I hate to say it, but I didn't enjoy this read as much as usual for a Gerri Hill novel. It's not that it was bad, it's more that it just came across to me as formulaic, predictable, and I honestly just didn't feel the chemistry that I'm used to feeling with a Hill read.

This was a sweet story, albeit a little slower than I'm use to. For some, the pace will work. Others may take a little longer to get into the book, but I can assure you that if you take the time then you'll be glad you did. It does take place on a farm for about 80% of it...so not surprising. Life moves a little slower there!

Gerri Hill always writes well, thought-out characters, and this one is no different. I liked Erin, but LOVED Mel.

Both women were in need of healing. While Erin's was more apparent, Mel was equally as broken and I loved how that wasn't as noticeable (to me) at first. Hill takes the time to show all that nuance. It was beautiful to see how slowly they healed each other.

I do wish the older ladies on the land were around more. I found them hilarious.

Overall, it was a lovely and complete feeling book.

Erin Ryder is a workaholic property developer who, after a disastrous breakup, is on the path of self-destruction. After a family intervention, she is sent for three months to a secluded ranch in New Mexico to detox and heal. Her host, Melanie West, is very reserved and guarded but slowly both women start forming a friendship. When deeper feelings arise, Erin will eventually have to choose between Mel or her previous life.

This is a slow-burn romance between two very different women who are both in need of redemption and a second chance at love. In a way, this is also an opposites-attract romance. Both characters come from very different backgrounds and have contrasting experiences in romantic relationships, but somehow, there and then, they seem to be what each other needs. While one of the mains has a questionable past, her present redeeming qualities make up for her past mistakes. As usual, Ms. Hill builds up the chemistry of the mains to hot levels and despite their differences, their attraction feels realistic.

Gerri Hill is great at writing magnificent settings for all her books and this is no exception. Her depiction of the landscape of New Mexico, with its peculiar weather, is the star of this novel. There is a good deal of description of gardening and small farm chores that might not appeal to all the readers but help to create a sense of peace and tranquility that both characters seek and give them a perfect way to bond.

My main criticism is that this novel is highly predictable. There was no doubt where the plot was leading to and even Melanie’s mysterious past did not bring any excitement to the story. Even though most secondary characters were well-written, Erin’s ex seemed a bit stereotyped. For me, these issues combined with a farm theme that wasn’t particularly appealing put a damper on my enjoyment. However, if you like farms and a slow-burn romance, this might appeal to you.

Overall, an ok lesbian slow burn romance book with a beautiful natural setting. 3.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

Ms. Hill has done another great job on a well written story. This story line takes place over months of time period and centers around a main character that is slowly killing herself from stress and to much work, while the other main character has taken a step back from the rat race to a more quiet, but I won't say peaceful (explain more later) existences.

The story opens up with Erin first, the overworked (self-induced), self-destruction main character. She is well written with a rich understanding of her situation. There is a brief (few chapters) interaction with her dad and sister that basically give her an ultimatum to try and save herself from herself. This brings us to the next main character, Melanie, who lives on a ranch owned by and occupied by what I can only describe as a very colorful list of sub characters (which just adds to the book).

The story is very in depth of both main characters, and I found them to be well believable. You are drawn into their pasts and what made them who they are today. I love Ms. Hill's writing because she not only takes great care in delving into her characters but also the setting they are in. I could just fell the New Mexico landscape and the layout of the sprawling ranch.

This book was just an enjoyable read, I finished it in two days. I look forward to more writings from Ms. Hill

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-A wonderful story

This book is a gem. I laughed, I cried and I rooted for the two main characters. The main characters, Erin and Melanie, are as different as can be, but the more time they spend together, they find that they have more in common that they originally thought.
If you are looking to read a book that is off the beaten path (literally) and very different from most of the lesbian romance fiction out there, pick this book up.
I would highly recommend this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

A gently built love story with such depth of emotions that you can feel tears and tingles.

