Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Golden Grove

Learning to Trust

Rate this book
Everyone needs a little help finding love…

He’s loved and lost before…

But his daughter wants him to try again.


While widower Tug Moyer isn’t looking for a new wife, his eight-year-old daughter is convinced he needs one—and that her social media plea will bring his perfect match. The response is high, but nobody seems quite right for the sheriff…except her teacher, Christa Alero, who insists she isn’t interested. Now their little matchmaker must convince them both to give love a chance.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2020

62 people are currently reading
73 people want to read

About the author

Ruth Logan Herne

132 books506 followers
Multi-published, award-winning, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne is living her dream of being a published author and having the time of her life doing it. Born to a poor family in Rochester, NY, Ruthy draws on her early years and her many years of dealing with today's young families and businesses to create beautiful, heartfelt small-town stories of faith, hope and love... while adopting her favorite non-Scripture quotes "Plenty of time for rest in the grave" (Ben Franklin) and "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission." (Eleanor Roosevelt) and one can always depend on Yoda "There is no try. There is do or do not." Succinct... and true. :) She loves chatting with readers on facebook at Ruth Logan Herne or follow Ruthy on Twitter, visit her website or stop by Seekerville (www.seekerville.blogspot.com) or pop by the Yankee Belle Cafe where Ruthy and several lovely authors share recipes, facts, photos and just plain old life! (www.yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
82 (57%)
4 stars
48 (33%)
3 stars
11 (7%)
2 stars
2 (1%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Renee.
1,402 reviews226 followers
July 9, 2020
A lot of story packed into this quick read! How faith transforms real life tragedies and sorrows to bring healing, hope & happing endings. Charming & heartfelt.

Favorite quotes:
“Things don’t stay the same regardless, do they?” But the seasons come and go just like they’ve always done, and we move on . . . The things of fall are for the fall. Not the spring. Same with summer and winter, so our job is to work with the seasons. With the times. Do our best and trust God to take care of us.”

“Things happen all the time, precious girl. Things I can’t explain . . . But I know this. That God gave Grandma and me two amazing grandchildren to help raise. A wonderful opportunity for us to help your dad, and for you to be a help to your grandma. So maybe having a family in place is what God wants in case things happen.”
3,958 reviews1,764 followers
April 9, 2020
Heartwarming and hope-infusing.

There's something about the way Ruth Logan Herne meshes humour and angst into a believable, true-to-life story that pulls out all the emotional stops. (Contented reader happy sigh!)

And Learning to Trust starts out with such cringe worthy humour -- and so topical for today's social media obsessed world. Hilarious! And maybe a little bit heart-tugging because sweet little Vangie has no clue what she's started.

Then there's Christa all judgy at first because how could a father in law enforcement not be aware of the dangers of allowing children unlimited access to the Internet? Hurrumph! Tug's in the doghouse with the school and the teacher and since he's "a fixer. A negotiator. A guardian." (p 36) that doesn't sit well with him. Snort! Let the games begin!

What a mesmerizing read! Cute kids, past heartbreak, some twisted individuals to despair over and the sweet, sweet promise of hope for a better future! All deliciously wrapped up with typical Ruthy charm. I'm still giddy just thinking about it.

A second chance romance with lots of heart and even more laughter.
Profile Image for Lori.
1,892 reviews134 followers
April 23, 2020
BeI finished this book in an hour because I thought it was so very good!
I like books about second chances and this one was no exception.
Herne has a gift for storytelling. I like how she adds just the right amount of humor into her stories such as this one. I found myself snickering in some places.
I could tell that this book came from her heart. Like all of her stories do.
She does a wonderful job of pulling the reader in from beginning to end and she definitely can make you fall in love with a certain 8 year old.
Evangeline is certainly sneaky and smart that's for sure! But you gotta love her too. She has the best intentions.
Christa is a lovely character too. I enjoyed in getting to know her and I even thought she was perfect for a certain someone.
Christa's nephews stole my heart from the beginning. Jonah and Jeremy. Loved them that I wanted to snatch them up for myself.
I can relate to Tug, Christa and the boys. It's not easy to lose someone you love. It's heartbreaking.
I found myself cheering these special people on because I knew that God had a plan for each of them. They just had to discover what that was.
I think my favorite person is Tug's mama. She's so kind, caring and lends a helping hand to hand to hurting people and children.
I highly recommend this book.
My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Marilyn.
1,274 reviews
May 1, 2020
“You talk faith, but you don’t trust faith.”

