Mulberry Hollow - (A Riverbend Romance) by Denise Hunter (Paperback)

It’s time for another release by Denise Hunter! The second book in the “Riverbend Romance” series, Mulberry Hollow, is out! This sweet small-town story is a great spring read. It works as a stand-alone even though it’s part of a trilogy. Physician Avery Robinson pursued a career in medicine after watching her mother waste away from a disease, she wants to offer her town hope and medicine. When Appalachian trail hiker Wes Garrett gets sick along the way and stumbles into her clinic on his way to fulfill a debt to an old friend, Avery must learn to conquer her own fears. This was a quick, light read which was a great choice for me over break from school. I would recommend it for anyone also looking for a sweet small-town read to pull you out of the winter blues. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review; all opinions are my own and were not required to be positive. *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter Book 2 in the Riverbend Romance series Rating: 4.5/5 Yay for sequels! After loving Riverbend Gap from Denise Hunter, I was excited to read the next book Mulberry Hollow and discover Avery's story. However, this story can be read as a standalone but where's the fun in that? ;) First, the book cover is stunning. I did not think they could outdo the first book's cover, but the design team did an amazing job and it looks like a place that I would love to visit. Second, the premise got me because I am a soon-to-be doctor (I graduate in May) and was very interested to see how the author portrayed a small-town rural doc. Let's just say I feel like she did a great job. I also liked how the author was not afraid to address Avery's fears regarding her mother's illness and how it affected her. And since I've never read Wild or seen the movie - only seen that special Gilmore's Girl episode), it was interesting to address some of the conditions with Wes' character. Wes' background was also very interesting with his work overseas and with his PTSD. The author gave a brief glance at what living with PTSD was like for Wes. Third, the chemistry between the two main characters was swoon worthy and so romantic. I loved them together and felt the bond between them. Fourth, I always love when the author can weave their faith into the story and bring a message of hope and healing. Highly recommend if you enjoy Christian romance with humor, small-town charm and second chances. My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

enjoyed my return to Riverbend Gap and the beautiful, heavily wooded Mulberry Hollow—set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Mountains! Besides its charm, I especially love the small town vibes of Riverbend and camaraderie of the residents, always quick to lend a helping hand. Wes Garrett is a man of honor and quite a hunky one at that! If there is such a thing as a perfect man he definitely fills the bill, although Dr. Avery Robinson tries in vain not to notice that fact. Avery is married to her job and plans on staying single, hiding her terrible secret as to why. I found her strength admirable, but her down-to-earth, vulnerable nature refreshing. Denise Hunter's books aren't simply a bunch of romantic fluff as she touches on some very real issues—terminal illness, divorce, unwed pregnancy—but ooh, yeah, the romance! So angsty and heartbreakingly delicious. lol Hunter is my "go to" author when I need to get away from it all and 'Mulberry Hollow' definitely accomplished that for me. An excellent read! "I would’ve trusted Him that much more if I’d been able to see how He would turn my pain into joy.” (Such wisdom! taken from Mulberry Hollow) *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.*