A man of few words, Ranger Jay Daniels values the calm, quiet solitude of the Great Smoky Mountains. Never quite fitting in with either side of his family, he prefers the company of birds and trees to people.Yeah, he’d most definitely prefer a bird—any bird, any bird at all, take a vulture for instance—to the human-tornado hybrid that just blew onto his peaceful stretch of the Appalachian Trail.… Appalachian Trail.
The path of true love never has run smooth for Olive Perry. After getting dumped and promptly abandoned in the middle of her multi-month hike, Olive swears off men. Determined to finish the long trek by herself, she doesn’t need a prince—or broody and taciturn ranger—to save her.
Yet, when an early snowstorm threatens the mountains, and Ranger Daniels is charged with getting hikers to safety, that includes hot-tempered Olive Perry. Snowed in and forced to share an abandoned cabin, can Olive’s heated intensity melt Jay’s cool reserve?
And if so, will this happy trail lead to true love? Or will their time together be just another bump in the road?
‘Happy Trail’ is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Park Ranger series.
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It was okay
This is the perfect forced proximity, small town romantic comedy you’ve been searching for.
I really enjoyed this story. Stretch your imagination, please, for what happens after the diamond. It is an interesting personal growth story for awhile. Then snowstorm and Park Ranger savior. Again, its a story, so let go of a little reality and enjoy.
Ah, the twist when he discovers her real identity … and then her family crisis having her rush off. I didn’t understand the time delay … but loved the next part. Ending was not necessary and stretched out the story, but it was heartwarming.
This well written book is a modern romance that is heartwarming. It takes place on the Appalachian Trail. The reader gets a good description of what walking the trail is like. Recommend this book highly.
A great start to a new stand-alone series by this fabulously talented author. This light, sexy, sweet, funny, and completely heartfelt story is amazing! If you’re looking for a FEEL GOOD romance, grab this! You’ll love it.
Characters = 4/5
Plot = 3/5
Romance = 3/5
Mystery = 1/5
Action = 2/5
Darkness = 0/5
Humor = 2/5
Stars = 3
Would I read future books by this author = Yes
The book was okay. As someone who is an avid hiker and currently working on hiking all trails in the Great Smoky Mountains and becoming a member of the 900 miler club I was super excited about this one. This area is my second home for sure.
I loved the idea of a hiker/ranger romance. For the most part the plot was great. Both the characters were likeble. Olive was quirky which was fun. Jay was serious and protective. They were definitely cute together.
My only takeaway was I feel there was not enough research done on the GSMNP. I guess if I didn’t know details it wouldn’t bother me but it did. I had to put my kindle down several times because it irritated me. Some things were way off. I know it’s a fiction book and I’m probably over thinking everything.
Here is some of the things that bothered me:
1. Cades Cove has zero cell phone service.
2. Hiking from Cades Cove to the AT will have alot more hikers especially in October. One of the busiest times of the year.
3. No need for bear canisters in the GSMNP. All campsites and shelters have bear cables.
4. The AT in the park is overly packed with SOBO hikers in October. Been there done that…shelters and trails are packed.
5. “…they took a trail to Cades Cove while I detoured to Clingmans Dome. ” WRONG! The closest trail to access Cades Cove from Clingmans Dome is further down the AT. You’d have to hike from Clingmans to the Spence Field Shelter which is about 15.7 miles then it’s another 5.2 miles down the mountain to get to Cades Cove Picnic area.
6. No major creek crossings on the AT in the Smokies only on the side trails.
7. No moonshiner cabin off AT. (All old cabins saved in the Smokies were moved to lower locations closer to where anyone can see them. But this makes a good storyline so we can think one is still there in the middle of nowhere.)
8. Backcountry does not close in the winter. It actually rarely closes. Only times I’ve seen the backcountry close in the past 10 years was from the 2016 forest fires and the current Coronavirus pandemic.
9. Coming off the AT towards Cades Cove is all national park land. No private land that would have a field with a donkey. However, there are horses at the Cades Cove stables.
10. No showers or laundry rooms in the campgrounds in the national park for visitors. You have to visit a private campground outside the park and pay for a shower/laundromat.
11. Closest town to Cades Cove is Townsend which is about 10 miles away. Green Valley is actually around 30 miles away.
4.5
I love a good happy HEA. This was so nice and mostly smooth. I highly recommend. Love a nice burly Blue Jay too!
I really enjoyed this story – it was just what I was looking for – light romance that was very low on angst. Some humourous dialogue and situations, with lovely romantic happy ending and epilogue. Loved it!
As soon as I found out this book existed, I knew I had to buy it. I knew I would love it, and not just because the guy on the cover has a beard. (That’s actually how I got started in the world of Penny Reid: the cover of Truth or Beard. And apparently that still does it for me!)
However, I did not know I would love this book as much as I did. What a wonderful story! I did not read the blurb, so I didn’t know what I was getting into. I knew it took place in Green Valley, which I’ve grown to love, and I knew Daisy Prescott would take me on a fabulous journey, and that was enough for me.
I loved Olive, aka Snowbird, As soon as I found out this book existed, I knew I had to buy it. I knew I would love it, and not just because the guy on the cover has a beard. (That’s actually how I got started in the world of Penny Reid: the cover of Truth or Beard. And apparently that still does it for me!)
However, I did not know I would love this book as much as I did. What a wonderful story! I did not read the blurb, so I didn’t know what I was getting into. I knew it took place in Green Valley, which I’ve grown to love, and I knew Daisy Prescott would take me of a fabulous journey, and that was enough for me.
I loved Olive, aka Snowbird, who has such a colorful history, and I LOVED grumpy Jay, who had such a tender heart. I loved that there was no manufactured conflict, which unfortunately is so common. It made so much sense, how they had to separate, and the way they came back together. Jay’s family played such a big part in a very positive way; I wish we’d been given the opportunity to see Olive’s family as a positive and not the negative they’d been for most of her life.
The mention of the characters we know and love from the Green Valley were done in such a natural way. I’ve read other Smartypants Romance books where the insertion of beloved characters seemed forced, and served to take me out of the story. When they popped up in HT, it was as if they were right where they belonged, and it was perfect.
I am so excited that there is a second Daisy Prescott Ranger book headed our way soon, and I will most definitely buy and read it, and anticipate that I will love it as much as I did Happy Trail.
I’m also planning a trip to the Smokies because of this wonderful book!
Happy Trail (Park Ranger Book 1) by Daisy Prescott is a slow burn, contemporary romantic comedy told in first person, dual POV.
When Olive decided to hike the Appalachian Trail with her social media influencer boyfriend, she never imagined that he’d abandon her mid-hike, but she’s determined to finish what she started. An impending winter storm brings Olive face to face with Park ranger, Jay, who is tasked with making sure all the hikers are safe from the oncoming weather. When the storm hits, they are forced to seek shelter together in an abandoned moonshiner’s cabin. What will happen in these close quarters? Read the book to find out.
I really enjoyed Olive and Jay’s story and liked them both as characters. This is much slower moving than most romances I’ve read as it follows Olive along her hike for several months. The romance between Jay and Olive seemed fast considering they had only spent a few days together before they were apart again for months. It’s a little hard to believe that their connection would be strong enough to survive the time apart. Even so, it was an enjoyable read overall. A sweet, humorous, slow-burn romance. I’ll definitely read more from this author in the future.
I came to this book and author through Penny Reid and Smartypants Romance. I found the setting, main characters and story a delight. This story was well written and kept my interest to the end.
Daisy Prescott has done it again with an amazing story of finding yourself, love and happiness especially at a time when you least expect it or even knew you needed it. Take a journey with Olive a quirky, fun socialite who grew up being told who she should be versus how she is. As she embarks on a hike of the Appalachian Trail, she discovers more than how challenging walking over 2,000 miles can be but a journey for her own path detached from society and the day to day stress of social media and social conventions. At least until she meets Ranger Jay Daniels who has found his own happiness in his dream job with an incredible back drop of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Growing up in families completely different from one another, Olive and Jay face their pasts to welcome their future on a sweet and fun adventure that is sure to have you watching it unfold giggling but never without a smile on your face. This is one story that is just a feel good make you want to cozy up and keep reading.
