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A review by petraperusesbooks
Bet the Farm by Staci Hart
4.0
BET THE FARM - STACI HART
FULL REVIEW: https://petraperusesbooks.wordpress.com/2021/02/16/bet-the-farm-staci-hart/
"I thought about nothing and I thought about everything, caught in that state of static, wondering how I could feel so much and still be empty. Flickering memories fluttered in my mind, peppered with questions about my future and the future of the farm. But the threads were impossible to grasp. I stood at a nexus with innumerable paths stretching out before me. I could go one of so many directions, but I didn't have a single hesitation about which way I wanted to go.
What I didn't know was how far I'd make it."
Jake and Olivia just lost someone – Livi’s grandfather -, who they both regarded as their last living family member. Their inexpressible grief is shared… and so is the Brent farm, to the surprise of both of them.
Olivia left her successful career and aunt in New York behind, arrived at her childhood home with the guilty regret of someone, who can’t turn back time and undo her neglect towards her Pop.
Jake is out of his place, his new-found burden of operating a failing farm quickly catching up on him. He swore to continue Pop’s legacy, so Olivia coming home and stirring up the farmlife with her social media-led agenda is the last thing he needs.
After realising neither of them are giving up their ideas to turn the business profitable, they make a bet: Olivia has a summer to prove her ideas are paying off, otherwise Jake would take rein – forever.
Let me preface it: I never expected the book to grab me by the throat – emotionally draining me. Growing up, my grandfather was a man connected to land and animals, so I grew up around chickens, pigs, cows, horses & dogs. I know what it takes to make sure the corp is harvestable, the milk is plenty, animals are taken care of. I walked behind my grandpa, following him like a shadow most of my childhood, and I found myself getting teary-eyed reading about of the death of Olivia’s grandfather. Because it reminded me of my own loss.
Aside from the fact that I cried my eyes out, I really enjoyed Livi and Jake – they obviously had a history, chemistry and shared the same values, had the same goals in life. Jake was the perfect dark, brooding hero, while Olivia was the happy-go-lucky, fiery redhead. They complemented each other well, even at the start of their story, amid all their animosity. I laughed out loud in the bathtub once or twice while reading, and had a goofy smile on my face during certain quick-witted parts.
Their romance wasn’t instalove, they needed time to rekindle their relationship from the dust, but once they started to trust one other, and their hidden secrets came out of the bag, their emotions up their sleeves, you could see they fit each other. Jake was a new man with love on his side, and Olivia flourished with new inspiration the relationship gave her.
The rivalry between the Brents and Pattons gave a bit of spice to the storyline, I once or twice got angry with Olivia for putting the farm’s survival in jeopardy by not deflecting Chase, but his character arc was consequential for the Happily Ever After to work. I enjoyed the side characters, I think Staci Hart has a knack to involve them in the story, in a way, that helps the flow of her ideas.
I’m hoping to read more countryside stories from the author, because while I enjoyed her big town settings, this one, with the close proximity of the love insterests, the meddling small town folks was special. I must also mention, that I love Staci’s writing style, she expresses feelings with careful consideration towards literary language like few of her peers in the romance community.
Thank you, Staci, for placing trust in me by lending an Advanced Reader Copy in my posession.
Here’s to hoping this wasn’t the first and only time we collaborated!
Good luck with publishing!
FULL REVIEW: https://petraperusesbooks.wordpress.com/2021/02/16/bet-the-farm-staci-hart/
"I thought about nothing and I thought about everything, caught in that state of static, wondering how I could feel so much and still be empty. Flickering memories fluttered in my mind, peppered with questions about my future and the future of the farm. But the threads were impossible to grasp. I stood at a nexus with innumerable paths stretching out before me. I could go one of so many directions, but I didn't have a single hesitation about which way I wanted to go.
What I didn't know was how far I'd make it."
Jake and Olivia just lost someone – Livi’s grandfather -, who they both regarded as their last living family member. Their inexpressible grief is shared… and so is the Brent farm, to the surprise of both of them.
Olivia left her successful career and aunt in New York behind, arrived at her childhood home with the guilty regret of someone, who can’t turn back time and undo her neglect towards her Pop.
Jake is out of his place, his new-found burden of operating a failing farm quickly catching up on him. He swore to continue Pop’s legacy, so Olivia coming home and stirring up the farmlife with her social media-led agenda is the last thing he needs.
After realising neither of them are giving up their ideas to turn the business profitable, they make a bet: Olivia has a summer to prove her ideas are paying off, otherwise Jake would take rein – forever.
Let me preface it: I never expected the book to grab me by the throat – emotionally draining me. Growing up, my grandfather was a man connected to land and animals, so I grew up around chickens, pigs, cows, horses & dogs. I know what it takes to make sure the corp is harvestable, the milk is plenty, animals are taken care of. I walked behind my grandpa, following him like a shadow most of my childhood, and I found myself getting teary-eyed reading about of the death of Olivia’s grandfather. Because it reminded me of my own loss.
Aside from the fact that I cried my eyes out, I really enjoyed Livi and Jake – they obviously had a history, chemistry and shared the same values, had the same goals in life. Jake was the perfect dark, brooding hero, while Olivia was the happy-go-lucky, fiery redhead. They complemented each other well, even at the start of their story, amid all their animosity. I laughed out loud in the bathtub once or twice while reading, and had a goofy smile on my face during certain quick-witted parts.
Their romance wasn’t instalove, they needed time to rekindle their relationship from the dust, but once they started to trust one other, and their hidden secrets came out of the bag, their emotions up their sleeves, you could see they fit each other. Jake was a new man with love on his side, and Olivia flourished with new inspiration the relationship gave her.
The rivalry between the Brents and Pattons gave a bit of spice to the storyline, I once or twice got angry with Olivia for putting the farm’s survival in jeopardy by not deflecting Chase, but his character arc was consequential for the Happily Ever After to work. I enjoyed the side characters, I think Staci Hart has a knack to involve them in the story, in a way, that helps the flow of her ideas.
I’m hoping to read more countryside stories from the author, because while I enjoyed her big town settings, this one, with the close proximity of the love insterests, the meddling small town folks was special. I must also mention, that I love Staci’s writing style, she expresses feelings with careful consideration towards literary language like few of her peers in the romance community.
Thank you, Staci, for placing trust in me by lending an Advanced Reader Copy in my posession.
Here’s to hoping this wasn’t the first and only time we collaborated!
Good luck with publishing!