What Happens in Idaho by Bonnie Jo Pierson: Book Review

 **Complimentary copy received via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Book

WHAT HAPPENS IN IDAHO by Bonnie Jo Pierson is a touching journey of love, loss, and laughter, where a trauma surgeon and a mechanic discover that healing comes in unexpected forms, making it a must-read for fans of Nicholas Sparks and Jojo Moyes who cherish heartwarming contemporary romances set against the backdrop of small-town America.

Despite saving people's lives every day as a successful trauma surgeon, nothing can mend Dr. Liliana Chase's heart after the loss of her husband and baby girl. When her mother convinces her to come back to Clear Springs, Idaho, for the first time in seven years, she intends to make the visit as short as possible. What she didn't expect was to wreck her car while avoiding a cow with a death wish.

Blake Richardson, a mechanic and single dad, isn't used to helping fiery physicians, but he can't leave Lili planted in a potato field and facing off with a cow. He swears he'll never let another woman into his world after the way his ex-wife left him, but something about Lili keeps him from seeing her as just another big-city doctor.

While Lili is stuck waiting for her car to be repaired in the tiny rural town, she can't resist the pull Blake has on her. Blake's fun-loving and genuine personality might be enough to make her believe in love again. But there's a secret weighing heavily on Blake, and his connection to the death of Lili's family will force them both to confront their fears of loss and abandonment, or risk being alone forever.

The Author

Gifted with a short attention span, American contemporary romance author, Bonnie Jo Pierson, wants to experience and do as much as she can. Using the great powers of YouTube she’s taught herself how to knit, crochet, paint with oils, acrylics, and watercolors, coach volleyball, play the piano and cello, ride a motorcycle, renovate a house, sing, sew, raise livestock, bake, and most importantly how to write.

As a member of Romance Writers of America, the Storymakers Guild, Idaho Sisters in Crime, Idaho Writers Guild, and Manuscript Academy, she’s won the Heart of Denver’s Molly contest, placed third in the Orange Rose contest, was a finalist in the Sheila and Four Seasons contest, and placed multiple times in the contest at Storymakers. She also earned a spot in the RAMP mentorship program. She and her Navy veteran husband have four children and spent several years as military nomads. Now she’s made her home in small-town Idaho, where she’s attempting to resurrect her great-grandparent’s one-hundred year-old farm. What Happens in Idaho is her debut novel.

You can follow her on Instagram @authorbonniejopierson.

Book Review

Don't let the cute cover of this book fool you into thinking this is going to be a simple, happy romance... while it does certainly end in a happily ever after and has some great moments that made me smile throughout... there were also some really heartbreaking moments too. It was seeing these characters overcome the guilt and heartbreak that really gave their love story so much depth and made me really root for everything to work out for them. Blake and Lili had great chemistry that I absolutely adored, but while I don't want to give too much away, they also had a lot of obstacles standing in their way. It was a sweet romance and I enjoyed seeing them work through everything in the end. 

Grief is a huge part of this story, with Lili having lost both her young daughter and her husband. There are also mentions of other tougher topics such as emotional abuse/childhood trauma, alcoholism, abandonment, etc. which could be triggering for some readers. 

What Happens in Idaho is a closed-door romance with kisses only on the pages, though it does have a bit of innuendo and a subtle fade to black scene (married couple). There is a good amount of language throughout the story as well. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3xREd7M