🍃🍂🍁 “Harvest Dance” (Bluestar Island #2) (2021) 🍁🍂🍃 – Book Review
On Tour with Prism Book Tours
“Beneath the harvest moon…
true love can bloom.”
A single dad, who’s in over his head, and an event planner running from her past, are drawn together on charming Bluestar Island by a determined seven-year-old and her escape-artist goat.
Event planner, Charlotte “Aster” Smith, has fled the only life she has ever known. The situation has left her questioning her own judgment as she cautiously tries to create a new life for herself on Bluestar Island. Taking the job of event coordinator for the small town is a step in the right direction. The only problem is it’s currently a part-time position, but the mayor suggests with additional funding the position could transform into a full-time job. In the meantime, she needs a second job in order to stay financially afloat.
Farmer and single father, Sam Bell, is struggling to keep his aging farm from going bankrupt while raising his young daughter. And now that his daughter’s babysitter is heading off to college, he needs help. So when he finds Aster is in need of work, he thinks his problems are solved. But things aren’t always what they seem. And he can’t help wondering what Aster is keeping from him.
In the lingering rays of a Bluestar Island sunset, Sam and Aster find themselves dancing upon the sand. As they help each other heal, the possibility of a future together becomes tangible. But will the ghosts from their pasts extinguish this budding romance?
Includes a delicious recipe for Aster’s Amazing Apple Cobbler!
Bluestar Island series:
Book 1 – Love Blooms (Hannah & Ethan)
Book 2 – Harvest Dance (Aster & Sam)
Book 3 – A Lighthouse Café Christmas (Darla & Will)
Book 4 – Rising Star (coming soon)
Tour Giveaway
One winner will receive a digital copy of LOVE BLOOMS plus a $25 Amazon gift card
Ends November 3, 2021
Thank you in advance to the author, Jennifer Faye, for providing a complimentary review copy through Prism Book Tours. A positive review was not required, and all words are my own.
Complete confession – I accidentally overbooked myself on reviews for the end of October/beginning of November. I was ahead, then got behind. But, I’m slowly catching up. And, this book? This made it SO easy to catch up! My goodness! This was a rather fast read despite the length of the book.
Outside of Debbie Macomber, I’ve read more Jennifer Faye books than ANY OTHER AUTHOR – I’ve read about nine (9) including this book. I’ve read no less than three (3) dozen (36) Macomber books. That includes ones I’ve read PRIOR to becoming a book blogger/reviewer (which was prior to 2019). That should say something about Faye’s work.
While Macomber’s work in her early days is some I won’t read again (let’s say “not clean at all”, her Cedar Cove, Blossom Street, Christmas Books, some standalones post 2000, etc are fairly clean so I go by her more recent work, especially the Cedar Cove series.
Faye is a clean author without the Christian content. That means I don’t have to worry about “foul” or “offensive” language (s-bomb, f-word, even d@mn), or “intimate” scenes that make me feel like a voyeur in the closet 😶 Those who want clean content without Christian and faith references won’t be disappointed in Faye’s offerings. (FYI: I’m not against Christian and faith reads, but some readers might not be interesting in that content).
This is NO exception. However, it is an exception to being light and cheery like most of her books. This takes a slightly darker turn with the storyline. Those who have issues with domestic violence might want to pass on this one. While Faye wasn’t too graphic in describing the injuries that Aster sustained prior to arriving on Bluestar Island, it might be traumatic to some readers to read about it.
That’s not to say this is a dark story at all. There were a few moments of laughter that I’ll get to further in the review. If you read book #1, Love Blooms, then you remember Dash, the cute pygmy goat. Well, that’s one source of a few giggles (even a march into two with two goat buddies). I’ll admit, knowing this was Sam’s story, I HAD to read it. While I wanted to know more about Sam, I had to have a little more DASH in my life. I love that little bundle of trouble!
The cover is perhaps simple and represents a few aspects included in the book. The title is from an event that Sam, Hannah’s brother, is involved in. More on that later.
The readers hear more about Hannah and Ethan. Hannah has a more significant appearance. Ethan is barely around, but they are still together. Along with those two, Birdie returns, obviously her spunky self – with her dog, Peaches. Even Agnes Dewey makes a brief appearance.
If you haven’t read Love Blooms prior to this book, I’d definitely do it. There are also some references from the first book that will be mentioned in this one.
I hesitate to say a book is a FAVORITE. It makes me feel like I am saying that the author’s other works aren’t. But, this is TRULY my favorite book of Jennifer Faye’s.
Why?
It definitely reads and feels like a Hallmark movie. The author does have a Hallmark book out, but this has everything a movie would need:
💕 Romance (though that
isn’t until around the 97% mark)
💔 Emotional Storytelling
🚨 Drama
🚨 Suspense (only a little
but)
💕 Happily-Ever-After ending
And, Faye’s writing was so superb that I often would look at how much I’ve read and wonder how I got where I was so fast. She doesn’t rocket through the story, but she doesn’t plod along either. This is definitely not a beach ride like the first one, it is a cozy-up-on-the-couch with cocoa kind of read.
There were times I couldn’t put it down.
As obviously stated in the blurb – this is Sam and Charlotte/Aster’s story.
Faye starts off with the domestic violence. Charlotte’s ex, Oscar (Oz) is obviously not getting the hint (when do some of his kind ever get the hint) that Charlotte doesn’t want to be with him.
