When they First Met by Debbie Macomber is a 2012 Ballantine Books publication.
This 27-page novella/short story was included in the digital version of When they First Met by Debbie Macomber is a 2012 Ballantine Books publication.
This 27-page novella/short story was included in the digital version of ‘The Inn at Rose Harbor’. Basically, it just goes into greater detail about how Jo Marie met Paul, how they fell in love and decided to get married.
This is a poignant little story considering how things turned out for Paul and Jo Marie- but it was nice to get a better feel for the kind of man Paul was and why Rose fell in love with him.
Overall, a nice, sweet bonus read, but not necessary to enjoy the series. If your library has a copy- go for it- but you don’t need to go out of your way to get a copy.
The Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber is a 2012 Ballantine Books publication.
This is the first book in a five-book arc, which is a slight spin ofThe Inn at Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber is a 2012 Ballantine Books publication.
This is the first book in a five-book arc, which is a slight spin off from the Cedar Cove series. I loved the setup- Jo Marie, a widow, buys a B&B and welcomes guests with troubled souls- which means we get two fresh stories in each installment while we follow Jo Marie’s own journey back to happiness after losing the love of her life.
I found myself easily caught up in the drama- Abby and Joshua each had compelling and emotional stories. I think this is a series that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories about people overcoming emotional traumas, who find forgiveness, healing, and peace- with only mild romantic elements,but will also appeals to romance lovers- though the romance is not the main focal point.
This is good story telling and it is easy to see why Macomber is so very popular. This book is a a little over a decade old, but shows very few signs of age.
I’m looking forward to meeting the next set of visitors to the Rose Harbor Inn!!
4 + stars
*This book has a bonus novella- which I will review separately....more
Her Valentine Cowboy by Kit Hawthorne is a 2023 Harlequin Heartwarming publication.
Roque wants to make a go of it in Texas, but what family he has thHer Valentine Cowboy by Kit Hawthorne is a 2023 Harlequin Heartwarming publication.
Roque wants to make a go of it in Texas, but what family he has there is not exactly welcoming, nor are the locals who are wary of his northern accent and the way he dresses. But Susanna remembers Roque when he used to visit the area many years ago. She had a big crush on him back then- so, when she sees him struggling to fit in and get on his feet, she takes him under her wing, showing him the ropes, so to speak.
Her strategy pays off in ways neither of them counted on. Susanna gets more clients than she ever could have hoped for, and Roque finds himself getting more work. But the feelings developing between them was not a part of their agreement…
It’s that time of year again… and love is in the air. Many people decide to read a romance novel during the month of February because of Valentine’s Day, but because I read romance novels on a regular basis, I decided to find one with ‘Valentine’ in the title. My library had this one front and center and because it was a ‘heartwarming’ story, I felt I’d found the exact kind of book I was looking for.
As it turns out, it was! This is a very sweet, romantic story. It’s clean and wholesome- with the gentle message of accepting people who are different from us. The story is very light- there’s no super serious subject matter or heavy emotions. It’s just a wonderful, feel-good story- and it will definitely put you in a romantic mood.
Remy rescues a drowning man who turns out to have amnesia. This disrupts Remy’s quiet, isolated existMemory Lane by Becky Wade is a 2023 publication.
Remy rescues a drowning man who turns out to have amnesia. This disrupts Remy’s quiet, isolated existence as she is forced to take care of him. The sparks fly – but each of them has a dark part of their past, they must come to terms with.
For her part, Remy is willing to help find out who this mysterious man is and help him piece together the missing pieces of his memory… a task that could prove dangerous…
While I did enjoy this book- for the most part, I did have a few qualms.
One thing I feel I should mention is that the cover could be a bit misleading, and this is an issue I keep encountering. This is not a Rom-Com. It’s not even all that ‘light’. There are some heavy issues addressed in the story and though the author did a good job handling it delicately, the subject matter could be uncomfortable for some readers.
The other thing that bothered me was that the book is listed as Christian Fiction- which was really stretching it. Very little faith-based content- but plenty of other content that CF readers might find surprising- or perhaps controversial… which is why CF can be such a slippery slope sometimes.
