This was a sweet slow-burn romance. There was a lot of talk about disability and needing to make accommodations - wrestling with feelings of failure and inadequacy etc - which was very relatable. The specific disability seemed well-researched. The characters were good, especially the sweet meddling uncle/friend.
I enjoyed this book! :)

CW: there is quite a bit of food-restricting by one of the characters.

I liked this novel a lot. It was a page turner that flowed really well. The plotlines were realistic, and the characters were relatable. I have read other novels by this author, and they were all fine, but I think this was the best one in my opinion. This didn’t have whatever intangible impact I’m looking for that gets a novel on my favorite list, but it was something that I would absolutely recommend for anyone and everyone to read.

Highlights:
-Hazel. I simply liked Hazel.
-So much caring takes place in this novel. The protagonists for each other, and for George, and George for the two ladies in his life. Its simply heartwarming.
-Disability representation for the win. I like how it wasn’t only present, but integral to the story (in an organic and realistic way) and presented in a way that is honest even when it isn’t always pretty. I like it when novels show the reality of life and not just a sanitized version. At the same time, there was a clear message about how disabilities don’t need to be a problem or a barrier if people are simply willing to be understanding and make basic accommodations.
-There were several plotlines in this novel, and not just a romance. I don’t want to say “just a romance” because that’s perfectly fine, however I like novels like this where there is a much fuller story taking place. Both protagonists have their own story, separate from each other.
-Excellent use of the enemies-to-lovers trope, even if it was a light helping of the enemies side of things. More like suspicious tension. It worked though.
-Requiem for Immortals (Lee Winter) easter egg, FTW!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This review was left voluntarily and is entirely honest.

Small town Australia with hearts full of love
Toolbelts and a cute handy-woman plus an icey big city-girl adds up to - so I thought - an easy, entertaining romance for a rainey autumn day.
And I was right, at least partly. It was an entertaining read and great storyteller that she is, Cheyenne Blue gave the story quite a twist which added depth and grit.
Far from glossing over what it truly means to have lost a leg Cheyenne really lets us delve into Hazel‘s life and I loved how she effortlessly educated me as reader. And anyone who ever wanted to succeed career-wise in the good old boys world knows how Imogen feels - again no black and white. Imogen is far from perfect, but Cheyenne really hits the proverbial nail on misogyny. The grumpy dog: I so enjoyed this perfect play on the trope of cute dog. Not Chippy though, Anklebiter #1. And care for our seniors? More food for thought!
To sum it up: in perfect rhythm and well written Cheyenne had me explore so many themes which were woven together into a thought provoking and captivating package.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

Smalltown handywoman Hazel’s life is disrupted when bossy big-city executive Imogen arrives, questioning Hazel’s motives for helping Imogen’s elderly uncle. Despite their clashing personalities—Hazel’s charming candor versus Imogen’s icy aloofness—the meddling uncle seems determined to matchmake the unlikely pair. As tensions rise, they’re forced to confront whether their seemingly opposite worlds could possibly intertwine.

This is a fun, upbeat, and heartwarming sapphic romance. I enjoyed the author’s writing style. The conflicts are genuine and the characters are likable and believable.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I enjoyed reading this book. There was some angst, and a very slow burn until the MC's finally got together romantically. George was a real sweetheart,..Chip...not so much. Overall a wonderful story. I'm familiar with this author, as I've read some of her other books, as well as some of her fan fiction from years ago. Nicely done.

A Heart Full of Hope, written by Cheyenne Blue, is a sweet, slow-burn sapphic romance set in a small town in Queensland, Australia. I was so happy to come across this book, as Aussie queer romance can difficult to find, and I was thoroughly impressed by its content. It was well paced, with loveable characters and a realistic setting. This book also gets extra love for bringing up the Matilda’s on several occasions - Blue really cracked the code on getting into an Aussie lesbians heart!

In this novel we meet our main characters Hazel and Imogen. Hazel is a hardworking and generous soul, who splits her time between her part-time delivery job and her handywoman business. In her spare time, she is often found helping her elderly friend George. That is, until George has a serious fall, and is admitted to hospital. The initially prickly businesswoman, Imogen, is sent to town by her hands-off father to care for her uncle George, whom she has not seen in several years. These characters form an unlikely pair which must put aside their (many) differences to care for George through his recovery. This premise is made even more entertaining by George’s constant cheeky attempts at matchmaking.

