Series: River Valley
Series Placement: #3
Author: Tess Thompson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Published by: Booktrope
Format: Ebook and Paperback
Series Tour Sponsored by:
Copy Provided by Author
My Goodreads Review Link
Series Review Tour (Day 1)-Riversong
Series Review Tour (Day 2)-Riverbend
Series Review Tour ( Day 3)-Riverstar
Series Review Tour (Day 1)-Riversong
Series Review Tour (Day 2)-Riverbend
Series Review Tour ( Day 3)-Riverstar
Book Blurb:
When an actress is found murdered after she’s seen leaving the restaurant Riversong with Ben, he is accused of the crime and arrested. Convinced of his innocence, the River Valley ‘gang of misfits’ band together to find the real killer, and Bella must face her biggest fear to ensure the truth is revealed.
Reviewers Note: Riverstar is book three in the River Valley series and is a Contemporary Romance/Suspense written by Tess Thompson. I received this eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review through Tasty Book Tours.
They Say Save The Best For Last? They Weren’t Wrong! This Book Was Definitely The Best So Far!
The Review:
This series keeps getting better and better. After a rocky start with book one, I was a bit leery of starting book two, but after I did, I really enjoyed it. I was excited to go into book three and I was absolutely not disappointed. Riverstar was suspenseful, romantic, a bit thrilling and as with her other books in this series, warm and tender. These stories are simple, sweet, colorful and soothing. I loved returning to River Valley and I loved Bella and Ben’s story!
Story/Characters...
Bella Webber has come back to River Valley to be the makeup artist on the new movie filming in the area she’s come to think of as home. She’s staying with her family Drake, Annie and Alder (from book two) and to her surprise, also Ben, who’s living in her would-be guest house. She met Ben the year before on a visit with her brother Drake and they had one incredible night together, but her past came calling and much to Ben’s disbelief, she answered, leaving him and herself heartbroken. But she’s back now and she’s ready to try and win the love of the one man she knows could make her happy forever... if only he’d give her a chance.
I loved how strong and independent, how capable and how determined Bella was! She fought for her man even given all the things against them individually and as a couple. She had ambition even though she was a bit scared of an unknown future and she was smart and brave. I did think she wallowed in all the pain of lost loved ones and hurtful memories of so long ago a bit much but she never hid behind that pain. She decided what she wanted and she went for it. She was even a bit wise. I just really liked her character a lot!
Ben Fleck has set up camp in River Valley. The company he works for has decided the growing community is the perfect location for their new offices and he’s spearheading it. He works hard and he puts a lot of time, effort and pride in what he does. But he’s still hung up on the past and the betrayals they include. He’s been hurt by women and the gorgeous Bella, who he can’t seem to get out of his system, is the latest hurt he’s had to endure. He thinks she’s too dangerous to get involved with, assuming she will shatter his heart and leave him more broken and distrustful than he already is. But something about her keeps pulling him to her and no matter how bad an idea he feels getting involved with her is... he can’t stay away.
Just when everything seems to be falling into place for them as a couple, someone is murdered and Ben is the main suspect.
We didn't physically see a whole lot of Ben, mostly because Bella was working towards helping him and this was told in her POV, but regardless of his lack of physical appearances, he was always front and center on the canvas as Bella thought about him, worked for his freedom and fought to have him by her side.
I loved how the River Valley family gathered around Ben and protected him, helped him, supported him and cheered him on. They are a small group that keeps growing with each book and they are accepting, loyal and kind.
But... Small But, but, But Nonetheless...
I really thought the “I Love You’s” and the “Lets Get Married” chats came way too soon. By page 100, they were professing their undying love to one another. I know in actuality they knew one another for a while, even though most of that time was apart, but I felt all the “future” talk was added in to make it more dramatic for when it fell apart. I just seemed obvious that’s where it was headed and I wished it had been spread out instead of thrown at you in the beginning.
The Wrap Up:
I really liked the suspense of the story, the strong and caring heroine and the conflict and plot all worked so well together. And of course seeing the cast once again and getting tidbits of their progressing lives is always fun. This was definitely the best of the series so far and I really hope we get to visit River Valley and its colorful cast of misfits again very soon!
Buy the Book!
About the Author:
Like the characters in the River Valley collection, Tess is from a small town in Oregon. She currently lives in a suburb of Seattle, Washington with her two young daughters, Emerson and Ella. She is inspired daily by the view of the Cascade mountains from her home office window.
Tess is working on her next novel and regularly blogs about her journey as a mother, author and friend at www.tesswrites.com.
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