Erin Ryder works in her family’s construction company with her siblings – sister, Joyce and brother (name not important). After a relationship gone south, Erin has slowly narrowed down her life to only work to the exclusion of everything and everyone else. A concerned Joyce co-opts her father into an intervention. Together they force Erin to take a break of three months on a ‘ranch’ in New Mexico – a remote place where there is no connectivity amongst other things. The ranch was a safe place started by Stella decades back when it was dangerous to be a lesbian in the outside world. With the world changing, there are now a very few women left living there. Almost all are in their seventies or eighties, save Melanie West, 37. The person closest to Melanie’s age on the ranch is in her fifties, but Melanie is happy there. Seven years back, Melanie’s life had collapsed and she’d arrived at the ranch to heal. Now she’s perfectly content to farm and look after her small group of animals from dusk to dawn. Mel is Erin’s host on the farm. First angry and badly behaved, Erin slowly starts pitching in with Mel to work around the farm.

The relationship between the two MCs builds slowly and beautifully. Their interactions and conversations are so believable. The ghosts haunting both give depth to their personalities and their relationship.

This is a lovely, lovely romance.

This is one of my favourite non-mysteries by Gerri Hill. This was a really lovely world she created, and definitely makes me want to have a little garden and chickens and goats!

Erin has very nearly worked herself to death when her sister intervenes and sends her to a small womyn's ranch community in New Mexico to sleep, eat, and heal. Erin finds herself rooming with Melanie, one of the youngest women in the community, who is working through her own baggage on her simple farm. At first she curses the lack of cell service, internet, television, and meat. Soon she learns to embrace the simple living and soon finds herself growing closer to the woman who all but saved her life.

These characters were some of my favourite characters in Gerri Hill's books. There were so many beautiful stories woven into the secondary characters and our leading ladies were nuanced and complex and ultimately lovable. I've said it before but I'll say it again, this little community is something special. I can only hope that it's out there and real and saving someone's life right now. The food and the farm was almost a character itself which made for such a warm and cozy book.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Gerri Hill was one of the first authors of the LGBTQ genre that I loved. Her writing is always solid and mature and this book surely didn't disappoint.
I have to be honest though, I didn't love this read as much as some of her previous works. Erin and Melanie were lovely and sweet but the way the story unfolded (also the ending) was predictable and the chemistry felt a little bit off which is unusual for a Hill novel.
To summarize this novel, Mel lives for the last 7 years on womyn's land somewhere in New Mexico, with a group of old lesbians. Mainly for financial reasons this group of women host travelers who are looking for a quiet getaway . Erin is a workaholic, totally devastated from her previous relationship and she is slowly killing herself with Red Bull and booze. She is forced by her relatives to spend three months at Eagle Bluff Ranch. There, she meets Melanie and they connect through their traumatic past experiences.

It was a nice read but without spoiling the end I found it a little bit unbelievable that Erin would like to live permanently in the Ranch - or maybe it's my inner city girl talking. There was also the fact that Erin sold everything in Houston and moved back to the ranch when Mel wasn't even thinking about maybe go after Erin when she left. I would like to see Mel compromise a little bit more because, how the story unfolded I felt that one (Erin) was willing to sacrifice everything for the other and the other was in love ok, but at the end she wouldn't go out of her way to make things work and was ok with the fact that she would be alone for the rest of her life.

his is a sweet romance about giving people a second chance. This has a lot of the hallmarks of Gerri Hill's formula : a blonde and a brunette, the southwest, being in nature to heal, and some good doses of angst.

Melanie and Erin are extremely similar: they both have self destructive tendancies that almost kill them, but very good people at heart. I think both characters described the other as being "lost". It is perfectly apt, as their feelings did overwhelm them until their epiphanies. With Mel, she is still dealing with her guilt when she meets Erin by being a recluse. Erin dealt with losing who she thought was the love of her life by being so destructive to her own body that she was slowly killing herself. But they find some healing with each other and with the isolated community Erin was sent to. Honestly, it was interesting to see someone who was close to being a full blown addict step away from that edge when losing her triggers, and focusing on just being. I liked that a lot about Erin's arc, and wasn't surprised too much when she seemed to recover faster than Mel, who's trauma was much more twisted.

