Hometown Heart Beat

Harvest Ranch Romance #9

by Amberlee Day

City girl finds love with a country boy?

That only happens in the movies.

Or at least that’s what single mom Ronnie tells herself when she sees the hunky cowboy on her aunt’s farm. It's fine to take the occasional peek at his broad shoulders and irresistible grin, but no way is she interested in getting to know him. Why bother? She’s only in town for a couple of months, and with one giant heartbreak already hanging over her head, she has no desire to open herself up for another one.

Noah is in complete agreement. Love doesn’t have a place in his life, not after his disastrous relationship history. Even if it did, he wouldn’t choose Ronnie, who clearly thinks she’s too good for small-town life.

But something about Harvest Ranch puts Ronnie off her game, and she can’t seem to stop making a fool of herself around Noah—who is turning out to be a nice guy, darn it!

Will Harvest Ranch work its magic and help these two opposites find love? Or will Ronnie leave her heart behind in this small town?


If you love the first flowers of spring, the sunlight dancing off rain drops, and a warm breeze brushing across your skin, then you'll love Harvest Ranch in the springtime.

Come for a visit or stay for a while, you're always welcome in this small town.
Each book in the series can be read as a standalone story.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2021

About the author

Words to Love By

Amberlee Day resides in the heart of a Pacific Northwest forest. With her five children launched into the world, she and her husband of thirty-plus years spend their free time walking dogs, reading books, and planning trips to see grandbabies. Amberlee’s books star unpredictable characters who are ready for love—or who didn’t duck quickly enough before it hit them.

If you love sweet, funny romance novels, you’ll love these stories by Amberlee Day!

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposites Attract

Have you ever had a first meet that didn't go exactly as planned...even if it really wasn't planned? Noah and Ronnie do not get off on the right foot when Ronnie comes to town to check in on the elderly aunt that Noah works for. Although the tension was high with these complete opposites, I couldn't help but laugh at the sticky mess they found themselves in. This charming book read like a Hallmark movie and I loved the references to that channel.

Day did a great job of smashing two opposite worlds into a divinely sweet romance, swirling in references to added viewpoints of events in other books in this series, which left me in a sentimental pile of goo. I love Harvest Ranch and each story adds a new dimension to my level of like.

Aunt Doe, Ellie, the newspaper, definitely the chickens, and more, were lively, humorous additions to this pleasant romance and I just couldn't get enough.

Content: mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Shanna Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how when you watch a Hallmark movie for the first time? You're eyes fill with stars, your heart fills with hope, and you can't help but laugh and wish the couple would get together already, but at the same time you don't cause you don't want the movie to end?

That is EXACTLY how I felt about Hometown Heartbeat. Ronnie and her daughter Ellie relocate to Harvest Ranch to help her Aunt Doe, and temporarily take over for someone at the newspaper. Her best friend Starla is obsessed with Hallmark movies and insists Ronnie's life is about to become one. Ronnie thinks it's a funny joke until in walks a shirtless cowboy.

Amberlee Day made this book feel JUST like a hallmark movie, especially those where the main character insists they won't be like the cheesy movies. I really enjoyed all of the fun back and forths between all of the characters, and the hilarious moments and jokes put into different chapters.

The ending was the absolute best part of this story and I couldn't have dreamed of a better way for it to go. I promise, you will not regret reading this. If Ronnie's New York attitude bothers you at the start, keep going, you'll be happy you did when you get butterflies from every little moment.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story! Ronnie leaves the Big City with her daughter to come to small town Harvest Ranch. She is there to help her aunt prepare things because she is getting older. When she arrives she encounters a ranch hand Noah, sparks immediately start to fly (not the romantic kind). Through may talks and much time spent together Ronnie realizes that what she thinks her aunt needs isn't necessarily what is actually needed. Finally the good kind of sparks happen and with additional trials and unexpected guests they make it through. I am really enjoying all the books in this series. Can't wait for the next one.
I was given an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own, and I did it voluntarily.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read with the interactions between Ronnie and Noah and all the references to Hallmark movies. Ellie and Aunt Doe were also fun to read about The chickens were also a great source of humor and the day poor Ellie figures out where chicken you eat comes from is going to be brutal. Lots of other things going with references to other happenings in the Harvest Ranch series like the cow escape... Clean romance, great interactions, perfect amount of chemistry and a wonderful story.

[Vibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet second chance romance

Ronnie & Noah get off to a bad start, which leaves them defensive & touchy. It takes a little time for them to warm up to each other.

They're also both carrying emotional baggage from bad marriages. But life on the farm, as well as with Ronnie's daughter, her great-aunt, & Noah's cousin starts to feel a lot like a family.

The story is a little rough in spots, but heartwarming and engaging. The Hallmark movie theme was amusing - and apropos. Perfect for when you want a cozy, country romance

*Romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun watching as city mouse Ronnie fell back in love with her country mouse roots… and Noah. It’s all to the author’s credit that there were times I found it a little difficult reading through some of the angst and animosity between these two. However, the care and concern they lavish on their loved ones gave me hope even when the going was the toughest.

[Bonnie Theel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! A city girl and her young daughter going to check on her great aunt who lives on a farm in a small town didn't expect to see a handsome farm manager. The way Ronnie and Noah interact is very funny at times. There is a great ending.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First impressions cause us to view people through our own lens and values. Sometimes, getting to truly know someone will shift those values. Well written with characters showing amazing growth make for a good book.

Receivd an ARC in return for this, my honest opinion.

[Harmony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it funny that this story referenced Hallmark Movies so much because it felt exactly like watching one! That same hopeful and happy feeling you get, the same way you are charmed by the characters and the town, the same way you watch eagerly with a smile on your face for the heartwarming HEA. That was in this book and now I want to see it as a movie.

This is a clean romance with no swearing and no sex. This is not a Christian romance (caveat since I put clean and Christian on the same shelf).

Since I tend to write lengthy reviews, I have hidden the longer one (that may contain spoilers) under the spoiler tag.

Long Version:



This is another book in the charming Harvest Ranch series. In this one, we have Noah and Ronnie. They are older than the average romance novel characters, he is 42 and she is 39. I loved that they acted their ages. They are not young adults and therefore they have the battle scars to show for it. They're both wary and not looking for a romance. However, the saying goes "the heart wants what it wants" and that definitely applied here.

I adored the little girl, Ellie. She's written so beautifully. It can be difficult to write children. Oftentimes, authors will write them as mini-adults. That didn't happen here. Ellie acts and talks like a 5-year old. A 5-year old with a big heart and an inquisitive mind.

There is so much to like in this book. The town, the residents, Aunt Doe, Farlin, Starla, OMG the chickens (teehee), I was charmed by all of it. I didn't particularly care for the exes. However, I understand that drama needs to be added. I just wish that Noah would develop a backbone where Leesa is concerned and rid himself of her once and for all. Ronnie is definitely a bigger person than I am, I would not have put up with that nonsense. I also really wanted that wench Diana to get hers.

If I had one thing I didn't like about the book, it is that I wish there had been more romance. It is a romance novel yet it felt really light on the romance. I would have liked to see Noah and Ronnie interact more. They spend a good amount of time fighting and being hostile to one another. It didn't make me like the book any less, this is a great book. I'm just greedy and wanted more romance.

He had a pretty nice giddy-up in his hitch, even if the barn coat covered most of it.

Amberlee has such a way with words, I actually may have snorted a little reading this.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ronnie moves to Harvest Ranch to help her Aunt Doe, she and her friend Starla are discussing Hallmark movies and meeting a handsome cowboy for Ronnie to fall in love with. When Noah comes out of the barn shirtless, they both burst out laughing. Noah misunderstands their laughter since it also upset his second cousin. Even though Ronnie tries to understand, Noah takes a while to warm up to Ronnie especially since she's there temporarily. Ronnie and her daughter, Ellie, have to learn how to help Aunt Doe with the chores on the farm. As Ronnie works at the local newspaper, she finds more things to like about Harvest Ranch. She and Noah find themselves attracted to each other but can they accept that Ronnie's time there is only short-term? I liked all the references to Hallmark movies and how real life isn't always a smooth and happy path. You'll enjoy this book even if you don't watch Hallmark movies. I received a copy of this book to read early with no expectation of anything in return. I'm leaving my honest review.