The beautiful story found in Learning to Trust surrounding Tug Moyer and Christa Alero is packed with realism of life’s struggles. Tug’s plate was full as a deputy, widower of two and running for sheriff. Christa wanted to forget her past and moving to Golden Grove to teach was twofold. When Tug and Christa met it was over his overachiever daughter but soon there lives were entangled in another way with an investigation Tug was initially a part of.

This story is another inspiring read from beloved author Ruth Logan Herne, that is known for her faith, family and small town stories to encourage others facing similar situations. Tug and Christa both faced difficult issues with one of the main ones being letting go and really trusting that God would see them through all the pain, grief and challenges they were faced with. I look forward to reading another delightful story in the Golden Grove series or any other books Herne writes in the future.

I received a complimentary of this book from the author and was under no obligation to post a review. I have expressed my own thoughts.
Profile Image for Susan Snodgrass.
2,002 reviews274 followers
April 16, 2020
'Why yearn for riches when good enough is a feast?'

Ruth Logan Herne totally writes from her heart and that heart is surely huge. This book is no exception to her wonderful and precious storytelling ability. When a teacher who moves into this small town in Washington state meets the widowed deputy sheriff with two kids, one in her class, she must remind herself that she has decided to never have a relationship. Past hurts well up in her and she struggles with that decision, especially when said deputy sheriff has a heart that doesn't give up. Even if he struggles with the past as well, he trusts God to lead him in the right direction.

Ruth Logan Herne is so great at creating the sweetest characters and she does kid characters that make you just want to squeeze their little cheeks! I love them so much. Recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. The opinion in this review is my own.
Profile Image for Leona Atkinson.
Author 4 books7 followers
Read
May 22, 2020
"Learning To Trust" by Ruth Logan Herne is the second book in the "Golden Grove" Love Inspired series but it is able to be read as a stand alone novel as well.

I did not read the first book in this series which is "A Hopeful Harvest" but I am planning to read it just because I so enjoyed reading this second book so much.

Ruth Logan Herne is a USA Today Bestselling and Award Winning Author and writer of many inspirational romances. I had the pleasure of being introduced to Ruth via a Facebook post and through that was the recipient of this book "Learning To Trust" which she sent to me free. I am so glad I had the chance to learn of her and her books and I will be looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

This book was a delight to read as it was filled with small town romance, family traditions, and godly values.

The main characters in the story both have issues from their past that they are trying to deal with which causes them to be unable to easily trust others or look with hope to a future of happiness for themselves. As they deal with these problems both of them find themselves facing some unexpected new problems and challenges, some which cause them to have to work together to solve.

All throughout the story we see God at work in different ways to bring about His way and will in all the characters circumstances.

I found this story very captivating, easy to read, inspiring, and heart-warming. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys inspirational romance.

My only slight dislike was the size of the book itself as I am not accustomed to read Harlequin sized books that are 6.5" x4", but because of the story content I could overlook the size because of the beautiful story that was contained within.

