🎸🎼💗 “Heartsong Hills” (Hearts of the Ridge #2) (2022) 💗 🎼🎸 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Publisher: Wild Rose Press (September 6, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN: 1509245723
ISBN-13: 978-1509245727
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“Amish girls don't dance. Dancing is against the rules, and Nora Beiler always follows the rules...until a runaway logging truck shatters her world forever. Desperate to heal from the accident, she enrolls in Shuffle off to Fitness, an exercise class at the local senior center. She never dreamed it involved tap-dancing...or just how much she'd love to dance.
Exiled from Nashville, country music star Tucker McClure has no one to blame but himself. Weekly gigs at the local farmers' market keep the demons at bay. The last thing he expects is to find himself in an old folks' fitness class...dancing with a girl who makes him question everything he ever thought he wanted. Will the past drive Nora and Tucker apart? Or can love bridge the gap between hearts and worlds?”
Thank you in advance to the author, Wendy Rich Stetson, for providing a complimentary review copy through her launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Last year I read the author’s debut, Hometown, the first book of the series. And, this cover? Really matches the previous book (so I’m wondering what book #3 will look like).
I will say this … I REALLY, DEEPLY DISLIKED Nora Beiler in that book. That woman was a pain. I ADORED her daughter Rebecca. But, Nora was a wretched witch.
So, why would I read this book?
I wanted to know what her story was and wondered if she could redeem herself. Honestly, I had to know if she would.
Here’s a quick heads up: YOU HAVE TO READ THE FIRST BOOK before diving into this one. The reason? Two of the people mentioned in this book, as well as a few events referenced, are in the first book. This help keeps the continuity going.
While they show up twice and are mentioned a few times, Tessa and Jonas have a limited engagement with this book. And, there is a slight spoiler about them in it.
This story is told mostly from Nora’s POV, and sometimes from Tucker’s.
Returning from the first book:
🌻 Rebecca (Nora’s daughter)
🩺 Nurse Cindy (Richard’s wife)
🥼 Dr. Richard (previously dated Tessa)
Stetson also introduces us to:
👩🏻🦳 Verna (Nora, Jonas, and Samuel’s mother)
👨🏻🌾 Samuel (Nora and Jonas’ brother)
🎤 Tucker (Nora’s Englisch “love” interest; Hank’s grandson)
👨🏻🌾 Mervin (Nora’s Amish “suitor”)
🥨 Annie (Nora’s childhood friend)
🕺🏻 Hank (Shuffle off to Fitness, also part of the TipTop Tappers; no partner; widowed)
💃🏻 Jerry (teacher of Shuffle off to Fitness)
💃🏻 Joan (Shuffle off to Fitness, also part of the TipTop Tappers; partners with Edna)
💃🏻 Edna (Shuffle off to Fitness, also part of the TipTop Tappers; partners with Joan)
💃🏻 Marion (Shuffle off to Fitness, also part of the TipTop Tappers; partners with Gene)
💃🏻 Dot (Shuffle off to Fitness, also part of the TipTop Tappers; married to Bert)
🕺🏻Gene (Shuffle off to Fitness, also part of the TipTop Tappers; partners with Marion)
🕺🏻 Bert (Shuffle off to Fitness, also part of the TipTop Tappers; married to Dot)
Quite the cast, and they are absolute characters.
With regard to content and warning – this is not as “steamy” as the first book (given Tessa’s “fascination” with Jonas). And, it wasn’t even that steamy to begin with, but more or less a “not-so-innocent” romance. This is more toned down, but still not one’s traditional Amish romance.
There is a love triangle but barely noticeable – Nora/Mervin/Tucker, definitely not the way Tessa’s went in the first book.
Those who read the first book can easily slide into this one. Obviously it’s been a year or two since the second one (by the events) – Nora is in Ohio, but not happy or content (what else is new). She is also thinking about Dr. Richard’s offer to replace her hip and “heal” her condition. Rebecca is grateful to him after his quick actions in saving Rebecca.
A bit of a spoiler – I was shocked that it inspired Richard to open a clinic to treat the “plain” people.
A year later – Nora is back in Pennsylvania, and recovering from surgery. She needs therapy, only the therapy place is too far for her to bike (physically and safely). The only reason she can use the bicycle is because it is deemed medically necessary.
Cindy sets Nora up with a senior group – “Shuffle off to Fitness”. What she doesn’t tell Nora is that it is a dancing class. And, of course, Amish girls don’t dance. And, Nora doesn’t tell her mother what the class really is or how much she apparently enjoys it.