[Sonya Wasden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ronnie is a city girl from New York City who comes to visit her Aunt Doe in a small Virginia town. She is a single mom who needs a break from her fast paced life and brings her young daughter to help out her Aunt Doe and to get her eyes on how Aunt Doe is really doing because she isn't getting any younger. She meets Noah, the farm manager for her Aunt Doe's farm. There are sparks from the beginning, but the not the most "loving" sort at first. As time goes on, though, she gets to know the kind, gentle man that Noah really is. She begins to see what might be possibilities. Both Ronnie and Noah have had their hearts broken and neither is in a hurry to rush into another relationship. So, they take their time. The ending is my favorite part. I just love Noah and the banter between he and Ronnie.

This is a sweet, clean romance that tells a wonderful story of how a heart can heal and one can learn to love again.

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

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance, contemporary, sweet; Series, but stand alone read
This was such a sweet romance between Noah and Ronnie. They were both hurting, honest hearts, that were put in the same place. A.D. knows how to write the cares, concerns, worries, emotions, feelings with a bit of sass and humor. This was a serious, but fun and flirty romance between these two characters, and a wonderfully heartfelt portrayal of small town life. Perfect side characters, and well described farm and small town setting made for a perfect read.
Ronnie's heart, her past hurts, and Noah's strong determined character with his past hurts and disappointments, both filled with care and concern for those in their sphere, made for a lovely story of compassion, hopes, dreams, and sweet romance. This has been a lovely series.
I received an ARC of the novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. My opinions are my own.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronnie went from international reporter to temporary manager of a small town newspaper and human interest writer. Her Aunt Doe is an elderly firecracker who is determined to do as much as she can around her farm. Her farm manager Noah is a sexy grump who Ronnie makes a bad first impression on by laughing when she sees him shirtless thinking about TV movies. Noah was good to take in his emotional damaged cousin and offer him a position there. But he still puts up plenty of walls, probably fearing being taken advantage or hurt again. Ronnie figures their stay is temporary so she doesn't want to get attached either. I laughed when Ronnie's daughter Ellie said she didn't like the smell of adventure because of the cows. But she comes to love life on farm. There was some repeated juvenile humor about farting sounds.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a big-city girl be happy in a small town?

Ronnie and her preschool daughter are from New York City, visiting her elderly aunt on her small farm in Virginia. She was there to assess how well Aunt Doe is able to care of herself and her household. Without any family nearby, she may need to consider other living arrangements. Aunt Doe has a ranch manager, Noah and a ranch hand who live on property in a bunk house and take care of the ranch and any repairs on property. Noah thinks Ronnie is underestimating how well her aunt is doing. Ronnie thinks Noah is butting into family business. Needless to say, their initial contact is adversarial. But during her three month visit, these adversaries notice a little attraction to the other.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet and charming small town romance with characters that jump right out of the book and into your heart and a lovely story that kept me captivated and intrigued from start to finish. I love the citizens of Harvest Ranch, Virginia and enjoyed the attraction and dynamic between single mom city girl Ronnie Williams who comes to check on her octogenarian aunt and meets Noah Eagleson, hunky cowboy who's managing Aunt Doe's farm. This is such a great series by various authors and I can hardly wait to see what happens next in this small town. I received an advance reader copy of "Hometown Heart Beat" by gifted author Amberlee Day and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Hilda Etherton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of two people who don't care for each other when they meet, but are thrown together by friends and family. Ronnie has a five year old daughter and has come for a few months to visit her Aunt Doe, who lives in a small town, on a farm. Noah is the foreman who has been taking care of Aunt Doe's property. They are both interested in Aunt Doe's health and welfare which means they tend to spent more time together than they expected. Do they wind up together?

