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cozy_book_corner's review against another edition
5.0
Excuse me while I gush over this book. Rustic Hearts has easily become one of my favorite books of all time. Amber Kelly captured my heart with a story about finding love, reconnecting with family, and returning to your roots. I adored absolutely every single moment of this book!
When Sophie was 12, her whole life was turned upside down. Her mom packs up their belongings and moves the two of them to New York City, leaving her family and friends behind in Poplar Falls without any warning or explanation. Now 20 years later, Sophie is thriving in New York City. Her life is going well until she receives a call that brings her back to Poplar Falls to face everything she left behind.
This small town romance was everything I wanted and more. Sophie and Braxton are two complete opposites who judged each other right off the bat. The more time they spend together, they learn just how much they care for one another. Their love story felt so natural to me.
And all I have to ask is can I move to Poplar Falls now?
When Sophie was 12, her whole life was turned upside down. Her mom packs up their belongings and moves the two of them to New York City, leaving her family and friends behind in Poplar Falls without any warning or explanation. Now 20 years later, Sophie is thriving in New York City. Her life is going well until she receives a call that brings her back to Poplar Falls to face everything she left behind.
This small town romance was everything I wanted and more. Sophie and Braxton are two complete opposites who judged each other right off the bat. The more time they spend together, they learn just how much they care for one another. Their love story felt so natural to me.
And all I have to ask is can I move to Poplar Falls now?
ela_35's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
I liked reading about Braxton and Sophia’s relationship, but I really didn’t like how Sophia’s parents weren’t dealt with at all.
I liked Braxton’s and Sophia’s personalities, and their interactions. I liked seeing Sophia interact with others on the ranch, but I thought that there could have been more scenes where Braxton and Sophia spend time with others.
I hated how Sophia’s father ignored her for almost her whole life and when he tells her what really happened twenty years ago, she’s willing to completely forget about the fact that he didn’t even try to see her. Sophia’s mother was a rubbish person who only cared about herself, and I didn’t like how Sophia ignores the fact that her mother lied about something really important only because she was being self-centred.
I liked the setting and most of the characters, but I didn’t like how Sophia’s parents didn’t face any consequences. I want to continue with this series as I want to read more about Beau, Dallas, and Myer.
manda_reads_'s review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Absolutely loved this book! My first small town romance book, and first Amber Kelly book. Definitely gonna read more from her. Also will be reading the rest of the series! It was a really fun romance and I enjoyed it very much. Loved the banter between Braxton and Sophie! 😍
pageswithpayten's review against another edition
5.0
QOTD: Did you grow up in a small town, the country, a city or the suburbs?
My A: I lived on the outskirts of a small town on a lake! I wouldn’t trade my hometown for anywhere.
.
I know when i tell you guys I found this series on Kindle Unlimited, you won’t even be surprised at this point. I’m addicted. I’ve discovered so many new to me authors and hidden gem books that I’ve completely fallen in love with. This was a sweet and sensual enemies to lovers romance with the perfect amount of tear jerkers, swoon worthy moments and a cast of characters I’m excited to read more of in the rest of the series!
.
If you’re a fan of those sweet Hallmark feel books but wish they had the kind of steam and hot chemistry you really want to see between the characters, I highly suggest picking up an Amber Kelly book! Braxton was sexy and broody and sweet and played off of Sophia’s hesitant and bitter attitude well. He quickly knocked down her walls and in place of that bitterness was wit and chemistry beyond what either of them expected. And the side characters!! They really make this book. I’ve already read book two in the series and downloaded book three because this is the kind of community you fall in love with.
.
Sophia is a city girl through and through. She knows how to handle the New York streets during rush hour in six inch heels on the way to a meeting where she’s a bigwig and killing it.
My A: I lived on the outskirts of a small town on a lake! I wouldn’t trade my hometown for anywhere.
.
I know when i tell you guys I found this series on Kindle Unlimited, you won’t even be surprised at this point. I’m addicted. I’ve discovered so many new to me authors and hidden gem books that I’ve completely fallen in love with. This was a sweet and sensual enemies to lovers romance with the perfect amount of tear jerkers, swoon worthy moments and a cast of characters I’m excited to read more of in the rest of the series!
.
If you’re a fan of those sweet Hallmark feel books but wish they had the kind of steam and hot chemistry you really want to see between the characters, I highly suggest picking up an Amber Kelly book! Braxton was sexy and broody and sweet and played off of Sophia’s hesitant and bitter attitude well. He quickly knocked down her walls and in place of that bitterness was wit and chemistry beyond what either of them expected. And the side characters!! They really make this book. I’ve already read book two in the series and downloaded book three because this is the kind of community you fall in love with.
.
Sophia is a city girl through and through. She knows how to handle the New York streets during rush hour in six inch heels on the way to a meeting where she’s a bigwig and killing it.
wanderlustbooklover's review against another edition
5.0
“She’s got Lancaster blood flowing through her veins. That means, she’s tethered to this land. Those clothes and shoes of hers don’t change that. She has a rustic heart beating in her chest, just like we do.”
The cover immediately drew me in and once I read the blurb, I was sold!
This book starts with 12 year old Sophie Lancaster being packed up and moved away to NYC with her mom while her dad is away.
Fast forward 20ish years and Sophie (now a single woman working on a successful jewelry business) gets a call from her aunt that her grandma has passed away and she needs to come home for the funeral and reading of the will.
After 20 years of thinking she was forgotten and ‘replaced’ by a new wife and niece and nephew, she reluctantly heads back to Poplar Falls.
While back in town she meets Braxton Young(rugged, protective cowboy), picks right back up with her childhood bestie, Dallas, finds her roots and remembers all the things she’s missed about being home.
This book gave me all the feel good, small town romance vibes. The sweet stories of ‘home’ and family took me back to when I was younger. If you grew up with southern/country roots, you’ll enjoy the details and back and forth between the characters.
A lot of the books I’ve read this year have been ‘move to NYC dreams’ and this was a refreshing book of going ‘home’.
The cover immediately drew me in and once I read the blurb, I was sold!
This book starts with 12 year old Sophie Lancaster being packed up and moved away to NYC with her mom while her dad is away.
Fast forward 20ish years and Sophie (now a single woman working on a successful jewelry business) gets a call from her aunt that her grandma has passed away and she needs to come home for the funeral and reading of the will.
After 20 years of thinking she was forgotten and ‘replaced’ by a new wife and niece and nephew, she reluctantly heads back to Poplar Falls.
While back in town she meets Braxton Young(rugged, protective cowboy), picks right back up with her childhood bestie, Dallas, finds her roots and remembers all the things she’s missed about being home.
This book gave me all the feel good, small town romance vibes. The sweet stories of ‘home’ and family took me back to when I was younger. If you grew up with southern/country roots, you’ll enjoy the details and back and forth between the characters.
A lot of the books I’ve read this year have been ‘move to NYC dreams’ and this was a refreshing book of going ‘home’.
aspenm's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
risseandshine's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.0
Good...but a little underwhelming.
Sophia Lancaster goes back to small town Poplar Falls upon her grandmother's passing. She reunites with her estranged family and crosses paths with the grumpy Braxton Young who doesn't seem to appreciate her mere presence. The story has her acclimating to the small town farm life and falling in love with the one man she keeps butting heads with while uncovering secrets along the way that may turn her life as she knows it upside down.
This book nailed the 'small town' bit pretty well. It gave a very atmospheric description of the small town experience that I wanted to move to Poplar Falls myself. The family ties were solid and the way they were written makes you interested in the characters and their own stories. However, the main story between Sophie and Braxton fell short for me.
I loved Sophie. She was resilient character as she was uprooted from her childhood farm home to big city New York and back again to the farm. She struggled but she adjusted very well and held her own despite feeling like an outsider at first. I rooted for her from start to finish.
Braxton was different story. I had a difficult time getting on board with him. He was too grumpy for my taste. It was hard for me to believe his affections towards Sophie when he suddenly switched from being all surly to touchy feely in a blink of an eye. He had his sweet moments but the foundation for his actions was, in my opinion, quite weak.
Overall, I think the romance in this book wasn't front and center as I expected it to be. It was good, but in the 'small town' sense. It didn't satisfy the small town romance reader in me but I think this still worth the read if you are looking for a small town escape that is heavy on farm life and family drama.
Sophia Lancaster goes back to small town Poplar Falls upon her grandmother's passing. She reunites with her estranged family and crosses paths with the grumpy Braxton Young who doesn't seem to appreciate her mere presence. The story has her acclimating to the small town farm life and falling in love with the one man she keeps butting heads with while uncovering secrets along the way that may turn her life as she knows it upside down.
This book nailed the 'small town' bit pretty well. It gave a very atmospheric description of the small town experience that I wanted to move to Poplar Falls myself. The family ties were solid and the way they were written makes you interested in the characters and their own stories. However, the main story between Sophie and Braxton fell short for me.
I loved Sophie. She was resilient character as she was uprooted from her childhood farm home to big city New York and back again to the farm. She struggled but she adjusted very well and held her own despite feeling like an outsider at first. I rooted for her from start to finish.
Braxton was different story. I had a difficult time getting on board with him. He was too grumpy for my taste. It was hard for me to believe his affections towards Sophie when he suddenly switched from being all surly to touchy feely in a blink of an eye. He had his sweet moments but the foundation for his actions was, in my opinion, quite weak.
Overall, I think the romance in this book wasn't front and center as I expected it to be. It was good, but in the 'small town' sense. It didn't satisfy the small town romance reader in me but I think this still worth the read if you are looking for a small town escape that is heavy on farm life and family drama.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
g_c_geeks's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5