Heartland

I am a devout lover of book series and Sarina Bowen's True North series is my type of kryptonite. I just love book series that involve a whole bunch of different interconnected characters. And the Shipley family is one such story that grabs you and keeps you entertained throughout the different stories.

Readers of the True North series have been introduced to younger brother Dylan Shipley several times throughout the series. Heartland is Dylan's story. Mix in characters who's origins stem from Sarina's Goodbye Paradise story, and you have a thrilling new story.

Dylan is now an adult and off at college, away from the Shipley farm. Well, not entirely away seeing that he's within driving distance and able to come running when his help is needed. He's also the (unknowingly) crush of his friend and neighbor Chastity. Chastity is the "cousin" of the family living on the farm next door to the Shipleys - a recent transplant who escaped from the polygamist cult she had been raised in back in Wyoming. Chastity is quickly learning the ways of the world - broadening her horizons now that she's living amongst real people and experiencing life out from under the tight constraints of the cult she was brought up in.

This story has several interconnecting stories laced within it. You have the Shipley family dynamic - how Dylan and his older brother Griff work and communicate with one another. There is Dylan's guilt and resentment he is still dealing with since the death of his father years before. And then there is Chastity and her adapting to a new lifestyle while still struggling with the guilt she is feeling due to facing her desires and how they conflict with the message of the cult and the brainwashing she was subjected to while growing up.

There is also a romance story line. It wouldn't be a Sarina novel if there wasn't a love story intermingled within. And this one is hot and steamy. This can be read as a standalone...but there is just so much extra if you happen to read the other books in the series.

I love this story. I didn’t want it to end. I want to know what the HEA has in store for Chastity and Dylan’s as well as all the characters in this series. I even want to know what happens to Ruth, Mateo, Daphne, Rickie and Gramps. This story had me mad, angry, laughing and yes, crying. The whole series were about people that anyone could relate to. I’ll definitely re-read the whole series.

Another terrific book in my favorite Sarina Bowen series. This crew in Vermont I’d always a treat to return to. I wasn’t sure that Dylan could compete with my favorite guys from this series Zach and Griff, but I was wrong, wrong, wrong. He’s definitely a new favorite! This was a great friends to lovers, slower building romance. As is common from this author, we got some terrific new side characters to fall in love with too. Everything about this read just left me feeling happy. This is a great book I highly recommend it.