An emotional friends to lovers romance full of risky secrets and late-night lessons in seduction.
Dylan is my best friend, and the only person in my life who understands me. He doesn’t mind my social awkwardness or my weird history. The only glitch? He doesn’t know that I’ve been hopelessly, desperately in love with him since the first day we picked apples together in his family’s orchard.But I … family’s orchard.
But I know better than to confess.
Now that I’ve joined him at college, I’m seeing a new side of him. This Dylan drinks and has a lot of sex. None of it with me.
Until the moment I foolishly ask him to tutor me in more than algebra…and he actually says yes.
One crazy night sets our friendship on fire. But now my heart lies in ashes, and nothing will ever be the same again.
Heartland is a standalone college romance set in the True North world. Expect: a young, broody farmer, a giant crush, tasty caramels, cute goats and late night confessions.
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4.5 Stars!
“I’m in love with my business partner. I can’t tell him, because he doesn’t date, and he says he doesn’t believe in love. Except sometimes I think he does.”
True to his birth order, Dylan was the fun-loving, seemingly irresponsible Shipley offspring. He was a commitment-phobic college student, who didn’t make promises because he wasn’t sure he could keep them (as his past proved). He also worked hard to please everyone. He was a gentle soul. And I loved him!
Chastity was a survivor of the same polygamist cult that Leah, Isaac, and Zach escaped from. Now, in her early 20’s, experiencing things she’s never before enjoyed; parties, alcohol, Valentine’s Day parties, caddy girls and broken hearts. She’s trying to manage this new life of hers with the freedom to be and behave as she wishes while going after all her heart’s desire.
Since she moved in with Leah and Isaac, Dylan has taken on the role of big brother. He’s helped guide her and protect her. It isn’t that Dylan didn’t find Chastity attractive, it’s that he had a good friend in her and he didn’t date, and he knew she deserved more than a one-night-stand. When Chastity presents Dylan with an offer he can’t refuse, maintaining a platonic relationship with her becomes increasingly difficult.
“I always have fun with Chastity. She gets me. She doesn’t look at me and see broken fences and unmilked cows and a guy who’d rather mess around with his fiddle than make a five-year-plan. She isn’t always trying to change me into someone else.”
As always, the character development was stellar! I NEED Rickie’s book! There’s a story there, and I needs it!
If you’re looking for a heartwarming, laugh-out-loud swoon-inducing read, ‘Heartland’ needs to be your next read!
I was provided a review copy by the author; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
Finally we get to read Dylan Shipley‘s story to read! And as to be expected – he’s not as shallow – I-don’t-give-a-damn type of gal he maybe makes you think he is!! We get to know the real him, the boy, only Chastity really gets and vice versa.
Chastity, escaped from the same cult as the Shipley’s neighbor’s, is now at college with Dylan, and is trying to get her life sorted. Head over heels in love with Dylan, she must watch her college roommate being his latest girlfriend. Will there ever be a chance for her?
I love how Sarina brought Chastity to life, let her blossom. And how she made you love Dylan, and feel so heartbroken for him.
I also totally enjoyed the side characters and hope to read more of them in the future! (*hinthint* lol)
I kindly received an arc from the author and voluntarily left a review
5 stars!
Oh, what a story! A beautifully heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance that is sweet and sexy with lots of feels, this book absolutely owned my heart and I loved it so much!
This is the seventh book in the True North series, and is the story of Dylan Shipley. Dylan is the youngest son of the Shipley farming family that make up the heart of this series, and while I loved the opportunity to be back in this world, you could also read this as a standalone.
Dylan is now 20 years old and a college student, but is still travelling home on the weekends to help out on the family farm. He’s not sure what his future holds but he is living in the moment, staying commitment free, and has a reputation as a bit of a ladies man.
“I’m not the most reliable guy. But I am a good time. Sometimes it’s enough.”
Chastity was raised in a cult and ran away as a teenager and found her way to Vermont. Now 21, she lives with other ex-cult members, Isaac and Leah, next door to the Shipleys, and the two families are closely interwoven. Chastity is attending college and embracing her freedom, and she is learning a lot about life, but what she craves more than anything is to experience affection, love and intimacy with somebody… one person in particular, her best friend, Dylan.
