REVIEW: If you’re a fan of Denise Hunter, you certainly have something to look forward to. Riverbend Gap is book one of a new series A Riverbend Romance. I was totally immersed in the first book and can’t wait for Mulberry Hollow the next installment to the series! 

There were so many characters in this book that were fighting against where they came from. Whether it was an alcoholic father, a drug addicted mother, the loss of a parent or a split family. They were all in some ways successful in overcoming the odds and yet there were still times the past would rear it’s ugly head. 

The romance at the center of this book was faced with impossible odds. I can’t tell you how that worked out. My heart broke many times and soared with hope many times during this read. I came to care for these folks and you will too. This author writes the best characters. They are flawed and perfect at the same time making them believable.

This book is one of those satisfying reads that will color your world for days after you finish reading it. It puts a good feeling in your heart and hope for this world. I can’t stop thinking about these characters. I think you’re going to love this book as much as I do. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Netgalley, #ThomasNelson and #FirstEditions. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

SYNOPSIS: She came in search of the family she’d always wanted—and found the kind of love she’d never dared imagine.

When Katelyn Loveland’s car veered off a winding Appalachian Mountain road, she thought she was done for. That is until Cooper Robinson, local sheriff’s deputy, came to her rescue. And though Katie narrowly escaped her brush with death, she still fell. Hard.

She wasn’t the only one. But soon Cooper learns that the woman he’s more attracted to than any he’s ever met is his brother’s new girlfriend—and therefore unquestionably off limits. Yet, despite their best efforts, Cooper and Katie can’t seem to avoid running into each other. Or ignore the undeniable chemistry between them.

As they grow closer, Katie shares secrets from her past and the real reason she moved to their small North Carolina town. She also wins over Cooper’s welcoming and bighearted family. But they don’t know that her feelings for Cooper keep growing—all while she’s dating his brother. Soon the stakes of their emotional connection become higher than either could have imagined.

Katie stands to lose the first family she’s ever had, and a scandal could doom Cooper’s campaign for sheriff. Suddenly they find themselves on the edge of another precipice—and they’re forced to make a decision that could change their lives forever.

• Sweet and thoughtful contemporary read
• First in the new Riverbend Romance series
• Book length: approximately 82,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs