Fascinating and engaging book reviews and encouragement you'll want to read.
Author:deanne01
I am an avid reader and reviewer. I am open for review requests please contact me at Cnnamongirl at aol dot com. I work with big name publishers and indie publishers alike. I am on launch and street teams and have MANY NetGalley and GoodReads reviews up. I love all animals and I am a vegetarian. Thank you for joining me here.
Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what
‘A letter, a goodbye, and a baby girl whose name will begin with “L”…’
When Heartcross’ resident clairvoyant tells Molly McKendrick to expect a whole lot of scandal and upset to blow in with the approaching winter storm, Molly doesn’t know what to think.
With a baby on the way any week now, and Christmas not far off, the last thing Molly needs is drama, but when she crosses paths with Bree, a sixteen-year-old homeless girl, and takes her in from the cold, secrets from the past flood the present and Molly, her partner Cam, and their son George, are soon experiencing a holiday season filled with unexpected festive surprises…
I absolutely love this series, it’s so charming and it’s a snuggle up and feel-good read. We are again in Heartcross and though having never visited Scotland I feel as though I have through this book. The descriptions are just fabulous. Our main characters are Cam and his wife, Molly who is pregnant with their second child. They are the town’s resident vet and bakers. Cam always bakes extra to give away to the homeless shelter and they appreciate it so much. Though many in town say it’s hokey Molly visits a fortune teller and eerie enough all she predicts comes true. When Molly McKendrick has a chance encounter with homeless teen Bree she has off flashbacks and feels as though she knows her. She takes in Bree off the cold streets, and they become close. Secrets are revealed and though it comes as a hock they work through them. This author and series have zipped right up my list as favorites. Though there are hardships they are talked out and hardships gotten through. I loved this sweet Scottish escape, it’s just a ray of sunshine.
Pub Date 30 Jul 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of seventeen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn’t writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Twitter – @ChristieJBarlow
Facebook – Christie Barlow Author
Instagram – christie_barlow
What makes you want to read New Beginnings at the Old Bakeshop?
Top Ten Tuesday is a choose your own theme this week so I’m choosing to show you what I’m thankful for through books. It’s Thanksgiving on Thursday this week here in the states and I am so thankful to spend the day with my family. Checkout other TTT posts at That Artsy Reader Girl here.
Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what
There’s a newcomer to the village of Heartcross and she’s never been more in need of a friend.
As the new waitress at the local bistro, The Lake House, Ella is ready to start afresh ––and that could mean there’s love on the horizon in the form of the gorgeous Roman, the local water taxi driver. Every day Roman is there to ferry Ella to the restaurant on the other side of the lake and every night he makes sure she gets home safe. But Roman has secrets of his own…
Can the Love Heart Lane community offer Ella a chance of a new life? Or will the ghosts of her past catch up with her?
The Lake House is the fifth book in the Love Heart Lane series by Christie Barlow and the fun thing about it is there are so many characters from previous books in it. Ella is beside herself when after her parent’s death but then she meets a man who she believes is the one. A rich doctor, they had so many plans together that it all seemed too good to be true. Until that’s exactly what happened, she was hoodwinked, left holding the bag, owing all the bills. Sometimes in life though we have to go through trials before we can really appreciate what is to come. Her friend rescues her from her devastation and whisks her off to a Scottish delight, The Lake House. A former popular night spot and classy restaurant Ella and friends have an exciting plan to bring the little House on The Lake back to its former glory days with the help of a famous singer that everyone loves and is clamoring to hear sing again. Such a quick and easy read. A real pick me up and a chance at a real and lasting love this time. I loved the chemistry between Ella and water taxi driver Roma. Great plot and relatable characters and location. I can’t wait to read more in this charming series.
Pub Date 31 Dec 2020 I was given a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Christie Barlow is the number one international bestselling author of seventeen romantic comedies including the iconic Love Heart Lane Series, A Home at Honeysuckle Farm and Kitty’s Countryside Dream. She lives in a ramshackle cottage in a quaint village in the heart of Staffordshire with her four children and two dogs.
