3.5☆
Enjoyed it
This is my first book by Donna Kauffman.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Blue Hollow Falls
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

This is the story of Seth and Pippa. Seth is a newly minted vintner and Pippa is a world famous folk musician. They end up together in the small town of Blue Falls Hollow, Viginia and the rest is history.
This was an excellent read. I liked how the story centred on relationships, and not just the central romantic one. These relationships are all deep, well rounded and satisfying.
While the male lead is not my type physically, he is all one could want emotionally. He is strong, reliable, and honest.
The setting of this book is another of it's strengths. The reader quickly falls in love with the people who inhabit this town. The old widower who doles out sage advice when he says anything. The community is wonderful and makes the reader wish she was there.
Finally, I really liked how the story was realistic. There was a slow build-up even with the strong chemistry present and there were problems, but there was also communication, so you don't get all the pointless drama, but rather a lovely story.
I would recommend this book for anyone who likes small town romance, music or a man bun:)

Though Bluestone and Vine is the second book of the Blue Hollow Falls series, it works a stand-alone story.

The main character, Pippa MacMillan, is a feisty, independent, Irish folk singer. Due to a catastrophe onstage, she stays out of the limelight to recover. She house-swaps with her sister’s friend for a quiet, private cabin in the mountains of Virginia. With tabloids following her every move, Pippa grabs the opportunity.

Seth Brogan, a former special forces solder turned vinter, is the owner of the private cabin, and brother of the other end of the house-swap, discovers his sister has "volunteered" him to have Pippa stay at his home for eight weeks. Within moments after his discovery, Pippa shows up in the midst of a snowstorm.

I was captured at once. Both characters are likeable. Pippa’s bouncy attitude made me chuckle, especially when she awkwardly curtseys. However, underneath, she is dealing with a lot of uncertainty and life-changing decisions.

Seth is a hulk of a man, intent on bringing an old vineyard back to life, and quite content to live alone. He’s kind, giving and private—the latter now being invaded by Pippa.

Right from the start, there’s no denying the attraction between the two. Throughout this endearing story everyone in the town is invested (aka endearingly nosey) in Pippa and Seth’s friendship. Those closest to Seth encourage him to stop getting in the way of his own happiness. Actually, Pippa is in the way of her happiness as well. They both seem to be more concerned with the drawbacks of their logistics than the closeness of their hearts.

The community is chock full of fun characters. Mabry, the old man, is my favorite. There are several others who portrayed the closeness of a small town. Everyone embraces Pippa, and keeps her shielded from the adoring public and tabloids she fled from.

Never once did this story lag. I couldn’t put this book down. What happens to this charming Irish folk singer next? Can Pippa trust her voice … as well as her heart? And what about mountain-man Seth Brogan? Will he remain a part of her life when she goes back to Ireland?

The answers and so much more are within the pages. The descriptions of the countryside and residents become “real” and the storyline makes one “feel” --Two of the best qualities a book can hold.

Be sure to read Bluestone and Vine. Pippa, Seth, and the myriad of charming residents of this mountain town are sure to capture your heart.

Unbeknownst to Seth his sister has agreed to do a house swap with her best friends sister. She wants to go abroad for some much needed alone time so she can study for the bar and her friends sister, a famous singer, needs to get away and think about her career. You see Pippa had to have throat surgery and even though things have heeled she is a bit scared of singing, she can't get the fear of her vocal cords rupturing again out of her head. Seth isn't happy with his sister when he learns of the swap and decides that he will just have to come up with an alternative plan for his new house guest. When they meet there is instant attraction and neither knows just now to deal with it. Seth likes being alone, he has been working hard on getting the vineyard he owns running, and he's not ready to change the status quo. Follow along as these two skirt around each other and fall in love even though the do their best not to let that happen. This was such a touching and heartfelt read, I laughed at Pippa's antics, cried when things happened that I didn't expect and fell in love with the romance that happened along the way. Who wouldn't fall in love with a story like theirs?

Bluestone & Vine is a very well written romance. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the Blue Ridge Mountain setting. The characters are well developed and believable. Donna Kaufmann always delivers a good read.

Very interesting story with well developed characters. People handling life's problem and helping others. Can true love overcome all odds.

Pippa and Seth's story is beautifully interwoven with their families and communities. Life is not easy or simply, Joy however can be found in so many unexpected places. I always look forward to Donna Kauffman's books. She is a wonderful storyteller.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it won't be the last. Wow! I could not put this down once I started reading it. The setting is gorgeous with descriptions by the author that made me feel like I was right there in the beautiful little town nestled in the hills. I could almost smell the pines trees and hear the falls roaring along with the characters. The main characters are delightful, well- developed, and real. The emotions the author brings to the story are so genuine that I found myself crying and laughing along with the characters throughout the book. This story has it all in my opinion; romance, alpha males, sadness, joy, laughter, a llama with an attitude, and much more. I highly recommend this book and I will definitely be reading more books by Donna Kauffman.

