I really enjoyed this book, but then again I have enjoyed every one of Denise Hunter’s books. As a longtime fan of Denise’s work, she never fails to surprise me with how talented she is. Riverbend gap is just another example of this. This story speaks of relationships both family and dating/married and the joy and sorrow that can found in each. She reminds us that the best way through these is to listen to God’s still small voice for he will never steer us wrong.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I’m not sure if you can classify meeting on the scene of a car accident as a meet cute, but when Cooper and Kate meet sparks fly. The only problem…she’s dating his brother. Denise Hunter has written a beautiful, wholesome romance story about how love can bloom when you least expect it, and overcome what seem like insurmountable obstacles. A perfect weekend read!

I love Denise Hunter books and Riverbend Gap is another great book by the author. She combines romance and humorous, snappy remarks that make you smile.

The book starts out with a frighting moment with Katie’s car is hanging over a cliff. Cooper comes along at the right time and orchestrates her rescues while he is trying to keep her calm. Afterwards Cooper realizes he wants to get to know her more but soon finds out she is his brother’s new girlfriend. From there the story develops as both of them try to do the right thing and just be friends. But there is chemistry between them and events keep putting together. Katie is torn between “do I stay with the Cooper’s brother out of obligation or pursue my growing love for Cooper.”

I enjoyed the story and the examples of forgiveness and grace that is extended throughout. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is an absolutely delightful, captivating story! I have read most of Denise Hunter's book, and loved everyone. She's really hit it out of the park with this one. It is a heartwarming story of families - which isn't always the one you are born into.

Katie is on the way to meet her boyfriend, Gavin's family for the first time when a deer is suddenly on the road in front of her. She misses the deer by inches, however, she over-corrects and begins spinning and goes through a bush and suddenly the car makes a jarring stop . After discovering her head is bleeding, she reaches for her phone that ended up on the passenger side floor and the car shifts forward. Why is the car unbalanced and what is happening she asks herself.

Along the road Katie just traveled Cooper Robinson, an off-duty sheriff deputy, riding his motorcycle, notices skid marks and that something disturbed the gravel on the shoulder. He also notices a bush is flattened. He guesses there's been an accident so gets his phone to make a call and there is no cell service. He finds Katie sitting in he car with the front tires over the edge of a cliff and the front of the car pointed downward. A passing motorist agrees to call for help. Cooper stays with Katie, encouraging and comforting her as they waits for help. Cooper is quite taken with the sweet Katie, who is new in town, and makes plans to see her again when this trauma is over.. Katie also feels a strong connection to Cooper after sharing such a scary experience with him.

By the time Katie is rescued, cleaned up and her head stitched up, she finally gets to her boyfriend's parents' house. What a surprise to find Cooper is there too and is Gavin's brother. She has only been dating Gavin a couple months and was excited to meet his family. Katie grew up in the foster system so doesn't have a family of her own. She moved to the small town of Riverbend Gap because she suspects that her birth mother possibly lives there.

Many unexpected developments occur as this heartwarming, intriguing story unfolds. It grabbed my heart right from the start and even when the last page was turned, I found myself still thinking of the people who live in Riverbend Gap, a small town right off the Appalachian Trail.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The cover and the author made this an auto click request on Netgalley for me that I didn’t even bother reading the blurb and I was excited when I was approved. I should have read the blurb. While the book is well written (it’s Denise Hunter so no surprise there) the whole plot of the book—seriously, it’s basically cheating with a pretty package—is just not my cup of tea.

I can always rely on Denise Hunter for an emotional, tug at your heart strings Christian romance. this was a good start to a new series.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This book was a good read. I knew there was going to be a blow-up of sorts when Kate and Cooper made lukewarm efforts to resist each other. Especially while being thrown into situations that fueled their attraction. Kate was dating Cooper’s brother. Her relationship with Gavin was passive and never deepened.

It was the subplot that got to me. Kate grew up in foster homes and had a deep need for family. With the loss of her only brother her need became palpable. The family of Cooper and Gavin filled that need. Behinds the scenes Kate has been looking for her birth mother who basically threw her away over her drug addiction. When Kate finds out her birth mother is living in Riverbend Gap, she must choose how to approach.

Eventually Kate and Cooper are found out, there is a big spectacle and damage is done. This is where the story became hard to put down. I wanted to know how it would all work out.

The plot and subplot were rounded in a way that was satisfying and believable.

