Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley

Garden Grown Romance #0.5

by Mary Jane Hathaway

Join us in the fictional town of Arcadia Valley, Idaho, where a foodie culture and romance grow hand-in-hand.

Six popular and bestselling authors of contemporary Christian romance have teamed up to create an entire world exploring food, friends, and family.

This is not your usual collection of novellas! Each one is set in Arcadia Valley. Each kicks off a three-book series, intertwined with the works of the other authors. This permanent collection is only the beginning of your adventure with us.

Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley includes:

Spring’s Blessing (Seasons of Faith) by Mary Jane Hathaway
Life gets complicated for Charlotte MacGregor when a motherless child and a handsome widower encroach on her carefully laid plans. Will she keep her heart above the fray, or take a leap of faith?

Loaves and Wishes (A Baxter Family Bakery Romance) by Elizabeth Maddrey
Inheriting her friend’s Bed and Breakfast in Idaho is a second chance to succeed, but falling for the farmer next door wasn’t in the plan.

Sheltered Hearts (Romance from the Heart) by Lee Tobin McClain
A curvy jilted bride gets stranded in a snowstorm with a handsome restaurant cook who’s not what he seems to be.

Sow in Love (A Garden Grown Romance) by Valerie Comer
A real estate consultant’s ideas for fulfilling a living trust are shot down by the elderly greenhouse owner’s grandson, but some of the arrows piercing her heart come directly from Cupid’s bow.

The Scent of Romance (Legacy of the Heart) by Danica Favorite
A high-powered lawyer must convince a woman determined to protect her family’s legacy to sell the family farm to his father’s development company, but finds his heart leading him away from everything he’s spent his life trying to accomplish.

A Romance Rekindled (A Homegrown Love Story) by Annalisa Daughety
When former engaged couple, Kate and Drew, find themselves thrown together after more than a decade apart, neither of them are thrilled about it. Can they let go of the past and consider a future together?

Get your copy of Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley today and join us at www.ArcadiaValleyRomance.com to keep up with all the latest.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Anthologies, Short Stories

581 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

About the Author: Mary Jane Hathaway is the pen name of an award-nominated writer who spends the majority of her literary energy on subjects un-related to Jane Austen. A homeschooling mother of six young children who rarely wear shoes, she’s madly in love with a man who has never read Pride and Prejudice. She holds degrees in Religious Studies and Theoretical Linguistics, and has a Jane Austen quote on the back of her van. She can be reached on facebook at 'Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits' or her regular author page of Virginia Carmichael (which is another pen name, because she’s just that cool).

Reviews

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Musings

I enjoyed most of the stories and have downloaded Muffins and Moonbeams. I really enjoyed the Baxter family and look forward to reading it.Happy ☺reading 📚!

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really only liked the first two stories by Mary Jane Hathaway and Elizabeth Maddrey.

[Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me a long while to read, but it was a lot of fun traveling to the Idaho countryside and reading these stories which had family, food, and faith threaded throughout! I pre-ordered this collection last year, and at $0.99 it was definitely a steal!

I don't think I had heard of any of these authors, except for Mary Jane Hathaway, who is an auto-buy author for me. Her novella, "Spring's Blessing," is the first in this book. I will continue reading her series - Seasons of Faith - even though I don't think her offering is as strong as other things I've read by her. This story wouldn't be the only one in this set to include what I thought was a "quick proposal." But, I guess if you're writing a short story, you want to rush things along and include everything!

"Loaves and Wishes" was next ... and I LOVED it! My first foray into Elizabeth Maddrey's world. I will definitely continue to read her Baxter Family Bakery series.

Third came "Sheltered Hearts." I just thought it was okay, but I loved the references to Mexican food!!

"Will you give us a chance?"
"Are you sure? I'm a mess."
"I'm sure."

"Sow in Love" was pretty good. I liked Grady being all protective over Joanna, but I thought flowers to cover every space in her apartment was a bit much.

"The Scent of Romance" was also a solid offering. The grandmas in this novella were pretty hilarious. I think this book would have been better, however, if there had been scenes with Hayden learning to help out around the farm. I liked how reconciling with parents was such a strong theme - and it wasn't the only novella to include that storyline. After six weeks, the two main characters Hayden and Caroline were already talking about marriage/kids. I thought that that was a little soon, but you probably do want to know as soon as possible if you and your significant other are on the same page as far as having children is concerned. I didn't really care for Caroline one way or the other -- I found her to be a little bossy and dominant.

"A Romance Rekindled" was another hidden gem. (I want to read the next one - where animal lover Riley takes center stage!) Kate was great, and it was fun peeking over her shoulder as she read letters from her dad, who passes away at the beginning of the story. Forgiveness is a strong thread in this story, as well, and Kate learns to reconcile with her ex-fiance. I loved how she fosters a senior dog, Sam, and gives him a second home.

All in all, a pretty decent collection of stories about grace, forgiveness, and the importance of family. I'm glad I discovered some new authors!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

[Lyndon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick disclaimer. I didn't read all the books in this bundle, just "Loaves and Wishes" by Elizabeth Maddrey, which I found quite enjoyable. This "prequel" set is a collaboration between 6 best selling inspirational romance writers who share a common setting (Arcadia Valley, Idaho) and intertwine stories of love, family, and faith into a wonderful expansive series of novels.

I've read all of Maddrey's stories set in Arcadia Valley (another disclaimer, she's my niece). The trilogy is the Baxter Family series: Muffins & Moonbeams, Cookies & Candlelight, and Donuts & Daydreams. As one might surmise from the titles, these novels are set in a bakery and involve some good food, conversation, topics of faith, friendship, mishap, and forgiveness. Recommended for those who enjoy light, clean romance.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Springs Blessing (Seasons of Faith) by Mary Jane Hathaway
What happens when you add a big city woman new to a small town, a widowed man, an adorably precocious child, and a mischievous rabbit? Spring Blessings, a sweet and heartwarming romance! I instantly liked Nico. He's a bit shy and quiet and an all around great guy. I really admired Charlotte's determination. This was the first time I've read anything by Mary Jane Hathaway, but won't be the last. Loved this!

Loaves and Wishes (A Baxter Family Bakery Romance) by Elizabeth Maddrey
When Ruth inherits a B&B from her best friend, she can't help but be drawn to the farmer across the street, Corban. This was a great story with a really cute romance. I'm very much looking forward to reading the Baxter brothers' stories (especially Malachi's).

Sheltered Hearts (Romance from the Heart) by Lee Tobin McClain
When a snowstorm shuts down all the roads, Alex and Patricia become stranded at his family Mexican restaurant El Corazon where they discover not everything is as it appears. I loved this first story of Lee Tobin McClain's that I read. It was a very sweet romance and I can't wait to read more about the Quintana family and visit El Corazon again.

Sow in Love (A Garden Grown Romance) by Valerie Comer
A real estate consultant clashes with the grandson of the owner of the latest property she's in charge of. Both Grady and Joanna have trust issues, having been hurt badly by people they thought loved them. I liked watching them grow and learn to trust one another. This was another great one from Comer and I can't wait to see what she has in store for this series.

The Scent of Romance (Legacy of the Heart) by Danica Favorite
Caroline's parent's, aunts, and uncles plan to sell the family farm for millions and turn it into a resort community with the help of a big time lawyer. She's furious and vows to not let that happen. This was a fantastic story, maybe my favorite in this collection. Gram was my fave character. Her spunky and feisty nature reminded me a little of my own grandma. This was the first time I've read anything by Danica Favorite and I completely loved it! I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the Legacy of the Heart series!

A Romance Rekindled (A Homegrown Love Story) by Annalisa Daughety
Back in Arcadia Valley after eleven years and overseeing the renovations of her childhood home and her dad's office at the farmer's market, Kate is constantly finding herself in the company of Drew, her former flame. This was a great story about second chances. It had a bit of a somber beginning, but that didn't dampen my enjoyment one bit. I've read a couple of Daughety's past books and this one is just as good as those. Can't wait for the rest of this series!

I'm so excited about Arcadia Valley. What a fantastic concept for a series! Due to my allergies and chemical sensitivities, over the past few years I've become very passionate about eating organic and living a healthier life in general. So when I heard about this series, I was thrilled! I love the town of Arcadia Valley and the closeness of the community; how everyone supports everyone else and the passion for supporting local farmers, sustainable living, etc. It's a town I wish were real because I'd love to call it home. There's a quote in A Romance Rekindled, “Know your farmer, know your food,” that I think exemplifies a big part of this series and my mindset, as well. I also really liked that there was a strong focus on God in each novella. All six of the stories in this collection were excellent and I can't wait to read the full length ones that go along with them! Highly recommend!

[AnjaliC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six Full Length Tales In One Book - You Can't Go Wrong

This book is a collection of first books for six authors, Mary Jane Hathaway, Lee Tobin McClain, Annalisa Daughety, Valerie Comer, Elizabeth Maddrey and Danica Favourite. After that these writers continue their stories of Arcadia Valley, Idaho in a three book series each. In 2017, this book was the stepping stone for 18 other Clean and Christian contemporary romances. Lastly, the authoresses intertwined the characters and they made appearances in other books from time to time. What a treat if you like these novelists, love these types of stories and enjoyed learning about the characters!

I have never read any of these authoresses and this book of novellas has been gathering dust in my e-book library for close to three years. So I decided to make this my summer read. I will write mini reviews for all six stories here. However, if you would like more detailed notes, please check out the individual books on GoodReads for more comprehensive reviews.

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1. Spring's Blessing by Mary jane Hathaway - Rating: 4/5

This is the first book in the Seasons Of Faith Series. I wasn't expecting much, but boy, was I in for a surprise!

The story of Charlotte McGregor and Nico Delis was told in a beatific writing style with side characters that added depth to this tale. The protagonists were flawed and overthinkers that had to learn about going after what they wanted and handling misinterpretations. The story had a contemporary small town feel to it, which was nice. The read was quick and enjoyed immensely, until the end. The book concluded on a very strange and weird note, even if it was slightly charming.

Overall, Spring's Blessing by Mary jane Hathaway is a great to start to this novella.

2. Loaves & Wishes by Elizabeth Maddrey - Rating: 3/5

This is the first or 0.5 book that starts off the Baxter Family Bakery Series. It was a sweet story but could have been so much more.

I was unable to attach myself to the main characters of this book. While I quite enjoyed and respected Corban Dewitt, it did not seem the other characters were as appreciative. I found Ruth Baxter quite dramatic and very one dimensional. In contrast, the side roles of the siblings, friends, family and even the villain were the saving grace of the story.

However, I was not a big fan especially where there were so many readymade issues that could have been explored but most of them were barely touched. There is so much pertaining to breads so if you like baking, then maybe you will enjoy this one.

3. Sheltered Hearts by Lee Tobin McClain - Rating: 4/5

This is the 0.5 book that kicks off the Romance From The Heart Series and it is a lovely beginning.

Patricia Aiken and Alex Quintana are both people who have been hurt and judged by societal norms all through their adult lives. A major snow storm brings them closer together, where they discover more about themselves and each other, as their hearts mend in the process. This contemporary clean romance with its issues, side characters and premise, made an impression.

You will enjoy this book, if you like protagonists who take stock and pride in themselves and figure out what is important to them, while taking their time and finding their way to each other!

4. Sown In Love by Valerie Comer - Rating: 3/5

This book (0.5) starts off the Garden Grown Romance Series that is all about sustainable growth and helping those in need. The premise was a good one and I appreciated the authoress dealing with important issues that people face on a day to day basis.

However, the romance and interconnection between the protagonists, Joanna Kraus and Grady Akers was very old fashioned and not contemporary. As much as I could relate to Joanna, with Grady I felt that he was forcing certain issues on to Joanna. Some the side roles also took the joy away from the story.

This was not my favourite novella, but with audience members who are seeking a quick read, discussion of realistic problems, sustainable development, analysis of Christian Scriptures and some tantalizing romance may like this tale.

5. The Scent Of Romance by Danica Favorite - Rating: 5/5

This book is the beginning or the 0.5 book to the Legacy Of The Heart Series. After the story preceding this one, I had no expectations. However, I am glad I read on and was pleasantly surprised.

