Member Reviews
A solid 4 stars! I felt myself very invested in the two main characters but especially Hazel. It was nice to see the representation she brought. It was realistic and I feel as if the amount it was mentioned/how it fit into the story was perfect.
I love the epilogue, even though I thought it was going another way(I jumped the gun 😂). I did think the ending was a little abrupt.
4.5 ⭐️
A heartwarming enemy to lovers, slow-burn romance without much drama. It shows us a lot about overcoming challenges, turning bad experiences into positive ones, daring to take risks, and trusting and caring for people we love.
Hazel, a part-time delivery driver and handywoman, is looking after her elderly friend George, who happens to be Imogen’s uncle. Imogen is a businesswoman with big aspirations from Brisbane, who spent her best time at George's place when she was a child. The two women are thrown together after George had a bad fall, and broke his hip, and both were taking care of George. But first, they were clashing, as Imogen doesn’t trust Hazel and thinks she wants to take advantage of her uncle. She can’t believe, that somebody would do all the things Hazel did for George just because she liked this man.
The characters and their bumpy journey is beautifully written by Cheyenne Blue. She did a great job of showing the uncomfortable reality that Hazel had to deal with daily because of her handicap. Hazel is easy to like with her sunny personality, and the biggest heart on earth even as she sometimes struggles with her disability and the resulting disadvantages. She also isn’t sure of her ability to build her own handywoman business. An impressive young woman, who is very much down to earth. At first glance, Imogen is a totally different person than Hazel. A very business-driven woman, who can sometimes make tough business decisions and enforce them. But her mistrust and false assumptions about the people in the small town of Dry Creek didn't exactly make her likable. She first had to lose the stick up her ass and show that she really cares about her favorite relative, before I could warm up to her.
The romance is built up slowly and I liked that they first created a beautiful friendship and intimacy before they allowed their chemistry to burn hot.
I liked the most how much they inspired each other to make important decisions and changes in their lives. And that sometimes it's worth taking a risk, no matter if it concerns your job or your heart.
But I have to say, the secondary character George the matchmaker, and his little dog, Chip the calf-biter with too much personality, almost stole the show.
ARC received from Ylva Publishing through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hazel is a handywoman around her town. She also delivers groceries for the local supermarket (not the big chain, if you live in New England think Market Basket not Walmart). She always makes sure that George is last on her deliveries so that she and he can talk as well as her fixing little things for him.
Then he falls. And Imogen, his niece shows up. She seems colder, icy, but, also seems to love George. And so, the two women start getting closer. Very slowly because they're so different. But they do. They both have baggage, although (unfortunately) it seemed like Hazel had significantly more. And it sorta felt felt like there was also the situation that while Hazel had to "grow", Imogen was expected to more like "change" her whole life and who she was. I know I'm probably exaggerating, but, I don't love unbalanced narratives where one side is just always wrong. This didn't end up too much like that, but, it tottered close at times. I did really like the characters, especially George though. He was my star of the book for sure. A solid grounding character for the others.
mogen is asked by her parents to look in on her uncle George, who was injured in a fall at home.
Hazel, his friend who found him, instantly finds herself clashing with Imogen. When a local home care company falls through, Imogen comes out to care for George, butting heads with Hazel.
Complicating things is Imogen finding a local job that brings conflict with Hazel just as they're starting to like each other.
Minor 'huh?' thing: I don't get how suspicious Imogen starts out with Hazel, considering Imogen's best friend in the city works for a charity. There seems no reason to be wary.
Oher than that, good read. I like the heroines, I liked George, and I thought the relationship read well. I was also interested in how the writer handled Hazel and how she was missing part of her leg.
3.5 stars out of 5.
A beautiful slow burn story about how opposites attract. In the beginning, Hazel and Imogene only have one thing in common: Their love for George (Imogene's uncle.) Over time these two beautiful women find that they really do have much more in common. It was fun to read each chapter to find out how they slowly started falling in love. Cheyenne has written a wonderful story again!
Hazel works part-time as a grocery delivery driver and grows her labourer small business the rest of the time. She loves spending time with elderly customer George, whom she's become great friends with over the last few years.
When she finds George has fallen and cannot move from his bathroom floor one morning, she doesn't hesitate to call the emergency services and George's family.
Imogen puts in long working hours as she tries to work her way up the Brisbane corporate ladder when she receives a call that her Uncle George has fallen and broken his hip.
He will need help at home for the foreseeable future, and Imogen arranges to work remotely from his small-town home when home care proves challenging to arrange.
Fate, however, has other plans for them... and it's not long before mutual attraction burns through everything else. But just what does this mean for them with Imogen's job based in Brisbane?
This lovely story is amusing and touches on the reality of caring for an elderly relative and dating while you're an amputee.
The main characters are well-rounded, easily relatable, and enjoyable to spend time with.
*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*
This is the story of Hazel and Imogen, two women who are total opposites on paper but have a few things in common, mainly George, who's about to force them to put their differences aside.
George is Imogen's uncle and Hazel's neighbor. He lives in a tiny town where Imogen spent a few summers as a kid. She's a city girl now and can't stand the thought of living in the country.
Hazel is a real go-getter, despite her physical disability. It doesn't hold her back much, though she might push herself a little too hard sometimes.
George's nasty fall is going to mean Imogen will have to take care of him, though Hazel will also chip in since she's been helping him out a lot lately, with groceries and little home repairs. Now they'll both have to share the caregiving, with the added challenge of George's new mobility issues.
But it's not just taking care of George that's going to bring them together. Imogen's job change is going to really mess things up for Hazel. Although, sometimes bad things happen for a reason.
This has been a story about overcoming challenges and difficulties, about positivity and unconditional love for others. A story of hope in society, something we're sorely lacking these days.
Smalltown handywoman Hazel Lee has learned to live her best life regardless of what the universe throws at her. But her patience is sorely tested when a bossy, big-city executive blows in and starts questioning Hazel’s motives for helping an elderly friend.
High-powered businesswoman Imogen Alexander has her career all set. Then her elderly uncle takes a bad fall in his home. Imogen figures she can surely run his life as tightly as her work, but she doesn’t count on an annoying local woman being all up in his business. Hazel has one leg, two jobs, and a whole bunch of opinions. Worse, now meddling old Uncle George seems intent on match-making the women together.
I really enjoyed this story. Imogen is by far my favorite, but Hazel is wonderful in her own way. I appreciate the way her story is told with so much care. I felt like the romance could have had a little more chemistry, but it was a very enjoyable story all around!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!
This is a cute, funny romance and I like it very much. I appreciate especially the way the author portrays Hazel’s disability. It seems so thoughtful and at the same time so real. And Hazel has my heart, even if my favorite one is Imogen (I mean, I have a soft sport for ice queen. Someone can blame me for it??).
The dynamic is really well written, I loved the way their relationship unfold. And I quite like the secondary characters, they are so alive.
This book is a perfect comfort reading.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
Small-town handywoman and amputee Hazel Lee is a longtime friend of fellow Dry Creek resident, the elderly George. When George takes a fall and breaks his hip, his business executive niece Imogen must fly in to take him home from the hospital. Neither count on Uncle George to engage in some meddlesome behavior to push them together, and neither count on it working.
First off, I want to give kudos to Cheyenne Blue for how thoughtfully she wrote Hazel’s life as an amputee. There was obvious care (and a boatload of research) behind it, and it shows. I am one to be easily taken out of a story when there are inaccuracies in how certain life experiences are represented, but I was able to be fully immersed in this book. Thank you for how dedicated you were to Hazel.
I love a good supporting cast, and I think this book had some fun ones. I wish we saw more of Mavis so we could also poke fun at George’s dating life, but Chip and George were a delight. I appreciated that we gave George the respect and bodily autonomy he deserved while dealing with the nasty bits of overnight care and nursing.
As for the romance: it certainly was there, and I did enjoy it, but I really just did not find myself moved by this book. I think there wasn’t enough energy invested in creating a believable romantic chemistry between the two main characters after the initial suspicion that Hazel was trying to defraud Uncle George, and I think that belief also went on long enough to thoroughly disabuse me of the notion that they had a foundation of trust in their relationship. I just can’t see it, but if I turn my brain off and let them have fun and have sex, I liked this book.
All in all, I think if you’re looking for a fluffy sapphic romance with limb difference representation and a fun old man as the best friend, this is it, but it isn’t anything hard hitting. Not that queer romance always needs to be hard hitting! But this does not offer the complexity I find fulfilling in a story.
Thank you to YLVA Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
In this bookk two world meet. Hazel come from the small town and try to find her way through here live. Imogen is a woman, who sees the career at first. After the two of the meet, they both find e new perspectives in their lifes. Slow burning romance.
I really liked this novel, I didn't know what to expect as this was my first read from this author, but I hope it won't be the last.
A really well done slow burn, two very strong cat-dog personalities, and some mature topics as struggling with work.
One of the things that I liked was the insecurities that they both felt, as they were very real. Some of them were: Social kills, disability, forming friendships and family struggle. I think the pace that their took with their relationship was perfect
Special mention: Chip and George. Love them!
What a beautifully written and honest story. MC Hazel has a heart as big as the sky. She has befriended elderly George and looks after him as if he is family. When George suffers a broken hip, his nearest relative, niece Imogen, returns to the town to oversee his care. Immediately suspicious of Hazel's relationship with George, Imogen soon realises just how frail her uncle is and sets out to find a permanent solution to meet his care needs.
Both MC's, Hazel and Imogen, are battling with personal issues. Hazel, an amputee, lives with the pain and stress of a prosthetic leg. She has overcome a lot of difficulties in her life and is determined to make something of herself. The author writes candidly about Hazel's disability and how it effects her life and her ability to foster relationships. From the physical description of Hazel's nubbin, to the self care required to keep it healthy, the author deals with the issue in a forthright and frank way that is both respectful and reverential.
Imogen is unhappy with her life and career, having been looked over for promotion, and is seeking a change. With the help of a friend, she realises she needs to work on her approach to other people and not be so rigid in her life.
