending college and obtaining a literature degree. Plus she has looked out for her mother for the last thirteen years after her grandfather passed away since her mother has some mental health issues. Silas left to enter the military but never came back. Was it his love for Hope or something else? The answer is probably a little bit of several things.
There was a minor character that I just found intriguing, Filthy Phil. He wasn't dirty, as in unclean, it has to do with something that he said and the nickname stuck. However, he is a reader and he made a comment about he let the librarian pick out his books but he wanted the potential sex scenes to not behind closed doors. He said he was 75, not dead. I think he would be a hoot to know. The Mayor, Astrid, is also an undeveloped character, but I can see her becoming the focus in a future book and actually wonder if she might be the main character along with Silas' buddy, Damon. I'm also curious about Mal who owns the store where everyone does the shopping and has the best internet connection in town.
The story between Hope and Silas is familiar, but I enjoyed watching them come into their own and move past what happened 13 years ago. It takes time and nothing is forgiven overnight, but it happens.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and we give it 4 paws up.
The town is different from any I have heard about, one person actually owns all of the land, and everyone leases from the owner. However, the leaseholders have more rights than normal tenants including mineral rights to that oil that was discovered. Silas, as the new owner, has to figure out what he is going to do. Will he stay in his hometown, or find someone to take over and let him leave?
I enjoyed the story and the banter between Hope and Silas. She never left Deep River because of her mother and while she has been content, she did give up some dreams like attending college and obtaining a literature degree. Plus she has looked out for her mother for the last thirteen years after her grandfather passed away since her mother has some mental health issues. Silas left to enter the military but never came back. Was it his love for Hope or something else? The answer is probably a little bit of several things.
There was a minor character that I just found intriguing, Filthy Phil. He wasn't dirty, as in unclean, it has to do with something that he said and the nickname stuck. However, he is a reader and he made a comment about he let the librarian pick out his books but he wanted the potential sex scenes to not behind closed doors. He said he was 75, not dead. I think he would be a hoot to know. The Mayor, Astrid, is also an undeveloped character, but I can see her becoming the focus in a future book and actually wonder if she might be the main character along with Silas' buddy, Damon. I'm also curious about Mal who owns the store where everyone does the shopping and has the best internet connection in town.
The story between Hope and Silas is familiar, but I enjoyed watching them come into their own and move past what happened 13 years ago. It takes time and nothing is forgiven overnight, but it happens.
Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and we give it 4 paws up.
readingundertheradar's review against another edition
3.0
Fun small-town romance with some town drama—I wanted more of that and more of the locals, but still enjoyed the story. Main male lead was a bit more alpha than I typically enjoy reading but if you like that this romance may be for you!
CW: alcoholism, death of a parent, discussions of depression and a relative dismissing it
CW: alcoholism, death of a parent, discussions of depression and a relative dismissing it
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
4.0
Hope Dawson is more than content in the small town of Deep River, Alaska. Her grandfather has died and she now runs the local hangout. While it is true that her once craved dream of leaving Deep River and going to college is now put on the back burner, she intends to make the best of things. There is another reason Hope feels that she must stay, and that it to be there for her emotionally unstable mother. What will she do when Silas Quinn returns to town with news that might be that key to her college dream and freedom?
Silas Quinn arrives to tell the members of the struggling town that oil has been found below. If they sell, they can make a ton of money. Some want to sell, some don't want the town changed in any way, so the money means absolutely nothing to them.
Si and Hope share a past. Actually, yeas ago Hope liked Si's brother, so the pair were only friends, best friends. Will Si's presence now give them a chance at exploring things? Hope has a lot to consider, especially since Si might upset the peace of the small town. Will they be able to bury the wounds of the past in order to find a future together? Meanwhile, Si has his life to consider, including that of the business he is involved in with his best friend Caleb. How can he even think of acting on their shared attraction when he has no intention of staying?
Come Home to Deep River is the enjoyable first book in the promising Alaska Homecoming series. I look forward to the next book. I imagine that Caleb will get his story. I love stories with an Alaskan setting and this book by Jackie Ashenden does not disappoint.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Silas Quinn arrives to tell the members of the struggling town that oil has been found below. If they sell, they can make a ton of money. Some want to sell, some don't want the town changed in any way, so the money means absolutely nothing to them.
Si and Hope share a past. Actually, yeas ago Hope liked Si's brother, so the pair were only friends, best friends. Will Si's presence now give them a chance at exploring things? Hope has a lot to consider, especially since Si might upset the peace of the small town. Will they be able to bury the wounds of the past in order to find a future together? Meanwhile, Si has his life to consider, including that of the business he is involved in with his best friend Caleb. How can he even think of acting on their shared attraction when he has no intention of staying?
