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A review by kfriend
Bet The Farm by Staci Hart
5.0
Bet the Farm delivers on all that we’ve come to expect and admire from Staci’s unique voice- a compelling and welcoming story brimming with charm, keen wit, equal dashes of quirkiness and angst, and a feel good journey story that's sincere artifice lies in its uncanny ability to both lull us with its pleasantness while simultaneously challenging and invigorating us with its hopeful emotional center, a heartfelt, simple yet profound message about how we can love each other a little better, how love can make us BE a little better. And truly, has there ever been a time when we’ve needed her voice, her optimism more? The laughter, the joy, the fun antics and sweet nothings- it’s like they clear the air, like I can breathe a little bit more easily, more freely, more contentedly.
And not only do we get the Staci magic, but we also get Staci’s hand at small town romance. And my goodness- SHE WAS MADE FOR IT. The quirky characters, the meddling town folks, the gossip and humorous proximity, all of those small town rituals. And the farm? Well the farm becomes a character in and of itself. Vibrant and rich- THIS is how you write a setting. I’ve always felt her books are a microcosmic study of how humans love- her pessimism and optimism of connecting, and what better way to deliver that experience that situation is in a small town smack on a dairy farm.
Per usual, our characters are fantastic. But OLIVIA- WHAT A CHARACTER, ya’ll! She’s basically everything that I want and aspire to be. A prodigal Pollyanna returned to her childhood farm to say goodbye and start fresh- out of love for the man who raised her and out of regret for the distance she kept. Staci infuses her with so much zealous optimism and exuberance- and amble charming quirks. Donned in her pink farmwear and armed with a razor sharp penchant for grassroots marketing, she’s on a mission to save the farm. I LOVE how capable she is, how open and positive and HOPEFUL she is. And despite the barriers, including one grizzly romantic interest- she never stops believing or hoping. She NEVER stops looking for the good. I fell so in love with her.
Our hero Jake is her opposite, a grumpy mountain of a man who doubts everyone and everything- with good reason. While Olivia sees possibility, all he sees is responsibility. He’s got a big heart, his intentions are good, but he can’t handle change- because he can’t handle hope. He took time for me to love, to accept and understand- because he’s so resistant, at times mean, and I felt frustrated at him that Olivia gave so much, compromised so willingly, and he was just unmovable. But then Staci humanizes him- opens his heart. We see his fragility, his own regret, and his own surprised hope.
These are two incredibly lonely characters- coping in two drastically different ways. And that makes for some dynamic chemistry- as they both get each other but struggle to meet each other halfway. And that is really what this story is about- EMPATHY, and perspective. Caring enough to truly understand and listen- that is loving. And when we have LOVE- there hope. There is a home. There is a path.
Delightfully funny, charming, sweet, and sexy-this story is overflowing with a tender heart. Bet the Farm is the sweet and soulful balm that I needed to soothe the booming disquiet that has surrounded me of late. This is a story that artfully captures all that is good about love...and all that is good about the human spirit.
And not only do we get the Staci magic, but we also get Staci’s hand at small town romance. And my goodness- SHE WAS MADE FOR IT. The quirky characters, the meddling town folks, the gossip and humorous proximity, all of those small town rituals. And the farm? Well the farm becomes a character in and of itself. Vibrant and rich- THIS is how you write a setting. I’ve always felt her books are a microcosmic study of how humans love- her pessimism and optimism of connecting, and what better way to deliver that experience that situation is in a small town smack on a dairy farm.
Per usual, our characters are fantastic. But OLIVIA- WHAT A CHARACTER, ya’ll! She’s basically everything that I want and aspire to be. A prodigal Pollyanna returned to her childhood farm to say goodbye and start fresh- out of love for the man who raised her and out of regret for the distance she kept. Staci infuses her with so much zealous optimism and exuberance- and amble charming quirks. Donned in her pink farmwear and armed with a razor sharp penchant for grassroots marketing, she’s on a mission to save the farm. I LOVE how capable she is, how open and positive and HOPEFUL she is. And despite the barriers, including one grizzly romantic interest- she never stops believing or hoping. She NEVER stops looking for the good. I fell so in love with her.
Our hero Jake is her opposite, a grumpy mountain of a man who doubts everyone and everything- with good reason. While Olivia sees possibility, all he sees is responsibility. He’s got a big heart, his intentions are good, but he can’t handle change- because he can’t handle hope. He took time for me to love, to accept and understand- because he’s so resistant, at times mean, and I felt frustrated at him that Olivia gave so much, compromised so willingly, and he was just unmovable. But then Staci humanizes him- opens his heart. We see his fragility, his own regret, and his own surprised hope.
These are two incredibly lonely characters- coping in two drastically different ways. And that makes for some dynamic chemistry- as they both get each other but struggle to meet each other halfway. And that is really what this story is about- EMPATHY, and perspective. Caring enough to truly understand and listen- that is loving. And when we have LOVE- there hope. There is a home. There is a path.
Delightfully funny, charming, sweet, and sexy-this story is overflowing with a tender heart. Bet the Farm is the sweet and soulful balm that I needed to soothe the booming disquiet that has surrounded me of late. This is a story that artfully captures all that is good about love...and all that is good about the human spirit.