A festive, coming-of-age tale about an Oxbridge candidate and a young homeless man who find themselves in the bittersweet predicament of falling in love with exactly the right person at exactly the wrong time.
Well-to-do Jed never imagined he’d end up homeless, but family circumstances have made it his only option. Local vicar, Ben, tries to help him but there’s an element of self-punishment to the homelessness that makes Jed continue to put up with his situation – until disaster leads him to re-consider the vicar’s offer of a place to stay.
Hattie is on the cusp of adulthood, frantically trying to persuade her mum that she doesn’t want to attend an elite university, preferring the idea of pursuing her love of art and textiles. When she meets Jed, she badly wants to understand his circumstances and why, when she has everything at her fingertips, he doesn’t.
Hattie’s mum, Christine, has had a hard life and is desperate for more for her only child. When she meets Ben, the vicar who’s trying to help Jed, she finds an unlikely ally, and the two heartbroken souls find themselves drawn to each other. Until they find their relationship suddenly tested to the limit.
One thing’s for certain: none of these characters is looking forward to Christmas. It’s the worst time of year for each of them, for different reasons. But perhaps this year, the festive season could defy all expectations.
Rebecca Boxall is the award-nominated author of five bestselling novels – Christmas at the Vicarage, Home for Winter, Christmas on the Coast, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse. She is also the author of Christmas at the Farmhouse and her popular short story, A Winter’s Day.
MY THOUGHTS
Such a warm and lovely book, it was read in a day. The characters are complex individuals which makes the story more realistic.
The characters are there to bolster each other and you will readily like them. You can’t choose when you fall in love but for two couples, the timing is perfect.
This is lighthearted book that easily gets you in the holiday spirit. I recommend this book.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Purchase Links
Author Bio –
Rebecca Boxall was born in East Sussex in 1977 and grew up in a bustling vicarage always filled with family, friends and parishioners. She now lives by the sea in Jersey with her family and Rodney the cat. She read English at the University of Warwick before she trained as a lawyer and more recently worked at a psychiatric unit.
She is the No. 1 bestselling author of Christmas at the Vicarage and Christmas on the Coast as well as the bestselling writer of Home for Winter, The Christmas Forest and Christmas by the Lighthouse, in respect of which she was nominated for the Romantic Novel Awards in 2020. She is also the author of Christmas at the Farmhouse and her popular short story, A Winter’s Day.
Welcome! Today I hope you enjoy the lovely cover reveal I have for you.
The Secret Ingredient
She’s writing her story one recipe at a time…
‘A delicious story that wraps itself around your heart’ Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop
It’s been three years, two weeks and one day since Kate Shaw’s life changed forever. Three years, two weeks and one day that Kate has been angry – with herself and life.
But today is different. Different because Kate has finally taken the step she’s been avoiding…back into the kitchen. Now, what begins as a (disastrous) attempt to make pancakes becomes a culinary journey that is not only a love letter to someone so important to her, but also an unexpected means of connection to a community she never knew she had…
Sue Heath lives in Cheshire, England. When she isn’t working, she can often be found running around agility courses with her spaniel, and in the evenings, she loves to cook and spend time with family and friends.
‘The Secret Ingredient’ is an uplifting story that explores how a sense of community, sharing, friendship, love, and a feeling of belonging can help us make sense of life, find comfort, and heal. How we can find our happiness in ordinary things.
Sue has also written fourteen USA Today bestselling romcoms under the pseudonym Zara Stoneley and has sold over half a million copies of her stories worldwide.
