family bonds – Vegan Book Blogger

288 pages Ballantine Books October 15, 2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s main store proprietor—and an incredibly handsome and charming former musician to boot—is more than willing to help.

Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s positive feedback and encouragement inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, interrupting and threatening her newfound peace and confidence. Meanwhile revelations from Jay present complications of their own. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.

MY THOUGHTS

Reading Debbie Macomber’s latest Christmas book every year is a long-standing tradition I have. I’ve loved every single one of them. They brighten my day and I always look forward to them.

A woman in love with music doesn’t have her dreams work out the way she had hoped. Settling is what a lot of us do when our dreams don’t come true. She settles on becoming a high school band teacher. Several years ago, a relationship didn’t work out because he wasn’t interested in her dreams and encouraging her, so she walked away from this relationship.

When a close friend suggests she spends Christmas at her family’s cabin she’s delighted. Breaking from tradition she won’t be spending Christmas with her family, but she needs this alone time to regroup.
Upon arriving she’s struck by the beauty of the area and can’t wait to relax. Not so quick though there’s a few wild animals in her remote cabin and Podunk, Oregon, isn’t all she thought it would be.

When Jay, the son of the town’s store owner helps her out she is taken by his good looks, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a musician. As they spend more time together, she comes to realize just how encouraging he can be about her music and talking with him feels as though they’ve known each other for a long time.

The book explores the mother daughter relationship. A meddling mother needing to know everything about her love life and ready to try to push an old boyfriend on her that the mother really likes. A daughter who knows she needs time away from her family this Christmas so she can grow emotionally and figure out what’s best for herself.

An emotional book showing the strength of family relationships and a few surprising twists in the bumpy road we call life. Guaranteed to make you smile and give you a happy feeling as you read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Thank you for stopping in.

This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles, Award-Winning Author Pens a Unique Southern Tale

274 pages Publish date June 27, 2023 Revell publisher

About The Book

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just 14 years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her was filled with gold. And when he died 50 years later, he made her promise to keep his secret. She is to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contains.

Now 94, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she’s kept that secret. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. His friend who joins him only wants to find the location of the gold. Neither of them knows quite who they’re up against when it comes to the old woman on the mountain.

As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. After all, how long is one bound by a promise? But the truth of what’s really buried in the box may be hidden even from her.

mountain wisteria vines

My Thoughts

This Is Where It Ends is an exceptionally amazing book. Told through the eyes of our main character Minerva Jane Jenkins at 94 years of age. Living in the hills of Appalachia Kentucky she married a man at 14 years old, he was only 17. Married for about fifty years as her husband lays dying, he makes her promise to keep his secret and also never share with anyone the contents of a box he carries around with him, she does. In my opinion Minverva doesn’t get a fair shake in life, high up on a hill she is lonely for friends and neighbors and her marriage isn’t how she would have planned it to be.
She lives a simple life living off the fruits of the land. She is a simple woman and knew this going in she just never expected her life to be quite like this.
So lonely after her husband dies. she manages with the occasional visit from a neighbor when they bring some type of food, she’s unable to grow.
There’s been a rumor that her husband years ago had gold hidden away on their homestead but looking at her little run down falling apart cabin it would make you wonder,
When a reporter gets word of this gold he goes to visit and she thinks he’s there because of the rumor of the gold. She’s hesitant to trust him, as most hill people are apt not to trust outsiders.
The more they talk and get to know each other the more she lets her guard down and begins to trust him. She’s been so lonely is this God’s way of bringing help and a friend into her life?
Days turn into weeks that turn into months as he stays and helps her with repairs that have needed done for years. It really warmed my heart to see such a bond forming between the two characters.
I really felt authenticity with the dialect, setting, foods and descriptions of the character’s actions.
I really felt as though I have gotten to know Minerva through this book. She was a unique and quite special person. This book is a real treasure. Get to know the elderly and form a bond with them.
This book will stay with me for quite some time!

Pub Date 27 Jun 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

About the Author

Cindy K. Sproles is an author and speaker. Raised and living in the mountains of East Tennessee, she spins tales of life in the deep crevices of the Appalachian mountains. Cindy is proud of her mountain heritage and her desire is to see this culture live on in history. “Children aren’t taught in school about the innovation and determination of the mountain people or about the heritage that is richly embedded in them. These are the people who helped forge America and these are the people who have the brawn and guts to stand by their families, heritage, and beliefs.” Cindy’s desire is to continue to weave the stories, despite their hardships, that show the resilience of the Appalachian culture. Being raised in these mountains and having family who practiced the old ways, Cindy writes from a deep love and experience of the mountains of East Tennessee. Who better to pen the stories of the people, than someone who knows it first hand.?

Aside from her writing, Cindy co-founded ChristianDevotions.us and served as managing editor for SonRise Books and Straight Street Books, imprints of Iron Stream Media. She teaches at Christian Writers Conferences and ladies retreats and ladies conferences across the country. Her devotions are heartfelt and honest. Edgy and inviting. Cindy serves as the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us, a writing mentor, and life coach. She shares mentoring with Lori Marett at Writing Right Author Mentoring Service. Author of four non-fiction books, Cindy’s fiction debut novel, Mercy’s Rain(Kregel Publishing), won book of the year and her second novel, Liar’s Winter has won numerous awards. Cindy’s 3rd Appalachian Novel, Revell Publishing, What Momma Left Behind, also received a gold medal in the national Illumination Awards and was named Christian Market Novel of the Year. She has contributed to CBN.com and InspireaFire.com and serves as the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit her at http://www.cindysproles.com or contact her at cindyksproles@gmail.com

Cindy is available for speaking events by contacting her at cindyksproles@gmail.com.

Have a beautiful day and thanks for stopping in.

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