What do you think?
Rate this book
Jewell Cove #1
The House on Blackberry Hill
Family secrets, a ghost from the past, and new love will draw readers into this compelling story, first in the Jewell Cove series by NYT Bestselling Author, Donna Alward.
Abby Foster arrives in Jewell Cove to take possession of the family mansion she’s inherited from a relative she never knew existed. Her plan is to refurbish it, put it on the market, and head back to Nova Scotia. But the house—and the secrets within it—catch her in its spell. Before long she’s drawn into the close-knit small town and falling for her sexy contractor, Tom Arseneault. Leaving isn’t going to be as simple as she hoped.
Tom’s got his secluded cottage where he can nurse his grief and broken heart in private. But when Abby arrives in town, the restoration job at Blackberry Hill is too tempting to resist, much like its owner. Abby is opinionated, determined, and certainly does not need to be rescued. And while Tom isn’t looking for love, Abby is hard to resist.
Abby and Tom grow closer, and the house is restored to its former glory. Will Abby choose to stay and take a chance on a man still in love with another? Or will she leave her heritage—and heart—behind forever?
Abby Foster arrives in Jewell Cove to take possession of the family mansion she’s inherited from a relative she never knew existed. Her plan is to refurbish it, put it on the market, and head back to Nova Scotia. But the house—and the secrets within it—catch her in its spell. Before long she’s drawn into the close-knit small town and falling for her sexy contractor, Tom Arseneault. Leaving isn’t going to be as simple as she hoped.
Tom’s got his secluded cottage where he can nurse his grief and broken heart in private. But when Abby arrives in town, the restoration job at Blackberry Hill is too tempting to resist, much like its owner. Abby is opinionated, determined, and certainly does not need to be rescued. And while Tom isn’t looking for love, Abby is hard to resist.
Abby and Tom grow closer, and the house is restored to its former glory. Will Abby choose to stay and take a chance on a man still in love with another? Or will she leave her heritage—and heart—behind forever?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2014
1863 people are currently reading
2200 people want to read
About the author
Donna Alward
285 books692 followersSince 2006, New York Times bestseller Donna Jones Alward has enchanted readers with stories of happy endings and homecomings that have won several awards and been translated into over a dozen languages. She’s worked as an administrative assistant, teaching assistant, in retail and as a stay-at-home-mom, but always knew her degree in English Literature would pay off, as she is now happy to be a full-time writer. Her new historical fiction tales blend her love of history with characters who step beyond their biggest fears to claim the lives they desire.
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
Donna currently lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with her husband and cats. You can often find her near the water, either kayaking on the lake or walking the sandy beaches to refill her creative well.
Find out more at www.donnajonesalward.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
July 2, 2021
I need to stop reading books about small towns because the authors make them full of nosy, awful, meddlesome, judgmental people.
This book didn't work for me:
1. The heroine was mega-second-best to what sounds like an absolutely worthless person.
2. The heroine had to do all the work to win the troubled H.
I seem to be hitting the motherlode of books where the heroine is emotional handmaiden. I need to come up with ways to identify such books and avoid them. Reviews don't seem to help.
This book didn't work for me:
1. The heroine was mega-second-best to what sounds like an absolutely worthless person.
2. The heroine had to do all the work to win the troubled H.
I seem to be hitting the motherlode of books where the heroine is emotional handmaiden. I need to come up with ways to identify such books and avoid them. Reviews don't seem to help.
June 12, 2021
A perfectly serviceable summer romance set in Maine; predictable as the tides but enlivened by an unexpected inheritance and a ghost.
May 12, 2016
Good small town romance. Abby is a teacher in Canada when she gets word that she has inherited a house in Maine from a relative she didn't know she had. She arrives in town ready to do whatever necessary to get the house ready and sell it. But she is also intrigued by the idea of learning about the part of her family she never knew. Tom is the local contractor she hires to do the work on the house. He's always loved it and is happy to be the one to bring it back to life.
I liked both Abby and Tom. Abby is beautiful, independent, and determined. She also has a lot of anger directed at her great aunt, unhappy that there had been no contact at all from that side of the family. It didn't take long for Abby to become interested in learning more about her. There was also something about the house itself that drew her in. Tom is a pretty laid back guy who has a close relationship with his family and friends. He wants to work on the house and is determined to convince Abby that he's the only one who can do it justice.
Their initial meeting was a bit rocky, as Tom came on a little strong in his quest to win the bid. Abby is no pushover, and I loved seeing her follow through on her threat to call the cops. That scene was pretty funny. But once they came to an agreement, their friendship started to grow. It was complicated by the fact that they were attracted to each other, but both have issues that keep them from giving in to it. Abby grew up in a turbulent household, eventually feeling as though she loses everyone she ever cares about. This causes her to protect her heart, not giving herself a chance to grow too close to anyone. Tom had the bad luck to fall in love with the same woman his cousin loved. She picked his cousin, but that wasn't the end of the problem. Now she is dead and Tom is still grieving, as well as feeling some guilt over the rift with his cousin. I liked seeing Abby open up to Tom about what she learns about her family, and the support he gives her as she deals with it. There are a couple instances when they are on opposite sides of an issue, but even when furious with each other they eventually manage to talk it out. There is one confrontation at the end that got very emotional, but it also helped both of them see how they were running from life. I liked Abby's big moment at the end.