“I have the same dirty mind as everyone else. And I just want what everyone else has.”
Dylan and Chastity are at College together, and Dylan helps Chastity out with tutoring, and the two of them even enter into a side business together. They laugh and joke, and Dylan is always there to protect and support his friend. But she wants more. She’s developed strong feelings for her best friend, and when she suggests he tutor her in all of the things she’s been desperate to explore, he is helpless to resist.
I really loved this relationship. Dylan and Chastity’s friendship is beautiful, and their shift to ‘friends with something more’ is natural and realistic. Their chemistry is insane, but there is confusion and doubt, which is understandable, but they work to overcome it and throw themselves into exploring their mad attraction, and it’s all kinds of sexy. They still joke and laugh, but there is an added dimension to their relationship now, and it’s so much fun watching them together.
“I’m very helpful until she’s finished with problem thirty-one.
“How’d I do?” she asks.
“Groovy. Once you’ve divided by Y, you didn’t have any more problems.”
She beams down at her paper.
“Also? You look really touchable in that sweater. Just saying.”
Dylan has never had any interest in a long-term relationship, and though they went into their arrangement knowing that it wouldn’t last forever, it’s just so good between them, and his changing feelings for Chastity knock him completely off his feet.
“I forget how to breathe for a second, because I just love her so hard.”
It’s beautiful! These characters are both amazing, and so well-written, and I loved watching the progression of everything between them. Chastity’s feelings are strong from the beginning, but she’s still figuring herself out, and Dylan has a whole lot of soul searching to do as he decides what he wants and where his future lay. It’s beautifully written with lots of emotion, and their journey is realistic as they work it all out.
“Loving Chastity isn’t a big decision I made. It just happened. And as for the rest of the big decisions coming my way, they aren’t as scary as they were a few hours ago.
So long as we’re together, I think I can handle all the other stuff.”
This is a fantastic addition to the True North series, and I loved catching up with some of the characters from previous books. The exploration of the relationship between Dylan and his big brother, Griff (hero of book #1), is an unexpected cornerstone of the story – I loved seeing it from Dylan’s POV and, again, I thought it was really beautifully written.
I loved this story so much! I laughed and swooned, and it was just the story that I wanted for these two.
5 stars!
Dylan and I got off to a bit of a rough start, y’all.
I went into this book expecting to fall all over myself in love with him because – well, he’s a Shipley. And history has shown that the Shipleys are the most amazing fictional family ever written (#truth). I have fallen head over heels for this family over and over again over the course of this series and so it stood to reason that Dylan would have no problem capturing my heart.
It turns out, it didn’t play out exactly like that.
Don’t get me wrong. He’s a Shipley at heart so all the goodness and sweetness that you might expect from him was there immediately. But…he was also kind of a cad – at least at first. I cringed. I covered my eyes (like literally, I had a physical reaction to some of the choices he made), and I felt every bit like the mom I am while reading his early antics. On top of that, my heart hurt a little bit for Chastity who – frankly – took all his behavior much better than I did, proving early on that she was the best kind of heroine.
Seriously, I was firmly in camp Chastity immediately. I loved every quirky, skittish, scarred thing about her. She carried all this strength about her in this sort of powerfully understated way – and my heart attached to hers from the get-go. I adored her and the way her feelings ran so deep, the way she so easily made friends with the most unlikely characters, and the way she was so steadfast, patient, and trusting of Dylan. Even when he didn’t really deserve it.
But then…as the story unfolded, slowly and craftily, it became evident that he always deserved it. Indeed, while it took me a while to warm up to Dylan, as his story unfolded and his character arc played out — he wrecked me. He was dead sexy and deliciously dirty. But more importantly he was kind-hearted and unfailingly loyal. He was also deeply wounded, and watching him come to terms with those wounds, and begin to heal them was a beautiful thing to witness. And in the end? I absolutely crazy adored his relationship with Chastity.
For me, the magic of this series always points back to the greater Shipley family. That held true in this book as well. It was compulsively readable, but my heart sparked alive when the whole family was together again. The banter, the camaraderie, the irreverent and exuberant love they have for each other? I will read these books for the rest of my life just to keep getting tastes of that. So, so good.