Daisy takes you through such a descriptive tale that I felt as if I was in the Smoky Mountains myself walking the trails throughout all of the Appalachian Trail and even found myself researching future trips and wondering why this has not been on my radar before. I cannot wait for further adventures Daisy takes us on in the Park Ranger series…
My first book ever by Daisy Prescott and I love her writing.
This was a very beautiful story it has love, understanding, faith, empathy, a little angst and characters that will make you feel all the feels of the world.
Olive is a beautiful heroine, that is very misunderstood, people think because she comes from money, that she is ungrateful or that she has everything she ever wanted. She is escaping from all these misconceptions and life, but at the same time, she is trying to prove herself. She thought she was in love with someone who was just obsessed with his image and status but a series of things made Olive finally understand that she doesn’t want to continue this farce, that she wants more in her life than this and soon she will finally get what she needs.
“Society’s expectations for girls are toxic. Women, too. We’re expected to look a certain way so we fit neatly into our boxes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had men question me doing this hike. Some doubted my daily miles. Some openly asked what made me think I was capable of finishing.”
Jay is a quiet and very misunderstood Hero, but at the same time, he is strong and knows exactly what he wants. I love the way he shows us how amazing he is. he spends most of the time at the mountains guiding and helping other people to find their way.. he is an introvert life has made him somehow this way, he prefers his own company than being surrounded by the whole town.
“People see the world through their own biases. We can’t control how others perceive us, yet we are unable to stop those opinions from shaping our identity.”
Happy Trial is a story of acceptance, two souls who have been very misunderstood and judged by society, now Jay and Olive are finally understanding that no matter what other people think and feel the only thing that matters is their truth, their love.
What I love about Happy Trail is how the two stories connect, How Jay shows his vulnerability and what he has been carrying for such a long time, and Olive is the same, tired of people judging her and assuming things just by reading lies she finally feels at peace with someone who understands her and knows how it feels to be judged.
“Love is the most powerful force of change. I never imagined falling in love would bring me full circle to who I’m meant to be. There is no struggle to embrace the different sides of me. I am myself at last.”
This was one of those books that will make you think and feel so much, that will show you that we don’t have to look a certain way to act or behave in a certain way to be accepted.. we are who we’re and Olive and Jay show us this in Happy Trail.
“Life isn’t about the destination. We all end up at the same place. Love is what gives our journey meaning. How we travel this winding trail of life and who walks beside us makes all the difference.”
I needed this book. I didn’t know how badly I needed this book until I started listening and couldn’t stop. I listened at work, I listened at home, I listened instead of doing other things. In a world of manwhores, be a Ranger Jay. I loved this book.
Olive was so lost. Searching for herself on the AT, dumped by her boyfriend, she realizes she doesn’t have to do what she is expected to, and sets out to finish her hike of the AT alone. This book screamed personal growth and it also screamed LOVE! Falling in love with someone for who they are, not who their family is and not who you think they are. I loved this slow burn romance and how devoted they were to eachother even if it was such a short time. Olive needed to find herself before she could become all that Jay needed and I think they both knew that. He just had to wait for his snowbird to return. Such a great book and I can’t wait to read more by Daisy. This was my first by her!
Happy Trail by Daisy Prescott is the fifth book in the Smartypants Romance series – a set of interconnected standalones set in the Penny Reid multiverse of awesome romance – and is the first book in the Park Ranger series.
