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The Hartwell Women #3
Straight Talk
Straight Talk - Book Three in the Hartwell Women Trilogy
Samantha Hartwell’s life changes completely when she’s attacked by a client’s boyfriend. She leaves Boston and Straight Talk, her consulting business, and escapes to California wine country to heal and to help her sister and brother-in-law with their vineyard’s growth. But she can’t escape the desire Derek Roberts, a world-wide photographer, had sparked inside her. The two challenge each other in ways they’ve never experienced and end up with more than they ever expected.
Samantha Hartwell’s life changes completely when she’s attacked by a client’s boyfriend. She leaves Boston and Straight Talk, her consulting business, and escapes to California wine country to heal and to help her sister and brother-in-law with their vineyard’s growth. But she can’t escape the desire Derek Roberts, a world-wide photographer, had sparked inside her. The two challenge each other in ways they’ve never experienced and end up with more than they ever expected.
305 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2015
About the author
Judith Keim
124 books984 followers Judith Keim, A USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people that she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love.
She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Kacy and Wally, and other members of her family.
While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.
Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.
To sign up for her newsletter, go here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oeiwdp1vkc
Her website: https://judithkeim.com/
Follow her on Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judit...
She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Kacy and Wally, and other members of her family.
While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.
Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.
To sign up for her newsletter, go here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oeiwdp1vkc
Her website: https://judithkeim.com/
Follow her on Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judit...
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 11, 2015
Complimentary Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I give the book 4.5 stars.
Even though it is part of a trilogy, it could also be read as a stand-alone.
Having read Book Two, Sweet Talk, I thought I knew what Samantha’s future was going to be. So I was very surprised when I read the blurb. At first I was a bit disappointed, thinking that that the path she started at the end of Sweet Talk was perfect. But the more I read Straight Talk, I realized that the author was correct in picking someone else for Samantha.
What I really liked about the book was that the main character, Samantha, doesn't just find her soul-mate and that’s it, but rather she meets several eligible men. She continues living her life, working through her emotions and making hard decisions.
I love that the story is unpredictable, just when you think you know what is going to happen, BOOM, there’s a twist. (And not just one.)
It was a great ending to the trilogy, especially seeing characters from the previous books.
I give the book 4.5 stars.
Even though it is part of a trilogy, it could also be read as a stand-alone.
Having read Book Two, Sweet Talk, I thought I knew what Samantha’s future was going to be. So I was very surprised when I read the blurb. At first I was a bit disappointed, thinking that that the path she started at the end of Sweet Talk was perfect. But the more I read Straight Talk, I realized that the author was correct in picking someone else for Samantha.
What I really liked about the book was that the main character, Samantha, doesn't just find her soul-mate and that’s it, but rather she meets several eligible men. She continues living her life, working through her emotions and making hard decisions.
I love that the story is unpredictable, just when you think you know what is going to happen, BOOM, there’s a twist. (And not just one.)
It was a great ending to the trilogy, especially seeing characters from the previous books.
September 14, 2025
Book #3
I love the way Judith Keim writes and her way to draw me into the story
I love this family and it's always fun to catch up with past characters.
I love the way Judith Keim writes and her way to draw me into the story
I love this family and it's always fun to catch up with past characters.
June 1, 2015
Complimentary Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book - it was easy to read and kept my interest. It had some unexpected turns, which made it very interesting and kept me picking it up every chance I got. Even though it is part of a trilogy, it is definitely a stand alone, and does not need to be read in sequence with the other books. Thank you for a very enjoyable read!
I really enjoyed this book - it was easy to read and kept my interest. It had some unexpected turns, which made it very interesting and kept me picking it up every chance I got. Even though it is part of a trilogy, it is definitely a stand alone, and does not need to be read in sequence with the other books. Thank you for a very enjoyable read!
June 6, 2024
Great Story
I loved the storyline...I could have done without the few curse words. That is the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
I loved the storyline...I could have done without the few curse words. That is the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5.
