Month: June 2017

Home for the Summer by Holly Chamberlin

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home for the summer

Pages: 352

Publisher: Kensington

Published: June 27,2017

A heartwarming tale of loss, love and finding yourself. Holly Chamberlin has written a story that speaks of true life.

Bella and her mom, Frieda, are staying the summer in Maine with her maternal grandmother, Ruby, to heal after a devastating loss. All three women are affected differently but learn how to heal as a family. Will Bella find herself as a young lady or will she lose herself to grief and pity? Will Frieda be able to move forward in loving another? Will Ruby learn from the growth of her daughter and granddaughter to allow herself to love completely?

Holly Chamberlin touches on so many topics that affect our world and she does so with a loving hand. If you like your reading to feel more real than fiction this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC for my review based on my own honest opinion.

 

Town in a Wild Moose Chase (A Candy Holliday Murder Mystery #3) by B.B. Haywood

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wild moose chase

Pages: 322

Publisher: Berkley

Published: February 7, 2012

Cape Willington, Maine in the middle of winter is as interesting as it is in the summer. Candy finds herself in the middle of another mystery in the first 20 pages of the book.

Candy is working at home when the local hermit stumbles onto Blueberry Acres with a head injury claiming there is a body in the woods. As she tries to get him help, he vanishes without a trace and so does the body. Can Candy find the hermit and the body and solve the case or will she be too busy trying to solve her relationship status with Ben, her boss and boyfriend? Does his mysterious actions have anything to do with the missing body or is he involved in something he shouldn’t be?

The Candy Holliday Murder Mystery series has captured my attention from the beginning because there is something different about it. I cannot quite put my finger on it except that it works. There is romance but only a subtle hint which I like. If I want a lot of romance I will read a romance novel. Candy is not an overly strong female protagonist. She is your hometown sweetheart that goes the extra mile to help others out.

I am very interested to see how this series will grow especially after the last few pages of this book. The cliffhanger is very intriguing.

Light of Dawn (The Remnant Series #3) by Vannetta Chapman

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light of dawn.jpg

Pages: 354

Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Published: June 20,2017

Calling all fans of dystopian fiction, you must read this series by Christian fiction author Vannetta Chapman. You will not be able to stop once you open book one until you have read all three plus the prequel novella.

In book three, Shelby, Max, Bianca and Patrick answer the Texas governor ‘s call to find the Federal Government that is believed to be in Kansas to see what is being done to rebuild the USA after the solar flare. Will they survive the journey?Who will they meet on the way? Most importantly will they solidify their faith in God?

These books opened my eyes in so many ways. They got me thinking, what would I do in this situation? Could I survive? How strong is my faith in knowing God knows my path in life and I just trust if he takes me to it I will come through it.

I already plan on buying this series for a couple of friends and sharing the excitement I experienced while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for an ARC to read and provide a review based on my own honest opinion.

Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble (#14) by Ann B. Ross

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miss julia stirs up trouble

Pages: 272

Publisher: Viking

Published: April 9, 2013

Bless her heart, Miss Julia has done it again! Trying to help Hazel Marie out with the twins after James, Hazel Marie’s live in help, falls down the stairs and injures himself Miss Julia decides it is time to teach Hazel Marie how to cook. If you are a fan of Miss Julia you know where it is going. Witches in windstorms, strange women riding in cars with Mr Pickens, African lotteries and a whirlwind of a Granny. Hold onto to your plates because you are in for a wild ride in Miss Julia Stirs Up Trouble.

Anytime I need a pick me up in my reading I head to the Miss Julia series. I know I’m guaranteed to get out of my poor me spirits. Usually by the 14th book in a series I’m getting a little burned out. Ann B. Ross knows how to keep the energy going in this series.

A great read for a weekend getaway.

 

Beach House for Rent (Beach House #4) by Mary Alice Monroe

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beach house for rent

Pages: 417

Publisher: Gallery Books

Published: 6/20/17

Let’s start off with me saying Mary Alice Monroe is my favorite voice in Southern contemporary literature. Her words make magic before your eyes. You find yourself sitting on the porch of the perfect beach house experiencing the story not just reading it.

In Beach House for Rent, Cara has decided to rent Primrose Cottage in order to make ends meet for her and Brett. We join them roughly five years after Swimming Lessons ends. This is where Heather enters, she is the renter. She comes to SC to work on her stamp commission for the USPS and to work on her fear of leaving the house. A horrible tragedy befalls Cara and she finds she must return to the beach house to find herself again.

