Laurel Jackson and Gavin Robinson met in high school and married after Laurel finished grad school. After a tragic accident takes their son, they divorce. Laurel remains in Ashville, and Gavin returns to Riverbed Gap. They each think they’ve moved on, but when their mutual friends die in a plane crash, they discover they share custody of the couple’s only child.

At two-and-a-half, Emma needs the stability of the familiar, and both Laurel and Gavin long to provide what Emma needs. They must set aside their differences and create a refuge for little Emma as she comes to terms with the loss of her parents.

But can two people with such a long history of love and misunderstanding work together? Have they matured enough during their years of separation to support little Emma through her grief?

What I Loved About This Book

Readers will relate to Gavin and Laurel—two people with baggage from the past that drives them apart. Relationships are difficult, especially when we cling to false narratives about ourselves. As Laurel and Gavin explore how to best help Emma, they make discoveries about their own lives—and their love for each other.

This second-chance romance will not only entertain readers, but it will also make them think about false narratives and choices which may hinder relational growth in their own lives.

Denise Hunter has outdone herself with Harvest Moon (Riverbend #3). Ms. Hunter has written an extraordinary book with well-crafted characters. It is a rich story with authentic emotional details that it breaks your heart while also giving hope that God will bring good out of terrible events. From the beginning to the end the story felt so real every character behaved just as I would have imagined I would if in the same situation. That includes Laurel and Gavin but also supporting family members.

This series is one of Ms. Hunter’s best, so it is not to be missed. The first two books in the series deal with Gavin’s siblings but he is also there, struggling and recovering. I would suggest reading all three books. As for Harvest Moon, it is two thumbs up from me.

The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

I have been waiting for Gavin's HEA from the very first book in this series. I am so glad it's finally here. This is not how I expected it to turn out, it was so much better. Laurel and Gavin have a beautiful love story with lots of ups and downs and growth. I think this is my favorite book in the series and the perfect ending for the Robinson family. I am so happy for them.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

Harvest Moon, the third book in the Riverbend trilogy by Denise Hunter, is a delightful, feel-good, moving story that you won’t want to put down. It is a story that deals with some difficult, heavier topics, but the characters are so appealing and thoughtful, and the content is handled so respectfully and gently that it makes for an impactful story.

We’ve met Gavin in the previous two books, but now we get to find out his tragic backstory. Laurel and Gavin’s marriage fell apart when their young son died, but also due to issues from the past that they carried along with them into adulthood. Years later, tragedy strikes again within their circle and they are drawn back together. With a united purpose, and age and experience on their side, they have the opportunity to revisit, and possibly heal, their relationship.

Although this book does get a bit repetitive at times, it’s so worth it because of the tender, enduring romance, the likable, realistic characters, the community, and the uplifting message. The ending also absolutely made my heart soar. Harvest Moon is such a heart-warming, easy read, I feel encouraged after reading it and look forward to the next offering by Denise Hunter.

It's release day for the third book in the Riverbend Romance series!

I was so excited to read this book because I knew it would focus on Gavin—the most mysterious family member. This novel reads fast!

I liked that this was a second-chance (reunion) romance. I recommend reading the earlier books in the series to get a clear picture of the family, though you may not be too lost if you begin here. Also, now that they are all out, you could read them back to back.

The hero and heroine’s shared mission brings out their loyalty to mutual friends, their nobility to care for the needy, and their protectiveness. They’re forced into close proximity, and motivated, at certain times, to let their guards down—something they’ve avoided for fifteen years. This helps them see each other differently. Because they have a painful past, they’ll need a different perspective in order to overcome the lies that caused division back then.

They haven’t admitted it to each other, or anyone really, but each of them has missed the other one. Being together in this season brings up both good and bad memories, and some of the good memories are full of their shared romance.

There’s a lot of pain to process, both in the present story and from the past, but the story doesn’t get too heavy.

Distrust, shame, guilt, and regret keep them apart, plus the pestering of Gavin’s nosy family. They’re trying to protect him from the severe brokenness he has only recently begun to overcome. This couple will have to recognize and battle their lies in order to envision a different future where they aren’t imprisoned by their baggage.

The heroine once dreamed of working at the Biltmore Estate’s gardens. I liked this setting and her interest in trees, orchards, plants. The hero has recently joined up with a fellow contractor to grow a new business, and his competence and recovery from the state he was in in books one and two was rewarding to watch.

There were tender moments and well-written characters. I loved it!

Highly recommended!

A story of grace, compassion, and hope

Laurel and Gavin’s marriage ended in a storm of loss. When tragedy throws them together again, will their old patterns of miscommunication and misunderstanding persist? Or will they find a second chance at love?
Harvest Moon is a story of second chances, of learning to understand, and of learning to forgive . . . even ourselves.
Harvest Moon is a bit more serious than Hunter’s usual style, but she handles the difficult topics with grace, compassion, and hope. I highly recommend!