In all? Heartland was a sexy and emotional slow burn friends-to-lovers story. The chemistry between Chastity and Dylan sparked and sizzled and eventually caught flame into something incredibly rewarding and emotionally satisfying. This was another amazing addition to an already favorite series and I am already here for the next one! ~ 4.5 Stars
Oh Dylan!!
My, what a start to my True North adventure. While I didn’t know the Shipleys, I know the Paradise-escapees, and getting more from that angle was fabulous.
Dylan and Chastity are those cute best friends that pull pig tails and take care of one another.. aaaand one has no clue the other has butterflies in their tummy.
Buzzing around each other, they come closer and closer until they finally crash in the middle.. and the awkwardness has just begun.
I loved the youthful charme of Dylan, so realistically paired with goofiness and not always putting the rational thing first. Chastity was just pure joy.
Great story, and I need to read the rest now.
4.5 stars
Heartland was a very enjoyable read! Dylan and Chastity are great and easy to like characters. I felt bad for both of them at times when things weren’t going their way and learning more about what Chastity has been through. They’re such an adorable couple and perfect for each other, one of them just doesn’t see it right away. I loved seeing how they grew to be more than just friends and the sometimes awkward situations. I was not a fan of Griffin in this book. He was quite inconsiderate and rude and I didn’t care for it. He gets better and becomes less of his grumpy self luckily. Other than him and another female character that was very rude, I enjoyed the rest of the group and found then very entertaining. I’m very curious as to how Daphne’s book is going to go based on things that developed in Heartland. *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
If I see Sarina Bowen’s name I read it! She is definitely a one click author for me and this book was one of her best ones yet.
The True North are some of my favorite books by Sarina because they take place in New England, where I live. I love the accurate New England feel the books have plus the characters are incredibly believable and of course likable. This series is a great combination of sexy and endearing with a bit of drama tossed in and Heartland was no exception to this recipe.
Dylan was not a character I thought I needed a book from but wow was I glad to read his story and now I am a MASSIVE Dylan fan. He is way more complex than I thought and I love him so much. But the true hero of this book for me was Chastity I really felt for her and how she struggled to deal with her past and present difficulties.
If you enjoyed this book you should absolutely read the others in this series because this cast of characters and the world they live in are deeply engaging. My one word of warning is read this book in public with caution as it is delightfully steamy!
Incredible story of a broken hero and a fierce but vulnerable heroine. Dylan and Chastity were not at all what I expected, but were exactly what the book needed. Dylan’s playboy facade covers up years of pain, guilt, and insecurity, while Chastity’s sassy exterior masks both visible and invisible scars from her upbringing in a cult. Expect to want to give Dylan hugs and Chastity high fives while cheering on this unlikely but perfect couple!
Gah!! Babes!!!! Dylan Shipley is #EVERYDAMNTHING IN THIS WORLD AND THEN SOME!!! Sarina Bowen legit knocked it out of the park with Heartland as this story was full of butterfly inducing swoons, delicious heart and undeniable heat . Dylan and Chastity were absolutely delicious. Their banter, friendship and fiery chemistry!! I am convinced that Dylan Shipley and his DIRTY mouth were created to ruin me!!
There is nothing I love more than a NA college romance but add that to Bowen’s amazing recipe of addicting dialogue, banterific comraderie and a heartstopping connection that sweeps the rug out from right under you and this is PURE 5 STAR JACKPOT GOLD! Gah!! I loved Chastity. She was an adorable mix of innocent charm and unknowing temptress and when her and Dylan embark on some not so innocent lessons in seduction to broaden her sheltered horizons, lines are undoubtedly crossed and their friendship is never the same.
Overall, I loved this story! It was romantic and sexy with the heartwarming feels Bowen is known for. Dylan was as real as you can get. He had no idea what hit him when Chastity went for what she really wanted – Him. He was a wounded soul dealing with some painful memories and regrets, detaching himself from having serious emotions. But I loved the passionate chemistry and insane connection he shared with Chastity. They brought back all the same feelings I had when reading about Griff and Audrey. Now I can’t wait for Daphne’s book!! Bring on more Shipleys! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
4.5 Star Review of Heartland (True North #7) by Sarina Bowen
The seventh book and was a great addition to the True North series. Heartland is a friends to lovers romance and is Dylan and Chastity’s story.
