I enjoyed reading What Remains True, set in a small mountain town in North Carolina. Merry Anna has left behind her corporate career in the family business and her ex-husband in Washington D.C. to start over. She wasn’t planning to stay in Antler Creek, but a fun retail assistant job in a linen store, and accomodation in an old bunkhouse, is affordable within the alimony budget she’d set for her cheating and money hungry ex-husband. Merry Anna is determined to prove to her ex that if she can live on a modest income, so can he, and he therefore doesn’t need a larger alimony settlement.

Adam is a rodeo star and Merry Anna’s neighbor. He’s determined to reach the finals and tries not to think about the inherent risks of his chosen profession. A lovely friends-to-more romance develops between Merry Anna and Adam, and their relationship is put to the test when past secrets are revealed.

I liked learning about barn quilts in the story. I recommend What Remains True to contemporary romance readers who like small town cowboy rodeo romances with a light faith element in the story.

I loved this book so much. Nancy Naigle has a way with words that draw you into the story quickly and makes you wish that you lived there. This story is about Mary Anna Foster and Rodeo extraordinaire, Adam Locklear. It’s a sweet romantic story with lots of twists and turns, excitement and swoon worthy moments. I look forward to more books from Nancy Naigle, she never disappoints!

'What Remains True' was a fascinating story with atypical characters and situations. It wasn't the best of Nancy Naigle that I have come to expect, but it was enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

First of all, I love Antler Creek! If you grew up in the country, you are going to feel right at home. This is a story about restarts. Merry Anna walks away from a family business and falls in love with Antler Creek. She quickly gains two new friends and a new neighbor-Adam. Their relationship develops in a unique way. Very worth reading!

Our families don't always know what is best for us! And some times they do! I loved how newly divorced COO of a family business Merry Ann Foster found peace and herself in Antler Creek working in a small store. Bull rider Adam's family practically disowned him because he continues taking chances by riding bulls! I was happy that Adam's priorities changed when he learned he had a young daughter who needed him. Money and fame don't bring happiness. Sometimes a simpler lifestyle fulfills us. I received a complimentary e-book from the author, Nancy Naigle and recommend it to others. This is my honest opinion.

How does a short stop in a small Merry Anne find the peace she wants. A bet from her ex husband the she can’t live on the amount of alimony he gets from her. Can she? The meeting of Adam at the local feed store and his offer to make her first homemade pie. The unconditional love of a child help Merry Anne and Adam find the happiness and love they so richly deserve?

Grab the book, sit back and find out.

Thanks to Nancy for allowing me to read this as part of her ARC book launch team. I bought it as well because I wanted to add this book to my book library.

Merry Anna’s life was mapped out for her. She married her teenage sweetheart and worked in the family business. Exactly as she was supposed to do. Until she found her husband (now ex) was a terrible cheater. He hides behind the mask he shows to the world when he is really a money hungry jerk more boy than man. They make a bet that if she can comfortably live on the alimony she is forced to pay him than he will shut up and go away. Three months to finally get her freedom. She finds a a sweet little town and settles in for the length of the bet. What she doesn’t expect to happen is to fall in love with the sweet little town, the community of people, a cute little home she is renting, a job she accidentally fell into and most importantly a lovely man named Adam. He is trying to live out his dream and has no intentions of being sidelined by anything or anyone. Haha! Its a truly sweet love story that will make you smile. Easy, light, nice people, no conflict and an adorable little girl. A perfect small town romantic quick read.

I love the setting of Antler Creek and the small gift shop where Merry Anna works. Author Nancy Naigle did a wonderful job of describing all the settings, including the ranch Adam lives on. It would be so fun to visit.

Well developed characters will quickly draw you into the story. Merry Anna (don’t you love that name!?) has surprised herself and is in for a huge life change. Adam doesn’t want any life changes, but here comes Zan. Who, by the way, is the cutest five year old ever. I really enjoyed “watching” the characters grow and mature as they overcame the curves life threw at them and learned to let God have the reins.

