This is my first book by Levig. So I have nothing to compare this one to, but I really enjoyed this book... until the end. This was a 4.5 book until the final 10% or less. For me the ending knocked the rating from 4.5 to 3.5. The romance was good, the secondary characters were enjoyable.. everything was going great. Then a 180 occurs. I just felt this was too big of a character shift for one of the leads, Jessie.. especially how quickly it occurs. I completely get the response of Dakota because I was feeling pretty similar. I feel like it was abrupt and just kind of thrown together last moment. The conflict felt forced and didn't have enough on the backside to really make up for it. Still 4 stars because the rest of the book was really good. Don't let the ending hold you back from reading this one. Still worth picking up.

I just finished this book and I thought I would honour the writer by recommending it to other readers. Intense is the core of this story. I liked the intensity and the build up. I’m not going to delve into details because I hate spoilers myself, but if you want to read a good romance this is it!

My first Levig and wow was it a powerful one. These characters have a depth and complexity that is unusual in this genre. They both have demons to face and let go off. In spite of these, they are able to connect in a believable way. I thank NetGalley and BSB for the opportunity to review this book. I will definitely look for this author's future releases.

Jeannie Levig really knows how to write a good story. Both Dakota and Jessie are fantastic characters. They both have their fair share of demons that they must face up too, throw in the romance and you have a an excellent enjoyable book to read. If you're looking for 'hot hot' then this is the one for you......Gotta love a woman that's not afraid to ask for what she wants

Jessie Weldon is a school teacher who decides it's time to revisit the small town where she spent her life with her mother and sister. After their death’s she stays long enough to finish school. She never planned on going back but she has so many questions regarding her family she feels she has no choice but to return so she can finally have some peace. Dakota Scott grew up in the same small town but her life was so much different from the life Jessie lived. She comes from money but works as a coach at the same school Jessie works. Her family has its own issues and everything isn’t as it may appear. Life hasn’t been that easy for her either. She also is the one driving a car that caused the death of Jessie’s sister. Very enjoyable read.

I relished this novel, one of the better contemporary works that I have read in a while. All of the desired plot aspects-strong characters, convincing connection, relationship development anchored in trauma/growth for both women and a pleasant shared career component-were present.

Jeannie Levig is my kind of storyteller. Her romances are dramatic not fluffy. Her characters are flawed, sometimes fragile and sometimes unlikeable. I admit I spent a good portion of A Heart to Call Home not liking Jessie Weldon, a woman who returns to her hometown hoping to better understand why the past haunts her present day relationships. She’s bitter, wary and pretty judgemental when it comes to Dakota Scott and her life of wealth and privilege.

Dakota has her own emotional baggage to deal with decades after a tragic event changed her life. Family secrets, rumours and the guilt she carries have all left their scars on her heart. Her strength of character is evident in her choice to remain in the town and teach at the local high school.

I enjoyed watching these two women spar in the classroom setting, one keeping secrets while the other flirted, oblivious to the identity of the new teacher. I liked watching attitudes change as wariness was replaced with attraction and past hurts slipped away with understanding.

A complex emotional ride, the kind that stays with you long after you finish reading.

eARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

4.5 stars

I was so very impressed by A Heart to Call Home. This slow-burn novel was engaging from start to finish. The characters, the story, the writing - everything just worked together in the most beautiful way, and I was left reeling by the end of the novel.

A Heart to Call Home is a story about two women who are still dealing with a tragic event that has shaped their lives for the past 30 years. As the plot comes together, and you understand what the tragic event was, you can't help but be amazed at what Levig managed to pull off. The romance is hate to love - my favourite trope ever - and add to that a tragic backstory, and you'll be enthralled, especially as the two women become closer and bond through their trauma.

Both of the characters - Dakota and Jessie - are in their late forties and are teachers. Jessie is an English teacher and Dakota the gym teacher/coach. I really enjoyed the school scenes, particularly the way Jessie really cared about her students and tried to help them, especially Ian. The small town dynamics were also really interesting too.

I really didn't see the ending coming, as well as the final revelation, but I found it very satisfying, especially as it was alluded to many times throughout the book.

Definitely pick this book up as soon as you get the chance! You won't regret it.

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.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34723150-a-heart-to-call-home" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="A Heart to Call Home" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490718370m/34723150.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34723150-a-heart-to-call-home">A Heart to Call Home</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8585323.Jeannie_Levig">Jeannie Levig</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2288595641">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I rec'd an ARC from NetGalley/Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.<br />Dakota and Jessie lead in this slow burn romance with lots of angst. Difficult scenarios and topics (mental health issues) are deftly handled in this tough read that is ultimately well worth it.<br />4 stars.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/31134832-gail">View all my reviews</a>

Once again, Ms. Levig has written a novel that is so much more than the traditional, formulaic romance found in this genre. A Heart To Call Home is a deeply layered tale of coming to terms with your past and learning to work through the pain, which keeps you from finding your authentic self. At the crux of this tale is the notion that, “You can never get away from yourself.”