Gerri Hill has her formula and she doesn't do much with it, which, if your a fan of warm, comfy romances, she does it well. I don't think this was one of her strongest romances, but it is a great read when waiting for that storm to pass.

Ok, I’ll admit this is my first Gerri Hill book, which I know is totally lame because it’s widely known that this author is not only a prolific writer but also an exceptional writer. After the Summer Rain is no exception to this winning streak and I absolutely adored every word from Chapter 1 to The End. I was immediately drawn into Erin and Mel’s world and immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of Mel’s modest and remote farm. Both women experience transformation for very different reasons and the pace of each of their journey was expertly entwined in the push and pull of their inevitable love affair. Sometimes you just want to be pulled into and enveloped by a story that’s well told, and this is definitely it.

It's been a good while since I read a Gerri Hill book.

Erin has become a workaholic on a one-way road to self-destruction. Her sister and father force her to take the time off and send her to a woman only commune. There she meets Melanie, ay whos farm she'll spend 3 months recovering.

Erin is very reticent at first but slowly she warms up to Melanie and her way of self-sufficient life on the farm. Two very different women end up being not that different at the end.

Melanie herself is a hermit who rather avoids any contact and is happy with just her animals. She hides a dark past that made her run away years ago.

The book is a nice weekend read. Although I must say I wasn't very keen on the woman commune. It felt a tiny bit like a cult, in the sense that there are some strong rules. Although one could see it as a pay off for living for free on the land. While the idea is nice to close yourself off from the world, I think in real life sooner or later some harsh realities would catch up.

But one could understand why someone with Melanie's past would choose that way of life. Certainly, an entertaining book that makes one think about a different lifestyle in today's fast-paced world.

Erin is a workaholic. She is practically killing herself after throwing herself into her work to avoid the aftermath of a bad breakup. Her family creates and 'intervention' and sends her to cleanse her soul for 3 months. The place her sister booked is a crunchy old lady "womyn's" cult. Melanie is the youngest and last resident to hide from society and ends up having to host Erin for her lengthy stay.

This is a sweet love story between two women that were subconsciously trying to harm themselves until finding a fulfilling life of gardening and companionship.

I think I felt the stress roll off my body just reading about tossing scratch, bopping goat noses, pulling veggies, shot springs, and porches. A vacation off the grid sounds very appealing now.

There was a small amount of angst as it related to Melanie's past. And a bit more toward the end as the two leads wrecked themselves over each other for a bit. I cried. That is always the sign of a decently written romance.

I only have a couple of critiques that are more personal preference than anything. The dialogue of the 30-something main characters felt more mature as if they were the 70-year-old residents. And I REALLY despise the term 'lovers,' (Sorry Taylor Swift. You sound good singing it, but no.). It was used. Too often. As well as 'making love'' even when what they were doing was just casual and temporary.

Overall, it was a sweet story in a unique setting. Worth reading.

I recommend to those who like to read about romance, bad break-ups, gardening, vegetarian eating, chickens, goats, Walmart clothing, and red bull.

<I> I received an ARC from Bella Books for an honest review.</I>

This is Ms Hill at her best. I was hooked to this book from start to finish. The story line was excellent. I was turning page after page to read more of Mel and Erin's story long after I should have put my kindle down for the night. The main characters are great. I loved both of them from the beginning. Secondary characters were a great bunch and the pace was just right.

If you are a fan of romance and/or a fan of the author, then this is a must read. I would highly recommend it.

ARC was given to me from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Gerri Hill is my favorite author and not to be too biased but After the Summer Rain was a superb read!

The book begins with an appropriate amount of backstory for both of the main characters. Mel (anie), lives on womyn's land in Eagle Bluff, New Mexico, with a group of lesbians who are predominately significantly older than her. This group of woman routinely host travelers who are looking for a quiet getaway for a few days to a week. Erin is a workaholic recovering from a bad relationship that ended eighteen months earlier and she is slowly killing herself with booze, Red Bulls, and little sleep. Erin is exiled by her sister and her father to spend three months at Eagle Bluff Ranch.

