Denise Hunter never fails to deliver! Emotionally charged and suspenseful, I couldn’t put Blue Ridge Sunrise down until I turned the last page. Our leading lady is one stubborn girl (ahem, I can relate) and she bears the consequences for her decisions as we journey through from her 15 year old self to her wiser 24 year old self. Amidst the interesting business challenges surrounding the orchard and the lovely romance that runs throughout, what resonates for me is the reminder to value oneself for who God made one, we are defined neither by our failures or our successes but by His love. Though fictional, I love the thread of the scripture “God works all things for good” which is the backbone of this story, redemptive hope flows throughout. A warning: with the many descriptions of peaches and their accompanying delicious recipes, don’t be surprised if this one leaves you hungry! I thoroughly enjoyed it, 5 out of 5, and can’t wait for the next one from Denise Hunter.

I would not put this book in the category of Christian fiction. There is too much secular issues and very little seeking God or faith. Violence in front of a four year old and talking about adult issues in front of her was too much. Many things were left to wonder, such as why Zoe's father treats his children the way he does. Hopefully in the next book things will become clearer.

I had mixed feelings about this book. At points I liked it, reading about Cruz and Zoe getting another chance. But at other points, I didn't really like it, as scenes moved from one to the other so quickly. Because a chunk of the book was written when they were in high school or just out of high school, it felt more like a young adult novel to me. Even for the rest of the book, they were in their early to mid-twenties. The faith aspect of the book was very minimal which was alright except that it felt nonchalant and only cropped up when the characters were in trouble mostly. However, I liked that I got to see their past relationship instead of just reading about it from what they reveal in the present.

Blue Ridge Sunrise was such a fun book to read. The main characters were either easy to love or easy to hate. This look pleasantly took me by surprise. When reading the cover I was excited to start reading, but if I would’ve only known what I was in store for I would’ve started sooner. It was almost impossible to put the book down once I started and I loved every minute. This book follows Zoe and Cruz as the present collides with the past. Young love is one of a kind, but does that make it any less real?

When Zoe’s beloved grandmother passes away, Zoe knows she has to go home. Planning on leaving right away, her world is turned upside down when she finds out her grandma left her the orchard. Her boyfriend Kyle can’t wait to get out of town, but this is something she feels she needs to do. The orchard was always like home to her, and selling it to the highest bidder doesn’t feel right. Being near Cruz, her first love, is not going to be easy. Can they work together for the good of the orchard?

This book was so good. The story had many unexpected twists and turns and I loved being taken by surprise. This isn’t your everyday second chance type of story, and that made me love it all the more. I enjoyed seeing Cruz faith when it showed up here and there. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Fiction. There was some edge of your seat suspense moments that might have made me read a little faster to see what happened. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing. I was in no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Blue Ridge Sunrise
By: Denise Hunter
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

In this absolutely emotionally charged book by Denise Hunter she’ll take us on the most intense love story. This is my fist book by this and I’m so glad I read it. I’ve added part of the authors blurb simply because authors usually describe it best when capturing new readers. I’m someone who doesn’t give away story lines but my feelings will be after the blurb.

Blurb: When Zoe returns home with her daughter and boyfriend Kyle, she finds that she’s the only person in town who doesn’t expect her to give up the life she’s established far away from Copper Creek. Everyone believes she was born to run the orchard, but how can she make it her home after so many years?

Cruz Huntley never quite got over his first love, Zoe Collins, the little sister of his best friend Brady. Not when she cheated on him during their “break,” not when she took off to parts unknown with good-for-nothing Kyle Jenkins, and not even now—five years later.

Let me start by saying this book is so well written and easy to fallow it was easy to get into the story. The character development and love triangle were perfect often they drag on so long it’s easy to become disinterested. I liked the way the author made them work for their HEA it made it so much better. Highly recommend to anyone it’s a bit on the innocent side in parts and it was refreshing.

I received this book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

Blue Ridge Sunrise is the first book I’ve read by Denise Hunter, but it’s certainly not the last. I love the character development, and the well-defined aspects of their lives.
The seamless transitions from present to past, then back to present time, was well done. Kudos to the author!
Romance, intrigue, and plot twists abound in Blue Ridge Sunrise. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I was surprised. This book is a real page turner.

The main character, Zoe, slowly realizes how she has allowed herself to regress from a free-spirited and strong teenager, to a meek, insecure woman. Her personal growth throughout the story is painful, confusing and at times, infuriating. There were several instances where I wanted to shake sense into her. That being said, I adore her as a mother, and I absolutely fell in love with her four-year-old daughter.

Her former love interest, Cruz, is a wounded soul—and it was her that caused his pain, though she is completely unaware of it. Then she ends up adding insult to injury by keeping a secret from him.

In addition, Cruz broke her heart years ago--and, he was unaware he did so.

I kind of rolled my eyes about that whole thing.

Other than that tiny aspect, it really is an enjoyable read. I honestly lost a lot of sleep because I couldn’t put this book down. The fast-paced ending left me breathless. I loved it! The triangle between Zoe, Kyle, and Cruz is full of dramatic action.


The relationship between Zoe and her father is strained. I would have loved to see them work things out. Sadly, that wasn’t the case in this instance. (Talking about relationships, I adore the touching one which develops between Zoe’s daughter and Cruz.)


Zoe’s spiritual growth was subtly beautiful. Blue Ridge Sunrise is a clean read, Though the book deals with adult relationships, love scenes are left to the imagination, and any violence is explicit enough to depict conflict without being overly graphic. All in all, this a well-balanced and tastefully written story.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. This was an enjoyable story. I like books where there is a somewhat strong female character finds her backbone and her life's destiny. Zoe did all of that in this book while removing herself from abusive relationship and becoming what she was meant to be. I look forward to the remaining books in this series!

Denise Hunter delivers another must-read inspirational novel. Blue Ridge Sunrise is a well written and fast-paced story of second chances, mistakes redeemed, and lost love found. Zoe and Cruz's love story begins on a fragile foundation of secrets and insecurities. Hurt feelings, miscommunication, and people feeding them lies all contribute to their break up. This story is their journey back to each other. The author weaves a believable story with a wonderful cast of characters especially the adorable Gracie. This story addresses that life is messy and everyone carries baggage from difficult relationships, unmet needs, and loss but with God's love we can find out who we really are, what we are made of and what He calls us to. I am thankful for books like this one where I can escape into a wonderful story but return to reality equipped with a great understanding of God's love and forgiveness.

Blue Ridge Sunrise is honestly one of the hardest books I've ever personally reviewed. I was highly anticipating it, partly because of how much I've loved the previous books by Denise Hunter I've read, and partly because the synopsis about a second chance romance, and the setting of a peach orchard really appealed to me. However, I didn't find myself enjoying this one quite as much as I was expecting to, and overall, it was a bit of a disappointment in my eyes.

I've always loved when inspirational authors are able to write about characters that aren't perfect. After all, no one is perfect, and why should we expect Christians or Christian characters to be any different. There is however a line between being imperfect, and being too influenced by secular notions in society, and I'm sad to say this one crossed a lot of those lines for me.

Zoe left home several years ago with the town bad boy Kyle, and hasn't had a lot of contact with anyone since. Her father wanted to mold her into someone she wasn't, and the love of her life, Cruz, turned against her in her moment of need. Returning with her daughter and Kyle in tow for her beloved Grandmother's funeral, Zoe expects the trip to be a quick detour from her regular life. However, she's unprepared for her grandmother's will listing her as heir to the family's beloved peach orchard, or for her friends and family to be close witnesses to Kyle's abusive behavior. Left alone with her daughter, an orchard that's struggling to make ends meet, and a broken spirit, it's going to take a lot of faith and hard work for Zoe to pull her life together again, especially when she finds out that her former boyfriend, and the man she never truly got over, is the acting manager of her peach orchard. Zoe's been keeping secrets from Cruz, from her brother Brady, and even from her best friend Hope, and her life is about to take a nosedive that she never could have ever predicted.

Zoe was unfortunately a character that I never personally connected with. I found a lot of her problems to be of her own making, and it was frustrating watching her make the same bad choices again and again, even when the people that cared about her the most were trying their best to help her get her life back on track. I did for the most part like Cruz's character, although some of his tendencies still got on my nerves, especially how easily he believed that Zoe wanted nothing to do with him, despite her insisting otherwise. However, I could have got past these issues with both main characters, and my issues with their romance. My biggest problem with this novel overall was the lack of the faith element. Neither Zoe or Cruz seemed to be that concerned with their relationship with God for the majority of the book, and there never seemed to be that a-ha moment that made them finally wake up to His grace. While I definitely still read lots of secular books, and find myself enjoying them, it's not what I expect when I pick up an inspirational book, and it was just a tad disappointing to see.

Aside from the overall lack of faith based content, I was also a little put off by the way pre-marital sex is handled in the overall story, and also, the way that Zoe just bounces back from her abusive relationship without ever seeking out help for the many years she lived in such a destructive situation. While I honestly expected to love this one, it fell short of my expectations. I did enjoy the setting, several of the secondary characters like Brady and Hope, and Denise Hunter's "pull you into the story from the start" writing style , but the rest of the book fell short of what I was anticipating, and definitely wasn't the five star read I was expecting.

I gave this one three out of five stars, but I am still planning to continue on with the series, especially if the next book ends up being Hope and Brady's story. I still encourage everyone to give it a chance, I just forewarn you that it's not without it's fair share of problems, and you're going to have to pick through some content that might be a tad different from other inspirational novels.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the opportunity to have read this! And thanks to all you guys for taking the time to read my review :)

I love all of Denise's books and Blue Ridge Sunrise did not disappoint! It's a story of redemption and of living in the present while also dealing with the consequences of the past. I wasn't too sure what to think about Zoe at first but I soon grew to love her and realised that she felt broken and unsure how to handle the challenges she was facing. Cruz was someone who had been hurt deeply in the past and pretended like he was over Zoe and moving on with his life but in reality he wasn't. It was great to see these two characters reconnect and see what God had in store for them. Life rarely goes to plan and this book showed it perfectly and how sometimes where God leads us can be better than expected.
The story was a delight to read and I loved how Denise incorporated the past with the present so you could see the whole story. I wasn't quite sure where the book was going at times but it was a great read and left me wanting more!
If you are after a page turner filled with surprises and love then this book is for you!

One thing I love about Denise Hunter is she knows how to write books that get into the gritty parts of life that aren't so pretty. Her books bring out the not so pretty and the sometimes hopeless parts but she also shows how those not so pretty things can turn into beautiful things through love and faith. Hunter's books always feel like a journey that end in the best sort of satisfaction for me.

Cruz and Zoe have quite the history. It unfolds slowly throughout that book as the two try to navigate a new reality of working together after years spent apart. They parted after some big misunderstandings which provide for some major bumps in the road as they try to come to terms with what happened. Cruz and Zoe are imperfect people. Their flaws are obvious but so are their strengths. It makes them feel human and easy to relate to.

I loved the light suspense and the added tension it brought as I just waited for that "something" to happen that I knew was coming.

I enjoyed this book a lot! I read through it quickly and found myself caring about the characters. The pacing is great. I really hope Zoe's brother gets his story next! :)

Content: mild violence, mentions of sex outside of marriage with no details, kissing. Light Christian fiction elements.

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Denise Hunter has been one of my favorite authors since I was a teenager. I don't know quite why, but I haven't connected with her last couple books the way I usually do. I can see how this would appeal to many readers and it's not a terrible book by any means. I enjoyed it for the most part. I just didn't connect with the characters or feel moved by their story the way I have generally come to expect from Ms. Hunter's works. Which is fine. Can't expect to love every single book by an author. I hope this book touches many other readers the way her previous works have impacted me. I am still a life long fan and will still always pick up her next release.

I love every single thing about this book—the title, town, plot, characters, suspense, romance, gorgeous cover art, and the talented author!

Blue Ridge Sunrise is one of my favorite books of 2017! I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Denise Hunter, and even though it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite, this one is definitely in the running!

If you enjoy second chance romances, romantic suspense, or women’s fiction, I’m certain you’ll enjoy this book. Cooper Creek is a charming town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and takes you back to a simpler time. Zoe Collins is easy to sympathize with and even easier to cheer on! Cruz Huntley is a hunky and swoon-worthy hero, with a heart of gold that beats only for her.

I was totally immersed in this story from the very beginning, and when the story neared its end I couldn’t read fast enough. Great pacing! Once again, Denise Hunter delivers a fabulous story with a magnificent build-up, an unforgettable romance, and a soul-satisfying end.

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 336
First Lines: Zoe Collins never expected to step foot in Copper Creek again. But the one thing that could bring her back had happened.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.

Denise Hunter has write another 5 star book!This is a wonderful second chance story of Zoe and Cruz.. It was hard to put down and you won't be disappointed.

I was looking forward to this book but I have to confess, I was a tad disappointed.
The story centers around Zoe and Cruz, a couple with a history . But their young love doesn’t last. Zoe leaves town with another man.
She returns 5 years later to attend her grandmother’s funera.. She returns with a child and her boyfriend.
Though the descriptions of the orchard and the characters were interesting, I never felt engaged with either the characters or the storyline. The storyline seemed a repeat of other stories.
Will I remember the book next week? Probably not.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I'm thrilled that this is the start of a new series by Denise Hunter. And what a start it is! Plenty of twists and turns, action, family strife, friendship, and of course, romance. I would have liked a little more development of Zoe's relationship with God but overall a very enjoyable read.

Denise Hunter usually writes sweet books of small town life and romance. I found that Blue Ridge Sunrise didn't fit the "sweet" description. Too many of the books I have read lately have only given "ink service" to faith within the narrative and its characters. This one in particular didn't seem to give that much word space to faith, but I do have to admit I didn't finish the book. When the kissing scenes become R rated, I'll put the book down and move on. I can get my own R rated kisses in real life. I don't need to know how the hero "punished her lips" or how it was the best kiss she'd ever received. I've read some of Denise's other books and enjoyed them, but this one missed my mark.

Two Stars.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review this book.

As is often the case with Denise Hunter’s work, I was eager to read this novel. Second chance romance is one of my favorite tropes, and it was even more interesting because it included a super adorable child. In my opinion, it makes for a richer, more complex story when either the hero or heroine is a single parent. I applaud the author for introducing a Puerto Rican hero (it’s wonderful to see a nod to more diverse characters in inspirational fiction), and I really liked that both characters were flawed and had to deal with their mistakes.
The spiritual element was light, which seems to be on trend for the industry lately. There was almost little mention of faith until halfway through the novel, then it ramped up as the stakes got higher. The over-arching theme of giving up control/pride/resistance and submitting to God’s will will resonate with both seasoned Christians and readers new to the faith.
No spoilers here, of course, but I thought the suspense elements of the novel were interesting, although a bit predictable. It seemed strange to me that the heroine couldn't recognize the antagonist for what he was.
I also thought the reasons for Zoe leaving town and Cruz letting her go were a bit weak. Their justification for not saying certain things and/or believing information gleaned from others didn’t seem plausible given the way they behaved throughout the rest of the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions stated here are my own.

I quite enjoyed this - but it's patchy. The romance is quite good, but the suspense element felt rushed and a bit tacked on, and the Christian element was really...odd. I'm not a big reader of Christian/inspiration romances, but the faith element in this didn't seem to be integrated enough into the story. I read the sampler for this in Buzzbooks Romance and requested the novel off the back of that - and didn't realise from the sampler that this was meant to be a Christian romance. When the faith elements do turn up they just drop into the text in a way that feels jarring.

Slightly spoilery but important Side note: As the H and h have premarital sex which results in a (secret) baby, and in the interim the heroine has been dating/living with/touring with another guy this may not be what some readers of Christian romances are after.

The storyline in this book isn’t a new one. But Hunter does put her own spin on things. I reallly liked how the book was split into three parts and she used the middle part to flashback to when Zoe and Cruz were young. It opened my eyes to a lot.

But truthfully I found myself more drawn to secondary characters than the main characters. I’m very much looking forward to when Hope and Brody get their own book because it is sure to be full of sparks.

That being said I didn’t dislike Zoe and Cruz I just didn’t fall in love with them. I was actually pretty annoyed with Zoe for pretty much all of the book. But that was just me. I honestly felt like even though her life hadn’t been easy that things just wrapped up too neatly for her in this story.

I did like Cruz. He isn’t my new favorite Denise Hunter hero but I did like him. He seemed to have a really good work ethic and that is one of my favorite qualities in a guy. He also seemed to really care about the people in his life. I especially loved watching him with Zoe’s daughter.

Unfortunately the story just didn’t draw me in like I’m used to with her books. I wasn’t as hooked on the relationships or the characters. But as I mentioned earlier I’m already hooked on the secondary characters so I’m looking forward to what book 2 will bring.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher though NetGalley. All opinions are my own.