Tag: Contemporary Fiction

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The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden-Review

About the book

“Heartfelt, heartwarming, joyful, and uplifting. You can’t go wrong with a Rachel Linden book.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

An uplifting novel about a heartbroken young pie maker who is granted a magical second chance to live the life she didn’t choose. . . . from the bestselling author of The Enlightenment of Bees.
 
Lolly Blanchard’s life only seems to give her lemons. Ten years ago, after her mother’s tragic death, she broke up with her first love and abandoned her dream of opening a restaurant in order to keep her family’s struggling Seattle diner afloat and care for her younger sister and grieving father. Now, a decade later, she dutifully whips up the diner’s famous lemon meringue pies each morning while still pining for all she’s lost.  
 
As Lolly’s thirty-third birthday approaches, her quirky great-aunt gives her a mysterious gift—three lemon drops, each of which allows her to live a single day in a life that might have been hers. What if her mom hadn’t passed away? What if she had opened her own restaurant in England? What if she hadn’t broken up with the only man she’s ever loved? Surprising and empowering, each experience helps Lolly let go of her regrets and realize the key to transforming her life lies not in redoing her past but in having the courage to embrace her present.

My Review

Heartfelt,heartwarming, this is one of those books that when you’re finished with it it won’t just quickly leave your mind.
Lolly Blanchard is the stability in her family. After her mother passed away she is sticking to the promise she made to her mother shortly before her passing, take care of your sister and father.
She’s been raising her younger sister and also is the lemon pie maker in her family’s restaurant baking her delicacies daily from her mother’s secret pie recipe.
Her great-Aunt has come to help run the restaurant as well. Into her eighties she is strict and no nonsense but at times Lolly does see a milder side to her.
Coulda,shoulda,woulda we all have thoughts of what we could have done differently in the past including Lolly especially when her sister finds and old notebook of Lolly’s with a list she made in middle school of what she wanted to accomplish as an adult. Looking at the list she can laugh at some of the items but some she still wants to accomplish.
The book has magical realism as Lolly is able to experience the things she had wished for for only one day for each item. Not all is fine and dandy though there are the positives and negatives of each of the days she’s experiencing. She comes to realize what she has is so much better than she thought and all she thought she really wanted is not better than what she already has.
Beautifully written and definitely worth a reread in the future.

Pub Date 02 Aug 2022 |
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

About The Author

Rachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in over fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of Ascension of Larks, Becoming the Talbot Sisters, and The Enlightenment of Bees. Currently Rachel lives with her family in Seattle, WA where she enjoys creating stories about hope, courage and connection with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.

To learn more about Rachel Linden, visit her at http://www.rachellinden.com or connect with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorRachellinden/ or Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/rachellinden_writer

Is this a book you’d read? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by, have a relaxing day.

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Top Ten Tuesday-Places I’d Love to Visit

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

There are so many wonderful places to visit around the world so I’ll list a few here.

France

England

Italy

New York

Michigan

Germany

California

Ohio

Seaside,England

Boston and New Hampshire

We’ve just returned from traveling on a week long anniversary trip last month and the urge to travel has hit again. So many exciting and wonderful things to see.Let me know in the comments if you’d like to read any of these books and where you’d enjoy traveling even if just through books which I do a lot.

Enjoy your day and stay cool.

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Top Ten Tuesday-Seasonal TBR Lists I haven’t gotten to yet

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl
Today’s topic is all about those seasonal TBR lists I still haven’t had a chance to read yet. My TBR list is from NetGalley and I have quite a few I haven’t gotten to yet. If only they’d stop putting such great books on there maybe I’d stop requesting them.

Winter Requests

Dec 2020

Jan 2021

Jan 2021

Spring Requests

March 2021

Apr 2021

May 2021

Summer Requests

June 2021

July 2021

Aug 2021

Autumn Request

Sept 2021

Thank you for stopping by today. Would you like to see a review soon for any of these? Have you read any of these titles? What are some back titles on your list?

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Top Ten Autumn books I’m excited to read

Top ten books with Autumn in the title

I just love Summer and the fun activities it brings but I also look forward to the cooler days of Autumn. Here are my top ten book covers with Autumn in the title. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Visit to discover many blogs to visit.

Autumn Grace

Autumn Skies

Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange

Lost Autumn

Autumn Alibi

A Promise In Autumn

Autumn In Venice

Squirrel In Autumn

The Bookshop on Autumn Lane

Autumn Getaway

Look at these beautiful covers. Have you read any of these or would you like to read any of them? What are you excited to start reading?

Thanks for stopping by. Try to keep cool and have a marvelous day.

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First Line Friday-The True Love Bookshop

Happy Friday & welcome to the 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 True Love Bookshop by Annie Rains.

And the first line is

“No”, Tess Lane said,maybe a little too forcefully for her new employee at Lakeside books.