Her writing career has come as a lovely surprise when Christie decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. Christie’s dream was to become a writer and the book she wrote to prove a point went on to become a #1 international bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia.
When Christie isn’t writing she co-presents The Book Show on Radio Northwich, enjoys playing the piano, is a keen gardener and loves to paint and upcycle furniture.
Christie is an ambassador for the @ZuriProject alongside Patron of the charity, Emmerdale’s Bhasker Patel. They raise money and awareness for communities in Uganda.
Christie loves to hear from her readers and you can get in touch via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Twitter – @ChristieJBarlow
Facebook – Christie Barlow Author
Instagram – christie_barlow
Thank you for visiting. May your day be fantastic.
Combining the appeal of a small-town Amish setting and favorite romance tropes, New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray—one of the most beloved voices in inspirational romance—presents the first in a heart-warming new series perfect for fans of Beverly Lewis, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Charlotte Hubbard.
Addie Byler may be Apple Creek’s resident wallflower, but she knows she has a lot to offer—and much to be grateful for. Raised by her loving grandmother, she lives a life filled with good friends and hard work. Wary of romance, Addie assumes no man will look beyond her glasses and her tendency to talk to her rescue donkey, Snickers—until the day she finds a note from a secret admirer. A prank, most likely. But then, a second note arrives . . .
It’s not that Daniel Miller doesn’t like Addie, he just doesn’t want to court her. She’s too willful, too chatty, too odd. Yet when he learns she’s been teased because she’s never had a beau, he decides to send a little note of encouragement. One note leads to another. And when Addie begins replying with thoughtful messages of her own, he’s struck by her sweetness and warmth.
As chilly winter melts into spring, what began as a gesture of sympathy becomes something much deeper. Daniel fears revealing the truth, but with courage, faith—and a helping hand from their close-knit community—Apple Creek’s most unlikely couple may find their path to happiness . . .
An Amish wildflower raised by her grandmother; Addie Byler feels that she doesn’t quite fit in with the other Amish youth. Apple Creek, Ohio, a small, vibrant Amish community where Addie lives helping her elderly grandmother and talking to her rescue donkey, Snickers. I really loved the character Snickers I think he helps Addie to relax and be less anxious. I have read so many of this author’s books over the years, she has quite a few and they are all equally amazing. She truly writes from the heart and brings these characters to life. Not everything is wonderful all the time but it’s realistic and the characters talk things out and offer each other compassion, forgiveness and love. Realistic daily Amish life is what you’ll find in this book. Surprises along the way offer up joy and a chance at a new beginning. An inspiring book full of hope and family values.
Pub Date 25 Oct 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Shelley Shepard Gray is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author. She’s published over a hundred novels and has over a million books in print. She currently lives in northern Ohio and writes full time.
Shelley lives just an hour from Holmes County, where many of her Amish-themed novels are set. She currently writes contemporary romance and Amish fiction for a variety of publishers. When not spending time with her family or writing, she can usually be found walking her two dachshunds on one of the many trails in the Cleveland area.
She also bakes a lot, loves coconut cream pie, and will hardly ever pull weeds, mow the yard, or drive in the snow.
Shelley also spends a lot of time on line! Please visit her website, http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com to find out her latest news or to sign up for her newsletter.
This sweet Amish retelling of Beauty and the Beast from New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Shelley Shepard Gray—one of the best-loved names in inspirational romance—will delight fans of heartwarming fiction and readers of Charlotte Hubbard, Beverly Lewis, and Beth Wiseman.
May Schott would do anything to change the tragic moment when she stepped too close to the fire that left her best friend, Carl Hilty, devastatingly burned. After Carl left Apple Creek for extensive surgeries, May patiently prayed for one chance to ask his forgiveness. Now, six years later, Carl Hilty is coming home.
