Absolutely loved this book! This series is a true escape to VA for me. There was a great mix of love, suspense, and just really great story telling. So many charecters that can still be explored and written about I can not wait for the next book!
If you are looking to fall in love with a beautiful escape town, this is your series! This one is Will's story. He has played a part in every book up to this one where he is the focus. I wonder who will be next?

Tragedy has affected their lives years ago and forever. The problem is how to deal with your grief. Do you bury it or do you work through it and come out the other side? Donna Kauffman returns to Blue Hollow Falls for the third time with Lavender Blue. A story of coming through your grief and finding love once again even when you think your not going to.

Hannah Montgomery and her 3 friends have moved to Blue Hollow Falls to start over after tragedy has affected their lives. They're taking over an inherited Lavender farm and starting a lavender based product business and tearoom. Wilton (Will) McCall is the local stone mason who's working on their chimneys. Hannah and Will are attracted to each other but haven't acted on it because of their pasts. When a chimney collapses and Will protects Hannah the sparks start to fly and a friendship starts up. She helps him out by picking up his son. Hannah is cautious about meeting the boy because of her past. Will's son is a great kid and she soon is as involved with the son as the father. As they get to know each other She works out what happened to Will's wife by the few things that have been said. When he confides in her about his late wife, she helps him deal with his grief. Hannah has a rough moment with her own grief and reveals her past to him. The launch party to introduce their new business takes off and is a huge success. Hannah and Will decide that they should go on a date. They end up sleeping with each other and she gets worried when their has been no contact made for 3 days. A young friend of the son gets Will involved in an old hobby he had. He starts coming out of the walls he'd put around himself. A mutual friend brings them together so they can talk through their feelings. They begin a relationship. All is going well except for the fact that Hannah can't spend time with Will and his son together, only separately. It worries them both. Hannah is painting when a storm blows in. Will's son shows up to take care of some sheep. A lightning strike causes an accident that Hannah must deal with. She realizes what is holding her back with Will and his son. Will and Hannah tell each other they love the other. Will surprises his son at a performance. Hannah and her friends are their to cheer the McCall men on.

Lavender Blue is a sweet loving story of a life lived after grief and how everyone handles it differently. Two people who never thought to find love again come together like they were always meant to be. They wonder if the grief will stop them from being together. And if you really love someone you can work through your problems to find a solution. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Blue Hollow Falls series. Who next to find the love of their lives? Return to Blue Hollow Falls, Virginia and find out.

It’s been a long while since I’ve read such a poignant story. In fact, I read a good deal of this book through teary eyes. I couldn’t help it. What is more sad than a woman who’s lost her son falling in love with a man and his teenage son, who lost their wife/mother?

Hannah has recently moved to the mountains of Virginia with three of her friends, all of them mourning the loss of someone close to them. Vivi is in her 60s, Cheyanne is late 20s, and Avery’s in her early 20s. Hannah is somewhere in her 30s. These four ladies, all at different stages of their life have purchased a lavender farm, and will each be responsible for a different part of making the farm profitable. But before they can do that, the main house on the farm is in need of massive repairs.

Enter stonemason, Will, hired for repairs around the house. He’s quiet and a bit mysterious, and totally hunky. He catches the eye of Hannah, but she’s not sure how to spark a friendship with him. When it does finally happen, Will is able to admit to himself that his interest in Hannah is more than just friendship, and together they commit to navigating a new life through their painful pasts.

There were several things I liked about this story. I loved how Will didn’t spend an exorbitant amount of time debating whether or not he was ready to move on. His wife had been gone for over ten years, so he knew it was time. He knew it was okay for him to be with someone else. He didn’t even spend much time debating whether or not his son would be okay with him having someone in his life. That’s not to say he didn’t consider any of those things, because he did. Because he needed to. Because he would. But he had his thoughts, then opened himself up being with Hannah.

I loved how level headed these characters were. Hannah was kind and compassionate towards Will and what he’d been through, and what moving on would be like for him. Will was aware of the pain Hannah had been through and was concerned about her spending time with his son, Jake. And Jake, he was precious (if maybe a little too self-aware and mature for an actual 14 year old).