It is clear the tap-dancing classes have an effect on her – she’s certainly got rhythm and talent according to her partner Hank, but looking in a mirror, she’s smiling and happy. She lights up even more meeting Hank’s grandson, Tucker.
Yet, there are times that Nora has her “problems” – especially dealing with Englisch people at the market. Upon observing their behavior, she is cross, and assumes they think everything belongs to them and all they do is take and take. Yet, Tucker seems to bring out the old “Smiling Nora”, even calls her Twinkle Toes.
When she’s at the dance class, Nora is happy. She laughs, has more courage, and definitely shows spunk. At home, not so much. She even has a rather spirited disagreement over a Christian author’s book – C.S Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Her mother, Verna thinks Nora is being too hard on Rebecca and fears the child will choose to leave the community like Jonas did.
She even gets upset when Tucker innocently asks about Rebecca’s father. (Trust me, poor Nora needed someone to talk to). Nora has a worse moment when Jonas and Tessa show up. Though, I will commend Nora for helping Tessa out and at least being civil.
When Hank is injured, Tucker steps in. Which leads to her feeling more and more for the man who obviously wouldn’t fit in the Amish life. And, it is clear that Tucker has a lot going on as well – especially his music and past.
Yet, the man who is a good suitor, Mervin, doesn’t bring out the smiling Nora. Plus, she detests his monsters (children), and Rebecca isn’t fond of them either.
Nora and Tucker eventually realize they have feelings for each other – but, unlike her brother, Nora won’t leave the community and Tucker isn’t looking to join. Yet, she holds on to the faith that something will present itself, but readers will have to keep reading until the very end of the book.
A book that is a delight to read and makes me hungry for some gingerbread whoopie pies!
To be incredibly honest, I absolutely adored Tucker and the older folks the most. They were the absolutely delight and highlight of the story. I really wanted to see Hank find a lady. (Perhaps an update for the third book).
Rebecca was just as delightful this round as she was in the first book. In fact, she really showed off her smarts and spunk.
On the other hand, Nora was REALLY dislikeable for the majority of the story. To be honest, I think she likely had PTSD from the accident that claimed Levi’s life, injured her and Rebecca. She certainly displayed some symptoms: agitation, irritability, and hostility she displayed. Especially her irritation and annoyance of her own child.
While medical and mental care in the Amish community is a bit of a strained subject – it is clear Nora needed help. I am surprised Jonas or her mother didn’t say something.
It was a surprise when she got angry about Mervin’s assessment of Rebecca, which seemed to act as a turning point for her. The cat’s dislike of Mervin was hysterical – “At least the cat was happy”.
I did have to smile at Nora disliking cleaning a house – dusting, sweeping, even doing dishes. I’ll admit that I really dislike dusting and dishes. But, with the right vacuum, I LOVE sweeping. And, since it is battery operated – might I recommend Nora look into the Swiffer items? They’re SO great for mopping! Especially, when you clean every week. Easy-peasy!
As far as the other folks, they were great as support characters. Jerry almost had me on the floor with: “well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit”. I’m rolling even now!!
Like the first book, my attention waned between can’t put it down to “hey, this is very interesting” and leaving it for moments here or there. And, like the first one – it was the last 2/3 of the book that got so interesting I couldn’t put it down. It also helps when the story starts moving and the chapters are short.
Heartsong Hills makes people consider what forgiveness is for, as well as the impact anger and the choices we make have on our mental health. As Nora learns – her choices didn’t just affect her, but her daughter as well. This is definitely true when it comes to dealing with one’s own anger and grief.
It was also interesting when her own mother considered that perhaps they Amish need to adapt in order to survive. Her main motivation – was losing Rebecca like they lost Jonas.
I am excited about the next book, which I am hoping is Samuel’s story. And, I’m hoping we find out where “Mervin” went and if he found a wife for his monsters … er … children.
I would like to see how Tessa and Nora are getting along as well now that Nora has “healed”.
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;
update https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)
Previous Book in the Series:
Series: Hearts of the Ridge (Book #1)
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?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wendy Rich Stetson is a New York City girl who still considers the back roads of Central Pennsylvania her home. Now an author of clean and wholesome romance, Wendy is no stranger to storytelling. She’s a Broadway and TV actress, an audiobook narrator, and a mom who enjoys little more than collaborating on children’s books with her artistic daughter. And cake. Wendy lives in Upper Manhattan with her family of three and Maine Coon Mix kitty, Tessa. For book news and more, subscribe to Wendy's newsletter, “Manhattan Farmgirl” at: http://wendyrichstetson.com/.
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
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