Kate Loveland has spent much of her life in foster care and she’s come to Riverbend Gap in hopes she can answer a question —why did her mother choose alcohol over her children? The hero, Cooper Robinson, also grapples with the terrible impact alcohol abuse has on a family, but unlike Kate, Cooper and his brother were adopted by a good man when their mother remarried. When the story starts Kate is in a near death experience and Cooper comes to her rescue. There’s an attraction, but Kate discovers her new boyfriend is actually Cooper’s brother. Tensions rise as Cooper and Kate are thrown together and they finally can’t deny their feelings any longer. Sometimes love arrives in the most unexpected ways, and while some people may see Cooper as a betrayer and Kate as a cheater, I thought the dynamics made the story more interesting. In the end Riverbend Gap is about family and belonging.

In Riverbend Gap, the first book of her new series, Ms. Hunter introduces us to the fictional North Carolina town of Riverbend Gap and the Robinson family. This book captured and held my attention from the adventurous beginning to the satisfying end. Ms. Hunter’s expressive prose insightfully captures the flavor of small town life, and vivid descriptions of the hiking community add interest to the story. A multi-layered, smoothly flowing plot and engaging, credible characters combine to make an enjoyable, entertaining read. The story is filled with emotional struggles and conflicts that are tempered by spiritual truths scattered throughout the narrative. I enjoyed this book and recommend it. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The cover is absolutely divine. Kate moves to Riverbend to be closer to her birth mother who doesn’t know she’s there. Kate finds herself in a pickle when she’s dating one brother but really likes the other. That part of the plot bothered me a great deal. I knew it would be awful when stuff hit the fan and it was. Hunter dealt with all the involved emotions well, but it was still awkward to read. It’s a good book and the initial start to a new series.

This story had my attention from the first page! I fell in love with each of the characters. Each of the characters were so relatable. This story made me feel right at home. I love that the characters had flaws, but they loved each other anyway. Great ending to a great book!

Denise Hunter has been one of my long time favorite authors, so I am guaranteed to read everything she writes. The storyline was very intriguing, and while I’m not a fan of love triangles, this one was well written.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Riverbend Gap is a very well written inspirational romance. Great plot and character dynamics and a beautiful setting. I look forward to reading more books in this series. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This story starts as a cliff-hanger, literally! Katelyn finds herself hanging off the side of a cliff, and Cooper happens to cross her path and save her. There is a connection between the two, but in a very Dan In Real Life turn of events, Katelyn is actually dating Cooper's brother. How will the rest of the story unfold? Take a chance on this page turner to find out. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Denise Hunter has increasingly become one of my go-to authors, and “Riverbend Gap” only continues to illustrate why!

Endearing characters grow and change throughout the book. Spiritual truths are imparted thoughtfully, and challenge me in my own faith walk. Relational dynamics make me consider the characters’ motives in new ways, and I often have to rethink what I would do in a similar situation!

And the fall setting…how can that go wrong? So perfect to read right as the leaves are changing and the autumnal equinox approaches.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I've read several books by Denise Hunter and her books are usually about conflict in a family with happily ever after endings. They are more than just a fluffy romance story and her new book had a lot of tension that kept ramping up until near the end.

Katelyn was driving to her new home in the Appalachian Mountains when a deer ran across the road. She overcorrected and ended up with her car partway over a deep ravine. There was no cell service and she knew that she'd never be able to survive if the car went into the ravine. Cooper, a local sheriff's deputy was out riding his motorcycle when he noticed the skid marks o the road and was surprised when he saw Katelyn in her car. He knew he needed help from the fire department so to keep her calm while they were waiting for help, they shared events from their lives. They was a spark between them and he wanted to get to know her better when she got settled. He was amazed when she showed up for dinner at his parents' home and that she was his brother's girlfriend. They keep denying their feelings for each other but it was very difficult as they got thrown together at family meals. When the family finds out about their feelings, they have to make decisions that could totally change their lives.

The two main characters and the secondary characters were well written. I also enjoyed the descriptions and information about the Appalachian Trail that went through their town. This was a great book that wasn't just a romance but also a family story with a few tidbits of inspiration sprinkled in.

If you are ready for a break from the deep books that you've been reading, this is the perfect book to pick up.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me this book to read and review.

"Riverbed Gap" grabs the reader attention from the start as Katelyn Loveland loses control of her car and ends up hanging on the side of a cliff wondering if she will survive. She prays for help. On this same rode Cooper Robinson is traveling on his motorbike when he notices skid marks. His investigation leads him to Katelyn. A level of trust is built between them during this time. What they discover only hours later only adds to the tension between these two and could destroy an entire family. Denise Hunter has created an adrenalin filled story that you won't be able to stop reading.

Riverbend Gap is the first book in a new series by Denise Hunter. This book is set in the Appalachian mountains in a town that is on the Appalachian Trail. Katelyn Loveland misses a deer on the road, but her car is hanging over a cliff. Deputy Cooper Robinson happens upon her and rescues her. There is an immediate attraction for both of them. But it happens to turn out that Katie is Cooper's brother's new girlfriend. This book made me think of the movie Dan in Real Life. Which was super cute. I'm not one for love triangles as a general rule, but Hunter weaves this story into a really enjoyable read with a sweet ending. I look forward to the next two stories featuring Avery and then Gavin.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and this is my honest opinion.

This book starts with an adventure. Katelyn finds herself stuck on the side of the mountain. Cooper comes upon her vehicle and is able to distract her while she waits for rescue. They form a connection. Too bad she is already dating his brother who she really does care about. But she keeps being thrown together with Cooper. How can she be true to heart, stay connected to the family and do the right thing? This book is about making hard choices, then about finding grace when missteps are taken. The relationships aspect was not easy or automatic, and I think that added a lot of depth to the story.

