Category Archives: Lois Greiman

Review: Hearth Song by Lois Greiman

hearth songTitle: Hearth Song by Lois Greiman
Home in the Hills Series Book Two
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Bravura Lambert has a daughter to raise, a tumbledown house to restore, and a struggling business to run. She doesn’t have time to cry over a husband who only shows up when he needs money. She also doesn’t need Tonk Redhawk, a Native American artist and wild horse jockey, interfering in her life. So what if he’s charming and helpful and makes her autistic five-year-old giggle until she can’t stand up? Bravura’s husband, Dane, was once all those things too.

When Dane returns to find Tonk’s horses in Bravura’s pasture and his tools in her shed, he insists on moving back home. Despite his faults, Bravura longs to make her marriage work—after all, she took a vow. But then Dane does the unthinkable, forcing Bravura to finally face the truth about her choices—and about how deeply Tonk cares for her. Once she opens her eyes, she just may be able to open her heart…

Review:

In Hearth Song, the second installment in Lois Greiman’s heartwarming Home in the Hills series, hardworking Bravura “Vura” Lambert is torn between her loyalty to her manipulative husband Dane and her surprising attraction to stoic Tonk Redhawk.

Vura has not seen her husband Dane is the year since he took a job in the mining fields of North Dakota, so she is pretty stunned by his unexpected return. She is not exactly happy to see him but since he is her husband and the father of her five year old daughter, Lily, she tries to make the best of the situation. Quickly growing impatient with his irresponsible behavior, she cannot shake the feeling Dane is being less than forthcoming about his departure from his job and his current job search. Dane somehow manages to charm Vura out of her doubts but her uncertainties about him continue to grow.

Vura is a likable, but extremely maddening, character. She is very close to her father and grandfather and in Dane’s absence, their help with Lily has been invaluable. Vura is a strong and capable woman, but her husband has slowly chipped away at her self-esteem over the years. She is more comfortable in blue jeans and a hard hat than a dress and heels but she has tried to be more feminine to make Dane happy. Vura has slowly given up so much of her identity to please him that she barely recognizes herself. She is a fantastic mom and a successful businesswoman but as soon as Dane strolls back into her life, she loses all confidence which leaves her vulnerable and incredibly susceptible to his manipulations. He so thoroughly twists things around that Vura is unable to see just how destructive and conniving he is.

Dane is thoroughly despicable and it is impossible to understand how Vura continues to allow him to guilt her into agreeing to his demands. She has strong doubts about his return and while it is reasonable to try to save her marriage, it is exasperating watching her make excuses for his appalling behavior. Despite proving to be completely untrustworthy, Vura easily sets aside her misgivings and she gives him the benefit of the doubt even in the face of damning evidence that he is lying her.

Tonk has a bit of a troubled past but he has worked hard to overcome his demons. He is the epitome of the strong silent type and he is quite observant. He has strong ties to his heritage and despite a few missteps in the past, Tonk treats people with respect and reverence. Tonk is such an admirable and likable character that it is very exasperating that he remains on the periphery for much of the novel.

Since it takes almost the entire novel for Vura to finally see what her family recognized about Dane years earlier, Hearth Song is an enjoyable albeit frustrating addition to the Home in the Hills series. While it is understandable that Vura needs to come to terms with her relationship with Dane, the overall story gets bogged down in his misdeeds and his inexplicable ability to bamboozle her time after time. Once their relationship is finally resolved, Dane’s desperation leads to a dramatic decision and Lois Greiman brings the novel to a suspenseful and action filled conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Heart Song, Home in the Hills Series, Kensington, Lois Greiman, Rated C+, Review, Women's Fiction

Review: Hearth Stone by Lois Greiman

hearthTitle: Hearth Stone by Lois Greiman
Home in the Hills Books One
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

With her chance at the US equestrian team shattered by an injury, Sydney Wellesley arrives at the Lazy Windmill ranch angry and heartbroken. But the rugged red bluffs and wild high plains of the Black Hills inspire her to purchase land where she can train her own Olympic hopefuls. Everything’s going according to Sydney’s new life plan–until her funding suddenly dries up. . .

Alone in the ramshackle house she had planned to raze, Sydney is ready to admit defeat and slink back to civilization–until she discovers an injured mustang. Seeing herself in the desperate wild mare, she feels compelled to save the animal at all costs, little knowing that the horse just might return the favor. For as Sydney’s circle grows to include an autistic child, an earthy array of local characters, and hired help in the form of Hunter Redhawk, a man as indomitable as the land itself, she realizes that heroes are everywhere–and healing is the first step on the road to true happiness.

The Review:

Hearth Stone is the first heartwarming installment in Lois Greiman’s Home in the Hills series. This charming novel is a lovely story of new beginnings for Sydney Wellesley when she impulsively purchases a dilapidated ranch nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Leaving behind a life of privilege is only the first of many changes for Sydney as she finds love and friendship while forging a new life for herself in the wake of a devastating accident.

Sydney is the only daughter of a wealthy but cold and controlling businessman. Following the accident that ends her promising career as equestrienne, she breaks off her engagement to her cheating fiancé and escapes to the Lazy Windmill Ranch. She falls in the love with surrounding area and purchases a neighboring property which she plans to turn into a training facility for other equestrians. When her father demands she return home, Sydney stubbornly defies him, but she quickly discovers she might have bitten off more than she can chew when he cuts off her access to her credit cards and checking account. Luckily for her, Hunter Redhawk is the type of person who cannot in good conscience leave her to fend her for herself, so against his better judgment, he agrees to help her make some much needed repairs on the ranch.

Sydney has spent her life trying to live up to her family’s impossibly high standards and she is somewhat distant and cold when she first arrives in SD. She is also rather helpless since she has never had to take care of anything on her own. Lacking even the most rudimentary skills, Sydney is out of her depth, but she refuses to give up her dream. Working side by side with Hunter, she begins to warm up to him and she strikes up an unlikely friendship with Vura Lambert and her young daughter, Lily. But most surprising is the kinship Sydney feels for an injured Mustang she rescues. Her vision for her ranch transforms during the horse’s recovery but will she let her need for father’s approval alter her plans?

Hunter is a somewhat mysterious man who reveals little about his past. There is no doubt he is a decent, kindhearted person, but he is the epitome of the strong, silent type. He is not easily ruffled and he has a quiet, reassuring presence. He also expects Sydney to pull her share of the weight and he is willing to teach her what she needs to do to help him. While Hunter shares affectionate anecdotes about his family and his childhood on the Rosebud Reservation, it soon becomes clear that there is a tragedy that haunts him.

The relationship between Hunter and Sydney develops slowly over the course of the novel. Sydney is sometimes unintentionally offensive but Hunter takes her prickly attitude in stride and with good humor. It is easy for him to see how sheltered and out of depth she is, but he cannot help but admire her plucky approach to achieving her dream despite the odds not being in her favor. At first reluctant co-workers, their friendship grows as they let down their guard with one another and begin to exchange confidences. There is also a growing attraction that smolders under the surface of their comfortable friendship but in the aftermath of a fiery kiss, an unexpected distance springs up between them.

Hearth Stone is a very touching beginning to the Home in the Hills series. The characters are richly developed and although flawed, they are sympathetic and likable with believable issues to overcome. The novel’s setting is distinctive and adds to the story’s overall appeal. Lois Greiman does a wonderful job keeping the storyline fresh and unique.

Although a spin-off from the Hope Springs series, Hearth Stone easily stands on its own.

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Filed under Contemporary, Hearth Stone, Home in the Hills Series, Kensington, Lois Greiman, Rated B+, Review, Romance