Blue Ridge Sunrise by Denise Hunter is a heartwarming novel with an underlying theme of second chances. With more than just a second chance at love romance, this first installment in the Blue Ridge series is also a lovely story of new beginnings and healing.

Five years ago, Zoe Collins and Cruz Huntley's relationship ended due to lack of communication, immaturity, insecurities and family disapproval. Zoe impetuously fled town with Kyle in order to pursue her dreams of becoming a musician. Cruz remained in town where he repaired his friendship with Zoe's brother Brady while trying to get over losing his first love. Now, five years and many, many regrets later, Zoe returns for her beloved grandmother's funeral and finds the courage to leave Kyle who has become increasingly controlling. Zoe also knows she needs to reveal the secret she has been keeping from Cruz but will it destroy any chance she has at possibly reconciling with the man who still holds her heart?

Zoe is one of the those characters readers might find difficult to like. When she was young she comes across as more impetuous and immature than "free spirited". It is also difficult to forgive her choice to not tell Cruz the truth before she runs off with Kyle. Despite not being particularly likable, it is all too easy to understand how easy it was for her to allow Kyle to manipulate and control her. After finally breaking free from her abusive relationship, Zoe initially remains a little timid and unsure but she gradually regains her self-confidence and sass. Despite these changes, she is a little slow to own up to her terrible choice regarding keeping quiet about a MAJOR decision she made before leaving town, and Zoe is forced to deal with the consequences once Cruz stumbles onto the truth.

While Zoe is impetuous and a little thoughtless, Cruz is steadfast and loyal. He reluctantly agreed to keep their relationship under wraps in the past and wtheir romance was discovered, her family's reaction fed into his doubts and insecurities. Zoe did not help the situation by her rash decisions and it was rather easy for external forces to take advantage of his uncertainties. In the intervening years, Cruz conquered his demons with the help of Zoe's grandmother and his insecurities and lack of self-esteem are now a thing of the past. Cruz still harbors feelings for Zoe, but once he stumbles onto her secret, will he forgive her for her lie of omission?

With a slight element of suspense and a gentle undercurrent of faith, Blue Ridge Sunrise is an engaging romance with endearing characters. While Zoe does not always make the best choices, she does undergo believable growth throughout the story. Cruz has already come to terms with his emotional baggage but he must decide whether or not to absolve Zoe for not being honest with him. Although it takes a backseat to Zoe's struggles to move past her mistakes, their renewed romance is quite sweet. Despite some of the predictable elements of the storyline, this first installment in Denise Hunter's Blue Ridge series is an enjoyable read with interesting characters that readers will relate to. ( )

This novel illustrates quite well what lies and fear can do in ones life... Even lies we tell ourselves. Once Zoe began to face up to all those lies, she was able to make a better, happier life for herself. The romance element was a nice distraction. ( )

A second chance Christian romance that takes place in a small town in Georgia and also in Nashville.

From the cover I was expecting a fun, cute romance. Instead, "Blue Ridge Sunrise" by Denise Hunter is a romance with a lot of deeper issues being explored; such as family drama and dealing with past mistakes. The first half of the book is dealing more with Zoe, our main female protagonist, returning home and facing her past. Because of this there are flashbacks to Zoe’s past; a lot of which were bad decisions she had made. I didn’t enjoy the first half as much because there is more mature content and I was really frustrated with Zoe. The second half is where I started to like the book a lot more and I give Ms. Hunter kudos for the transformation Zoe goes through and her character arc.

In the end, Zoe and Cruz (the hero of the book), learn a lot of lessons. Zoe’s friend reminds her to find her identity in God and not any man. Zoe realizes she has been trying to control things when God should be in control and she should pass things by God before acting. Cruz’s faith also grows throughout the novel. The only thing that is a little troublesome is that Zoe and Cruz made mistakes in the past, but I don’t really see them acknowledging specifically that what they did is wrong.

Of course, I love the romance! Cruz is a great guy and it’s so sweet how he is so protective of Zoe and never stops loving her. Ms. Hunter is an amazing writer and her style is easy to read. Overall, I liked the book. I think fans of contemporary novels and romance with some depth will really enjoy this book!

Content: This book definitely falls in the category of edgy Christian fiction with a PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content are: the word hell is used; a couple shares a hotel room and sleep together when they aren’t married; people are at a bar and drink alcohol; a man is physically and emotionally abusive towards his girlfriend; a man calls a woman a derogatory name, but the word isn’t written; reference to someone being a drug addict.

Rating: I give this book 3 stars.

Genre: Contemporary; Christian fiction; Romance.

I want to thank Denise Hunter, The Fiction Guild and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255. ( )

Zoe Collins has less than no interest in returning to her small hometown in Georgia after leaving in her teens to join a band as a backup singer. However, after her grandmother passes away and leaves Zoe the family peach farm in her will, Zoe finds herself wanting to try on a different life. The added bonus of this new life is the stability it will offer her and her young daughter. Of course, with the benefits also comes the painful reality of once again being in close proximity to Cruz Huntley, the man who broke her heart and was a major factor in her decision to leave in the first place. When life pushes the former flames back into close proximity, sparks fly once again.

A solid inspirational romance. Denise Hunter creates a cast of charming and flawed characters who struggle as much in their spiritual and personal relationships and allows everyone to grow. While nothing about the novel was particularly surprising, it was a perfectly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary Christian romances in a Southern setting. ( )