It would be a dream to walk the Appalachian Trail and I was drawn to the idea of Wes Garrett doing this as a fulfillment of a promise to his friend who died saving his life. His commitment in honoring his promise was admirable and showed great strength of character.

Dr. Avery Robison lives in a small North Caroline town that I found to be a place that I would love to visit. Her dedication to the people of the area shows her truly giving heart since she gives all of her time to running the clinic. Could that drive be fear as she knows she has a 50% chance of inheriting a genetic disease from which her mother died?

My favorite quote was, ”Love can creep up on you, you know. It can take you by surprise, change all your plans-despite your best intentions.” I enjoyed reading the love story of Wes and Avery. I recommend reading this book if you like Jan Karon’s Mitford series. Once you meet the Robinson family and the Appalachian mountain setting you won’t want to leave.

This is the second book in the series. It can be read as a standalone because I didn't read the first book and could easily follow the storyline. I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was another really good book by this author . It was nice revisiting characters that we met in the previous book.
I so enjoyed the story I couldn’t wait to wait to find out what happened. Looking forward to the next one
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Mulberry Hollow, by Denise Hunter, continues the tale of the Robinson family. This tale fills you in about Avery Robinson’s life. Avery has successfully completed her schooling and now is a successful doctor attempting to set up a health clinic in her hometown. Being so near to the Appalachian Trail, Avery returns home to find a man passed out on her doorstep!

Unfortunately, Wes Garrett has a virus that may keep him from completing his trek. He wants to complete this walk, in honor of his friend who had recently passed away. However, now he must work off his medical bills, by helping refinish an apartment on Avery’s property. You can see feelings growing between Avery and Wes; however, Wes made a promise on his friend’s death to care for his sister. Now he is definitely in a quandary about which path to follow!

After Avery delivers a baby in an emergency situation, she melts in a puddle of tears in Wes’s chest. Soon Wes learns that she is crying for the children she will not have, but also for the fear of possibly having inherited a progressive disease from her mother that could someday take her life. Wes knows he should not be comforting Avery, when he’s friend’s sister is out there possibly waiting for him. You wonder how this situation will ever be resolved!

Avery and Wes both stole my heart from the very beginning of this book. Denise Hunter has written a series that will capture your heart and make you want to settle in for a bit and get to know the characters in this small town. Highly recommended.

I am always looking forward to the next Denise Hunter book that is released and Mulberry Hollow was worth the wait. You always end up wanting to live in the town she writes about and Riverbend Gap could be my new home. This is the second book in the series and although you get to meet up with the characters in the first book, it is a stand alone story. The town is on the Appalachian Trail so the author has added interesting info about how hikers come and go in the town,

Wes is a hiker with a mission. He is hiking in memory of his best friend who was killed saving his life. He thinks often of his friend’s sister who is waiting for him to finish and what his future is there. But near the end of the trail, he becomes sick with a fever and ends up stopping in the town and lays on the doorstep of the doctor. The doctor is Avery Robinson who is the town’s only doctor and she has been desperately trying to find another doctor to join her. She is able to help Wes heal and he in turn stays and helps her repair her carriage house for a home for a new doctor. From there you see the friendship and romance develop.

Mulberry Hollow is a sweet romance that when you put it down for a moment, you think about it and look forward to picking it back up. I’m thankful for Thomas Nelson granting me an advance copy through NetGalley for me to review and all opinions are my own.

Mulberry Hollow is book 2 in the Riverbend romance series by Denise Hunter and it is a typical Hunter Hallmark style romance. Avery Robinson is doctor in her small town that is part of the Appalachian Trail and she is used to helping injured hikers. Wes Mathews is found by her on her doorstep with a raging fever and ends up staying in her clinic to heal. Soon, he stays to help her with remodel and while they feel an attraction, neither feels they can act on it. Avery is fearful she has a genetic disease and Wes feels burdened to marry another.
I enjoyed this book more than the first book in series and kept my interest easier. I always enjoy series where we get to see the continuation of all the characters' lives and this does that. I would recommend this to all who love a small town girl romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

You will never go wrong picking up a Denise Hunter book - and if Christian romance isn't typically your jam, pick this up anyway - it's very low key. I was so excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint - it wrapped me up in a big cozy blanket of the warm cozies. Absolutely worth reading...sooner rather than later.

