Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman
Blue Hollow Falls #1

This introduction to a new small town romance series starts with Sunny Goodwin finding out she has family she had never heard of and an inheritance that she would need to deal with. Many characters are introduced for future books in the series but the main love interest for Sunny is Sawyer Hartwell. Their romance’s biggest issue to overcome is the distance between where she lives in DC and his home and the inherited sawmill in Turtle Creek, VA. There is information about the silk industry in America, orchids, raising animals and in the future I expect to hear about making wine and all it entails. Bailey, half-sister to Sunny, is a sweetie that I hope to hear more about in the future as the series progresses. At times the book dragged for me with more dialogue and description than essential though it did set the scene for the future. This HFN story with “I love you” expressed doesn’t have a wedding scene but it just might in one of the future books. Turtle Creek is a dream place in the mountains with good people that help out – kind of a fairytale place – one where the universe steps in to help out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Zebra for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Blue Hollow Falls is the first book in a new series by Donna Kauffman and it is fantastic! It has an amazing group of characters that just drag you into the middle of the story and the mountains of Virginia. I absolutely loved it!

This is only my second Donna Kauffman novel. She is a writer that wings you off to small towns, with characters you wish we're your real friends. Donna's easy reading style gets you swept up in the story in no time. The scenery is so well crafted that you can see it in your minds eye, feel the weather and wish you could mark it down as a "must visit" in your bucket list. When you are finished she leaves you wanting more. So much more. There is more to learn about the characters and makes you wonder which ones she will feature in her installment of Blue Hollow Falls. The only problem is that you have to wait for the next book!

I loved Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kaufman. Sunshine, “Sunny”, Goodwin is a botanist at USBG, living in Arlington, Virginia, alone since the recent death of the mother she was caretaker for, when she discovers she’s inherited one-third of an old mill from a father she never knew about. Sawyer was adopted by Doyle Bart Hartwell and his former wife Addie as a young child. Neither Addie nor Sawyer knew about Sunny and another sister, ten-year old Bailey, who also inherited a share of the mill. Bailey was abandoned by her mother and lived in foster care until Addie took over that position. The mill is not the only building on the land, there is also a run-down glass greenhouse, over one hundred years old, and that has been left to the elements. Sawyer and Sunny have an attraction that makes both of them glad not to be related by blood.

I highly recommend this outstanding book to other readers. It was difficult for me to put this book down. Ms. Kaufman is a wonderful story teller drawing me into her books, making me forget the world around me. I could visualize the town and its surrounding beauty of the mountains and hills of Blue Hollow Falls through her written word. She created a place where I would love to live, seeing the restoration of the mill. I could even work as a crafter selling the baby blankets (quilts) I sew. This is the first book in a new series and I can’t wait for the next one to be published.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

I could not see how I could fall in love with characters more than I did with those in the Blueberry Cove Series by Donna Kauffman but I think maybe I have with these unconventional ones in Blue Hollow Falls. Sunny and Sawyer’s story is what I hope to be the beginning of a new series. It seems to be so because part of their story is also the background and introduction to the community as well as other characters. That was an enjoyable part of the story as I learned who each person is and how they fit in the life of Sunny, who on the first page thought she had no family left alive.

Speaking of the beginning I loved it, seeing Sunny’s strange new situation from her POV. Later Sawyer gives his. This dual perspective works well in the story. One of the things I really liked is how even though each character has had trials and tribulations in life they were normal, well-adjusted individuals.

It is a romance but also leans towards women’s fiction since the romance is part of the story, not the story. It made the book a fun, humorous and very pleasurable read. I loved getting to know each one. One of the best I have read along these lines. Now I have my fingers crossed for another book real soon.

Oh, this story was so fun and such a great start to a new series!

Sunshine Meadow Aquarius Morrison Goodwin just recently lost her carefree, hippie like mother after a long illness. Sunny also just found out that the father she never knew left her an inheritance; she had a 10 year old half sister, Bailey; and a 72 year old stepmother, Addie. Sawyer Hartwell also got part of the inheritance but she hadn't met him yet and didn't know how they were related.

After leaving the courthouse, they made their way up to the old silk mill in Blue Hollow Falls, VA that Sunny was now part owner of where she instantly fell in love with the site. As they arrived, Sawyer walked out of the barn and Sunny lost her breath...this man was beyond gorgeous. I just loved Sunny's reaction to seeing Sawyer for the first time. Evidently, sparks were flying.

