Denise Hunter once again returns to Riverbend for the story of Gavin and Laurel and a beautiful tale of forgiveness, healing, and second chances. Named as the guardians of their deceased friends’ young daughter Emma, divorced couple Gavin and Laurel come together to provide for her.

Poignant and heart-wrenching, this story chronicles Gavin and Laurel’s love story and the tragic loss of their young son which precipitates their divorce. Their backstory is told in flashbacks sprinkled throughout the book. It was beautiful to see how they had each changed as they worked to heal and forgive.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Another great novel by Denise Hunter! I have enjoyed this series in Riverbend so much. The characters are great, the storyline flows, the books are easy and quick to read. I've been looking forward to reading Gavin's story and this one did not disappoint. Even though this story was a big heavier with the topics, it was a great installment in the Riverbend series.

Harvest Moon - Gavin and Laurel were high school sweethearts whose marriage ended after the loss of their young son. Now, four years later, another tragedy has struck bringing the two back together to help their best friends young daughter, Emma. I enjoyed the flashback scenes, getting to know Laurel and Gavin as they go through high school, college, and their early married years together. The other books in this series really didn't have flashbacks like this.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I really enjoyed this book, this series, and will be reading more by Denise Hunter!

I am a huge fan of Denise Hunter's books and Harvest Moon did not disappoint. Lauren and Gavin have been dealing with heartbreak and taking in a little girl changes everything. Another love story that always makes me feel good at the end.

Harvest Moon

by Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter’s Riverbend Series seems to wrap up with Harvest Moon. Gavin and Laurel Robinson divorced after the death of their son Jesse and haven’t spoken since. Sadly, it took yet another tragic accident to bring them together again as they join forces to take care of a precious toddler Emma. How do you begin to explain to a two year old that she will not see her “mama and dada” again?

Both Gavin and Laurel have issues from their own childhoods that color their relationship with each other. Gavin is overcome with guilt. Laurel felt abandoned. Emma’s sociopathic grandmother who has never met Emma and didn’t attend her own daughter’s funeral decides she wants custody of Emma and Laurel and Gavin are determined that will not happen.

The author gradually shares what happens in Laurel and Gavin’s relationship from its high school beginnings to the disastrous end by inserting chapters about their past in the current timeline. In this way she introduces the reader gradually to the couple’s history. Then we can see what they have been through and why, and we can almost be a part of their growth. Gavin’s family, the Robinsons, are a mainstay of their community and their position causes the locals to look on Laurel with suspicion and distaste as do the Robinsons. Read this clean romance that has its share of twists and turns and serious themes to discover the power of love when directed towards a sweet two-year-old.

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

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance

Notes: #3 in the Riverbend Series. I don’t recommend it as a standalone. It focuses on the Robinson family. The first two books are about the other adult children in the family, but include all of the Robinsons. Now might be a good time to catch up on this series, however, as I just discovered that a fourth book’s publication is anticipated in September of 2023.

Publication: Septemer 6, 2022—Thomas Nelson Fiction

Memorable Lines:

He’d been trying to provide her the sense of security she craved. Trying to prove he was a better man than his dad—a notion that had never been in question for Laurel. But for a man with an alcoholic deadbeat dad? Yeah, it made sense.

Fear flowed like a ribbon of poison through her veins.

A laugh bubbled from her throat. He’d always been good at breaking the tension. And there’d been enough tension between them this morning to disrupt cell tower signals.

I always enjoy reading Denise Hunter’s books. She is a phenomenal author. I adored this series and impatiently awaited the last installment. Harvest Moon was an incredible read and I highly recommend it.

I read this book as a stand alone and had to look at recaps of the previous books to understand pertinent information, which should have been provided by the author. Hence the 4 stars instead of 5.

This is a second chance romance, one of my favorite genres, but there were too many fatal accidents for me. Gavin and Laurel are divorced, but are forced back together, when their best friends die in a plane crash, leaving them guardianship of their adorable 2 year old daughter Emma. Flashbacks reveal their past.

Gavin was enchanted with Laurel the first time he saw her in high school, but she was so insecure that she just saw arrogance. She is passive aggressive and has a chip on her shoulder, from the way she was brought up as a single child by a single mother. Eventually he gets through to her and they had a high school romance, but because of her insecurities she broke up with him when they are in different colleges. Again, he had to make the move, to attend her college, to persuade her that he really loved her. (I like him much better than I do her.) Eventually they did get married, but both have "daddy issues" and when their young son died in a car accident, these issues split them apart. They still love each other. but of course neither will tell the other that. Three years later, neither is really in position to take care of Emma, finally reaching their "dream", but also unwilling to allow her to be brought up by her psychotic grandmother. What are they willing to do for Emma?

I read an Arc provided by the publisher via NetGalley. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

“But despite her efforts she began to understand all the clichés about love. The sky did seem bluer, the grass greener. There were surely bluebirds fluttering around her head.”

Young love is a beautiful thing. But, when the hardships of life tear it apart, Gavin and Laurel see no happy ending. Especially when their grief is compounded by new losses and responsibilities that force them back together. This book was not an easy read and it’s not lighthearted. It is filled with a story of brokenness that can only be healed with time and forgiveness. However, it does bring hope that second chances are possible even in the midst of great hardship. I felt this was a more realistic read of the struggles that happen in the midst of loss.

If you’re struggling with grief or loss of a loved one, this could be a difficult read. However I found it was tastefully written. The characters were true to the struggles depicted. I found it refreshing to see how much not dealing with past hurts, especially childhood ones, can impact marriages. I’m also thankful this couple had a refreshing second chance.

