Seneca has been walking for a couple of weeks when she ends up in a small quaint town. In need of money she decides to stay a bit so she can earn some cash and hit the road again. But she's drawn to the town due to the familiar vibe and the stunning Robyn so when they ask her to stay until after winter, she agrees. Not like she has another choice anyways.

Seneca is a stoic character who has been through a lot. She hasn't dealt with her demons instead she runs from them. Meeting Robyn and her family makes her reconsider that strategy.

Robyn is a nice and patient person. I like how she approaches Seneca and how she does her job.

The story is cute and the pacing is ok although the romance is a slow burn. For some reason I had trouble connecting to it hence the 3 stars.

An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

Nice, heartwarming story. Overall well paced although jumpy at times. The main characters were relatable and had great chemistry. I also appreciated the supporting cast around them. While there was some angst as plot drivers, it was overall a lighthearted book. This is one I would revisit.

A good debut book by Jo Hemmingwood. While the plot was a bit predictable (a "crime" most romance books are guilty of) it is a nice read.

Seneca is a war veteran haunted by the death of her brother, a death she blames herself for. While tracking around she ends up in Idaho at Robyn Mason's family ranch where they work with troubled boys.

There is a fair bit of angst while Seneca works out her guilt and her brother's death with the help of Robyn, the horses and the kids.

Former Army sergeant Seneca Twist lost her brother in Afghanistan and is having trouble adjusting to civilian life. After traveling for several months, she ends up with a temporary job in a boys’ ranch in Idaho. Robyn Mason’s family owns the ranch and as the resident psychologist, she helps troubled boys during difficult times in their lives. Seneca and Roybn don’t agree on much, but their shared values (attraction) bring them closer together. Seneca isn’t one for staying put, though, and even though she and Robyn are close and she loves her temporary community, will it be enough for her stay?

I enjoyed this heart-warming romance. I can be sucker for western-set stories, particularly those about cowgirls. Plus, I’m a sucker for an opposites-attract story. The slow burn between the two characters as well as the family atmosphere made for a satisfying and warm, fuzzy read, and I can always use more of that in my life.

I enjoyed how the relationship between Seneca and Roby developed. Seneca is dealing with problems after leaving the army by being constantly on the run but found that she had to stay with Robyn. Although this is a very predictable storyline, the characters were well-written. I get this is a debut novel, and I hope to read more from this author.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley and Bold Strokes in exchange for an honest review.

Really,really good read. It's a solid romance with fantastic descriptions of the setting and scenery. It's a really easy read and on the whole, an enjoyable plot. The main characters are very much likable and well thought through.

I'll be reading more from this new author.

4 out 5

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

The story follows Seneca Twist, a war veteran running from her demons. Literally. For the past few months she's just been walking, aimlessly, staying only long enough to get enough money to move on to the next place. She ends up in Idaho and, despite her efforts, she becomes involved in a local ranch and the people involved. Specially the ranch's psychologist Robyn Mason. Robyn works at the ranch, which also is a second chance spot for boys, and becomes instantly intrigued by the quiet woman that comes to work at the ranch.

Despite the trauma that Seneca is dealing with, the story never becomes bogged down. The main issue is Seneca's fear of becoming close to people as she struggles with her actions that lead to her brother's death. But the people of the Ranch refuse to let her wallow and show her a community is necessary for survival and healing, even for a wanderer like herself.

This is a well written, nicely plotted romance with a likeable main character, Seneca, who is carrying a lot of emotional baggage. On return from Afghanistan and suffering with survivor guilt she is walking across America, stopping here and there to get money and rest up for the next stage of her journey.

Until she is offered a job at a ranch in Idaho with other damaged souls. Seneca is fascinated by Robyn but keeps her at arms length - or tries to…

There is a fair amount of angst in this story but it is a narrative about home and belonging and the changes Seneca has to accept in herself before she can see what lies ahead for her. And before she can find happiness and love.