The mystery of Abby's family was really good. I liked the way she didn't completely freak when the ghost appeared. Abby's search for the truth of what had really happened to her aunt was intriguing and I liked the way it was handled.
I really liked the secondary characters, most of whom were Tom's family. It was obvious that there was a lot of love there, but there were also realistic tensions. Tom's female relations are determined to fix the rift between Tom and his cousin and aren't very subtle about it. They also have that matchmaking glint in their eyes when they look at Tom and Abby. I especially liked Sarah and Jess, and the way they pulled Abby into a friendship with them. Their "slumber party" was fun. I also liked the way that they all pulled together in times of trouble. I'm looking forward to the next book.
I liked both Abby and Tom. Abby is beautiful, independent, and determined. She also has a lot of anger directed at her great aunt, unhappy that there had been no contact at all from that side of the family. It didn't take long for Abby to become interested in learning more about her. There was also something about the house itself that drew her in. Tom is a pretty laid back guy who has a close relationship with his family and friends. He wants to work on the house and is determined to convince Abby that he's the only one who can do it justice.
Their initial meeting was a bit rocky, as Tom came on a little strong in his quest to win the bid. Abby is no pushover, and I loved seeing her follow through on her threat to call the cops. That scene was pretty funny. But once they came to an agreement, their friendship started to grow. It was complicated by the fact that they were attracted to each other, but both have issues that keep them from giving in to it. Abby grew up in a turbulent household, eventually feeling as though she loses everyone she ever cares about. This causes her to protect her heart, not giving herself a chance to grow too close to anyone. Tom had the bad luck to fall in love with the same woman his cousin loved. She picked his cousin, but that wasn't the end of the problem. Now she is dead and Tom is still grieving, as well as feeling some guilt over the rift with his cousin. I liked seeing Abby open up to Tom about what she learns about her family, and the support he gives her as she deals with it. There are a couple instances when they are on opposite sides of an issue, but even when furious with each other they eventually manage to talk it out. There is one confrontation at the end that got very emotional, but it also helped both of them see how they were running from life. I liked Abby's big moment at the end.
The mystery of Abby's family was really good. I liked the way she didn't completely freak when the ghost appeared. Abby's search for the truth of what had really happened to her aunt was intriguing and I liked the way it was handled.
I really liked the secondary characters, most of whom were Tom's family. It was obvious that there was a lot of love there, but there were also realistic tensions. Tom's female relations are determined to fix the rift between Tom and his cousin and aren't very subtle about it. They also have that matchmaking glint in their eyes when they look at Tom and Abby. I especially liked Sarah and Jess, and the way they pulled Abby into a friendship with them. Their "slumber party" was fun. I also liked the way that they all pulled together in times of trouble. I'm looking forward to the next book.
December 26, 2021
I enjoyed this small town mystery romance. The supernatural aspect and intrigue was a nice touch. I enjoyed the romance and initial angst. It fizzled with the MC’s both being so wishy washy and hot and cold. There was a lot of build up for the big romantic scene, but it disappointingly faded to black. I thought the MC’s had good chemistry when they weren’t being so evasive with one another. Great secondary characters too. I liked the sweet HEA and the mystery of Rick’s parentage at the end was fascinating too. There was a lot of sadness in the book—miscarriage, death of a spouse, and murder.
March 2, 2014
I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of Donna Alward’s upcoming book The House on Blackberry Hill, which will be released on April 29, 2014.
It’s the first of a trilogy set in Jewell Cove in Maine and a terrific read. It’s also Donna’s first book with St Martin’s Press....
Abby Foster has inherited a house & estate from a great-Aunt she never knew she had. Reluctantly taking a leave of absence from her work as a teacher, she drives to Maine to check out the property. It needs plenty of TLC, and is possibly haunted, but despite herself, she finds herself falling in love with the house. But Abby’s past has made her leery of putting down roots, or of being very trusting.
When hunky local contractor Tom Arseneault introduces himself – after literally falling through her front steps – her initial reaction is distrust. He, and everyone else, in this town knows far more about her family and the house than she has ever heard. And small towns just lead to heartbreak. Or do they?
Tom desperately wants to restore Abby’s house, but is that the only reason he is around? He has his own issues and history. Will those irrevocably push Abby back to Nova Scotia?
My only complaint? I have to wait for the sequels! Can’t wait to return to this scenic town and the people.
It’s the first of a trilogy set in Jewell Cove in Maine and a terrific read. It’s also Donna’s first book with St Martin’s Press....
Abby Foster has inherited a house & estate from a great-Aunt she never knew she had. Reluctantly taking a leave of absence from her work as a teacher, she drives to Maine to check out the property. It needs plenty of TLC, and is possibly haunted, but despite herself, she finds herself falling in love with the house. But Abby’s past has made her leery of putting down roots, or of being very trusting.
When hunky local contractor Tom Arseneault introduces himself – after literally falling through her front steps – her initial reaction is distrust. He, and everyone else, in this town knows far more about her family and the house than she has ever heard. And small towns just lead to heartbreak. Or do they?
Tom desperately wants to restore Abby’s house, but is that the only reason he is around? He has his own issues and history. Will those irrevocably push Abby back to Nova Scotia?
My only complaint? I have to wait for the sequels! Can’t wait to return to this scenic town and the people.