“Being grateful does not mean that everything is necessarily good. It just means that you can accept it as a gift.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“Everyone enjoys being acknowledged and appreciated. Sometimes even the simplest act of gratitude can change someone’s entire day. Take the time to recognize and value the people around you and appreciate those who make a difference in your lives.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” ― Anthony Robbins
“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness — just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder, Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder: On Wisdom and Virtues
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” ― William Arthur Ward
“I have been finding treasures in places I did not want to search. I have been hearing wisdom from tongues I did not want to listen. I have been finding beauty where I did not want to look. And I have learned so much from journeys I did not want to take. Forgive me, O Gracious One; for I have been closing my ears and eyes for too long. I have learned that miracles are only called miracles because they are often witnessed by only those who can can see through all of life’s illusions. I am ready to see what really exists on other side, what exists behind the blinds, and taste all the ugly fruit instead of all that looks right, plump and ripe.” ― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem
“A little “thank you” that you will say to someone for a “little favour” shown to you is a key to unlock the doors that hide unseen “greater favours”. Learn to say “thank you” and why not?” ― Israelmore Ayivor
“Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions. Once expressed, it changes attitude, brightens outlook, and broadens our perspective.” ― Germany Kent
“If tragedy never entered our lives, we wouldn’t appreciate the magic.” ― Nikki Rowe
“Making the ungrateful grateful will bring tears to your eyes, tears of blood bleeding from the heart.” ― Ana Monnar
“Ingratitude to God does not rely only on our refusal to give the verbal thanksgiving due to Him, but also recides in our inability to appreciate his gifts and potentials in us by leaving them untapped.” ― Israelmore Ayivor
“Express gratitude for the greatness of small things.” ― Richie Norton
“Even when you don’t see Him working, He’s busy working on your behalf. Forever grateful for God’s grace!” ― Yvonne Pierre, The Day My Soul Cried: A Memoir
“It is impossible to lose everything and still be alive.” ― Mokokoma Mokhonoana
“Count your blessings as the more you are grateful for what you have the more there is to be grateful for.” ― Pravin Agarwal
“Be grateful for what you already have while you pursue your goals.” ― Roy Bennett
Productivity coach, speaker, blogger and author of Chaos to Control, a Practical Guide to Getting Things Done
1. Keep a gratitude journal and add to it every day
Keeping a gratitude journal is an effective method for cultivating gratitude. Spend a few minutes each day writing down what you are grateful for.
A good meal, a warm bed, or a kind word from a friend can all be examples of this. You can begin to shift your perspective and appreciate what you have by focusing on the positive aspects of your life.
2. Tell someone you love them and appreciate them.
Expressing gratitude to others can help to strengthen your bonds and make them feel valued. Take the time to express how much you value the people in your life and how grateful you are for their presence.
3. Notice the beauty in nature each day
Nature is full of wonders that can awe and inspire gratitude. Take a few moments each day to appreciate the natural beauty around you, whether it’s a sunrise, a flower, or the song of a bird.
4. Value your friendships; good friends don’t come along every day.
In our lives, good friendships bring us joy and support. Make time to connect with your friends, listen to them, and demonstrate your concern. Taking care of your friendships can help you recognize the positive impact they have on your life.
5. Smile more often
Smiling is an easy way to cultivate gratitude and optimism. It can boost your mood and make those around you feel better.
Even when you don’t feel like it, try to smile more frequently and watch how your mood and interactions with others improve.
6. Watch inspiring videos that will remind you of the good in the world.
In today’s world, it’s all too easy to focus on the bad news and events. However, there are many inspiring stories and videos that show the good in people.
Make time to watch these inspiring stories; they will make you feel more grateful and optimistic about the world.
7. Make it a habit to do one act of kindness every day.
Kindness, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on both others and yourself. Make it a daily goal to do something nice for someone else, whether it’s holding the door, complimenting someone, or offering to help
8. Avoid negative media and movies with destructive content
Negative media and movies can sap your energy and draw your attention to the negative aspects of life.
Choose to consume positive and uplifting media that will help you cultivate gratitude and joy.
9. Call your mom or dad more often
Your parents are most likely a source of love and support in your life, but we can all be guilty of taking them for granted at times.
Make an effort to call them more frequently and express your appreciation for everything they have done for you.
10. Cook with love, and think about those you will feed
Cooking is an excellent way to express gratitude and love. When you cook, think about who will be eating the meal and put your energy and intention into it. This can help you in appreciating the act of cooking as well as the joy it brings to others.
11. Volunteer for charitable organizations
It’s a wonderful way to give back and be thankful for what you have. It allows you to put things into perspective and appreciate your blessings.
Helping others benefits you as well as the people you help by increasing your sense of purpose and fulfillment.
12. Do not gossip or disparage anyone.
Talking negatively about others and engaging in gossip can damage relationships. Instead, look for the good in people and focus on what you can say about them.
13. Spend quality time with your loved ones
Spending quality time with loved ones is essential for expressing gratitude and strengthening bonds.
