Touch the Sky

Ahhh!!! If I could shout from the rooftops how amazing this book is, I would, but that sounds kind of dangerous! I knew I was going to love Jacinthe's story and the way Katia pulled at my heartstrings should be illegal. I love these two together and seeing their pasts helped me understand them so well. Honestly, the stars of the show are Jacinthe's Mom, Gabrielle, and Tess's daughter, Shel. These two are such heartwarming side characters with MC energy. Tess is a single mom who recently expanded her farrier business by taking over for someone retiring. Of course, that brings her to Jacinthe's farm that she runs with her mother and the hilarity that ensues in the first few pages had me spellbound. I was laughing out loud and choking on my energy drink, the energy I'd need to stay up all night and binge this book. I love that we get to see the other characters from book 1 and see the beginnings of the set up for book 3 (which I can't wait for). DO NOT MISS this series, or really, any of Katia's work. The way she writes... *chef's kiss* I feel like I know La Cloche and the people there, I can envision the scenery as well as the characters and the gorgeous word choices and writing patterns just blow me away.

You smashed it again Katia! I enjoy reading your book series and am looking forward to Maddie’s story, as I anticipated a great read in Jacinthe’s! And it’s more than great! The Three Rivers series was also outstanding. You are a gifted writer Katia in that your words create the picture in my mind as I read perfectly. That a sign of a talented writer.

4.5 Stars Thank you to Katia Rose for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was the perfect follow-up to Paint the Moon. We finally get the meet the "hot farrier" they talk about in the first book. I was so glad we got to see the character development from Jacinthe in this book. She went from being a quirky side character to a fully evolved FMC. And i'm a sucker for a good single mom trope, so seeing how Jacinthe interacted with Tess's daughter was so sweet. Both Tess and Jacinthe were so set in their ways, but it was great to see how quickly their walls started to crumble. This was swoony and angsty in equal measure and I ate it up. I can't wait to see how Maddie's story will round out this series in the next book. Loved the story.

Katia does it again, that’s for sure. Continuing on with the 2 out of the 3 Balsam Inn owners, this was another fun and heartwarming story that makes me want to visit Quebec even more. Cannot wait for Maddie’s story to round it out.

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, but I confess perhaps I’m a bad ARC reader because it has taken this long to write a review. Katia Rose fast became one of my favorite writers through her character development and story telling. So far as a follow on to the Three Rivers series, Balsam Inn is measuring up nicely. I was able to binge read all of Three Rivers, and I’ll probably do the same once the third Balsam Inn story is released. In the first Balsam Inn story (Paint the Moon) I admit I thought of Jacinthe as more of a side/supporting character and didn’t expect her to be the MC of the new story, but it worked. Katia really brought her into focus and made me care about her and her story. The whole first chapter was a setup for a groaner of a dad joke, and I did literally LOL! I had to explain to my wife and daughters what was so funny. I can’t wait to read Maddie’s story, and if I may humbly submit, this series leaves room for a 4th story too, set a decade or so in the future, for Tess’s daughter to find her own HEA. Or maybe she’ll kick off her own series? Only Katia knows.