The reunion goes nothing like May anticipated. Overwhelmed with emotion at seeing Carl again, she is speechless, unable to look away. And Carl’s own stone-cold silence leaves her certain that whatever attraction they once shared has been replaced by his hatred of her.
After hiding in the shadows of the big city, Carl has returned to connect with his family and to see if May can overlook his scars and accept his tender love—but her reaction makes it clear that she wants nothing to do with him. He grudgingly agrees to stay with his family for a time before retreating to anonymity once again.
But in Apple Creek, it’s easy to miss what everyone around you sees plain as day. For two people who belong together, it will take a few helping hands to heal the hurts of the past and make a miraculous new beginning.
Do you have either book in this series on your want to read list?
Thank you for stopping by today. Have a great day.
Hallmark and bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray present a Christmas Amish romance with lots of surprises in store…
Wesley is so busy running his family’s Amish market at the holidays, he barely has time for Liesl, the young woman he’s been courting for years. When she suggests her aunt Jenny could help Wesley out, he agrees to the plan. But Liesl neglected to mention her aunt is only twenty-six years old—and as charming as she is hard-working.
Jenny, still healing after a painful breakup, welcomes the distraction of working at the market. She soon realizes Wesley is everything she ever dreamed a man could be. But how can Jenny even think about romance with the man Liesl expects to marry?
But Liesl’s own feelings are more complicated than she’s willing to admit. With humor, faith, and a little help from their friends in the community, everyone might just find what their hearts are looking for this Christmas at the Amish market.
My Thoughts
Right from the start everything drew me into this story, from the beautifully designed cover to the Christmassy vibe of the book. A fun Amish Christmas book full of romance and surprises. Liesl and Wesley have been courting for years, everyone expects them to marry, and they expect it will happen as well. Wesley helps his family to run their Amish Market, it keeps him and his family overwhelmingly busy and tired. To help Wesley out Liesl suggests her young aunt helps out at the market. Aunt Jenny fresh from a breakup helps and it takes her mind off of things. I have read so many of this author’s books over the years, she has quite a few and they are all equally amazing. She truly writes from the heart and brings these characters to life. Not everything is wonderful all the time but it’s realistic and the characters talk things out and offer each other compassion, forgiveness and love. Realistic daily Amish life is what you’ll find in this book. Surprises along the way offer up joy and a chance at a new beginning. An inspiring book full of hope and family values.
Pub Date 08 Nov 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray writes Amish and Inspirational romances for Simon & Schuster, and Kensington, Harlequin, and contemporary women’s fiction for Blackstone Publishing. With over a million books in print, and translated into more than a dozen languages, her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Inspirational Readers Choice and Carol finalists. She lives in northern Ohio and writes full time. A busy wife and mother of two, she spends her days writing and keeping track of her two teenagers. Her two dogs keep her company when she writes in her basement. Shelley enjoys writing about the Amish and she visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year.
What makes you want to read Christmas at the Amish Market?
Happy Friday-I haven’t done one of these in a few weeks because I’ve been traveling so much and haven’t had the time. Last week we traveled to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to see our oldest daughter and a few weeks before that it was Corolla and Duck, North Carolina for a family trip. I think we’re done traveling for a few months because of cold weather. First Line Friday is hosted by Reading Is My SuperPower so feel free to go here to link up and see other First Line Friday posts.
My First lines this week are………..
Stewie rolled his shoulders and pulled the collar of his shirt away from his scrawny neck. It bothered him when it clung there. He had never gone down to that last house before, because he hadn’t needed to. He had always sold out his wagon full of eggs without needing to walk so far.
About the Book
An unexpected connection becomes the saving grace for two unlikely friends in a heart-stirring novel about love, loss, and moving forward by a New York Times and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author.