That said, the book is ‘clean’- no sexual content, no harsh language or descriptive violence. Still, that doesn’t make it CF.
Other than that, though, the story is enjoyable- and I liked the mystery elements. There was a little something in the book for everyone- romance, mystery, drama and emotion- and it was all very well balanced.
Overall, I was of two minds about this one- there are some blips and gray areas- but the story is good, nevertheless. So, I’ll go with a 3.5- but rounded down.
A Lakeside Thanksgiving by Leeanna Morgan is a 2021 publication.
This is the third book in the ‘Sapphire Bay’ series. I picked this book because the tA Lakeside Thanksgiving by Leeanna Morgan is a 2021 publication.
This is the third book in the ‘Sapphire Bay’ series. I picked this book because the title suggested it was centered around the Thanksgiving holiday. I have not read the previous installments- but hope to go back and fill in the backstory a little someday- but that said, one can glean the gist of things and it is not necessary to have read the first two books to enjoy this one.
Thanksgiving is mentioned several times in this book- but if you are thinking this story is in any way a traditional turkey day tale filled with holiday staples and big families gathered around the table with plenty of side drama- then you would be wrong. In this story there is a wedding taking place at Thanksgiving, and planning time is short.
But the main focal point of the story is centered around Barbara. Barbara is in Sapphire Bay for a few more months due to a sitpulation made by her grandmother. She intends to head straight back to San Diego the minute her family obligations are filled. Then she meets Theo- a local radio station owner who also left the big city -but for very different reasons. It seems like the real deal between them until their big city lives tempt them to return to the frenetic lives they had before coming to Sapphire Bay.
I admit to feeling a little disappointed that Thanksgiving itself wasn't more of a focal point in the story - sort of mentioned in passing, really. There are so few novels centered around this holiday, I had hoped to find one that would remind us to push the pause button on all the Christmas commercialism and take time to be with family and friends- count our blessings, and reflect on who and what is important to us.
But, upon further reflection, the message was one that I get on board with- but I must say this, though-
Putting people before careers, slowing down and taking time to find solitude, to help others, to pay it forward are not exclusive to small town living. In fact, I live in a small town and we are just as guilty of working sixty or more hours in a week as those who live in cities. No small town is as idealistic as books make them sound and both have their unique challenges- but whereever you live- you can still adopt a mentality of prioritizing and finding a balance between work and family.
So, overall, I ended up really liking this story, though it was not exactly what I had in mind. It’s clean, pleasant, and while light on the surface, there’s a gentle, but important message there, too.
Hooked on You by Kathleen Fuller is a 2021 Thomas Nelson publication.
This is a pleasant enough contemporary fiction/ romance novel. It’s a great choiHooked on You by Kathleen Fuller is a 2021 Thomas Nelson publication.
This is a pleasant enough contemporary fiction/ romance novel. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a clean story without a lot of super heavy or dark drama. That said, it’s not a story that will stick in my memory for very long.
Though this book is labeled as Christian fiction, those elements are very weak. In fact, ‘clean’ or ‘sweet’ romance would be more accurate. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some Christian fiction readers were critical of some the verbiage used in the book.
Overall, though, it was a nice way to pass an afternoon…
Lark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews is a 2018 Minotaur Books publication.
Meg is stunned to discover the baby Jesus in the church’s nativityLark! The Herald Angels Sing by Donna Andrews is a 2018 Minotaur Books publication.
Meg is stunned to discover the baby Jesus in the church’s nativity play is not Robyn’s baby, but someone else’s. According to the note attached the baby could be her brother Rob’s baby! As Meg goes on the hunt to find the baby’s mother, a web of intrigue will force Meg to gather reinforcement from the women in Caerphilly…
It’s been a long while since I last touched base with Meg and the gang. I thought since this was a Christmas themed installment, I might pull it out for a ‘Christmas in July’ thing- but I knew I needed to get back into the series ASAP because I still have a mountain of installments to read through to get caught up.
The holiday books are always special, and this one was no exception. It was a fun and hilarious romp through the snow with Meg and all our favorite Caerphilly characters. The last quarter of the book was so hysterical, I had to put the book down for a minute to gather myself. I was reminded of how fun this series has been and that I need to touch base a bit more often!
