Saving Heart & Home: A Small Town Contemporary Romance

by Nikki Bergstresser, Denise Jaden

Small town love with a big time problem... Emma Hathaway finds joy in the small town life of Juniper Falls caring for the seniors she has grown to love at Heart & Home assisted living facility. Emma insists she is content to avoid dating and the heartbreak that can come from falling in love. After all, she has her rescue dog Charlie to keep her company. Yet, others notice her loneliness. The zany elderly residents make it their mission to find their beloved nurse a date before Valentine’s Day. Financial problems arise threatening the future of Heart & Home, along with Emma’s job. Attractive and ambitious, Jake Rothstein blows into town from his big city life with plans to move his grandmother, one of Emma’s favorite residents, to a care facility in the city. But first, Jake must sell the family house he grew up in. He is determined to leave Juniper Falls behind him, along with the painful memories he has buried. In hopes of changing his mind, Emma offers to assist Jake in packing up the family house. Met with reminders from his past and unexpected feelings around every corner, his heart begins to soften. But when Emma is faced with losing what matters most to her, Jake takes the brunt of her pain and is ready to run from his hurts again. Can both hearts heal to allow love to find its way home?

230 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2021

About the author

Nikki Bergstresser, children’s author, speaker, and educator, grew up in a small prairie town. Many of Nikki’s books, such as Seasons for Stones and A Promise to Protect, share her love for community. Deeply moved by the true story of Gander, Newfoundland, she sees it as a reminder that in the hard moments, compassion and kindness can connect us. Nikki lives in Abbotsford British Columbia, with her husband, two daughters, and a few mischievous furry critters. She loves plotting her next story while hiking in nature and making new friends wherever she travels.

Reviews

[Iris]

An author I really like and her friend wrote this sweet, clean romance together. Though I don't usually like "romance" novels, this one was different. It grabbed my attention quickly and kept me reading until very late at night. Emma is an RN who loves her small town and the elderly patients at the care home where she works. One of her favorite patients has a grandson who blows into town from Big City Seattle. He has a huge chip on his shoulder about this town he grew up in. Lots of twists and turns here, so you just have to keep reading! This a lovely book!

[Chad Barrus]

I throughly enjoyed this book as I smiled and yes cried as events unfolded in the lives of Emma and Jake. The book was so lifelike I could put names to the characters I read about and I’ll bet you can too.

I recommend it to young readers with the hope that while they’re reading it that it will spur them to ask their parents and grandparents about how it was when they grew up. Those memories can disappear if the younger generation can’t be bothered to find out
what it was like in the “good old days”. For us older readers we can reflect back and wonder just how could it possibly have been so long ago when it seems like only yesterday those memories happened.

Nikki and Denise I congratulate you on a book that is well written and speaks to the heart of its readers to help them be a better person and get to know their grandparents before it’s too late. Find out what life was like before all these new inventions they take for granted were invented. I for one remember the early 1950’s and the turbulence of the 1960’s culminating with man walking on the moon. When those memories are still fresh in my mind it’s difficult to reflect it was so many years ago.

This could very well be made into a Hallmark movie for it is that good and would reach the audience who doesn’t read which is tragic because those who don’t read will never know what they’re missing!

Put this book on your short list TBR and you’ll thank yourself that you did!

[Kristi]

A romance story that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. You're quickly pulled in to the story and held there until you reach the end. The story flows so well and holds your interest you find it hard to put it down once you start. The characters are wonderful, easy to love and you find them so easy to get to know you feel like you've known them for years.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catherine Tijerina]

Teamwork really payed off hitting this storyline out of the park. This was truly a roller coaster of emotions. This book had me laughing and shedding some tears. Jake and Emma were brought together because of their love for Meredith. Both had to figure out what was important in life. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in a good read. I received this ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review which I have freely written here

[Stephanie]

What a beautifully we written book and I was hooked from beginning to end and I would recommend it to everyone because this story has something for everyone. Jake is trying to hide from his memories and thinks its easier to run away than deal with it. Emma loves her life but everyone wants to set her up but she just wants to live her life, keep her job and keep her residents happy because they are part of her family. What a great story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Moser]

This is a well written book with strong characters and an interesting story line. The authors do a great job delivering a sweet romance with all the feels. They bring the story to life with their detailed and descriptive writing , painting their scenes perfectly and moving the story fluidly. I loved and would recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Monica]

Such a sweet feel good romance. I was hooked till the end and it had a very satisfying ending. Wonderful characters. All around enjoyable.

[Savannah Hendricks]

Sweet romance with a cute storyline; perfect for a weekend read if you're looking for something light.

[Jamie Bee]

Utterly Charming

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it certainly won't be the last. She has an excellent writing style, drawing you right into the book with her wonderful descriptions of small-town Pacific Northwest life. As an Oregon resident, I can say she nailed it spot on. The meet-cute between the hero, the heroine, and their dogs made me laugh out loud, endearing the book to me even more so. I am an RN myself, so I have a soft spot for books with a nurse as the hero or heroine. Some medical aspects did not quite ring true to me—what nurse at an assisted living facility starts at 10 a.m.?—but as I enjoyed the characters and storyline, I simply let these pass. I thought the characters were well done, and I liked that the hero especially grew and changed as the story continued. He was in need of doing so! If you love heartfelt, sweet small-town romances, this is an excellent and well-written one.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[Fleur]

Emma is very passionate about her job and everyone at Heart & Home assisted living facility so when one of her seniors absent and arrogant grandsons comes to whisk his Grandma away she decides to step in and no matter what anyone says she does not like Jake and she is not interested!!. Jake wants to be in and out of Juniper Falls as soon s possible unfortunately he meets resistance from not only his Grandma but also from Emma so now he is stuck in there longer and memories of the past are starting to surface causing refection and realisation not all is as it seems in his past and just maybe he needs to reassess his life. I loved this book so much I would read it again as it has characters you will absolutely love especially Charlie, Geezer and you will laugh, cry roll your eyes, snigger and cross your fingers and hoping for the best not just for not only Emma and Jake but also for Heart & Home

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Niki]

Emma loves her job and the residents that are there, however one of her favorites grandson shows up to get his grandma and move her to a place closer to him. That does not sit well with Emma or his grandmother. Can these two come together to heal their hearts and find happiness?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kimberly]

The book is a good, and enjoyable heartwarming sweet romacne read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andrea Kuenstler]

Saving Heart & Home is a great read! Romantic, sweet, and funny, it’s a relaxing book to escape into!

[Brooke Loewen]

Sure a heartwarming & comforting story about human connection. The characters were so relatable and fun to read 10/10!!