Never knowing his parents, eleven-year-old Stewie Little and his brother have been raised on a farm by their older sister. Stewie steadfastly tends the chickens left by his beloved late grandmother. And every day Stewie goes door to door selling fresh eggs from his wagon—a routine with a surprise just around the corner. It’s his new customer, Marilyn. She’s prickly and guarded, yet comfortably familiar—she reminds the grieving Stewie so much of the grandmother he misses more than he can express.
Marilyn has a reason for keeping her distance: a secret no one knows about. Her survival tactic is to draw a line between herself and other people—one that Stewie is determined to cross. As their visits become more frequent, a complicated but deeply rooted relationship grows. That’s when Stewie discovers how much more there is to Marilyn, to her past, and to challenges that become more pressing each day. But whatever difficult times lie ahead, Stewie learns that although he can’t fix everything for Marilyn or himself, at least he’s no longer alone.
Bestselling novelist Karen Witemeyer joins award-winning authors Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese for this Texas-sized romance novella collection. Each of the authors’ unique voices is on display in stories where courting couples leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak’s bark.
In Regina Jennings’ Broken Limbs, Mended Fences, a small-town teacher has her credentials questioned by a traveling salesman.
In Karen Witemeyer’s Inn for a Surprise, two opinionated collaborators with conflicting visions must turn a doomed business venture into a successful romantic retreat.
From Roots to Sky by Amanda Dykes follows a young WWII naval airman who heads to Texas to meet the sister of a lost compatriot. Heartwood by Nicole Deese is a modern-day romance about the groundskeeper of a historic inn who’s reunited with someone from her past while she fights to save a town landmark.
400 pages Bethany House Publishers October 13,2020 publication date
This was such a lovely read. I have read all 4 authors before that are in this novella collection and enjoy their books.
All 4 stories are centered around a big old tree aptly named "The Kissing Tree" way back when. Taking place in a small Texas town each story features a couple in a different time period from past times to most recent times. In the most current time period, the tree is old, wearied and not in the best shape. Some want it to come down. Some are really fighting against it. Like us though sometimes doing what's best though it may not be what we want is a way to start fresh, offering forgiveness and moving on. We don't always need the sentimental object because our memories live on in our hearts and minds just like they do with all the generations of people affected by The Kissing Tree. If only the tree could talk, it would have so many stories to tell! There are a lot of emotions swirling around in this book, some misunderstandings, forgiveness, joy, happy memories and faith. A fun and inspirational read. I enjoyed this book a lot.
Published October 13th, 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The Authors
Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family FictionMagazine, bestselling and Carol Award-winning author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at karenwitemeyer.com.
Regina Jennings (www.reginajennings.com) is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a minor in history. She’s the winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, a two-time Golden Quill finalist and a finalist for the Oklahoma Book of the Year Award. Regina has worked at the Mustang News and at First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She lives outside of Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.
Amanda Dykes‘sdebut novel, Whose Waves These Are, is the winner of the prestigious 2020 Christy Award Book of the Year, a Booklist 2019 Top Ten Romance debut, and the winner of an INSPY Award. She’s also the author of Yours Is the Night and Set the Stars Alight,a 2021 Christy Award finalist. Find her online at amandadykes.com.
Nicole Deese‘s (nicoledeese.com) fifteen heartfelt and hope-filled contemporary romance novels include her bestelling Love in Lenox series as well as her award-winning novels with Bethany House Publishers, Before I Called You Mine and All That Really Matters. When she’s not sorting out characters and plots of her own, she can usually be found reading near a window overlooking the inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest (most often while sipping a sparkling water). She lives in small-town Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two towering-over-her teenage sons, and her princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.
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Alice looked at the young girl standing alone on the platform, sensing the same vulnerability she’d once felt entering the village she now called home. Then, as the child gripped her hand, the pain and sorrow Alice had held in her heart for so long softened… And in that moment, she vowed she’d always protect her – whatever the cost…
England, 1939: When Alice marries twinkly-eyed, kind-hearted vicar David, it means leaving everything from her old life behind and moving into the draughty vicarage in the beautiful but remote village of Goswell, Cumbria. Though homesick, Alice is determined to make a new life there for herself and her husband.
