HEARTLAND by Sarina Bowen takes us back to Vermont to catch up with Dylan Shipley and his neighbor Chastity, who we first met in Keepsake (True North #3). Both are in college at the University of Vermont, so yes, this friends-to-lovers story is New Adult.
Dylan is in Burlington having the full-on college experience, partying and avoiding commitment like it’s his job. He’s tutoring Chastity in algebra and dating her roommate Kaitlyn. In other hands, Dylan might just be a typical college dude. But between his insecurities about always falling short of his brother’s expectations, his charm and cinnamon roll tendencies, everything balances out.
Chastity is getting her bearings in college, after living an extremely sheltered life and escaping a cult in Wyoming. (Hey, if you can go with cults in romantic suspense, you can go with it in contemporary). What’s actually weirder than her history is she doesn’t have a cell phone. Anyway, Chastity’s been crushing on Dylan forever, but he’s kept her in the friend zone, believing he’s not a relationship guy. And if things went bad, the ripples would affect far more than their friendship.
Heartland is a sweet, sexy, angsty, straight up sizzler. I’ve started to age out of New Adult (getting old, I guess!), but this one pulled me in and wouldn’t let go. More than once I found myself thinking, where was Dylan Shipley when I was in college?! Damn. But it’s not just the hot farm boy factor.
At first glance Chastity looks like the typical sheltered virgin heroine, but if you’ve read Sarina Bowen, you know that’s not her style. Chastity evolves over the course of the story. Through her relationship with Dylan, she finds her voice, not just sexually, but in the world and with her found family. For his part, Dylan discovers he doesn’t want to be the guy no one can rely on, who gets by on “just enough.” Yay for legit character growth!
As college often does, it has a fair bit of roommate drama. And honestly, I hope Kaitlyn never pops up again. But there are some indicators that’s probably NOT going to be the case.
Dylan and Chastity make periodic trips back to the farm(s) to work on a joint project, but there’s not as much Shipley family in Heartland. (Something I always look forward to in True North books). Dylan and his brother Griff continue to be at odds as Griff tries to plan for the future of the farm and Dylan’s role in it.
All in all, it’s a satisfying installment in the True North series, particularly if you’re already invested in the Shipley family! But if college-aged MCs are a little too young for you, maybe wait til the next one.
4 stars
Check out my previous reviews in the True North series, Speakeasy and Fireworks.
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