--Leona J. Atkinson
Profile Image for Edwina Cowgill.
323 reviews58 followers
April 14, 2020
USA Today Best Selling Author Ruth Logan Herne has written another bestseller in Learning to Trust. The main characters, Tug Moyer and Christa Alero are brought together through the antics of Tug’s daughter, Evangeline. “Vangie,” as she’s called, has made an online video advertising for a wife for her daddy and this video causes havoc at Golden Grove Elementary, where Vangie is a student in Ms. Alero’s class. As they begin to untangle the mess created by the video, Christa finds out that her aunt has passed away and left two orphan boys, Jeremy and Jonah, it appears that she is the only living relative. But things aren’t always as they appear.

There are wonderful lessons of forgiveness and second chances throughout the story. My heart melted for the children and the small town of Golden Grove, located in the heart of apple country, sounded idyllic and I want to move there.

This was a delightful book and I highly recommend it.

I received this book as a gift. The opinions expressed in this review are solely mine.
Profile Image for Fredell.
316 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2020
I enjoyed this little novel. Part of the Love Inspired series: an Inspirational Romance--a feel good read with biblical undertones.
The cover of the book says that everyone needs a little help finding love...
While widower Tug Moyer isn’t looking for a new wife, his eight-year-old daughter is convinced he needs one. So she launches a secret social media plea will bring his perfect match. The response is high, but her father is NOT amused! The media attention and speculation could derail his bid for the sheriff's job.
The ensuing results are fairly predictable, but the writing makes it a pleasurable read. The new Sheriff gets the girl (his daughter's teacher who adopt her aunt's young sons) and the rest of the characters are thrilled with the results of the media blitz and the new family that results from the blitz.
1,844 reviews19 followers
April 16, 2020
Tug is a Deputy Sheriff and he works really good with school chldren. He and his partner Renzo meet at the school in the afternoon some afternoons and play basketball to help keep the children off the street and give them something to do. His parents used to be Foster parents. So he knows what some of these children are going through at home.

The school hires a new school teacher who has come back to town to try and find her cousin. When she gets there and starts teaching she finds out that her cousin has passed away and she two small children. Christa gets custody of the children.

A truly delightful story.
935 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2021
Ruth Logan Herne writes such delightful, clean, sweet stories and infuses them with wit and charm. Her characters are very realistic and engaging, and it’s clear she knows a lot about human nature. I enjoyed reading Learning to Trust, getting to know Tug and Christa, and seeing their relationship change and develop. Evangeline, Tug’s daughter, was so adorable and precocious.

Herne infuses her tales with just the right amount of inspiration to leave the reader uplifted and edified. I always look forward to reading her books.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Tammy Hornbeck.
Author 9 books22 followers
June 7, 2020
This was my first story by Ruth Logan Herne and I loved it! So many romance novels start with first loves; it was nice to read one that happened later in life. A wonderful story of second chances and an example of how God can make two broken hearts whole again. Add the depth of the hardships life can sometimes throw at you and you have a wonderful story full of reality but tempered by hope, faith, and of course....love!
Profile Image for Linda.
281 reviews2 followers
February 18, 2024
Good premise, but lacked depth. Fluff writing for sure. Major plot points of the book weren’t memorable at all, so much so that I wonder if they were even written (wait… what *happened* to Marta?? Were the wannabe middle school gang leaders outed?), were blown out of proportion (Christa’s giant secret), or the reader was just supposed to assume what even happened (and a year later they were magically married, adopted the boys, and expecting a baby).
Profile Image for Elaine Applebury.
726 reviews5 followers
July 20, 2020
I love Ruth Logan Herne's books! Her stories are always full of heart. Eight -year-old Vangie Moyer wants her widower dad to be happy and not alone, so she posts on social media advertising for him a wife. In all the melee that the viral post creates, her dad Tug, meets her school teacher,Christa. Tug is running for sheriff, Christa has a past. Nicely done, Ms. Herne.
1,174 reviews6 followers
November 3, 2020
This was my first book by this author, but it sure won't be the last!! I loved this book!! The kids stole the show, as usual, but it was great reading about how Tug and Christa got together, and how they handled everything they went through to get together. I was drawn in and had to pick it up to find out what would happen next! If life hadn't gotten in the way, I'd have finished the book sooner!
Profile Image for Joyful.
563 reviews
April 22, 2020
I loved the theme of trust in this inspirational romance. Widower Tug Moyer is raising his two children after the loss of his wife. Can his 8 year old daughter convince him that he needs a new wife? I was gifted this book, but the review is totally my choice.
Profile Image for Jackie Layton.
Author 12 books342 followers
April 28, 2020
Delightful children galore, but this is still a romance! You don't want to miss Christa and Tug's story. This is a story about trust and love. Children and adults all have trust issues.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but if you enjoy romances, you'll enjoy Learning to Trust!
Profile Image for Pam Jackson-gorsline.
984 reviews3 followers
June 29, 2020
Trust

