Review: Heartland by Sarina Bowen

HEARTLAND
Sarina Bowen
Publication date: January 28, 2020
Genres: Adult/New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Series: True North #7
Format: eARC
Source: Author
4.25 Stars








S Y N O P S I S

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.



M Y   T H O U G H T S

Every new release from Sarina Bowen is cause for celebration. And when it’s an addition to the True North series, centered around the Shipley farming family in Vermont, I get downright giddy. Heartland is Dylan’s story, who (along with his twin sister) is the youngest of the Shipley clan. Now 20 and in college, he struggles with what his future holds. And he buries that uncertainty by living in the moment and having a good time – with plenty of drinks and plenty of girls.

This is all I will ever have – friendship and the ache of wanting more. - Chastity

Chastity fled from the religious cult she was raised in two years ago and was taken in by Leah and Isaac, also former members of the cult and neighbors/friends of the Shipley’s. Starting college as a 21-year-old freshman, Chastity is sometimes overwhelmed but she’s also embracing her freedom, testing her boundaries and learning what she wants for herself. And the biggest thing she wants? Dylan Shipley. Chastity has been in love with her best friend almost since she arrived in Vermont but she knows he’ll never see her beyond anything other than a friend. Until one night during a tutoring session she asks for instruction in more than just algebra.

We fell into kissing the way I once fell off a dock into Lake Champlain. Suddenly and without warning. - Chastity

There was so much to love in Heartland and Dylan and Chastity were at the top of the list. Despite playing the role of the party guy and avoiding his future, and despite being completely obtuse when it came to his feelings for Chastity, Dylan was a sweetheart and totally likable. He loved his family, he was a hard worker, he didn’t play games, and he was a great friend to Chastity. And speaking of Chastity, she was a young woman really coming into her own. I loved that (except when it came to her feelings for Dylan) she was usually willing to stand up for herself and speak her mind. She was brave and had a backbone. She may have been raised in a cult and didn’t enter the “real world” until she was nineteen, but that didn’t mean she was a child or needed coddling. She was learning to form her own opinions and adjusting to the act that she could try new things and forge her own way. I wanted to cheer for Chastity for every hurdle she passed. When their relationship changed, Chastity realized that she may be getting what she wanted, but it also came with a whole new set of uncertainties and insecurities.

Life is full of little moments that don’t matter a whole lot, peppered by a few moments when everything is on the line. – Dylan

There was so much goodness even beyond Dylan and Chastity. The evolving relationship between Dylan and oldest brother Griffin, the chemistry between Chastity and Dylan (scorching hot!), Dylan’s (one-sided) conversations with the goats, Dylan’s friend Rickie (fingers crossed that my guess is right and Rickie will be featured in the next book with Daphne), and so much more. I guess it’s too soon to want the next book, but that doesn’t me from wishing I had it in my hands. Heartland was sweet and hot and swoony, with a perfect mix of humor and heart. If you haven't experienced the True North series, what are you waiting for?

Disclosure: I received a a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.


GET YOUR COPY OF HEARTLAND HERE!

26 comments

  1. I really need to make some progress on this series! I've only read Bittersweet so far.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You have all kinds of great reading ahead of you then, Alison! :)

      Delete
  2. Sounds like a great addition to the series. I do love Sarina Bowen. And I love that you clarified that Dylan's conversations with the goats are one-sided. LOL

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've had my eye on this one and I do like Bowen - glad to hear it's a good one.

    Karen @ For What It's worth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you'll enjoy it if you give it a try, Karen. The whole series is so good.

      Delete
  4. Great review! There was so much to love about this book. The heart of it made me forgot about a couple things I didn't love. I can't wait for the next book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here, Deanna! I guess it's too early to start begging Sarina for book #8. :)

      Delete
  5. I read the first book in the series and never got back to it, but I love Sarina Bowen and the setting in Vermont was wonderful. Conversations with goats?! I love it! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you enjoyed the first book (with grumpy Griffin LOL), and already know you love Sarina Bowen, I think you would love this one Rachel. Along with the rest of the series!

      Delete
  6. 2020 is the year I will read all the Sarina Bowen books I own and maybe some I don't (currently). In fact, she's attending RARE in June so I better be reading some of her books before then! :)

    This one sounds wonderful. I love friends-to-lovers and this pair seem like they'll give me an awesome story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to hold you to that, Nicci! Maybe I should harass you once a month to make sure you're ready for RARE in June. LOL

      Delete
  7. I love the Shipley's and like that Bowen explored the relationship between Griffin and Dylan. I don't think I have seen too much of the twins in these book, so I am glad he is finally being highlighted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, Dylan and Daphne have usually been in the background so I'm glad they're old enough to get their own stories now. And the scenes between Dylan and Griffin were among the most powerful to me.

      Delete
  8. Well I can see this was a wonderfulr ead for you! But didn't you want to "open his eyes" sometimes? Because when characters are oblivious to the other's love I just want to shout "open your eyes!!!!" LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Oh yeah, Sophie, I definitely wanted to smack Dylan in the back of the head sometimes and say, "Open your eyes! This girl is in love with you and you obviously love her!" :)

      Delete
  9. This looks amazing! I'm always looking for new romance novels to read so I'll have to add this to my library TBR (as I'm on a buying ban this year to shrink my own backlist). Thanks for sharing your review :) Happy reading!

    Megan | Ginger Mom and Company

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Megan. I just love Sarina Bowen and this series is one of my favorites. I hope your library has them for you!

      Delete
  10. This book is everywhere lol!! I really need to hop on the Sarina Bowen band wagon. I just haven't had time to try her <3 Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jessica! Sarina Bowen is such a go-to author for me. When it comes to contemporary romance she never disappoints.

      Delete
  11. I'm not familiar with this series but it sounds lovely. I like that it focuses on the relationship between the brothers in addition to the romance between Dylan and Chastity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarina Bowen is a total go-to author for me and this series (True North) is one of my favorites. I love the focus on family.

      Delete
  12. I really hope you are right and we get to see more of Rickie! He was great! I loved getting to see Griffin again and I thought that Dylan and Chastity were great. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just smiled every time Rickie was on the page. :) Such a great character!

      Delete
  13. Glad you enjoyed this one! Yes, I'm also pulling for Rickie & Daphne. I know she said she's not done with this series yet, so I think we are right!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The ending of Heartland really did seem like it was setting up for Daphne's story. And I'm thinking Rickie will be the guy. :)

      Delete