The story of Caroline Hearst and Hayden Donnelly was more that just a romance, it was all about family, faith, friendship and forgiveness. This book was steeped in reality and was thoroughly enjoyable. I laughed, cried and was emotional during my quick read. There was so much going on with each of the protagonists as well as the supporting characters. Everyone had various layers and dimensions to them, regardless of if their role was good or bad.

Overall, I was very impressed by Danica Favorite's story telling skills. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future. If you like a book that makes you reflect, teaches you something, shows solutions, has clean romance and is a short read, you have come across the right story!

6. A Romance Rekindled by Annalisa Daughety - Rating: 4/5

This book begins or is the 0.5 book to the Homegrown Love Series. Since this was the last story of this novella, I didn't have high hopes. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my read.

Drew Harrison's feelings for Kate "Katie Scarlett" Groves were genuine, deep and selfless. It really made this reader's heart melt. Even though the book was mostly Kate centric, where she had to learn to grow and accept the mistakes of the past. This story was also about absolution, belief, faith and family. The supporting characters did a wonderful job. So much so that I am eager and curious to read more about them. Lastly, the way that the issues were handled and depicted was very unique and sweet.

However, I did not like how the story abruptly ended. This book definitely requires an epilogue. Overall, I look forward to reading more from authoress, Annalisa Daughety and even this series. If you are looking for story that has a message with solutions, has a realistic aspect to it, contains clean romance with passion, is gratifying and a speedy read, then you have found your next book!

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Overall, this book is a one time only read for me. It was a great idea for an audience that enjoys the Contemporary Christina Genre of books, especially since you get 18 additional books from these authors in their own individual series related to Arcadia Valley, Idaho. In the future, I will definitely explore the works of Mary Jane Hathaway, Lee Tobin McClain, Annalisa Daughety and Danica Favourite.

This book's total rating works out to 3.83 out of 5, so on Goodreads it will be recorded as 4 out of 5. Mostly time well spent.

