4/5 Review: The House on Blackberry Hill by Donna Alward

When a young woman inherits a rundown mansion, the last thing she expects to find is the key to her heart…

Abby Foster is a fish out of water in the Maine coastal town of Jewell Cove. The crumbling Foster estate, left to her by a relative she never even knew, has everyone’s eyes on her—an eerie reminder of the long-buried family secrets that have haunted her…forever. Single, stunning, and sometimes too strong-willed for her own good, Abby’s plan is to sell the house and hightail it back to Nova Scotia. But another part of her is intrigued by the idea of starting over somewhere new—and finally learning the truth about her heritage.   

THE HOUSE ON BLACKBERRY HILL


Enter Tom Arseneault. The best contractor in Jewell Cove, Tom is determined to restore the beauty and prestige of the Foster mansion—and maybe even work his charms on its beautiful new heir. The attraction between him and Abby is undeniable, and the more time Tom spends on the house the more he wants to be in it with her. But Abby’s not sure she can trust him—or anyone in Jewell Cove who seems to know more about her family history than she does. Home: Is it really where the heart is after all?

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The strength in this story is its characters. Ms. Alward has truly outdone herself with the group of people she created. They're all unique and real and they're what kept me reading when the plot hit some bumps. When I got frustrated at the back-and-forth between Abby and Tom (boy oh boy, did I want to smack Tom upside the head), I'd remember how much I enjoyed the community and kept on turning pages. When the story dragged a bit, I'd think about Tom's family or Aunt Edith,and keep on reading. I also loved the dash of mystery.


This was a light, very sweet contemporary romance. I've really enjoy reading books by Donna Alward and  The House on Blackberry Hill is the first of a trilogy set in Jewell Cove in Maine and is a terrific read.
I really enjoyed not only the attraction you see between Abby and Tom , but the secondary characters and secondary story lines were great. They helped to build on the community feel of this romance and really drew the reader in to Jewell Cove. THE HOUSE ON BLACKBERRY HILL is exceptional. It is an emotional journey that will tug at your heart. Both Abby and Tom has to let go of the past in order to give the future a fighting chance. The secondary characters add another dimension of feelings that will pull you in deeper. This story is a  keeper from Donna Alward , her stories are a delight from page one. Looking forward to the next book from her.