It’s been quite a while since a novel made me shed a few tears but that’s what Gavin did when he cried in his ex-wife’s arms! Denise Hunter handled the emotions of the characters in this book so well. Kudos to her! I like her writing style and it kept me reading till the end. Somewhat predictable perhaps - making me want to skip a few passages but the storyline is good.

The spiritual elements were very light, involving quick prayers sent heavenwards and some church attendance. A good clean read for fans of second chance romances and family dramas.

4 stars.

I love this series!!
I love this family the storyline - I want more here with them!!

Whether this is your first trip to Riverbend or your third visit, you will love this story

Denise, go back to Riverbend!

Harvest Moon is an interesting story—a good portion is flashbacks, which are definitely needed, but it sometimes made the present story seem to be at a standstill. There’s not much romance until the end, and it wasn’t until we were nearing the end that I felt myself actually rooting for Laurel and Gavin as a couple. The flashbacks helped show us that Gavin and Laurel weren’t ready for marriage the first time (though they had been dating for nine years at the time of their marriage) but it was so entwined with the present story that I as the reader became a bit confused about their emotional states and journey back to each other. There wasn’t as much growth as I had expected in the present timeline—it all seemed to have happened during their years apart and the reader had to play catch up. There was also inconsistent information between this book and the first two about Laurel and Gavin’s relationship, so I kept expecting some things that didn’t happen. I did enjoy reading about their growing relationship with Emma and their love for her—that was very sweet.

I can’t say Harvest Moon was my favorite Denise Hunter story, but it does have its merits. Fans of contemporary romance need to add her books to their TBR, especially if you enjoy small town love stories. I’m excited for Hunter’s next book! 3.5/5 stars

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

This was a nice ending to the Riverbend series. I read the other two books in the series and while it does give the reader a great background, you can read each book independently.

This is the story of Gavin and Laurel. They were married, and then divorced a few years later because of the devastating event of the death of their son. In the previous books, my favorite character was Gavin. My heart went out to him. I was so happy to see that he is the focus of book 3.

This book is years later and another terrible situation has occurred that effected them, and they are drawn together. It was a very interesting plot, Gavin and Laurel as mature adults in current time, as opposed to when they were married, or dating in high school and college (there are flashbacks to the past in this book).

Denise Hunter wrote a loving tribute to couples that have to deal with the death of a child. She shows the sadness, guilt, anger and resolution in a sensitive and Christian way. God is all around her characters, when they are praying or going about their lives. It was an emotional story and had me in tears a few times.

I recommend this book and also the series. Honestly, I have enjoyed all of Denise Hunter’s books that I have read. I am so happy that I found her at a book convention a few years go. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson – Fiction and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own, and not influenced by receiving the advanced read copy.

This is the third book in a series by Denise Hunter. I really enjoyed this book. Was a great story that had me hooked until the end. Highly recommend!

Harvest Moon, third installment from Denise Hunter's Riverbend series. It is by far my favorite of the series. I loved it. Five stars.

What a great third book in this series! Laurel and Gavin have been divorced since their son died in an accident. Unable to deal with their grief they were unable to help each other after the tragedy. Their best friends are now dead from an airplane accident and their toddler daughter is left an orphan. The will was written before Laurel and Gavin divorced and leaves guardianship to the two of them. As they try to take care of this small child they both love they begin to heal and reach out to each other.
Beautiful story!

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my own honest opinion.

Harvest Moon is the third novel in the Riverbend Romance series. It's advisable to read the other two before this one because it sets up Gavin's story better.

Gavin and Laurel divorces years ago after the loss of their son and haven't spoken since. When their best friends die in a plane crash they are reunited to care for the daughter of their friends who is left to the two of them. They must learn to work together again in order to care for Emma.

There is still love under the surface for the two of them that they have been afraid to recognize and act upon. During the course of the story the slow burn love builds to a satisfying ending for the two of them.

This is a story of love, loss, grief, and reconciliation. I loved it and had a difficult time putting it down.