But soon tragedy strikes, and she is devastated when war breaks out and David chooses to sign up to fight. But everything changes when Alice is asked to take in a child evacuee, and she makes a promise to protect this girl, no matter what it costs her…
Now: When Jane and her family move to the small coastal village of Goswell where her husband grew up, she’s afraid she might have made a huge mistake. Their new home – in what had once been the vicarage – feels a million miles from their previous fast-paced life in New York City, and Jane struggles with her empty days that seem lonely and purposeless.
But then she finds a small note, forgotten behind a shelf in the pantry. A note written in the Second World War. By a woman named Alice, whose incredible story has the power to change everything…
Two wives’ stories – told over 70 years apart – about courage, finding a home, and how the unexpected arrival of someone else’s story in your life can change your own. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley and Barbara O’Neal.
This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Previously published as The Vicar’s Wife by Katharine Swartz.
The Wife’s Promise is the first book in a quartet of books that will grab your heart and simply not let go. The series is The Goswell Quartet. So far, I have only read the first book in this series, but I am planning on reading the entire series. Such a gripping and emotional book, it is not one that will be forgotten any time soon. Two wives’ stories told over seventy years apart but yet the connection quickly becomes apparent. I absolutely love these time slip books, and this is an example of one at its finest. As you absorb the story you become invested in the characters. their emotions and thoughts become your own. It becomes as though you are experiencing the daily life right there with them in each time period. Taking place in England in the late 1930’s and in modern times, the characters are quite similar in many ways. There is a vulnerability to these characters. a reaching out of needing more but not quite sure how to get it.
“Two wives’ stories – told over 70 years apart – about courage, finding a home, and how the unexpected arrival of someone else’s story in your life can change your own. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley and Barbara O’Neal.”
Previously published as The Vicar’s Wife by Katharine Swartz.
This has zoomed right to the top of my list of favorite books I’ve read this year!
Pub Date 17 Nov 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Goswell Quartet
Though I have read the first book only I plan on reading the rest of this series. Here are all of the books in this series.
“I had to free it,” Eleanor said, and stretched her hand out to the blue butterfly that seemed almost to hover in the air. “I had to let something find what happiness it could, since we cannot.”
England, 1918: As war ends, across the world, people are trying to heal and recover. But Eleanor still feels broken. The loss of her beloved brother, killed just days before the Armistice was signed, feels impossibly unjust. Spending her time in the neglected garden behind their house, she fears her heart will never recover.
Then her father hires a man to help restore the garden to its former glory. Gruff, handsome Yorkshireman Jack comes from a totally different world to Eleanor, but he understands the nature of her grief more than anyone else seems to. And as they spend time together, even though she knows her family will never accept someone of Jack’s class, Eleanor starts to wonder if – like the butterflies around them – there is any way for her to learn to soar again…
Now: Nearly one hundred years later, Marin is not prepared for finding herself the guardian of her fifteen-year-old half-sister Rebecca, after her father and his second wife are killed in a tragic accident. The sisters are practically strangers, and Rebecca’s grief makes her seem even more distant. Marin too is in need of a fresh start, so when Rebecca begs her to let them move to the picturesque village of Goswell on the Cumbrian coast, Marin impulsively agrees.
But it is only when they find a locked door to a secret garden, and a photograph of a girl with a butterfly landing on her hand, that the sisters start to realise they have a mystery to solve, one about war, about secrets, and about a love that could never be. A mystery that might just bring them together…
The Daughter’s Garden is a totally unputdownable novel about tragic secrets, the chance for forgiveness, and the healing that can come from a new start. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Rhys Bowen and Lucinda Riley.
This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Previously published as The Lost Garden by Katharine Swartz.