About The Book

She’s ready to start a new chapter in her life…
 For Tess Lane, owning Lakeside Books is a dream come true, but it’s the weekly book club she hosts for the women in town that Tess enjoys the most. The gatherings have been her lifeline over the past three years since her husband’s mysterious death. Tess has tried to move on, but when River Harrison shows up on her doorstep, all her lingering questions come rushing back.…

River, a former marine turned private investigator, was her husband’s best friend, and seeing him again is a reminder of everything Tess lost. At first, she tries to ignore him, but Tess comes to realize that this is her chance, once and for all, to find the answers that have troubled her for years.

With the support of her friends, Tess joins River on a journey of discovery that leads them to the edges of Somerset Lake and on a road trip down the Carolina coast. Although their adventure isn’t always easy, Tess starts to find the joy in life again. But when secrets surrounding her husband’s death are finally revealed, can Tess find it in her heart to forgive the mistakes of the past … and maybe even open herself up to love again?

Grab the book closest to you and let me know your first line in the comments below.

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.

This author has so many books out and I’ve never read one by her yet. The cover is so pretty and the synopsis sounded so good that I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try it out. Books about food are deliciously fun to read.

Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs publishes July 26,2022 384 pages William Morrow publisher Amazon Buy Link Here

Book Summary

The New York Times bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop brings readers a can’t-miss tale of friendship, hardship, redemption, and love between a San Francisco baker and a barbecue master from Texas.

Jerome Sugar learned the art of baking in his grandma’s bakery, also called Sugar, on historic Perdita Street in San Francisco. He supplies baked goods to the Lost and Found Bookshop across the street.

When the restaurant that shares his commercial kitchen loses its longtime tenant, a newcomer moves in: Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas.

Margot isn’t exactly on the run, but she needs a fresh start. She’s taken care of herself her whole life, pulling herself up by her fingernails to recover from trauma, and her dream has been to open a restaurant somewhere far, far from Texas. The shared kitchen with Jerome’s Sugar bakery is the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals.

Margot instantly takes to Jerome’s mother, the lively, opinionated Ida. The older woman proves to be a good mentor, and Margot is drawn to Jerome. Despite their different backgrounds their attraction is powerful—even though Jerome worries that Margot will simply move on from him once she’s found some peace and stability. But just as she starts to relax into a happy new future, Margot’s past in Texas comes back to haunt her…

Does this sound like a book you’d enjoy reading? Let me know in the comments.

Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by.

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The Beach Trap by Ali Brady-Review

This is so much more than just a Summer beach read!

My Review

Based on the cover I was expecting a light,summer beach read with a little romance thrown in and I was okay with that. You know, one of those books that’s good while you’re reading it but so easily forgotten.
What I got was a whole lot more.
Oh my, this book is so heartwarming and full of emotion.
As preteens two girls go to the same summer camp and become best friends,do everything together and promise to stay best friends for life. While at the camp the girls come to realize they have the same father so they’re half-sisters. Feeling betrayed,hurt and confused they break off all contact with each other and these feelings have years to fester.
Years later they learn their father has left his beach house to both of them.
Now these two sisters couldn’t be more different, one is a star influencer,polished,highly fashionable,always on and ready to take that filtered photo for her adoring fans. The other is down to earth,sensible and ready to get the job done,whatever job that may be.
The stipulation is the girls can not just sell the beach house but how can they possibly get along to make the decisions concerning the fixing up of the beach house when they can’t even carry on a normal conversation without screaming at each other?
From one fiasco to the next from guy trouble to fashion mishaps and home improvement flops can the sisters learn how to be civil to each other?
I enjoyed seeing the relationship between the sisters growing and changing.
There is so much family heartache and misunderstanding and blame that finally comes to light.
Through an olive branch being extended and many talks and tears there is light ahead.
Very heartwarming. I’ll be reading this one again!

Pub Date 14 Jun 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

GoodReads Synopsis

Two best friends torn apart by a life-altering secret. They have 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, their friendship instantly crumbles.

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 instantly 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 keep the place where she had so many happy childhood 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, and 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. 

Grab A Copy Here

About The Author

Ali Brady is the pen name of writing BFFs Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey. THE BEACH TRAP is their first book together. Alison lives in Chicago where she works as a creative director for an advertising agency. She has published two solo books, YOU AND ME AND US and LITTLE PIECES OF ME. Bradeigh lives in Utah with her husband and four children. She works as a doctor, and her solo debut, IMPOSTER is forthcoming.

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

Thanks for stopping by. Stay strong. You are wonderful!

