Donna Kauffman(Blue Hollow Falls)

Sunny had never really had a family, other than her mother, who was a hippie and had been ill all of Sunny's life. Sunny had spent her entire life taking care of her mother's needs. Not it was time for her live her life on her terms. She had a great job in Alexandria, Virginia and she had a home. . . what more could she ask for? She received a summons to attend the reading of her father's will in Blue Hollow Falls, Virginia. She had never met her father and didn't know anything about him but she found she had a younger sister, Bailey, and an older "stepbrother", Sawyer, and a former wife of her father's, Addie. Now she was part of a family and as she began to spend more time in Blue Hollow Falls and with her new family, she began to want more than she had wanted before.

She wanted Bailey to know she was cared for and lacked for nothing. She had feelings for Sawyer that were confusing to her and made her want things with him that she never had before. Addie was like a grandmother to her and she enjoyed all the new, confusing feelings. Could she allow herself to have this new family? Could she open her heart to the possibilities or protect it from the pain she knew had to be coming?

I enjoyed this book very much. This story is rich with descriptions about the local area and the people involved. I am not a fan of the descriptive sex scenes and could have done without that. But, for the most part, the scenes were quick and not drawn out, descriptively.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I enthusiastically offer my review.

A charming new series from Donna Kauffman. I absolutely adore her writing style. This is the first book in the new Blue Hollow Falls series, where we meet Sunny, a woman who had a very interesting childhood and finds herself recently orphaned, by both the mother she took care of and the father she never knew. When she attends the reading of the will of her newly discovered father, she also discovers a half-sister she didn't know and she now has a part-ownership in an old abandoned mill in the small mountain town of Blue Hollow Falls. This was a warm and cozy story, where Sunny doesn't just find love, but a new family. The characters we met were completely adorable and funny and I can't wait to get to know them better in the next story. I'm completely hooked on this fantastic new series.

I received a copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kauffman’s newest is just as much women’s fiction as it is romance, which works so-very-well.  While Sunny and Sawyer dance around their attraction, there is an entire group of adorable characters who are finding their way in a new family dynamic. 

Shortly after losing her mother and finding herself pretty much alone in the world, Sunny discovers that she actually has a family and inherited a share of an old silk mill.  She’s spent most of her life being a care-giver to her mother and now she’s finally (and guiltily) exploring her freedom.  With the addition of siblings and assorted non-blood family, though, she’s got to decide whether she’s ready to get involved again. 

Sawyer may find himself drawn to Sunny but she’s dealing with so much and her life is a few hours away.  Getting involved can only lead to complications … but he’s finding her hard to resist. 

As appealing as these two are, though, it’s the secondary characters that tend to steal the show.  I love seeing Bailey, Sunny’s half-sister, reveal her too cute middle-aged woman in a little girl’s body personality.  And it’s obvious that both Sawyer’s and Sunny’s delightful best friends are due for their own story (not sure yet if it is together or separate). 

As the start of a new series there is a good amount of description and quite a few characters introduced, which may be a bit much for some.  But those who enjoy stories with small-town romances and family-dynamics will appreciate the world that Kauffman creates and look forward to what comes next.

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***

Book Review- Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Grant

Sunny Goodwin has inherited a silk mill and a family in an hour. She finds out she has a young half-sister and a step mother. She is in complete shock and is confused as to what to do. She also comes face to face with Sawyer. The retired special forces soldier makes her breath catch, but then the realization they are related hits her. Besides her life is in DC.
She decides to go back to her life but be available for her sister Bailey. Unfortunately for her Addie has other ideas. Addie continues to scheme getting her people all together as a family. So Sunny and Sawyer are constantly thrown together, sparks and all. Sunny tries to fight them until she learns they aren’t really related. Now the only thing really stopping her is her life, but Bailey has a surprise that may change everything.
This was an interesting story. Sunny’s life up to date was very unusual. Then she gets this inheritance and her life gets even more crazy. I could not imagine being thrust into that situation out of nowhere. I love how the author has her questioning everything especially when she meets Sawyer. Her world is rocked on its axis. The reader is along for the ride as she struggles with life decisions. She has to take a leap of faith. Knowing how she grew up, the reader isn’t surprised that she is afraid to do it.
I like how her new family shows her the way. Her best friend Stevie also adds support. It was a great story. I can’t imagine the mill project but the characters were colorful and entertaining. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Donna Kauffman's introduction to her new series ''Blue Hollow Falls'' really pleased me. While on vacation, I was searching for a fun and romantic story, and voilà, Blue Hollow Falls was perfect for such a read. Lots of great elements like a beautiful setting, charming characters, two headstrong H/H make this one a charming story to enjoy! Perfect Summer read!