14. Compliment your friends and family when they look good
Remembering to compliment your friends and family when they look good is an easy way to show your appreciation and boost their confidence. It shows that you are paying attention to them and value their efforts.
15. Write a card to someone you haven’t seen in a while
Writing a card to someone you haven’t seen in a long time and saying something nice to them can make their day and strengthen your relationship with them.
16. Add at least one new item to your gratitude list each day.
Adding to your gratitude list at least once a day helps to cultivate a gratitude habit and trains your mind to focus on the positive aspects of your life.
17. Look for the bright side
It’s easy to focus on the negatives when confronted with a difficult situation. However, by attempting to find the positives, no matter how minor they may appear, you can shift your perspective and discover reasons to be grateful. This can result in a more optimistic outlook on life.
18. Make a weekly commitment to not complaining about anything
Complaining is easy to do, but it creates a negative energy that affects not only you but those around you. By committing to not complaining for a week, you will be forced to find solutions rather than dwell on problems, and you will begin to appreciate the good things in your life.
19. Try to notice when people do a good job and recognise them when they deserve it at work
It is essential to express gratitude to those who work hard and do a good job. This not only boosts morale but also fosters a positive work environment. You can foster a culture of gratitude and appreciation by recognizing their efforts.
20. Reward effort; if someone does something nice for you, return the favor.
It is important to express your gratitude when someone does something nice for you. One way to accomplish this is to repay their kindness with an act of your own. This can start a chain reaction of kindness and gratitude that benefits everyone.
21. Meditate with your gratitude list, giving thanks for all your good fortune.
Meditation can be an effective way to cultivate gratitude. You can develop a deeper appreciation for the good things in your life by focusing on your gratitude list during your meditation practice. This can result in a more upbeat attitude and a greater sense of well-being.
22. Live mindfully, not worrying about the past or the future.
If you’re always thinking about the past or the future, gratitude may be difficult to come by. Living mindfully in the present moment allows you to fully appreciate the good things in your life. This can result in a greater sense of contentment and peace.
23. Thank the people in your community who help you, such as the shopkeepers and bus drivers.
It’s easy to take the people who help us every day for granted. By taking the time to express our gratitude for their service, we foster a more positive interaction. This can brighten their day and contribute to a more positive community overall.
24. Thank your loved ones for the little things they do for you
We often fail to recognise the small things that our loved ones do for us on a daily basis. Thanking your partner, family members, or friends for their support, care, and love can go a long way towards strengthening your bonds.
25. Place quotes and images around your home that remind you to be grateful
Surround yourself with gratitude reminders. Print some inspirational quotes or make a vision board with images that inspire gratitude. Place them in rooms where you will see them frequently.
26. Visit an elderly neighbor and express gratitude for their presence in your life.
The elderly in our communities are a wealth of wisdom and life experience. Call or visit one of your elderly neighbors and express your gratitude for their presence in your life. You might be surprised at how much they value the gesture.
27. Call your grandparents and express your love for them.
Grandparents are often overlooked, but they can be a wealth of wisdom and guidance. Call them and express your love and appreciation for everything they’ve done for you.
28. Embrace challenges and turn them into growth opportunities
When faced with a challenge, try to see it as an opportunity for growth. Maintain a positive attitude and concentrate on what you can gain from the experience. This mindset shift can help you in finding new solutions and increasing your resilience.
29. Send love to your enemies or people you dislike
Gratitude is more than just appreciating the good things in life; it is also about finding compassion for those who challenge us. Send love to people you find difficult, and try to understand their perspective. You may find that your relationships improve as a result.
30. Be thankful when you learn something new
Learning is a lifelong process, and every new thing you learn is an opportunity to be grateful. Recognize the worth of your education and the teachers and mentors who guided you along the way.
31. See your mistakes as an opportunity for growth
We all make mistakes, but instead of dwelling on them, try to see them as learning opportunities. Consider what you can learn from your mistakes and how you can apply that knowledge to better yourself and your life.
32. Help your friends see the bright side of life
If you have friends who are prone to dwelling on the negative, be there with them and try to help them see the bright side of life. Encourage them to practice gratitude with you.
33. Remember your friends who are by your side during difficult times
Instead of focusing on what is wrong, focus on the people who are there to support you. Spend some time thanking them for their love and support.
