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The Last Night In London

My Review

This time split novel charmingly and effortlessly combines modern and WWII time periods.
The writing style shines and we see such character development throughout the story.
The Last Night In London is a beautiful story that will hold you spellbound while reading it.
Precious and her best friend Eva are best friends and models who lived through the Blitz in World War II London. The contemporary side has American journalist traveling to London to interview Precious in London about fashions from before the war. We all have secrets and many come to light during this time. Some that have left scars on the lives of the keepers. Deep,emotional,compelling,poignant.
This really is worth the read. I recommend it!



Pub Date: 20 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own. 

Amazon Buy Link

GoodReads Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Karen White weaves a story of friendship past and present, love, and betrayal that moves between war-torn London during the Blitz and the present day.

A captivating story of friendship, love and betrayal – and finding hope in the darkness of war.

London, 1939. Beautiful and ambitious Eva Harlow and her American best friend, Precious Dubose, are trying to make their way as fashion models. When Eva falls in love with Graham St. John, an aristocrat and Royal Air Force pilot, she can’t believe her luck – she’s getting everything she ever wanted. Then the Blitz devastates her world, and Eva finds herself slipping into a web of intrigue, spies and secrets. As Eva struggles to protect everything she holds dear, all it takes is one unwary moment to change their lives forever.

London, 2019. American journalist Maddie Warner travels to London to interview Precious about her life in pre-WWII London. Maddie, healing from past trauma and careful to close herself off to others, finds herself drawn to both Precious and to Colin, Precious’ enigmatic surrogate nephew. As Maddie gets closer to her, she begins to unravel Precious’ haunting past – and the secrets she swore she’d never reveal … 

About The Author


With more than 1.8 million books in print in eight different languages, Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 23 novels, including the popular Charleston-set Tradd Street mystery series.

Raised in a house full of brothers, Karen’s love of books and strong female characters first began in the third grade when the local librarian issued her a library card and placed The Secret of the Old Clock, a Nancy Drew Mystery, in her hands.

Karen’s roots run deep in the South where many of her novels are set. Her intricate plot lines and compelling characters charm and captivate readers with just the right mix of family drama, mystery, intrigue and romance.

Not entirely convinced she wanted to be a writer, Karen first pursued a career in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, in a weak moment, she wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Her books—referred to as “grit lit” (Southern Women’s Fiction)—have since been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year.

Karen’s latest novel, Dreams of Falling, was published in June, 2018 by Berkley Publishing, a division of Penguin Random House Publishing Group.

When not writing, Karen spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. Karen and her husband have two grown children and currently live near Atlanta, Georgia with two spoiled Havanese dogs.
– See more at: http://www.karen-white.com/bio.cfm#st… 

Thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful weekend!

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Edgewater Road ( The Rumors In Ross County #1)

My Review

This is a unique book. Many authors struggle to write fluently in more than one genre not so with this author her contemporaries are every bit as wonderful as her Amish books.
Edgewater Road is a very intriguing book that kept me flipping pages quickly after I started it because I just had to see how it ended.
I enjoyed seeing how the author shows the main character’s strength after an unfortunate event happens to her. The character goes deep within herself to find inner strength,courage,fortitude and healing. The author could have had the woman portrayed as weak and helpless but I liked the strength she gave her. I also believe the saying ” don’t judge a book by it’s cover” applies here as well in the sense that we should not judge a person by how they look and their past activities.
I was very impressed by this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

Pub Date 01 Mar 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon Buy Link

GoodReads Synopsis

When Jennifer Smiley’s grandmother, Ginny, leaves her an old farmhouse on Edgewater Road in seemingly quiet Ross County, Ohio, Jennifer can’t pass up the opportunity for a new beginning. Almost immediately she meets a group of men who generously help her move in. When she realizes that they work for Lincoln Bennett, her next-door neighbor, she’s intrigued. Lincoln is gorgeous and has dark, lapis-blue eyes she could get lost in . . . but he doesn’t seem all that friendly. She’s torn between getting to know him and sticking with the solitude she knows so well. Maybe she could let down some of those walls she’s built around her emotions?

Lincoln Bennett likes to keep his head down and get his work done. He’s been to prison and he knows that a lot of folks don’t take kindly to a man with that kind of history. Plus, he’s busy helping other ex-cons get back on their feet. But when he meets Jennifer, he can’t help but feel an instant attraction. Will she be able to look past his unsavory history? Will she be able to accept the men he’s working so hard to help?

While Jennifer gets to know Lincoln and his friends, she also begins to unravel her grandmother’s story, putting together the pieces from scraps of memories and things she finds in her new home. She soon discovers that Ginny Smiley harbored some dark secrets on Edgewater Road—and that those secrets include both Lincoln and her own absent father. Is learning the truth worth the heartache it could bring?

As the weeks pass and she and Lincoln become closer, Jennifer learns there is a lot to uncover in Ross County—wonderful friendships, darling towns … and more than one secret that might be better left buried.

About The Author

Shelley Shepard Gray lives in southern 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 visits Amish communities in Adams and Holmes counties several times a year. When not spending time with her family or writing, she serves on several committees in her church.

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 become her friend on FaceBook.

Thank you for visiting today. Enjoy your day!

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Can’t Wait Wednesday

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you’re continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I Can’t Wait For………… The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

Now I have never read a book by this author but the cover is gorgeous and it sounds really good. I am looking forward to it.

The Matchmaker’s Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman Hardcover September 20,22 St. Martins Press 320 pages

Summary

From Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters, comes a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places in The Matchmaker’s Gift.

Is finding true love a calling or a curse?

Even as a child in 1910, Sara Glikman knows her gift: she is a maker of matches and a seeker of soulmates. But among the pushcart-crowded streets of New York’s Lower East Side, Sara’s vocation is dominated by devout older men―men who see a talented female matchmaker as a dangerous threat to their traditions and livelihood. After making matches in secret for more than a decade, Sara must fight to take her rightful place among her peers, and to demand the recognition she deserves.

Two generations later, Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, is a successful Manhattan divorce attorney, representing the city’s wealthiest clients. When her beloved Grandma Sara dies, Abby inherits her collection of handwritten journals recording the details of Sara’s matches. But among the faded volumes, Abby finds more questions than answers. Why did Abby’s grandmother leave this library to her and what did she hope Abby would discover within its pages? Why does the work Abby once found so compelling suddenly feel inconsequential and flawed? Is Abby willing to sacrifice the career she’s worked so hard for in order to keep her grandmother’s mysterious promise to a stranger? And is there really such a thing as love at first sight?

Does this one sound right up your alley or would you pass on it?

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Confetti Over Bluebell Cliff

My Review

Art dealer Ruby Lambert is very successful at her job, she’s also a single mom to an adorable baby boy.
Her sister Olivia is getting married soon and like so many of us she wants to look her best for the wedding in a few months time so she joins a weight loss/workout program.
Next we meet Harry, a young man, only married for less than two years with a very annoying wife. This woman can not find anything right with Harry,complains constantly and finds everything he does “unreasonable”. When you have this many problems with your husband don’t you think maybe it’s time to examine yourself and it becomes a not him problem but a “you” problem?
Anyways Harry is at the weight loss program because his wife signs him up for it.
Will Ruby be able to lose the weight in time for her sister’s big day? Will Harry’s weight loss finally make his wife happy? I’m not giving anything away so read it and find out.
Very realistic book. I enjoyed it very much.
Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Expected publication: March 2nd 2022 by Boldwood Books
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon Buy Link

GoodReads Synopsis

All NEW from bestselling author Della Galton and her wonderful Bluebell Cliff Hotel series.