Our main character Hazel is also an amputee who wears a prosthesis. I felt like the disability representation in Hazel was incredibly well written, well-researched, and managed to meaningfully delve into realistic and nuanced issues.

I’m genuinely disappointed to have finished this novel, as I grew to adore these characters and their take on the world. I would wholeheartedly recommend this novel if you are a lover of slow-burn queer romance - Personally, I’m eagerly awaiting the possibility of a sequel!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this thought provoking book

hazel lee disabled with one leg but with a heart of gold working two jobs but living her best life until she meets the niece of her friend.... the one she has been helping for several years .... where had that niece been then....

High-powered businesswoman Imogen Alexander couldnt believe her eyes when she saw hazel lee....well for a start she had just walked into her uncles house as if she owned it.... but imogen was there now to take charge and see to it that things were put into place for her uncle before she went back to her job....

who did hazel think she was.... could she somehow be after her uncles money or hoping that he would change his will for her.... things were going to change...

have to say this book is very thought provoking about the lives of disabled people and what they have to go through...i even watched a few of the videos that the author recommended....

this storyline had all the elements in it that i loved

This was a sweet opposites attract, age gap, small town romance story. We meet Imogen - a corporate career-driven city girl, and Hazel, a small town construction worker/delivery driver. I loved Hazel from the beginning, and despite her icy exterior (though I wouldn’t fully classify her as an ice queen), Imogen was also relatable. Despite their differences, they have similar vulnerabilities that were well written and depicted.

I could have kept reading about these two for at least another half a book. I loved their slow burn romance, and would have loved to see more between the end of the book and the epilogue. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet romance.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

3.5. I’ve just finished this book. I cannot remember the last book I made no notes for the review while reading it! That doesn’t mean there is nothing noteworthy, it also doesn’t mean it was a book that gripped me more than any other I’ve read recently. What it does mean tho is that I was wholly engrossed and actually no thinking about a review at all.
This is a relatively unusual book, because as the cover shows, one of the mains has a prosthetic leg. This is not shied away from or forgotten about or minimised or all encompassing. If the last sentence upsets anyone it shows I am not as sensitive a writer as Cheyenne Blue. This a romance that is character led. Beautifully paced and drips with Aussieisms. A book full of hope. A book full of reality.

A cute story with opposites attract. Imogen and Hazel really complemented each other, and their love story enjoyable as well as educational about the struggles an amputee has in the daily life. It is a book I recommend if you want a light and nice read.

Very sweet story and a bit unusual. We learn a bit about simple every day problems that plague amputees. I found that very interesting and enlightening. The love story and the two main characters are very realistic. Two very different women growing together. The epilogue was soooo sweet I actually teared up a bit.
Nice feel good story..I liked it.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest.

Opposites attract in small town Oz (4.5 stars)
There are plenty of gaps between main characters Imogen and Hazel (age and financial among them); they could not be more different and yet in this executive ice queen meets working class (with a high level can-do attitude) amputee they meet, clash, flirt, open up to each other and handle Imogen's uncle George and his moody dog Chip with the very best of intentions. The story is a page turner that will have you chuckling throughout and perhaps tearing up a time or two if you're not grumbling about some character mistreatment that goes on; the latter only occurs in a small number of scenes with the focus more on loving relationships between mains and their friends and (some) family members. Uncle George is a scene stealer when he's matchmaking Imogen and Hazel or showing his marshmallow heart under the grumpy exterior. He nearly overshadows the mains but Hazel is especially easy to root for and care about; her 'nubbin' (her words not mine) is handled in the story in a matter of fact way without sugarcoating how it affects her day to day life and the way she's treated by some. Hazel and George were fave characters while Imogen took time to warm up to as she comes to Dry Creek and make assumptions and cynical judgements about people and situations she encounters; Imogen is the type of ice queen who has a stick that needs dislodging so she can chill out. There is sweet and hot chemistry between Hazel and Imogen; the oddest location for a first kiss belongs to them. They develop a beautiful intimacy before getting physical giving them a better foundation for building their romantic relationship into something long lasting and healthy. Dry Creek in Australia where most of the story is set sounds like a cool place to visit; it is a real place although I don't know if the locales in the story exist there in real life. I'd love a follow-up story to check in with these characters down the line and would happily read it.
I recommend this story to those wanting a romance rooted partially in reality but that also delivers plenty of love and humor along the way. I also recommend Cheyenne Blue's other work and if you're keen on stories set in Australia, there are plenty for you to choose from with an array of characters and tropes to make you smile, laugh, swoon and maybe even cry a little.

