There's a first time for everything.
Lark Wainwright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.
When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.
Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.
Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.
Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he's good for much more than farm labor.
Lark Wainwright used to be fearless. Her life was a series of adventures, each one more exhilarating than the last. But her recent overseas adventure was one too many. Now she’s home and in one piece. Mostly. But her nights are filled with terror.
When her best friend offers her a stay at the orchard in exchange for help at the farmers’ markets, Lark jumps at the chance to spend fall in Vermont. But her nightmares don’t stop. Desperate to keep her fragile state a secret, she relies on the most soft-spoken resident of the Shipley Farm to soothe her when her dreams prove too much.
Zachariah is a survivor, too. It’s been four years since he was tossed aside by the polygamist cult where he grew up. He’s found a peaceful existence on the Shipley’s farm, picking apples and fixing machinery. But getting thrown away by your own people at nineteen leaves a mark on a guy. He doesn’t always know what to make of a world where movie quotes are the primary means of communication. Before hitchhiking to Vermont, he’d never watched TV or spoken on the phone.
Actually, there are a lot of things he’s never done.
Zach and Lark slowly grow to trust one another. One night they become even closer than they’d planned. But Lark may still be too broken to trust anyone. When she pushes Zach away, he will have to prove to himself that he's good for much more than farm labor.
review
4.5 stars
Zach had a difficult life growing up in a cult where he had no worth except as a work horse. He wasn't fed enough, educated properly or loved. He was whipped harshly and still has the scars. He was never shown how to be a good person, but he's practically a saint. He's first to volunteer help in any situation, and he truly cares about people.
Lark has always been an adventure-seeker. She's traveled the world and had crazy times. Because of her free nature, she didn't put much stock into safety, until she was kidnapped abroad. She's suffering from PTSD. Trying to outrun her issues, she visits the Shipley's farm.
I like Lark. Even with fear and depression trying to take hold in her life, she has a spark in her personality that draws you to her. Between the two of them, Zach is the one who's inexperienced sexually. I like that. He's a big, tall, muscled, thoughtful, quiet, intelligent sweetheart. I LOVE Zach. He is a beautiful human being inside and out.
This series is full of great people. They work hard and live well. The Truth North series has fresh air, good food and quality people. I adore the lack of negativity and melodrama. I really recommend Keepsake. It's the type of story you can connect to emotionally and come away feeling good. The characters are the type of people you want to know in real life.
