Item: Keepsake
Rating: 4.00
Author: kozbisa

by Sarina Bowen

There's a first time for everything.

Lark Wainright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.

When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.

Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.

Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.

Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he's good for much more than farm labor.

I have so many feelings, but most of all, I am glad that Bowen has planted the seed for additional True North books, because I love the Shipley's and their world, and I want to spend more time in it.

This book focuses on Lark and Zach, both of whom, have their own survival stories. Lark was recovering from a kidnapping, which had left her with PTSD. Her wounds were fresh, and she had a long way to go. While Zach, still bore the physical and mental scars from his upbringing and eventual expulsion from an oppressive cult. He was not fully healed, but had come a long way with the help of his surrogate family. It made perfect sense, that of anyone on that farm, Zach was the one able to establish the strongest connection with Lark. It was a roller coaster though. Bowen threw plenty of bumps on that road to the HEA, including one that I thought might result in sinking my ship. But in the end, these two found love and healing in each other.

Aside from the wonderful love story we expected, we got more of the things that make this series so special. Another lovely visit to Vermont, tons of fun and beautiful familial interactions, and dare I say, the planting of not one, but perhaps two new storylines for Zara and Mae (?)

After getting to know Zach over the past two books, I was chomping at the bit for his story, and I was not disappointed. Bowen delivered a story that was Zach-worthy, and I was happy to see his beautiful and gentle heart so justly rewarded.

Keepsake (True North, #3)

by Sarina Bowen

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on Apr 16, 2017

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