🏞️ 🏫 "A Bridge Home" (Back to Bluestone River #3) (2020) #BHPrism 🏫 🏞️ - Book Tour & Review

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Bridge Home

(Back to Bluestone River #3)

By Virginia McCullough

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages

August 1, 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Will a new beginning

Lead to forever?

What good is a home without a family? School principal Eric Wells finally has the house he's always wanted, but a painful childhood makes him question his ability to be a father. So when his high school crush Amy Morgan returns to Bluestone River with her troubled daughter, he's surprised to find he wants to be there for both of them. Will Amy finally give him a chance?

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About the Author

Born and raised in Chicago, Virginia McCullough has been lucky enough to develop her writing career in many locations, including the coast of Maine, the mountains of North Carolina, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and currently, Northeast Wisconsin. She started her career in nonfiction, first writing articles and then books as a ghostwriter and coauthor. She's written more than 100 books for physicians, business owners, professional speakers and many others with information to share or a story to tell.

Virginia's books feature characters who could be your neighbors and friends. They come in all ages and struggle with everyday life issues in small-town environments that almost always include water, oceans, lakes, or rivers. The mother of two grown children, you'l find Virginia with her nose a book, walking on trails or her neighborhood street, or she may be packing her bag to take off for her next adventure. And she's always working on another story about hope, healing, and second chances.

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Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card and a $25 Etsy eGift Card
Open internationally for those who are eligible
Ends August 12, 2020

ENTER HERE

My Review

Thank you in advance to the author, Virginia McCullough, for providing an advanced review copy through Prism Book Tours. A positive review was not required or requested, and all words are my own.

This is the third of the “Back to Bluestone River” novels of the Harlequin Heartwarming series. And, this is the second one I’ve read through Prism – “The Christmas Kiss”. As a result I did purchase “A Family for Jason”, but have not yet had time to read it.

While the series are connected and the characters from previous novels mentioned, the story relies more on what is going on between Eric and Amy; as well as the other stories. Thus the reader doesn’t have to read the previous two novels to understand what is going on or to understand who the characters are.

Eric and Amy were great high school friends. Amy ended up marrying Scott, the high school athlete and is now divorced. As adults, Eric and Amy’s relationship gets started on an awkward level. Eric is now the principal at the school Amy’s daughter Cassie attends. And, Amy’s job as a single mom isn’t easy. Amy is also helping with the grandparents who raised her.

Eric and Amy have to meet over Cassie’s “issues” which stem from Amy and her ex-husband, Scott’s, divorce. And, Scott isn’t the best dad there is. 

I understood Cassie’s issues to a point. My father left just after my fourth (4^th) birthday. He would make promises and never fulfill them, forgot birthdays, forgot Christmas – so it’s safe to say that he was never around. Incidentally, haven’t seen him in 40 years. However, I didn’t act out like Cassie, so I found it a bit hard on that note to fully identify with her.

However, the author also does a great job of highlighting what trauma can do to some kids – not only Cassie, but her friend and a foster child – Lottie who desperately wants to stay with Kyra. Cassie and Lottie have a rough road, but become inseparable friends. So much so that Cassie even goes after a boy who is taunting her.

I loved how Eric was not just a dedicated principal, but also a friend to Amy and Cassie. He took an active role in his students in an untraditional way – he gave them choices, asked questions, and didn’t admonish as much as some would. It was easy to see why he was as good with kids as he was shown the same mercy as well. And, it is through meetings and talks that he guides kids into making better decisions. Such as teaching Cassie that sticking up for Lottie is good, but getting physical isn’t the way to go about it.

Georgia is another hero in this story – she also helps and supports Cassie in her job, encouragement in life, as well as career success. It didn’t surprise me what Georgia ended up doing.

The back or side story is about the bridge that gets damaged in a snow storm. That sets of a “somewhat” political issue for Mike Abbott (from A Family for Jason) in that he has to determine whether or not to save the bridge or to spend resources elsewhere. Also, Emma from The Christmas Kiss returns. And, it is through this back story the characters at first turn on each other regarding the bridge, but learn to compromise when/where needed. There are tense moments, but readers will be glad to see the town come together to get everything accomplished. 

The cover is darling, yet the guy depicted to be Eric looks far too young to be a principal. Still, I’m sure he’s cute ;) I just tend to a different kind of guy, lol.

The plot is equally darling and gives the reader so much in this story. And, these are huge books – while larger print, they’re also larger in content.

There were a few typos, one on page 57 should have read “Unfortunately, Scott is the present. Or he’s supposed to be, for Cassie” as opposed to “Unfortunately, Scott is the present. Or he’s supposed to be, for Amy” when Amy was talking with Eric. There was also a teensy problem with the font size on page 99. None of these take away from the message of the book or story.

I found this book difficult to put it down. I had to as it is a bit big to hold, but I just had to know what was going to happen, which is of course the standard “HEA” – happily ever after. Most romance novels are not complete without them. And, like most, this had the sweet Hallmark movie vibe to it. I honestly could see it as a movie.

There were a few “plot holes” I would’ve liked to have seen filled in – one was the reason Cassie and Lottie ran off which added a bit of suspense in chapter 15. I’m hoping the author gives us an update in the next book. There was so much I wanted to see wrapped up in this – Scott, will he or won’t he return, the bridge repair or restoration, as well as Kyra and Lottie’s situation. I’ll definitely be interested in returning to Bluestone River as soon as I can!

Clean, wholesome, sweet read that tugs at the heartstrings and makes you want to get up and hug everyone! Messages of compromise, adjusting, and learning to trust are apparent; and McCullough creates a beautiful story that is realistic while being uplifting. While sometimes it is hard to change, we can slowly evolve, expand, and open up to new experiences that enrich our lives.

Those who’ve read the previous two novels and fans of the author will likely want to read this. Anyone who enjoys clean, wholesome, and a story with a beautiful ending will enjoy it as well.

RATING:

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)