This is more a 4.5* than a full 5* because the ending is a bit rushed but apart from that, it’s pretty perfect. ( )

4.5 stars

There are some authors that we pick up when we are feeling particularly self-indulgent. When we want to pamper ourselves. When we want a specially fulfilling feeling emotionally and mentally. Jeannie Levig is one such author and this book doesn’t fail on any front.

Read the full review @https://www.bestlesficreviews.com/2019/01/a-heart-to-call-home-by-jeanie-levig.html ( )

Jessie is a new permanent substitute teacher at the school in the town where she grew up. She also has a couple of quite specific reasons why she's come back into town.

Dakota Scott is one of the the reasons. She too returned to town, but has been back for a bit longer. She also works at the school where she's a gym teacher and a volleyball coach.

They get reacquainted and it's not a great first meeting. Jessie has bad bad feelings about Dakota (and at that moment she definite deserves to have them), both her personally as well as the Scott family (which is a big family in town) as well. Slowly though, the walls between them start coming down, although it's a bumpy ride for sure.

I liked all the characters, all unique and definitely interesting. I'd love to see another book set in this town or something (and, am I the only one who totally wanted a Drew/Randy/Selena story now? They were my favorite three characters by a mile in this novel. Oh, ooh, or Berta story).

I did find the end a little -eh-. It seemed a little like there was all this build up and then the ending wasn't quite up to all that. It was a good ending story wise, plot wise, just emotion wise, for me, it fell a little flat.

But, it was a fun read for sure with some twists I didn't see coming.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books. ( )