This was the perfect book to sink my toes into with the return of winter the last couple of days. The description of the sand, sun, and heat sounds absolutely perfect at this moment.

We return to the island with Irene and her grown sons. Each has an agenda of their with the same idea, to move on from Russ’s betrayal and subsequent death. Friendships have the possibility to turn into something more but does anyone have the strength to move forward.

I really enjoyed the diary entries from Rosie’s point of view. You know what she is doing morally wrong but being blinded by love can skew your feelings. In all of this Maia is the one hurt the most by the deception and deaths of both her parents.

I am deeply invested to see how this saga unfolds. Again another cliffhanger at the end that makes you automatically pick up the next book.

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I only have a few of Elin Hilderbrand books left to read. Her books turned me onto my love of Nantucket. I am ready for warmer weather and thought why not read her Paradise series.

Winter in Paradise is book one in the trilogy. It opens on New Year’s Day in Iowa with Irene meeting her friend for their annual dinner. While at dinner Irene gets a call but chooses to ignore it. When she gets home the same number calls her on her landline. That call will change the life Irene thought she knew. Her husband has died in a helicopter crash in the British Virgin Islands. He wasn’t alone there was a woman with him. Irene along with her adult sons go down to the islands and learn that Russ, husband and father, had a secret life.

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! The more you read the more secrets popped up. The ending is one heck of a cliffhanger. I ran into my husband’s home office and lamented what a tragedy it was that I had to wait for the library to send book two. Come to find out. I own it…on my kindle. Yay! Hubby just may have to figure out our supper. I have to know what’s next!

See you after book two…

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This romance novel is perfect for fans of RaeAnne Thayne and Debbie Macomber. A smidge “Hallmark” with steam but no spice.

After an ultimatum is issued at Gemma’s work she takes a vacation to her hometown in Colorado to babysit her honorary niece. She must have a decision made in regard to her work by the end of the week. While there she runs into her high school boyfriend, Stephen, her niece’s English teacher. Gemma agrees to help with a school fundraiser and finds herself falling in love all over again with her baking and Stephen.

This is book one in a three book series. I came upon this series while perusing the book list distributed by my local co-op extension office.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. Her pacing and enthusiasm at the correct times made for an easy listen.

I will continue the series.

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Sports romance is all the rage currently and who better to turn to than Susan Elizabeth Phillips, the godmother of sports romance.

And the Crowd Went Wild is her eleventh book in the Chicago Stars series. The book opens up with Dancy fleeing like Cinderella in a light up dress right into the arms of her high school quarterback prince, Clint. Whom she hasn’t seen since she was a high school senior. He wants nothing to do with her but at the same time he doesn’t feel comfortable turning her away. He gives her one week of refuge but neither expect the feelings from high school to rekindle. Before they can fan the flames they must discuss the past.

I didn’t expect to like Dancy. I was thinking she would be the ho-hum fading actress with no depth looking for her next “take care of me” victim…er um love interest. I was so wrong. She had depth and smarts. By the end I was cheering her on.

The last ten percent of the book had a stranglehold on me. Be prepared once you get there you will NOT put the book down.

Each of the Chicago Stars are written to be read as a standalone. I have only read book ten and eleven and have been fine.

Join @authorbrendanovak this Thursday night 8pm ET on her Facebook page for her interview with Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

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Wow, this book packs quite a punch.

Widow Hope finds herself in Amish country to help her sisters with the antique shop bequeathed to them. As she tries to move forward she never expected to run into a friend of her dead husband.

Curtis wants to save the town that was his childhood summer dreams. He has plans to revitalize and bring business to the town. Before he can do that he must find a babysitter for his precocious daughter.

As Hope and Curtis help each other out they find themselves growing closer each passing day.

This book would be a perfect read for anyone thinking of marriage or getting married. So much wisdom imparted on how much work it is to keep a marriage strong. We would all love to believe it just takes love to make a marriage work but it takes perseverance, compromise, and patience.

The hardest storyline for me personally was the addiction of Curtis’ sister. My grown son fights daily to overcome his addiction to fentanyl. He has suffered for six years. We take each day one day at a time. When he is clean at the end of the day we thank God that he was strong another day. It is true that an addict has to want help and they have to want to change.

A strong story with a happy ending.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. The review above is my own opinion. I was not paid in any way for my review.

This book is out TOMORROW!!!

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At nineteen years old could you single handily decide to raise three young boys after the death of their parents?