Christmas at Cozy Holly Inn by Meredith Summers is a 2021 publication.
This is a cute holiday themed contemporary novel centered around Pinecone FallsChristmas at Cozy Holly Inn by Meredith Summers is a 2021 publication.
This is a cute holiday themed contemporary novel centered around Pinecone Falls, a cozy little town in Vermont. Julie Green’s grandmother, Ida, is selling her B&B, but before the sale in finalized, she wants to host one more Christmas Eve party. Unfortunately, she is a little under the weather, so she calls Julie asking her to help with decorating the B&B. Because Julie is in-between jobs, and she can’t refuse her grandmother under the circumstances, she leaves Boston to spend a few weeks getting the B&B in shape for the big Christmas party finale….
When she arrives, though, the place is in disrepair, she finds a cat she doesn’t want, and who doesn’t seem to like her very much, but becomes her temporary responsibility, and a neighbor, Nolan Miller, she doesn’t have fond memories of, is suddenly quite interested in whether she plans to stick around or return to Boston.
Nolan’s family has been through some heavy tragedies, virtually erasing their holiday spirit- seemingly forever. Now they are set to buy the B&B, but Julie’s appearance has made them suspicious. To make sure the sale isn’t about the fall through, Nolan’s family wants him to keep an eye on Julie Green…
This is a festive story with plenty of holiday atmosphere. Lots of snow, decorations, holiday memories and a little romance to top things off. Because this was such a nice story, I hesitate to nitpick- but the small-town vs. the big city comparisons were too heavy handed, and contradicted itself a time or two as Julie's neighbors weren't always very nice. There are salt of the earth people everywhere, not just in small towns, but that is my only complaint.
I was completely won over by the animals in the story- both ‘Kringle” the cat and ‘Snowball”, the dog played key roles in the story, and were occasional scene-stealers.
Overall, I love good, clean, holiday stories- and I read lots of them every year- and yes, often they are predictable-but that is not always a bad thing, in my opinion, and so what? Sometimes holiday stories can go overboard on the sap, though- but Summers did a good job of keeping the story light in tone, while avoiding anything too sickly sweet. It had just the right touch of holiday spirit and was a lovely way to spend a dreary afternoon. ...more
Thanksgiving Target by Laura Scott is a 2009 publication.
Tara is watching over Melissa, her friend and client, as she lies in a coma due to a viciousThanksgiving Target by Laura Scott is a 2009 publication.
Tara is watching over Melissa, her friend and client, as she lies in a coma due to a vicious beating by her boyfriend. When Melissa’s brother, Max, an army Lieutenant on leave, arrives, he steps in to help when it becomes clear that someone has Tara in their crosshairs...
I’ve been on a mission to find some Thanksgiving themed books this year. Surprisingly, I have stumbled across a few, after doing a deep dive at my Overdrive library- and this was one of them.
This is a romantic suspense novel, and though it is a few years old now, it hasn’t aged all that much. The story moves at a brisk pace, and the mystery is solid enough- though it was easy to figure out who the stalker was -Still, it didn’t deflate the suspense.
Because these books are so short, some situations were rushed through, and not fleshed out properly, when they desperately needed to be.
Since this is a “Love Inspired” novel of suspense- (which, for those who don't know), is a Christian/ Faith-based/ Inspirational imprint), there was a strong Christian message included in the story.
While I expected the story to be clean, this one was chaste to the extreme- but that’s fine since the mystery/suspense was the big draw for me anyway.
As to the main reason I chose this book- the Thanksgiving theme…
Well…
Thanksgiving does finally come up- though I was beginning to wonder- and it was a sweet part of the happily ever after for Tara and Max.
Overall, this is not a story that will stick with me for very long. It was highly implausible at times, but was still a quick, easy, and enjoyable holiday diversion on a very cold, wet, dreary afternoon.
A Vineyard Thanksgiving by Katie Winters is a 2020 publication.
This is the fourth book in the Vineyard Sunset series, but despite having missed the fA Vineyard Thanksgiving by Katie Winters is a 2020 publication.
This is the fourth book in the Vineyard Sunset series, but despite having missed the first three installments, I was given enough 'catch-up' information to keep me in the loop.