Thank you Netgalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4404428954

I never hesitate to recommend a book by Denise Hunter. They are consistently clean, heartfelt stories that include people of faith, forgiveness, and courage. The stories are about real life and stay with me long after the last page is turned. This is book two in the Riverbend Romance series

Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian Trail in honor of his best friend, Landon, who saved his life. It had been Landon’s plan to complete the Trail upon his return to the US. On this particular morning Wes wakes up with a sore throat, feverish and despite the heat, chilled. Riverbend, the closest town is still 14 miles away.

Avery Robinson is at her parent’s house along with her two step-brothers, Gavin and Cooper, as well as Katie, her best friend, and fiancée of Cooper. It is Avery’s thirtieth birthday, which is not a happy occasion for her. Avery’s mother had died while suffering from Huntington’s disease. Avery has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and her research has indicated that symptoms can begin anytime beginning at age thirty.

After putting herself through medical school, Avery has come back home to open a clinic. The health of the entire town of Riverbend falls to her since the next closest medical facility is 45 minutes away. She is looking to hire another doctor to help since she just about works 24/7. Avery's life revolves around the clinic, housed in a renovated house where she also lives in an apartment above the clinic. The clinic is located in the area of town known as Mulberry Hollow.

Upon her arrival home after the birthday party, she finds a man passed out on her porch. Judging by how he is dressed, Avery guesses he’s probably one of the thru-hikers who come through town regularly. Wes is so weak he can barely talk or walk. He has no obvious injuries, however, he does have a fever and is very dehydrated. Upon treating Wes, who refuses to go to the hospital, Avery allows him to stay in the clinic over night in one of the rooms that has a hospital bed.

The next morning Wes is still very weak and because it's the 4th of July weekend Avery hasn't been able to find other accommodations for him so she allows him to stay in the carriage house behind the clinic. The carriage house needs a total renovation to make it livable so she can offer housing to the new doctors whenever she hires one. Wes is worried about the cost of the care he's received and since he is a contractor they work out a deal for him to work off the medical expenses he has incurred by updating the carriage house.

This is a delightful, heartwarming story as Avery and Wes develop a comfortable friendship. Wes not only hiked the Appalachian Trail in honor of his friend, Landon but as Landon took his last breath, he asked Wes to promise he'd take care of his sister Lillian. That is where Wes was headed, to Albany, where Lillian lives. Wes never met Lillian, but because Landon died, saving his life, he feels obligated to do as he promised - take care of Lillian.

What a tangled, nearly impossible situation this turns out to be. As he works each day on the carriage house, checking in by phone with Lillian regularly, in the evening he and Avery enjoyed each other's company and become friends. They often eat dinner together, watch movies, occasionally go out to dinner and even play pool. A special friendship is obviously developing between them, much to the dismay of her two over-protective brothers.

I could barely bring myself to stop reading this intriguing story. Telling myself, just one more chapter, I found I was at the last chapter. This could be a stand alone, since there is enough back-story on the lives of the others however, I totally recommend reading the first book so you have the entire beautiful, heartfelt story of Cooper and Katie. Denise Hunter's books never disappoint. I certainly hope there will be a book #3 of this charming, heartwarming series.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. The comments and opinions are my own.

I loved being back in Riverbend Gap and following the characters I came to care about that were in the first book. This book follows Avery who is running the clinic and also concerned about her future medical concerns. Wes comes in to town off of the Appalachian Trail and is such an honorable man as he tries to honor the memory of his friend.