May 19, 2025
Straight Talk
Hartwell women are loyal, strong, and committed. What fantastic characters that make you feel so captivated that they come to life on the pages. This is a fantastic series of strong , bold, courageous and I want more of this uplifting and inspiring stories. A must read, highly recommend. Happy reading.
Hartwell women are loyal, strong, and committed. What fantastic characters that make you feel so captivated that they come to life on the pages. This is a fantastic series of strong , bold, courageous and I want more of this uplifting and inspiring stories. A must read, highly recommend. Happy reading.
January 22, 2024
Families
Straight Talk was a great book for me! I loved reading more about The Heartwell women. I love the fact that this family sticks together through the hard and the good times! I never get tired of reading books from Judith Keim!
Straight Talk was a great book for me! I loved reading more about The Heartwell women. I love the fact that this family sticks together through the hard and the good times! I never get tired of reading books from Judith Keim!
May 12, 2025
Amazing story, Amazingly strong women
Beautiful story. Amazingly strong women who faced so many difficult challenges in life but was able to overcome and become stronger and more aware of who they really were in reality.
Beautiful story. Amazingly strong women who faced so many difficult challenges in life but was able to overcome and become stronger and more aware of who they really were in reality.
July 30, 2025
A Very Interesting Book
This book had some great 👍 information. The art world and the winery. The characters were fun and very loving ❤️. They were so loving to family and friends. This book 📖 was hard to put down. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
This book had some great 👍 information. The art world and the winery. The characters were fun and very loving ❤️. They were so loving to family and friends. This book 📖 was hard to put down. I enjoyed this book from start to finish.
May 18, 2017
loved!
December 3, 2018
Perfectly agreeable but utterly forgettable novel.
July 1, 2023
so good
It took me a while to get into this book but once I had I was hooked. Such a good read
It took me a while to get into this book but once I had I was hooked. Such a good read
November 7, 2024
You have a young girl doing good with her business. When a clients boyfriend attacks her, she goes to her sisters vineyard for a while to get away. She ends up falling in love.
October 13, 2025
Lots going on
Great character development. Lots going on with Samantha and Allison, as well as their parents, boyfriend/husband, babies, and some close friends.
Great character development. Lots going on with Samantha and Allison, as well as their parents, boyfriend/husband, babies, and some close friends.
September 3, 2019
I really like this series and this book, except for one glaring issue for me. Sam is an intelligent strong business woman has succeeded even though surrounded by her father and a series of older men who think her place is at home supporting "her man" and not in any place of power with an opinion other than that she is told to have. She routinely goes nose to nose with her old school father and those just like him and it's fun to go along the ride with her. In her personal life she has gathered a fabulous group of friends who adore and respect her exactly as she is. They all support her in her wanting to be respected and in achieving all of her goals. Then there is her relationship with Derek. Her pining for him was really awful to listen/read. I was not only disappointed that she kept pining so pitifully for Derek, but in how their relationship was wrapped up and they got a HEA within a few short pages. I'd have given the story more stars, but the last chapter ruined it for me. That said, I still adore the series and am going to listen to the next immediately! Oh and there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a single parent, whether by choice or circumstance. Why in this day is it still so controversial??
September 13, 2016
Happy Endings
This was a wonderful read! I enjoyed every page. It was an easy read that held my I interest and could be picked up at random times without losing track of the plot. The characters evolved in a satisfying way so that it felt each persona was an old acquaintance. I love happy endings for leisure reading and this indeed fit the bill!
This was a wonderful read! I enjoyed every page. It was an easy read that held my I interest and could be picked up at random times without losing track of the plot. The characters evolved in a satisfying way so that it felt each persona was an old acquaintance. I love happy endings for leisure reading and this indeed fit the bill!
April 29, 2016
Fantastic writer.
Judith Kim has a way of telling a story which makes you feel as though you're inside the book watching all the players. My emotions ran wild Loved the series of the Hartwell women.
Judith Kim has a way of telling a story which makes you feel as though you're inside the book watching all the players. My emotions ran wild Loved the series of the Hartwell women.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews