No last names. No life stories. Those were the rules.Once upon a time a cocky, copper-haired tourist sauntered into Zara’s bar. And even though she knew better, Zara indulged in a cure for the small-town blues. It was supposed to be an uncomplicated fling—a few sizzling weeks before he went back to his life, and she moved on. Until an accidental pregnancy changed her life. Two years later, she’s … her life.
Two years later, she’s made peace with the notion that Dave From Brooklyn will never be found. Until one summer day when he walks into her coffee shop, leveling her with the same hot smile that always renders her defenseless.
Hockey star Dave Beringer has never forgotten the intense month he spent with prickly Zara. Their nights together were the first true intimacy he’d ever experienced. But the discovery of his child is the shock of a lifetime, and his ugly past puts relationships and family out of reach.
Or does it? Vermont’s countryside has a way of nurturing even tortured souls. The fields and the orchards—and hard won love—are Bountiful.
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Amazing
Every book in this series is better than the last. I keep thinking I’ve chosen a favorite, then boom the next book takes the spot. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series and go back and read The Brooklyn Bruisers!!
This was a sweet romance and I devoured it in one sitting. It was light-hearted and emotional, and you’re guaranteed a smile by the end of it.
I adored these characters! Zara and Dave were both snarky in their own way. Zara was a little rough around the edges, but I loved reading her POV. I loved how much growth she went through throughout the story, and how being a mother changed her. Dave was absolutely adorable! I loved seeing him adapt to being a father, and every scene with Nicole tugged at my heartstrings.
My one complaint is that I wish we had seen more of an emotional connection between Zara and Dave. They started out their relationship as two people who were just sleeping together and then fast-forward two years I feel like they never really evolved past that stage. I mean, we were told that they were working on their relationship and were trying to open up to each other, specifically Zara, but those moments were few and far in between.
So I really enjoyed these characters individually, I wish their relationship had been a bit more developed, but overall this was a really good book. It’s also one of my favorites of the series. We saw a lot of the side characters here, so hopefully we’ll get more books from them in the future (and hopefully with a glimpse of Zara and Dave)!
This was such a cute love story. The romance was quite unexpected, I love that Dave was such a nice guy. I was waiting for him to be a jerk but he turned out to be a sweetheart. Both MCs had their baggage but no unnecessary drama or lack of communication. A fun and sexy read.
ღ So I found myself new Author to Lve. This my 1st book by Sarina Bowen & trust me will not be my last one
Bountiful is a standalone, & good thing to cuz I didn’t read any of the other books in this series
Zara Rossi. & Dave Beringer had very steamy start. They have a few weeks of a steamy, no strings, summer fling . And I say no strings I meant, Cuz they really didn’t share much personal info.
So you can only imagine when Zara realized that Dave not only left his father’s watch behind on that last steamy day but also Lil present also
Zara & Dave come from different places & two different backgrounds, & both are carrying their own emotional scars.
What I find funny at times is how both have a different approach to romantic relationships.
Zara share some of her shady pass with Dave. I think that’s about only thing she share with him about herself. Well Dave was just as bad he never shared the fact that he is hockey player for The Brooklyn Bruisers
So two years later, Dave comes back to Vermont to vacation with some of his team mates. He is in for the shock of his life. When he finally runs into Zara again ….
I enjoyed so much taking this journey with Zara & Dave …Their up & down & how they learn about each other .. It was fun them grow together
I hope you do too
Hope you enjoy this read & also always keep in mind this is just my opinion
———– Happy Reading ———–
Paulette Review
True North My favorite serie
This was a good read. Zara & Dave both had good character arcs. They had good chemistry together, and their “backwards” love story was perfect for them. Their story had just the right amount of fun, chemistry, struggle, and understanding.
All the secondary characters were described enough to make it easy to keep track (and got me curious to know them better.)
I have read and love this entire series. I can’t wait to read more Sarina!