But the downside to this book was the pacing. This is a longer book (368 pages), and it felt long. It took me four nights read. (For reference, the book I read right before this one was 336 pages and I plowed through it in less than two nights.) I feel like the book kept getting bogged down in irrelevant details. For instance, each of the three other women got fairly extensive characterizations, which okay, that’s nice. But they felt more like an advert for coming books about those characters than a way for the reader to get more “color” in the story. Instead of building on the plot, those things brought me out of Hannah and Will’s story.

I liked the main characters in this book, and the realistic way Hannah and Will’s relationship progressed. However the execution of that relationship lost me on multiple occasions and frequently wasn’t able to hold my attention. The conversations between the characters often swung from formal and stodgy (making me think I was reading a story that took place in the late 1800s), to realistic and witty. It made me feel like the story didn’t know who it was supposed to be. Heavy and sad, lighthearted and heartwarming, or something else entirely.

The thing that took my rating down to two stars, though, was the abrupt ending that left me feeling like things were still hanging rather loosely between our hero and heroine. We get an epilogue that takes place one year after they’ve declared their love, but no sense whatsoever of where Hannah and Will’s relationship is. Apparently Will has worked through some of his pain and is now able to share music with his son. That’s great! But have they gotten engaged? Are they living together? Married? Maybe it’s just me, but I read romance for the happily-ever-after, dammit. Nothing throws a wet blanket on my reading vibes than a loose ending, and that’s how I feel about the end of this book.

*thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

“Now was the time for building and restoring, for repairing and learning. The time for opening their doors, their lavender fields, their tearoom, and welcoming the world.”

‘Lavender Blue’ is a sweet story with many likeable characters set in a gorgeous rural location - stunning lavender fields of Virginia. I mean, what is there not to love about this book cover? At its heart, this is a book about grieving and healing and I think Kauffman does a worthy job for such heartwrenching issues. This book is the third in a series but can most definitely be read as a standalone. I have not read any others and had no problem at all following along with the story.

“I’ve become a firm believer that not everything that’s ever happened to us in life needs to be worked on or sorted out.”

Although it tackles the different ways people deal with loss, it balances this nicely with some light romance. It is, in fact, a mutual sharing of grief that brings the two lead characters together and their romance is of a more mature kind which makes for a nice change. However, as stated, much of the book is dedicated to learning to move on from sorrow and let yourself live happily again. I appreciated Will and Hannah’s honesty and the processes and considerations they granted each other to work through and come out the other side in starting afresh.

“... if it’s not affecting your life, your ability to live it as you please, then”—she shrugged—“who cares? The past is the past is the past. Focus on the now, look toward the future.”

That being said, there were parts where it became a bit too much and repetitive concerning the sorrow, doubts and reluctance. There are many conversations where matters are discussed over and over - still, it’s a good way for readers in similar situations to view how such matters can be handled. It has some solid thoughts on how to deal with grief over the loss of a loved one.

All up this is a pleasant enough read with the themes of sorrow, friendship, love, family and friends. A well balanced heartwarming and sweet tale of healing, providing thoughtful and compassionate characters that will appeal to many.

“I’ve spent many an hour pondering that landscape and my place in it. Puts the world in perspective.” She smiled. “I call it time well spent.”


This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release

I enjoyed this story. It starts with with 4 women who all have the loss of a loved one in common. They have come together to start a business revolving around Lavender. Hannah lost her 7-year-old son several years ago. As the women fix up the farm house and plan their business adventure, Hannah meets Will, a stonemason who has suffered his own loss. Can the two of them heal and fall in love again?

This is a nice romance and I love the characters. They story and writing moves along nicely and really grabbed my attention. I wonder if the author is planning to tell each woman's story. The only thing I didn't care for and stopped me from giving it a 5 star rating were the love scenes. There was only one or two, but they were a bit more detailed than needed. In fact I don't think they added to the story..

