Mulberry Hollow

Written by Denise Hunter

Narrated by Jessica Holtan

When a handsome handyman faces a medical emergency on the Appalachian trail, his sudden appearance in town challenges an ambitious doctor’s plan to remain single for life.

Avery Robinson decided to be a physician after helplessly watching her mother lose a battle with a terrible disease. Now at risk of developing the same illness, Avery guards her heart from love. She’s driven to protect her loved ones as a workaholic doctor in the tiny mountain town of Riverbend Gap, North Carolina.

Contractor Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian trail, in memory of the man who died saving his life, when an illness racks his body. After an agonizing fifteen-mile hike to Avery’s clinic, he collapses on her doorstep. He recovers to find himself in debt again—but this time to a beautiful doctor.

When he decides to help her renovate a rundown carriage house, the obstacles to their attraction sprout like weeds—starting with the woman waiting for Wes at the end of the trail. Will he be able to relinquish the debt he owes his best friend? And will Avery find the courage to risk everything for love?

This second book in Denise Hunter’s popular Riverbend Romance series explores what it might be like to live fearlessly and free.

• Slow-burn contemporary romance
• Part of the Riverbend Romance Series
  • Book 1: Riverbend Gap
  • Book 2: Mulberry Hollow
  • Book 3: Harvest Moon
• Book length: 86,000 words

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9780785240556

Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is the internationally published, bestselling author of more than forty books, three of which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won the Holt Medallion Award, the Reader’s Choice Award, the Carol Award, the Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana, where she and her husband raised three boys and are now enjoying an empty nest and three beautiful grandchildren. DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: @AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: @deniseahunter.

Reviews for Mulberry Hollow

[M. Malcolm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a fantastic read. I enjoyed it even more than Riverbend Gap. I look forward to Gavin's story.

[mary Gardner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The second book in the Riverbend, North Carolina is a touching story about how obligation, and fear of an inherited disease can rule lives. Readers won’t be disappointed by the compelling story of Avery and Wes and their journey to their happily ever after. Denise Hunter never disappoints!

[melissa_o-399736 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have been a fan of Denise Hunter for years so Mulberry Hollow was a must read for me. This series has two of my favorite things in it, a beautiful North Carolina setting and a storyline centered around siblings. This book focuses on Avery, the only sister in the family. She is a doctor and meets Wes when he gets sick while hiking the Appalachian Trail. There seems to be an instant spark between them, but they both try to fight what they are feeling due to issues they are facing in their own lives.I enjoyed getting to know Avery and Wes' stories and getting updates from characters we met in book one. This book tackles some difficult topics such as health scares and survivor's guilt, but they are all handled so beautifully.Although this is a series, this story can definitely be read as a standalone. I am looking forward to Harvest Moon, the last book in the series releasing this fall.Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ebook of this story. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[arlenadean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Title: Mulberry HollowAuthor: Denise HunterSeries: Riverbend Romance #2Publisher: Thomas NelsonReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: FiveReview:"Mulberry Hollow" by Denise HunterMy Assessment:'Mulberry Hollow' was a thoroughly gratifying, heartwarming, and emotional story that will keep your attention as you turn the pages. Along with the main characters, some wonderful secondary characters are well-developed, defined, and memorable, giving the reader a good read from start to finish. And let's not leave out the cat, Boot, and the interactions between Wes and his over-protective step-brother of Avery. By the way, 'Mulberry Hollow' is a neighborhood in Riverbend Gap, just off the Appalachian Trail.It was good getting to know Dr. Avery Robinson, a workaholic doctor dealing with her difficulties, secrets, and issues, while finding another doctor who would come to Riverbend, North Carolina, to help her in her medical clinic. While this is accruing, what will happen when Wes Garrett passes out at Avery's clinic door needing medical help? Why was Wes hiking the Appalachian Trail to honor his friend Landon, who had passed away, and promised to take care of his sister Lillian? Why does Wes end up working for Avery to refurbish her carriage house? In this beautiful story y, what were some heartbreaking decisions as they work through the pain Avery and Wes had to make while on this romantic journey? With Avery and Wes not looking for any relationship, what will happen when love finds a way? Be ready for a little bit of it all from 'laughter, tears, delight, and tenderness.'You will have to pick up "Mulberry Hollow" and find out how well this author brings it all out for the readers, a beautiful read of sacrifice and love.Thank you, Net Galley, and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion of the read.

[eccl-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Mulberry Hollow by Denise Hunter is book two in the Riverbend Romance series. This story is a nice stand alone story, yet it takes over where the first in the series ends, so it is best to read in order.This is Avery Robinson’s story. She is the only physician in a small town and is overworked. She needs to upgrade her property to be able to hire an additional physician. When hiker, Wes Garrett, ends up at the clinic door steps needing care and unable to pay, they make a deal for him to do the work she needs done.This is such a good story I struggled with putting it down. Both of the main characters are wonderful caring people who put others before themselves. Both are also struggling with making the right decision to move forward with their lives. I enjoyed the Robinson family and the way they cared for each other, especially her father’s way of allowing others to seek his advice.I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest review.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in this series, and yes, it can be read alone, the author does a great job of filling us in, but you will be missing a great read.The setting for this read is set in the small Appalachian town of Riverbend Gap, NC, and Dr. Avery Robinson, is the only doctor! Enter a sick. hurting, contractor, Wes Garrett, and both need to guard their hearts.This was a page turner for me, and I never wanted it to end, I loved being with the entire Robinson family! Now I'm waiting for the next read in this series!A book you don't want to miss!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.

[tcjrogers · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In Mulberry Hollow, Avery Robinson just turned thirty. She’s a doctor in the small town of Riverbend Gap, running her own medical clinic. She’s got a loving, supportive family, and she’s meeting her career goals in record time, but Avery is lonely, and she’s likely to stay that way. Having a 50/50 chance of carrying the gene for Huntington’s Disease, Avery has decided to stay single, to spare a husband and children from the trauma she went through when she lost her mother from the disease. But she’s never met a man like Wes Garrett. Wes Garrett is hiking the Appalachian Trail in honor of his friend, Landon, who gave his own life to save Wes while they were doing construction work together in South America. On Landon’s dying breath, he asked Wes to take care of his sister Lillian, so after he finishes the trail, Wes is headed to Albany, New York to settle down and possibly to marry Lillian. Surely, that’s what Landon would have wanted. But along the way, Wes gets sick, and he manages to hike off the trail into the small town of Riverbend Gap where there is a small medical clinic — and a beautiful doctor who may cause Wes to rethink everything he had planned for the future.We are first introduced to Avery through Katie and Cooper’s story in Riverbend Gap, the first book in this series. One thing I think Denise Hunter does really well is build her characters. We get such a good feel for who Avery and Wes are — for their fears and struggles, the things they’re passionate about, their shyness or awkwardness. Denise Hunter also writes the romance really well — the tension and the emotion. She keeps it clean, but the chemistry is palpable. I really enjoy the different relationships in this book— the relationship built between Avery and Wes; the relationships Avery has with her brothers; the relationships Avery has with her coworkers; and the relationship Avery has with her dad, which I find especially sweet. Overall, this was a really fast read for me. I was hooked from the beginning. I look forward to the next book in this series. *I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.