Listened to the audiobook. Excellent story, wonderful performance, loved the crossover between the Brooklyn and Vermont series.
I’ve really enjoyed this book.
Zara is so freaking awesome and I’m so glad to have finally get to read her story.
Sarina Bowen’s writing is so effortless and catching I can’t think anything else while I read her novels.
J’avais envie de découvrir l’histoire de Zara depuis le premier tome car au fil de la saga , nous avions quelques informations la concernant mais nous ne savions pas toute son histoire. Ce tome débute au moment du tome 1 dans la scène où Zara découvre que Griffin est amoureux d’Audrey. Nous retrouvons ensuite la collaboration qui va s’en suivre avec les deux jeunes femmes et le café qu’elles vont gérer ensemble.
Zara Rossi est une jeune femme dont nous allons découvrir le passé et le passif. Elle travaille et vit au dessus du bar de son oncle Otto, un râleur de première classe comme nous le découvrirons plus tard. Elle ne semble pas avoir d’avenir et sa récente rupture avec Griffin Shipley est un nouveau coup à son moral. Aussi quand elle découvre un charmant roux à son bar qui passe régulièrement la voir et la défend contre des clients perturbants , elle se laisse aller à une nuit de lâcher prise. Mais cette nuit ne sera pas unique et se transformera vite en un été de très bons moments au lit ou ailleurs. Zara ne veut absolument pas s’attacher et c’est pour cela qu’elle met inévitablement une distance entre elle et les autres. Dans cette première partie , on sent que c’est une jeune femme entourée par sa famille ( elle a 4 frères) mais qui ressent une pression car elle a l’impression de leur devoir pas mal de choses .
Ce roman est divisé en deux parties et quand on revoit Zara deux ans plus tard, c’est une femme changée que nous retrouvons étant donné qu’elle est devenue la maman de l’adorable Nicole. Ce petit bout de chou est un rayon de soleil et elle illumine les scènes par sa présence. Sa famille lui met une fois de plus la pression car cette dernière a toujours refusé de dévoiler l’identité du père de la petite. Alec est le frère de Zara et nous apprendrons à plus le connaître dans un prochain tome mais le moins que l’on puisse dire c’est qu’il est ultra protecteur de sa nièce et quand le passé va resurgir, il pourrait mal le prendre. Benito est le frère jumeau de Zara et j’ai adoré ce personnage qui est beaucoup plus posé que les autres membres de la famille Rossi. Il saura être à l’écoute sans plonger dans le jugement et c’est une bouffée d’oxygène pour notre héroïne qui saura se confier à lui. De plus quand Dave refera son apparition dans le Vermont, il saura apaiser les tensions qui pourraient surgir. Pourra t-elle laisser une place à Dave dans la vie de Nicole? Saura t-elle mener de front sa vie professionnelle et les aléas de sa vie privée?
Dave Beringer est une des stars des Brooklyn Bruisers. Etant donné son passé familial, il ne veut surtout pas d’attaches et il va prendre cet été comme une belle parenthèse dorée sans se soucier des conséquences qui auraient pu en découler. Cette intimité avec Zara est une première pour lui et deux ans plus tard, il ne l’a pas oubliée mais se refuse toujours à entamer une relation durable avec la jeune femme. Sa carrière est à un point tournant et avec l’aide de sa soeur Bess, il devra prendre la bonne décision. Mais un nouveau rebondissement va faire voler en éclat sa vie de célibataire endurci. J’ai adoré le personnage de Bess qui assume le rôle de manager sur la glace mais aussi dans sa vie. Un peu comme Benito , elle saura apaiser les tensions et aider son frère à prendre la bonne voie. On sent aussi qu’il est bien entouré car ses co équipiers ont la tête sur les épaules et sauront eux aussi l’aiguiller.