*Thank you to @netgalley and @tnzfiction for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a beautiful, touching story that gave a couple a second chance at love.  I liked how the author did flashbacks to show how Gavin and Laurel had met in high school working on a project and later started dating. This really gave insights into their characters and led me to understand them better, especially Laurel who had a fear of abandonment as her father had left when she was young and her mother always told her that the guys would leave.

I liked that out of the tragedy of their best friend's deaths, came love and hope for Emma, and for Gavin and Laurel.  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

I love that Denise Hunter is so predictably good. I just know when I open one of her books, it will be a good, clean, heartfelt story. She writes relatable characters that are easy to care about.

This is the third in the series. I have read them all, but I do not think you need to start from the beginning. Each book is focus on different characters, so you don't feel like you have missed any history.

The second chance at a relationship is one of the sub-genres that I enjoy and she wrote it so well.

Harvest Moon by Denise Hunter is a truly remarkable story of love and how true love can be rekindled after time and heartache.

Wow! Harvest Moon was a beautiful, heartwarming and heartbreaking read from the first pages to the last pages.
This is book 3 in the Riverbend series, Sadly, this is the last book in the series. I highly recommend you read the books in order though they can be read as a standalone. Each book has been great with this one just being the greatest. I honestly could not put the book down.
A few times I got very watery eyes.
A few times I laughed.
I absolutely loved this book!
Denise Hunter gives us a wonderfully written story about love of friends and family, redemption and second chances.
Many thanks to NetGalley, publishers @thomasnelson and author, Denise Hunter, for the wonderful opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.

It was refreshing to read about a divorce couple and their journey back to one another. There was so much emotion in this book as they have a tragic backstory, but there was also precious moments of levity and wisdom sprinkled throughout.

As this is a series, we also get to see characters from the previous books and a catch up on their life, but I believe this book can be read as a standalone.

This was a great book and a great finish to the series. Fans of Ms. Hunter will enjoy Harvest Moon.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

Harvest Moon is the third story in the Riverbend series. This story focuses on Laurel and Gavin, who are divorced, but end up having to work closely together when an unexpected tragedy leaves them as guardians to their best friends’ young daughter. I try to never give away spoilers in my reviews, but I don’t think I can write a decent review that explains why I struggled with this story and why my rating is so low without the addition of spoilers. The bottom line is that this story was not the story for me. It was too heavy and depressing and the end was not enough to lift that feeling. I also think this couple would not stay married if they were real. If inclined, please read on for my reasons why, but know there are many spoilers ahead.

I’ve read both Riverbend Gap and Mulberry Hollow, so I was looking forward to Gavin’s story. I was curious as to why Laurel and Gavin divorced after their young son died and how their eventual reunion would play out.

From the beginning of this story, I struggled with liking Laurel. Even when she was reminiscing about how she and Gavin fell in love in high school, I struggled to like her. I actually wondered why Gavin was even attracted to her prickly personality. As the story progressed so did my dislike for her. She was all about herself. She broke up with Gavin in college because she assumed he was going to break up with her so she did it to get it over with. Later on in the story, we learn that she gave up on their marriage because she was sure Gavin was going to leave her, so she left first. So in essence, she learned nothing from their first break up!

Gavin was the one who gave up everything for Laurel and when he finally proposed after 9 years of dating, he waited because of her not himself, well, after reading her reaction, it was everything I could do to not close the book and be done. I kept reading thinking things would lighten up and that Laurel would be nicer to Gavin, but honestly, in my opinion, that never happened. So when they professed their love for each other at the end of the story, I just didn’t buy it. I didn’t buy that she loved him and as for Gavin loving her, I couldn’t figure out why. In the end, I really struggled with so many aspects of this story. Harvest Moon was just not the story for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is minimal. 2 stars because of Gavin.

Harvest Moon
Riverbend Romance Series Book 3
by: Denise Hunter
Thomas Nelson-Fiction, Thomas Nelson
Release Date: 09/6/2022
Genre: Romance

Author Denise Hunter presents her third book in the Riverbend Romance Series with the emotionally compelling Harvest Moon. Hunter layers her North Carolina small town setting with not only romance, but also the tragedies, losses, and second chances of her characters. The relationships of family and friends run deep and constantly evolve, amid the beauty of mountain and natural splendor.

Laurel and Gavin are divorced but brought together after a horrific accident kills important people in both their lives. Thanks to the well written dual time line, their high school romance gives readers insight into their history as a couple. Despite their broken relationship, the present finds them responsible for a caring for both a child and apple orchard.

I was happy to read about characters from the first two books in the series, as well. Hunter excels at creating a community of people I really care about. This book serves as a stand-alone, but I've been fortunate to read the gratifying series in order.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson-Fiction, Thomas Nelson for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.