Unbeknownst to Dylan, Chastity has been in love with him for years; to him she is a long time friend, until she isn’t. All it takes is one night to change the dynamics of their friendship.
Chastity has had a hard life, until she found the courage to escape the cult where she had been abused, both mentally as well as physically.
Now she and Dylan are away at college and all the shenanigans that entails. The very last thing he wants or needs is a relationship and yet suddenly he starts to see Chastity in a new light.
I don’t normally read NA books but Sarina Bowen’s writing style is one I enjoy. Heartland was emotional, funny, sweet and beautifully written with characters that are likeable and easy to relate to, even if they were frustrating at times.
LOVED LOVED LOVED!!
Yet another Shipley I’ve fallen for.
I could not get enough of the dirty-talkin’, fiddler-playin‘, goat-lovin’, hunky hot farmer boy who is Dylan Shipley.
He’s caring & kind, he’s hot AF, he loves sex, loves to talk about it…AND he has a heart of gold.
He is such a good friend to Chastity.
He cares for her. Watches out for her. Makes sure she eats. He knows all about the crazy life she ran away from. He gets her.
Friends, that’s all they are.
He’s also her algebra tutor…who happens to notice her cleavage a bit too often. …just friends.
Chastity is quite inexperienced, yet very eager to learn about… everything. Wanting to do…everything. And she’d love to do that everything with Dylan.
Their friendship is adorable.
Their chemistry is off the charts.
These two together are absolutely delightful. They get each other.
From cute goats to delicious caramels to Grumpy Griff, this story made me smile, swoon, and tingle. It would not leave my mind – I never wanted to put it down.
Awesome secondary characters I hope to see more of. Ellie was adorably awkward and sassy. Rickie was an enigma…intelligent, sweet, loyal, tattooed (waggles eyebrows), and a perfect gentleman…definitely has a story to be told.
So many feels from this story! My heart was squeezed, it was filled with love & happiness, and now it’s full. Gosh I love this series!
If you’ve read the other books in this series, you’ll want to read this one. Have you been curious about Dylan Shipley? I sure was. And now I’m completely happy & satisfied.
I’d stop the world and melt with him.
I loved this. So much!!
Dylan was soooo sweet. Hot. Kind.
And Chasity. Love her heart so!!
If you’re looking for a Friends to lovers that’s hot, sweet, interesting and with a fabulous plot this is get book for you.
Highly recommend
Sarina Bowen
Dylan has so much respect for Chastity that he finds her extremely attractive but keeps her at arms length. While Chastity is completely smitten with Dylan and can’t figure out how he can be more than just a great friend!
Until he finally realizes Chastity doesn’t want to be treated special. She wants to just be Chastity and the fun begins .
Young love! Finding what makes each other happy is easy with Dylan and Chastity the hard part is accepting the reality and going ALL in!
Heartland is the seventh book in the True North series. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly suggest reading the other books in the series first. This book will make much more sense with the background the other books provide. Overall, I found this book to be okay. I wasn’t a huge fan of how the friends-to-lovers scenario was treated. However, there were some great moments that I really did enjoy, and the romance was sweet once all the misunderstandings were sorted out.
This series has a good range of different tropes and each books main characters face a different dilemma to reach their HEA. With this edition, we have a college age romance, with a friends to lovers theme. Dylan Shipley is the second youngest, only by minutes to his twin Daphne, and is dividing his time between Uni and the farm. Chastity, who escaped from the same cult that Isaac, Leah and Zach did, is a freshman to Dylan’s junior year and is struggling. Not so much on the course subjects (well algebra is hard for everyone! It doesn’t count) but more on keeping her feelings for her best friend under wraps. She’d rather have Dylan’s friendship than ruin everything by declaring her love. Dylan himself is busy, and yeah part of that is in the bedroom with his awful girlfriend, but he doesn’t have a lot of spare time being a student and farmer, but when Chastity comes up with a clever idea to use his goats milk, they both jump straight in to making caramels – my favorite! Dylan has always thought Chastity was gorgeous, inside and out, but never went there because he doesn’t do relationships (Kaitlyn was an exception to the rule because of her skills) and he knows that Chastity is inexperienced and innocent. She proves to him that she even though she might not voice exactly what she wants, her body is guiding him to just how sensual she is.