Jessie Weldon (Brogan) has returned to childhood home to face the demons of her past. She wants to put to rest the resentments she has against the town and the woman who killed her sister. On the outside, Dakota Scott is the hometown darling, but she is haunted by her past. It is more than just the car accident that took the life of Jessie’s older sister, but also the dark truth behind the fairytale life that the Scott name is tied to.

The book is written from the point of view of each woman. At first it felt like the book was going to be about Jessie’s journey, but it quickly becomes apparent that this is a book about each woman’s journey. The writing is wonderful; there isn’t a wasted line in the book. In describing the irony that these two women find themselves in, Levig writes, “The Universe was cruel sometimes. What better plan to get someone to deal with their sh@t than to wrap it all up in an irresistible package.” [Amazon will not publish a review with an expletive in it.] This aptly applies to each woman.

The dialogue is crisp and reflects each character’s personality. The supporting characters are fully developed. Jessie’s foster father reflects the small, austere world that was Jessie’s childhood and the entire Scott clan represents the privileged yet troubled world in which Dakota grew up. Because this novel is about coming to terms with one’s past, the women’s backstories are deliciously rich and robust.

The only things that seemed off to me concerned Dakota’s little sister and her mother. Tina is introduced at the beginning of the book, but then we really never hear from her again. I was hoping/expecting to see Dakota’s mother come into play at some point in the last quarter of the book. These are small points, which really did not affect my overall opinion of the book, but I thought were worth addressing.

Ms. Levig did not disappoint with this latest book. She has once again written a multi-layered story that is captivating from the get go. I highly recommend it.

I was proved with a free ARC in return for an honest and fair review.

This book is hard to review without spoiling something - so without going into much detail of the plot, I will just say - I really enjoyed this story.

The two main characters had chemistry - even though their sexscenes were kind of weird... there wasn’t really anything happening yet and all of a sudden one of them had an orgasm ...

The mystery/ crime part of it was good and Jessie’s inner struggle felt real and made her character stronger. The same is true for Dakota’s character and her family struggle. Both women have problems with their families, which are completely different but bring them closer together.

I would highly recommend this book for someone who is into romance novels but also for somebody who isn’t, since there is a whole other aspect to the story.

It is difficult for me to make a review of this book without spoil some important parts of the story, so I'll stick to the feelings it has brought to me. This has been a tear-jerking, breathtaking at times, soulful, emotional story that it has been hard for me to stop reading.

The story may not be completely original, the subject may have been read in other books, but in this case it has some aspects that make it more interesting from my point of view. The main aspect for this has been that the drama that underlies due to past events has not been augmented by the discoveries and confessions of today. That would have been too dramatic. So we are talking about a drama, yes, but more about the relationship between two women united by a past that has been following them to the present and that with their relationship they try to leave behind.

Both women are willing to face the facts, the truths, the feelings provoked by the tragedy that happened to them in the past. Once they discover who they are for each other, basically the discovering is for Dakota no so much for Jessie, they do not hide or try to deceive one another or themselves. And when, in spite of everything, they let their attraction flow, they do not do it half-way either.

So the book exposes a relationship open-hearted, not expected or sought after and at times not wanted by both protagonists, but inevitable in the end.

My only complaint, an epilogue would have been well received. But this has been a really great book that I recomend very much reading.

I have had such an up and down reader relationship with Levig. I disliked Threads of the Heart, loved Embracing the Dawn, and was blah about Into Thin Air. I had my fingers crossed I would be going back up with this book. I’m happy to say this was a good read. I did not love it like Embracing the Dawn, but this is definitely Levig’s second best book.

I was very impressed by the slower pace of this book. This is a story about two women dealing with a tragic life altering event. This book would not have worked it Levig went the insta love way. The romance is slow moving. I would almost call this more of a drama than a romance. The two characters connected more because of shared pain, but it still realistically bonded them anyway. It may not be the healthiest way to start a relationship, but I bought it and wanted them to be together. And when they did come together it was pretty steamy. All the sex scenes were really well done.

The two mains in this story are teachers. I really enjoyed those aspects of the book. I liked all the scenes with the high school kids, and am always impressed when an author can make day to day jobs interesting. Also the setting of the small town just worked for me.

I had one big problem with this book, and that was the end. I really was thinking hard that I would be giving this book 5 stars, but then the end happened. All through this book there wasn’t any forced angst. It was angst that came from their shared trauma and it just made sense, until Levig decided to change that right near the end. And the actually ending wrapped up in like 4 pages. So frustrating! Everything else about this book worked for me. Well that’s how my final rating became 4 stars.

Even with that one pet peeve complaint, I would recommend this to drama-romance fans. As I said above this is definitely Levig’s second best book and well worth the read. I’m just bummed because it was almost great.

