Friday, October 20, 2017

Review: 5 Big Beautiful Stars for Bountiful (True North #4) by Sarina Bowen

Bountiful (True North #4)

No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules.

Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling—a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on.

Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life.

Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave No-Last-Name will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.

Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.

Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards—and hard won love—are Bountiful.

Read the first chapter! 

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Eight varieties of pears  

  What I thought about Bountiful

I'm a huge fan of this series and author, so I couldn't wait to "go north" and see what might happen in Bountiful.  

After Zara has a fling with a gorgeous ginger-haired guy, their hot summer nights leaves her with a few remembrances in the form of a  gorgeous red-haired baby, lots of life changes and a new direction. She tries to find her baby-daddy, but she's unable to locate him since she only has a first name and a garbled last. 

That is until he returns to town two years later, and in minutes three lives  change again.

The remainder of the book focuses on both Zara and Dave adjusting to these new revelations and attempting to figure out where they go from here.  Dave is really shocked to find out he has a daughter and Zara wonders how all of this will change her life again. But it's really Dave's side of the story that wowed me in Bountiful, as he comes to grips with not only his feelings about having a child, but his feelings for Zara.

This book felt so fresh to me. First, I loved how the big moment happens early in the story. There is some build-up to how Zara and Dave will deal with everything, but the real story here is Dave's journey through these changes. He goes from a never-gonna-get-married kind of guy to someone who really sees how his life could be different,even richer from all of these unexpected changes.  And he goes through all of this with extreme sensitivity and maturity.  I'm not saying he doesn't have his moments, because he has a few, but for the most part, he really cares about those he loves, and it is his discovery that he can open his heart to Zara and their baby that melted my own heart as I was reading Bountiful.

I just adored Dave. He's definitely on the top of my book-boyfriend list.  He's sexy and sensitive, and when it comes down to it, he makes a tough decision.  I'm getting a bit emotional myself just writing this review. I really loved this story.

There are some wonderful cameos from previous characters in this series that were the icing on the cake for me, as were the cameos from the Brooklyn Bruisers series.  It was fabulous to get all those folks included in the story, even grumpy Griff.

The True North series is one of my top recommendations for contemporary romance. The writing is excellent and the stories are unique and engaging.  Bountiful is no exception!  (Can I claim Dave for myself? Please?)

Another winner from Sarina Bowen. This is a fabulous book from a terrific series.

An ARC was provided for review. 

About the Author


Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

In 2016, Sarina became a Rita Award winner! The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.

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