Be warned, book four in the Beach House series is a heart tugger several times. Tissues were my best friend. You will fall in love with all the characters, new and old, and find you have made new friends.

I only have one complaint and it is personal. I wanted to see Toy more and have updates on how she and Little Louie were doing not just a couple of paragraphs towards the end of the book. You is as much The Beach House as Emma, Flo and Cara.

The question I’ve been asked the most do you have to read in order with this series. Here is the order I read them in (not the official order they are to be)

1. Beach House
2. Swimming Lessons
3. Beach House for Rent
4. Beach House Memories

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an ARC copy for my own honest opinion.

Weddings at Promise Lodge (Promise Lodge #3) by Charlotte Hubbard

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weddings promise lodge

Pages: 368

Publisher: Zebra (Kensington Books)

Published: June 27, 2017

Could Promise Lodge sound any more perfect? Do they have problems? Yes, but the perfect part of it is they solve it as a neighborhood family.

Christine Bender, one of the founding sisters of Promise Lodge has fell in love with the new Bishop. Until, Leola, a young woman from Bishop Monroe’s home community comes to live at Promise Lodge. She claims she loves him and he has to marry her since “he ruined her”. No one can put their finger on it but something seems very off with Leola and her claims. Will the truth come out and set Bishop Monroe free to marry Christine?

I enjoyed this Amish novel for the different aspect it provided. Most Amish novels I have read frown up a Mennonite and Amish furthering their relationship to possible marriage and this one did not. The people of Promise Lodge let Mennonite and Amish live within the same community. Very well done. Acceptance at its finest.

I have not read the previous two novels in this series but that did not slow me down one bit. I was able to follow along and understand who was who. You can bet I will be running to the library to get the first two as soon as I can. This series has piqued my interest big time. I am already looking forward to the next one and this one has yet to publish.

Charlotte Hubbard has provided peace and feelings of acceptance with the Promise Lodge community. Sometimes we all just need a little of that in our lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zebra (Kensington Books) for an ARC of this book. Any and all opinions are my own.

An Amish Summer by Shelley Shepard Gray, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin

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an amish summer

Pages: 400

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Published: June 6,2017

The four stories are separate but intertwine in that they all deal with the hardships of young adulthood and merging your life with another in marriage.

In A Reunion in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray we learn that just because something is not what we expected, doesn’t mean it is bad. This was the perfect story to keep the Pinecraft series going.

In Summer Storms by Amy Clinton we learn you protect those that you love most but sometimes you also hurt those you love the most.

In Lakeside Love by Kathleen Fuller it shows outside beauty doesn’t always ensure happiness. One must look past physical beauty to the inner beauty to really know someone.

In One Sweet Kiss by Kelly Irvin you are taught that letting go is sometimes the best way to find love. This story has made me want to read the other books that take place in Bee, Texas.

These short stories are perfect for a summer day at the pool or beach. They allow you to stop and start very easily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC copy to read and provide a review based on my own honest opinion.

 

Amish Brides by Jennifer Beckstrand, Molly Jebber and Amy Lillard

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amish brides

Pages: 352

Publisher: Kensington

Published: May 30, 2017

All three stories are wonderfully written and very enjoyable. I have found a new author to start reading in Amy Lillard.
My favorite of the three stories is The Reluctant Groom by Jennifer Beckstrand, of course, as we venture back to Huckleberry Hill. How can you stay away from Anna and Felty? I think we all wish we had them in our lives at one time. Suvie is quite a pip and is a prefect friend for quirky Anna. With those two in charge you never know what is going to happen.  Tighten your seat belts because you are in for a ride!
In Joshua’s Bride by Molly Jebber, I was able to visit with the Amish of the 1800’s which is not something I do very often. Your heart will go the sweetest of highs and the saddest of lows as Madeline tries to love her fiancé’s family as they despise her at every turn.
Finally, in A Summer Wedding in Paradise by Amy Lillard we join feisty, independent Reba as she becomes the teacher for the last few weeks of school. A mishap that leaves her breathless is not just because she lands in the muddy ditch. It is a case of “those dastardly dimples”. (My favorite line in the entire book). Will Reba succumb to the dimples or will she be able to wipe them right off Abel’s face?
This book is perfect for the summer nights that you only have a few minutes here and there to read due to kids ball schedules, camps and etc. as the chapters are short and the stories are as well. Also a great book to wean your way into the Amish reading world if you have not done so.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for a free ARC for me to read and post a review based on my own honest opinion.