This is a book that I would call a ‘nice read’. It kept me entertained throughout, the characters were great together and I really wanted to know how it all panned out in the end. Basically everything you want in a book. I didn’t rate it 5 stars because the whole secret aspect did drag on a little too long for me, where I could noticeable tell that the author was waiting for that one BAM setup moment as opposed to surprising me. If the character is talking to herself about having to deal with someone because of a terrible incidence, she wouldn’t skip over the meat of the conflict. As a reader, I would rather be in on it if it’s going to be internally talked about as often as it was.

Also, lets be honest that there is often a formula to these types of books, and one thing that always happens is the big conflict that tears the two main characters apart. I’m fine with it, as everyone loves a bit of drama, but this book felt like that happened way too late in the game for me. If this doesn’t happen until the last like 20$ of the book, then the resolution between the two seems rushed, every time.

I don’t want people not to read this book from of those two things I pointed out because it really is a good read. The author's writing style is wonderful and I really felt like the characters were well thought out and had the depth that makes them believable. They also were both flawed, which is always one of my favorite traits of a good book.

I would definetly recommend a buy.

A terrible tragedy left teenagers Dakota Scott and Jessie Weldon in opposite sides of a family feud. But after meeting again as adults they are both unable to deny their mutual attraction. Can they explore their feelings further or accept that their past history is an insurmountable obstacle?

This book's main premise is a difficult starting point for a romance. Can love be built over the flimsy foundations of pain and mistrust, even when events happened many years ago? In 'A heart to call home' somehow Ms. Levig does the trick. As Dakota and Jessie get to know each other, they also discover things about themselves which change them profoundly. The main characters embark on a soul searching journey which is moving, poignant and sometimes heart-breaking. The reader joins this emotional rollercoaster suffering and enjoying along with the characters. It is one hell of a ride. My only issue about this book is that the ending seems too abrupt and would have benefited from a bit more development. Despite this, it is a very recommendable read.

Overall, an emotional, compelling romance. 4.5 stars

ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not really sure how it feel about this one. It’s another book I tried on my ‘find new authors’ kick. It’s very well written and the characters are somewhat well-fleshed out. I say ‘somewhat’ because most of the character development (and the plot) focuses on the tragedy that defines both characters. Jessie and Dakota’s lives have both been marked by a pivotal event and they are drawn to each other both because of and in spite of it.

I was conflicted throughout the story though, because the romance seemed more like a very drawn out therapy session at times than two people falling for each other. It seemed like every conversation they had revolved around either their students, the shared incident, or their crappy childhoods. There were very few conversations between them about other interests, other events, other people.

I did like the sub-plot with the students, and how Dakota ended up redeeming herself there, although Jackie did come of a little like a paragon of virtue. As for the romance itself, Jessie had always crushed on Dakota, and I sort of felt it was still what drove her attraction in the present.

Dakota’s family was another issue for me, the youngest sister is introduced early then barely features, her brother’s living situation was intriguing, but not really explained. It just felt like threads that weren’t really connected to anything.

I did like that this book touches on topics that you don’t often read about in lesfic, but I felt like there was too much depressing stuff. Between the two of them they’d experienced some truly awful stuff, and it just felt like maybe they were together because they were the only ones who could understand that. I felt like they were brought together by pain more than love, and I wasn’t convinced that they would be able to just put everything behind them after the big reveal, but that might just be me.

The story is well written though, and the characters were compelling, so I would try another book by this author, I’ll aim for one with less angsty topics though.

I read this book in spurts, dus to work and other commitments, so that might have coloured my opinion about it.
I really enjoyed the story and the chemistry between the main characters, but I didn't understand the underlying conflict and the reason of pushing away. So although it's a well-written and good flowing story, it isn't really for me. I suppose other readers , who can relate to the damaged people will like it better.

This book was EVERYTHING. Another new author for me - it definitely will be the first of many books I hope to read by this author because she's fantastic.

Jessie returns home after years away, to reconnect with the only family she has left, and to heal old wounds. She takes a job as a supply teacher at the local high-school where she runs into Dakota, once her pre-teen crush and now a gym teacher at the same school. Dakota has been living with the weight of a tragedy, followed by years of small-town gossip. When she meets Jessie, she believes that she has a fresh start with a woman who is new to town, and who doesn't know her history. But Jessie is only too familiar with that tragedy. Will the two women be able to let go of that pain? Will their attraction and their feelings for each other be stronger than the pain?

I loved every single detail in this book. I loved the small town vibes. I loved Dakota's family. I loved Jessie's relationship with Curtis. I loved Jessie working with the kids at school. So many feel-good, warm fuzzies. But all that sweetness was perfectly balanced with a healthy dose of angst. My favourite combination! Jessie and Dakota deal with a lot of old hurt and open wounds. The author handled it really well, with compassion, and it was well crafted to show the evolution of their relationship and with the two ladies finally battling and winning against their inner demons.

My god, the sex scenes were brilliant, intimate, and emotional. The combination of raw emotion and grief and new attraction and old attraction just set them on fire!

This book made my cheeks hurt from smiling and my heart hurt for the pain Dakota and Jessie went through. All around excellent story and brilliant story-telling.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.