This is the decision that Amelia has agreed to do after her sister and brother-in-law die in an unexpected accident. She moves into their house and sets to being a mom. The Amish community she belongs to decides she needs help and to accomplish that feat she needs to marry soon. The Amish are strong believers that children should be raised by two parents. The man the community hopes takes on the challenge is Owen, her now deceased brother-in-law’s brother. Besides not really knowing each other he lives 400 miles away in another Amish community. As they work out a plan to satisfy everyone a higher power has plans of His own.

If you want a book to grab your heart immediately this book is for you. You cannot help but feel the angst Amelia goes through. So young but so strong. Owen didn’t grab me as quick but once you got to know his story from childhood you just wanted to hug him.

My favorite part of the book was Amelia finding the green tin of recipes. I have a green tin of recipes that was my mama’s. I thought it was lost and while cleaning out my parents home for sale I found it! It was the best present from heaven my mama could have sent. Mindy has included a recipe for Hummingbird Cake.

I received a complimentary copy from the author with no requirement to leave a positive review. The above review is in my own words. I was not paid in any way for this review.

4.5 stars

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I have become a huge fan of this series and was excited to learn that there is a spinoff series focusing on Jazzi.

Murder with Darjeeling Tea brings excitement, hope, and happiness. Daisy is planning a surprise birthday party for her love, Jonas (remember I didn’t like him at first) and stops by Mr. Rumple’s concrete statuary business for a present. Jonas knows of Rumple as they both volunteer at the local animal shelter. Unfortunately, Rumple’s life ends at the shelter. The more Daisy tries to stay out of the investigation the more she becomes entangled.

We get to see more of Jazzi, Daisy’s youngest daughter, growing up into a well rounded young lady. Daisy and Jonas are moving their relationship right along and even Daisy’s aunt has a major change in her life.

The ending will leave you smiling which is surprising since I’ve not always been a fan of Jonas. I thought he was controlling and rude but he has since changed his ways. I’m kind of perturbed I have two other books I must read before diving into the next in this series. But promises must be kept.

Included are recipes for Chicken Chili, Cheese biscuits, and peach salsa. I’m thinking of a main dish so I can make the biscuits. Yum yum in my tum.

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Do not let the pretty colors fool you in thinking this book is all fun and games. It was heavy. My mind I’d still spinning thinking how I would have handled certain things.

Matriarch Esther has been one of the beloved “funeral ladies” who makes sure grieving families are fed. (Why did we ever let this tradition cease?) Her husband has passed away and she finds herself falling for a sob story on Twitter and ends up $30,000 in debt.

Cooper finds himself in the north woods of Wisconsin for his stepmother’s funeral. His famous chef father and him have had many differences over the years and Cooper is suffering from PTSD and is scared of every loud noise. They only come together for Cricket, Cooper’s thirteen year old sister. Who honestly seems the most grownup of this family of three.

Cooper finds himself falling for Esther’s granddaughter, Iris, and agrees to help Iris with her plan to save her grandmother’s home.

There is so much heaviness to this story. Without giving too much away you have PTSD, secrets, aging grandparents, verbal and emotional abuse, and lingering death.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the characters being read by different narrators. It pulled you in.

There are no sex scenes but cursing is used freely. Especially the “F” word. I would be hesitant to listen to the audiobook with young children around.

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What is the last book that occupied your thoughts 24/7?

Answer: Last Christmas in Paris by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

This book is written mostly in letters between Evie and others during World War One. It is set in London and France. Evie’s brother, Will, and his childhood friend, Thomas, go to war and Evie writes them both to keep them connected to home and to encourage them as the war drags on for several years. Through these letters Evie comes to grow fond of Thomas. The more they write the braver she becomes and finds her as a telephone operator. They aren’t near each other but letters still find a way to each.

I don’t want to say too much of the plot because I believe it will take away from how you are to feel while reading. You need to experience all the ups and downs without being warned.

Let’s just say I’m so glad I walk on a treadmill at home. The amount of tears this treadmill has seen since August. The last 23% of the book was anguishing.

Definitely a 5 star read for me.

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A clean friends to enemies to friends romance.

Sloane and Max became friends during college, started a very successful business together, and during a rough time he dropped Sloane like a hot potato. Fast forward four years and she is back in Maine to stay with her niece for several months. What Sloane didn’t realize is that the apartment she is staying in is owned by Max. What follows is a push and pull relationship that brings to light how a conversation here and there could have prevented the distance in their relationship.

Uneasy Street is book three of the Sons of Scandal series and I was perfectly fine starting with this book. The relationship between Sloane and Max is not the only story. You have adoption, a missing tiara, and estranged family.

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