L’alchimie est toujours présente entre nos deux héros et la tension continue de monter en puissance. Dave semble être un peu immature mais je pense que c’est essentiellement une façon de ne pas s’investir émotionnellement parlant. Il a souffert pendant son enfance et les traces sont encore très présentes. Il n’a pas eu une image très positive de la figure du père et donc il ne se voit pas du tout dans cette position. Pourtant , comme nous le verrons , il apprendra petit à petit à s’occuper de Nicole et leur moment à deux sera des plus attendrissant. J’ai aimé voir l’évolution de ce personnage et son investissement dans la vie des deux femmes qui comptent dans sa vie. Saura t-il prendre la bonne décision concernant sa carrière? Pourra t-il devenir ce père dont Nicole a vraiment besoin?
Bref, un nouveau tome très prenant de la saga True North. Sarina Bowen nous permet de partir à la découverte de nouveaux personnages tout en approfondissant l’histoire des précédents personnages. La vie au Vermont nous réserve encore de belles surprises et à présent , j’ai envie d’en savoir plus sur l’histoire de May ou encore d’Alec.
4.5
I was super excited to get into the next True North novel especially when it cross over with my other favourite Sarina Bowen series the Brooklyn Brusiers I loved each of these series as they are so different so when one of the Brooklyn Bruisers falls for a small time country girl from Vermont.
So not only did we get all the Vermont characters and see where thier all at especially when we finally get to read about Griff and Audrey’s wedding and we get to see how everyone else is moving with there life.
I loved Zara and I have loved her in the other books and it was interesting to see what had happened in her past to see the reason why she treated Dave the way she did. I really loved they way she took on mother hood and changed her life for her and her daughter.
Dave was also a great character who was written perfectly, he was a single guy who lived for each day and playing Hockey meant he didn’t have the most stable of careers, but he always new that he didn’t want a family, he didn’t want to get marry and he believed that because he had deadbeat parents that he was not cut out for fatherhood.
The best thing about this book was watching each character grow and become the people they wanted and needed to be and I just loved reading there story. Also we got a few of the Brooklyn boys in there which I loved especially Castro he is the bomb
Sarina Bowen really brings out the best in her writing in this book loved everything about it, if your looking for something loving, beautiful story, mixed with Hockey and country towns then this is your book.
A huge 5 Stars for this boom and this series so far
5 everything but the kitchen sink stars
Man, each book, I think this is it, this is my fav. Seriously, this one may be to some degree but all of them have something unique…
FINALLY, we get Zara’s book (PS: I am acting like I did not just start this series 4 days ago…ha) I will have to wait for book 6 like the rest of the fans but… still
Zara, I fell in love with this chic in book 1, seriously a broken bad ass. I love how she is broken and put back together on her on.
1st, I think her uncle otto is a flipping ass. I cannot stand him and look forward to the day he gets his own. side note…
OK, Zara has a summer fling in book 1 which timeline wise is 2 years prior to this book start (we are not privy to the details until this book). She got a permanent going away gift with this fling and no way to get in contact with the guy, Dave. One of her rules 2 years ago was no personal details. She and Dave had fun and really enjoyed themselves and if he lived there, in town, who knows where it would go.
Zara, Griff’s ex friend with benefits, twin Sister to Benito and has 2 other brothers, a ma and 2 uncles. She runs her uncle’s bar very effectively… She meets Dave in his bar 2 years prior to book, book starts in a couple chapters of a flashback.
Dave, Dave, Dave, he has often thought of Zara and speaks of her to his sister when he is drinking… He is a professional hockey player (PS: Before you wonder how she could not have known, there are no TV’s in her bar, so she does not keep up with lots of sports specific info like players etc). He loved being Dave with her and not some NHL player. So, he and a bunch of his teammates, decide to go back there for this year’s summer vacation prior to getting back to training camp. He stops by her bar but she does not work their anymore.
So, they end up swinging in a coffee shop next to a different bar. He stays on the phone with his sister and his buddy (who I hope gets his own story one day, hint hint) comes back out and tells him to go in. He is irritated but finally caves.
Lo and behold, who is standing behind the counter, ZARA!!! She turns pale and he is charming…. She gets his business card and escapes. He is confused but hoping she will call, steps back outside and around shop to go to the river and sees her sitting on a park bench staring at his card…
He approaches her, they have a talk, she pulls out a phone and shows him a picture of his daughter… who is 15 months old now. She tries to explain that she looked for him but did not have his name spelled correctly and nothing to go on. He makes some comments about paternity, lawyers or something, clearly he is in shock, not being an asshole but just in shock. He and his sister Bess had a horrible childhood and he believed he would make a horrible father and never intended to have a serious relationship or kids… So, Zara storms off after telling him literally only 1 other person knows who the father of her child is because she felt like he needed to know 1st… WOW and later that night some of his friends and he go to The Gin bar and one of his friends makes reference to him knocking up a local, the bartender comes to attention (Love me some alec)… A little chaos pops off and enter Ben to deescalate.
Ok, enough me, no serious spoilers. That is literally the 1st 3 chapters once the book is current, there is soooo much more.
What I loved about this book,
-it was not instant lighting bolt, that is my kid reactions from him when he meets her.
-Zara is still a badass and loves her daughter so much.
-Dave is a stand up guy who it is very easy to love
-Nicole, their daughter is awesome and very realistic, how a 15 month old would act.
-Dave plans to and sets things in place to always take care of the 2 of them
They are still completely enthralled with each other but Zara is skittish (shocking)
I love the progression of this story that takes place over 8 weeks once he finds out about the baby.
I love his dominant side and I love her need for that side of him.
I simply adored this book, so much.
When that baby said DaDa… #waterworks
Seriously, jump in this series book 1, now….
Sarina Bowen
A great series to read. The characters are so well developed, they will suck you right in!
First of all, I admit that my memory fails me. Often. So when I read the blurb to Bountiful, I did not make the connection that my two favorite series were about to collide. While saying that, I think I liked it and missed some things at the same time.
Let me just start with Zara and Dave. I’ve always like Zara in the True North Series. We learn in earlier books that she is hurt from her past relationship with Ship but she eventually gets over it and becomes best friend’s with Audrey, his true love. The timeline in Bountiful gives us a bit of a glance back when Zara was in that vulnerable position and she meets Dave.
From the start, I enjoyed Zara. She’s feisty and has such a guarded wall up that I just connected to her. I respected her decision and understood her emotions. I just wanted her happy and loved.
While I liked Dave, he was the one that I had a bit of disconnect to. And honestly, I can’t explain why. In theory he’s lovable and trust worthy. Maybe I felt that from the start there were emotions towards Zara that he could have acted on and didn’t. That if the feelings were there, there could have been a chance. However, I get why it was set up this way but for some reason I just couldn’t fully connect to him. Yet, I did melt at some of the father/daughter moments.
When I first realized that the True North Series and the Brooklyn Bruisers series was colliding, I was super excited. And while that excitement did remain, I felt like I wanted more of the team from Vermont. I was looking forward to revisiting my favorite Virginians but I felt like I didn’t get enough of them.
Please, do not misunderstand. I enjoyed Bountiful. If you are looking for a secret baby and sports combo with a bit of an alpha in the bed and a feisty woman, then this is the book for you.
I always get a little nervous when I’m anticipating a story the way I have been Zara’s. Will it live up to my own hype? Will the sleepy town of Tuxbury, Vermont lose its luster after Zach’s story? Will Zara be a likable character, and not as ornery as she has been?
Yes! Yes! And a HUGE YES!
I could not have picked a more perfect story for Zara. This was the way her life needed to go. I’ve never really followed the theory that everything happens for a reason, but Zara needed her life to take the path it did so that she could find her way down the right one.