Sunny and Sawyer's story is so realistic and believable, that could not put it down! The heroine Sunny never expected to inherit an historic silk mill set in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains. The hero Sawyer returns from the armed forces to help renovate the mill and turn it into an art center. He never expected that a third of the mill went to step-siblings he never knew existed. Sunny is this person! And she's a horticulturist with the DC Botanic Garden. Besides finding out that she now owns one third of the mill, she learns that she has a ten year old sister and sexy step-brother! Will she sell her part and move on with her life and accept it as a new challenge? Will she like living in Blue Hollow Falls? Will Sawyer catch her heart and never let go!

*Disclaimer: This book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher without any requirement for a review, positive or otherwise.

I absolutely loved everything about Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kauffman. This is the first book I’ve read by the author, but certainly not the last!
Sunny and Sawyer along with the rest of the charming secondary characters of Blue Hollow Falls really made this a fun and entertaining read. Donna Kauffman’s writing is filled with lots of humor, sense of community and love that makes you swoon, big time. Love scenes were written beautifully, with emotion and special. I had a smile from start to finish, wiped a few tears in tender moments and laughed out loud often. Dialogue between the characters is frank and realistic. I highly recommend Donna Kauffman if you enjoy stories filled with charismatic characters, laughter, small town charm, community and love!

"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
I liked this romantic story set in the beautiful imaginary town of Blue Hollow Falls, in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
The main characters (Sawyer and Sunny) are nice, well balanced people who experienced hardship in their lives and overcame it. Sawyer is a former military and he’s not a tortured hero (!) and Sunny is a horticulturist. There’s a cast of well-rounded secondary characters too.
The descriptions of both the historical and natural elements create a vivid setting and I’ve enjoyed getting to know this part of America. And the cover is beautiful.
I like well adjusted characters and tender and heartwarming moments in fiction, but in this story I missed some conflict and I thought there were too much conversations about their feelings (usually I criticize the lack of communication, but here it’s the opposite) or about uninteresting things.
I was curious about some characters (specially Will, but also his son, Jake, and Bailey) and hope they’ll have stories in this series.

4.5 - "I wasn't expecting you..." Stars!

Donna Kauffman begins her new Blue Hollow Falls series with some serious style.

Sunny and Sawyer’s story, grabbed me from the start, but a large part of my enjoyment also came from the introduction of so many likeable secondary characters as well. The author does it so smoothly that it’s like being acquainted with and getting to know people that you grasp pretty quickly are likely to become lifelong friends, with each new book that is released. And all of this story is told around the rebuilding of a derelict Silk Mill, which in itself added even more unique qualities to the locale. But it’s not just the silk mill that gets rebuilt, it’s also the gradual building of a family.

It was comforting to know she wasn’t alone and, at the same time, made it that much harder…

Sunny, discovering that she has a ten year old step-sister she didn’t even know about is pretty much the catalyst that keeps the plot moving alongside the Silk Mill’s renovation in Blue Hollow Falls. A town that is hours away from her home, but one that becomes a second home to her when she finds out that along with her new sister Bailey, she has been bequeathed part ownership in the mill and surrounding land.

Maybe even the biggest sacrifices were worth it…

Initially she’s looking to off-load, cut and run back to her life in D.C. But town stalwart Addie Pearl and ex-wife of her know deceased absentee father, takes Bailey under her wing, dragging Sunny initially unwillingly along with her. But with the mill and the people of Blue Hollow Falls she finds a peace and stability that has been missing from her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to start looking for excuses to spend more time there. It doesn’t hurt that Sawyer Hartwell, who has been like the son Addie never had since early age, is giving good vibes, rocks a tool-belt and is a general all-round (hot and sexy) nice-guy.

"You’re complicated… Doing anything about you, much less with you, would be beyond complicated."

The development of Bailey from the quiet, introverted ten year old little girl who has spent her formative years in the foster care system, into the quirky, happy child as the story progressed was also something that kept the feels on the emotional level, her and Sawyer together at points literally bought tears to my eyes.

"I can make you one promise that I know I can keep"
"What is that?"
"That I will always be honest with you."