Come Home to Deep River is the enjoyable first book in the promising Alaska Homecoming series. I look forward to the next book. I imagine that Caleb will get his story. I love stories with an Alaskan setting and this book by Jackie Ashenden does not disappoint.
Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
tackyj's review against another edition
3.0
Book was okay. Nothing exciting or memorable. Listened while doing home chores, so it passed the time. Not sure if I'll continue the series.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
An engrossing and entertaining story that made me root for the characters and smile.
I liked the descriptions of the small town life even if some details seemed a bit weird to me. The characters are fleshed out and the romance is sweet.
It's a good summer read and I recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked the descriptions of the small town life even if some details seemed a bit weird to me. The characters are fleshed out and the romance is sweet.
It's a good summer read and I recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
allingoodtime's review against another edition
3.0
There were a lot of ups and downs for me in this story, but overall I enjoyed the read. I found the world building to be intriguing. The way and reason this small Alaska town is founded lends itself to some interesting characters and scenarios. One of my favorites being the townspeople electing residents as mayor as a kind of punk. It’s an actual running gag to elect people as mayor who don’t want to be mayor. I don’t know what it says about me that I found that delightful.
For the most part, I liked the hero Silas. He was hurt years ago by Hope, even if she didn’t realize how deeply her rejection affected him. For his part, he also hurt Hope by leaving their small town and, in her mind, never looking back. Of course, the rejection and along with other bad memories kept him away. But from where she was standing, her two best friends abandoned her for greener pastures. What bothered me is that she seemed to have so much animosity toward Silas where she was still friendly with Cal. And he was the one who rejected her all those years ago. While I understood the root of her reasons, it bothered me that she didn’t realize for a very long time that she was even doing it. So it took me quite a bit longer to warm up to Hope.
Hope’s mom is a catalyst for many realizations that Hope has, but that woman is horrible. I think, on some level, the reader is meant to have some sort of sympathy for her by the end of the book. I can’t, though. This woman is NOT a good mother. I get mental health issues, I’ve had depression issues myself. If this woman had truly gotten help and was on the other end of things she would not allow her daughter to continue blaming herself for everything. It left me feeling sad for Hope and an all-around icky feeling that everyone seemed to make excuses for the woman.
When it came to the actual love story part of this book, I liked the progression. Best friends, secret feelings, years apart, instant sparks after years apart, the inevitable giving in to their feelings. Hope and Silas do have good chemistry and I enjoyed most of their interactions. My issues with this story had nothing to do with the core romance of the book.
Silas did not act as I would expect an adult man to act toward his business partners. We only really meet one of them, and he was not very understanding to Silas so it was extremely hard for me to imagine them as being best friends and buddies who went through some much together over the last 13 years. I already mentioned my issues with Hope’s mom. And where the heck is Cal’s sister. The only law enforcement in the whole town, during this very uncertain time. So, like I said in the beginning, ups and downs. It’s worth a read if you’re a fan of small-town romance, though. It also made me curious enough about why Cal did what he did and what’s going on with Damon to want to read the next story.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.
For the most part, I liked the hero Silas. He was hurt years ago by Hope, even if she didn’t realize how deeply her rejection affected him. For his part, he also hurt Hope by leaving their small town and, in her mind, never looking back. Of course, the rejection and along with other bad memories kept him away. But from where she was standing, her two best friends abandoned her for greener pastures. What bothered me is that she seemed to have so much animosity toward Silas where she was still friendly with Cal. And he was the one who rejected her all those years ago. While I understood the root of her reasons, it bothered me that she didn’t realize for a very long time that she was even doing it. So it took me quite a bit longer to warm up to Hope.
Hope’s mom is a catalyst for many realizations that Hope has, but that woman is horrible. I think, on some level, the reader is meant to have some sort of sympathy for her by the end of the book. I can’t, though. This woman is NOT a good mother. I get mental health issues, I’ve had depression issues myself. If this woman had truly gotten help and was on the other end of things she would not allow her daughter to continue blaming herself for everything. It left me feeling sad for Hope and an all-around icky feeling that everyone seemed to make excuses for the woman.
When it came to the actual love story part of this book, I liked the progression. Best friends, secret feelings, years apart, instant sparks after years apart, the inevitable giving in to their feelings. Hope and Silas do have good chemistry and I enjoyed most of their interactions. My issues with this story had nothing to do with the core romance of the book.
Silas did not act as I would expect an adult man to act toward his business partners. We only really meet one of them, and he was not very understanding to Silas so it was extremely hard for me to imagine them as being best friends and buddies who went through some much together over the last 13 years. I already mentioned my issues with Hope’s mom. And where the heck is Cal’s sister. The only law enforcement in the whole town, during this very uncertain time. So, like I said in the beginning, ups and downs. It’s worth a read if you’re a fan of small-town romance, though. It also made me curious enough about why Cal did what he did and what’s going on with Damon to want to read the next story.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time.