The Bride’s Sister – Book 3
She clutched the piece of paper close to her chest, tears welling in her eyes, hardly believing what she had read. Silently thanking Sarah for all she sacrificed, she took the death certificate and slipped it under a loose floorboard – no one must ever find out what she’d done…
England, 1868: Orphaned and penniless, 18-year-old Sarah is left the sole guardian of her beloved little sister Lucy – who she’s vowed to protect at all costs. With nowhere left to turn, she is forced to accept mysterious widower James Mills’ proposal of marriage.
She believes being his bride can’t possibly be as bad as the threat of the workhouse. But nothing prepares her for the darkness of her marriage, the shocking secrets of her new family and the lengths she will have to go to, to keep her sister safe…
Now: Living in the beautiful village of Goswell, Ellen believes her family life to be idyllic… until her estranged seventeen-year-old stepdaughter Annabelle moves in and shatters the peace. Ellen fears they will never bond, until she finds a death certificate – for a woman named Sarah, from over a century earlier – hidden under the floorboards of their house, and Annabelle starts to help her unravel the mystery.
Yet as Ellen and Annabelle dig deeper into Sarah’s life and death, shocking truths, both past and present, come to light which change everything Ellen thought she knew about Sarah’s family – and the new addition to her own…
The Bride’s Sister is a powerful and moving story about what it means to be a family, second chances, and the lengths we go to for those we love. Fans of Lucinda Riley, Barbara O’Neal and Fiona Valpy will absolutely love this gripping and emotional read.
This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Previously published as The Second Bride by Katharine Swartz.
She looked down at the sweet little girl and knew she wouldn’t listen to what anyone else said. She had to do what was right. Even if it meant going against everything she was taught to believe and keeping a secret from the person closest to her…
England, 1766: Abigail is happily married to James, a tobacco trader turned sea captain, and is looking forward to starting a family and settling down in Whitehaven, deep in the Lake District. But after a series of devastating losses, she finds herself in turmoil, with her future suddenly seeming unknown…
When James announces that he will captain a ship to Africa and then the Americas for a year, it sparks a series of surprising and heartbreaking events – involving some of the darkest evils in humanity’s history, and a tiny, terrified slave girl who’s brought back to England. This helpless child forces Abigail to reconsider everything she thought she knew – and will change her life forever…
Now: When a shipwreck is discovered off the coast of Cumbria, local expert Rachel is brought in to investigate. Her first thought is that this will be a perfect distraction from her troubled marriage and the memories of her past that she is desperate not to think about. But then it becomes clear the wreck is a slaving ship from the 1700s – one that was recorded as sinking in the Caribbean – and Rachel begins to wonder if there’s more to this terrible mystery than meets the eye.
Faced with uncertainty about both the past and present, can Rachel learn from Abigail’s extraordinary story and take the first step towards a brighter future of her own?
The Widow’s Secret is a completely heart-wrenching and powerful story of courage, redemption, and compassion. Fans of Lucinda Riley, Barbara O’Neal and Fiona Valpy will be absolutely captivated by this unforgettable read.
This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Previously published as The Widow’s Secret by Katharine Swartz.
Kate Hewitt is the author of many romance and women’s fiction novels. A former New Yorker and now an American ex-pat, she lives in a small town on the Welsh border with her husband, five children, and their overly affectionate Golden Retriever. Whatever the genre, she enjoys telling stories that tackle real issues and touch people’s lives.
Another year has passed and it’s Christmas again. This year best friends Chloe, Jules and Lucy are all loved up but living worlds apart.
Chloe is madly in love with her celebrity beau, Archer, but after a whirlwind year in Hollywood’s limelight, she’s desperate to get away and spend some quality time together.
Jules loves her Melbourne life – and gorgeous winemaker Matt – but a crowded flat share has her longing for a place of her own.
Meanwhile, Lucy is stuck in a long distance relationship, jetting back and forth between Colorado and London to see Will.