This is really the beginning of the building of a non-blood family, it seems that most of the residents that we are introduced to in the telling of the story are transplants from elsewhere as well, and all of them definitely have their own stories just begging to be told too. Seth Brogan is up next in the Christmas novella; The Inn at Blue Hollow Falls I loved his cheeky persona in this book, and as seems to be all the rage right now he is conveniently bearded and man-bunned up as well so will appeal to the masses that’s forsure!

Wow! What a wonderful story about friendship, love and family set in the beautiful small town of Blue Hollow Falls. After reading this heart warming story, I want to move to Blue Hollow Falls myself. I loved the development of Sunny and Sawyer's relationship. It was oh so sweet and cute. There were some sexy times but overall their relationship was more of a realistic and sweet journey for a romance novel. Throw in a cute kid, some well-meaning but meddling friends and you have a really fun love story to read. But, there is a small tissue warning. I was tearing up all over the place while reading this book. There were a lot of moments that really touched my heart. This just goes to show that Donna Kauffman is such a wonderful writer. I enjoyed my time here in Blue Hollow Falls so much and can't wait to see what else this new series has to offer.

Sunny’s world is turned upside down when she finds out that has ownership in a silk mill as well as a 10 year old half-sister, Bailey. She doesn’t expect to have anything to do with the mill, until she realizes there is an overgrown greenhouse on the property that calls to her horticulturist heart. Maybe Bailey could use some nurturing and family. And Sawyer, the guy renovating the silk mill, isn’t too bad on the eyes either.
Concern for Bailey’s wellbeing, a building attraction to Sawyer, and the tightknit community of Blue Hollow Falls keeps drawing Sunny in. Sunny’s job is in the city but the mountains of Virginia seem more like home. How can Sawyer and Sunny make a future together possible?
Blue Hollow Falls is the first book in a new series and should appeal to anyone who likes small town romances.

This book is another example of Donna Kauffman’s great story telling. She creates characters that everyone can relate to, that you can feel for, or would love to know personally. The sexual tension between the H/h is always smokin’ hot. The secondary characters are just that – characters. You wind up hoping that they will all get their own story eventually.

If you liked any of the other series written by Ms Kauffman, you’ll love this first installment of her new Blue Hollow Falls series.

**I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Another amazing story from this author. This is the first book in his series by this author. The characters in this story will grab you by the heart, you will fall in love with them from the first page. You wont want to put this book down till you've finished it. This is a fantastic romantic story great summer read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

I won this book on Goodreads. Sunny finds out that she has a 10 year old half sister and owns a centuries-old silk mill in the Blue ridge mountains. She plans on selling it and going back home but the greenhouse she finds on the property makes her want to stay.She also finds her half sister needs someone to take care of her, plus an Iraq war hero is making it hard to leave. An enjoyable story.

"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
I liked this romantic story set in the beautiful imaginary town of Blue Hollow Falls, in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
The main characters (Sawyer and Sunny) are nice, well balanced people who experienced hardship in their lives and overcame it. Sawyer is a former military and he’s not a tortured hero (!) and Sunny is a horticulturist. There’s a cast of well-rounded secondary characters too.
The descriptions of both the historical and natural elements create a vivid setting and I’ve enjoyed getting to know this part of America. And the cover is beautiful.
I like well adjusted characters and tender and heartwarming moments in fiction, but in this story I missed some conflict and I thought there were too much conversations about their feelings (usually I criticize the lack of communication, but here it’s the opposite) or about uninteresting things.
I was curious about some characters (specially Will, but also his son, Jake, and Bailey) and hope they’ll have stories in this series.

4.5 - "I wasn't expecting you..." Stars!

Donna Kauffman begins her new Blue Hollow Falls series with some serious style.

Sunny and Sawyer’s story, grabbed me from the start, but a large part of my enjoyment also came from the introduction of so many likeable secondary characters as well. The author does it so smoothly that it’s like being acquainted with and getting to know people that you grasp pretty quickly are likely to become lifelong friends, with each new book that is released. And all of this story is told around the rebuilding of a derelict Silk Mill, which in itself added even more unique qualities to the locale. But it’s not just the silk mill that gets rebuilt, it’s also the gradual building of a family.

It was comforting to know she wasn’t alone and, at the same time, made it that much harder…

Sunny, discovering that she has a ten year old step-sister she didn’t even know about is pretty much the catalyst that keeps the plot moving alongside the Silk Mill’s renovation in Blue Hollow Falls. A town that is hours away from her home, but one that becomes a second home to her when she finds out that along with her new sister Bailey, she has been bequeathed part ownership in the mill and surrounding land.

Maybe even the biggest sacrifices were worth it…

Initially she’s looking to off-load, cut and run back to her life in D.C. But town stalwart Addie Pearl and ex-wife of her know deceased absentee father, takes Bailey under her wing, dragging Sunny initially unwillingly along with her. But with the mill and the people of Blue Hollow Falls she finds a peace and stability that has been missing from her life, and it doesn’t take long for her to start looking for excuses to spend more time there. It doesn’t hurt that Sawyer Hartwell, who has been like the son Addie never had since early age, is giving good vibes, rocks a tool-belt and is a general all-round (hot and sexy) nice-guy.

"You’re complicated… Doing anything about you, much less with you, would be beyond complicated."

The development of Bailey from the quiet, introverted ten year old little girl who has spent her formative years in the foster care system, into the quirky, happy child as the story progressed was also something that kept the feels on the emotional level, her and Sawyer together at points literally bought tears to my eyes.

"I can make you one promise that I know I can keep"
"What is that?"
"That I will always be honest with you."

This is really the beginning of the building of a non-blood family, it seems that most of the residents that we are introduced to in the telling of the story are transplants from elsewhere as well, and all of them definitely have their own stories just begging to be told too. Seth Brogan is up next in the Christmas novella; The Inn at Blue Hollow Falls I loved his cheeky persona in this book, and as seems to be all the rage right now he is conveniently bearded and man-bunned up as well so will appeal to the masses that’s forsure!

Wow! What a wonderful story about friendship, love and family set in the beautiful small town of Blue Hollow Falls. After reading this heart warming story, I want to move to Blue Hollow Falls myself. I loved the development of Sunny and Sawyer's relationship. It was oh so sweet and cute. There were some sexy times but overall their relationship was more of a realistic and sweet journey for a romance novel. Throw in a cute kid, some well-meaning but meddling friends and you have a really fun love story to read. But, there is a small tissue warning. I was tearing up all over the place while reading this book. There were a lot of moments that really touched my heart. This just goes to show that Donna Kauffman is such a wonderful writer. I enjoyed my time here in Blue Hollow Falls so much and can't wait to see what else this new series has to offer.

Sunny’s world is turned upside down when she finds out that has ownership in a silk mill as well as a 10 year old half-sister, Bailey. She doesn’t expect to have anything to do with the mill, until she realizes there is an overgrown greenhouse on the property that calls to her horticulturist heart. Maybe Bailey could use some nurturing and family. And Sawyer, the guy renovating the silk mill, isn’t too bad on the eyes either.
Concern for Bailey’s wellbeing, a building attraction to Sawyer, and the tightknit community of Blue Hollow Falls keeps drawing Sunny in. Sunny’s job is in the city but the mountains of Virginia seem more like home. How can Sawyer and Sunny make a future together possible?
Blue Hollow Falls is the first book in a new series and should appeal to anyone who likes small town romances.

What an excellent beginning to a brand new series. When Sunny comes into an unexpected inheritance not to mention a 10 year old half-sister she isn't quite sure what to do. The old mill that she inherited also comes with other share holders who are already on the road to turning it into something great. Her father's ex-wife and his adopted son Sawyer complicate things for Sunny in an a way she never bargained for. She has to decide does she want to be a part of it all or does she want to just let it go. I loved the fast moving story line and how well it all flowed together. The characters were well developed and the emotional connections they had felt real. It was such a charming read and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I was transported immediately to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains in this heartwarming romantic tale. I enjoyed escaping into Sunny’s life as she learned about her new family and shared her love of nature with them. I read this while waiting for my kids at their various activities and appointments this summer; rather than dread the wait at the dentist’s office, I was thrilled to have extra reading time! This is a great book for the beach or any vacation, or when you need a quick "visit" to Virginia! Thrilled that this is just the first in a new series by Donna Kauffman!

This book is another example of Donna Kauffman’s great story telling. She creates characters that everyone can relate to, that you can feel for, or would love to know personally. The sexual tension between the H/h is always smokin’ hot. The secondary characters are just that – characters. You wind up hoping that they will all get their own story eventually.

If you liked any of the other series written by Ms Kauffman, you’ll love this first installment of her new Blue Hollow Falls series.

**I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Another amazing story from this author. This is the first book in his series by this author. The characters in this story will grab you by the heart, you will fall in love with them from the first page. You wont want to put this book down till you've finished it. This is a fantastic romantic story great summer read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

I won this book on Goodreads. Sunny finds out that she has a 10 year old half sister and owns a centuries-old silk mill in the Blue ridge mountains. She plans on selling it and going back home but the greenhouse she finds on the property makes her want to stay.She also finds her half sister needs someone to take care of her, plus an Iraq war hero is making it hard to leave. An enjoyable story.

Loved this book! This was a delightful read, full of interesting and endearing characters. Interesting information about silk production in the early days of our country and rare orchids add a fascinating element to the love story of Sunny and Sawyer. Add to that the developing family relationship of Addie, Bailey, Sunny, and Sawyer, and you get a story with depth and emotion. I am eager to read more books in this series!

This is a very slow moving story that never picks up the pace. If it's a romance novel, theres barely any romance. I was skimming pages for some action and even 240 pages in nothing happened. It's not a page turner, it's a cover closer.

A PERFECT summer read, Donna Kauffman delivers a highly enjoyable story. I was immediately drawn into the story and characters and setting. Especially from since I am from the area. I can picture the drive from Alexandria Va to the Blue Ridge Mountains. I had been in a reading slump so to speak and this story gave me the push I needed. Its a feel good kinda story. From Sunshine to Sawyer and Bailey and Seth you will fall in love with them. Go ahead READ it,

A heartwarming story full of likeable characters. A great piece of storytelling by Donna Kauffmann. It leaves you wanting to read more about this community of characters.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

I loved Blue Hollow Falls by Donna Kaufman. Sunshine, “Sunny”, Goodwin is a botanist at USBG, living in Arlington, Virginia, alone since the recent death of the mother she was caretaker for, when she discovers she’s inherited one-third of an old mill from a father she never knew about. Sawyer was adopted by Doyle Bart Hartwell and his former wife Addie as a young child. Neither Addie nor Sawyer knew about Sunny and another sister, ten-year old Bailey, who also inherited a share of the mill. Bailey was abandoned by her mother and lived in foster care until Addie took over that position. The mill is not the only building on the land, there is also a run-down glass greenhouse, over one hundred years old, and that has been left to the elements. Sawyer and Sunny have an attraction that makes both of them glad not to be related by blood.

I highly recommend this outstanding book to other readers. It was difficult for me to put this book down. Ms. Kaufman is a wonderful story teller drawing me into her books, making me forget the world around me. I could visualize the town and its surrounding beauty of the mountains and hills of Blue Hollow Falls through her written word. She created a place where I would love to live, seeing the restoration of the mill. I could even work as a crafter selling the baby blankets (quilts) I sew. This is the first book in a new series and I can’t wait for the next one to be published.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This book struck me as more Chick Lit than straight up romance. The characters, Sunny and Sawyer, are mature and really seem to work stuff out in their heads to make mature decisions about each other instead of jumping each other's bones right away. The secondary characters almost stole the show. The grandmotherly figure who plots and plans her interferences into the others' lives, the ten year old girl who at times seems like she's going on forty and at other times is just a precious little girl and the military friend of Sawyer who is his best buddy all have major roles in the book.
I loved the setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I loved that the characters aren't perfect. They all have their little oddities caused by their backgrounds. I absolutely adored Sunny's given name of Sunshine Meadow Aquarius Morrison Goodwin, given to her by her hippie mother ( I worked in healthcare and have run across such names, so it does happen). That name cracked me up every time I read it. Kauffman weaves a family of a bunch of very different people where previously there was none. In Blue Hollow Falls, Kauffman shows that caring makes the family and teaches us a lesson in love. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

What an excellent beginning to a brand new series. When Sunny comes into an unexpected inheritance not to mention a 10 year old half-sister she isn't quite sure what to do. The old mill that she inherited also comes with other share holders who are already on the road to turning it into something great. Her father's ex-wife and his adopted son Sawyer complicate things for Sunny in an a way she never bargained for. She has to decide does she want to be a part of it all or does she want to just let it go. I loved the fast moving story line and how well it all flowed together. The characters were well developed and the emotional connections they had felt real. It was such a charming read and I can't wait to see what comes next.

This is a very slow moving story that never picks up the pace. If it's a romance novel, theres barely any romance. I was skimming pages for some action and even 240 pages in nothing happened. It's not a page turner, it's a cover closer.