This story is a lot more serious than the others in the series. Very heave themes of loss, death, divorce, depression, but there's also hope throughout.

After their friends die in an accident, Laurel and Gavin find the will who names them guardian of their little girl. As the story progresses, we discover they've been divorced since the death of their son.

Laurel and Gavin upend their lives and move in with the toddler, to try and make her life as normal as possible.

The first part of the story was hard to read, but I knew it was going to get better. I liked going along with Laurel and Gavin as they learned to work together and lost their resentment for one another, then rebuilt a friendship. It was a hard journey, but so worth it in the end.

I also liked seeing characters from the earlier books.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I didn’t know how I would feel about Harvest Moon, considering how “heavy” the story started out. But I soon fell in love with Gavin and Laurel.
When tragedy strikes, Gavin and Laurel have to come together as a team to make some difficult decisions. Both have to sacrifice things in their life to help their friends. As they work together they realize that the past isn’t quite behind them and that they still have feelings for each other.
This story is about death, grieving, forgiving and second chances. The only thing I didn’t like about Harvest Moon is knowing it’s the last book in the series. I’m going to miss the Robinson’s family!

This is the third and final book in Hunter’s Riverbend Romance trilogy, telling the story of the oldest Robinson – Gavin. He met the love of his life, Laurel, in high school, married her, but ended up divorced. Hunter does a good job with flashbacks throughout Harvest Moon, giving the reader the details of the original romance and spreading out the suspense of why Gavin and Laurel got divorced. The tensions of the current story add to the suspense. I found it hard to put down the book.

It helps to have read the first two books, Riverbend Gap and Mulberry Hollow, as all the members of the Robinson family are highly involved in this story too. I wouldn’t mind at all if Hunter wrote a Christmas novella set a few years down the road to catch up on this family!

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

I have been so curious about Gavin and Laurels background and was excited to dive in. Gavin is really likable and I liked to see the growth his character went through throughout the series. It was rewarding to see him reunite with Laurel and have them grow together and forgive each other. Glad they both got a HEA. Loved the small town setting and supporting cast. Ms Hunter always writes such likable characters with depth and personality. Enjoyable storytelling.

Utterly enjoyable and captivating while exploring themes of love, loss, grief, regret and forgiveness, “Harvest Moon”, by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson), features a tortured hero afflicted by deep guilt and self-blame and a heroine with issues of her own.
Gavin’s and Laurel story is heartbreaking. The tragedy at the core of their divorce is too much to bear.
Death is a difficult subject to write about in romance novels and I loved the way Denise Hunter wrote the pain, the slow healing and how they both have changed and matured, and the role little Emma plays in the process.
Their reunion and gradual approximation is so realistically written, full of wariness, discomfort, tension, fears, but also maturity and tolerance.
The second chance is not easily conquered, and it’s sad that it happens because of another tragedy, but that’s life.
Gavin’s character was intriguing in the previous stories in the series and I loved how he got his HEA.
Laurel is a strong, smart heroine, with vulnerabilities she learned to deal with. I really loved how compassionate she is with Gavin about their son’s accident.
Emma is a great character, too
I really enjoyed their interactions with the child.
I also liked the intersection of flashbacks showing the couple’s previous relationship since they were very young, their families and the impact it had in their lives and personalities.
I loved to return to Riverbend Gap and meeting again the Robinson family, although some of its members’ attitudes towards Laurel irked me a bit. But it was great to reunite with the main characters in the previous stories.
And again Denise Hunter’s writing style and her talent telling a story is wonderful, in a way you just flow with the narrative and really enjoy it.

Harvest Moon by Denise Hunter. This story was a heavier drama than the previous books in the Riverbend series. Gavin and Laurel had to work through many issues before the end of the story. Little Emma and Sunny were the bright spots. Was more than impressed with the courtroom scenario, all the elements can into play and a more than satisfying outcome prevailed. Love, faith and family were the elements that brought the story together. Needless to say, Mallory and Mike that the perfect couple in mind for their little girl.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.