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Hannah and Will’s story in Lavender Blue by Donna Kaufman, book three in her Blue Hollow Falls series and I really struggled to put it down; visualizing the beauty of this place through its descriptive words. This is a story of two grieving souls struggling, along different paths after losing a loved one. Grab a box of tissues and curl up while enjoying this wonderful story enriched by friendship, love, grief, humor, and healing.
Will McCall, a widower, is a stone mason, learned at his grandfather’s knee. After the death of his wife and also his mother Will left the military returning to Blue Hollow Falls to raise his son. His grief truly broke him, leaving him lost and with living an empty existence. Hannah Montgomery and her friends, also survivors of grief, moved to town to open a lavender farm. Hannah, an illustrator for children’s books, lost her seven-year old son in a car accident, which was also the end of her marriage. Will, repairing the stone work around the old farm house, finds Hannah intriguing and interesting, wanting to spend time with her. Hannah is interested in the quiet, hot man in the white t-shirt.
Hannah is the yin to Will’s yang, wanting to help heal the brokenness in Will from his loss. She is the perfect antidote in assisting him move forward, working through those powerful emotions holding Will’s heart hostage and putting it back together again; open to loving another. Will’s teen son Jake, neighbor Bailey and Addie Pearl all play a role in supporting these two in healing as well as a loving relationship. Healing from grief appears in a variety of forms, and love blooms when you least expect it.
Ms. Kauffman, a talented story teller, wrote a joyful, funny, tender sweet, emotional and heartwarming tale that is not to be missed. She provided a story rich with sexy banter, a little steam, emotion, and endearing characters not only giving Hannah and Will a chance at having a solid, loving future together but also a wonderful community of supportive friends. I highly recommend Lavender Blue to other readers and look forward to the next book in this outstanding series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This is another great addition to the Blue Hollow series. Wonderful cover and it's a quite an emotional read.

I keep falling in love with the Blue Hollow Falls Series every time I read another book in the series and Lavender Blue is no exception. Here you will get to know Will and Hannah and hopefully fall in love with a fictional town like I have.

Hannah and Wilson's story is complex and delightful. Helping each other over unimaginable heartbreak and moving towards true love and affection. There are many obstacles in their way, much on which is in their own hearts and minds. Donna Kauffman's Blue Hollow Falls series is wonderful. She just doesn't write fast enough for me!

I loved this book! I adored her characters and story line! this is one of those books you need a physical copy of!!

4.5 stars!!
Wonderfully heartfelt!

Such a great, emotional, addicting read!
With laugh out loud moments and genuine heartache, this book has it all.

These characters felt so human and I absolutely loved getting to know them. They had emotional journeys that felt so real and honest. So sweet reading a story where the characters overcome and love again.

This was my first in the series and I loved it! Will definitely be going back to read the first 2.

Hannah Montgomery and three of her friends purchased a lavender farm in the small town of Blue Hollow Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains. These women were an unusual mix of women, both ages and personalities. They had each experienced a terrible tragedy and loss of a loved one which brought them together and formed an unbreakable friendship.

Hannah lost her young son, Liam, when he was seven years old. As she heals from that loss, she hopes to honor Liam’s memory by creating something wonderful and trying to live a full life.

She becomes friends with Wilson McCall, who was hired to do some work on their new home. He has a fourteen year old son, Jake, and is struggling with his own grief due to the death of his wife about a decade earlier.

As Hannah and Will’s friendship deepens into the possibility of something more, they both have to come to grips with the grief that they have experienced if there is a possibility that they could live a full and rich life. But they will both need to be willing to take a risk. Will it be worth the risk or will they settle for part of a life?

I really enjoyed the characters in the book. They were told with rich detail, as was the landscape. The friendships are genuine and real and wonderful. The one thing I am not a fan of is very descriptive sex scenes, of which there are a few in this story. Will and Hannah’s story is beautiful and emotional. The other characters play a wonderful part in weaving a story that is rich in the realities of grief and the beauty of healing.

I was given an arc copy of this book by netgalley and I willingly offer my review.

A wonderful story for two broken souls who take the chance of falling in love again. Hannah has arrived in Blue Hollow Falls to buy a lavender farm and to start a new life. Wilson is a stonemason, that has been hired to fix the chimneys of the farm. Soon a friendship develops between the two but are they both willing to open their hearts up again.

Loved these characters, very heartwarming and full of emotion. Loved Will's son, Jake.He is so open to Hannah and Will's friendship that is growing into so much more. Loved this story, so much more than a romance, I highly recommend.

Lavender Blue, the third book in Donna Kauffman's Blue Hollow Falls series, is a wonderful, heartfelt read about dealing with loss, moving on from the past, and being open to finding love again.

