For Six Good Reasons

Smoky Mountain #3

by Lin Stepp

A young woman with six foster children under twelve hopes for patience, peace, and a bigger house - but love? Not hardly. However, sometimes fate deals an unexpected hand.
When Alice Graham came back to look at the sale property at the base of the Smoky Mountains in Greenbrier, it was absolutely not because of that recurring dream of the cowboy. She'd seen him high on the ridge top back in the winter and felt a peculiar drawing and attraction flash between them - but she certainly never expected to see him again. When she did, a month after buying the rural property, that odd attraction surprisingly still sizzled in the air. It seemed unlikely though that anything would come of any romantic feelings, because Alice had bought the property as a home for herself and the six Stuart siblings she'd agreed to foster. Six kids were enough to scare any man off right away - especially a confirmed bachelor like Harrison Ramsey with unsolved mysteries and unpleasant rumors floating around in his past. However, fate soon pushed Harrison into mixing with Alice's and the children's lives despite his best intentions. His nearby riding stable proved a natural draw for the kids, and he soon found his life more and more entwined with Alice, as well, and having no idea how to handle it.
PRAISE FOR LIN STEPP'S SMOKY MOUNTAIN NOVELS
"Stepp has a grasp of character and a love for the mountains of Tennessee." - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Book Reviews "Lin Stepp has an amazing way of making the reader feel like they are sitting in a rocking chair, taking in the Great Smoky Mountains, whether they can physically see them or not. Descriptive writing, characters that embrace you and an amazing storyline make Stepp's novels highly anticipated and thoroughly enjoyable". - Jennifer Alexander - WKJB-FM Radio - Popular Midday Host B97 and creator of the Book of the Month Club reaching over 100,000+ listeners "I love the Smoky Mountains so it is such a treat for me to read your stories especially since you are so wonderfully talented in weaving them... Can't wait to read the next one!" - Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief, SOUTHERN WRITERS MAGAZINE "Lin Stepp is a gifted storyteller who skillfully captures the mystical and enduring history and beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains and the faith, loyalty, and resilience of the people who call them home. ...Stepp's writing is smooth and easy, bringing the reader into the hearts of her characters. I'll be returning for more of Lin Stepp's engaging and heartwarming stories." - PJ, ROMANCE DISH Reviews

Genres: Romance

322 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2020

Reviews

[Christy]

Social worker Alice Graham has trouble placing six orphaned children without breaking them up, which she does not want to do, so Alice decides to foster the children. Needing a larger home, she finds a beautiful house in Greenbrier, Tennessee. While touring the home, she notices a man astride a horse on a ridge above, watching her. Alice feels a pull toward him that is puzzling. When she and the children move into the home, Alice discovers this man, Harrison Ramsey, is her neighbor. Chemistry definitely sizzles between them but Alice, a widow, feels her priority is raising the six children, and Harrison, left at the altar by two different women, has no desire to get involved with another one. But circumstances keep throwing the two together and both turn to God for an answer to the future of their relationship.

This heartwarming story, third in the Smoky Mountain Novel series, will engage the reader from beginning to end. Stepp nicely develops the chemistry between Alice and Harrison, along with the prickliness of their relationship as the two go through a bit of an emotional roller-coaster with their feelings and interactions. Readers will root for the relationship to bloom as Alice’s foster children develop a fondness for Harrison, and he for them. Stepp skillfully blends romance, inspiration and the intricacies of family dynamics into a charming, uplifting book.

[Beverly Herring]

Loved it. Can't wait for her next book. Love the characters and her writing style.

[Ruth]

Every time I read a Lin Stepp book about the Smoky Mountains, I want to move to Townsend or Greenbrier or whereever, because there are such strong ties to neighbors.

[Julia]

For Six Good Reasons by Lin Stepp is a most charming contemporary novel that warmed my heart and made me smile. It is the third A Smoky Mountain novel but can be read as a stand-alone.
Once more Lin Stepp delights the reader’s senses as she paints the landscape with her words. The area is remote and rugged, the houses offer hospitality and the barns provide shelter. The reader meanders through the novel as we explore the area with the characters.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and charming. Lin Stepp has perfectly captured the five year old twins with their mannerisms, words and zest for life. They act before they think but their hearts are good.
For Six Good Reasons is about fostering. Six siblings need a home together. Foster worker, Alice, refuses to split the family, preferring to give the children a home with her. The love and care exude from the novel. We understand the children’s fear. “What if we start to love you … and then you die, too?” This is counter balanced with a vow to always look after each other.
We see the hostility encountered at school, simply by being foster children – until a kind-hearted soul rides into town and saves the day.
Motherhood is more than just physically giving birth. Mothering is love, care and time. “What did you want most from our mother?... Her time.” Wow! The effects of neglect in childhood, follow a character into adulthood. It is heart-breaking to see a child suffering because their mother was distracted from their duty of care. In contrast, we see the siblings have not only their foster mother but the two eldest ‘mother’ the younger ones too.
Prayer is important. Prayer connects us to God and to each other. Prayer rescues us from our situations.
Love blossoms where it will. Sometimes it needs a helping hand and sound advice from a five year old!
I thoroughly enjoyed For Six Good Reasons. It was positively delightful, warm and witty. It’s a novel about family in the microcosm and the macrocosm. I loved it.

[Maridyth]

What a sweet story! I love that it transported me back to when I lived in Knoxville, and would visit Gatlinburg. Both of the protagonists were likeable (although I could have shaken Harrison a couple of times), and the addition of horses into the plot was wonderful. I won't go into detail, but I was laughing so hard at the end of the book during a particular scene involving a tent and a stray dog!

[Andrea at Reading Lark]

Review Posted on Reading Lark 12/4/11: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...

Lin Stepp has done it again. She has delivered another warm, clean romance with Appalachian flare and small town charm. This edition in the Smoky Mountain series is my favorite so far and I sincerely hope that Alice, Harrison, and the Stuart clan will remake appearances in future books.

I have mentioned in my previous reviews that Stepp is a master of detail concerning place in her novels and this one was no exception. This was the first book in the series where I actually wanted to pack up and move to town. The other areas from the previous books were interesting, but there is something magical about Greenbrier. Also, in previous books there were lots of characters I enjoyed, but this was the first book in the series were I really enjoyed all of the characters - even the nasty ones. This book felt more real than the previous ones and I could see all of these people in my mind. I suppose it didn't hurt that I kept picturing Harrison as Henry Cavill for some reason. I blame Immortals; I had just seen that movie when I started this book.

I also really like that even though the romance in this one was predictable that it deviated from the romances of the first two books in the series. I felt like Alice and Harrison truly had their own story to tell. Alice and Harrison have now taken the spot as my favorite couple in this series. Sorry Scott and Vivian! It was nice to see that Alice and Harrison both brought baggage into the relationship, but together they were able to sort things out. Their romance was also more entertaining due to the influence of the six charismatic Stuart children who are constantly dolling out advice and mischief. I laughed out loud when the kids were explaining to Harrison that he needed to be more romantical to win Alice's heart.

You could pick this book up without reading the previous two books and be fine from a story standpoint, but I would suggest giving the entire series a try if you are a fan of regional literature set in the Appalachians or you're just looking for a good, clean romance. I'm a fan of letting my imagination do the work and Stepp really allows that to happen in her books. Readers never get anything that would make them blush, but the romances are still intriguing. I would also recommend this to readers of Christian fiction. While Christianity is not the focus of this series by any means, there is some light commentary on religion and all of the characters tend to practice strong morals and conservative values.

One Last Gripe: Harrison was so stubborn at times that I just wanted to push him into the creek.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: The notion of fate and how it plays out for the characters

First Sentence: "Unbelievable. I'm having that dream again."

Favorite Character: Harrison - even though he drove me insane a lot of the time - tight jeans and a cowboy hat can help me overlook stubborness any day

Least Favorite Character: Mozella

[Linda]

A heartwarming story of a widowed social worker who takes in six children whose parents were killed. She tried to find placement for the children but no one wanted all six and Alice Graham hated to separate them. So she decided to take them all and keep them together. She has found the perfect home close to the Smoky Mountains with enough bedrooms so each can have their own room and enough acreage for the children to run and play. She isn’t looking for romance but it found her with her neighbor Harrison Ramsey. Harrison was engaged twice before and stood up both times so he isn’t looking for love either but he found it with Alice and the six children.

This book had a lot of funny parts especially dealing with the children and the things that they say. Children also understand a lot more than what we give them credit for.

After reading one book by Lin Stepp, I am now going back and reading all of the books she was written. They are wonderful books.

[William]

For Six Good Reasons is the third book in Lin Stepp’s Smoky Mountain series. It is also one of my favorites in her awesome series. It is the story of widowed Alice Graham, a social worker who is foster caring for six parentless siblings, all twelve years of age or younger. Alice purchases a large family home in Greenbrier, at the base of the Smoky Mountains. She soon meets handsome Harrison Ramsey, who she has seen at a distance, magnificently riding nearby on his black horse. As fate would approve… he is her neighbor too. They are mutually attracted, and he and the kids are also mutually attracted. A courtship of sorts ensues.

I love books where children have an influence on the story line. That is definitely the case, both by accident, near tragedy, and by design. Their “schooling” of ways that Harrison can attract Alice is priceless! This book, as every Stepp story, will help you believe in humanity. It’s a must read!

[Lin Stepp]

This one isn't coming out until April ... I'm reading it (again) because I'm the author doing final edits before the publisher ships it off for publication. It's a warm contemporary, regional romance - and I enjoy it every time I re-read it.
Here is what my editor wrote: "I just finished Six Good Reasons. You have created a sweet romantic treasure. You are able to nail the hopes and dreams of the independent woman while building the sexual tension masterfully. As always, I enjoy your characters - they are people I would like to meet and get to know. You have such a knack for developing each of them, especially the children ... You have done a beautiful job. Your characters come off the page and step into the reader's mind."

[Wendy Dingwall]

I always enjoy stories that have kids, real down home characters, and a cause. This story of Alice Graham who has taken on 6 foster children, fully expecting to raise them on her own, not an easy task, gets more than she bargains for when confirmed cowboy bachelor Harrison Ramsey enters their lives.

Author, Lin Stepp, puts the reader right there in the Smoky mountains with her characters and grounds them in faith in God, with a page turner that leads to a happy ending for all. This is definitely a "feel good" book!

[Jackie Knight]

I love reading this series. I can relate to the places in the book because I have been there while vacationing in the Smoky Mountains.