As I said, it’s a college romance, so sometimes these kids do silly things, but their hearts are in the right place. I felt for Dylan’s anguish over his fathers death, which has stayed with him all these years. I also had sorrow for Chastity’s suffering at Paradise Ranch but admired her tenacity to create a better life for herself. Dylan was a typical college student, and a bit of a manwhore. He had a fair bit of personal growth throughout the book, dealing with his demons and understanding what a good relationship can be like. He’s a solid hard worker and I’m happy he and Griff came to an understanding. I hope we get to hear more of exactly what Dylan and Chastity do once college is finished, I know they’ll be the perfect partners in business and life. I’m also very intrigued with Rickie, and his backstory and how he ends up with Daphne – bring on Waylaid!
Heartland is the next installment in the True North series. One of my very favorites!!
Dylan is the fun-loving sibling, but there is more than meets the eye, deep down he is a kind and gentle soul. He feels things deep but keeps them locked up inside!! Chastity escaped from a religious cult where she grew up, she has lived with her cousin Leah and Isaac (they had also escaped years before). She has enrolled in college for her first year and she is so scared and nervous. And she has the biggest crush on Dylan and has seen she arrived!! Since Dylan goes to the same college, he is helping Chastity with her classes so she doesn’t get behind, so they quite a bit of time together.
Dylan’s family farm has large quantities of goat milk, Chastity comes up with a way to use it up and make some money, and asks Dylan to help. So begins a small side job of making caramels and selling them in country stores for the holidays. The more time they spend together the more that feeling surface. Dylan and Chastity’s story was incredible, they seemed to bring out the best in each other.
I love this family, hurt feeling never go very far because there is just so much love!! Can’t wait for the next one, Daphne and Rickie, and I am sure that we will get lots of time with the entire family!!
This was such a fun read. I’ll get to the main characters, but first I need to give some love to Ricky and Ellie. They were such fun, unique and intriguing side characters. I had a constant smile on my face during any scene with either of them.
Dylan and Chastity are such a great couple. I loved how even when they are just friends he is constantly feeding her or watching out for her. They fit together so well and their connection was palpable. Even poor Kaitlyn could feel it.
Both narrators did a fantastic job with the audiobook.
This is another great addition to the true North series.
**3.5**
Two years after leaving the same cult that Zach ran from, Chastity finds herself enrolled at Moo U with Dylan Shipley, who has become her best friend the past two years. While Dylan is living it up and enjoying his college life away from the farm, Chastity is struggling with her classes, find herself and fit it. But she has Dylan as her rock even if he is dating her mean girl roommate. But when Chastity comes up with an idea for them to make some money before the holidays Dylan starts to see Chastity in a different light and their friendship may never be the same again.
I really struggled to like these characters. Dylan was not portrayed in the best light for a good chunk of the beginning of this book. I just didn’t like seeing all that in Chastity’s face. And I also felt like this isn’t the same Chastity that we got a sneak peak of in Keepsake. That Chastity seemed strong and confident but this one is the opposite. I get her struggles and they make complete sense with her background but it just felt like two different people to me. That being said I still enjoyed this book. They both grew on me and I was able to relate to them by the end of the book. And it is always a good time being in the Shipley world.
Another great book in the series. Every one of them are so good that you read them in one sitting.
How did I not know this was out! I am so glad I did a relisten of the two books before this one. Because it got me into the series again. I loved it. I missed these characters. Dylan is an interesting character who is misunderstood by his brothers and sister. I don’t think they really see him, or at least they didn’t until now. I love that he befriends Chastity and is so fiercely protective of her but he doesn’t really see her either until she kinda makes him see.
Then she throws him into a tail spin and its cute because he doesn’t really know what to do and the fact that his roommate is the one to give him the advice he needs. It’s a great story.
I think I have an idea who is next in the lineup for this series. 😉
I loved the narration Erin is a personal favorite and Lee always sneaks up on me and I forget how much I like his narration until I am listening to him again.