Thank you for allowing me to read a great book. If you want to know what tangle webs happen in the story, buy the the book.

Hilda

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was like a sweet, Hallmark movie where the city girl falls in love with the country guy. The characters were fun, sweet, and interesting and they pulled me right into the story and kept me turning the pages. I was not too fond of Ronnie's ex when he came to Aunt Doe's farm. I really liked how the sparks and banter flew between Noah and Ronne and later developed into love. I think the author did a fantastic job of tying her book into the series. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronnie and Noah's first meeting got off on the wrong foot and made them both defensive and cranky toward one another. It took a while for them to make amends and understand one another. But eventually they made their way to a deep and loving relationship. Some of my favorite characters in the book were the secondary characters--Ellie (Ronnie's daughter), Aunt Doe (Ronnie's elderly great-aunt), Starla (Ronnie's best friend from NYC), and even the chickens--who gave a lot of personality to the story. Enjoyed it! I received an ARC and this voluntary review expresses my honest opinions.

[Michelle Ferrari-Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

City vs. Country

Ronnie has gone to Harvest Ranch to visit with her Aunt Doe and is filling in at the local paper for a few months. However, she is completely unprepared to meet her Aunt's ranch hand, Noah. He has taken her breath away and she doesn't quite know what to do about it.

Noah is not looking forward to meeting Does niece from the city. Convinced she will be more of a burden, he is unprepared for the havoc she creates in him.

Can they really be together or will they go their separate ways? ~

[Brandy Hatchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole message of Hometown Heart Beat to me was roots. How to settle those roots and to acknowledge where you came from. I loved it. Ronnie went back to her aunts house, a place she visited every summer, to see if her aunt needed help. She found much more. She found a home for her and her daughter and she found her worth. Didn't help that Mr. Six-Pack was there to help her. Another Harvest Ranch hit!

[Ellen Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shows what living on a farm is all about. Ronnie used to visit her Aunt Doe when she was a child. Now she brought her own daughter to the farm. Ellie loved everything about farm life. Noah living there as farm manager didn’t hurt. An enchanting story and a worthwhile read. I loved the book.

I was given this advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laramee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story and all of the second chances of life that these characters get to experience together. That sometimes what you didn't know what you were looking for can be found in the place you least expect it! Such a fun clean sweet read!

I received an ARC from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veronica (Ronnie) and her daughter Ellie (adorable) come to visit Aunt Doe (loved her). Ronnie's first meeting with Noah didn't go so well. So glad they didn't stick with first impressions. Some great side characters (hoping they get their own books). Really enjoyed seeing Noah show Ronnie the farm, the stars, and his heart. A really sweet romance and a bringing together of family.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Harvest Ranch series I've read. Such a fun small town. How many times do we have first impressions that don't hold true? That is the case with Ronnie and Noah. It's nice having characters from past books play a small part in the next book. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet fun story! It's a sweet small town romance that grabs you on the first and you hate to see it end. This book was an absolute joy to read. I received a complimentary copy and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Sunshinemeg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story. I love the connection to Hallmark movies! Ronnie and Noah are great characters and I love their developing interest even though they didn't get off on the best foot. There are great side characters with fun personalities. The hometown theme is beautiful and friendly.

[Connie Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

A very nice addition to this series of delightful books! Farlin brings in a different twist to the normal routine of these stories and gives us more than one insight to our natures. A very sweet story and I hope to hear more about these characters

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ronnie is back in Harvest ranch to help her aunt with her ranch. Can she find love and happiness in the small town or will she come back to the city with her shy five years old daughter? Sweet love story

[M.K. Dymock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m know this isn’t a second chance romance in the traditional sense in that this couple isn’t finding live with each other again. They are, however, finding love after divorce and learning to trust again. I love romances with a degree of realism that makes you think anyone can find that love.

[Connie Skief · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice hope after heartbreak story

Well written story about finding love outside their comfort zone. Both abandoned, both slow to action, both with a caring heart for others, both with their guard up. Highly recommended for all readers. Hallmark story.