This is a good story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters were complex and interesting. I enjoy reading this author's books. Always good.
Profile Image for Margaret Nelson.
1,643 reviews
March 20, 2025
I enjoyed this second book with the location of Golden Grove, including a few cameos of characters from the first one. Again the characters are great and the issues dealt with are handled well. Herne is becoming one of my favorite authors.
Profile Image for Bethany.
30 reviews
October 10, 2025
This book was sent to me by the author! I really enjoyed this book!
1 review
February 7, 2024
Heartwarming, but reminds us that secrets never remain hidden!
Profile Image for Betti.
1,385 reviews38 followers
April 20, 2020
What a lovely way to spend a few hours! Tug, a widowed father of two, is running for Sheriff. Angie, his 8 yr old daughter, has decided that it is not good for him to be alone. What follows is a wonderful story of how she gets that point across to all the eligible ladies as well as to her daddy. Learning to accept choices that have been made in the past bring a whole new family together.
This fabulous story teaches us that strength is found in the most unexpected places - we just need to trust that God has the best in mind for each of us. This book was a gift received from the author with no expectations of a positive review.
Profile Image for Lindsay Bray.
517 reviews
April 13, 2020
4-4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An incredibly heart lifting read.

Summary: Deputy Sheriff, Terrence “Tug” Moyer doesn’t feel the need to remarry but his eight year old daughter has other ideas. After his daughter’s social media post goes viral, Tug decides that it might be time to open his heart to love again. Christa Alero’s whole world has been turned upside down and she finds help unexpectedly in form of a deputy sheriff.

This is the just the book I needed! I absolutely adored these characters and the storyline. I was wanting something that would be easy to escape in and that’s exactly what I got. Yes, it was a little cheesy in a few parts but that’s what made for such a feel-good read.

Going into this book, I was expecting more of a spring/Easter setting, (just based off the cover and the fact it was published in April,) instead it took the place in the Fall... not that that’s a bad thing, just not what I had thought...

The setting of Golden Grove Texas was so enduring and it is a place I’d want to visit. If your looking for a fast, feel-good read, I highly recommend you give this one a try.
Profile Image for Terry Conrad.
292 reviews20 followers
June 6, 2020
I haven't read tons of love inspired books, but I've read my share. Most are cute little love stories and some were more involved than just fun romance. I have read some good ones by authors I read. They were very good.

This is my first read by this author and I was totally impressed. It isn't just an 8 year old trying to get her father a wife. There were light moments of smiling but so much more to this story. It wasn't a short quick read where everything was rushed. As we used to say in WV, there was a lot of meat in this book. Serious issues about children being abused and neglected. People trying to keep kids in school and out of trouble.

I especially liked the religious aspect in this book. People went to Church, prayed, talked about faith in Jesus and trusting him to get us through the rough times in our life.

Don't miss this great read. You won't be disappointed.
409 reviews8 followers
February 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this story. I love all of Ruth Logan Herne's stories
Profile Image for Harlequin Books.
18.4k reviews2,805 followers
Read
April 2, 2020
Categories
Inspirational Romance, Contemporary Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
Golden Grove (Book #2)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.