As Hazel and Imogen's rocky friendship develops and a romance starts to bloom, Hazel bares her vulnerability to Imogen who accepts it wholeheartedly and learns how to accommodate Hazel's physical needs. Together they share a special level of intimacy that the author captures beautifully.
This is a wonderfully written romance with so many lessons about acceptance. Highly recommended
Thoroughly enjoyable modern day romance that oozes charm with a nice splash of Australian sensibility.
Thank you to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review
A Heart Full of Hope was such a fun and easy read, I really enjoyed it !! You get a sweet old uncle, a disabled architect-in-the-making, a “cold” businesswoman, and a feisty little dog and somehow it all seems to work !!
I absolutely loved the found family aspect (as usual) and watching all of them learn to live and love together just made my heart so full. Even chip the crazy little dog gave me so much joy lol. I loved loved loved !!!! seeing a book with such positive and even educational disability rep. You never felt like Hazel was somehow being held back or less than for her disability but she also came to terms with the fact that she WAS disabled and needed to take care of herself. I’m so glad to see more disabled characters being the main focus of romance novels !!
What didn’t quite hit the mark for me unfortunately was some of the characters seemed a little stale. I would have enjoyed it more if there was just a little more depth to characters like imogen. She went from cold to not-so-cold but I just felt like something was lacking in the whole character development department. It just seemed like there was more to her that needed to be explored and that just didn’t happen.
All in all though it was a nice easy read and o would definitely recommend it to anyone who just needs some light casual reading !!
Another winner by Blue. This combined a lot of tropes, but I'd say enemies to lovers would be at the top of the list. It also includes opposites attract, age gap and small town.
Hazel has a disability and has learned to live with it for the most part. Having one leg takes some getting used to, but she gets things done. She's a handywoman/caretaker for George who is a highlight of this book. I really like Hazel, but Imogen took some warming up to. Imogene is a high powered business woman that thinks she knows what's best. A good ice queen, except when it comes to people she cares about like George.
This was an interesting read with a lot of ups and downs throughout, but hard to reconcile how they went from hating each other to tender and sweet pretty quickly. Other than that, I recommend this book. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley to provide me with an ARC of this book!
I really liked the main character, Hazel. I'm very grateful to the author for writing a main character who is disabled and writing about her joys and about her struggles. I haven't read a book where a main character is disabled in a long time (or maybe not ever, because I cannot remember the last time that happened tbh). I liked the romance between Hazel and Imogen, it made sense to me. Also, George was a lovely and fun character. The writing was sometimes not as smooth as I'd have liked it to be, but still, the story pulled me in and I finished this in a week or so. Can definitely recommend!
(3.25) Your average romance novel.
So, I’m a big fantasy reader, but sometimes I enjoy a quick and cute down-to-earth sapphic read. Maybe I’m used to heavy plots and that’s why I require more.. substance? from books than what is usually offered in romance books, but this was very mediocre to me.
When I picked up Heart full of hope I hoped for an emotional, smart and loving story, which it was in a way. Mostly it was just a little.. boring. The two characters had a dislike (not enemies, I don’t know why people are describing it like that) for each other when they first met. I didn’t really understand why.. I think the author was trying to make Imogen look suspicious and mostly caring for her uncle, but the attitude towards Hazel instead seemed unreasonable, and sometimes even childish, to me.
I like Hazel, she has a strong character, she’s kind, loving and caring. She has a sweet love towards George and she’s very funny. You can really see the strength she gained from living with a prosthetic since childhood. It makes her likeable + I learned a bit about prosthetics and living with a disability.
Imogen on the other hand just didn’t really click for me. I didn’t get the whole assistant side storyline. I think it was to create depth to her background in the city, and making it clear to us that she was still mentally somewhere else, dealing with her job, but it was dragging out a lot.
Don’t get me wrong, this book is not bad. It’s like it looks from the cover and title: a cute romance story, but it didn’t really have anything more than that. If you’re looking for that, you’ve found it. If you seek something with more angst and plot, this isn’t it.
Thank you so much YLVA and NetGalley for approving me for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a pretty standard type of book for Cheyenne Blue. It’s all fine and easy,with a bit of struggle for each of the mains.
Where this book stands out, it already shows on the cover, is in representation. Differently abled people are not always present in any of the entertainment we get, so that pretty refreshing. Unfortunately that reprentatilm did get a little repetitive for me, in my opinion Blue could have written some scene differently while still conveying the challenges someone faces who “isn’t like the rest”. I think the story is rather sweet, could it be too sweet and too wonderful, maybe. I think it really depends on your mood, at least it does for me.
I don’t mind the book, but I do think it’s quite forgettable, which is unfortunate gevuld the representation
I do appreciate that Cheyenne writes about characters that have challenges.
Uncle George has had an accident and requires help. It's the last thing Imogen needs in her quest for promotion but as her parents are busy she decides to go and help her uncle when he is discharged from hospital.
But who is this Hazel woman who seems to be all up in uncle George's business. Is she some sort of gold digger. Confrontation looms. Can these two put aside their mistrust for George's sake. What unfolds is a journey of discovery for both women. Add in a fiesty dog called Chip and you have a great story.