December 20, 2014
A cute contemporary romance, I could leave it like that, because that is really enough.
But fine, I will say more ;)
Abby has inherited lots of money and a house, and all from a relative she did not know about. So she goes to see the house and discovers family secrets. It was a bit strange, cos there was this paranormal aspect of a ghost. Most of the time you can leave it to the fact that she only imagined it, but no, there really was a ghost here. Ok forget about the ghost. Abby always wanted family, always wanted a home. Can she find one here? Well duh yes!
Tom is a contractor and wants to fix her house. And yes they start to fall for each other. But he still thinks about another girl, and Abby does not want to stay. They become friends, they fall in lust, and they have their happily ever after.
I liked this town, but then I love small towns. They always gossip, everyone is friendly and I always go all awww, I wanna live there!
Cute.
But fine, I will say more ;)
Abby has inherited lots of money and a house, and all from a relative she did not know about. So she goes to see the house and discovers family secrets. It was a bit strange, cos there was this paranormal aspect of a ghost. Most of the time you can leave it to the fact that she only imagined it, but no, there really was a ghost here. Ok forget about the ghost. Abby always wanted family, always wanted a home. Can she find one here? Well duh yes!
Tom is a contractor and wants to fix her house. And yes they start to fall for each other. But he still thinks about another girl, and Abby does not want to stay. They become friends, they fall in lust, and they have their happily ever after.
I liked this town, but then I love small towns. They always gossip, everyone is friendly and I always go all awww, I wanna live there!
Cute.
April 29, 2014
Donna Alward has knocked it out of the park with her first Jewell Cove book. I loved the story, loved the town, loved the hero and heroine. I wanted to live in Jewell Cove, with all its quirky shops and welcoming residents, and loved, loved, the old, sad house on Blackberry Hill that just needs a little TLC and a love story between two wounded people. A fabulous read, from start to finish!
August 12, 2019
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
I decided to read The House on Blackberry Hill after I read a few of Donna Alward's books. I enjoyed other series by her so I knew I had to go back to this one.
I really love the idea of this story. To grow up and never really know part of your family. To wake up one day and learn that you had this family in Jewell Cove that you know nothing about has to be shocking at the least.
I know I would be surprised.
Then to inherit a home from said family and money, has to blow the mind.
Abby shows up in Jewell Cove to more or less get the house ready to be sold. She doesn't live there and doesn't want to stay there. I don't blame her but come on, wouldn't you want to learn more about who you are and where you come from? I would.
I will tell you that I wasn't sure what Abby was going to do for most of the book. I'm not going to ruin anything for you but she had me wondering.
I really enjoyed her and Tom. They make for a good couple. Of course, I did feel that most of the book was about Abby and her family and Tom and Josh. It really needed more Abby and Tom. The romance lacked a bit. It was still a good story I just wish I had more of them.
It did set up the series and I do want to read more of them so it did its job well. As a whole, this is a good story that might drag at times but you'll enjoy it.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
I decided to read The House on Blackberry Hill after I read a few of Donna Alward's books. I enjoyed other series by her so I knew I had to go back to this one.
I really love the idea of this story. To grow up and never really know part of your family. To wake up one day and learn that you had this family in Jewell Cove that you know nothing about has to be shocking at the least.
I know I would be surprised.
Then to inherit a home from said family and money, has to blow the mind.
Abby shows up in Jewell Cove to more or less get the house ready to be sold. She doesn't live there and doesn't want to stay there. I don't blame her but come on, wouldn't you want to learn more about who you are and where you come from? I would.
I will tell you that I wasn't sure what Abby was going to do for most of the book. I'm not going to ruin anything for you but she had me wondering.
I really enjoyed her and Tom. They make for a good couple. Of course, I did feel that most of the book was about Abby and her family and Tom and Josh. It really needed more Abby and Tom. The romance lacked a bit. It was still a good story I just wish I had more of them.
It did set up the series and I do want to read more of them so it did its job well. As a whole, this is a good story that might drag at times but you'll enjoy it.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
https://twitter.com/Romancingreader
June 5, 2021
Wowzer!! What a fantastic book!! An old seaside mansion, complete with secrets and ghosts, a hunky contractor to bring the house back to glory, and the young lady who inherits it ~~ who could ask for more!? I got lost in this one. Read it, you'll thank me!!
January 30, 2024
Loved this book! The setting in Jewell Cove is heartwarming & so many great characters capture your heart. There’s lots of twists to keep the pages turning all throughout…AND discovered at the end, it’s the 1st in a series! Looking forward to jumping into the next book!
August 6, 2016
In The House on Blackberry Hill by Donna Alward, Abby inherits an estate in Jewell Cove, Maine, from a great aunt that she didn't know she had. With her immediate family long gone, this mysterious connection to Jewell Cove is not what Abby expected. Abby is angry and hurt about this hidden side of her family, that no one reached out to her while they were alive. The estate needs a lot of work, and Abby's plan is to fix it up, sell, and head back home to Canada - alone. Along with the house there are old family secrets, long buried, but not forgotten about by everyone. Someone wants the truth discovered, and Abby is the person they've picked to do it.