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/11/2017)! 💝

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance Grows In Arcadia Valley by various is a wonderful set of six books, all set in the fictional Arcadia Valley. They all have similar themes including subsistence farming and preserving the earth's resources for subsequent generations by shopping locally and buying or producing things locally. The stories all have a wonderful, warm community feel to them with likable and realistic characters who are easy to empathise with.
I loved how the stories reference characters and places in the other novels which adds to the feeling of familiarity. All the authors write delightful stories that will warm your heart.
Spring's Blessing by Mary Jane Hathaway is a delightful contemporary Christian romance. It has a wonderful feeling of community, showing what happens when people live out their faith. It also explores subsistence farming within a town, as they plant not only with care but with love.
The story explores dreams and disappointments, family and the faithfulness of God. The characters are delightful and I particularly loved seven year old Elena.
Mary Jane Hathaway included references to other works of literature - Harvey, Narnia, Peter Rabbit and many more. I recognised all the books mentioned and found myself transported back to childhood memories.
Spring's Blessing was a wonderful read and I cannot wait for the subsequent novels.
Loaves And Wishes by Elizabeth Maddrey is a wonderful, warm, feel-good contemporary Christian romance. It explores love and life, jealousy and hard feelings, friendship and the faithfulness of God. The characters are all well rounded. It was so easy to empathise with Ruth who loved baking. She put her heart and soul into all her creations. Ruth's best friend was Naomi, and this reminds the reader of the Bible story of Ruth and Naomi and the Bible passage "where you go, I'll go..." Their friendship bond was unbreakable. Farmer Corban reminded me of Boaz in the book of Ruth as he ploughed his field, I remembered God telling Boaz to leave the edges of the field for the poor.
Yet again there was a wonderful feeling of community as the townspeople pulled together to help each other.
The novella also dealt with the theme of loss. It showed how characters wanted to preserve and honour their loved ones memories. They were good stewards of their inheritance.
A delightful tale and I cannot wait for the next three books in the series. I love all Elizabeth Maddrey's writings.
Sheltered Hearts by Lee Tobin McClean is another wonderful read. The story focuses on the main theme of identity - who we are and whose we are. Too often we let ourselves be defined by others, when really our identity is all about who we are in God. "It doesn't matter what men think of me, it matters what God thinks of me."
Appearances are another theme. The reader is reminded that God looks at our inward appearance which is of utmost importance. We are never to listen to the lies that we and others tell ourselves - that we are too fat/thin/ugly/unlovable. We are to listen to God's truths - we are loved by Him and we are beautiful.
The story shows the importance of family and the gift of hospitality.
I really enjoyed Sheltered Hearts. It was a wonderful read that spoke to my heart.
Sow In Love by Valerie Comer is yet another delightful tale in this set. The story revolves around Ecclesiastes 'a time to sow' and Solomon's love poetry in Song Of Songs. The theme of sowing is both literal and spiritually. We sow God's seeds of love wherever we go. Sometimes we see the harvest, sometimes we don't. Sometimes the harvest happens quickly, sometimes it doesn't. It takes a lifetime of being connected to the vine, to bloom as God intends us to.
This all links to the themes of faith and trust in God. We need to trust His plans for our lives.
The theme of confidence is also present. We need to grow and blossom under God's watchful eye and believe His truths and not what the world tells us.
There is the whole idea of subsistence farming and a wonderful community feel to the whole novel. A community that works together can achieve so much more than lone individuals. Having a generous heart for others is what God desires. This is lived out in the novel.
A wonderful tale.
The Scent Of Romance by Danica Favourite is another delightful offering. The story focuses on love, families and a search for a father's love. Our earthly fathers are far from perfect but we have a heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally. "Love isn't something you have to earn."
The tale shows the importance of living well and preserving our earth's resources for subsequent generations. We are stewards of our bodies and need to take care of ourselves and not eat junk.
The bond of families is shown. Sometimes families become fractured. It is never too late to build bridges and restore relationships.
A perfect afternoon's read.
A Romance Rekindled by Annalisa Daughety completes the set of books and is another delightful story. Its themes include new beginnings and second chances, love, restoration and families. Once again there is the emphasis on subsistence farming and producing and buying locally.
There are a lot of building projects and restoration. The buildings can be used as a metaphor for our lives - God can restore and rebuild that which was broken.
A wonderful story to conclude the set.
Life in the fictional Arcadia Valley will continue - each author is writing three more books, to be released roughly six months apart. I cannot wait to catch up with all the residents of Arcadia Valley once more.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley is comprised of 6 different authors all taking place in Arcadia Valley, a place that thrives on sustainable living and organic foods.

Spring's Blessings (Seasons of Faith) by Mary Jane Hathaway
Charlotte was a big city girl tired of the rat race so she moved to Arcadia Valley to prove she could do what she'd always wanted....live in a small town and have a simple life. With help from her neighbors, single father, Nico and his daughter Elena, she comes to find out what friendship in a small town is all about. I loved this story and plan on checking out more from Mary Jane Hathaway.

Loaves and Wishes (A Baxter Family Bakery Romance) by Elizabeth Maddrey
Ruth inherited a B&B from her best friend Naomi. She's determined to make a success of it. Corbin, the farmer across the road, makes sure he's available if Ruth needs help with anything at all. His mother started the B&B years ago before selling. Ruth's 3 brothers move from DC to help her and aren't sure exactly what the farmers intentions are toward their sister. Could they all work together in this small town to provide a wonderful life for them all? Only time will tell.

Sheltered Hearts (Romance from the Heart) by Lee Tobin McClain
A spring snow storm hit Arcadia Valley and left Patricia stranded when her car slid off the road. She and her dog, Bear, walked to the nearest place for help. Alex had volunteered to close his family restaurant so his sister could make it home before the storm hit. Both a little leery of the other, Patricia and Alex forge a bond while trapped in the restaurant. This was a sweet story I enjoyed and can't wait to read 'Secrets of the Heart' that will continue the story of the struggling family restaurant, El Corazon.

Sow in Love (A Garden Grown Romance) by Valerie Comer
Joanna Kraus moved to Arcadia Valley to help her brother care for his twin boys. The church hired her to help with a living trust Mr. Akers had established that his grandson, Grady was overseeing. Grady and Joanna didn't exactly see eye to eye at first due to having trust issues from previous relationships. Will being forced to work together on this project help bring them together or just cause more heartache for both?