I love Donna Kauffman’s books and jump at the chance to read every single one! This latest book lives up the promise of all her prior books. Ms. Kauffman knows how to tell a story that will tug on your heartstrings and leave you sighing happily at the end.
Seth Brogan left the military and moved to the mountains of Virginia to get away from the noise and find some peace. He bought a vineyard in shoddy condition with some interesting animals and is working at making his life a success. He doesn’t expect his youngest sister to volunteer his home as a swap for an Irish singer. He understands his sister’s need to get away, but would have liked a little more notice than a phone call five minutes before his new houseguest shows up. One look at her and Seth knows he’s in trouble.
Pippa MacMillan may be a famous folk singer, but right now she is just looking for a quiet place away from her fame. Pippa had a devastating throat injury almost a year ago and hasn’t sung since. She hopes that time in the mountains of Virginia might be the best way to find her music again and to get over her fear of singing. Once she meets the man who is supposed to be her host, Pippa knows that she might be in over her head.
Watching Pippa and Seth fight their growing attraction to each other and deal with their own demons makes this story so wonderful. Added to these two are the many residents of Blue Hollow Falls who not only make Pippa feel at home, but find delight in sticking their noses into this budding relationship. Things may not be smooth between the two but the heat is palpable. I loved seeing them become closer. They do have to deal with the fact that Pippa lives in Ireland and Seth is bonded to the land he owns in Virginia.
Fans of Ms. Kauffman will love this story. New readers will get a real sense of her as a writer. This may be the second book in the Blue Hollow Falls series, but it can stand on its own. Characters overlap, but you don’t need to know their story to appreciate Pippa and Seth’s.

Third in the Blue Hollow Falls series.
In this novel Seth finds his forever love. Irish singer Pippa MacMillan needs a place to heal after a traumatic injury to her vocal chords and Seth's sister volunteers him to host her. Her attitude and demeanor win over the entire town as she rediscovers herself.
Seth was immediately drawn to her, but refused to risk his heart....until he realized she already had it.
Beautifully written descriptions of the area, people and the reasons the act as they do, draw you in quickly and deeply and when it's over, you are grateful there are more people in the town to find mates for and know there'll be another.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC to peruse and enjoy.

Pippa MacMillan is famous Irish folk singer but because of a recent vocal surgery, she has not performed for over a year. Wanting to get away from everything and hide out in a place where no one knows her, Pippa agrees to her sister Katie's plan where she goes to the US, while Katie's old college roommate, Moira "Mouse" Brogan comes and stays at Pippa's place in Ireland. Now, Moira just needs to let her big brother, Seth know that he is going to have a guest at his vineyard in Blue Hollow Falls, Virginia for a few months.

Seth Brogan left the military and is trying start a new life for himself, away from his crazy Irish family, in Virginia. He bought an old vineyard with the hopes of turning it into a profitable income. Seth is excited to hear from his little sister Mouse, except when she suddenly informs him that he will be having a guest for few months, oh, and guess what....she just showed up....literally crashing into his life! Seth reluctantly agrees to this arrangement.

Pippa is so full of life, while Seth is much more quiet and reserved. As these two try to manage being together, along with the fun way of life in Blue Hollow Falls, things start to heat up. It takes a huge leap of faith for Seth and Pippa who are from two different countries to let down their guard and just be happy. I just adored the road they had to travel to get to their happy ending. Donna Kauffman writes such wonderfully, strong characters and takes them on a journey that will make you laugh, swoon and cry. I did not want the book to end as I was reading it because it was that good! Awesome job! Highly recommend!

Bluestone & Vine is part of a series by Donna Kauffman that begins with Blue Hollow Falls.... so of course I had to go back and read that first!

This romance series is set in a charming little village in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Hollow Falls is a small, close-knit community, where someone always has your back… and usually knows your business! It’s a community rich in arts and crafts, with a huge artisan center, lots of live music, and the like.

One of the main characters in Bluestone & Vine, Seth, was introduced in the series’ first book, so I was looking forward to learning more about him. Seth is a former Army Ranger from a huge Irish family, who after leaving the service has settled in a brand new place (near an Army buddy, Sawyer, whose story is told in the first book). Seth’s new plan is to open and run a winery, the titular Bluestone & Vine.

The story introduces a new character, Pippa MacMillan. Pippa is a major star on the Irish folk music scene, dealing with a blow to her career and in desperate need of a quiet getaway. Through a home swap engineered by Seth’s sister, Pippa ends up in the quiet village of Blue Hollow Falls. At Seth’s house… which he learns on the very morning she arrives!

Seth and Pippa learn quickly that there are sparks between them, but they (one of them in particular!) try hard to ignore it and put some distance between them. Eventually they admit to their feelings but have to face the reality of their very different homes and lives. In the meantime, Pippa has to find her voice and her music again… can Seth, and the people of Blue Hollow Falls, help her do that?


When I read the first book in the series, I thought it was cute, but I really liked this second book, Bluestone & Vine. Somehow I related to the characters more, and I thought they were well developed. I loved Pippa… she was spirited, big hearted, and an open book for the most part. The whole town fell for her and I can see why… I would have wanted to hang out with her too! (Although instead of the tiny, feisty red-haired Irish lass she’s written as, I kept picturing Pippa Middleton. Oh well.) And Seth? Well, what’s not to love about a man described as a huge, gorgeous Viking throwback with a heart just as big? (Picturing Chris Hemsworth as Thor? Me too.) Together, you really rooted for them to figure things out… it was clear they had not only chemistry, but also a fun loving affection that added a whole additional layer to the mix.