Tom is a local contractor whose dream is restoring old homes such as The House on Blackberry Hill. He wants nothing more than the chance to work on The House on Blackberry Hill...if he can convince Abby he is the man for the job. Abby is not so sure about Tom and the confidence he has in himself...and she is even less sure about the attraction she feels towards him. Neither of them wants any kind of relationship. Tom has not been able to get over the woman he loved and lost, and Abby does not trust easily, she's too used to being let down and losing people she cares about. The more time they spend together though, the closer they become and the attraction can't be denied. Abby slowly starts to trust Tom with her secrets, her ghosts and her self. The House on Blackberry Hill brings them together with a common goal, but will it be a strong enough start? Tom is not as open with Abby, and just as she starts to feel secure in Jewell Cove Tom and his issues might drive her away again. Will either of them ever be able to take a chance on love again?
Donna gives us a strong, enchanting story in The House on Blackberry Hill. She effortlessly blends romance, mystery, and a dash of paranormal. She will draw you in quickly and captivate you with small town Jewell Cove and The House on Blackberry Hill, making you feel like you are there. The characters are all strong, from Abby and Tom to the numerous secondary characters that give The House on Blackberry Hill that extra liveliness. I did feel I would have liked a bit more background on Abby's past, I feel it would have given me a much better understanding of her. Donna does give us some, but not as much as I would have liked. Other than that, Abby is a lady that you will feel for. She is brave, but she is also scared and lonely. She is real, and at times your heart will be sad for her. I really, really enjoyed watching Abby slowly become a part of the community of Jewell Cove. She makes friends, but most of the time remains a bit terrified inside. She really grows throughout The House on Blackberry Hill. Donna gives us great background on Tom, and it is easy to feel frustrated with him at times! I really wanted to see Tom move on from the past and embrace the future, whether or not his future has Abby in it!
The House on Blackberry Hill is filled with humor, heart, and a touch of sadness at times. Donna manages to evoke a variety of emotions throughout with her superb writing, and her descriptions of The House on Blackberry Hill and Jewell Cove make it easy to see in your mind and feel like you're there.
I would recommend The House on Blackberry Hill to all romance readers, especially if you like small town romance! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
Tom is a local contractor whose dream is restoring old homes such as The House on Blackberry Hill. He wants nothing more than the chance to work on The House on Blackberry Hill...if he can convince Abby he is the man for the job. Abby is not so sure about Tom and the confidence he has in himself...and she is even less sure about the attraction she feels towards him. Neither of them wants any kind of relationship. Tom has not been able to get over the woman he loved and lost, and Abby does not trust easily, she's too used to being let down and losing people she cares about. The more time they spend together though, the closer they become and the attraction can't be denied. Abby slowly starts to trust Tom with her secrets, her ghosts and her self. The House on Blackberry Hill brings them together with a common goal, but will it be a strong enough start? Tom is not as open with Abby, and just as she starts to feel secure in Jewell Cove Tom and his issues might drive her away again. Will either of them ever be able to take a chance on love again?
Donna gives us a strong, enchanting story in The House on Blackberry Hill. She effortlessly blends romance, mystery, and a dash of paranormal. She will draw you in quickly and captivate you with small town Jewell Cove and The House on Blackberry Hill, making you feel like you are there. The characters are all strong, from Abby and Tom to the numerous secondary characters that give The House on Blackberry Hill that extra liveliness. I did feel I would have liked a bit more background on Abby's past, I feel it would have given me a much better understanding of her. Donna does give us some, but not as much as I would have liked. Other than that, Abby is a lady that you will feel for. She is brave, but she is also scared and lonely. She is real, and at times your heart will be sad for her. I really, really enjoyed watching Abby slowly become a part of the community of Jewell Cove. She makes friends, but most of the time remains a bit terrified inside. She really grows throughout The House on Blackberry Hill. Donna gives us great background on Tom, and it is easy to feel frustrated with him at times! I really wanted to see Tom move on from the past and embrace the future, whether or not his future has Abby in it!
The House on Blackberry Hill is filled with humor, heart, and a touch of sadness at times. Donna manages to evoke a variety of emotions throughout with her superb writing, and her descriptions of The House on Blackberry Hill and Jewell Cove make it easy to see in your mind and feel like you're there.
I would recommend The House on Blackberry Hill to all romance readers, especially if you like small town romance! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
December 16, 2014
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
The House on Blackberry Hill was my first Donna Alward book and I loved it! The romance was sweet, the characters were quirky, and the town of Jewell Cove was amazing. Watching Abby and Tom fall in love was wonderful and I loved imagining the old Foster mansion being restored. The paranormal elements were a little jarring but I did enjoy learning more about Abby's family and what drove the sisters apart.
Abby Foster inherits an old mansion from a side of her family she never even knew about. She leaves Nova Scotia to visit the Maine town of Jewell Cove to see how much restoration the house might need before putting it up on the market. Tom Arseneault is a long-time resident of Jewell Cove and one of the best contractors around. When he learns that work on the old Foster mansion is going up for bid, he knows this is his perfect job. Abby and Tom get off on the wrong foot, but soon find themselves working together on the house. As they work to restore the mansion to its former glory, Abby finds clues to the family that ignored her and she and Tom begin to build a relationship. With both Abby and Tom keeping secrets about their past, can they learn to move forward and live in the now?
