For Fork's Sake

“For Fork’s Sake”, the third book of the multi-authored “Farm 2 Forking” series set in the same world, the Bedd Fellows Farm in the New York Catskills, with each book featuring a member of the Bedd family. Karen White pens this third book, Samuel Bedd and Diane McCarthy’s story, and it is a gem of a story, one that grabs your attention immediately and holds it captive the entire time. Sam felt like an outcast with his family, well maybe not with his twin sister, Colleen, but he has avoided going home for reasons only known to him, smart and on the nerdy side, yet he still carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. A pivoting point in his life came after a steamy encounter, a memorable one-night-stand followed by filling in for a presentation and speaking another person’s words, words that did not line up with his own beliefs or that of the woman he spent the night with, one he knew he just lost any chance of seeing again, or so he thought. Diane is on her own mission, never really loving the life she grew up in, but she found one more fitting, one she fell in love with, but she holds secrets, ones that may ruin it all for her. There are so many things to love about this book, including all the layers of the story, a story well written and plotted, the complexity of the characters, their growth and development and the amazing world building. It was great to watch these two reacquaint themselves and get to know more about each other,I thought they were great together and for one another. Getting more of the Bedd family, Ethel, and Baabara, is an added treat, Gomer too, as well as seeing more of their family dynamics and watching them work out some unresolved issues. This is one of the best multi-author series collaborations with seamless cohesiveness and world building. Karen Grey, thank you for another fabulous story, the laughs and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧  Alastair Haynesbridge and Erin Mallon’s fabulous performance continues as they humanize their characters with voices that are fitting and believable. Haynesbridge nailed it as Sam, grasping every aspect of his personality and demeanor, and Mallon did the same for Diane, each different in their own way. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These two make a great team, with voices and talent that complement each other and a performance that elevates this already amazing story to another level. Thanks for another fabulous listen.

Audio Review
Narrated by Erin Mallon & Alistair Haynesbridge

This is book 3 in the Farm 2 Forking series. I loved reading Sam and Diane’s story. This grumpy/sunshine small town romance had me laughing and falling into deep feels. All of the relatives, town folk, Baabaara the sheep, and Gomer the support dog really rounded out the story with charm. Sam’s gradual self-awareness about his autism spectrum added a wonderful depth to his and Diane’s relationship. I really love the found family aspect of Diane’s journey here as well. She gradually falls in love with Fork Lick and its residents but is holding back a big secret that could jeopardize her relationship with Sam. Overall, a wonderful heartfelt read and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.

Erin Mallon and Alistair Haynesbridge continue narrating this series. I really like this pairing and Alistair’s expression of Sam’s frustration with his family and in dealing with his relationship issues is really good. I loved Erin’s portrayal of Diane. She adds that perfect mix of spunky attitude and vulnerability for Diane.

This third book the series starts out with a bang, with Sam and Diane meeting at a hotel bar, then spending an explosive night together. The next day they realize they are on opposite sides of a political fight over agricultural methods with Sam representing Big Agriculture and Diane fighting to maintain small seed libraries and local control. Sam is so disgusted at the company line that he quits his job on the spot and tries to find Diane to explain and apologize, but she's already long gone.

Much to their surprise, they run into each other a year later at his family farm. Sam now works as a state agriculture extension agent and has just been transferred back to Fork Lick, while Diane has become close friends with his grandmother and is in the middle of filming a series of videos popularizing local farms and businesses.

Sam is an adorable but oblivious wiz kid with a fast mind who leaps ahead to conclusions and expects everyone to fall in line with his solutions because they are logical. Diane is the opposite. She's interested and engaged with everyone she meeets and makes sure that her video subjects shine brighter than she does. Nonetheless, the chemistry between them flares back up and can't be denied.

The book was on the shorter side but there was plenty of time to establish a strong connection between Sam and Diane. Add in family fights and mended ties, Sam's sweet failed service dog, Gomer, Grandma Bedd's pet sheep, Baabara, and assorted neighbors and friends and you have a great story, one that makes me eager to continue the series. I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.