🚐🥧💕 "Hometown" (Hearts of the Ridge #1) (2021) 💕🥧🚐 - Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Wild Rose Press (August 11, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1509235647
ISBN-13: 978-1509235643
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“When Tessa's big-city plans take the A Train to disaster, she lands in her sleepy hometown, smack in the middle of the most unlikely love triangle ever to hit Pennsylvania's Amish Country. Hot-shot Dr. Richard Bruce is bound to Green Ridge by loyalty that runs deep. Deeper still is Jonas Rishel's tie to the land and his family's Amish community. Behind the wheel of a 1979 camper van, Tessa idles at a fork in the road. Will she cruise the superhighway to the future? Or take a slow trot to the past and a mysterious society she never dreamed she'd glimpse from the inside?”
Thank you in advance to author Wendy Rich Stetson as well as the publisher, Wild Rose Press, for providing a complimentary review copy of the book through JustRead Publicity Tours’ Bookstagram tour. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own. Thank you also to Prism Book Tours for including me on this review tour.
Hometown is the author’s debut book. It is always refreshing to explore new talent especially with a quirky, upbeat, emotional, and dramatic story that is a train-wreck in and of itself due to one of the main characters. The story is told solely from Tessa’s POV in third person. The author’s descriptive writing with relative short chapters helped the story move along and not stagnant in any one area.
The cover is whimsical, and the Amish buggy versus the hulking SUV really sets off the complete differences between the Amish and the Englisch ways of life.
Believe it or not, I actually enjoy Amish fiction, whether it is the Love Inspired line, Love Inspired Suspense, or certain Revell titles (blame JustRead Tours and a blind date book a few years ago, lol). It also doesn’t hurt that I love it as a result of a movie I saw when I was younger. And, that movie plays a small part in this book.
Confession? I absolutely LOVED the Harrison Ford movie WITNESS which is mentioned here when Tessa and her friend talk about being Amish. And, the scene referenced? The barn dance, which is my FAVORITE scene of the movie. Every time I heard Sam Cooke’s “What A Wonderful World” I instantly think of that scene and dance.
Unlike the movie, which was a drama suspense; this is a strict romance. It is a fairly clean romance, with a hint of a “questionable” scene. That scene (I am hoping) is something that Tessa is likely imagining due to what could be a slight case of anxiety. There are some mentions of intimacy though nothing too graphically written. There is a kiss that has more detail than I would like though. For the most part, the intimacy is kept in check.
Some questionable language is used, which could be referred to as “barn language”. In this case, the words “bloody” (which can be offensive to those from Canada, UK, Australia or similar regions); he!!; and d@mn are used. There is no mention of the “s”-word or “f”-bomb, thus keeping it as close to clean as possible. It has a Hallmark movie “like” vibe to it.
The main premise is a non-intimate love triangle between Tessa, Jonas (Amish dude), and Richard (the doctor with the SUV). Tessa knows that Richard is stability while she is attracted to Jonas who is honest as well as hard working, in addition to the fact he is good looking.
Overall, Jonas was the best character and part of the book. I know I savored those scenes more than I should have.
Dr. Richard Bruce was definitely the WORST character and part of the book. I couldn’t stand him from the first moment. Tessa was seemingly encouraging the relationship with him while daydreaming of Jonas. I understood that Tessa was being realistic about Jonas, who faced shunning for leaving the order, and Richard offered the stability and “realistic” type of relationship she thought she needed. Though, to me, it also wasn’t fair to either guy for her to “play” them or at least take advantage of their affection.
Right off, the book starts with Tessa in her 1979 camper van at a Farmer’s Market, and she’s heading for the whoopie pies. (Pics for reference ⬇️)
If y’all have never tried them – you’re missing out. My favorite? The chocolate ones!! Of course, unlike Tessa, I have to get mine either at the gas station or grocery store. But, they are a tasty treat!
It is here she meets Jonas along with his “sister” Nora, and his niece Rebecca. It is clear Nora is not a pleasant person. And, it is at the end of chapter one (1) that Tessa’s move to New York is derailed when her friend, Jen, announces she’s getting married.
It is Tessa’s former Sunday School teacher who contacts her about the dessert table for a charity auction. Tessa agrees, but can’t bake despite her mother being known for cookbooks. Tessa decides to search for the Amish dude and his sister to get some pies – 36 pies.
It is when Tessa picks them up she learns the relationship between Nora, Rebecca, and Jonas. And, Tessa definitely has a crush on the flirtatious Amish dude. Though Nora seems to want to crush any notions of Tessa hanging around them, especially Jonas.
