Rustic: Hearts and Houses

by Danni Roan

When Jewel's dream job falls into her lap, she jumps at the chance. Working at Blackberry Ridge Resort is more than she could ever have hoped for. Working as a chef in the Smoky Mountains is both invigorating and inspiring, but her faith will be tested by a taciturn author living in a rundown rustic cabin nearby.
As Jewel tries to meet the needs at the beloved resort restaurant, will her hunt for the perfect cinnamon bread uncover much more?
Anthony Evans has had enough pain in his life. The last thing the best-selling author and owner of the hilltop resort needs is a pretty woman reminding him of all he's lost. Determined to keep her at arm's length, his resolve is tested by the new chef's dedication to recreating his grandmother's famous cinnamon bread. When she gets too close for comfort, will retreating into his cluttered cabin prove protection against faith, truth, and love?
Heart meets hope in this faith-filled story of overcoming past hurts with true love and recipes from the heart.

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 4, 2024

About the author

Danni Roan, born in rural western Pennsylvania, has always loved the country life. Her first work published under her real name, Paula Liddle-Beem, is a collection of folk essays about childhood in the lush, green mountains of PA. Being a teacher of English and English as a Second Language for the past twelve years has only inspired Danni’s love of writing Western Historical Fiction. After receiving her Masters of Education in Teaching English as a Foreign Language she determined to indulge her passion for fiction writing. Teaching both in the USA and abroad has exposed Danni to a wide range of people from all walks of life and she tries to capture that unique character in her work.

https://www.facebook.com/danni.roan

Reviews

[Trudy Cordle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read! Jewel meets Anthony when she goes to work at the resort he owns, though when they meet, she has no idea who he is or that he's the owner. Jewel has wanted to work at the Blackberry Ridge Resort for a long time. It's her dream job, and she's thrilled to have the opportunity to work there. She and Anthony become friends, and the more time they spend together, the more they like each other, though Anthony isn't too keen on her being a Christian. When Jewel is hurt on a hike, Anthony tells her more about himself, and since Jewel had already shared quite a bit of her story, and how she feels about God, Anthony now thinks more about it, and opens his heart back up to God. Things come together, not just for Anthony and Jewel, but also for Anthony's grandmother. His grandmother has prayed for Anthony for years, that he would stay firm in his faith, and then that he would come back to his faith. Love how everything comes together, and Anthony gets way more than he bargained for!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.

[D'anah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

What a truly lovely story. Loved how Jewel talks to God all the time, and how she unapologetically shares her faith. Enjoyed her creativity and determination to make things better for everyone. Anthony was a challenge. Liked his approach to things, and felt his pain. Excellent how all the loose ends get neatly tied up. The ending is way better than expected. Enjoyed every minute of it. Sad to finish it.

[Laura McQuerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Story!

I loved this book! Anthony and Jewel both have been through very difficult times. Jewel relies on her faith, but Anthony is too bitter. Can things change? Well, you'll have to read the book to find out! Hearts and Houses is a wonderful series. If you haven't read the other books, I highly recommend them as well!

[Terry Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. Books by Danni Roan bring you so much closer to God, which is why I love them. Her writings have so far seemed to assist me with some of my more difficult issues. I'll be searching for more of this author's writing. I've been greatly impacted by this entire series. Author Danni Roan did an incredible job. I heartily endorse the entire series.

[Anita Rohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jewel

A well developed story of resilient pushing forward and finding peace in
their experiences.She loves to cook and he keeps showing up to eat. Together they learn how to accept the past and love life.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

Another enduring story of regular people, and an amazingly Good God! None of us deserve His forgiveness, and that's why it's called Amazing Grace. There were a few grammatical errors, but the story was so captivating, it didn't matter.