Hannah Montgomery has come to the Blue Ridge Mountains to start fresh as a partner with three other women in Lavender Blue Farmhouse & Tea Room. The quartet met in a grief group where Hannah was learning to deal with losing her son and, subsequently, her marriage. They formed a unique sisterly bond and decided to tackle new goals, take new risks and jump into life full on.

Wilson "Will" McCall, a stonemason and former marine, is working on the renovation of the tea room. A widower, he is raising his son, Jake, as a single parent. Will is attracted to Hannah but feels he would betray his wife's memory to pursue her.

Kauffman deftly builds the attraction between Hannah and Will and brings them both out of emotional hibernation. They are helped along by a charming, quirky cast of characters that butt their noses in with the best of intentions. You will also really enjoy Kauffman's descriptive prose that paints visual pictures of the lavender fields and surrounding town.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

It seems this is the third book in the Blue Hollow Falls series about an small mountain town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. I had not read either of the previous books so I can honestly say this is a standalone. However, I will also admit that there is good possibility that I will go back and read the first 2. Hannah and three other friends have bought an old house in Blue Hollow Falls and are opening a lavender store with a tea room. These four women have become friends because they have all lost someone close to them and met in a grief counseling group. Each has come to terms with their loss (mostly) and now are living together and starting this venture. The Romance revolves around Hannah and Will, a stonemason who is repairing their old house. This book’s theme of loss is consistent throughout the book and what makes it a good and meaningful read. Hannah and Will realize they have both suffered loss, and between them, they develop a loving relationship. Will has a teenage son who plays a prominent role in this book, and between Jake and his friend, Bailey, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with them. A nice contemporary read that has all the feels. The “heat quotient” was mild to moderate, so if you love a good small town story, and I am a sucker for them, this is a very good read!

This book was packed full of emotion. Grief, anger, love, panic and friendship all showed up in this book. I'll have to admit it started off kind of slow for me, but I also had lots of distracting life issues going on at the time. I definitely got more into it in the last half of the book.
I did love Hannah and Will together. They had both suffered tremendous loss in their lives and were still pretty deep in the grief process. I loved how they were able to help each other through to the point that they could at least see light at the end of the tunnel. Their passionate feelings for each other came as a surprise to them...a lovely surprise. The building of that passion and emotional feelings were accomplished in a superb fashion by Kauffman. I was totally vested in their relationship.
This book made me laugh and cry. As always, the secondary characters were well developed by Kauffman and very interesting in their own right. Love must come to them as well--and I can't wait!

This author is one that can for sure provide the escape you need for a moment to fall into a excellent read. Hannah and her friends where the characters you would love to have as friends. They have a lavender farm that needs a bit of help here and there that Wilson has been tasked to provide. The development of the relationship between Hannah and Wilson is the joy in reading this one. The feelings that it heals and also grows is also a factor that plays on our emotions. Delight from beginning to end.

In this third book of the series we are introduced to Hannah Montgomery who has, along with three friends, purchased a lavender farm. She is trying to make a new start for herself and hopes to honor the memory of her son at the same time. Enter Wilson McCall a man with his own tragedies and grief to deal with. Wilson has been hired to fix several items in the house that comes with the farm. As time goes by and the two spend more time together Hannah is able to bring some laughter into Wilson's life. The two feel a connection but will their grief be to much of a barrier or will they be able to break through and both find true happiness. Along the way she realizes that she must heal herself if she will ever be able to move forward and share happiness with another. Will Wilson come to such a realization or will his grief get the better of him? This was such a charming and heartfelt read that will have you crying, laughing and rooting for love.

A great addition to the Blue Hollow Falls series. I have enjoyed everyone of these books. They are full of interesting characters and they have a believable storyline. This book held my interst from start to finish.

Emotional and heartfelt are two words that come to mind when trying to describe Lavender Blue by Donna Kauffman. This book deals with loss, grief and recovery. For some that happens sooner than it does for others which is part of what this story shows. How that affects our life and those around us also comes into play.

Lavender Blue begins the journey of Hannah and her three friends that have come to Blue Hollows to begin anew. Since all have experienced loss, this is not as light of a book as some of Donna Kauffman’s other books that take place in this Blue Ridge Mountain community. However, it is beautifully written with sensitivity conveying a spirit of hope. Still a romance but one in which one must learn to love life as well as loving another.

Highly recommend.