If you enjoy contemporary romance that handles some challenging subjects, then I recommend What Remains True.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review

The characters in this story are ones that you just want the best for. They aren't perfect but try to do right for themselves and those around them.

What Remains True was my first introduction to Nancy Naigle. The cover of the book drew me in, as did the small-town feel.

I felt that the story had a slow start. While I liked the characters, I did not connect with them. I did admire Merry Anna's journey of self-discovery and her character growth.

At times the writing flowed well, but at other times it was stilted. There was one scene where Merry Anna gets to work, then goes to Adam's store to buy something. Once she gets back, Krissy tells her to close down the store and get on with her evening. That should not have been the whole day, and it struck me odd. The end of the story seemed rushed, and that is where I felt there could have been more to the story.

Adam finds himself in an unexpected situation and trying to make the most of it. I admired his tenacity with his goal, but that should be all to end all. The story did a good job of telling you what to feel or what was going on, but you couldn't actually feel it, if that makes sense. Adam and Merry Anna's romance did not feel authentic, it also felt stilted at times.

Fans of Denise Hunter, Irene Hannon, and Amy Clipston will enjoy Nancy Naigle's writing as well.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked the interactions between Merry Anna and Adam, but it took too long to introduce Zoe. Fans of easy reads will find this the perfect summer choice.

I usually love Nancy Naigle’s books, so I feel bad for admitting that I didn’t get into this one, but I just couldn’t connect with any of the characters or the storyline. I would recommend the author, just maybe not this book.

Merry Anna Foster is in much need of a fresh start. Following her recent divorce, she has a bet with her ex-husband that she can live on the same amount of money that she is paying him in alimony. One day she stopped in Antler Creek for gas, saw a help wanted sign in the window of a small Fine Linen shop on Main Street. She is immediately hired, and still lives there. She quickly falls in love with the town and she is the happiest she has ever been in her life. She rents an old bunkhouse and her neighbor, Adam Locklear is a bull rider. He also owns the local Feed and Seed store in town. I really enjoyed Merry Anna’s friendship with the townspeople. They were quickly available to each other whenever there was a need. I loved the daughter Zan, as she was so happy and she melted my heart. I felt drawn to her cheerful demeanor and was sympathetic to her situation. You can’t help but fall in love with the picturesque, quaint, mountain town of Antler Creek. It is warm and inviting and the people make the tight knit community very pleasing. It was a bustling town with lots of community events always happening. This book is one that makes you want to try new adventures in new places. I enjoyed this story very much and found it to be very captivating. I found this uplifting and inspiring story to be a must read. I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you Nancy Naigle for such a wonderful story about new beginnings and surrounding yourself with encouraging and uplifting people. I absolutely loved it and I highly recommend this book.

What Remains True is a story of new beginnings in a pretty unlikely place.

Who stops for gas and a quick lunch in a tiny town and winds up living there? Merry Anna Foster did just that. Recently divorced, she needs a new start, and where better than someplace no one knows anything about her? She's the COO of one of the largest home improvement empires in the nation but feels like she's done nothing but work and support the sponge that was her husband. Antler Creek is one new experience after another, from baking, to learning to interact with customers, to riding horses, to planting a garden, to falling in love. In Antler Creek she finds people who care about her, not because she's wealthy, or for what her status can give them, but just because she's their friend. She learns to trust people again - a trait she lost when her husband cheated on her. She has something to prove - not only to her ex, but to herself - that she doesn't need the trappings of wealth to be happy.

Adam Locklear's bull-riding career is finally going his way. He's topping the charts at nearly every rodeo he competes in. His gorgeous new neighbor is a bit of a distraction, but if he stays focused, he can finish the season on top and retire a winner. Eyes on the prize, he doesn't have time for much more than rodeo and running the Feed & Seed store in Antler Creek, until the day Carly Fowler drops in on him with her daughter, claiming the little girl is also his little girl. Unconvinced, he's stunned when Carly takes off, leaving the girl behind. How can he care for this girl and still compete? Merry Anna is sympathetic to his plight, but doesn't feel he should be riding bulls and inviting death at their horns if he has a daughter to protect. Can he find a way to balance the life he's been working toward with the one he's actually got?

