Gavin and Laurel divorced several years ago following the death of their three-year-old son, due to guilt and grief taking their toll - but they've avoided each other ever since because of the fear that the attraction (love?) might still be there. Now, a tragic accident kills their respective best friends, leaving two-year-old Emma an orphan and forcing them to come together to care for her. Will they be able to put aside all that was once between them to do what is best for Emma? Or do they even want to? Maybe God is giving them a second chance... But will they be willing to take a step of faith and accept it?

I think the only negative thing I could say about this book is that I'm afraid it's the end of the series, with the three Robinson children all living happily ever after, and I'm not ready to leave - but I guess one can hope for the best. :-) Anyway, the point is that I loved this heart-warming second chance story, and the flashbacks to the way they got together in the first place were well done too. I particularly enjoyed watching them each interact with Emma. Note that, though part of a series and with shared characters, this is still a standalone romance. All in all, a great book, inspiring and satisfying - I'm eager to see what the author writes next!

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

4.5 stars
This has been a good series and Gavin's story was one that I was looking forward to reading. Harvest Moon is an emotional, heavy story that is well written and grabbed me right away. Gavin and Laurel divorced after tragically losing their young son. They are thrown together again after the death of their best friends, Mike and Mallory. Mallory and Laurel were childhood friends; and Mike and Gavin continued their friendship as well. Shocked and saddened, they find themselves with the responsibility of taking care of Mike and Mallory's young daughter Emma and are even named guardians in their will. This created an awkward, painful and emotional situation that Gavin and Laurel were thrown into. We see an in depth look into what brought the two to where they are at this point. Both want the best for Emma and how they come to make decisions about the future is touching but stressful. There are barriers to deal with to find the best solution for all, dealing with family as well as their own lives and ambitions. I especially liked Gavin, a special man who pulled on my heartstrings. This is a story of loss, healing, forgiveness, and a second chance of love.
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review from Thomas Nelson-FICTION and NetGalley. All thoughts are mine only.

The final book in the Riverbend series was a compelling story of second chances, love that lasts and second chances. The book draws you in from the first with the death of a couple that leaves their toddler an orphan. Their best friends, Laurel and Gavin, show up to care for the little girl and discover that they were named guardians in the will. But there's a problem...they are no longer married.

As the couple struggles to make the little girl's life as normal as possible, they also struggle with what should now happen and with being in close proximity. A tragic event caused the demise of their marriage and they are still struggling with that, especially Gavin who wear guilt like a shroud. Can they work through their past to a future that will help keep the little girl wrapped in love?

The Christian elements of the book were in the form of prayers said and fit very well with this lovely, heartfelt story.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson-Fiction and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

A little too predictable for me. So many unnecessary characters in the story, with lots of mean ones too. Abusive parents, rude family members, a court battle. And yet in the end everyone ends up best friends again? Just a little weird and trite.

This book was excellent. It starts with hearing about a plane crash that kills two of their best friends. Left was a darling 2 year old little girl - Emma. I loved how she talked. And when she was remembering her parents - heartbreaking. Gavin and Laurel were named her guardians but it was complicated as they were divorced due to a tragedy of their own. Gavin's family was not happy with the news and Laurel's mother was not much happier.
This story told of 2nd chances, a little girl they would not turn their backs on and an HEA. Loved it.

I got this story from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I think this book was my favorite of the series, partly because I had gotten to know the family in the other two books and they all became so real. Gavin has had so much heartache in his life and yet he hasn't turned completely from God and given up. Faced with another challenge he allows his heart to open and heal alongside his family. This is such a sweet story of hope and forgiveness.

This book was an enjoyable story of two divorced people who have to come together to take care of their friends' recently orphaned toddler daughter. I think it was a believable progression between them dealing with their hurts and what led to their divorce and coming together again. I also kind of liked the little snippets we got from their past. It gave us a look into how they first fell in love, some issues they already had that helped lead to their divorce, and the catalyst moment that was their breaking point. It made me more invested in their story and cheer for them to work through their issues.

Not only is this cover gorgeous but the characters are as well! It’s so good you won’t want to stop reading! I read it in one day and ignored the rest of the world!

A feel good second chance light romance , Tragedy ripped them apart , years ago , to bring them back together when another tragedy happens , true love will always win in the end .

What a satisfying conclusion to the Riverbend series. I have enjoyed getting to know the wonderful Robinson family and sharing their ups and downs—not a perfect family, but real! Having loved the first two books, I was looking forward to Gavin’s story. I was not disappointed. This heartwarming, yet at times heartbreaking, story of second chances and restored love exceeded my expectations. The emotion-packed narrative kept me invested from the tragic beginning to the “happy tears” ending. The characters are realistic and compelling. We learn Gavin and Laurel’s backstory through flashbacks. The flashback element is executed effectively without stalling the flow of the story or creating confusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it especially for fans of contemporary romance. Note: Even though this is the third book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a real emotional read, starting with the death of dear friends, and then wanting to help two year old Emma, now an orphan. Both Laurel and Gavin have a relationship with and know the little girl, and want what is best for this sweet child. We soon learn that these two were married, and are now divorced.

Now this is the final book in this series, about the Robinson family, and they are all so good, I hate to leave, but this can be read alone, the author does a wonderful of job of bring us up to date.