When Archer’s plan to whisk Chloe to Paris goes awry, he surprises her by bringing her friends together for a Christmas to remember…
The perfect feel-good holiday romance for fans of Sarah Morgan, Jo Thomas and Holly Martin.
What a fun adventure THE CHRISTMAS TRIP is. It is the follow up to The Christmas Swap. It’s so much fun meeting up with the characters again and adding in a few new friends. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Hawaii you won’t feel any less Christmas spirit because of the lack of snow. The friends and their beaus are back at it again meeting up and relaxing after working and having so much going on. I loved the setting of their vacation, Hawaii plenty of delicious authentic foods, decorations, holiday singing and all around that happy Christmassy vibe. Full of love, laughter, strong friendships, a bit of drama, fun surprises and joy. I fell in love with this delightful book and its marvelous characters.
Pub Date 10 Nov 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
I’m a writer, traveller and hopeful romantic with a lengthy bucket list. I love exploring new places, outdoor adventures, and eating and drinking like a local when I travel, and many of my travel adventures have found homes in my novels. I’m also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob.
My first novel, a romantic comedy set in Greece and inspired by my real-life love story, was published in June 2019 by One More Chapter (HarperCollins). In 2020, two follow-ups in the Holiday Romance series hit the shelves: That Night in Paris and A Sunset in Sydney. 2021 saw the publication of my 5th novel, The Dating Game, which is set in the fascinating world of Reality TV. The next two books in the Holiday Romance series are set in Bali and Tuscany and they’ll be followed by The May Ladies’ Christmas, a follow-up to The Christmas Swap, my Christmas book from 2020.
Like most authors I have a dozen ideas humming away in the background for new stories. Next, I’ll be working on a new romcom series!
I am represented by Lina Langlee of The North Literary Agency.
A young girl, kidnapped on the eve of World War II, changes the lives of a German archaeologist forced into the Nazi Party and—decades later—a researcher trying to overcome her own trauma.
1940. Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna’s secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she’s hiding—and what she begins to uncover—could put them both in mortal danger.
Eighty years later, Ember Ellis is a Holocaust researcher intent on confronting hatred toward the Jewish people and other minorities. She reconnects with a former teacher on Martha’s Vineyard after she learns that Mrs. Kiehl’s mother once worked with the Nazi Ahnenerbe. And yet, Mrs. Kiehl describes her mother as “a friend to the Jewish people.” Wondering how both could be true, Ember helps Mrs. Kiehl regain her fractured childhood memories of World War II while at the same time confronting the heartache of her own secret past—and the person who wants to silence Ember forever.
My Thoughts
I love Melanie Dobson’s books the excellent research makes for a riveting story. The author goes back and forth between the time periods, and it ends up seamlessly blending perfectly. The author drew me into both time periods as both were equally fascinating. A time split novel that has us alternating between Hannah and Ember. Each time period is well represented with believable characters and vivid descriptions. The historical detail is accurate for both past and present times. I was very immersed in the story as it brings out many emotions. Heartbreaking yet inspirational this is one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Pub Date: 09 Mar 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson’s excuse to explore abandoned houses, travel to unique places, and spend hours reading old books and journals. The award-winning author of almost thirty books, Melanie enjoys stitching together both time-slip and historical stories including The Curator’s Daughter, Memories of Glass, and the Legacy of Love novels (legacyofloveseries.com). Five of her novels have received a Carol Award for historical fiction, Catching the Wind’s audiobook won the 2018 Audie for Inspirational Novel, and The Black Cloister was ForeWord’s Book of the Year for Religious Fiction. Her next time-slip novel, The Winter Rose, comes out in January 2022.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon’s work, the Dobson family has finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn’t writing, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, dancing, and reading stories with her girls.
More information about Melanie and her books is available at her website (melaniedobson.com) or at the following social media platforms:
Facebook.com/MelanieDobsonFiction
Instagram/MelBDobson
Twitter.com/MelBDobson
Have you read this book by Melanie Dobson? Do you have a favorite by her?
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