The main characters in The House on Blackberry Hill were wonderful. Abby was sweet yet feisty and she didn't let anyone put her down. She was smart when it came to the house and the renovations and knew what she wanted it to look like. She made friends and began to put down roots in Jewell Cove, but she still stood up for herself when people tried to manipulate her or put her into situations where she was uncomfortable. I liked seeing her loosen up and begin to make friends and I also enjoyed her drive to learn more about her family. Tom was an interesting romantic lead. He was sexy and caring, but he had a lot of baggage in his past. He had fallen in love with the wrong women and he couldn't seem to let her go. When Abby enters his life, he knows its time to let the past go but he finds the guilt harder to forget that anything. He's great at his job and has a wonderful family, but he's constantly haunted by transgressions from the past. Abby and Tom both need to work through their past pain in order to open up to one another and build a life together. Abby and Tom were at times sweet, funny, and frustrating together. Their relationship was a roller coaster, but I really enjoyed the ride. I would say the heat level of this book is pretty mild. There were a lot of sexy scenes, but nothing explicit. This was more about the emotional connection between Abby and Tom than the physical.
The secondary characters were well-developed in this book and I especially loved Tom's family. The House on Blackberry Hill set up Tom's sister and best friend as the main characters for the next novel very well and gave just a little tease into their past history. I loved meeting all the different residents of Jewell Cove and I can't wait to learn more about the town. It sounds so enchanting; I would love to live there!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC copy of this book for review!
The House on Blackberry Hill was my first Donna Alward book and I loved it! The romance was sweet, the characters were quirky, and the town of Jewell Cove was amazing. Watching Abby and Tom fall in love was wonderful and I loved imagining the old Foster mansion being restored. The paranormal elements were a little jarring but I did enjoy learning more about Abby's family and what drove the sisters apart.
Abby Foster inherits an old mansion from a side of her family she never even knew about. She leaves Nova Scotia to visit the Maine town of Jewell Cove to see how much restoration the house might need before putting it up on the market. Tom Arseneault is a long-time resident of Jewell Cove and one of the best contractors around. When he learns that work on the old Foster mansion is going up for bid, he knows this is his perfect job. Abby and Tom get off on the wrong foot, but soon find themselves working together on the house. As they work to restore the mansion to its former glory, Abby finds clues to the family that ignored her and she and Tom begin to build a relationship. With both Abby and Tom keeping secrets about their past, can they learn to move forward and live in the now?
The main characters in The House on Blackberry Hill were wonderful. Abby was sweet yet feisty and she didn't let anyone put her down. She was smart when it came to the house and the renovations and knew what she wanted it to look like. She made friends and began to put down roots in Jewell Cove, but she still stood up for herself when people tried to manipulate her or put her into situations where she was uncomfortable. I liked seeing her loosen up and begin to make friends and I also enjoyed her drive to learn more about her family. Tom was an interesting romantic lead. He was sexy and caring, but he had a lot of baggage in his past. He had fallen in love with the wrong women and he couldn't seem to let her go. When Abby enters his life, he knows its time to let the past go but he finds the guilt harder to forget that anything. He's great at his job and has a wonderful family, but he's constantly haunted by transgressions from the past. Abby and Tom both need to work through their past pain in order to open up to one another and build a life together. Abby and Tom were at times sweet, funny, and frustrating together. Their relationship was a roller coaster, but I really enjoyed the ride. I would say the heat level of this book is pretty mild. There were a lot of sexy scenes, but nothing explicit. This was more about the emotional connection between Abby and Tom than the physical.
The secondary characters were well-developed in this book and I especially loved Tom's family. The House on Blackberry Hill set up Tom's sister and best friend as the main characters for the next novel very well and gave just a little tease into their past history. I loved meeting all the different residents of Jewell Cove and I can't wait to learn more about the town. It sounds so enchanting; I would love to live there!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC copy of this book for review!
July 31, 2022
Abigail (Abby) has inherited a mansion and a pot of money from a family member she never knew existed. She has come to a small town in Maine with plans to sell the house as soon as possible and take the money and run. If this part of her family never had any desire to know her, Abby feels no sense of loyalty to the unknown family.
The first thing she finds is that although the house is a true mansion, it needs some work. And in some parts of the home, there is a coldness, a sort of sense of unhappiness. And it feels as though there is someone just our of the corner of her eye watching her.
Tom is a contractor who has loved this house for as long as he can remember. He has a huge desire to bring the home back to the glory of the long ago past.
This is an interesting story.
The small town is populated by people who adored Marian, the woman who left the home to Abby. But, as wonderful as she was, she never tried to contact her sister, Abby’s grandmother. And even though Marian had money, Abby and her grandmother often were nearly flat broke. The inequity seems very mean to Abby.
There is history in the mansion and history in the present day town. All families have differences. Those differences may be based on jealousy, hatred, lost love, and most of all sorrow at terrible losses.
Abby has never had anyone in her life who did not leave her in one way or another. The concept of family is rather foreign to her. And the concept of staying in one place because she feels secure and happy is the most foreign concept of all.
Slowly Abby finds a sense of place and people. She also finds a great deal about her own family’s history. There is a terrible explanation of why this newly found family never had any connection to Abby. Abby has the aid of a beautiful, shadowy woman who points her in the right direction to find missing history. The shadowy woman is Abby’s Great Grandmother Edith. She has been dead since shortly after World War II.
I am not normally a big fan of ghost stories. But, this one drew me into the history as well as the present day.