These two, Gavin and Laurel, have been together since high school, but a horrible tragedy tore them apart, and now they are dealing with a new loss, along with forgiveness, and miscommunication. Can Emma be the catalyst to healing? They need to pull together as an another person steps up wanting the child, and they need to thwart what the little girls parents didn't want.

Don't miss this great conclusion to this series!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

By far the best of the Riverbend series! The story of Gavin and Laurel is a fitting climax to this set of novels. Don’t read this one without reading the first two though. The marriage between Gavin and Laurel fell apart after the death of their son—ending in divorce. They are brought back together through their mutual love for the daughter of their friends. As the story unfolds they are called upon the overcome their past hurts to co-parent a precious child. No spoilers—but I think the ending was perfect!

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

Harvest Moon by Denise Hunter is the final book in the Riverbend Gap series and boy does she tug at your heartstrings.
This is Gavin’s story. I enjoyed how we got to follow their story regarding when they met and fell in love during high school and college in parallel to their current predicament. It is so easy to watch from the sidelines and just wish they would have talked it out.
I read the entire book in a day. It just captured my heart and I couldn’t wait to see how Denise would solve the logistics of it all to work out. Well done. Recommend even if you have not read the series.

sexual content - kissing and chemistry.
Triggers - losing a best friend, abandonment,

This was a wonderful continuation of DH’s Riverbend Gap series. Books with heavier themes seem to weigh on me more, so I did need to take several breaks while reading this one. It was an emotional ride, but the characters also experienced a lot of healing.

I thought the characters were well developed, perhaps they would have been even more so if I’d read the first book in the series as I was surprised by how some of the supporting characters responded to events in this story.

I would recommend reading this novel if you enjoy HEAs and don’t mind reading a wide array of emotions.

The time for the latest release from Denise Hunter has come! It follows the story of Laurel and Gavin, a divorced couple who are reunited when their best friends Mike and Mallory die in a plane crash and name them the guardians of the toddler they leave behind. Together this couple must decide if they are willing to put aside their differences and heartache to raise this child they love.

I thought this was a really sweet story with well-developed characters. The plot, while fairly straightforward, had some surprise elements tucked away in flashbacks that kept the story going. I always love a good Denise Hunter novel anyway, as they tend to be sweet stories with *just* enough emotional depth.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Another good read, a bit slower moving than the others in the series. Can be easily read as a standalone, but enjoyed reading the other characters from previous books. Gavin and Laurel, high school sweethearts took it slowly and finished college before getting married. Both still hung on to father issues from their past and when tragedy hits them they wind up divorce. History repeats itself and tragedy brings them together again three years later. Both have matured and both realize that not only the sad fact they lost a child, but there was more to it than that. Will working together to raise the child they are now guardians to open up their hearts to a HEA?
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #HarvestMoon

This is a wholesome second chance romance filled with lots of grief and sorrow. Unfortunately, for me personally the pacing felt quite off, almost like chapters had been written and then set together. I like a book with redemption and difficulties but this book was overwhelmingly on the sad side. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Harvest Moon stands alone but is also the third in the wonderful Riverbend series.

Finally, Gavin gets a happy ending. And that’s not spoiler alert. Anything but a happy ending would be breaking the promise made to readers in book one, and Denise Hunter is far too skillful a writer to do that.

In this story, Gavin’s turbulent romance with ex-wife Laurel comes to the fore as the two are forced together by a heartbreaking situation. While they handle the shocking turn of events, we see how the two fell in love but then fell apart. Even the ever-welcoming Robinsons are wary of Laurel’s reappearance, and Laurel remains guarded and closed off with Gavin’s family.

But Gavin can’t help but see his own failings, and Laurel sees a man who’s changed a lot in their time apart. As events come to a head, can both admit their feelings and start again?

Wow. This book had all the emotions you could ask for. And then a few more. Gavin and Laurel present as authentic, broken, good people in a fallen world. And their restoration is beautiful to read. Highly recommend (as is the whole series). This book stands alone but I definitely recommend reading the other two in the series.

I received a copy from NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

I was deeply moved by this poignant tale of tragedy, personal sacrifice, and second chances that was a fitting finale for the Riverbend series by Denise Hunter. It was much grittier and more emotional than the first two books in the series as it laid out the history of Gavin and Laurel’s love story using flashbacks to help readers understand how they met and what led to their divorce juxtaposed with their present day responses to the deaths of their married best friends who left their 2 year old daughter in their guardianship. It was heavy but forgiveness, love, and hope won out. This book can stand alone if you haven’t read the earlier books but don’t miss out because they were all wonderful. I received an advance copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Harvest Moon is the first book I have read by this author and although I didn’t read the first 2 books in the series, it was still an enjoyable read. Laurel and Gavin divorced after suffering a terrible tragedy and are brought back together by another heartbreaking event. Their best friends are killed in a plane crash and leave them custody of their beautiful 2 year old daughter. They try to find alternative arrangements for Emma at the start as they are no longer the couple they were when the will was written but events conspire against them. The more time they spend together the more conflicted they are about their feelings for each other and with Emma’s future hanging in the balance they are willing to do anything for the little girl they love. This is story of love and loss and was heartbreaking at times. The story goes back and forth between the past and the present and you want to shake Laurel and Gavin at different times in their relationship. They both have grown up a lot since they first got married and it was nice to see them get they happily ever after they deserved. This was a Christian romance, not my normal read, but I still enjoyed it.