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher. All opinions are my own and have been given honestly.

I really enjoyed this 3rd book in the series!

This was definitely an emotional read. Wonderful characters, great storyline, and it was my favorite of the series.

I would certainly recommend this read!

I love the long love story in this book. A tragedy that results in a broken marriage, all odds seem lost but another tragedy draws them back together. I enjoyed book 2 in this series but this one was better. Such a good story.

I love Denise Hunter books. I have read each title always within 24 hours of starting it. This one did not disappoint. A couple gone their separate ways are reunited because their friends are killed unexpectedly and years ago they were named guardians of their only child. Great character development, engaging conflict, and satisfying conclusion.

The story of the three Robinson siblings belonging to Riverbend Gap, comes to a full circle in this book. In the previous books of the series, we have already been introduced to Gavin (eldest brother) and Laurel - the divorced couple. We know that they had lost their child and that they are not on speaking terms currently; in fact, there are so much hard feelings still left over their past that the both of them do not want to do anything with each other.

It has been five years since Gavin and Laurel have been divorced; Gavin has finally come out of the emotional slump he had been since their separation and Laurel is up for a promotion at her work, something which she has been working towards all her life. Fate, however, delivers a terrible blow when their best friends Mike and Mallory lose their life in an accident, making their 2 years old daughter Emma an orphan. And according to their will, Gavin and Laurel are the ones they expect to bring up their daughter in their place.

As both Gavin and Laurel don't want to let Emma feel abandoned, they try to make the best out of their situation, while living in their friend's house. This leads them on to a journey of second- chances and learning from their old mistakes. Will they be able to get over their past pain and hurts? Do they become the family which their best-friends wanted them to be?

As in the previous books, the author really gets us into these people's lives and makes us empathize with them. She has drawn such a wonderful tale of second-chances which is more believable particularly because their divorce had happened because of their own insecurities and personal baggages. It was wonderful to read their journey into finding themselves again.

I have not ready anything by Denise Hunter before, but I will definitely read her writing again! This book was fabulous! It had amazing themes of redemption and restoration and was all around a great story. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Beautiful ending to a lovely series! The Riverbend Gap series ended up being one of my favorites to date. This one is a story of redemption, and who doesn’t love that? Thank you for yet another gorgeous series, Denise Hunter!

Wow! What an incredible book! I didn't want to put it down, wanting to know what was next but at the same time, not wanting it to end. I happened to discover Denise Hunter through her first book in the Riverbend series, Riverbend Gap. I know I will be reading more of her books in the future. I would highly suggest to anyone interested in reading this book, to start at the beginning with Riverbend Gap in order to get the full story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This sweet story will not disappoint romance lovers or Denise Hunter fans. This is the third book in the Riverbend series but would not have to be read in order. I enjoyed it and it was a nice break for me after reading an intense novel and non-fiction lately but didn’t feel like it was as good as the first two books. I wanted to see more of the Appalachian trail and hiking pulled in, it’s only used lightly in this story though it’s set in the same town. I also felt like there were a couple minor inconsistencies in the writing that didn’t matter but distracted me – for example, Laurel gets a full ride scholarship to Clemson but later two references about her needing to work all the hours she could get because it would go a long way toward tuition. The fact that she couldn’t consider keeping a job because it was a 45 minute commute didn’t feel right to me – agree it’s not awesome but 45 isn’t that unrealistic especially if it meant she could keep her dream job. Also, the fact that the flashback scenes (when they were in college) used Facetime may be technically possible given the characters’ ages but made me feel old! Despite all this I’m still a fan and have her book Bookshop by the Sea already on my soon-to-read bookshelf. Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an early copy to read and review. This book was released in September so is available now.

Denise Hunter's writing never lets me down! This book is certainly no exception as I found myself absorbed in the story, the plot and the lives of the characters from the very first page. This heartwarming tale is comforting and reassuring, filled with hope and the promise of happiness after all! I cannot recommend it enough!

This book was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. It as whole stands alone. I had not read the previous books in the series and while I understood things that had happened I also felt there were some gaps in my knowledge because I did not read the other books.

I would charcterize this book as more chik lit than romance. While its a second chance romance, the romantic scenes happen in the past. In this book the couple, Laurel and Gavin, never date and barely kiss in the present. Pretty much the romance in the rpresent was I love you and I never stopped etc and then they are together. They do spend a lot of time together and even live in the same house but thats to care for Emma rather than a romance between them.

I loved this story though. Its a story about two couples and two very different families. Laurel comes from a single family home and Gavin has several siblings and his mother married his step father when he was 12. His family is very close to each other where Laurel really just had her mom and best friend Mallory.

Mallory married Mike who was Gavin's best friend and they die in the opening scene of this book. As the story progresses we get to see the origin of Gavin and Laurel's romance from high school through the present. Through it all Mallory and Mike are there for their best friends until life gets in the way.

This was a real jerker and is not a light read story. I enjoyed it but it was different than I expected and is a great second chance story but I wish there had been more romance in the present.

Requested this book on accident. Will read the series soon! It and the series sounds amazing. Can’t wait

This was a heavy but beautiful book. I was bawling one chapter in. Such a wonderful story of redemption and how nothing is ever too broken for God to fix it. I appreciated that she wrote a real life story these things happen. And she did it beautifully.

I couldn’t put this book down. It was so full of many emotions that it had me at the first page.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.