34. Help others when life treats you well
When things are going well in your life, make time to help others. Perform random acts of kindness or volunteer to help those in need. Your generosity can make a significant difference in the life of someone else.
35. Create a gratitude collage by cutting out pictures of everything you are grateful for
Make a collage of pictures of things you’re grateful for and arrange them in a way that makes you happy. Display it in your home as a reminder of all the good things in your life.
36. Make gratitude a part of family life by sharing it with one another at mealtime
Starting a gratitude ritual during meal times is one way to incorporate gratitude into your family life. This can be as simple as asking each family member to share one thing they are grateful for on that particular day.
This will not only help everyone in the family develop a habit of gratitude, but it will also create a positive and uplifting environment during meals.
37. Practice gratitude at the same time every day to make it a habit
To make gratitude a habit, practice it consistently and at the same time every day. This could be done in the morning or before going to bed.
Making gratitude a part of your daily routine makes it easier to remember and eventually becomes a natural habit.
38. Focus on your strengths
You can cultivate a sense of gratitude by focusing on your strengths and the positive aspects of your life. This will help you appreciate and be grateful for what you have, as well as boost your self-esteem.
39. Share the benefits of gratitude with family and friends
Sharing the benefits of gratitude with family and friends can inspire and encourage others to do the same. Talk about the beneficial impact gratitude has had on your life and some ways they can cultivate gratitude in their own lives.
40. Express gratitude every day on social media
Social media is an excellent platform for expressing gratitude and inspiring others to do the same.
You can spread positivity and encourage others to focus on the good things in their lives by posting a message of gratitude on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. This can also foster a sense of belonging and connection with others who hold similar values.
Final Thoughts
Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can bring us happiness, joy, and contentment.
We can cultivate an attitude of gratitude and abundance even in difficult times by incorporating these habits into our daily lives. Every act of gratitude, whether it’s thanking those who serve us or noticing the beauty in nature, can have a significant impact on our happiness and relationships.
So, let us embrace these simple yet powerful practices of gratitude in order to live a happier, more fulfilling life.
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. Find out more here.
I am featuring a book in the Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. I’ve read most of the books in this fun series but do need to catch up on a few. I just love the covers as well. The covers on these cozy mysteries are so appealing and they have such clever titles.
336 pages February 24,2024 publication date St. Martin’s Press Paperbacks
ABOUT THE BOOK
Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, OR!
The mountains are calling in Ashland, Oregon, where pastry chef turned amateur sleuth, Jules Capshaw, is baking up a bevy of spiced curry buns and chai cookies for a moonlit snowshoe tour. Ramiro’s family is visiting from Spain and Jules can’t wait to take them up to her beloved Mount A with its charming and rustic lodge, backcountry trails, and star-filled skies that stretch for miles. Their winter wonderland adventure is nothing short of magical and the merry party opts to return to the slope the next day for the Downhill Dummy.
The annual competition is a favorite amongst snow lovers. Contestants strap makeshift dummies to skis and send them hurling down a death-defying ski jump in hopes of catching big air. The team at Torte is in the mix this year with their own replica of a tiered cake and a baker who closely resembles their fearless leader. It’s a fun and festive atmosphere as dummies sail past the crowd to huge cheers and applause. Until one of the dummies takes a deadly detour and lands atop Fitz Baskin.
Fitz is a guide on the mountain and his icy dealings have made for frosty relationships with everyone he encounters. Suddenly there are more suspects than snowdrifts as Jules dives into the investigation. She unearths a web of secrets and motives that threaten to shake the rustic mountain lodge to its core. Can she catch the killer before they strike again, or will the truth be buried forever under fluffy layers of fresh snow?
Have you read any books in this series yet? Thanks for stopping in. May your day be blessed with goodness.
270 pages October 24,2023 publish date Berkley publisher buy link
ABOUT THE BOOK
When Promise Glen is struck by a vandalism spree around the Thanksgiving holiday, a community’s values—and two weathered hearts—are put to the test.
As a widow with two-year-old twins and a struggling orchard, Rebecca King’s dreams of expanding her business seem near impossible. To make matters worse, a troublesome string of destructive acts around Promise Glen threatens her roadside fruit and vegetable stand, forcing Rebecca to accept the help of her condescending new neighbor, Nathan Mueller.