All in all, it was a fun story that I would recommend if you’re a romance reader. Like I said, I hadn’t read anything by Donna Kauffman before, but I will certainly be taking a look at her other books.

Bluestone & Vine will be released June 26th, and you can pre-order it now. If you want to start at the beginning, Blue Hollow Falls is a quick read and is already available.

You can see my full review at http://thebiblioblonde.com/2018/05/29/book-notes-bluestone-vine-by-donna-kauffman/

Bluestone and Vine by Donna Kauffman is my third novel by this author. What a wonderful return to Blue Hollow Falls! It was like visiting old friends and making new ones in the process. Ms. Kauffman is a writer that easily wings you off to small towns with characters that you wish were your real friends. Her character development is outstanding. The easy reading style of this author gets you swept up the story in no time. The authors deliciously descriptive settings make you feel that you are actually in this wonderful place called Blue Hollow Falls.

Like Ms. Kauffman’s other books you get a heartwarming tale of love, family and relationships. There is a continuing theme of going after what you want then working out the logistics later rather than giving up without ever taking the risk. For me, this story ended too soon. There is always the feeling of wanting more. I wonder which characters will be featured in her next installment of the Blue Hollow Falls novels? This, without a doubt, can be a stand alone read but I would encourage all readers to pick-up the other Blue Hollow Falls novels. Ms. Kauffman gives us a tease at a novella for Christmas that will be published sometime toward the fall. My only complaint is that I have to wait for the next book! Well Done!

I could not get into this book. I loved Blue Hollow Falls and the novella and was very much looking forward to this one. I found Pippa extremely annoying and Seth was not much better. For some reason his beard and long hair was a turn off for me. I will continue to read this series but I am very glad I am finished with this book.

This is the third book I have read in this series, and each one has been a delight to read. I have to also mention the covers, as I do love a good book cover, and the ones in this series just draw me in every time, they're so lovely and inviting.

This time we meet Pippa, an Irish folk singer, who has had major trouble with her voice recently and is recovering from an operation. She is very famous in Europe, but not so much in the US, so when the opportunity arises to swap houses with her sister's best friend (Moira) she agrees to the break and hops on a plan 'across the pond' to spend time thinking about her career and recovering.

But the swap wasn't exactly what she had initially thought, as she was actually staying in Moira's brother's house in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and it was sort of dumped upon Seth that Pippa was arriving at his house literally when Pippa was driving a snowplough onto his property!

Pippa was such a lovely happy character that she quickly made friends with everyone in and around Blue Hollow Falls, especially as the place reminded her of her small village back home in Ireland. It was lovely to catch up with characters in the previous books too.

There was an immediate attraction between Seth and Pippa, but because of the circumstances (i.e. she was only there for a certain period of time) they resisted at first, but as the townsfolk were meddling a bit they decided that life was too short and to enjoy the moment while it was there, knowing that it would have to end at some point.

Pippa hadn't sung since her operation, and wasn't 'feeling the music' anymore, but of course being in Blue Hollow Falls eventually relaxed her into feeling more secure and things slowly changed. The ending was just so lovely and I definitely shed a few tears of happiness!

I really love this series as there's just some really great strong characters in it, along with baby goats and a fabulous Llama called Dex, and is set in the beautiful sounding Blue Hollow Falls and the Artists Centre set in an old mill, a fairly remote community but where everyone looks out for one another. One of those places I'd love to live in. Long may this series continue. Please, please can we have Will's story next!

Wow! What a sweet and emotional story. Loved the development of Seth's and Pippa's relationship. The chemistry was there from the beginning but they tried to deny it and decided to focus on their camaraderie. It was really sweet how comfortable they were with one another from the start. They were just so cute together. This story really had me feeling all the feels. Loved it so much.

I had forgotten how much I love Donna Kauffman books. Pippa was an Irish singer who blew out her vocal cords on stage and is afraid to sing again. She trades houses with Seth's sister who needs to study for the bar exam in CA. Seth is a vet who bought a vineyard and is trying to make it work. He inherited a llama and is helping some neighbors kids raise goats and sheep. The last thing he wants is a woman in the way. They find each other attactive but fight it as she will be going back to Ireland and why start something that can't go anywhere. There are so many good scenes in this book, I just loved it. Both of them had to learn some life lessons to go on with their lives. I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

What a fun entry in the Blue Hollow Falls world. Seth and Pippia suited each other and their story moved along at a believable pace. It was also nice to catch up with the other residents of Blue Hollow Falls.

#Bluestone&Vine #NetGalley

Seth and Pippa were fun characters to read about. I enjoyed this new saga in Ms. Kauffman's series. She writes a loving story not just from a romantic perspective but also the friendships she develops with secondary characters.

The latest Blue Hollow Falls book sees winery owner Seth meet Irish folk singer Pippa when she swaps houses with Seth’s sister Moira.