This installment is centered around Charlotte, a widow, who is a wedding planner living in Martha’s Vineyard. It’s the off season for weddings, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so maybe Charlotte can get some rest and enjoy the holiday- if only she could get a handle on her grief over the sudden loss of her husband of twenty years.
Things go from super quiet to crazy busy overnight when an Oscar winning actress calls Charlotte out of the blue begging her to plan a Thanksgiving wedding for her. With only three weeks to plan, and a self-absorbed actress turned Bridezilla to deal with, Charlotte hardly has time breath, must less grieve.
Things get even more interesting when a handsome photographer named Everett arrives to cover the celebrity wedding of the year. A small spark blooms between Everett and Charlotte- but Everett likes to roam around and travel, while Charlotte has never even left the island without her husband. Will they act on the chemistry they feel between them or go back to living their lives as before?
Poor Thanksgiving. It is completely overlooked these days, but I love Thanksgiving! It is one of my favorite holidays- but try finding Thanksgiving movies or books and it’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
This year, though, I was determined to find at least one book centered around Thanksgiving- and thankfully, my Overdrive library came through for me, as it often does. Not only did I find more books than I anticipated, but I also found a new author to love.
This book is a little busy at times, especially considering the brevity of it. There are lots of characters, and this is sometimes a pet peeve for me- but I managed to learn all the names, plus get a little feel for their back stories, and their relation to Charlotte.
The point of the story isn’t so much the insane wedding planning- or the OTT bride and groom- but the opportunity for Charlotte to feel a glimmer of hope, giving her a green light to begin moving on with her life.
Everett has some family issues he needed to resolve, but also knew that Charlotte could be a game changer for him, too.
The story is short, as I mentioned, so the characters and the storyline don’t get as much time to develop as I would like- but I went looking for a sweet, gentle holiday story, and Katie Winters delivered just that. She has a long list of books that have a holiday or seasonal theme, all of them seem to be around the same length as this one, and would be perfect books for a quick escape or a much need spirit boost. I will definitely check more of them out soon!
Gone Gull by Donna Andrews is a 2017 Minotaur Books publication.
This is the 21st book in the Meg Langslow series. In this installment, Meg is helping Gone Gull by Donna Andrews is a 2017 Minotaur Books publication.
This is the 21st book in the Meg Langslow series. In this installment, Meg is helping her grandmother, Cordelia, run the Biscuit Mountain Craft Center. But someone is committing acts of vandalism, and when one of the teachers is found murdered, Meg is determined to find the killer.
Any long-running series will ebb and flow over the years, with some installments standing out, while others are rather stale or forgettable. In this series, some of the stories have been hyper-focused on the mystery, while others are centered more on the cast of zany characters we’ve come to love over time. Sometimes I laugh out loud and sometimes the humor is more subdued. The last few books I've read in the series felt more down to earth than in the past- but in this installment Andrews turned the laugh track back on.
Meg is her usual self- and her inner monologue is as sharp and witty as ever. Some of the secondary characters had some moments of their own, though, that were utterly hysterical- and Spike got to play a larger role than usual, too.
The mystery was a bit weak this time around, even though I never guessed whodunit. The ending was anticlimactic on that front, and the story ended rather abruptly, I thought.
But, despite that, the story was still really fun and kept me entertained from start to finish. As always, I’m looking forward to the next installment and can’t wait to see what Andrews has in store for Meg and the gang next.
Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin is a 2022 HQ Digital publication.
If it weren’t for bad luck, Flora would have no luck at all. AftFlora’s Travelling Christmas Shop by Rebecca Raisin is a 2022 HQ Digital publication.
If it weren’t for bad luck, Flora would have no luck at all. After yet another break-up, another lost job, and with her best friend moving away, Flora is urged to start her own Christmas themed business, living ‘the van life’.
It’s a great idea! She could be her own boss- so she couldn’t get fired, right? So, she heads off to Lapland with big plans to follow the Hallmark Movie guidelines, hoping she’ll not only be a great businesswoman, but will find true love, too…
Flora’s love of all things Christmas could give Buddy the Elf a run for his money, but she runs into big trouble when she meets Connor. She’s more than a little attracted to the man, but there’s this one teeny, tiny hitch…
Connor despises Christmas!
