Blue Hollow Falls

May 1, 2017
In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, a war vet and a horticulturist share the inheritance of an old mill.When Sunny Goodwin receives word of an inheritance in the mountains of Virginia from a father she never knew, she doesn't expect to gain a family. But the additions of a precocious, all-seeing 10-year-old half sister, a force-of-nature stepmother, and a handsome young man--who might be her brother from an extramarital relationship of her father's--to her recently solitary existence lead to gains of all kinds. The first is the inheritance of property on which sits an old silk mill, which her maybe-brother, Sawyer Hartwell, is restoring. As a horticulturist for the U.S. Botanic Garden, Sunny has no need for the mill or what the family has planned for it, but she does fall in love with another part of the property: a greenhouse, beautiful but sadly run-down and consumed by the nature around it. As Sunny's relationships with the family, including her finally-revealed-to-be not-brother Sawyer in particular, grow, the pair struggles to reconcile their personal goals with their strong desire for each other. Kauffman (Starfish Moon, 2016, etc.) is masterful at scene painting, which draws the reader into the idyllic setting of Blue Hollow Falls and its surrounding ridges, but her storytelling is lacking. Even had the fact that the love interests are not, in fact, siblings, been verified far sooner than it is, the pacing and conversations are off just enough to be noticeable. The overall story, however, is compelling and cute once readers aren't worried about incest, and this is the start of a promising series. A nice story that, while a bit plodding, is fresh in ideas and scenery.

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June 15, 2017

When U.S. Botanical Garden horticulturist Sunny Goodwin inherits part of a silk mill in the Blue Ridge Mountains and discovers a ten-year-old half-sister she never knew about--all on the same day--she plans to sell her share and get on with her life. Still, she agrees to visit Blue Ridge Falls to see what she's got, and the mill and the people who've suddenly become her family--and eventually a stunning if somewhat dilapidated greenhouse with potential--force her to reconsider. Then there's Sawyer Hartwell, one of the other mill co-owners, one of the most attractive men she's ever met, and one of the most off-limits. Fascinating detail about orchids and the silk trade and characters who leap off the page (a child wise beyond her years and a family-focused "matriarch," among others) add depth to this compelling story. VERDICT A gorgeous setting (complete with a stunning waterfall), a welcoming town, and quirky, lovable characters make Blue Hollow Falls a dream destination for readers and this appealing romance a perfect launch for a promising new series. Kauffman (Starfish Moon) lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017
After her free-spirited mother's death, Sunny (Sunshine Meadow Aquarius Morrison Goodwin) discovers that she has inherited a run-down mill in the Blue Ridge Mountains and a ready-made family: Bailey, her 10-year-old half-sister, and Addie Pearl, the ex-wife of the father Sunny never knew. Then there's Sawyer Hartwell, a hot Iraq War hero who is trying to turn the mill into a haven for local artisans. Sunny's career with the U.S. Botanic Gardens researching rare orchids means that her life is firmly ( we can't resist) planted in Washington, D.C., but her attraction to Sawyer, her need to be there for Bailey, and the allure of the beautiful if neglected mill greenhouse keep drawing her back. Kauffman launches her Blue Hollow Falls series with an endearing tale.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)