The first paragraph sets the character of one main. We meet the other main when she does.
The friendship or perhaps courtship takes place while they are on a track and we are on the track too. Funnily enough the barrier to them being together isn’t really discussed till more than half way through. Nor is it staring this reader in the face. However, when it is laid out it is a pretty substantial barrier because it is in the mind really.
I was a bit displeased by one’s main reaction to a late plot bump, but the author beautifully resolved this by her reaction when the plot bump was smoothed and she would have been willing to sacrifice location….. Trying to avoid spoilers!
This is the third book in a row that the blend plot has been stronger than romance. That seems an odd thing to say as I’m not sure this should count or is billed as romantic blend but the outdoors and overcoming or maybe even becoming is such a strong part of this book and separate from the romance. As I say, third in a row so it is possibly me rather than the romance that is a bit off. 2.5 for romance and a very comfortable 3 for the rest so a 3 all in.

Amber just got the rug pull from under her when she loses her job especially when she basically in my kept the business going. While spending time at home she realizes she wasn’t happy and this give her idea to get out of her comfort zone and do something different decides to hike Appalachian Trail while trying figure out what she wants out of life. Leslie is living her life they way she wants and is on her finale hiking trail on her bucket list she would like her friends to company her but they all have settle down so decide to go alone. Amber and Leslie meet by chance and even though both clash they decide to hike Appalachian Trail together since this Amber first time and Leslie being a pro hiker who been doing this for more then twenty years the conversation between Amber and Leslie is honest and open that felt real when they became intimate. I like the journey of walking the Appalachian Trail and the theme of friendship and even finding a found family and finding yourself.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

I really enjoyed this story and learning more about the AT hikes.

It almost……made me want to go hiking…..well at least watch the Reese Witherspoon movie of her hiking haha.

Amber was an intriguing woman and I hoped she would find what she was looking for out on the trail. I had thought we may have seen her at least attempt some of the hike by herself , so we could see just how different a feat these trails are but as the story progressed I saw that it was more about making human connections rather than her own self awareness. I think it needed a little bit more of the trail life with just her and “Mumch” as it felt like the last third was a tad rushed. Sacrificing some of the corporate details at the beginning might have given more time to the romance towards the end.

I would recommend this story as I was totally invested in Amber and Leslie “Munch” lives.

This made me want to hike the Appalachian Trail and as I do like to hike and be outdoors, that would be a lot even though Sparks had me aching with all the feels for this book.

Amber Shaw is a big time CEO worth a ton of money, living her best life, but it all comes crashing down when she let go unexpectedly and ends up deciding to go hiking for 6 months. As a city woman, this is a massive change, but Amber needs to find herself and what she really wants out of life. I loved seeing the progression and the inner monologue of Amber finding the true meaning of life and what's expected. It was beautifully written even before Leslie entered the picture.

Leslie is hiking the final trail of the big eleven and feels like she doesn't compare to Amber and that she can't offer Amber anything as she's been focused on this one goal for the last twenty years. Yet, when they meet, they clash, but then they find what they've been looking for in each other and on the trail.

I absolutely loved this book. The writing was amazing and the detail made me feel like I was there with them. Absolutely loved it and highly recommend this book to everyone.

I received and ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I like the outdoors and romance, so I must like this book, right?

Turns out, this novel kind of fulfills this expectation. It is a sweet enough
love story that slowly burns between the two main characters as they hike along the
Appalachian Trail, albeit with relatively little character development.

What turned me off (and made it three stars for me)
was that it in parts also is a cross-over of romance
and travel description, with the sound track of a self-help book. There
are a lot of repetitive hiking facts, like a direct write-up of a Google-fest,
especially in the first couple of chapters and in the Epilogue.

But I really liked the hiking, seemingly written by someone who did it herself!

(based on a free ARC from NetGalley)

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

i'm not a heavy romance reader but both my appalachian adjacency and my love for camping, climbing, and overall wilderness stories put this book on my radar.

if i were to describe this book, it would be if hallmark movie took place on the appalachian trail and if they allowed queer people in those movies. so we have: the big wig ceo who likes morning kale and strawberry smoothies and sharply tailored suits forced from the office. no, it wasn't her boss telling her she's a workaholic and she needs to discover the spirit of christmas - instead, amber shaw is edged out after a big, ceiling-busting merger in favor of a straight, white, cis man. this part rings pretty true, honestly.

amber takes her severance and spends a couple of weeks in her fancy penthouse thinking about the future. when she stumbles upon the movie <i>wild</i> she decides the thing that she needs to figure out her next move is to remove herself from the big city and find herself in the wilderness.

leslie "munch" brown is a hiking legend with one final trail left to hike to complete the scenic eleven - a list of eleven national trails. she's the real deal. she's also assigned a double-booked seat for an airline. when a businessman claims the seat first, amber overhears the conversation and offers leslie a first class upgrade, especially since they both seem to be carrying packs and heading on a months-long trek on the same trail. amber thinks that leslie needs direction. leslie thinks that amber is out of touch. with almost 2200 miles to go, they embark on a journey to discover that maybe what they're both looking for is the same thing.

i loved this. i loved reading about the hiking, the bears, the treks in mud and the rainstorms, how good real, hot food can feel after days subsisting on rehydrated curries and oatmeal. you can tell that the author has a real love affair for hiking and the outdoors and didn't just collect details from a cursory look on a wikipedia about hiking.

if i had any criticisms about this it's that i think that the quibbles leslie and amber had about money were resolved really quickly and i think i'd have loved if that had been explored more. ditto, conversations about their individual futures and finding their meanings in life, but i think desire is more because i'm typically a litfic girly and not a romance reader.

this though, this was fun and i had a great time with it. i can't wait to read more of nance sparks' work!

Amber Shaw is escorted out of the company she has run for the last seven years after a large corporate merger. Her driven life has put her on the cover of Fortune but she isn’t really happy. She settles on hiking the Appalachian Trail as a way to find herself and give her a break from the world she knows. She is smart, does the research to avoid novice pitfalls and she is in shape. On the way to begin the trail she meets Leslie Brown. Leslie is a living legend in the hiking world and this is her eleventh major hiking trail. She has spent twenty years of her life hiking over 25,000 miles. They seem an unlikely pair but they enjoy each other’s company.

I’ve been on the trail in the Smoky Mountains and crossed it in other places. I love the trail setting and enjoyment of the natural beauty. I thought it was unrealistic how easily Amber adjusted to the difficulties of trail life. I was surprised how easily Amber and Leslie fit together because they have nothing in common. Everything is told from Amber’s POV so you get her anger and frustration. Leslie is the more interesting character, and you learn her background through conversations, but I never felt her emotions. I thought she was the most real in their first fight about money. But that seemingly isn’t an issue when it comes to the neat and predictable ending. I enjoyed the story but I didn’t connect emotionally as much as I wanted to. I also wasn’t convinced that the ending spot would fully satisfy Amber in the long term.

Nance Sparks is always an enjoyable author and I will look forward to her next writing adventure. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

This was a great read! I loved all the descriptions of trail life. It made me want to do my own research on going on one of these hikes! I highly recommend this book!

I absolutely loved the setting of this book on the Appalachian Trail. I would love to see more stories in such gorgeous and challenging settings. In face, the setting was my favorite character. The scene where they were hiking in pissing down rain for three days was brilliant. I felt cold and drenched to the bone reading it.
I'm not a big fan of first person as I feel an imbalance of knowing everything the main character in first person is thinking and not nearly enough of the one who isn't. Writing characters in different points of view is a challenge. I adjusted pretty quickly and didn't feel the imbalance as much until one of the main characters leaves the AT promising to come back to meet the other and finish the through hike. We get to read thoroughly what the character in first person is thinking and feeling in this time. Yet I felt like I didn't get as much insight into the other character and wanted to know what was going through her head from her. Overall, it was a great story and I hope to read more in such fantastic settings.

Great characters and story plot. I love the development of Amber’s character. I was drawn to her from the beginning. The author did such a good job with her personality. I think the Appalachian Trail even holds a unique place in the hearts of those of us who haven’t traversed it. Stories about the hikers and the trail bring out the adventurous nature in all of us. The more I read I felt as though the characters became a part of the trail—like family—connected to something larger than themselves.
I love the grittiness of the characters. They are not the typical, perfect-sized bodies either. They feel realistic, as do the situations and dialogue.
This story stirred many emotions as I read on. I could feel the betrayal Amber felt. The need to accomplish something and feel her self-worth. Friendship. Love. Sadness. Even a sense of triumph. And more. No, I never give spoilers.
My only criticism is I thought the ending was perhaps a bit cheesy, but it works. Just sayin’.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing this book for my review consideration—opinions here are mine and mine alone.

Great read about a great hike
This book hooked me from the first page: I loved how Nance Sparks in a few sentences shows Amber‘s background and what corporate greed can be like. Brilliant. Amber an ambitious CEO with a conscience and great people skills is backstabbed by her board. And the classic move is of course to promote a mediocre guy. A hard pill to swallow for Amber and I deeply felt how it hurts to be escorted by security out of the building.
I love how Amber starts a new project: Hiking the Appalachian Trail and to see her commitment to find herself. The author deftly avoids the pitfalls of dwelling too much on the trope ‚city slicker in the woods‘ instead she introduces Leslie whose career has been hiking and who is a legend in ‚hiker-dom‘ for her achievements. I totally loved the reflections about their different lives and the commonalities they find.
The author does a great job of intertwining the outer and inner journeys of Amber and Lesley and I loved to follow them on their trailsl.
Another great thing about this book are the friends and family found - it makes the story even on rainy hiking days warmhearted. I loved the real and gritty descriptions of nature and strenuous hiking - no sugarcoating and great awe at the same time.
I was glued to the page until the end and didn‘t want to leave this wonderful story and the great crew.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

I thoroughly enjoyed Appalachian Awakening by Nance Sparks. I've read a couple of other fictional books about women hiking the AT and this was by far the best, in my opinion.

Amber Shaw has just negotiated the best merger of her life to poise the company that she leads as the CEO toward the Fortune 500 level. However, the day the merger is finalized she is walked to door and replaced with a misogynistic male who is paid four times her previous salary. Although she is a successful businesswoman, she has lost her direction with this dismal. She goes home that evening and watches the movie Wild based on Cheryl Strayed’s book and Amber has a desire to hike the Pacific Coast Trail. She is talked out of that and instead plans to hike the AT. She plans, prepares, and schedules a flight to Atlanta to kick off her hike at Amicalola Falls. Prior to her flight to Atlanta, Amber meets Leslie Brown (aka Munch) in the airport through a stroke of luck. Due to airline seating issues they end up sitting next to each other when Amber offers to upgrade Leslie to first class with reward points. We learn that Munch has hiked in the spring, summer, and fall for the last twenty years. The AT thru-hike is her last major trail to complete.

The description of the hike, especially the early parts in Georgia and North Carolina made me feel like I was there along with them, and their friends Bobber and Cricket, on the hike. The friendship that developed between the four women added a lot to the trail camaraderie. An enjoyable and educational read. 4.5 stars
 
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book it is the first time I have read anything by this author.
Amber has decided to try and find herself after losing her job and partner so she goes on a hike for several months she meets Leslie at the airport before setting off and become friends before the romance of it all sets in.
Its a lovely story with the usual will they get together/ stay together and find out who they are and what they are wanting from life.
I enjoyed the banter from all the characters and the trials that they endured. Would recommend thankyou for advanced copy.

I’ve enjoyed several books by Nance Sparks but I found this one to be slow and didn’t really hold my interest.
Amber and Leslie have met up in an airport by chance both heading to begin a hike of the Appalachian Trail.
They decide to stick together since Amber has never hiked anything but the stairs of her corporate building and Leslie has hiked several trails.
It’s mostly a learning process for Amber along the way.
They are attracted to each other and you’ll get a small taste of that as well
Overall a bit disappointing. But I do appreciate the effort put into the writing process.

Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks #AppalachianAwakening

This book was so good, I loved it! This book was exactly what I was hoping for and more when I spotted it on Netgalley. I love stories about characters finding what they really want in life and figuring things out, add in the thru hiking setting and theme and I knew I had to read this one. And I am so glad I picked this one up as I really enjoyed it from start to finish.

Appalachian Awakening follows the story of Amber, who just lost both her job and her girlfriend. She has always striven to be the best at everything and has more money than she knows what to do with, but she still feels empty and like something missing. After losing her job and girlfriend in the same day she decided she wants to try hiking the Appalachian trail.

I have to admit I wasn't sure I was going to like Amber at first, something about her personality and attitude made it hard for me to like her at first, but the way it was written still had me curious to see what was next for her. Then once she realizes something is missing and actually sets out to find it and I quickly warmed up to her. I liked her dedication to try something so different from what she is used to and how she gave it her all by researching well beforehand. She's used to everything her money can buy and seeing her willingly set off and walk days on end without shower or restaurant meal was really interesting to see. And even more how she opens her heart and mind to find that what's missing in her life.

This is not only a story about Amber figuring out what she wants from life, it's also an awesome romantic story. The book also has a strong theme about friendship and I would even call it found family, as Amber's real family doesn't care about her, but she finds friends who do. And everyone has their own distinct personality, from Sue whose like a mother and best friend to Amber to the couple Cricket and Bobber who become good friends to Amber. And ofcourse Leslie, the love itnerest.

I loved the way the romance was written. Amber and Leslie have something that connect and draws them together from the start, but it's their honest and raw talks that really forge a deep bond. And only later it turns physical and they fit well together in that way as well. I liked how open and honest they are with each other. There isn't a lot of drama and angst about their romance, even though they have things to deal with. When struggles or doubts pop up they actually talk about it and when something is pulling them apart their feelings are clear. I really liked reading about these two and while we don't get Leslie's point of view I felt like I got to know her almost as well as main character Amber. The epilogue was awesome and I really liked seeing where these two ended up.

The hiking journey was very well written, with the walk really coming to life and I was able to picture the scenes well. There's just something about the thru hiking setting that really works for me in a book, it's such an unique type of backdrop for a story. And the way it's such a change from Amber's normal life that it forces her to reconsider everything was great.

To summarize: I loved this book! This book was everything I hoped for and more. It has an awesome plot line about Amber who has to figure out what she wants from life and what is missing. As well as a heartfelt romance with two characters who are raw and honest with each other and connect through deep talks and only later physically as well. I liked how the romance was low on the drama and how these two talked things through. I appreciated how I felt like I got to know love interest Leslie almost as well as Amber. It also has a theme of found family and friendship as Amber has some great friends around her who each have a distinct personality. The hiking made for a great backdrop for the story and I enjoyed reading about the trail hiking. The epilogue was wonderful and I loved how the book ended.

Amber Shaw looses her CEO job and her girlfriend the same day. Shocked and dismayed she hits on the idea of hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Leslie Brown, experienced hiker, is less than impressed with Amber, but as they keep running into each other, sparks fly.

While they're happy together on the trail together and with their friends, Amber's old life rears up to possibly pull her back in.

Good read. I liked Amber, Leslie, Bobber, Cricket and Sue, and the serious and funny adventures they have on the trail. I also bought the heroine's as a opposites attract couple.

I did find myself wondering how the stuff with the company played out, considering how big it all is to the plot.

It only takes 79 words on the first page for Nance Sparks to pull you into a journey you will want to take. Every following chapter lays all of the groundwork for a life-transforming year. I read page-after-page, didn’t want to stop. Honestly, Sparks’s nimble navigation of scenes, words, and intention all make sense as she weaves the story about 180-degree changes for her main characters.

As you read Appalachian Awakening straight through like a day-in-the-life, week by week, scenic vista to vista, you become immersed. Immersed in the emotion of hard and soft subjects, big and little decisions, and how they will transform your life. Soon you will be saying, ”that’s happened to me, I’ve been through that too, I wish I had had a Leslie with me.” Nance’s prose has you walking side-by-side with her characters on the trail, feeling what they are feeling, and nodding your head with their choices. You are going to enjoy this from start to finish. Soon you’ll be saying as Leslie, “Maybe you have to find the next thing to put your heart and soul into?"

Linda M

Cheryl Strayed move over! Hiking for miles and miles has never been so life changing and utterly romantic. This is a true rich girl- poor girl story to savor.

I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Amber Shaw is a hardass CEO. She built the company up until it skyrocketed into the Fortune 500. Her latest achievement is securing a major merger. How harsh is it then when the board of directors choose to go forward with another CEO. Ego bruised and battered she gets home early to find her girlfriend moving out. All the shitty things happening lead Amber to one question: who the hell is she if not a fancy millionaire CEO that lives for work? It is watching the movie Wild and learning about Cheryl Strayed’s story that she makes a decision. She will hike the Appalachian Trail and find what she’s looking for or at least find what she needs.

Leslie is better known for her trail name Munch. The hiker that has spent the last twenty years completing all eleven National Scenic Trails in the US. Living the hobo lifestyle. She saved the best for last: the Appalachian Trail or AT. That hike will conclude something her late mom was never able to. What she didn’t count on was the stunning newbie hiker she meets on the plane. One that becomes her trail buddy quickly and the one that steels her heart in the process and gives her a new purpose in life.

Hiking with Amber and Leslie through the pages is a wonderful experience. Sparks does an epic job in describing the wonders of nature and the joys, and sometimes horrors, of life on the trail. The story is told from Ambers perspective but because both she and Leslie open up to each other it is as if you get the same intense story from Leslie’s side. I love how their connection is built on mutual respect despite their differences.

The two become fast friends with a sapphic couple on the trail and the connection they build together is strong. The couple serves as the most important side characters, together with Amber’s old secretary/assistant Sue. The role Sue has played in Amber’s life is one of friend, confidant and a mom, because her real mom is horrendously lacking in the parental department. Sue’s support for Amber is heartwarming and Her hilarious sayings had me laughing out loud more than once.

I bet that after reading this book the Appalachian Trail will be flooded with lesbians looking for their own Leslie! But if you just want to enjoy it in the safe and warm comfort of a snuggly blanket on the couch and just go on a fictional hike, this is a great start of the trail!

I really did enjoy this story. I felt like the author took us on a journey with both women and added friends. You get to see Amber do some self reflecting on the way she sees herself but also the way she’s made others see her. I really liked her inner monologue and how she worked to build herself up and enjoy freedom. Leslie was definitely a fun character in the story. She certainly had her own things to work with considering she’s lived most of her life to fulfill someone else’s dream. Finding her sense of purpose was delightful to read. Reading about the various acts of trail magic, meeting new friends on the trail and various laugh out loud moments of people who absolutely underestimated the hike was a great part to read. Overall, I really did like this story and would love to see more of the characters in continuation stories.

Facing yet another failed relationship and a full-blown identity crisis after losing her job in a corporate merger, unemployed executive Amber Shaw realizes she hasn’t been happy in a long time. Who is she if not a CEO, and if everything she’s worked for hasn’t made her happy, what will? Inspired after learning about the Appalachian Trail, Amber sets off in hopes of figuring it all out.

Leslie Brown lives life on her own terms with nothing to tie her down. She’s an experienced hiker and has one final trail left on her bucket list, the Appalachian Trail. Only problem, all her friends have settled down and started lives that don’t allow for seven months away from responsibilities. She’s out there alone. Amber and Leslie assume they are polar opposites based on their first impressions of each other, but the more their paths cross, the more this hike of a lifetime begins to look like a love of a lifetime.

I devoured this book. I love stories where women my age go through dark times and come out with a new purpose and sense of self. ❤️ Amber and her need for control, being prepared and rocking it was fun to watch! Leslie is my new book girlfriend. 🙂

The dynamic between these two was so much fun to read. Both of these strong women finding what they were looking for, and finding each other, was a heartwarming delight for me. So much growth for each of them. Loved the ending, it was perfect!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!