Once these two woman finally meet and get past the transition of the first week of living in the same household, their friendship begins to develop. They learn about each other's lives, their past hurts, they share their secrets, and their vulnerabilities emerge. The chemistry that develops between Mel and Erin is simply amazing.

Other things that I typically enjoy in a good Gerri Hill book were present here including character chemistry, numerous discussions about food (albeit vegetarian in this case), a focus on animals, and wonderful descriptions of our natural surroundings.

I will admit that this book not only had me laughing but also left me in tears. Only a good author can drive multiple emotions.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

I love Gerri Hill books and this one was a great read.

Erin has become a workaholic to the point her family had to force a intervention because she had been slowly killing herself to the point of exhaustion. When her family gives her no option but to have a three month vacation where she can relax and get her life together.

Mel had been in foster care most her life because her mother was an addict when she moves to Eagle Bluff ranch seven years ago where there's a community called Womyn’s where she made a life for herself there a community of lesbians mainly older woman where they trade foods and have monthly meeting where they host guest each year.

When Erin sister Joyce plan her vacation to Eagle Bluff Ranch she is shock that she won't able to use her phone the internet that she complete cut off from civilization. This is Mel first time hosting after Erin couldn't get along with Rachel Mel is very guarded she like her privacy so this is a big adjustment to have someone in her space but as they build a friendship a attraction begins.

Erin and Mel are both with a lot of baggage to overcome but wants they do it became a cute romance that had you rooting for them.

Gerri Hill is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read and loved her books ever since I found Tori and Sam in the Hunter series.

I knew I would be getting her newest romance, After the Summer Rain, just as soon as it was published. I was extremely fortunate to be gifted an ARC by Bella Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but I would have happily paid for it.

This novel is a pure romance. It’s about Erin Ryder and Melanie (Mel) West. Both women are dealing with trauma and failures. Mel moved to Eagle Bluff Ranch seven years before the story begins, and made a small farm. Eagle Bluff Ranch is a “womyn’s community”, where lesbians could all live in their own homes. Mel, a self-described hermit, values her privacy and wants to live as far from the others as she can possibly get. Her only contact with the outside world is monthly visits to the nearest town for supplies and the monthly dinners with the other residents of the ranch. She occasionally hosts guests who visit the ranch each year, and this year she ended up hosting Erin. A family intervention forced Erin to stay at the ranch for three months before she killed herself with work, caffeine, and booze. After a rocky start, the two women slowly become friends, and end up helping each other heal from their emotional wounds as they tend the farm and animals. But even as this friendship deepens, the end of their time together looms.

As with all of Ms. Hill’s books, this story has a vibrant and stunning setting with strong characters and an intriguing story line. I felt all of the emotions that Erin was going through when she was forced to go to the ranch. I felt her slowly begin to heal as her body recovered from the excesses she had put it through. It was also wonderful seeing the two characters grow together. This is a beautiful story even with the angst that runs through it.

I probably would have picked this book even without the author’s name attached, simply because of the cover. The easiest way to get me to buy a book is to put cute animal faces on the cover. The picture of Rosie (or Nora) the goat as well as the lovely hummingbird and flower would have had me hitting the ‘pay now’ button. I’m a sucker for a cute face, even if it does remind me of the time I was locked in the chicken coop by Allie (a friend’s pet goat) who then refused to let my partner into the shed to get me out. Goats can be devilish little creatures even with those sweet faces.

I loved this story and it is going into my favorites folder. If you love a good romance that makes you go “aww”, and maybe even shed a tear or two, then this book is definitely for you.

Melanie has been living on Stella’s land in New Mexico for seven years. Only women, most of them lesbians, most of them in their seventies. The youngest on the land at 37, Mel has moved here for reasons she doesn’t enjoy discussing. She needed solitude and while she gets lonely sometimes, she’s happy with it. In Houston, Erin has lost herself in work for the past year and a half and her family is worried. They manage to convince her to spend three months at Stella’s. She ends up staying with Melanie. The first few days are tough for both, Melanie trying not to resent Erin for invading her privacy even though hosting guests once in a while is part of the deal, Erin fighting her Red Bull (among other things) withdrawal and not being her sweet old self at all. But as time goes by, they get along then become friends, then more.

