Keepsake
True North Series- Book 3
Release Date: October 2016
Buy: Amazon / B & N
Synopsis
There’s a first time for everything.
Lark Wainright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.
When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.
Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.
Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.
Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he’s good for much more than farm labor.
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Michel’s Review
Throughout the True North series by Sarina Bowen, Zach has been a mystery. The brief glimpses readers have encountered in the previous books has given the impression that he is a hard working, reliable young man that takes everything in stride. We were also given little clues to his past. He was ousted from an occult and turned up on the doorstep of the Shipley’s neighbors, who also had been members of this occult. He was badly beaten, half starving, and desperate. Coming from a sheltered environment left him clueless on how everyday life works in the outside world. He had never seen movies or television, he had only read the bible, and he was a virgin. Living with the Shipley’s for the past three years has gently introduced him to modern day society. He’s become an avid Star Wars fan, an insatiable reader, and a part of the Shipley family. His upbringing has left it’s mark on him, he is still extremely private and doesn’t express emotions easily. On the other hand it has taught him to value friendship, love, and family.
I couldn’t wait to read this book. I knew it was going to take a very special woman to peel back the layers that encompass Zach’s soul.
Lark Wainwright has known the Shipley’s for years through her college friendship with May. After a horrific and terrifying experience abroad while working, she needs time to heal before she can immerse herself back into the world. The Shipley Apple Farm is the perfect place to begin the healing process. It’s harvest season and they can use the extra help. Their family dynamics and easy acceptance is just what Lark needs. She is secretly suffering with severe PTSD. The only person that has discovered her secret is Zach. His quiet understanding and steadfast presence gives Lark the support and courage she needs to face each day. What begins as a friendship turns into a deep abiding love. The problem is that Lark needs more that Zach’s strength. Zach also has his own demons he keeps locked away and helping Lark is bringing them to the surface.
Both Lark and Zach have their own personal journeys to travel before they can have a healthy relationship. They both have the strength to accept that.
The past will resurface in Zach’s life. His insecurities will begin to make him question his life. His true fear will weigh heavily on his soul.
Lark has more than PTSD to deal with. She has to deal with her ex boyfriend, meddling parents, and the beginnings of a troublesome relationship that could ruin her friendship with May.
Once again Sarina Bowen delivered a powerful story. Her gift of creating dynamic characters with life issues outside of the norm makes their stories come to life. She added extra spice to the story by creating a little love triangle, a troubled friendship, and more than two lost souls trying to find their way in the world. She gave the story depth and value by bringing life on the Shipley Apple Farm as the center of their world. The emotional love story was the bonus.
I highly recommend the True North series. Keepsake by Sarina Bowen is a solid 5+ star book.
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Bittersweet
The True North Series – Book 1
Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo
Synopsis
BITTERSWEET (TRUE NORTH #1)
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the orchard.
The last person Griffin Shipley expects to find stuck in a ditch on his Vermont country road is his ex-hookup. Five years ago they’d shared a couple of steamy nights together. But that was a lifetime ago.
At twenty-seven, Griff is now the accidental patriarch of his family farm. Even his enormous shoulders feel the strain of supporting his mother, three siblings and a dotty grandfather. He doesn’t have time for the sorority girl who’s shown up expecting to buy his harvest at half price.
Vermont was never in Audrey Kidder’s travel plans. Neither was Griff Shipley. But she needs a second chance with the restaurant conglomerate employing her. Okay—a fifth chance. And no self-righteous lumbersexual farmer will stand in her way.
They’re adversaries. They want entirely different things from life. Too bad their sexual chemistry is as hot as Audrey’s top secret enchilada sauce, and then some.
*****
Steadfast
True North Series – Book 2
Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes
Synopsis
Jude lost everything one spring day when he crashed his car into an apple tree on the side of the road. A man is dead, and there’s no way he can ever right that wrong. He’d steer clear of Colebury, Vermont forever if he could. But an ex-con in recovery for his drug addiction can’t find a job just anywhere.
Sophie Haines is stunned by his reappearance. After a three year absence, the man who killed her brother and broke her heart is suddenly everywhere she turns. It’s hard not to stare at how much he’s changed. The bad boy who used to love her didn’t have big biceps and sun-kissed hair. And he’d never volunteer in the church kitchen.
No one wants to see Sophie and Jude back together, least of all Sophie’s police chief father. But it’s a small town. And forbidden love is a law unto itself.
*****
Keepsake
True North Series- Book 3
Buy: Amazon / B & N
Synopsis
There’s a first time for everything.
Lark Wainright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.
When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.
Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.
Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.
Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he’s good for much more than farm labor.
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  Author Bio:
Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.
The Year We Fell Down, Book #1 in The Ivy Years series, began breaking hearts in March 2014. Book #2, The Year We Hid Away, is brand new.
For Harlequin-E, Sarina writes the Gravity series. Coming in From the Cold features an angsty downhill ski racer and one of the most unique plot conflicts in contemporary romance today.
Sarina enjoys skiing, coffee products and a nice glass of wine. She lives with her family, eight chickens and more ski gear and hockey equipment than seems necessary.
She would be honored to connect with you at http://www.sarinabowen.com.
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Sarina Bowen writes steamy, angsty Contemporary Romance and New Adult fiction from the wilds of Vermont.
Saucy Southern Readers 