Art dealer Ruby Lambert is on a mission to lose her baby weight ahead of her sister’s Olivia’s wedding in 6 months’ time.
To add fuel the fire, Ruby has also been ‘honoured’ with the unenviable task of being Head Bridesmaid. So determined not to let Olivia down, she signs up to a swanky new diet & fitness club, The Bluebell Booty Busters.

Uncertain of what to expect Ruby meets Harry Small, a wealthy local businessman who ‘joins’ Booty Busters, after pressure from his wife, who’s worried about his health and growing waistline.

Ruby and Harry soon team up as diet buddies, supporting each other through their dieting crisis’s. But something seems amiss at Booty Busters when they both discover that if it looks too good to be true; it probably is….

Will Ruby and Harry ever reach their targets?

And will Ruby do her sister proud and be the Belle of the Ball?

About The Author

Della Galton is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies set in beautiful Dorset, where she lives. Her stories feature quirky characters and very often a dog or two.

When she is not writing she enjoys walking her dogs around the beautiful Dorset countryside and beaches.

Find out more about Della Galton, her books, speaking engagements & workshops, on her website, dellagalton.co.uk

Does this sound like a book you’d enjoy reading?

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

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It’s Monday What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn here at The Book Date.

Welcome to the start of a new week . I hope you are all doing well. Hubby just got his second coronavirus shot yesterday and is feeling the effects of it. Have you had a chance to do much reading this past week? Me not as much hoping to catch up a bit this week.

What I Read Last Week

Witness protection should have kept them safe.

Instead, it left them completely exposed…

Canadian border patrol officer Emma James has only one concern after putting a crime boss behind bars: keeping her daughter safe. But witness protection has a leak, and Emma’s enemies know exactly where to find her. Now on the run with no safe haven, trusting her estranged former brother-in-law, police constable Mason James, to shield them is her only hope…

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

To be a good father

he needs the right teacher

When his twins’ nanny leaves for a family emergency, single dad Knox Taylor knows he’s in over his head caring for the girls alone. But having their aunt’s aid for the summer wasn’t the assistance he had in mind. But Merritt Lane’s crash course in fatherhood might just teach Knox what he desperately needs to know…and reveal she’s the partner he didn’t know he was missing.

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope. 

This book is excellent. My review for it is here

A heartwarming and uplifting story of healing, courage, love—and one irresistible yellow Labrador retriever—from the bestselling author of An Unexpected Grace and Earnest.

On San Julian Island, across Puget Sound from Seattle, Tessa Jordan works as a bookmobile librarian, recommending books and poems to her patrons. In her spare time, she cares for a colony of feral cats. But Tessa’s simple, satisfying life is shockingly upended after she meets Nick Payne, a respected community leader, and he invites her to dinner.

Far from a pleasant first date, Tessa’s evening with Nick leaves her feeling confused and upset. After deep soul-searching, she decides to step forward and accuse him of assault. Her distress grows when local prosecutor Will Armstrong declines to pursue her case, citing lack of evidence. Her main solace is Hope, a courthouse dog, trained to comfort victims through the difficult judicial process. As she lays her head in Tessa’s lap, her gentle brown eyes seem to say, Don’t worry. Everything will be all right.

Will, who is Hope’s primary handler, longs to get justice for Tessa, yet knows how rocky the path will be. It’s Hope who, true to her name, shines a bright ray through the darkness. With Hope by their side, Will and Tessa find surprising strength in each other as they learn just how resilient a heart—whether human or canine—can be.

What I Am Currently Reading

What’s Next For Me

Which of these have you read or are looking forward to reading?