I am looking forward to the third book in this series!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Oh wow. I could not put down Avery and Wes’s story. Avery captured my heart in book one because she had so many questions regarding her life’s direction. She is so smart and driven, and has such a big heart, capable of so much love. Wes literally shows up on her doorstep and the chemistry is instant and smoldering. I love these two together! They both have so much pain to overcome and critical hurdles to overcome and watching all the pieces come together are just beautiful. I enjoyed seeing some familiar characters from the first book, but all the attention and all the feels center on Avery and Wes. This one surpassed Katie’s and Cooper’s story, in my opinion. I loved, loved, loved Avery and Wes’s story.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
This is the second book of the Riverbend Gap series and this is just as magnificent as the first book in the series. Denise has a way of drawing you into the moment and you feel like you are in the scene as well and feeling all the things. This book will bring laughter and also a few tears.
Ava, a young Dr making her way, finds Wes injured on her front porch. Ava helps Wes heal and for payment comes up with a plan for him to remodel her carriage house. As time progresses Wes and Ava become close and fall in love but a promise to an old friend may prevent them from ever being together.
Five stars hands down.

A very well written inspirational romance. I loved the plot, character dynamics and the beautiful North Carolina mountain setting of Asheville. I recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I loved the first book in this series so I was super excited for the second one. The author is so talented at crafting unique fiction. Wes and Avery's back stories and road to love were bumpy but satisfying. I'm counting down the days for the third book in the series. I'm sure I'll need a box of tissues. By the way this book works as a stand alone too but you won't want to miss Riverbend Gap, Katie and Cooper's story.

This is the 2nd Riverbend book I've read and they've both been great stories! You could read this as a stand alone and not be too confused.

Wes is fulfilling his friend's dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail and it leads him right to Dr. Avery. The characters are great - the whole town is a perfect little southern small town setting. It was nice to revisit the characters and see their stories develop more. I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Yesterday, while I was still reading this book, I read back over the reviews of other Denise Hunter books that I've read. I wasn't surprised by what I said in any of my reviews. Denise is a quality writer who writes vastly enjoyable books. I did find that I was up and down with my opinions of what she had written. In this second book of the Riverbend Gap series, I was pleased that this one, to me, was better than the first one. I kind of picked her apart on the trail culture, having known quite a bit of it, myself. I have provided trail magic, I have trail-angeled, I have spent a lot of time going through the logistics of sending resupply packages to family members who were on the trail--making sure they arrived in time and contained all that they were supposed to contain.

Mulberry Hollow is a neighborhood in Riverbend Gap, just off the Appalachian Trail. Avery Robinson is the only doctor in Riverbend Gap and needs to hire another doctor to help her take calls and clinic hours. Avery also lives under a cloud of the possibility of Huntington's Disease--it's what killed her mother. When Avery returns to her apartment above her clinic, she finds a man collapsed at the door of the clinic running a high fever and seriously dehydrated. She wants to call an ambulance but he declines saying that he has no insurance. Wes Garrett is fulfilling a bucket list item for his best friend, Landon, who was killed while they were building shelters in Columbia--finishing the Appalachian Trail. Instead he has contracted an upper respiratory infection that prevents him from getting back to the trail. Avery takes care of him in the clinic and in return for her care, he offers to refurbish her carriage house that will be offered as housing to whatever new doctor she can recruit.

Avery has two over-protective brothers who come to check on her and her handyman with alarming frequency. One is marrying her nurse, the other manages a campground and is building a new cabin at the campground. Neither of them has the time to accomplish what Wes can do, but they aren't cutting the man any slack.

There were only a couple of disappointing parts to the book. When the new doctor comes on board, I wanted her to fall for Avery's brother instead of the deputy. I wanted a hint at someone who was going to come in for Avery's brother and make him happy. As it is, I see two more possible books coming out of this series, but maybe the deputy and the new doctor will be a minor part of Avery's brother's story.

The first book in the series I gave four stars, so I will give this one five stars, two thumbs up, and a hunky handyman to do your refurbishing jobs.

Thomas Nelson and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Mulberry Hollow starts the year off as my first five star swoony romance of 2022!

Denise Hunter is fabulous at creating charming and believable characters like Avery Robinson and Wes Garrett. Neither one is looking for love or any type of relationship for that matter, but love has a way of breaking through anyway.
"Love can creep up on you, you know. It can take you by surprise, change all your plans-despite your best intentions."