The scene and chapter are short, and readers then see “Aster” arriving in Bluestar Island to start her life over. Faye also addresses Oz’ sentencing in a way that is FAR too realistic. The idea of not making a victim testify is both good and bad.
Thanks to Darla, Aster has a roof over her head and a job at city hall. And, after hiding her scar, Aster is well on her way to making a new life for herself. Other than Darla and Mayor Banks, no one else knows her past.
Aster ends up meeting Sam when she double parks the golf cart and he can’t get by her. I really liked the idea of getting by a place in nothing but golf carts and bikes.
Anyway …
After getting her cart going, Sam doesn’t think he’ll see her again. That is until Aster comes to his farm for apples. But, she’s got the wrong farm. Or does she? She offers to help Nikki (Sam’s daughter) and Sam find that little goat – yup, Dash is at it again – he escapes from his pen.
Sam also has his hands full with finding a new babysitter.
After seeing his notice, Aster thinks it is a good deal. That is until an accident almost sabotages her chances. After stewing about it, and after hearing Nikki beg, Sam decides to keep Aster around. He does point out that she’ll need a phone.
While planning the annual charity event (which is going to be both good and bad) – Aster begins caring for Nikki. She even starts helping Sam around the house. While he appreciates it, he keeps the memory of failing Beth (his late wife) at the front, thus preventing him from having any happiness at all.
Aster can relate to Nikki; she lost her own parents when she was 6. She didn’t have the help or time to help her grieve. She does worry if Sam asks about her past – thankfully he doesn’t.
One of the slightly funny moments is when Aster is window-shopping and sees a collar she thinks would be cute for Dash. When she hands the gift to Sam, he gets the wrong idea – he’s not into dating.
Aster has a great idea for the Labor Day event – softball and gets an overwhelming response from it.
Things begin looking up for Aster – not only with her job at city hall, but with being a babysitter for Nikki. Aster wants to connect with Rosa, her former landlord and neighbor. The woman is more – they are friends. She makes sporadic calls to the woman to simply hear her voice. This is also something that happens to DV victims – losing contact with those around them.
Soon, Aster becomes more than just Nikki’s sitter – she helps with the housework and laundry as well. Despite seeing how good she is for him; Sam won’t allow himself to be happy. Ugh! Men!
Nikki is welcomed to Bluestar in numerous ways. Even, Sam’s sister offers to help teach her to bake.
Faye definitely keeps the drama going with this – even more so when Sam finds out who benefits from the charity drive that year. Of course, he takes it badly. But, he also finds a way to give back to the community.
I definitely wanted someone to give Sam a kick in the backside of his pants a few times. Even though he tells Aster about Beth’s death – he sees absolutely no “epiphany” from it.
There is a thunderstorm even about 78% of the way into the book which causes a tense situation. Aster eventually tells him about Oz. And, readers don’t get a “kiss” until about 81% of the way in.
Readers do get the pleasure of Sam and Hannah’s sister, Emma “Em” Bell’s appearance. Hopefully we’ll get a book about her down the road. I had to laugh at Birdie at times. That woman is always up to something.
Thankfully, after the storm that goat’s fugitive days are over. Though, why do I not believe that?
Moving on …
It isn’t until about the 97% (cutting it close) where Sam finally becomes aware of what everyone else does – Aster is good for me. That’s about the time the drama starts piling up, especially for Aster, and Sam finally makes an admission! What took him so long? 🤦🏻️
I didn’t expect one aspect of the ending – but it is interesting. I felt it was a great way for Charlotte/Aster to begin to move forward. Trust me, what happens to Oz – well deserved. There is a “murder” mentioned which might be sad or traumatic for some readers.
I cried happy tears at the end. I definitely can’t wait to return to the island. Can I mention I’m looking forward to a few weddings? 💍💒
Other than Sam’s guilt, which after a while became a pathetic pity-party, I DEARLY loved this book. I understood his grief and torment over losing his wife – but enough was enough. It seemed every other chapter was him trying to convince himself he didn’t deserve happiness. I understood his grief, but even his daughter wanted a mother (can we say “ugly crying” at this point??).
Faye also addresses Oz’ sentencing in Aster’s case in a way that is FAR too realistic and, I am sure some readers will be outraged by it. The idea of not making a victim testify in a trial is both good and bad. While it doesn’t put the victim through the trauma again, the jury (even the judge) and media won’t get to see the scars the person has to live with or hear the terror they went through either. Faye discreetly and gingerly handles the topic – especially when the person returns and tries to act on threats.
On a more positive note, as a “petite” person (5’ 1” here 🙋🏻️), I truly enjoyed a main character who was petite. Aster is my mom’s height of 5’ 3”. Most are usually about 5’ 6” to almost 6’ tall. So, I enjoyed relating to the tall, 6” guy and petite gal love story.
I cried happy tears at the end. I definitely can’t wait to return to the island. Can I mention I’m looking forward to a few weddings? 💍💒
Those who’ve read book #1 and are fans of the author – you won’t want to miss this one. And, you won’t want to miss Darla’s story in book #3. Best part? It’s a Christmas book!! 🎄☃️❄
RATING:
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)️
Thank you so much for hosting my book! 😊 I hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat I would love most about growing up on a farm, is the peace and quiet away from the city. Have to admit....somedays I like animals better than humans! LOL
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