Nathan didn’t intend to offend Rebecca with his offer to share the stand, especially since he’s a widower and single parent himself. He admires Rebecca’s strength and kindness in the face of adversity. If only they hadn’t started off on the wrong foot…
Despite their best efforts to shield their hearts, working side by side through the busy harvest plants the seeds of a budding friendship. But when the vandalism spreading through Promise Glen escalates to arson and rumors blaze through the town, they’ll have to learn to rely on each other more than ever. As Thanksgiving approaches, Rebecca and Nathan are forced to reconcile with their own grief, forgive what can’t be changed, and come to truly understand the core values of the holiday: love and gratitude.
MY THOUGHTS
This is the third and final book in the Amish Holiday series with the others being a holiday Easter and Christmas book. I enjoyed reading this Thanksgiving book so close to Thanksgiving. Filled with pumpkins, harvests, apple cider and a farmers market stand the book is seasonally appropriate.
We are once again back in Promise Glen, a rural area with widowed Amish woman Rebecca King and her twin babies. The twins are rascals but utterly adorable as they babble In Pennsylvania Dutch. She dreams of expanding her orchard, but the babies take her time. Accepting help from her neighbor, who doesn’t always have the kindest things to say isn’t what she wants but she may have to take it.
I’m always pleased to see how the Amish come together to help each other. The community works as one, no matter what needs done they are there for each other. The story has a bit of a mystery to it and an unexpected romance for one of our characters.
The romantic characters each have problems that they are experiencing but they work through it together and help each other heal. The author writes a realistic Amish story, family, faith and love are strongly shown.
Publish date October 24, 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
I realized I wanted to be a writer at age eight, when I read my first Nancy Drew novel, The Secret of the Old Clock. Most little girl reach the end of that book wanting to be Nancy. I wanted to be the person who created the story!
The dream lay hidden for years while I became a teacher, married, had children…all the usual things. But eventually it re-surfaced, and I began to write, beginning with short children’s stories for Sunday school take-home papers. It seemed a long time until that first acceptance, but eventually I began to sell. After some three hundred published short stories, I finally found the courage to work on the novel I’d always wanted to write.
Sixty-some published novels later, I still feel the same excitement every time I begin a new book–a mix of not believing I can do it combined with an overwhelming urge to see the story on the page.
A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and my own Pennsylvania Dutch roots eventually led me to the books I’m writing now about the Amish. The Pleasant Valley Amish series from Berkley Books are longer, more complex emotional stories with Amish main characters, while my forthcoming HQN suspense novels are more adventure-filled books set in Pennsylvania Dutch country. I’m also writing a Love Inspired series about the Amish, The Brides of Lost Creek.
When I’m not writing, I’m busy with church activities, traveling, and spending time with my three children and six beautiful grandchildren.
274 pages September 26,2023 publication date Kensington publisher buy link
ABOUT THE BOOK
This trio of heartwarming, inspirational Amish holiday stories, each connected to its bestselling author’s Amish romance series, captures the blessings of family, faith, and the magic and childlike joy of Christmas.
CHRISTMAS EVE BABY * Lenora Worth It’s a Christmas Eve to remember when a laboring mother-to-be shows up at the King sisters’ Shadow Lake Inn amid a snowstorm. Midwife Sarah King and her three daughters go into action, while the men of the family search for the woman’s husband. And with faithful hearts and helping hands, this magical night may unite a brand-new family just in time to share a Christmas blessing.
BEST CHRISTMAS PROGRAM EVER * Rachel J. Good On Emily Flaud’s second day of work at the Green Valley Farmer’s Market, two hungry children in tattered clothes snitch some cheese samples—and Emily’s heart. Her co-worker, Hosea King, is less beguiled. He is still grieving the loss of his wife and daughter two years before, especially as Christmas approaches. But when the children are in need of adoption, Emily longs to become their mother—in a prayer that includes Hosea . . .
LOVING LUKE * Kelly Long Wanted: Amish Mail Order Groom. Must be excellent with kinner.Recently widowed,Grace Fisher must be practical. She has a general store to run and needs a gentle man to help raise her kinner. But when Luke King appears, Grace sees a scruffy man who looks far from husband material, while Luke sees a woman who deserves better than he. Yet with faith, each may gain the courage to see beneath the surface—and create a family for many Christmases to come . . .