At the auction, Tessa meets Richard and gets set up on a date with him. Thus, begins her “dating” the doctor, which brings them together to co-chair another event. It puts their awkward relationship in motion.
Yet, Tessa ends up contracting Jonas to build a complicated gazebo for her parents’ anniversary, which begins that flirtation. But, despite the money the gazebo can bring to Nora and Jonas, Nora is against her brother doing it.
Even though Richard rubbed Tessa the wrong way, she continues to see him, and his odd behavior continues. By 35% in, I was definitely done with him. And, there is a moment at the fair when he blames her for a ride’s inoperability stranding them. Yet, he jumps into hero mode when a child’s life literally hangs in the balance. Even though he is a complete a$$, he admits he loves Tessa and she practically swoons.
But, that only lasts so long.
Even on a trip, all Richard can do is talk about himself, not stopping to care about Tessa. She doesn’t seem to miss him and ignores what should be a HUGE, glaring red flag waving in her face.
Jonas is far more patient, kind, and listens to Tessa. He wants to talk to her. It is clear Jonas wants to walk/ride on the wild side as well having never done his rumspringa when he was younger. There is a comical scene regarding him and a police officer.
When Richard returns, it is Tessa’s trip time, which puts things into perspective for her. And, it is something that should’ve ended her and Richard, yet the poor relationship is literally on life support.
After chapter 16, about 71% of the way in, it definitely reached a turning point that caught my attention and kept it. Jonas explains the dynamics and what happened with his sister and her husband. There is also a huge plot point involving Jonas as well.
And, it is here that the book really picked up and I honestly couldn’t put it down. I really became deeply invested in it as well as Tessa and Jonas. This book was on its way to grabbing me after chapter one (1), but alternated between interesting and annoying with Richard being the primary reason for most of the book. Tessa was a secondary reason.
It was also interesting to see the Amish vs. Englisch dynamics when it comes to medical care and there was a point where I was really reading fast as I was honestly praying for the safety of a beloved character. This was a point where Tessa really stepped up and became a true hero in her own right.
This is the first book of the HEARTS OF THE RIDGE series, but this can act as a standalone. Though, I would definitely be interested in reading more of the series and see who returns from this book in book #2.
To be honest, I wish Tessa would’ve dumped Richard right off. There is a scene when Tessa comes back, she’s a bit disturbed by – a dead horse, yet Richard thinks the accident surrounding it is funny. And, she is STILL with him even though his insensitivity clearly shows.
I sort of pegged the ending, but it was interesting to see how it worked out. And, Tessa really matured so much towards the end of the book. I do hope to learn more about Jonas’ sister and niece in the next book(s).
A quirky and yet interesting question comes early on in the book. It is in no way related to the story overall. Tessa wonders how ancient people discovered popcorn. She wondered if someone looked at the hard “seeds” and went “hey, let’s torch these things and see if they explode into food”. I’m curious now.
And, no, despite what some might think of the Amish, it isn’t like what Tessa thought when comparing it to LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. Those were settlers and/or pioneers, not Amish. They didn’t have access to certain things because of the time period.
There is some mention of religion and God, but not until about 72% into the story. That, despite having an Amish theme to the story, is not integral to the story.
Those that enjoy a romance with less of the “steam” and want a bit of “nice” spice along with a quirky read – are sure to enjoy this offering by Stetson. I am eagerly waiting for book #2 to see where this series is going.
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)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wendy Rich Stetson is a New York City girl who still considers the green ridges of Central Pennsylvania her home. She grew up watching the country roll by from the back of a 1979 Volkswagen Camper Van, and she keeps a running list of favorite roadside attractions from coast to coast. Now an author of clean and wholesome romance, Wendy is no stranger to storytelling. She’s a Broadway and television actress, an audiobook narrator, and a mom who enjoys little more than reading bedtime stories to her daughter. And cake. Wendy lives in Upper Manhattan with her husband Pete, daughter Cate, and Maine Coon Mix kitty, Tessa.
You can find her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWendyRichStetson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyrichstetson_author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StetsonRiches
Website: http://wendyrichstetson.com/
*This post contains affiliate links
Thank you so much for your incredibly thoughtful read! I'm so glad that the book swept you up by the end. Without giving too many spoilers...I can promise that you'll learn much much more about Nora and Rebecca in the coming books!(wink wink!)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words ... and thank you for the heads up!! :)
Delete