Blue Ridge Sunrise

by Denise Hunter

Overview

Former free spirit Zoe Collins swore she'd never again set foot in Copper Creek or speak to the man who broke her heart. But return she must when she inherits a peach orchard nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

When Zoe returns home with her young daughter and boyfriend Kyle, she finds that she's the only person in town who doesn't expect her to give up the life she's established far away from Copper Creek. Everyone believes she was born to run the orchard, but how can she make it her home after so many years?

Cruz Huntley never quite got over his first love, Zoe Collins, the little sister of his best friend Brady. Not when she cheated on him during their "break," not when she took off to parts unknown with good-for-nothing Kyle Jenkins, and not even now—five years later.

As life-changing decisions and a history with Cruz hang over Zoe's head, tensions rise between her and Kyle. Even as she comes to terms with the shifting relationships in her life, Zoe still isn't sure if she can remain in Copper Creek with her new responsibilities . . . and her first love.

• Sweet contemporary romance
• Part of the Blue Ridge Romance series, but can be read in any order
  • Book 1: Blue Ridge Sunrise
  • Book 2: Honeysuckle Dreams
  • Book 3: On Magnolia Lane
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780718090500
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Series:	Blue Ridge Romance Series , #1
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	345,753
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Denise Hunter is the internationally published, bestselling author of more than forty books, three of which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s Choice Award, the Carol Award, the Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana, where she and her husband raised three boys and are now enjoying an empty nest and three beautiful grandchildren. Follow Denise at DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: @AuthorDeniseHunter; X: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: @deniseahunter.

Editorial Reviews

11/20/2017
With mixed results, Hunter (The Convenient Groom) considers themes of trust and the corroding power of secrets in this weighty family drama wrapped in a winsome reunion tale. After five years away, Zoe Collins returns to Copper Creek, Ga. with her daughter and her protective boyfriend, Kyle, to attend her grandmother’s funeral. Soon Zoe learns that her grandmother left her the farm as well as a peach orchard. Instead of returning to Nashville with Kyle, Zoe decides to stay in Copper Creek and reboot her life. Old friendships are quickly rekindled and Zoe begins to make amends for her recent distance from her family. But the one thing Zoe didn’t plan on is her old flame, Cruz Huntley, being the orchard manager. Pieces seem to be falling almost too neatly into place until Cruz learns a secret about Zoe’s daughter that’s been kept hidden for years. Hunter creates characters that are loving but also determined and single-minded—leading to situations that escalate beyond the scope of reason. Overt references to God are few and far between, with faith informing the characters’ upbringings but not their behavior. Hunter admirably eschews any lightweight resolutions in favor of a heart-pounding story with dramatic twists. Agent: Karen Solem, Spencerhill. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

'This is an exceptional book by an inspirational author.'

CBA Market

'Diverse characters, a Southern setting and electric chemistry will keep readers emotionally invested.'

4 stars RT Book Reviews

11/01/2017
Zoe Collins abruptly left Copper Creek, GA, five years ago, vowing she'd never return. But her grandmother's funeral pulls her back to the small Blue Ridge Mountain town. Accompanied by her boyfriend, Kyle Jenkins, and her four-year-old daughter, Gracie, Zoe is shocked to discover that she has inherited her grandmother's peach orchard. Her confusion is compounded by running into her old flame Cruz Huntley, who has never stopped carrying a torch for Zoe. But a series of shocking revelations cause Zoe and Cruz to reexamine their past and give them hope that they can find a future together. VERDICT Hunter's (Just a Kiss) latest is sure to please her fans, as well as readers seeking an immersive romance, well-drawn characters, and a satisfying ending. A good choice for admirers of Susan Anne Mason's "Courage To Dream" series.

Library Journal