MY THOUGHTS
The cover of this book is very appealing, and I was immediately drawn to it. This book is by 3 popular authors of Amish fiction and each of the 3 stories are novella length.
The stories are full of faith and feel-good Christmas stories. These stories feature children and show the importance of family especially during the holiday season when many feel so alone. These are heartwarming and will touch your soul during this holiday season.
Pub Date: 26 Sep 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks for stopping in. Have you read any holiday books yet?
256 pages Barbour publisher May 01, 2023 publish date grab a copy here
Forestwander.com
ABOUT THE BOOK
Secrets Sealed Within a Wall Come to Light in Lower Manhattan
Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.
Investigative historical journalist Andrea Andrews is tired of waiting tables to make ends meet. If she could find and write the next breakout story, she could secure a promotion with Smithsonian Magazine as their writer-at-large. But not much happens in lower Manhattan out of the ordinary until she discovers post-Civil War counterfeit bills hidden in the wall of her historic district apartment.
Politics have always been Beau Davidson-Quincy’s passion, despite his family’s real estate empire. His clean image and single status make him a target in the media as he prepares to build his campaign for New York governor. He has nothing to hide until a cute waitress unravels a mystery that could destroy his family’s reputation.
Two centuries earlier, wounded Civil War veteran Franklin Davidson lost everything—his house, his wife, his standing in society. In his darkest moment, he’s awarded a position with the newly formed Secret Service to combat the spread of counterfeit U.S. currency. His life and new home in Gramercy Park are the envy of his peers, but nothing is as it seems. Secrets are meant to be kept, and Franklin will take his to his grave.
MY THOUGHTS
The author’s writing style is original for Christian fiction. It is realistic, gritty and raw. It is not the same story we see recycled over and over with just different names for the characters. Life is not all happiness and light, even for Christians and this story reflects that.
This is a dual timeline, and I could not make the connection at first. There’s always that ah moment when the connection between the two storylines is made evident and I like that.
There is a mystery to solve in the modern story. Now truth be told I did not really make a connection with the modern times in this story or particularly like the characters. The historical aspect is what grabbed my attention and kept me reading. There are two villains in the story, one is out of the picture quite early on. I think the thing that fascinates us while reading about villains is we wonder how people can actually be so evil and uncaring. Some can be reformed; some it is too late for. I do believe this is a perfect example of dark and light and the author shares the modern storyline, so we do have light in the story as well.
Taking place is Manhattan, I enjoyed the setting and learning about Gramercy Park, a locked park needing a key for entrance, which I had never heard of until my reading of this book.
My favorite character is Cora, the connection between the two time periods. So well written, I was up past midnight finishing this one.
Published May 1, 2023. I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Candice Sue Patterson studied at The Institute of Children’s Literature and is an elementary librarian. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons in a restored farmhouse overtaken by books. When she’s not tending to her chickens, snuggling with her Great Pyrenees, or helping children discover books they love, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern Vintage Romance–where the past and present collide with faith. For more on Candice and her books, visit http://www.candicesuepatterson.com.
Have you read any of the books in the Doors to the Past series, of which this is a part of? I still have a few left to read.
People say that it’s hard not to fall in love living on the sunny island of Jersey, but for Bea Philips, still reeling from a divorce and the loss of her beloved godmother, she’s not sure she can find the time. While her soon-to-be-ex-husband is trying to take away the home she grew up in, surly but attractive builder Luke is doing it up. Her old flame Tom has just turned up as her new manager at the office, and she has no idea what the mysterious Jersey Kiss is that her godmother has bequeathed to her…
Is life going to give Bea a break, so she can keep her dream home, and maybe fall in love?
New Beginnings by the Sunflower Cliffs is the first in a gorgeous, romantic series set on the breathtaking island of Jersey. Perfect for fans of Jessica Redland and Phillipa Ashley.
MY THOUGHTS
I read a lot of books that have tough subjects to get through and sometimes I just need an escapist read. A fabulous book to just read in an afternoon, relax and forget about it all. Georgina Troy has books just like this, the afternoon disappeared as I read while sipping tea.
Yes, the characters have problems, just like we all do, and it seems like they won’t be resolved but by the book’s end they are.