The Scent of Romance (Legacy of the Heart) by Danica Favorite
When Gram breaks a leg, the children step in, planning to sell the farm and put her in an assisted living home. The grandchildren living with Gram will fight to the bitter end to make sure the farm stays in the family for future generations. This was a great story of unconditional love, forgiveness and acceptance. I can't even express how much I enjoyed Gram's antics!

A Romance Rekindled (A Homegrown Love Story) by Annalisa Daughety
When Kate comes home to be by her dying fathers side after leaving Arcadia Valley 11 years ago, the last thing she expects is to be thrown together with her former fiancé to fulfill her dad's last wishes. Will the two of them be able to work together or has too much happened for them to even consider a second chance? This is one of my favorites.

I highly recommend everyone read this wonderful book of novella's and I can't wait to get started on the books that go with them!

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were each and every one a possible Hallmark movie and I am sure that is the hope of each author to have their series of books become a Hallmark series. The books are clean, simple romance. Main Female and Main Male have either hurt each other in the past or been hurt by others in the past and approach each other with mistrust and doubts. Miscommunications keep them apart and then are resolved and everyone is happy.

If that is what you want, you will like these books.

Main complaint is lack of communication or coordination between the authors. The people all reside in the same small town and attend the same church (auditorium? - mentioned once). They do not run into each other or interact. It would not have taken too much time and research to bring a more cohesive community to the entire set.

Also, the pastor of the church appears to be completely unaware and uninvolved in the individual heartbreaks and dramas which is not the type of ministry I have experienced in my many moves and many church experiences. The people may go to their Bible and quote scripture passages and pray for each other but no one goes to their pastor or seem to be involved in any church life or ministry.

I won't actively seek out these series or authors but will not avoid them either. For some people, you will love these.

[Grace Tolman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great series of novellas. I was kind of hoping that the stories would intertwine a little bit more but I guess each author has plans of sharing their secondary characters' stories through their own books and that is why it felt like we were reading pockets of people from the same little town instead of an interwoven set of characters.
It took me a long time to finish the book because, somehow the stories didn't really grab me until the third story and then after that, the 4th and 5th one was a bit lukewarm again. The 6th was good. I always love story lines with second chances in it.
My favorite one was Patricia and Alex. I liked the setting of them getting stuck in a restaurant for most of their "getting to know you" time period because of a snow storm. I rather like the idea of two people who are "made for each other" find one another through a vacuum experience. That was pretty cool.
Over all these novellas were cute and it would definitely want you to read more about the other characters that were introduced within each story line.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Spring's Blessing" - 4/5

"Loaves and Wishes" - 4/5

"Sheltered Hearts" - 3/5

"Sow in Love" - 3.5/5

"The Scent of Romance" - 3/5

"A Romance Rekindled" - 2.75/5

Overall thoughts: this was a really solid collection if you enjoy Christian romance as a genre. All of the stories were really enjoyable (if a little rushed - the pitfall of a romance/relationship based novella and I think most of these authors did the best they could with the format) and sweet. Inevitably I enjoyed some more than others, but I will be looking out for further novels in the series by authors whose entries I enjoyed the most. The particular surprise for me was Mary Jane Hathaway - I've read one of her books previously and did not enjoy it at all, but this has definitely convinced me to give her another go.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This box set is written by six amazing authors. Each book is filled with amazing characters and most of all God. This box set deserves a higher rating rating than a five star review. Valerie's book is wonderful. Sow In Love: when Joanna came to Arcadia Valley to help her brother with the twins her life completely changes. When she met Grady she vowed not to get close to him, after the way her ex treated her. Maisie is a amazing young lady you will love her. The characters in this book are really down to earth people. Watching Joanna and Grady's relationship change is wonderful. I had the honor to review this book for the author for a honest review.