As Sunny tries to get to know her new family, she knows she cannot start anything with Sawyer, even after she finds out they are not related. She needs to be mindful of Bailey and what could possible hurt her. Plus, Sunny's life is in Washington, D.C., not Blue Hollow Falls, VA. As Sunny starts to spend more time with Sawyer, she realizes keeping things platonic isn't working out and they finally decide to take the next step! It was fun how everyone around them was pushing for it to happen and they were the stubborn ones! I just LOVED Seth's "talks" with Sawyer! ;)

I really enjoyed how Sunny finally got her happy ending along with a family that she always wanted. It was a great, emotional journey that I loved being a part of. I just adored Sunny and Sawyer as well as Bailey, Addie Stevie and Seth...and I can't wait for Seth's story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My first to read by Donna Kauffman but It will definitely not be my last. Wonderful storyline, engaging characters. I was hooked from the beginning.

I want to move to Blue Hollow Falls. Good thing it is an imaginary town. I don't want to live where there is snow, etc. anyway. The description of Washington DC is good, too. Fun to revisit the botanical garden. Since I could relate to the protagonist's mother's music and her hippie lifestyle, I could empathize. Interesting inheritance. Lots of characters that will be a delight to follow in the series of books to come. I had to read the preview for the next one as I was eager to see who would be bitten by the romance bug.

3.5 stars

Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman was a beautiful and heartwarming read.

I enjoyed the storyline, it was well written and the plot was entertaining all through out the book. All the characters were likable, relatable and everyone added to my overall enjoyment.

I loved watching the relationships unfold within all the characters, especially between Sunny and Sawyer. Then add Sunny's stepsister Bailey, who was such a smart and endearing little girl, I was very happy to have read Blue Hollow Falls and can't wait for the next book in the series.
[I need to mention while I enjoyed the plot and characters, I did find it a little too descriptive for my tastes. I'm not a reader who needs to be told every little detail to envision a scene. This is my issue and majority of readers wouldn't even notice but I felt I needed to include why my rating wasn't higher due to my overall enjoyment of the book. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, Blue Hollow Falls is a heartwarming read and a lovely start to the Blue Hollow Falls series.

*Purchase Links*
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Amazon http://goo.gl/LicSAH
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*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy*

In just one day life changes for Sunny (who has three middle names) Goodwin. She goes from having no family to having a new half-sister. I loved the setting. The Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia are full of great views and Kauffman puts them to great use. This is a story about choices and what makes a family. Sunny lives near DC. Her new family and her new love interest live in Blue Hollow Falls, three hours away. There does not seem to be a way for things to work out but never give up is also a big part of the story. There are two great main characters and several interesting side characters who look to have great potential for their own HEA in future books. This one is a keeper on the favorites shelf.

I received a free copy of Blue Hollow Falls in return for an honest review.

4.5 - "I wasn't expecting you..." Stars!

Donna Kauffman begins her new Blue Hollow Falls series with some serious style.

IMAGE.

Sunny and Sawyer’s story, grabbed me from the start, but a large part of my enjoyment also came from the introduction of so many likeable secondary characters as well. The author does it so smoothly that it’s like being acquainted with and getting to know people that you grasp pretty quickly are likely to become lifelong friends, with each new book that is released. And all of this story is told around the rebuilding of a derelict Silk Mill, which in itself added even more unique qualities to the locale. But it’s not just the silk mill that gets rebuilt, it’s also the gradual building of a family.

It was comforting to know she wasn’t alone and, at the same time, made it that much harder…

Sunny, discovering that she has a ten year old step-sister she didn’t even know about is pretty much the catalyst that keeps the plot moving alongside the Silk Mill’s renovation in Blue Hollow Falls. A town that is hours away from her home, but one that becomes a second home to her when she finds out that along with her new sister Bailey, she has been bequeathed part ownership in the mill and surrounding land.

Maybe even the biggest sacrifices were worth it…

Initially she’s looking to off-load, cut and run back to her life in D.C. But town stalwart Addie Pearl and ex-wife of her know deceased absentee father, takes Bailey under her wing, dragging Sunny initially unwillingly along with her. But with the mill and the people of Blue Hollow Falls she finds a peace and stability that has been missing from her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to start looking for excuses to spend more time there. It doesn’t hurt that Sawyer Hartwell, who has been like the son Addie never had since early age, is giving good vibes, rocks a tool-belt and is a general all-round (hot and sexy) nice-guy.

"You’re complicated… Doing anything about you, much less with you, would be beyond complicated."