I think one of the things I love about reading rom-coms is a guaranteed happy ending. Life is hard so read books that make you happy. I loved the descriptions of the breathtaking island of Jersey.
The book starts out with a bang as we have a hilarious and potential embarrassing scene as we have our main character Bea Phillips, meeting her builders not under the most comfortable circumstances. Getting work done on her grandmother’s house she has been left is not as easy as she had thought it would be with finances strained the way they are and an ex-husband wanting more than his share.
Will Bea get the break she needs to just enjoy life without its stresses and strains, and could a new romance possibly be brewing?
A breathtakingly delightful summer romance you won’t easily forget.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Georgina Troy writes bestselling uplifting romantic escapes and sets her novels on the island of Jersey, where she was born and has lived for most of her life. She has done a twelve-book deal with Boldwood, including backlist titles, and the first book in her Sunshine Island series was published in May 2022.
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted at Jana’s blog That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is Top Ten Mainstream Popular Authors that I Still Have Not Read.
Instead, I’m going to make the topic my own and go with some of my favorite books I’ve read this year, not necessarily publishing this year.
Before Mrs. Beeton and well before Julia Child, there was Eliza Acton, who changed the course of cookery writing forever.
England, 1835. London is awash with thrilling new ingredients, from rare spices to exotic fruits. But no one knows how to use them. When Eliza Acton is told by her publisher to write a cookery book instead of the poetry she loves, she refuses—until her bankrupt father is forced to flee the country. As a woman, Eliza has few options. Although she’s never set foot in a kitchen, she begins collecting recipes and teaching herself to cook. Much to her surprise she discovers a talent – and a passion – for the culinary arts.
Eliza hires young, destitute Ann Kirby to assist her. As they cook together, Ann learns about poetry, love and ambition. The two develop a radical friendship, breaking the boundaries of class while creating new ways of writing recipes. But when Ann discovers a secret in Eliza’s past, and finds a voice of her own, their friendship starts to fray.
Based on the true story of the first modern cookery writer, Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen is a spellbinding novel about female friendship, the struggle for independence, and the transcendent pleasures and solace of food.
For Iris, each visit to her mother in St Mabon’s Cove, Cornwall has been the same – a serene escape from the city. But today, as she breathes in the salt air on the doorstep of her beloved childhood home, a heavy weight of anticipation settles over her. Iris knows she’s adopted, but any questions about where she came from have always been shut down by her parents, who can’t bear to revisit the past.
Now, Iris can’t stop thinking about what she’s read on the official paperwork: BABY GIRL, FRANCE, 1939 – the year war was declared with Nazi Germany.
When Iris confronts her mother, she hits the same wall of pain and resistance as whenever she mentions the war. That is, until her mother tearfully hands her an old tin of letters, tucked neatly beside a delicate piece of ivory wool.
Retreating to the loft, Iris steels herself to at last learn the truth, however painful it might be. But, as she peels back each layer of history before her, a sensation of dread grows inside her. The past is calling, and its secrets are more intricate and tangled than Iris could ever have imagined.
The year is 1939, and in Paris, France a young woman is about to commit a terrible betrayal…
Cora Matthews’s life is a mess. A broken engagement and the unexpected death of her mother have left her wondering if things will ever return to normal. Whatever “normal” is.
It certainly isn’t what she finds at Moonberry Lake. After she receives her family’s dilapidated lakefront lodge as an inheritance–with a surprising condition attached–Cora finds her life overrun by a parade of eccentric neighbors who all have something to say and something to teach her.
As Cora works to put her life back together, she must decide if she is willing to let go of the past, open her heart to love, and embrace the craziest version of family and home she could ever have imagined.
Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy’s eldest brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta’s younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her unveil the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must uncover the evil that haunts the theater and put its threat to rest.
Decades later, Kit Boyd’s best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. Then television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher joins Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater’s history. Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of finding her missing friend. As the theater’s curse unravels Kit’s life, she is determined to put an end to the evil that has marked the theater and their hometown for the last century.
London, Present day. As Ella looks down at a faded black and white photograph of an unknown woman and child alongside a yellowing piece of sheet music, she wonders how the two things can possibly relate to her own family. The items were left for her family at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers whose babies were adopted.
