Pepper Basham

If I'm absent on the blog, it's because I moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
What a delightful read! The setting was perfect and the characters were so real in all aspects. They had their ups and downs but always came out stronger in the end.
This troupe of friends-to-more was played perfectly without seeming over-the-top.
Although this is the third book of the series, it can be read as a standalone with only minimal spoilers from the previous books.
This is one of the first books I have read by Pepper Basham and I know that I'll be coming back for more. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet story full of grace and redemption.

Rating: 4.5 Stars
Content: 5 Stars

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.… (mehr)

I have enjoyed many of Pepper's books in the past so I was eager to read this one. Unfortunately, this one was so painful that it took me months to get through it.
Most of my complaints are about Gracelynn. It seemed like she was 12 years old. She was so naïve that I cannot possibly believe any of it. Secondly, she compares literally EVERYTHING to a book she has read. Every situation that happened to her was also in a book except fixing pipes of course. She also has a strange habit of combining words in a way that just rubbed me wrong. Just say 'kidnapped'. Please don't ever let me hear the word 'man-napped' again.

1.5 stars

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.… (mehr)

This book was great! It was very historically accurate and that really added to the overall feeling of the book. The descriptions of the mountains were breathtaking. I really liked how Laurel and Jonathan are both bookworms and violinists. Laurel seemed lifelike and I adored the way that Jonathan put his full effort into teaching the school for the deeply traditional mountain folk. The relationship between Jonathan and Laurel was sweet because it focused on their love of education, with romance more of a side plot. It was nice to see determined characters that never gave up - no matter what happened. There was a twist in the book that I never expected. My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge: Laurel's Dream took me back to the time period, and I felt like I was in the Blue Ridge Mountains with the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to step into another culture for a moving visit.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.… (mehr)