[Alethia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful collection of stories centered around the town of Arcadia Valley in Idaho. I absolutely loved it! Sometimes you get a collection by different authors and there's one or two you just don't care for, this was not the case for me with this book. I loved each story and each author's writing. The characters were all fun to read about and follow along on their journey. Things weren't always easy for them and they all had to grow in some way before their happy ending. I cried and I laughed and I loved every minute of reading. I'm interested in reading more books the author's have written about Arcadia Valley and have several added to my to be read pile.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very intriguing to me. It is a multi-author set of stories all set in the same town. One of the authors I have read before, and am a huge fan. The other authors were previously unknown to me. But I enjoyed each one of these stories, cried in most of them, possibly all of them, and look forward to reading through the remaining stories by all of the authors. The focus on growing your own food and eating locally always makes me want to do the same. I had to bake a loaf of bread after reading the story that happened with the family bakery (loaves & wishes). Easy to get hooked, faith-based, and realistic relatable characters.

[Norma Gorrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance Grows in Arcadia

A great book, one needs to know the joys and the pitfalls of a love gone wrong. Daddy got his say in before he really understood what was going on and who was involved. His opinion was that nobody was good enough for his daughter until years later when he was dying did he realize what he had done by breaking up his daughter and her boyfriend. This was a great free Arc read and one I enjoyed reading today. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with any compilation of stories by various authors, there were some stories that were better than others in this set. Overall, they were pleasant stories about real people living real - and sometimes messy - lives in an idyllic place called Arcadia Valley.

Recommended for people who appreciate sweet romance stories without all the bedroom scenes, those who appreciate a "green" lifestyle, and those who long for small-town life at its best.

[Tina at Mommynificent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection of books from several different authors, all set in the fictional town of Arcadia Valley! I think it's a brilliant idea the authors have had to write these books together and weave their characters lives into each other's books. I can't wait to see where they go with it! They've gotten a fabulous start in this collection which is a whole bunch of great stories in and of itself!

[Andrea Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley Book 1, novella bookset with all 6 authors to start the series of 18 books, each author contributing 3 books (not including the novella’s in this set). Wonderful introduction to introduce characters I’m sure we’ll see in other stories. We get to know the town and a different family in each novella, with a different focus on their lives in Arcadia Valley.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What fun! And a "novel" idea! Having read the 6 novellas that begins the adventure into Arcadia Valley - I am now on board. This is a fun venture and I am collecting each story as it becomes available. Need a respite? Curl up with Arcadia Valley stories!

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

I loved that each author wrote individual stories but having them based in one area was great and getting each story intertwine was great. I laughed, cried and all around enjoyed.

[David C Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better as you go

The first few stories were too similar. Well enough written but to predictable. The last book dealt with some hard choices. It didn't have the marry the rich person theme.

[Josephine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean stories.

These stories are a light and quick read with clean vales and occasional Godly wisdom. If you like home grown, home made, and all- natural, you'll find it here in the plots somewhere.

[Susan Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Truly Deserves Five Stars!

If it was possible, I would give it ten. All of these authors are experts in their craft. The characters ring true and the place feels real. I have laughed and cried and yearned with them.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stories were all ok. I have a hard time with "novellas" in general. The plot is rushed, usually making it seem forced and uncomfortable. The characters aren't as well developed. I would like to read full novels by several of the authors to see what they do with more pages to fill.

[Deborah Andreasen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection

This is a great collection of sweet Christian romance novels. They're all set in the same town, so a character or place weaves from one book to the next. Some books are better than others, but over all they're all pretty good.

[Laura B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read and a nice escape from everyday life. The stories were sweet, but I thought each novella needed a little more descriptions about everything (characters, settings, etc.). I enjoyed reading all of them and would recommend to anyone that likes these sweet romances.

[Anne Miller-schlenk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all of the stories included in this book. Lots of new authors to read in the future. The setting is great and the characters although very different in each story lets me to want to see them again in future installments

[Debi Kincheloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good

This book shows the consequences of bad decisions and unforgiveness that drives people apart. Then the book shows the consequences of forgiveness and the freedom it brings

[Stephanie Tingle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice!

Good collection of stories that have the benefit of being loosely connected to each other. Good light Christian romances with no uncomfortable (and totally unnecessary!) love scenes.