There were definitely some unexpected elements to this one. Katelyn is also trying to connect with a person from her past. That was another key element of the story.

I also really enjoyed how the author connected the book to the Appalachian Trail. An area hike was a key component. The small town was trying to connect their history to the trail while revitalizing the area.

I can tell I am going to really enjoy this series by Denise Hunter. I did read a copy through NetGalley. I wanted to review the book. All opinions are my own.

Through several crises, Cooper and Katie begin to bond—even though Katie is his brother Gavin’s girlfriend. They struggle with acting on their feelings for each other and not hurting Gavin. Due to her chaotic childhood, Katie’s worst fear was rejection. Cooper's alcoholic father affected his growing up and the way he viewed himself. As rumors swirl through town, Katie and Cooper must figure out how they will respond. My favorite quote from the story: “Sometimes family isn’t the situation you’re born into but the people who’ve chosen to love you along the way.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter is the first book in A Riverbend Romance series. This is a contemporary story of searching for family and finding true love. I really enjoyed reading this story. It is very descriptive and well written. I enjoyed reading of Katelyn’s struggles with making the right decision with Cooper and his brother. I enjoyed the devotion she had to follow through on her brother’s wishes and the tenderness she had towards finding meeting her birth mother. I appreciated the clean campaign Cooper ran, despite the things that were said about him. This is a great story of asking for and granting forgiveness.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest review.

This is the first book in a new series by Denise Hunter, and oh, what a series it will be! This book is packed with emotion. It centers around family, and what makes a family. I loved the Robinson family, watching the struggles Katelyn, Cooper, Gavin, and the rest of them go through as that family relationship is tested, and the faith that underlies it all. It is heartwarming, captivating, and a wonderful read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter is a storyline I do not enjoy. However Denise did an excellent job of drawing me in and caring about the characters.
Katelyn wanted a family. She was abandoned by her mother, didn’t know her father and her brother recently passed away. She was dealing with abandonment and rejection issues.

Cooper was dealing with trying to prove he was not his father. He loved his family which included his brother and sister. He meets Katelyn and has an immediate attraction to her. Before he realizes she is his brother’s new girlfriend.

Dealing with this kind of betrayal would be so hard. I find this type of story hard to relate to and find a happy ending. 
It will be interesting to see how the next book in the series plays this out.

I would recommend the book. I enjoyed the family connections and look forward to the future books int he series.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

"Sometimes family isn't the situation you were born into but the ones who've chosen to love you along the way." Perfect saying for this story! Very enjoyable story with likeable characters. Katie's journey to understanding her past was heartbreaking but healing. Loved that it ended at Christmas! Recommended!

Denise Hunter is an excellent author, and "Riverbend Gap" is an example of her fantastic writing! While on her way to visit her boyfriend's family for the first time, Katelyn ends up in an accident and her car is balanced precariously on the side of a mountain. Along comes the town's sheriff, Cooper, who helps keep her calm and even keeps her mind off things. Once rescued, she continues on her way, only to find that Cooper is her boyfriend's brother. While trying to stay faithful to her boyfriend, sparks fly between Katelyn and Cooper. As if that wasn't enough, Katelyn, a former foster kid, is also trying to meet up with her biological mother. Now she has to uncover what's truly important to her.

I really enjoyed how Hunter didn't overcomplicate things, but didn't sweep issues under the rug either. The obstacles in this story were handled realistically, and I appreciated that. I also enjoyed the small town feel and the likable characters in the book. I'm excited that this is the first book in this new series, and I can't wait to read more. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you need a break from heavy historical fiction, Riverbend Gap by Denise Hunter, would be a good change of pace. Kate and her brother grew up in foster care. They were abandoned by their mother. Kate went to Duke and became a nurse partially because her brother had a heart condition. After he died, she moved to Riverbend Gap, on the Appalachian Trail, to work at a clinic with a college friend and to meet her mother who is living there, Avery. Kate and Avery's brother, Gavin, start dating and she is going to meet his family when she goes off the road. A deputy, Cooper, sees the skid marks and helps her. There is instant chemistry between them. Little did she know that Cooper is Gavin's brother.

In the rest of the story, Avery and Cooper try to deny their feelings for one another because they don't want to upset the family that has taken Avery in. The reader sees how gossip can run amuck and how a town can pull together when faced with unexpected difficulties. Family, forgiveness, and truth are themes through out the book. It was a sweet story.

Denise Hunter has long been one of my favorite authors, and I always look forward to her new book releases. Unfortunately, I didn't realize going into this one that it's largely about cheating, and that is not my cup of tea, and this ended up not being at all what I was either expecting or hoping for.

As with every one of this author's books, I did appreciate the vivid storytelling, and the setting that truly comes to life on the page. Hiking is not something that's too big in my area of the world, so I loved learning about the culture of it, and hearing the stories about the many communities that depend upon the travelers coming to their trails for their livelihood. I also loved the emphasis on family being so much more than just blood relations, and the way that faith is intermixed throughout a large portion of the story.

However, I just couldn't get behind the romance at all, and I'm sad to see this kind of scenario playing such a prominent role in a Christian fiction title. The part that bothered me the most is that Kate and Cooper seemed to only have a problem with their actions because of Cooper being Gavin's brother. The reader was left feeling like if Kate hadn't been dating Gavin's brother, then the cheating wouldn't have been an issue. Not what I was expecting or wanting from a contemporary romance, and definitely disappointing.

Final Rating: 3/5.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.