Abby is not a joiner nor a person who feels comfortable with strangers. But, what if the strangers soon become good friends? What if Abby finds that there is friendship and love waiting for her in this small town? Abby finds connections to people and that is hard for her to handle and understand.
Tom has a family who loves him, but he has held himself separate for quite awhile because of his differences with a man who he loves like a brother. He feels certain that all he needs in life is to stay separate from anyone and everyone and do his work.
This is a good book by an author I did not know before. I will read more books by Ms Alward, she is good.
The first thing she finds is that although the house is a true mansion, it needs some work. And in some parts of the home, there is a coldness, a sort of sense of unhappiness. And it feels as though there is someone just our of the corner of her eye watching her.
Tom is a contractor who has loved this house for as long as he can remember. He has a huge desire to bring the home back to the glory of the long ago past.
This is an interesting story.
The small town is populated by people who adored Marian, the woman who left the home to Abby. But, as wonderful as she was, she never tried to contact her sister, Abby’s grandmother. And even though Marian had money, Abby and her grandmother often were nearly flat broke. The inequity seems very mean to Abby.
There is history in the mansion and history in the present day town. All families have differences. Those differences may be based on jealousy, hatred, lost love, and most of all sorrow at terrible losses.
Abby has never had anyone in her life who did not leave her in one way or another. The concept of family is rather foreign to her. And the concept of staying in one place because she feels secure and happy is the most foreign concept of all.
Slowly Abby finds a sense of place and people. She also finds a great deal about her own family’s history. There is a terrible explanation of why this newly found family never had any connection to Abby. Abby has the aid of a beautiful, shadowy woman who points her in the right direction to find missing history. The shadowy woman is Abby’s Great Grandmother Edith. She has been dead since shortly after World War II.
I am not normally a big fan of ghost stories. But, this one drew me into the history as well as the present day.
Abby is not a joiner nor a person who feels comfortable with strangers. But, what if the strangers soon become good friends? What if Abby finds that there is friendship and love waiting for her in this small town? Abby finds connections to people and that is hard for her to handle and understand.
Tom has a family who loves him, but he has held himself separate for quite awhile because of his differences with a man who he loves like a brother. He feels certain that all he needs in life is to stay separate from anyone and everyone and do his work.
This is a good book by an author I did not know before. I will read more books by Ms Alward, she is good.
April 28, 2014
Autry‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
The House on Blackberry Hill had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. It’s a very touching story, one that makes readers want to see more of Jewell Cove and it’s unique small-town cast of characters. Each character is well developed and adds to the story line; each one makes the small community feeling all the more relatable.
Abby wants little to do with handouts from relatives that couldn’t bother to reach out before now. Only one thing stands in her way, an estate left to her by a relative she never knew, and it’s opening a new world of secrets, lies, deception and heartbreak. Will Abby be ready for what Blackberry Hill has in store for her, or will she dump the house and run?
Tom claims to be the best construction worker in Jewell Cove and wants to get his hands on that house and quickly decides having his hands on the owner wouldn’t be so bad either. He is wiling to pour his love and time into restoring this house, but will he be able to pour his time and love into Abby? And make her stay?
Tom and Abby come from vastly different backgrounds; Tom has lived in this close-knit community for all of his life. He has learned how to survive heartbreak, family drama and ruined relationships. Abby has little history or knowledge to go on, her last relative left her with little knowledge of her family. Within minutes of entering the estate she can feel something was lying in wait, in need of being discovered. Tom also has strong feelings associated with Blackberry Hill and is ready to dive in and restore this estate to it original beauty. From the first moment Tom meets Abby you can feel the attraction and heat between the two. Things only get more intense from there, Abbys’ past starts to come forward as Tom is fighting his own past demons. Meddling cousins toss Abby into the mix and force Tom to rehash his past.
Working on the house and through their emerging family problems, Abby has started to feel the connection between past relatives and the heartbreak they endured. As Abby has put the finally piece to the puzzle together another tragedy strikes Toms’ family. In wake of the tragedy Abby and Tom start to realize their feelings for each other are becoming stronger and stronger. The final product is a beautifully restored house full of life, happiness, love and new beginnings.
Alwards’ The House on Blackberry Hill is well-written, well thought out and definitely worth the read! It will make you want to visit Jewell Cove over and over again! Looking forward to her next installment of the Jewell Cove novel.
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
The House on Blackberry Hill had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. It’s a very touching story, one that makes readers want to see more of Jewell Cove and it’s unique small-town cast of characters. Each character is well developed and adds to the story line; each one makes the small community feeling all the more relatable.
Abby wants little to do with handouts from relatives that couldn’t bother to reach out before now. Only one thing stands in her way, an estate left to her by a relative she never knew, and it’s opening a new world of secrets, lies, deception and heartbreak. Will Abby be ready for what Blackberry Hill has in store for her, or will she dump the house and run?
Tom claims to be the best construction worker in Jewell Cove and wants to get his hands on that house and quickly decides having his hands on the owner wouldn’t be so bad either. He is wiling to pour his love and time into restoring this house, but will he be able to pour his time and love into Abby? And make her stay?