When Kate is rushing to a gathering to meet her boyfriends family, she loses control of her car and as her life hangs in the balance, Cooper comes along and being in law enforcement, knows exactly how to stay calm, assess the situation and do what needs to be done. Little do they know that he is her boyfriends brother.
The story is about dealing with childhood and adult hurtful situations and healing. Sometimes, we end up hurting people we love no matter how hard we fight it. There are so many elements to this story it was interesting to get to know more about Riverbend Gap and all it's characters.
Instant attraction, family drama and family loyalty, emotional and heartwarming moments, some surprises along the way, small town gatherings and romance all kept me interested in seeing how this all turned out.

Didn't love this book. Without including spoilers, this line from the summary is why I didn't like it: "her feelings for Cooper keep growing—all while she’s dating his brother." Katelyn should have been honest with her boyfriend from day 1 and it felt super awkward and icky to read about the growing relationship between Katelyn and Cooper while she was stringing along his brother.

Love Hunter, but not this book.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and obviously the opinion above is my own :)

I thought this book was really good. Riverbend gap sounds like the perfect place to live or visit. Kate and Cooper meet quite by accident, little does he know she is his brother’s girlfriend. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This story literally begins with a cliff hanger. And despite the seriousness of the situation (through the banter between Katelyn and Cooper), it is evident that they are attracted to each other. As the story goes on, they are thrown together in other life altering events and their connection only grows stronger. But they in good faith and with good reasons cannot let that happen, so they fight it.
This is truly a unique storyline. I enjoyed that it was so different and there were real consequences that were being weighed if they acted upon feelings alone. The importance of family, truth and forgiveness made for an emotional ride!
I loved the Appalachian setting, I could picture the town and the mountains. I am anxious to read more in this series. This one was a great beginning!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Katelyn Loveland runs into Cooper Robinson on the way to see her boyfriend, Gavin, who happens to be Cooper's brother. An attraction blooms and feelings develop between them. There are other storylines, including Katie's past, Cooper's run for sheriff, and the big, blended family that Cooper and Gavin come from.

This is tough for me to review. I have always liked Denise Hunter's writing, characters, and plot, but the topic of falling for someone while being with someone else is something I'm just not ok with. I understand what the characters went through and why they did the things they did, and I knew what the book was likely to contain before I started reading it. I'm sure some people will says "It's just one kiss", but that kiss was the culmination of a lot of line-crossing. I know this is a Christian book and forgiveness is the message, but wow, I don't like this storyline at all.

I'm still giving the book three stars because Denise Hunter is a great writer. Maybe I'll come back and edit this more after some reflection.

Riverbend Gap is a good start to a new series by Denise Hunter. Her description of this small town of Riverbend, the people who live there, and the Appalachian Mountains, make you want to visit.
Katelyn Loveland’s mother, who battled with addiction, left her with foster parents as a young child. Katelyn loved her foster family, but she needed a fresh start and she moves to this small town by the mountains and her birth mother happens to live nearby.
In the first chapter, Katie runs off the road to miss hitting a deer and is left hanging off a cliff. Deputy Sherriff Cooper Robinson sees the car and stays to help Katie until help arrives. As he tries to keep her calm and still, they spend quality time together and find themselves attracted to each other. But, there is one big problem, Cooper’s brother, Gavin, is also attracted to her, in fact, they are dating.
Katie is torn between the two brothers and doesn’t want anyone to get hurt. She wants to be a part of the Robinson family, where she feels loved and accepted. They all have big decisions to make.
I look forward to reading the next book! Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and give my own opinions.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
This was such a heart wrenching book for me but I loved how the author brought the characters together. It was very detailed and descriptive and the storyline brought me to tears several times but no worries there is a happy ending!
Kate gets in an accident on the way to meet her boyfriends family. Cooper, an off duty deputy, finds her crash and assists in her rescue and becomes very intrigued and enamored by Kate. Only Cooper soon realizes Kate is her brothers girlfriend.
A roller coaster ride for sure but a great story that was in depth and will capture your heart.
5 stars

Oh..my stars! Swoony doesn't begin to describe Riverbend Gap! All the stars to Denise Hunter on this one!

Riverbend Gap centers around a love triangle and honestly it's a storyline I usually shy away from. But it's Denise Hunter, and if anyone can make me like this type of storyline Denise can. Not only did she make me like it, I loved it!