4.25 stars

A sweet, slow burn, age gap, ice queen Sapphic romance with wonderful disability representation.

Hazel likes her life. She's striving to grow her handywoman business while working as a part-time delivery driver for a grocery store. That's how she met George, a sweet elderly man with a snappy dog. When George breaks his hip, his niece Imogen comes to town to help out. Imogen is an ice queen businesswoman who mistrusts Hazel's kindness. No one can be that nice, right?

I'm not a big fan of age gap, and this book reminded me why. Imogen complained about how young Hazel is even though it's a 9-year difference and Imogen acted more immature than Hazel most of the time. Hazel, on the other hand, is a kind bisexual amputee who's handy with tools and sweet to George. I liked the care that went into Hazel's life and taking care of George. Though the middle part of the story dragged a bit, Imogen grew on me by the end. And I love that the book showed more of the couple after the reconciliation than is typical of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

I liked the book, the start and ending were great however I did feel like it dragged on a little in the middle but not enough to make me stop reading.

I loved how much it educated the reader on amputees, I honestly didn’t realise how much work it was to simply go to sleep and I’m grateful the book taught me that.

It’s a ‘enemies’ to lovers book well I say enemies they weren’t just wasn’t friends for awhile.

Overall I enjoyed the book and thought the plot was great.

This opposites-attract romance brings together Hazel, a small-town handywoman, and Imogen, a high-powered businesswoman, in a story that's full of personality and charm. Hazel’s no-nonsense, down-to-earth character contrasts perfectly with Imogen’s polished, corporate style, creating plenty of sparks. The inclusion of Hazel’s elderly friend and Uncle George adds a sweet, heartwarming element, with some humorous matchmaking antics along the way.

4,5 *****
This is a sweet enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, smalltown and age-gap romance.
An unusual romance.
Not unusual because Hazel only has one leg and has had to learn to deal with it in life and prove herself again and again.
Not because Imogen is a rather sober, complex and infuriating Ice - Queen who, however, feels a lot of warmth and affection for the people she loves and who are important to her.
She just can't show it very well or needs a lot of time to do it.
What is unusual is the development and rapprochement between the two.
Which is constantly ups and downs throughout the entire book.
They have to overcome many small and large hurdles, overcome misunderstandings and overcome their opinions and prejudices.
I just would have liked more warmth a little earlier in their romance.
Because when the time finally comes, they are incredibly gentle, tender, sweet and understanding towards each other. Especially Imogen regarding Hazel's amputation.
All I can say is that I really like the unusual and with George and especially Chip as part of the story it was an extremely fun romance!
Thank you to Ylva Publishing and Cheyenne Blue for this ARC via NetGalley!

Hazel lives in a small town where she works as a part time delivery driver for a local supermarket. Her dream? To get her handywoman small business going. But first, she has to build her professional reputation.

Imogen works at a successful company in Brisbane but her work isn't getting the recognition it deserves. When she's brought to spend some time in Dry Creek after her uncle George has a bad fall, she starts wondering if what she needs is some change in her life. But the change she doesn't expect in this new life is the bubbly handywoman who's always helping her uncle, whom she's growing closer and closer to.

A Heart Full of Hope is the first book that made me understand the hype of the small town romance trope. The environment it's set in is so pretty, and I found the close knit community of Dry Creek so endearing.

Hazel was also an adorable character. I'm a fan of bubbly characters but she's one that I instantly got attached to. I loved how straightforward she was, she's clear about her boundaries and her intentions but also so caring towards others.