Tom and Abby come from vastly different backgrounds; Tom has lived in this close-knit community for all of his life. He has learned how to survive heartbreak, family drama and ruined relationships. Abby has little history or knowledge to go on, her last relative left her with little knowledge of her family. Within minutes of entering the estate she can feel something was lying in wait, in need of being discovered. Tom also has strong feelings associated with Blackberry Hill and is ready to dive in and restore this estate to it original beauty. From the first moment Tom meets Abby you can feel the attraction and heat between the two. Things only get more intense from there, Abbys’ past starts to come forward as Tom is fighting his own past demons. Meddling cousins toss Abby into the mix and force Tom to rehash his past.
Working on the house and through their emerging family problems, Abby has started to feel the connection between past relatives and the heartbreak they endured. As Abby has put the finally piece to the puzzle together another tragedy strikes Toms’ family. In wake of the tragedy Abby and Tom start to realize their feelings for each other are becoming stronger and stronger. The final product is a beautifully restored house full of life, happiness, love and new beginnings.
Alwards’ The House on Blackberry Hill is well-written, well thought out and definitely worth the read! It will make you want to visit Jewell Cove over and over again! Looking forward to her next installment of the Jewell Cove novel.
January 12, 2024
i almost threw up when the wedding dress came back around at the end this was BEAUTIFUL
November 30, 2014
Review can be found at: http://iwishilivedinalibrary.blogspot...
Pros: Oh that house! I feel like my family let me down by not having a mysterious aunt who I never meet who leaves me a sizable bank account and a huge mostly furnished house. There's even a furnished library! With books! If you can't tell my favorite parts involved fixing up the house and watching Abby slowly unearth information about her family as she tries to figure out what caused a split that happened between her great-aunt and her grandmother. The pacing on this part was very good and Alward did a fantastic job of giving us the story piece by piece. I liked Abby and it made sense that she was hesitant to feel attached or start to think of Jewell Cove as home. I also liked that when she told Tom about the things she was seeing in the house he took her seriously. He admits that it sounds hard to believe but he doesn't dismiss her as seeing things or dreaming. I do like that we got to meet a number of characters in Jewell Cove without it feeling like character overload. I met enough to really get the feel of a community and big family without it feeling like I needed to know the back story of everyone in the entire town.
Cons: I wish the timeline had been clearer on Tom's past relationship. It was made to sound like the relationship had been when he was much much younger but than something was said that made it seem like it was much more recent. Things did get a bit clearer towards the end but it just felt a little unclear for much of the book. Also, while I did find the ending satisfying the setup to the ending was kind of odd. Abby was expecting something from Tom but it felt like she was maybe testing him an unrealistic amount.
Overall: While the romance is nice this isn't a book I would read just for the romance. What made this book a fun read for me was the mystery of what happened to the Foster family and watching Abby find her place in Jewell Cove. And the house! The house was amazing.
Pros: Oh that house! I feel like my family let me down by not having a mysterious aunt who I never meet who leaves me a sizable bank account and a huge mostly furnished house. There's even a furnished library! With books! If you can't tell my favorite parts involved fixing up the house and watching Abby slowly unearth information about her family as she tries to figure out what caused a split that happened between her great-aunt and her grandmother. The pacing on this part was very good and Alward did a fantastic job of giving us the story piece by piece. I liked Abby and it made sense that she was hesitant to feel attached or start to think of Jewell Cove as home. I also liked that when she told Tom about the things she was seeing in the house he took her seriously. He admits that it sounds hard to believe but he doesn't dismiss her as seeing things or dreaming. I do like that we got to meet a number of characters in Jewell Cove without it feeling like character overload. I met enough to really get the feel of a community and big family without it feeling like I needed to know the back story of everyone in the entire town.
Cons: I wish the timeline had been clearer on Tom's past relationship. It was made to sound like the relationship had been when he was much much younger but than something was said that made it seem like it was much more recent. Things did get a bit clearer towards the end but it just felt a little unclear for much of the book. Also, while I did find the ending satisfying the setup to the ending was kind of odd. Abby was expecting something from Tom but it felt like she was maybe testing him an unrealistic amount.
Overall: While the romance is nice this isn't a book I would read just for the romance. What made this book a fun read for me was the mystery of what happened to the Foster family and watching Abby find her place in Jewell Cove. And the house! The house was amazing.
February 4, 2014
Abby Foster has a mind of her own and determines which way her compass points. She's an independent woman traveling from Canada to the USA to put a mysterious family connection behind her.
Problem is that Jewell Cove is a small town with plenty of historical skeletons to unearth. Abby is in for an adventure she didn't see coming when she meets Tom Arsenault.
Tom is hired as her contractor but their connection is strong and helps them form a friendship. They argue with each other, they listen to each other, and they work on The House on Blackberry Hill together for different reasons.
Abby may sell it and Tom is trying to fix it up for her as the local contractor.
What Abby doesn't realize is she's investing into the community the house sits on and all of its secrets. Possibly too explosive to realize by herself Abby reaches out to Tom with family history she discovers. There are photos and letters hidden away in chests and in secret spots in the house. And... a ghost that offers a lesson for us all.
Tom, who has a broken heart from another woman, doesn't turn her away when she opens her heart to him. Instead, he steps into her life and into her arms providing an answer to all of Abby's lonely days that she never expected.
Family is a key theme in this well written book by Donna Alward and the sounding bell for this story is that family is often one you define not necessarily from the blood you share with others. A lovely romance with a constant passion this book is a must read for everyone. Heartwarming and full of great coastal scenery for the setting.