This is a sweet gentle romance with a few twists along the way to make it exciting. I loved how Merry Anna threw herself into small town living, and how much she enjoyed learning new things. Zan was a cute addition, wise beyond her years, when she arrives in Adam's life.

I can absolutely recommend this one to any reader who loves a sweet romance. You won't be disappointed!

What Remains True
by Nancy Naigle
Pub Date: May 3, 2022
WAterbrook Press
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
* Clean Romance * Contemporary * Christian romance
I enjoyed the story, set in the small town of Antler Creek. The only problem I had with this book was the main male lead. He is a Christian but admits of have many sexual relationships one leading to a 5-year-old little girl. This is a Christian book and this is a reality for many but it was written as a normal thing for people to do. I did not see remorse in the character. In general a fun romance book.
3 stars

This is a book that is sweet, clean and a small town romance, with a bit of a surprise. Adam and Merry Anna were both struggling with who they thought they should be and who they were expected to be. Neither one expected or wanted a relationship, but found themselves in a weird (yet nice) relationship.

Adam is a bull rider, even though his parents hate it. When he gets a surprise (he is a father of a little girl) he is floored. I loved how he stepped up right away and didn’t act horribly toward the mother. I wish she would have had a little more closure in the book. He finds himself opening up to Merry and wanting to be with her. He tells himself over and over he doesn’t want anything long term, but his actions say otherwise.
Merry Anna is trying to find herself after her divorce. She doesn’t expect to meet Adam or to fall in love with the little town she lands in, but she does and her life changes forever. I liked how strong and independent she was.
I enjoyed seeing them interact and fall for each other. I also liked that they helped each other see things in a different way without realizing that was what they were doing. This is a wonderful small town romance with great characters and a wonderful, meaningful story.
I received an ARC and am leaving my honest, voluntary review.

This is a story that leads to romance for Merry Anna and Adam. It is a life changing story for Adam and Zan and Merry Anna. I love these characters. I enjoyed learning a bit about what goes on at a rodeo. That is a very dangerous way to make a living. This will make you laugh and cry. Both Adam and Merry Anna both mature as they grow closer together. I love the inspirational aspects of the story also. I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook and Multnomah for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This is my first book by Nancy Naigle and it won't be my last. I love finding new authors to enjoy and this book was amazing!
Having been through the horrors of divorce I could identify with Merry Anna. Once I healed I married a cowboy of my own who introduced me to PBR and the rodeo. This book was like reading a part of my life over the last eleven years.
I also love kids so having Zan show up just added to the fantastic storyline.
The main characters and secondary characters were well-rounded and their struggles were real and believable.

The spiritual thread was present but not overwhelming or preachy. In fact, I really liked the way Ms. Naigle presented the faith element.

I absolutely loved this book and I guarantee if you've never been to a PBR or a rodeo you'll put that on your list.

This is a highly recommended read.

I received a copy via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my first book by Nancy Naigle; I will be looking to read more of her books. Merry Anne Foster was on a road trip in stop for gas in town and stayed. Adam Locklear owns the local feed store and is a bull rider for the PBR. He is on track for a championship year.
Merry Anne is living in the bunkhouse that Adam recently sold. Merry Anne is the COO for her family business; she has just divorced and looking for something. Adam doesn't have time for a relationship and has his life planned out.
The story was a little slow in the beginning; but did hold my interest. Overall, it's a good story.

What Remains True by Nancy Naigle
Merry Anna finds peace and happiness in the small town of Antler Creek. She loves her job and the bunkhouse she’s renting. If only her ex husband would leave her and her family alone, she could move on with her life. Meeting the cowboy next door adds a bit of companionship.

A charming courtship.
One too many misunderstandings and backing away by both bit they get it right by the end.
Sweet and delightful.
4.5

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.