I also liked how the book explored her relationship to disability though I cannot speak at length about it since I'm not an amputee and am not educated enough on it to judge the representation. I did learn quite a few things about it through this book, however, and I appreciated that.

I didn't really feel as attached to Imogen because I was a bit put off by her insistent suspicions towards Hazel in the beginning. I wish that part was cut a little shorter because I thought it felt a bit too offensive for her to keep jumping to such ideas when Hazel isn't giving her any reasons to do so. It frustrated me a bit too much and played a significant a part in why I ended up not really rooting for the romance much.

As for the romance, I think it could've used a bit more time to develop because I couldn't really feel that much chemistry between the two main characters, but that could've also been because of the aforementioned reason.

Overall, this was an entertaining read, and even though it wasn't my favorite romance, it's still a sweet book with a lot of reflections about what it's like trying for a change when you've already had a life and dreams previously established. I also love how this is shown not just for Imogen and Hazel but also for George!

I would recommend this for those looking for a small town romance book with some really lovely characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

4.5 bumped up :)

A charming and sweet enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, smalltown, age-gap (25 vs. 34) story that packs a little more bite than you might expect. Uptight career-driven Imogen finds herself at a crossroads in her life; smalltown, perky Hazel is about to approach hers. Can these women learn from each other? Can they even stand each other?

The enemies-to-lovers trope is well used here to illustrate the way we present ourselves to the world before the author peels back the layers of both the leads to reveal how one, Imogen, is more caring than you might first think while the other, Hazel, faces daily challenges to present herself as outgoing and positive. The disability that Hazel endures, caused by her leg amputation is written very well, beyond the cliches and expected issues you might expect to find. Kudos for that; Cheyenne Blue ensures we get a rounded and nuanced trait that very much informs the character of Hazel but doesn't define her. Or does it? Some harder-hitting (for the genre) scenes will reveal this and more.

There's also a lovely B-plot, tying in organically and providing impetus for the A-plot, involving the care of an elderly relative. Imogen's uncle, George, is feisty and fun, and his friendship with Hazel is beyond sweet :).

I enjoyed the setting, too. Ms. Blue again takes us down under for a slice of smalltown Australia and takes the opportunity to drop in some commentary about the challenges smalltown inhabitants face, like jobs and how small businesses have to adapt in the face of national chains moving in.
There is much to admire and enjoy here in this neatly constructed story that feels authentic in a number of ways. Why have I taken a 1/2 star away? For me, it took more pages than I'd expect to find the chemistry between the leads. And so it took me a little while to emotionally engage with the story (while still admiring its setup and construction, tho).

Maybe just me, of course. But perhaps forewarned is forearmed, so if you find the same I urge you to press on. You'll be well rewarded.

Thank you to the author, the publisher (the amazing Ylva), and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

A low angst, slow burn romance, nice work for the author for making an inclusion representation for an amputee, I gained quite a lot of knowledge and insight on how an amputee function on day-to-day life, especially when Hazel described what and how she needs to get through her routine each night to care for her leg to Imogen during their first night. The friendship between Hazel and George was sweet too, also chip the grumpy ankle biter was adorable too.

This is definitely my favorite Cheyenne Blue book thus far. From the start, Hazel and Imogen are at odds, making negative assumptions about each other. As the story progresses, they become friends and eventually start to let each other in, almost without realizing it.

I will say, this book is very much a slow-burn. Though there is some attraction admitted to earlier in the book, nothing concrete forms until much later on. I saw this as a positive thing, I think it allowed for a lot of great development for both characters, and got them both to a place where they were ready for a relationship.

This book also had a lot of sweet moments. I particularly liked that George was so cared for by both Imogen and Hazel, and his attempts at matchmaking were very cute. In addition, there was a lot of great conversations about Hazel's disability and I think the way it was mentioned directly and never skirted around was great. I also learned a bit more about prosthetics than I knew previously.

Overall, I liked this one quite a lot and it's perfect for anyone looking for a story of a sweet, slow building relationship. 4.5/5 stars rounded up.