See full review @ The Indigo Quill: http://theindigoquill.blogspot.com/2013/09/review-home-to-heather-creek-books-1-...

What a sweet little series! First, I think it's interesting to see this new trend of authors collaborating to create books together. Especially in this case, where they've created a single pen name for themselves. It's a great way to connect and work as a community, I'm sure.

Anyway, through the Heather Creek Series we travel through the grueling task of grieving and change. Charlotte is taking custody of her grandchildren after the passing of her daughter. They come to her defiant and not very open to change, but also with the inability to cope well. Charlotte learns quickly that her daughter's passing is not the only thing she is going to need to cope with.

What I found interesting was that we didn't only watch the children grow, but Charlotte grew as well. I liked how human the characters were. Charlotte wasn't sure as to what exactly she was doing, and the children had their own personality quirks that seemed to clash with Charlotte and the new life surrounding them. Through the two books we engross ourselves into the trials and triumphs of this family, and are left curious as to what lies next in their journey.

The only thing I would complain about is that sometimes there's just a little too much detail. But yet, at the same time, I really liked it because it helped the story come to life. There were just times that it made the storyline move too slowly for my taste. Aside from that, I think these ladies did a wonderful job and I hope we will be seeing more from them soon! ( )

In the second book of the Home To Heather Creek series, Sweet September, the Stevenson family drama continues at their farm in Nebraska during the fall harvest. Sam, Emily, and Christopher have settled into their new lives at the farm, and the building of the family bond with their grandparents Charlotte and Bob are starting to gel as life continues on the farm. But a mystery abounds at the farm when the family discovers that someone or something has been stealing the vegetables from their garden.

Charlotte struggles to maintain the balance of responsibilities with the family, home, and farm, especially since Bob who is in his sixties, is struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities of running a farm. The emotions run high as she struggles to accept their son Pete's taking over the duties of the running the farm. Pete's passion for farming has been a source of tension, as Charlotte was disappointed that left college to pursue farming. Through the various trials and tribulations, the Stevenson family learns that the bonds of love and family will bring their broken family together again.

Just like in the first book of the series, Before The Dawn, Sweet September is an inspirational story that will tug at your heartstrings. This is a wonderful inter-generational family story that will resonate with you for a long time.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the books from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Litfuse Publicity.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2013/10/home-to-heather-creek-series-b... ( )

I loved the second book in this series. Charlotte and Ben Stevenson are adjusting to having their Golden Years now filled with children again. Big change in all of their lives.
School has now begun again and the children, Sam, Emily and Christopher are beginning to fit it, although with some problems. They miss their Mom, and don't want to forget her. Love the faith based life God has placed them in. When they think things are going bad, or they are in trouble, I see Grace being show to these sweet kids.
In this book someone or something is stealing from the family, when they need all the food, they have with the extra mouths. You will be surprised at what is taking eggs and veggie! Also how more Grace is shown.
Enjoy this second book in this series, I really would love some more of this story.

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

Title: Sweet September (Home to Heather Creek Series #2)
Author: Kathleen Bauer
Pages: 356
Year: 2013
Publisher: Guideposts Books
Here is the sequel to Before the Dawn where readers were first introduced to a unique family and changes happening all the time on the farm. As the characters from book one continue on here, readers will begin to appreciate even more the reality of life as portrayed in the work of fiction. In a time when being grandparents and enjoying their retiring years is looked forward to instead turns into becoming guardians of their daughter’s three growing children. The story of Before the Dawn where we see the changes from city life to small town life can be very hard. Add to that moving in with grandparents they hardly knew, beginning at new schools, making new friends all combines in learning to depend on the Lord to make them into a close family in more than name only.
In Sweet September, the grandfather, Bob, is struggling with all the changes coming into the farming profession plus learning what he can’t do. Christopher, being the youngest, seems most capable of drawing out of his grandpa the history of the area, farm and family when he happens to dig up a piece of something hidden under the dirt for a long time. Sam, the oldest of the three kids, must decide whether to take school seriously and thrive or face the consequences that failing a class will bring.
Since I don’t want to ruin the story by revealing too much of it, let me say that here is another example of great faith-filled fiction. The reason is because faith is not represented as an instant fix to problems, but points the characters to the God who can do above anything we ask or think. As time goes on in the story, we see how prayers for the uniting of hearts come about as each person learns who they are and Who God is.
Whether sitting together at meal times, having reading times or talking with friends over coffee, the love of others permeates the pages. There is also portrayed a character who is challenging to understand as she seems to put on airs around others. Another part of the novel shows how time is an aspect that changes the family from being strangers, then to struggling with grief to the change to loving their family history and how the farm came with a responsibility.
Family history, state history or other types of history have a way of pulling people out from being focused on themselves to being servants of whomever God brings across our path. The grandmother in the story learned too that God has to do the work with hardest part being to not get in His way. I hope you consider reading the series and sharing the novels with others for them to appreciate as well.
My rating is 4 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first contemporary novel that Tricia has written and it was wonderful! It's part of a multi-author series but you can jump in at any time as each story is standalone. It's a cozy read that brings to life what small town and farm living is all about. I could actually picture myself there on the farm alongside the family. I did like how there was historical tidbits thrown in throughout the novel. There's also a good mystery that takes place as well. What I liked best was how the kids were allowed to act normal, like actual teenagers in the 21st century. It was rather refreshing to read about Sam rebelling about his studies or Emily wanting to be a vegetarian. While these aren't the choices their grandparents would have made, neither are they condemning and overbearing. I hope that the other authors in this series will be able to maintain this type of attitude. It's much more realistic and I think hits home more to see kids acting like real kids and not try to change them. The conflict between father and son was interesting to read as well. Generation gaps and parent-child relationships always make for a good read. But my absolute favorite part? Whenever Star Wars was mentioned! How geeked was I to read that there was a Star Wars marathon that took place? (And that Leia AND Amidala were both mentioned!!) That was a definite plus in my book! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the adventures of the Heather Creek gang. Also if this is what it's like to read a Tricia Goyer contemporary novel, I say more please!!!! ( )