Denise weaves quite the believable tale starting with Kate Loveland skidding off the road and literally hanging off a cliff while on the way to a dinner with her boyfriend Gavin's family. Cue the cute Deputy Sheriff Cooper, who just happens to be riding by, to the rescue. All manner of high voltage chemistry between Kate and Cooper ensues. They are constantly being thrown into each other's company and the connection they feel, although they try to deny it, only grows stronger each time they're together.
Most readers would say given this scenario they should just stay within the boundaries of family first and hands off, but Denise's masterful storytelling convinced me this type of attraction could happen leaving Kate, Cooper, Gavin, and the entire Robinson family to deal with the fallout and aftermath.

Riverbend Gap is a fantastic love story, but it's so much more than that. It's the story of a young woman's search for identity and worth after feeling rejected all her life. Kate also deals with the loss of the person she was closest to and all the grief associated with that. I felt all the emotions of her loss and her journey to love and acceptance.

I love a good quote and my favorite in Riverbend Gap is, "If anyone understand the need for grace it's someone who's been on the receiving end of it more times than she can count." That's one of the inspirational lessons of this story, extend grace to others just as we've had grace extended to us.

Riverbend Gap is funny, endearing and will twist a readers emotions every which way before you breathe that sigh of relief that all will be well for the characters you've come to love. I enjoyed this book so much I've already added the second book in the Riverbend series, Mulberry Hollow to my must read list for next year.

Take a bow Denise Hunter, you've written one swoony heartwarming story! I appreciate Thomas Nelson, through NetGalley, making a copy of Riverbend Gap available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

Deputy Sheriff Cooper Robinson comes across an accident. A car is preening on the brink of falling off of a cliff. The problem is there is still a passenger inside. After nearly hitting a deer, Katie Loveland's car swerves out of control and perches on a tree hanging over a cliff. Cooper talks with Katie until help can come, trying to keep her calm. But in the process, he feels something is special about Katie, an instant connection. They are able to share and communicate easily. The problem comes when Cooper tries to return Katie's phone, he finds out that Katie is his brother Gavin's girlfriend.

I loved this story in all kinds of way. It was sweet how Cooper and Katie tried to refuse their feelings for one another. Yet they are constantly being thrown together. Neither one of them wants to hurt Gavin, yet they are magnetically drawn. And in the small town of Riverbend Gap the rumor mill is alive and well.

Riverbend Gap is a clean Christian romance by Denise Hunter. Ms. Hunter is such a skilled story teller, being able to bring her characters to life. She can convey their feelings and deep emotions. You really start pulling for the Katie and Cooper. I loved the dialog between them, all the way to the end. I am looking forward to reading the next book, whether it is Gavin's or sister Avery's story. Riverbend Gap is an exciting place to visit.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 stars.
There’s a promising beginning and a painful conflict in “Riverbend Gap”, by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson – FICTION), where our hero has to face a painful dilemma and choose between familial love and the woman who seems to be the one.
Cooper’s integrity and his close knit family clash with the attraction to his big brother’s girl, and the conflict between familial and romantic love make the story emotional and creative.
I found it cute and endearing seeing Cooper’s efforts trying to avoid Katie and Gavin always bringing them together again.
I also liked how natural the attraction, chemistry and connection was between them, even without them wanting to.
The dilemma at the heart of the story – a woman between two brothers, acting on your feelings – was wonderful, yet I was expecting more development and tension.
Katie’s need for belonging and a family, the difficult childhood, insecurity and fear of rejection make her a different heroine, vulnerable yet strong.
I found the town’s – and even the Robinsons - attitude towards Katie exaggerated and obtuse.
Despite loving the story, the characters and the dilemma, I felt a bit annoyed that halfway through the story Katie was still dating Gavin; I would have liked an earlier resolution of the impasse and more romantic interaction.

Denise Hunter is a new to me author and I’m so happy I discovered her books! I read Riverbend Gap in a little over 24 hours and started looking for more of her books. The cozy small town feel and the happily ever after made me smile over and over. Katie and Cooper’s story is full of sweet romance and finding more about yourself and your past. I can’t wait to continue reading more in this new series.

All my patrons truly love Denise Hunter and I am on board! Realistic characters and situations makes for an enjoyable read.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on Kindle for review. It is character driven with characters we enjoy...others we do not. The story moves somewhat slowly but once ending, is ok. Try this one. This is a sweet love story with ups and downs…I liked the protagonist and felt for her when it came to solving her problems…a cozy story for a quick read.