A beautiful ending to the series. Gavin Robinson and Laurel Jenkins were high school sweethearts. First loves. This story is told in the present and the past. You can't move forward until you make peace with the past. So many underlying issues from when they were both growing up. Now with the death of their best friends, they are getting a second chance to get it right with Emma, Mike and Mallory's daughter. They have one obstacle to get through to be officially named her guardian. With family present in the courtroom, love is finally declared, No more living in your head. Dealing with abandonment issues head on. The epilogue wraps up Coop and Katie along with Avery and Wes.

This was the best of the series, in my honest opinion. We first met Gavin in Katie and Cooper's story. She was a college friend of his sister Avery's, come to work as a nurse in her clinic, and as an internet date for him. But a car accident and subsequent rescue from Cooper , put them all in an uncomfortable situation . We learned of Gavin's sad past and divorce.

This story throws Gavin and his ex together co-parenting their best friend's child after their untimely deaths. As the story unfolds the couple realize they still have feelings for each other. They've both changed in 3 years and as they explore their feelings the author has an uncanny knack of personalizing the situation. Her descriptions provide a reality for the reader that aids in empathy and understanding.

Truly a wonderful story that rates 5 stars. Although part of a series it can be read as a standalone story but the series all together was perfect!

Harvest Moon by Denise Hunter is third in the Riverbend romance series. Laurel and Gavin divorce after their son’s death. They see each other again when two of their friends pass in a plane crash leaving them as guardians to their young daughter, Emma. The story follows the present day and has flashbacks to Laurel and Gavin in high school, college and during their marriage.

This is a good redemption story told from both characters point of views. We walk with Laurel and Gavin through their heart breaks and heart changes while watching them become better people. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Riverbend Romance Series and it was nice to revisit with old friends from the other books in the series as well. The author has the gift of writing beautifully flawed characters and allowing you to see their transformation.

Harvest Moon reminds you of the value of grace , forgiveness, and second chances. I recommend this story.

I was given a copy by the publisher through NetGalley and not required to write a positive review.

This book was very sad for me to read, dealing with grief and loss when Gavin and Laurel lose their best friends in a plane crash and are now struggling as they are named the guardians of the orphaned daughter Emma left behind. But there is also hope. Gavin and Laurel are divorced and have a traumatic history themselves, having loss their young son four years ago. Together they try to put Emma first and do what is right, much to the concern of both of their families. But life could be filled with second chances and Hunter shows that rekindled romance could be a possibility. Can Gavin and Laurel resolve their trauma from their failed marriage, the loss of their son, the loss of trust and faith in each other and come together as a family for Emma and themselves? They have strong faith and pray for guidance in this wholesome story full of hope and redemption and forgiveness. It's a quick read that will make you feel happy at the end. i did not realize that this book was part of a series as it can also be a stand alone book too. Well written with lots of sensitive topics that are handled well, but the characters are not that complex. I would like to know the significance of the title although I know that was the name of the orchard. Still, I want to try other Denise Hunter books and check out the other books that take place in Riverbend.
Many thanks to #netgalley #denishehunter #harvestmoon for the opportunity to read and review this book

Denise Hunter sure knows how to write a romance! And if there is anything that her Riverbend romance series has shown me, it's that she can write those romances out of some pretty unusual and often difficult circumstances as well. Harvest Moon certainly is proof of that, as the story starts out with divorced couple Laurel and Gavin being brought back into each other's lives after the death of their friends leaves a toddler orphaned. Oh yes... it's a pretty weighty one, that's for sure!

Harvest Moon is the third book in this series, and this is one that I would certainly recommend reading in order. You might be able to enjoy the story as a standalone, but having read the previous books, we've already gotten to know Gavin a little bit and I think that certainly helped me to appreciate his story and this second chance all that much more. I'll admit, I've been waiting for him to get his happily ever after since book one and I was so happy with how his story turned out. It truly is a beautiful second chance love story, and one that is certainly going to stick with me for quite some time. I have enjoyed every book in this series... but this one might just be my favorite.

If you enjoy a good, clean romance (with some swoon-worthy kisses, I might add), this is certainly a series that you absolutely cannot miss.


**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

Harvest Moon is the final book in this series, and what a way to end it! I’ve been patiently waiting for Gavin’s turn as his backstory was hinted at in the previous two books. This novel is a beautiful, emotional story that deals with child-loss, divorce, second-chances, and God turning a deep tragedy into good. Another theme that Denise Hunter explored was forgiveness of others, but most importantly, self-forgiveness. Fans of Denise’s book Sweetbriar Cottage will devour this one.

This is a beautifully written second chance romance that is full of emotions. Gavin and Laurel's story will touch your heart and soul. I feel in love with little Emma. This story is full of hope and inspiration. Loved it!!
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.