I know a lot of Gerri Hill’s readers love her mystery novels but I am first and foremost a fan of her romances. At Seventeen, Storms (which I translated into French, lucky me) or No Strings are some of my favorite. She keeps breaking my heart before mending it again, and it’s painful in the best way.

The scene where Erin is taken to the land reminded me of when I was a teenager and was sent to something akin to summer camp. I hated it, it was full of people I didn’t know (I’m not good with people I don’t know) in a place I’d never been to before (I’m not good with places I’ve never been to before) and I was expected to enjoy activities with others (you know what I’m about to write, don’t you?). I wasn’t a thirty-something woman in need of some sort of rehab but I can relate. That’s what I love most about Gerri Hill’s books: I feel everything the characters go through. When they hurt, I hurt. When they love, I love too. Like I wrote in my review for Beautiful Accidents by Erin Zak, it’s what I’m looking for in romance novels.

And I guess that explains why I got really mad at Adam at some point. I’m sure he was sincere and all but he took advantage of Mel’s aloneness, the only reason he got her to agree to anything is because she had no one else and didn’t want to hurt his feelings and lose him. I’ll stop here because I don’t want to spoil too much but WTF, man? Yeah, I guess I’m still mad. Even though I’m sure he didn’t mean to upset her or saddle her with guilt for so long. But she’s kind and caring and while she’s strong, everything she’s had to go through as a child has left her vulnerable too, and I hate that she was hurt. I know, I know, she doesn’t exist IRL but that’s how good Hill is.

Another thing I love is how the author’s love of nature and its beauties translates into her way of describing them. It’s like I’m there, wherever there is. Whether it’s the mountains and snow storms or the desert and summer rain, I can see it.

And of course I, now more than ever, wish I had space for chicken and goats.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Lately, it has taken me quite a few chapters to become invested in a story. But not this one. I enjoyed this story from the start due to its interesting plot, the tranquil setting and the deep communication level of the characters.

Melanie and Erin each had a lot of emotional baggage that held them back from truly being happy. Erin’s life was spiraling out of control since her girlfriend of six years left her for another. She was mentally and physically exhausted and had to rely on massive amounts of caffeine and alcohol to get her through the day. Her family finally forced her to take a 3 month leave from their workplace in order to save Erin from her destructive behavior. Guilt drove Melanie to Eagle Bluff Ranch 7 years prior and she made it her permanent home. Erin ended up being the guest in Melanie’s cabin and after a bit of time a closeness was formed as they began to unburden their past hurts and guilt to each other. These empowering moments renewed a sense of self worth and inner strength to both women.

The open communication between Melanie and Erin was very well written and refreshing. Their dialogue was funny, empowering, emotional, and raw. For example, the hesitancy on whether or not to bare their wounded souls to each other and expose their vulnerability resulted in a very emotional dialogue in which you can actually feel their pain. After this exposure, the author’s very descriptive setting of the summer storms became the catalyst for the characters’ deep seated painful wounds to finally surface and begin to heal. These intense scenes added to the depth of the story and to a higher level of engagement.
Everything about this story was well done and is highly recommended.

This book made me cry and think about so many sad memories and scenarios. However, I loved it, it's also sweet and adorable I loved both the main and all the side characters. above all the flow was believable.

I did not get the isolation part " or the rules of being Vegn" to be perfectly honest I thought its too extreme. why could they trad and sell some of the things grown in their land. specially since they need the money, Moreover, I kept hoping for these 2 to get babies right away because it so sad to think of the others getting old with no company " that got me so so so so sad thought out the reading" the place need fresh blood " as they called it in the book lol"

I read it in one day. it's my vacation day so ....
I did not think i would like it as much as I did. thank you so much for the free copy. it's very well written very recommended