The development of Bailey from the quiet, introverted ten year old little girl who has spent her formative years in the foster care system, into the quirky, happy child as the story progressed was also something that kept the feels on the emotional level, her and Sawyer together at points literally bought tears to my eyes.

"I can make you one promise that I know I can keep"
"What is that?"
"That I will always be honest with you."

This is really the beginning of the building of a non-blood family, it seems that most of the residents that we are introduced to in the telling of the story are transplants from elsewhere as well, and all of them definitely have their own stories just begging to be told too. Seth Brogan is up next in the Christmas novella; The Inn at Blue Hollow Falls I loved his cheeky persona in this book, and as seems to be all the rage right now he is conveniently bearded and man-bunned up as well so will appeal to the masses that’s forsure!

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

A fantastic story to kick-off what should be an exceptional new series. The setting is a small mountain town in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The town is full of delightful quirky characters with a determination to bring the town back to life. The author's writing brought the place to life in my mind.

The main characters in this story are Sunny Goodwin and Sawyer Hartwell. Sunny is a strong independent woman who after caring for her mother for many years now finds herself with a small inheritance from a father she never knew, a ten year old half sister from said father, and a family she never realized she wanted. Sawyer is a war vet who has found his place in Blue Hollow Falls. He has a vision for the old mill Sunny has inherited and he wants to share that vision with Sunny.

An excellent book and one I would recommend to everyone.

I enjoy Donna Kauffman's books and I was happy to see she is starting a new series. She has a great start with this idea of an artist community coming together in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Va. Sunny has inherited a half sister she didn't know existed and a part ownership of an old silk mill when her unknown father dies. When she's deciding what to do she meets Sawyer who is trying to restore the old mill into a working artiste's community. Looking forward to returning to see who's next for a wonderful love story. Lots of great horticultural facts about orchids.

What an excellent beginning to a brand new series. When Sunny comes into an unexpected inheritance not to mention a 10 year old half-sister she isn't quite sure what to do. The old mill that she inherited also comes with other share holders who are already on the road to turning it into something great. Her father's ex-wife and his adopted son Sawyer complicate things for Sunny in an a way she never bargained for. She has to decide does she want to be a part of it all or does she want to just let it go. I loved the fast moving story line and how well it all flowed together. The characters were well developed and the emotional connections they had felt real. It was such a charming read and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I love a good story set in a small town where everyone knows everybody else and it's a tight night community. So I was looking forward to this one, especially with the idyllic setting around it. Sadly the romance was bogged down in details. The history of the mill, the processes, even seemingly mundane things were over described and it detracted from the characters and slow building romance so much that I got bored pretty early on and struggled to make it through. Because of this, it's 1.5 stars from me.

Thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed this story! Have ordered copies for my store and this will be an easy hand-sell - lovely characters, gentle romance and genuinely nice people. Can't wait for the next book!

This was a fun book and I can't wait for the next one. I particularly enjoyed the exchanges between Sunny and Sawyer. It was refreshing to see two main characters who didn't play the typical games.

The secondary characters were featured just enough and didn't take over the story but Bailey kind of stole my heart. I hope there is a happy ending for her.

I received an arc via Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Wow! What a wonderful story about friendship, love and family set in the beautiful small town of Blue Hollow Falls. After reading this heart warming story, I want to move to Blue Hollow Falls myself. I loved the development of Sunny and Sawyer's relationship. It was oh so sweet and cute. There were some sexy times but overall their relationship was more of a realistic and sweet journey for a romance novel. Throw in a cute kid, some well-meaning but meddling friends and you have a really fun love story to read. But, there is a small tissue warning. I was tearing up all over the place while reading this book. There were a lot of moments that really touched my heart. This just goes to show that Donna Kauffman is such a wonderful writer. I enjoyed my time here in Blue Hollow Falls so much and can't wait to see what else this new series has to offer.

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book *

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.5 Hearts It took me quite a few chapters to get into this story. Being it is the first in a new series there was a lot of description and a lot of characters. Because of that the story was slow in the beginning. But once that part is done the story started catching my attention.

But even while I started getting into the story I didn’t feel the connection between the characters. Sunny is an odd duck but seems nice but a bit confused about her life. Sawyer is a good guy but as dreams of grandeur and Bailey is just off.

This story just wasn’t up to Kauffman’s storytelling ability. However, that being said Kauffman is high above most authors. I will be picking up the next in the series, well because it is Kauffman!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.