I wasn’t sure, when I started reading this book, if I was going to be able to withstand Flora’s OTT obsession with Christmas, and her strong personality. She was a little annoying, to be honest, especially for a quiet introvert.
But then we meet Connor, and I knew right then we were going to have a fantastic ‘opposites attract’ romance, and that it was going to be worth sticking around for. Not only that, but I’ve also loved this author for years, and I couldn’t imagine not being charmed by one of her books- especially one with a Christmas theme!
As it turns out, there is no better setting for a holiday story than Lapland!! If your holiday spirit needs a boost, then this book will absolutely do the trick. This an adorable holiday romance, and Rebecca Raisin did a fabulous job of creating holiday magic powerful enough that even nonbelievers can't resist it.
Overall, I ended up loving this story, and the homage to Hallmark Christmas movies, was a nice touch, too!
This is my first official Christmas romance of 2022 and I’d say this was the perfect book to kick off the holiday reading season!
The Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer is a 2022 Love Inspired Trade publication.
Bookshops and secrets- who can pass that up?
The 'Dusty JacketsThe Bookshop of Secrets by Mollie Rushmeyer is a 2022 Love Inspired Trade publication.
Bookshops and secrets- who can pass that up?
The 'Dusty Jackets' bookshop in Wanishin Falls holds the key to Hope’s heritage. She was sent there to pick up some rare books that her mother had bequeathed her, but upon her arrival she discovers the books are not readily available. The owner has dementia and can’t remember where they were placed, and the bookshop is packed to the brim with old books. Hope is talked into sticking around for a couple of months to help the older couple while she searches for her books, but she is very edgy about the prospect of staying in one place for too long.
Hope is just now getting her life back together. She’s an orphan who got lured in by the wrong person and her life became a living nightmare for a while. Now free, she’s hoping to open a literary themed mobile food cafe, but she can’t do that until she’s found her mother’s books. In the meantime, she meets the bookshop owner’s son, Ronan, and despite Hope’s skittishness around men, the two forge a friendship. But everyone has secrets, especially Hope- and to top it off - there are also rumors of a treasure, and the possibility that Hope’s inheritance might hold valuable clues- which has someone awfully interested in the Dusty Jackets bookshop and Hope’s books…
This book is the full package deal. There’s a dusty bookshop that made me long for the days when I used to prowl through old- off the beaten path- bookshops looking for my own hidden book treasures. There is a mystery, some suspense, a little action and adventure, a sweet romance, and some lovely and important Christian messages that tackle issues we have all pondered on at some point in our lives.
In some places the story gets a little emotional, but in a good way, and I loved watching Hope come out of her shell and start taking tentative steps towards trust and healing.
Overall, I really liked this story. I’m very impressed with this debut author and will be on the lookout for her next book!!
Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond is a 2021 Berkley publication.
Nora lands a dream job at an old castle as part of a mystery troupe. She lives onDeath in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond is a 2021 Berkley publication.
Nora lands a dream job at an old castle as part of a mystery troupe. She lives on the premises, and immediately hits it off with the other actors and is having a world of fun…
Until one of the other actors really is murdered…
If a series had my name on it, this one would! An old castle, huge libraries, Gothic books, suspense, a promising premise- a lovable DOG ...more
Her Darkest Secrets by Jessica R. Patch is a 2022 Love Inspired Trade publication.
This was a good one!
It has been a long time since I’ve read a goodHer Darkest Secrets by Jessica R. Patch is a 2022 Love Inspired Trade publication.
This was a good one!
It has been a long time since I’ve read a good romantic suspense novel. I used to gobble up this type of RS like candy back in the late 90s and early aughts, but the style changed, and I couldn’t relate to it anymore.
This book would be a good script for an episode of 'Criminal Minds'- but with a gentle Christian message and a side order of second chance romance. My kind of Romantic Suspense!! Yes!
I really like this style of Romantic Suspense, which is not easy to find these days- and is why I rarely read the genre anymore. Now that I have discovered this author, I will definitely return for more!!
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