Review Tour: Heartland: Sarina Bowen
Heartland
(True North #7)
(True North #7)
Sarina Bowen
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Release Date January 28, 2020
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An emotional friends to lovers romance full of risky secrets and late-night lessons in seduction.
Dylan is my best friend, and the only person in my life who understands me. He doesn’t mind my social awkwardness or my weird history. The only glitch? He doesn’t know that I’ve been hopelessly, desperately in love with him since the first day we picked apples together in his family’s orchard.
But I know better than to confess.
Now that we’re both in college together, I’m seeing a new side of him. College Dylan drinks and has a lot of sex. None of it with me. Until the night I foolishly ask him to tutor me in more than algebra…and he actually says yes.
But the cool morning light shows me how badly I’ve endangered our friendship. And I don’t know if anything will be the same again.
Fans of the True North series have been waiting for Dylan Shipley's story since we have basically watched him mature into a young man. He is in college now and having to split time between helping at the family farm on weekends and living the college party life. At home, he is a hard worker, and at school, he lets loose with alcohol, pot, and lots of women.
Chastity has been his friend for a few years when she ran away from a cult and moved in with neighbors, Isaac and Leah. He has enjoyed introducing her to mainstream life and has been supportive of her while she has also started attending college with him. And of course, she has a hidden crush on him.
Due to some circumstances, she finds herself getting more jealous. And then as they spend more time together in close quarters, some impure thoughts start surfacing on his side. But Chastity is his friend, a family friend, his new business partner, and innocent. He knows he has no business treating her like other women and he knows he does not deserve her. But will that stop him from acting on his urges? And would she want him to stop?
Due to some circumstances, she finds herself getting more jealous. And then as they spend more time together in close quarters, some impure thoughts start surfacing on his side. But Chastity is his friend, a family friend, his new business partner, and innocent. He knows he has no business treating her like other women and he knows he does not deserve her. But will that stop him from acting on his urges? And would she want him to stop?
I liked that even though Chastity was sheltered and innocent, she was also curious, smart, and wanted to try new things. She had a mind of her own, but also had some insecurities. Dylan had a lot of unresolved issues causing him guilt and pain and used poor coping mechanisms. They had a lot going for them, but also several challenges working against them. But I loved these two together.
This series always feels like coming home. We get to visit with the Shipleys and Leah and Isaac in Tuxbury. There are some family issues also adding layers to the plot. We also meet their friends at college. I really loved his quirky but intelligent roommate, Rickie and am interested in seeing more of this college crew. I am also looking forward to Dylan's snarky twin, Daphne's story as well.
This series always feels like coming home. We get to visit with the Shipleys and Leah and Isaac in Tuxbury. There are some family issues also adding layers to the plot. We also meet their friends at college. I really loved his quirky but intelligent roommate, Rickie and am interested in seeing more of this college crew. I am also looking forward to Dylan's snarky twin, Daphne's story as well.
Dylan Shipley has a reputation at home for being fun-loving and a little carefree, and his reputation at school is similar, if a little more on the playboy side of fun. But though he’s seen as fun loving, at home it causes tension with his brother, Griffin, and at school it means people expect him to always be on.
Chastity ran away from the cult she was raised in to find sanctuary and a normal life. As she has acclimated to life outside the cult, she wants to have what everyone else does: family, belonging, experience. She also wishes Dylan would look at her as something other than the girl next door, and give credence to the crush she has developed for him.
The friendship between these two has always been light and fun. But now that both are away at college together, Chastity hopes they can try more than friends. Dylan is the one who has introduced her to many “everyday” college experiences that she has no frame of reference for. She may have some aspects of naivete, but she knows exactly what she wants (if she can work up the courage to ask for it).
While Chastity is learning to speak up for herself, Dylan has his own baggage to unpack, with feelings of guilt and pressure surrounding aspects of family life. Though on the outside he looks like he has everything figured out, he is holding onto secrets that weigh him down. Before he can be truly happy he will have to sort out the things holding him back.
This book felt like coming home. There are plenty of scenes back at their homes, and as they work together on a big project, they have plenty of time to spend together and with their families as well. Both families, the Shipleys and the Abrahams, play their own roles in Heartland, and I am always looking forward to more from them!
Chastity ran away from the cult she was raised in to find sanctuary and a normal life. As she has acclimated to life outside the cult, she wants to have what everyone else does: family, belonging, experience. She also wishes Dylan would look at her as something other than the girl next door, and give credence to the crush she has developed for him.
The friendship between these two has always been light and fun. But now that both are away at college together, Chastity hopes they can try more than friends. Dylan is the one who has introduced her to many “everyday” college experiences that she has no frame of reference for. She may have some aspects of naivete, but she knows exactly what she wants (if she can work up the courage to ask for it).
While Chastity is learning to speak up for herself, Dylan has his own baggage to unpack, with feelings of guilt and pressure surrounding aspects of family life. Though on the outside he looks like he has everything figured out, he is holding onto secrets that weigh him down. Before he can be truly happy he will have to sort out the things holding him back.
This book felt like coming home. There are plenty of scenes back at their homes, and as they work together on a big project, they have plenty of time to spend together and with their families as well. Both families, the Shipleys and the Abrahams, play their own roles in Heartland, and I am always looking forward to more from them!
Sarina Bowen
Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.
In 2016, Sarina became a Rita Award winner! The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.
In 2016, Sarina became a Rita Award winner! The Romance Writers of America honored HIM by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy with Best Contemporary Romance, Mid-Length.
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