Problem is that Jewell Cove is a small town with plenty of historical skeletons to unearth. Abby is in for an adventure she didn't see coming when she meets Tom Arsenault.
Tom is hired as her contractor but their connection is strong and helps them form a friendship. They argue with each other, they listen to each other, and they work on The House on Blackberry Hill together for different reasons.
Abby may sell it and Tom is trying to fix it up for her as the local contractor.
What Abby doesn't realize is she's investing into the community the house sits on and all of its secrets. Possibly too explosive to realize by herself Abby reaches out to Tom with family history she discovers. There are photos and letters hidden away in chests and in secret spots in the house. And... a ghost that offers a lesson for us all.
Tom, who has a broken heart from another woman, doesn't turn her away when she opens her heart to him. Instead, he steps into her life and into her arms providing an answer to all of Abby's lonely days that she never expected.
Family is a key theme in this well written book by Donna Alward and the sounding bell for this story is that family is often one you define not necessarily from the blood you share with others. A lovely romance with a constant passion this book is a must read for everyone. Heartwarming and full of great coastal scenery for the setting.
January 26, 2023
Loved it
The book was well written and held your interest from beginning to end without being filled with detailed sexual descriptions the way so many books are written today. I loved it.
The book was well written and held your interest from beginning to end without being filled with detailed sexual descriptions the way so many books are written today. I loved it.
June 12, 2014
Love Laughter & Suspense!
The first in the Jewel Cove series by Donna Alward. You know you can count on Ms. Alward’s books to be a great love story, but The House on Blackberry Hills includes a little mystery as well. Well written and fast paced – you won’t want to put it down! I loved the characters and felt like I was right in town listening to the happenings and progress on the House! Join me in pre-ordering book two in the series – Treasure on Lilac Lane. Enjoy! NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first in the Jewel Cove series by Donna Alward. You know you can count on Ms. Alward’s books to be a great love story, but The House on Blackberry Hills includes a little mystery as well. Well written and fast paced – you won’t want to put it down! I loved the characters and felt like I was right in town listening to the happenings and progress on the House! Join me in pre-ordering book two in the series – Treasure on Lilac Lane. Enjoy! NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2014
This book started off alright and as I was drawn into the story lo and behold a ghost shows up. That is where I draw the line. I never finished the book. Why oh why does a fun beginning of a story have to have a ghost? I hate stories with ghosts in them. Why wasn't this addressed in the synopsis of the story. I hate when I waste money on a book I will never finish reading because of the supernatural nonsense that is completely unnecessary. That is why this book received 1 star.
I bought this book and it will now be put in the trash where it belongs....
I bought this book and it will now be put in the trash where it belongs....
January 26, 2022
The novel was slow to start, but once more elements integral to the mystery hidden behind The House on Blackberry Hill were revealed, it became more interesting and drew me in. We all have skeletons in our family closets, and the families introduced her are no exception. Those skeletons weave tales of intrigue that will keep you wondering what else might be hiding. It appears there’s more if the ending is any indication.
March 8, 2023
not a “sweet” romance
The story was good, but I got it with the understanding it was a sweet romance. To me, that means no foul language or explicit sex. I had to skip several pages more than once, because the tale of her ancestors was fascinating. But I don’t like the graphic details of the love life.
The story was good, but I got it with the understanding it was a sweet romance. To me, that means no foul language or explicit sex. I had to skip several pages more than once, because the tale of her ancestors was fascinating. But I don’t like the graphic details of the love life.
November 10, 2017
I️ loved Abby and Tom, and the mystery tied up in this series. I️ would highly recommend this book!!!
September 13, 2024
Well written with a lot of detail. Nice, easy read filled with twists and turns.. Enjoyable.
July 3, 2023
This book is an interesting mix of a ghost story, a bit of mystery, and a love story. I enjoyed it and it made me want to visit New England, for sure!
January 24, 2014
Received digital ARC from Edelweiss.
July 28, 2021
Family mystery
I so enjoyed getting to know all the characters and their small town of Jewell cove . The house holds a mystery from the past that is sad and tragic but also romantic for its readers . Donna Alward knows just how to bring her character's to life and pulling her readers into the story . Brilliant read.
I so enjoyed getting to know all the characters and their small town of Jewell cove . The house holds a mystery from the past that is sad and tragic but also romantic for its readers . Donna Alward knows just how to bring her character's to life and pulling her readers into the story . Brilliant read.
June 3, 2021
What a delightful story. Well written and interesting with multi faceted characters. This is a story of community and loving family and friends. Refreshing!
February 26, 2023
I greatly enjoyed this first book in the Jewell Cove series. I had read a couple of the books out of order not realizing it was a complete series. How fun to read more about the mansion on Blackberry Hill and the Foster family as well as getting better acquainted with the Arseneault and the Collins families. I highly recommend this series!
February 25, 2023
very nice…satisfying!
This was a nice story and a good read. Well-developed and long enough to be really satisfying. It takes it’s time to get to the conclusion without rushing or the more obvious plot devices that make me dislike a lot of shorter stories. After this I will definitely look for more of Ms. Alward’s books!
This was a nice story and a good read. Well-developed and long enough to be really satisfying. It takes it’s time to get to the conclusion without rushing or the more obvious plot devices that make me dislike a lot of shorter stories. After this I will definitely look for more of Ms. Alward’s books!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews