I had a hard time getting into the story because I didn't like the main characters at first. Andy seemed so haughty and seemingly superior, while Hazel seemed to give in and shy away from Andy. It was a rather unpromising start that almost made me give up.

Thank goodness I didn't, and little by little, Andy stopped being the city girl who thinks she's better than everyone else, and Hazel began to show herself as the strong woman who controls her life and is a pillar of the rural community in which she lives.

The environment in which he is exposed is deceptive, since at first it seems as if the townspeople are not up to date with things or want to evolve, but Andy will realize that it is not like that, but rather that they want to maintain their traditions without missing opportunities to grow, but not at any cost.

And the same thing happens with Hazel and her apparent fragility, she voluntarily hides her sexuality and also hides from herself things she would like to do and that Andy offers her, to the surprise of both of them.
The setting, the supporting characters, the events, all made the story very interesting for me in the end, and I really enjoyed it.

The good thing about this book is that it only took a half a day to read. So when I felt like I didn't want to finish it just an hour from the end, I slogged through.

I just didn't like the characters. They each seemed like stereotypes, and their dialogue was so clipped it didn't feel natural to me. The love scenes bordered on porn at times, and by the end of the book, which didn't span that much time, they were in love with each other.

Just not my cup of tea.

A very cozy and small town romance with all the feels. This was a enjoyable story about Hazel who care for her father and enjoys her town, but not when an ex lawyer Andy comes to town after she inherits a house from her great aunt that happens to be across the street. Hazel agrees to help Andy start up her new property law business and they become friends.

A bit more backstory would have been nice, but a sweet, read. It was a good setting and all, but I didn't really connect.

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

First chapter sets the scene. Dislike and distrust at the heart of the first meeting.
I was slightly surprised that one main wasn't out to her dad because the teasing about the other main led me believe he knew...... of course possibly he does.
I know it's me but first kiss to spanking in the office is not a route I want to take..... even with consent. (I'm not sure changing the location would have made me any happier but it pulled me further out the scene). The scene is interrupted and when is eventually revisited is well done.... and I'm still not a fan!
The book was fine but I didn't really warm to either main, which makes it very difficult to warm up to their coupling….. in any sense! A 3 because I didn’t love it but it’s neither the book or me!

Andy just inherited a house from her late aunt Darcy and it came at a time when she needed the most. Andy is a criminal lawyer who left her job because of stress and becomes a realtor in small town Green Valley, Alabama where she wants to bring modernize the small town. Hazel lives everything about her town and doesn’t want it to change she takes care her father Paddy when Andy moves across the street she fears that Andy is there to change the town and they clash because of it but then they found common ground and start to become friends that turn into more. I thought the writing was very fun and entertaining. The characters were well developed and the banter was great.


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

A very delightful read that was fun and entertaining. The story was well written, the characters were fully developed and likeable. I really enkoyed this and recommend.

Thank You Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley.

This book was filled with southern charm. It was a delightful read and my only complaint was that it was too short. I want more of theses characters and the southern Alabama town where it takes place.

Hazel is a handywoman, landlord of several small business in Green Valley Alabama. She likes the old fashioned charm of her home town. Andy Rictner inherits her aunts house in moves from Birmingham to the house across the street from Hazel. Andy was a lawyer and is now a realtor. She has plans to turn the rural farmland into subdivisions.

Even this this story has been told several times before I thought the writing was very fun and entertaining. The characters were well developed and the banter was great. And the sex scenes were hot. Overall a quick and enjoyable read.

Thanks to BSB and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Andy and Hazel are now neighbors since Andy’s great aunt died and left her house to Andy. As a newly licensed realtor she plans to come to town and get business up and running with all the great property around.
Hazel lives with and cares for her father and she does not want a realtor destroying their tiny peaceful life.
Things will get more bumpy when someone wants to build a new housing addition.
The closeness sets Andy and Hazel’s attraction on fire.

I have read other stories by this author but this was too slow for me.

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

andy has inherited her aunts home in green valley alabama.... its arrived at a time in andys life when she needed a change from the high pressured job she had as a lawyer

she has big plans for herself and her new job

hazel loves her community and knows everyone. she also doesnt want someone just moving in and changing how the town works so if andy has plans hazel wants to know what she up to....

are hazel and andy really on opposite sides or can they work through their stuff and get to where they really need to be...

not a bad read.... small town living can be hard for certain people and expectations are high

Thank you to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and to author Jo Hemmingwood for this ARC! I’m happily leaving my true and honest review.

Heart’s Appraisal was a deliciously sweet romance with a healthy dose of delectable spice! I really enjoyed the pacing of this story and that we are thrown right into the thick of it, so to speak. Our ladies meet right away as they become neighbors and the book really takes off. Hazel is a very sweet small town girl who takes care of her father and community alike. She loves her town and wants to preserve it at all cost…even the cost of being true to herself. She lives a life of simple contentment but remains closeted and isn’t “out” within her little town. Living life in the closet is something that I am all too familiar with and it was so beautiful to read of Hazel’s growth. We watch this caring, giving, selfless woman finally love herself enough to choose herself. It was a journey that I was happy to take with her and found it written beautifully.

Andy moves to Green Valley, our loveable and fictional small southern town, because she inherits a lovely estate from her aunt. She ends up moving in right across the street from Hazel. Though it is their proximity and professions that bring them together it is their connection and undeniable chemistry that has them choosing each other. Andy is very much a fish out of water in this small town with her big city roots. She has a larger than now personality and projects that onto her visions for the town. She is an attorney and wishes to take Green Valley into the future and to help it expand, grow and modernize. She wants to usher in a new era for Green Valley that will see it grow…and hopefully make her some money in the process. Hazel isn’t having any of it. She loves her idyllic little town just the way it is. She loves her small town life, stifling as it appeared to me, just the way it is…or does she? Eventually, she is able to see that Andy is not the villain in her story and in some ways can be viewed as the heroine. Though Hazel does the heavy lifting, Andy does help her to see the value in being true to oneself and living your truth.

I really enjoyed watching these two make room for each other in their lives. They are so different and yet seemed to compliment each other in the best of ways. They were like living embodiments of puzzle pieces for me. Eventually, they both give a little and get a lot in return. The writing was playful and yet layered. I felt invited into Hazel and Andi’s world right away and never felt that invitation rescinded. A story of growth, love and acceptance at its best. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the spicy scenes that were pretty darn hot! My hats off to the author! For me, a love scene or two is practically vital. I always feel more connected to the love story and find it more compelling when we are privy to the intimacy of our leading ladies. Good job, Jo Hemmingwood. I was glued to this book right to the end. The story never fell flat and it definitely kept my attention through our HEA!

I would highly recommend this sweet small town romance!!

A charming and cosy sapphic romance set in a small town. Hazel meets Andy, a lawyer who has inherited a house in the town from her great aunt.
Andy seems tough and business focused, but she has a good heart and Hazel quickly falls for her.
Hazel isn't out in her community, and so has to navigate what to do.
This is a sweet, lighthearted romance, with a few spicy scenes.
An enjoyable read.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I found it enjoyable. The characters were well developed, and there was some nice spice included. I appreciated the descriptions of the area and its residents. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The book starts off right away — the main characters are introduced immediately, each with distinct backgrounds. One is a resident of the community, the other an outsider, and through their interactions the story explores differences in culture, background, and personal skills. These contrasts are portrayed effectively and add depth to the story.

The characters are engaging — or become so as the story progresses — and it’s easy to empathize with them. You really get a sense of how certain experiences shape who we are and how we grow through them. That emotional connection made the story feel quite personal at times.

I would have appreciated a bit more depth in the characters’ backstories early on. As it stands, you’re dropped straight into the middle of the action, which keeps the pace moving but leaves you wanting a clearer picture of who the individuals are from the start.

The writing is smooth and accessible, making it a very quick and enjoyable read. Special thanks to Paddy and Darcy, who add warmth and nuance as supporting characters — they really enhance the story.

I received a free copy of this book, but I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

Small town girl Hazel lives with her father that she is taking care of. She is loving her community and will do anything to preserve it. One day the former criminal lawyer Andy comes to town after inheriting her great-aunt’s property that is across the street to Hazel’s house.

Initially they clash since Andy is so dismissive. They both check out each other though but decide to stay out of that complication. When Hazel helps Andy to start her new property law business things start to change but Hazel at the same time so afraid that Andy there to destroy this amazing town, but is that her intentions really? It is complicated though since Hazel not out in her town, Andy cannot aske her to come out so perhaps she should stay away from Hazel. They are so compatible though so perhaps there is a way.

Overall a fast and enjoyable read, some more backstory would have made the book better but since such a short read that just did not fit I guess.

Heart's Appraisal features Hazel Quinn, a real estate owner of several business properties and Andy Richter, a city lawyer who has left that job due to stress to become to small town realtor. The story takes place in fictional Green Valley, Alabama, located outside of Huntsville in North Central Alabama. Hazel loves her small town and wants it to remain unchanged with small town charm. Andy wants to separate large acreage into parcels of land and auction/sell them off for profit. She also wants to modernize other real estate holdings that she receives. Thus, the conflict between the two women after they meet. To complicate matters, they live across the street from each other when Andy inherits a home and land from her Aunt Darcy. In addition, Hazel is not out in her community.

A few of the things that I loved about this book:
• Understanding the background and motivations of the two main characters
• Hazel's dad, Paddy, and their conversations plus his insightful discussion with Andy
• The city ice queen and hometown girl dynamic
• A couple of sizzling scenes that I was frankly surprised by

Overll, a short but enjoyable read. 4 stars






I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jo knows how to write books that hit me in all the feels and this book is no different. i was right into this world she built for this book and didn't want to leave. so i didn't from start to finish. Jo always brings me characters i get deeply invested in. and i they always hit deeply for me. i can picture them and end up caring for them. this book and the characters we meet are no different.
the cover for me of this book was a little bit of genius for me. i dont know why but it hit so many good points that grabbed me in and made me smile every time i saw it. it involved so much of the inner thoughts of the book and plot. the connection was better than i often get so that somehow felt like an extra win.
any and Haze both come to this close knit town with different beliefs for it. both come to their meeting with different shades of baggage. but can they put it down to see passed their own stubborn projections onto both the place they live and each other. because this pair and their interactions are for us readers bringing love. and deep down the two of them are finding it harder to keep their attraction at bay.
but is it enough?
and just what will be best for the town now? can their be a balance? who might stay , who might go but in home and in heart?
another book that somehow held my heart as well as my attentions.