An entertaining and interesting read.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

Former army sergeant Seneca Twist is walking....walking through her nightmares from her time spent in afghanistan and on her walk she makes a decision to stop in a town for food and there she finds a job on a ranch

with the advent of snow in the area and seneca not being from that area its to late to continue with her walking so has to button down for the winter there

can the farm be the answer to all of senecas nightmares and be enough to stop the nightmares from continuing or will the call of the road be to much to ignore

enjoyable read about a working on a ranch with all its challenges

The smell of barbecue lead Seneca to a new job in a temporary place to stay in Butterbean Valley but when she meets the owners daughter a doctor it causes Seneca to have feelings Sue forgot she even possessed. Not to mention her great nurturing ability with horses and how she just fits right in with her boss his partner and especially his daughter. The only problem is Seneca has scars she’s been to war lost a brother and although nurturing horses comes natural conceive and have a relationship with another person she hasn’t been close to anyone since she lost her brother in romance seems almost completely new to her. I loved this book I love that Seneca was so long did that this Opry too good for the room doctor couldn’t hide her feelings at least not to her self. I love that they didn’t instantly get together and have hot sex but tentatively and respectfully and oh so sweetly came together this was such a great book and if you love Love then you will Love Broken Fences by Joe Hemingwood I thought it was a great book that held my attention and although this book isn’t reinventing the wheel the author certainly puts the road spin on it and it’s one that I adore. I received this book from NetGalley in the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Delightful story about Seneca (relevant name) who has started to walk away from her life due to her PTSD, who finds herself in Idaho where she has to stay as the weather is turning. She is at a ranch for troubled boys run by trained psychologist Robyn, who has an understanding of how PTSD can affect someone. Lots of outdoors ranch scenes, including lovely moments with horses, and importantly a strong sense of family and community. There is some slight peril but overall a lovely book.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Seneca Twist came home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan she felt she didn’t come home the way she’d wanted, with her brothers in arm traveling by her side. When they came under attack she was one of the few that survived. She tried staying in the forces but she had gone through too much, so she took on the job of training other soldiers . But when that didn’t work to help settle her mind caring about the guilt that plagued many upon return.
After saying goodbye to her mother she took off walking. Where she was walking didn't matter; she just had to keep on the road, running away from all her thoughts. Taking jobs here and there she only stayed long enough to make some money for the next part of her journey. That’s until she finds herself in Idaho on a ranch where she not only found herself a job she found herself getting close to the family that ran the farm, especially Robyn.
Robyn Mason has lived on the big farm her whole life. Her father Win, along with his best friend JD has turned the farm into a cattle ranch while using some of the space to help young men turn their lives around. Robyn, being a psychologist, worked with the young men.
Now Seneca and Robyn are trying to find out if they could possibly have a relationship or was Seneca going to pack her bags again and start walking. Ms Hemmingwood has given us a wonderful read. Great characters both main characters Seneca and Robyn and the supporting cast along with some romance and adventures make this a very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

A beautiful well written debut from Jo. Seneca an army vet is wondering from state to state with little to survive. While in Idaho she stumbles across a boy's ranch with horse and get a job. She meets Robyn a psychologist who slowly gets her to open up and face the traumas she's dealing with. well done, I recommend 4.5 stars,

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

Really good story. The relationship between Seneca and Robyn was equal parts sweet and sort of complicated. Seneca an ex soldier was a wanderer trying to find a purpose in life after tragedy,who only stayed in one place to make a little money then move on. Robyn who's a therapist works from an office on a ranch owned by her father that helps wayward boys in need. I thought this was a well written story with just the right amount of angst and drama to make it interesting, but not bog it down unnecessarily. The support characters were written well and the family and friends were so likable, that when the villain was introduced it was a bit jarring. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

Seneca has only what she carries on her back as she travels on foot from Alabama to Oregon. But, first she stops in a small town in Idaho where she gets hired at a ranch to help out.

Robyn is a psychologist that works at the ranch, because it is also a sort of home for wayward boys. They clash a little at first, but, soon, they start to understand each other, even if they are different.

Of course, Seneca's plan was never to stay forever, and, so the two of them falling in love is a heck of a curveball. I liked most of the characters, although I felt like one of the antagonists was a little one note, and, the story of the other antagonist seemed to just disappear?

Still it was a fun ranching novel, and a good read!

This has been a story with a bit of a sad background, one of the protagonists is an army veteran who goes aimlessly until she arrives in a town where she hopes to spend a few days as usual but ends up being trapped by the atmosphere of camaraderie. and unconditional acceptance.

The other protagonist is the daughter of one of the ranch owners and is dedicated to the integration of children with problems.

At first they both feel a certain rejection towards each other, for different reasons, although at the same time they feel curiosity and a certain attraction.

Breaking the barriers that they have raised, especially Seneca, costs effort and desire on the part of both of them. The journey has been tortuous and somewhat painful. But it was worth it.

3.5 stars. This was a wholesome book to read. It’s about healing, finding family, and a place to belong. And yes, there are horses, cowgirls and general ranch work, which I generally like to read about, so this was a good read for me. I don’t think this book is the most surprising in terms of storyline, but it’s a solid read.

Seneca is an ex-army Sergeant who has a poignant and tragic back story. She deals with various forms of trauma, or maybe it’s better to say she doesn’t deal with it because she keeps moving around, never getting attached to anyone or anything. That is, until she ends up at a ranch one day where she meets Robin, the owner’s daughter and resident psychologist. There is attraction and a very slow building romance. I like how Hemmingwood takes the time to let them get to know each other before delving into lust or love territory, which would not fit this storyline. It’s good but frustrating to see how Seneca tries to fight her feelings, certain that she is not relationship material.

I thought there might be more angst in this book due to the ex-army storyline, but there is in fact not too much angst, maybe at times I actually expected or wanted a bit more, but I like some angst so maybe that’s me. Besides the romance there is also life at the ranch including some rivalry with one of the farmhands and some action parts that kept the story at a nice pace and interesting. I must note that the action scenes were not very believable to me though, which might be due to my lack of knowledge on US gun laws, but it all felt very wild-west and I couldn’t help wondering how they seemed to get away without extensive involvement of law enforcement.

All in all, this is a good debut, the storyline is somewhat predictable, but I liked the characters and especially Seneca.

<i>I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

Where weary wanderers come to rest
Hard to believe that this very well-written f/f romance is the debut book by Jo Hemmingwood.

Broken Fences is set in rural Idaho, on a ranch and I totally loved how Hemmingwood introduces the sight, sounds, the animals, the characters and the local community as an important part of the story. She brings the setting vividly alive: I could feel the cold, hear the creaking of leather, and smell the horses.

Enter Seneca: A veteran, haunted by her service in Afghanistan who is walking away, walking on and walking again until she comes to this quiet place. The onset of winter, new responsibilities keep her from moving on and Hemmingwood shows how she slowly takes roots again. I loved how feelings are slowly blossoming. Everything is told leisurely but with intent and I savored the story as it unfolded.
Kudos to the author and hopefully the first book of many more to come.

Thanks to netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC. The review is left voluntarily.

Have you ever felt like just walking away from everything? Ex army Sergeant Seneca Twist is doing just that as she detours off the major thruway in Idaho. Dangerously low on funds and food, Seneca is in search of a temporary job at a working ranch so that she could continue her walk about. The ranch also functions as a group home for older boys in the system which is run by psychologist, Dr. Robyn Mason.

Interest flares at Seneca and Robyn’s first meeting and yet debut author Jo Hemmingwood holds us back to linger in this delightfully slow burn adult romance. The tentativeness brings with it a realism that is so often skipped over in this genre. The author creates for her main characters thoughtful conversations to resolve their differences and enough adventures on the ranch for their true emotions to show.

Broken Fences is a beautifully written breakout novel that deserves all our attention. Brava Jo Hemmingwood, brava.

I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Seneca Twist is walking across the state of Idaho heading towards Washington. She was a sergeant and wounded in Afghanistan and is living with survivors remorse as she adjust to being out of the military. She stumbles into a job at a boys ranch working with horses. Robyn Mason is the residential psychologist at the ranch her father runs. Both Robyn and her father see Seneca’s strengths and make it possible for her to stay on through the winter.

The story isn’t ground breaking but it is well written. Robyn is gentle as she gets Seneca to open up about her past. I like the equine therapy used to give the boys confidence and skills. Some of the situations I found cliche like the fired cowboy doing damage.. But the romance is gentle and sweet. I wanted a HEA for the pair. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)