I was cheering Avery and Wes on through all the issues they had to deal with, especially her possible life-threatening genetic disease and his strong sense of duty to pay a debt to his friend that would cost him his own happiness.

I found it so interesting Wes felt he had to pay his friend back for saving his life when it was a gift freely given that couldn't really be repaid. Readers can't help but make the spiritual connection to Jesus freewill lifesaving gift to us and how we can only accept it, never repay it. Beautiful!

Mulberry Hollow is a phenomenal entertaining story centered around a small town on the Appalachian Trail complete with a delightful romance, great plot and characters I loved. Readers will be riveted to every page and breathing a satisfied happy sigh by the end of the story. I can't wait for the last sibling's book due out this September, Harvest Moon. I appreciate Thomas Nelson making a copy, through Netgalley, available for review. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
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I love Denise Hunter! Her books are easy too read, but not fluffy, and a perfect sweep escape. Mulberry Hollow is no exception. I love the setting off of the Appalachian Trail and enjoyed reading about Avery’s clinic and her struggle with living her life in the possibility of a terrible genetic disease. She is strong, driven and caring. Wes is sensitive and masculine. I did find Gavin and Cooper, Avery’s brothers to be rather annoying in this book with how overly protective they were with Avery. All in all, I love this series and can’t wait for the next one!

Mulberry Hollow

Riverbend Romance #2

by Denise Hunter

Thomas Nelson

Rated: 4

Back of the Book: “Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again, this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

The second book in Denise Hunter’s popular Riverbend Romance series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free.”

Impressions: This sweet romance took me back to Riverbend Gap, NC into the Robinsons family. I enjoyed the previous book in the series and fell in love with Avery and Wes in this book. I liked Avery and was rooting for her throughout this book. Although Wes was likable, I cringed at his go with the moment lifestyle. It set his character up for the opportunity to stay in Riverbend but it also felt too irresponsible for me. Clearly, I’m a planner and maybe even a control nut. Again, I liked Wes and cheered him and Avery's relationship, I just didn’t fall in love with him along the way if you know what I mean.

Quotes: “I can’t imagine being on the receiving end of a gift like that. How it must make you feel.” - This was in reference to Wes’s life being saved at the cost of his friend's life. I immediately thought of Christ. Jesus came and was despised, persecuted, and afflicted because of our sins, our transgressions. He did all this so you and I could live with peace, forgiveness, and assurance (Isaiah 3: 3-5).

“Vulnerability was a cracked foundation; fragility was a foundation built on poor soil.” - What an interesting thought.

“It took all of them striving together to make the community work. She only had to do her part.” - This reminded me of how the body of Christ works. I can feel overwhelmed at times when I look at the world and want to help but God made me to do my part, not all the parts.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review shared here.

Mulberry Hollow is the second book in the Riverbend Series, written by Denis Hunter. Avery is a small town doctor who dedicates her life to her clinic. Wes is a contractor, hiking in honor of his late friend. Wes shows up on the front steps of Avery’s clinic, dehydrated and sick. She nurses him back to health and, to pay her back, we renovates a cottage for her. They form a friendship and help each other overcome difficulties they’re each enduring.
This sweet romance was easy to read. Denise Hunter is a great storyteller so Mulberry Hollow grabbed, and kept, my attention from cover to cover.

With "Mulberry Hollow", Denise Hunter continues her "Riverbend" series of books. In this installment, small town doctor Avery Robinson finds hiker Wes Mathews on her doorstep one night, feverish and very sick. She cares for him and nurses him back to health, but he has no money to pay her and they come up with a trade: healthcare for construction work. As Wes and Avery work together on the carriage house behind the clinic, sparks fly and they begin to care for each other. But how can this work out when they both have such strong view on what their separate futures will hold?

I really enjoy this series, and like reading about characters I've already fallen in love with from the other books in this series. While the obstacles the characters face are a bit simplistic, it's nice to read a sweet, clean romance book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.