Dave was unexpected, but everything I wanted in the man who would tie himself to Zara to be. He was understanding and patient with Zara’s reluctance to commit to more than one night. Plus, he was fantastically bossy in the bedroom. Every time Dave commanded Zara to do something, the temperature in my house kicked up a few degrees. This book was H.O.T!
I LOVED the Brooklyn Bruisers tie-in. We get to see a brief glimpse of some of our favorite hockey stars, as well as all of our friends in Vermont. There are endless possibilities to be had in this series, and I hope we see some of them come to life. As always, Bowen’s writing is refreshing and engaging. I couldn’t walk away from this book once it began. It was one of those stories you want to hurry and up and finish so you know the outcome, but at the same time, you want to read it slowly so you can savor every moment.
A new story by Sarina Bowen is the gift that you give yourself when you deserve to be pampered because the feeling that you get is that of comfort, warm and loving, wrapped in a soft quilt before a roaring fire with your feet up and your favorite drink.
The True North stories bring characters who have become friends and a country setting complete with apple orchards and starry nights. The author weaves the story around you using phrasing and timing, so beautifully visual. “His strong arms held me like a scaffold, not a cage” engenders a feeling of comfort and support rather than control. My favorite fuzzy phrase was when Dave told Zara “Turning you into a needy girl is my favorite thing in the world”. I especially enjoyed the breadcrumbs about Kieran leaving clues to a future story, perhaps?
You cannot go wrong with Author Sarina Bowen!
Bountiful was just the book I needed for this week, a low drama read with plenty of emotions to pull on your heart. And lately, I’ve been seeking out books with the surprise pregnancy factor, I always love seeing the story unfolds when it revolves a little bit around a baby. And I’m probably saying that since I’m currently 37 weeks pregnant.
I’ve been such a fan of this series, yes it can be read as a standalone, but trust me, read the rest of the books! I’ve loved each book so far. And Bountiful has easily been thrown into my re-read category. Most of the time, after I finish a book I really love, I go back and re-read my favorite parts because I love re-enjoying those moments.
Zara runs the bar owned by her uncle, going day by day, serving drinks and fending off the constant flow of men’s advances. Until one day, a sexy someone walks in and makes it known that he wants her. Zara (at the time) was still dealing with a bit of heartbreak of her own, the last thing she wants is to get into something serious, but the chemistry between these two is undeniable. As persistent as he is, he slowly breaks down the walls Zara has built and quickly turns into an explosive night. What was originally supposed to be just one night turns into a much longer affair riding out the remainder of the summer AND his vacation time. They both know there’s a deadline, but it doesn’t mean their feelings stop there. After his departure, Zara was left with a little piece of the man that rocked her summer; a precious baby.
Dave Beringer has already decided that he’ll be a bachelor for life, a professional hockey player going through casual hookups and moving onto the next. Heading to Vermont during the off-season for a little vacation, running into the beautiful local bartender that he can’t take his eyes off of. After that one night together, he wants more nights like that before he heads back to reality. After leaving at the end of his vacation, Zara never left his thoughts. And it’s not until two years later Dave is back in Vermont for some downtime and he runs straight into the woman from that memorable summer and learns much more during their little reunion.
I think Bountiful might be my favorite in the series. Zara is just an amazing and strong character, she wasn’t loud and boisterous, but her presence held a lot. SHE could say so much without verbally saying anything at all. Her inability to hide her feelings, I kind of love that because Dave was able to pick up on that instantly and he remembers every little detail about her. As much as I loved the many moments between her and Dave, I loved the moments of their little family. Nicole is absolutely adorable and you can’t help but fall in love her. She steals her dad’s heart in an instant and despite how quickly Dave had to wrap his mind around his new reality, he adapted so gracefully and became the father that he needed to be to his daughter. He took that role over with ease and everyone will just swoon over daddy and daughter time. It’ll just tug at your little heartstrings! This one is definitely a #RSFave for 2017 and I recommend it to everyone!