True North #1
Kindle e-book, audiobook, Audible
Author: Sarina Bowen
Narrators: Tad Branson and Saskia Maarleveld
In the first book of the True North series, we meet the Shipleys, who live in their farm/apple orchard, where they make apple cider. All the books will be interconnected to the Shipleys in some way.
Griffin Shipley is the grumpy farm boy, but he wasn’t always like this. He was on his way to becoming a football star when his dad suddenly passes away and he quits football to become the instant patriarch of the family, putting his degree in Chemistry to good use in the cider-making business. While still in school, he had a “two-night” stand with Audrey, who ghosted him. Now, she shows up at his farm – a chef, wanting to buy produce and cider for the farm-to-table operation in the restaurant conglomerate she works for. No way Griffin is going give the sorority party girl the time of day again… or will he?
What a lovely introduction to a series! I loved grumpy Griffin! (You’d be grumpy too if, at 27, you had to shoulder all his responsibilities! ) Griffin and Audrey were never supposed to be in each other’s lives again, but as time passes and they spend time together, everyone knows that, when Audrey is not around, Griffin becomes even more of a bear. Audrey ghosted him because she could not for the life of her believe he was was actually interested in her. But Griffin knows chemistry… and that they have in spades!
I loved all the characters introduced in this book and I can’t wait to read their stories.
Narration: Ted Branson and Saskia Maarleveld, both new to me.
Possible triggers: strained relationship with a parent: a secondary character is a recovering drug addict and ex-con; an animal is killed and butchered on page for consumption in the farm