The story of Ranger Jay Daniels and Olive Perry was a fun, romantic, quirky easy-read that I was completely enamored with. The awesomeness of Olive continuing her hike, the hilarity of some of her inner (and outer) monologue, and the slow build of her bond with Jay. And then there was Jay – Holy hot bearded swoony gentle giant beasty man! Yumm! There was not one thing I didn’t absolutely love about this story. The hiking information was something I never knew so BONUS educational value **wink**. The ranger’s perspective of Green Valley was intriguing. And of then there was Cletus! Loved it! Enjoy!
An Appalachian Trail adventure story about Olive and Jay. The hiker extraordinaire and the park ranger who is sent to find her. The journey of these two was an emotional roller coaster. The descriptions in this story were amazing, so amazing that it was like you were there seeing everything through their eyes. This was a slow burn romance that made the journey to the end worthwhile. Fantastic book!!!
Happy Trails. Happy Me. Jay Daniels is a ranger on the AT. Olive is hike the trail, at first with her boyfriend and then on her own, because her ex-boyfriend was a tool.
When the weather takes a turn for the “get to shelter” conditions, Jay has to go find hikers. Snowbird, aka Olive, is the final hiker. They don’t make it back to camp but their adventures are a wonderful adventure story. They both have secrets. They are both defensive. They get close and then poof, Olive disappears in an SUV when then hit base camp.
Many months later, does this count for second chance romance, Olive finished the hike she started the year before. 100 miles walking towards Jay. 100 miles to reach her goal. 100 miles to search for the last bird in the book. Many miles to a happy ever after and worth every step.
Although I was really excited about reading this book because it was based in The Great Smokey Mountains. And talked about Cades Cove alot because that’s where Ranger Jay worked. And I’m orginally from that area so I was stoked!!! But it took me a minute to get into it. It was a little hard to follow at times but once I got into a little bit it all clicked. Ranger Jay was kinda standoffish and a real introvert. Olive was from the city and and the complete opposite of Jay in every way. But her and her boyfriend decided to hike the Appalachian Trail and when things went wrong she ended up with Jay. And from that point it was hysterical!!!! I liked the point she was trying to make in this book. And I loved the characters and of course I loved the place!!! It turned out to be a very good book and I would recommend it.
By Tina
Happy Trail is my first Daisy Prescott book, and it’s the first in a new series of books in the Smartypants Romance label. It brings us back to the Green Valley setting of Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers Books.
Happy Trail follows Olive Perry as she starts hiking the Appalachian Trail with her boyfriend, and winds up hiking it solo somewhere along the way. Olive is a society child, frequently engaged but never married, and she winds up using this hike as a way to find herself. She certainly doesn’t expect to find true love out in the wilderness.
Jay Daniels stumbles upon Olive as he’s doing a safety check ahead of a storm, and the two of them wind up stranded in the woods for a couple of days. Their banter is witty and humorous, and their fascination with each other is immediate.
This was such a fun book. A well-written, enjoyable journey for both characters and the reader.
Thank you Social Butterfly for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Happy Trail
Park Rangers #1
By: Daisy Prescott
*REVIEW*
I was drawn to Happy Trail because I’ve hiked the Appalachian Trail, and this story has the trail as a setting. Olive has been engaged so many times that I tend to think she is just problematic. Going on the hike for her current boyfriend to gain Instagram followers is plain old stupid. Then, Olive declines his marriage proposal, finally, a smart decision, on the trail(to the detriment of his Instagram certainly), and he leaves her there. Seriously? Olive is saved by an impending storm because it puts her in the way of Ranger Jay. Thank goodness he’s smart, and they take refuge in an old moonshiner’s cabin. Although they spend a short amount of time together, both Olive and Jay are forever changed. They truly see each other for what they are, they value each other, and the sparks between them are nice, too. This is a story about finding yourself, even if you are lost in the woods, trusting your instincts and believing in love. It’s a lovely sweet story with drama and romance well balanced. I disliked Olive for at least half the book, but she was better in the latter half. Jay was strong, intelligent and likeable. He has his own issues to deal with separate from meeting Olive, but in meeting her, she can help him-maybe-no spoilers. I liked the story overall, and I recommend for sweet easy to read romance fans.