I adore all of Denise Hunter's writing and, though the plot didn't appeal to me at first, I knew I would read this book simply because she wrote it. While I would not list it as my favorite, it was an enjoyable read. I wish we had gotten more insight into Cruz's background, it felt somewhat lopsided, favoring Zoe's experiences. I did think it set up the next book well, and I am really looking forward to reading Hope and Brady's story!

Blue Ridge Sunrise is the latest novel by Denise Hunter and is the first in the new "Blue Ridge Romance" series.  As a Georgia girl myself, I'm lovin' these books set in my home state! While this is in its own series, I was delighted to find references to the characters from Sweetbriar Cottage and The Wishing Season.  Like any other by Ms. Hunter, I gobbled this up in practically one sitting; it did not disappoint!

Zoe has always felt out of place in her own family.  She went off to pursue music instead of a law degree, fell for the farmer as a teen instead of a rich young businessman or something, and had a baby at nineteen.  Having now returned to her hometown after the death of her grandmother and inheriting her grandmother's peach orchard, what will she do with her second chance? Will she stick with her current overprotective, abusive boyfriend, or is there a second chance with her first love? Will she settle down and run the orchard or continue to pursue fame?

Although this had some similar vibes to Becky Wade's Meant to Be Mine, it became its own story.  Once I got the characters straight, it was fairly predictable, but still worth reading.  It was cute, it was suspenseful, it was southern.  And it oozed charm.  The setting drew me in, obviously, but I stayed in the story because I fell for its characters.  (Having just bought a bunch of peaches to enjoy while reading this story didn't hurt either.)  I really, really enjoyed seeing the characters grow and come out of their shells, learn to forgive and to let go of the past.  This is a story with a lot of heart that you should not miss! 5 stars!

Thank you to Net Galley and to Thomas Nelson 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.

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I love Denise Hunter's books and Blue Ridge Sunset did not disappoint. This book has a great plot and a beautiful setting. The characters are well developed and believable characters. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Good clean romance.

This was a good story but a bit disappointing for me. There was nothing spiritual within this story which was huge disappointment for me. I felt that the I-had-a-baby-but-didn't-tell-my-boyfriend scenario had been done so many times and it wasn't done much differently here. There was no mention that it was against the Lord's design for life or seem to be much regret. I am finding so many 'Christian Fiction' books with no mention of the Lord and no true relationship with Him. How is that even considered to be of the Christian Fiction genre?

Denise Hunter fans might recognize the town of Copper Creek from Sweetbriar Cottage, but never fear, one doesn’t need to read that book to understand this one and its characters. Zoe returns home to Copper Creek for the first time in five years for her beloved grandmother’s funeral. And she expects to step out just as quickly as she can.

But she doesn’t count on the legacy her grandma leaves her. She stands up for herself with her controlling boyfriend and decides to stay in Copper Creek—only to discover that she’ll have to work closely with the man who broke her heart.

Readers will cheer Zoe on as she discovers how she has let others make decisions for her and decides to stand on her own two feet to find her true self once again. This entails trying to forage an adult relationship with her estranged father and run a business that her grandma held dear.

She also has to decide if she wants to forgive the father of her young daughter and explore a relationship she thought had ended the night she left Copper Creek.

Because of more mature themes, I wouldn’t hand this book to a younger teenager, but girls 16 and above will relate with the choices and decisions that Zoe made and learn from the healthy way she decides to work through the consequences.

This book was fantastic it's about Zoe going back home with regrets and secrets and finding out everything she knew about herself was being tested. was there a way for her to find her way back to the person she use to be or was she going to hurt herself even more by not believing in herself?

well written good read

Blue Ridge Sunrise is the first book in Denise Hunter's Blue Ridge series. In this book we get introduced to Zoe and Cruz and their friends and family. This book focuses on Zoe and Cruz. Zoe was madly and love with Cruz as a teenager five years earlier. She left abruptly from their town breaking Cruz's heart. She only returned to the town because her beloved grandmother had died, leaving Zoe her orchard. In the time that Zoe had been gone she now has a young child and a controlling boyfriend. She decides to stay there and manage the farm much to chagrin of her boyfriend.
There are some rocky roads ahead as secrets are reveal.

I was pleasantly surprised to this book has a bit of suspense in it being that suspense is my favorite genre. Someone does not want Zoe to succeed in the orchard business but who could it be? I was pleased at how the book ended.

There were some clues in the book as to who the next hero and heroine will be. I'm thinking it could be her brother Brad and her best friend Hope. It will be next year before the book is released and I can't wait. Blue Ridge Sunrise is due to be released on November 7, 2017. Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Company for providing me a digital copy of this book to read and review.