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Put Out To Pasture (Farm To Table Mysteries #2)

My Review

Put Out To Pasture is the second book in the cozy mystery series Farm To Table by Amanda Flower.
I’ve read so many of her cozy mysteries in many of her series and they never disappoint. I always look forward to the next. Now even though this is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone.
Shiloh Bellamy has her work cut out for her trying to keep the family farm afloat.
She and her dog Huckleberry the Pug are working from sunup til sundown doing chores and trying to turn it into an organic bakery business when she gets the idea of hosting a fall festival at her farm.
The festival is going swimmingly and she and her assistant can not keep up with the baking supply needed of the organic foods. Unfortunately this all comes to a screeching halt when a body is found in a back field.
Things go from bad to worse when the evidence all seems to point to her best friend as the main suspect. Now she not only has the farm work to do she takes it upon herself to investigate the crime so her friend won’t be blamed.
I enjoyed the book a lot except for the ending when it felt kind of strange as the love interest just fizzled out.
I look forward to reading about more adventures in this series.

Pub Date 22 Feb 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon Buy Link

GoodReads Synopsis

A delightful new cozy mystery from USA Today bestselling author Amanda Flower!

There’s fowl play afoot on the farm

Shiloh Bellamy has saved her family’s farm from financial ruin—but now what? She’s barely scraping by on the farm’s new organic business model and the fall festival she organized to drum up business comes to a screeching halt when the body of a prominent townswoman is discovered underneath a scarecrow in a nearby field. Worst of all, the evidence points to Shiloh’s childhood best friend, Kristy, as the prime suspect.

Between cooking up delicious treats made with her farm’s produce, convincing her cantankerous father to let her do things her own way, and dealing with a newcomer in town who could be serious competition for her customers, Shiloh doesn’t have time to wade into a murder investigation. But with a killer on the loose and suspicious activity circling closer and closer to Shiloh and the people she loves, she realizes there’s nothing to do but roll up her sleeves and get down to the dirty work of finding the killer and clearing Kristy’s name once and for all.

This book is perfect for cozy mystery readers and fans of Kate Carlisle, Denise Swanson, and Bree Baker.

Baked goods and homemade preserves and jams at a farmer’s market.

About The Author

Amanda Flower is a USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award-winning author of over thirty-five mystery novels. Her novels have received starred reviews from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Romantic Times, and she had been featured in USA Today, First for Women, and Woman’s World. She currently writes for Penguin-Random House (Berkley), Kensington, Hallmark Publishing, Crooked Lane Books, and Sourcebooks. In addition to being a writer, she was a librarian for fifteen years. Today, Flower and her husband own a farm and recording studio, and they live in Northeast Ohio with their two adorable cats. Visit her at http://www.amandaflower.com

Have you read any books by this author? Which are your favorites?

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The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart

My Review

I thought this one was very well done. The book is steeped in the Victorian setting,taking place in London 1885. Amelie is a lonely hearts matchmaker who so caught up in her work decides to watch a couple through a restaurant window to observe this couple. Little does she know it’s a recent widow who’s just lost his wife and that she herself is being watched and observed by detective Michael Baker. He will question her as to what she knows about this case. We know who the murderer is right from the start, while most books are not like this proving the guilt in this case proves hard to do.
While investigating the crime together a relationship of mutual respect and maybe a little more develops between Amelie and the detective.
This book kept me intrigued the whole way through. I am looking forward to reading more books in this Proper Romance series.

Pub Date 07 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

GoodReads Synopsis

Set in Victorian London from the Queen of Mystery Romance

Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe—a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club.

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman’s body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman’s husband—Harold Radcliffe—of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm. 

Amazon Buy Link

About The Author

Nancy Campbell Allen is the award winning author of 18 published novels and several novellas, which encompass a variety of genres ranging from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. Her most recent books, which include Regency, Victorian, and steampunk romance, are published through Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance line, and the What Happens in Venice novella series is part of the Timeless Romance Anthology collection published by Mirror Press. She has presented at numerous conferences and events since her initial publication in 1999.

Her formal schooling includes a B.S. in Elementary Education from Weber State University and she has worked as a ghost writer and freelance editor, contributing to the releases, We Knew Howard Hughes, by Jim Whetton, and My Life Encapsulated, by Kenneth Brailsford.

Her agent is Pamela Pho of D4EO Literary Agency.

Nancy loves to read, write, travel, and research, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She nurtures a current obsession for true crime podcasts and is a news junkie. She and her husband have three children, and she lives in Ogden, Utah with her family, one very large Siberian Husky named Thor, and an obnoxious but endearing YorkiePoo named Freya.

Would you read this book? What sounds good about it to you? Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by.




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Cover Reveal for A Scottish Highland Surprise

I’m excited to take part in this cover reveal with Rachel’s Random Resources, Julie Shackman & the publisher One More Chapter. Expected Publishing Date 22.04.22

Pre-order links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scottish-Highland-Surprise-Julie-Shackman-ebook/dp/B09MMZ75KL

US – https://www.amazon.com/Scottish-Highland-Surprise-Julie-Shackman-ebook/dp/B09MMZ75KL

Synopsis

Discover the secrets and surprises that the scenic Scottish town of Briar Glen has to offer…

When wedding planner Sophie Harkness refuses to move a friend’s wedding to accommodate a spoilt bridezilla, she finds herself out of a job. That is until she discovers her late grandma has purchased a local shop for her in the pretty Scottish town of Briar Glen.

Surprised and delighted, Sophie opens her own porcelain shop in honour of her grandmother. But when an unusual tea set is left with Sophie, along with a mysterious letter, she can’t help but be intrigued by the story behind the antique.

And when the handsome but aloof art critic Xander North comes knocking on her door, Sophie is about to find out the true colourful past of her latest treasure.

About The Author

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance. As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags. She is married, has two sons and a Romanian rescue pup, who she named Cooper. A Scottish Highland Surprise is Julie’s sixth novel.

Social Media Links – https://twitter.com/G13Julie

https://www.facebook.com/julie.shackman

https://www.instagram.com/juliegeorginashackman

Cover Banner

Thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful day.

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First Line Friday

Happy Friday & welcome to First Line Friday hosted by Reading Is My SuperPower ! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today, I’m featuring the first line of The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen.

And The first Line is……….

Amelie Hampton blinked in surprise as her normally unflappable aunt called her to task over a mistake,frankly,Amelie didn’t believe was a mistake at all. Poor judgement,at most.

About The Book

A romance develops as a detective partners with a lonely-hearts columnist to solve a murder mystery.

London, 1885

Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe—a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club.

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman’s body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman’s husband—Harold Radcliffe—of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

Let me know the first line in the book closest to you.

Would you read this one? Thank you for stopping by have a wonderful weekend!

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Can’t Wait Wednesday

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you’re continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I Can’t Wait For………. The Beach Trap By Ali Grady

This is a new to me author. I thought the cover was cute and I am in the mood for a light,Summer beachy type read as well.

The Beach Trap By Ali Brady

384 pages

June 14,2022 Berkley Publishing

Summary

Two best friends torn apart by a life-altering secret. One summer to set the record straight.
 
When twelve-year-olds Kat Steiner and Blake O’Neill meet at Camp Chickawah, they have an instant connection. But everything falls apart when they learn they’re not just best friends—they’re also half sisters. Confused and betrayed, the girls break off all contact.
 
Fifteen years later, when their father dies suddenly, Kat and Blake discover he’s left them a joint inheritance: the family beach house in Destin, Florida. The two sisters are immediately at odds. Blake, who has recently been demoted from regular nanny to dog nanny, wants to sell the house, while social media influencer Kat is desperate to hold on to the place where she lived so many happy memories.
 
Kat and Blake reluctantly join forces to renovate the dilapidated house, with the understanding that Kat will try to buy Blake out at the end of the summer. The women clash as Blake’s renovation plans conflict with Kat’s creative vision; meanwhile, each sister finds herself drawn into a summer romance. As the weeks pass, the two women realize the most difficult project they face this summer will be coming to grips with their shared past—and learning how to become sisters.

Would you read it?