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The True Love Bookshop (Somerset Lake #3)

My Review

This is so heartwarming, it’s her absolute best book ever!
Her books are so realistic, you could see you friends and neighbors in these situations.
I love that this is a series and we get to meet characters from previous books again and also meet a new cast of characters.
I must say I was glad to see Somerset Lake’s gossip blogger,Reva back at it again. She knows everybody’s business and you wouldn’t want her for a neighbor but she has a fun and outgoing personality and she won’t hesitate to tell you what you need to know about someone.
The book is so emotional, it may bring you to tears and you’ll find yourself in a range of emotions as you read this.
Tess Lane owns Lakeside Books, it’s her calm space to go to after the death of her husband,Jared that occurred three years ago. She had so many dreams of how life would be for them but it was all snatched away by a car accident.
River was her husband’s best friend before their wedding until he objected to their wedding,now she and his family don’t like him because of the objection.
When he shows up on her doorstep questions rush in.
As she starts spending more time with River she sees he’s not the bad guy she thought he was, this former Marine has changed and has her best welfare at heart.
He’s a PI now and the more he uncovers about her husband the more she feels as though her life is crumbling all over again.
Will a journey of self-worth and self-discovery for River and Tess both set them on a path of despair or easing of pain and knowing forgiveness is the way to reopen the heart again?
Family is not always blood but who you make it when you let others into your heart.
Loved this book and look forward to many more by this author!

Pub Date 05 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own. 

Grab A Copy Here

GoodReads Synopsis

She’s ready to start a new chapter in her life…
 For Tess Lane, owning Lakeside Books is a dream come true, but it’s the weekly book club she hosts for the women in town that Tess enjoys the most. The gatherings have been her lifeline over the past three years since her husband’s mysterious death. Tess has tried to move on, but when River Harrison shows up on her doorstep, all her lingering questions come rushing back.…

River, a former marine turned private investigator, was her husband’s best friend, and seeing him again is a reminder of everything Tess lost. At first, she tries to ignore him, but Tess comes to realize that this is her chance, once and for all, to find the answers that have troubled her for years.

With the support of her friends, Tess joins River on a journey of discovery that leads them to the edges of Somerset Lake and on a road trip down the Carolina coast. Although their adventure isn’t always easy, Tess starts to find the joy in life again. But when secrets surrounding her husband’s death are finally revealed, can Tess find it in her heart to forgive the mistakes of the past … and maybe even open herself up to love again?

About The Author

Website

http://www.annierains.com/

Annie Rains is a contemporary romance author who writes small town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina. Raised in one of America’s largest military communities, Annie often features heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her husband and 3 children, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors.

If you enjoyed the Hero’s Welcome series, don’t miss the short wedding story for Kat and Micah (Welcome to Forever). Get it here for FREE: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/aTSl1

For other books and happenings, sign up for my newsletter on my website: www.annierains.com

Thank you for stopping by. May you have a blessed day.

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The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber-Review

My Review

This is the first book I have read by Heather Webber and now I am wondering why I’ve waited so long.
You could say Sugarberry Cove is a place of magic, a place of new beginnings.second chance relationships. Sisters, Sadie Way Cross and Leala Clare do not have the best relationship with their mother, she raised them as a single parent while running a bed and breakfast on the shores of the lake. After almost drowning there years ago Sadie moves away wanting no reminders of her time there.
The story will give you all the feels as you read about Sadie coming back to Sugarberry when her mother has a heart attack. She may not even admit it to herself but Sadie actually missed Sugarberry and reminisces about good times there.
Leala never left Sugarberry, instead staying there,marrying and having a child.
Sadie assumes she is happy there and all is well, but is it?
Dealing with mending relationships and they really talk , this mother and daughters based book is brimming with love,compassion and truths revealed you won’t want to miss, The Lights of Sugarberry Cove.

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

Grab A Copy Here

GoodReads Synopsis

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming, delightful story of family, healing, love, and small town Southern charm by USA Today bestselling author Heather Webber.

Sadie Way Scott has been avoiding her family and hometown of Sugarberry Cove, Alabama, since she nearly drowned in the lake just outside her mother’s B&B. Eight years later, Sadie is the host of a much-loved show about southern cooking and family, but despite her success, she wonders why she was saved. What is she supposed to do?

Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, is still haunted by the guilt she feels over the night her sister almost died. Now, at a crossroads in her marriage, Leala has everything she ever thought she wanted—so why is she so unhappy?

When their mother suffers a minor heart attack just before Sugarberry Cove’s famous water lantern festival, the two sisters come home to run the inn while she recovers. It’s the last place either of them wants to be, but with a little help from the inn’s quirky guests, the sisters may come to terms with their strained relationships, accept the past, and rediscover a little lake magic.

About The Author

Heather Webber (aka Heather Blake) is the author of more than twenty-five novels and has been twice nominated for an Agatha Award. She loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book.www.heatherwebber.com | http://www.heatherblakebooks.com

Thank you for stopping day. 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?