Soon Ella learns that the photograph was taken on the picturesque Greek island of Skopelos, nestled in the turquoise calming waters of the Aegean sea, and that the woman in the photo holds the key to her family’s heritage. As she opens up to her new flame Gabriel, he tells her that she should go to the island to unravel the mystery and that he will wait for her.
Though Ella is torn she decides to go and once there, she discovers a heart-wrenching story of a royal family forced to leave their country for a new life in London, and of a girl with a unique talent for music who captured the heart of a young violinist but was forced to leave him and London behind for the sake of her family.
When Ella discovers the sacrifice made by the two young lovers and comes face to face with her forgotten Greek family, will their story give her the courage to follow her own heart back to London and Gabriel, or will the beauty of the island capture her heart and lead her to a new love altogether?
A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah Slade has just bought a gorgeous Victorian in the community of her dreams. Turns out, you can get a killer deal on a house where someone was murdered. Plus, renovating Black Wood House makes for great blog content and a decent distraction from her failing marriage. Good thing nobody knows that her past is just as filthy as the bloodstain on her bedroom floor.
But the renovations are fast becoming a nightmare. Sarah imagined custom avocado wallpaper, massive profits, and an appreciative husband who wants to share her bed again. Instead, the neighbors hate her guts and her husband still sleeps on the couch. And though the builders attempt to cover up Black Wood’s horrifying past, a series of bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic only confirms for Sarah what the rest of the town already knew: Something is very wrong in that house.
With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. But as she peels back the curling wallpaper and discovers the house’s secrets, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House has only just begun.
After her divorce, Ruth McCoy is eager to trade her children’s painful memories for new holiday traditions. But Ruth has a whole new set of distractions when fate brings the man she once loved together with the son he never knew he had…
Life has thrown Judd Rankin some tough turns, and he’s startled by the feelings he still has for Ruth. Though the successful rancher knows better than to chase old dreams, he doesn’t mind lending the struggling single mom a hand. And when Judd sees Ruth’s teenaged son’s interest in his custom saddle business, he’s happy to let the boy help him build the harness for Branding Iron’s Christmas sleigh. Besides, the kid reminds Judd of the young man he once was. A man who believed anything was possible…
Powerless to deny the growing bond between her son and Judd, Ruth knows it’s only a matter of time before her secret is discovered. But will the revelation shatter the tender feelings between her and Judd—or turn out to be her family’s greatest gift?
England, 1942. ‘It has to stay secret,’ he whispers, placing the locket around her neck. ‘If they find it, they’ll send me away.’ As she holds the locket, glinting in the moonlight, she can’t hold back the tears. ‘I just wish we didn’t have to hide…’
At the turn of the twentieth century, sisters Emmy and Callie Bullock are living a privileged life as the only daughters of a wealthy Alabama cotton farmer when their well-ordered household gets turned upside down by the arrival of Lily McGee. Arrestingly beautiful, Lily quickly–and innocently–draws the wrong kind of attention. Meanwhile, Callie meets a man who offers her the freedom to abandon social constraints and discover her truest self.
After Lily has a baby, Callie witnesses something she was never meant to see–or did she? Her memory is a haze, just an image in her mind of Emmy standing on a darkened riverbank and cradling Lily’s missing baby girl. Only when the sisters are separated does the truth slowly come to light through their letters–including a revelation that will shape the rest of Callie’s life.
Bestselling author Valerie Fraser Luesse weaves a complex and suspenseful tale dripping with intrigue, romance, and Southern charm.
A small-town baker learns to raise her expectations for love with some help from a handsome local teacher in this sunny romantic comedy.
Layla Dupree has given up on love. She’s waded through all the fish in the sea, each one more disappointing than the last. Apparently, owning the bakery at Inglewild’s most romantic destination does not help one’s love life—despite Layla’s best efforts. All she wants is a partner who gives her butterflies, not someone who ghosts her at dinner and leaves her with the check.
Good thing Caleb Alvarez has the perfect solution. After saving Layla from another date gone bad, he has a simple proposition: one month of no-strings dating. He’ll do his best to renew her faith in men while she rates his romantic game. It’s a win-win situation. All the benefits of dating without the added pressure of feelings and unmet expectations.
But there’s one ingredient they haven’t considered. The chemistry between them is red-hot, and the urge to take things to the next level is more tempting than Layla’s mocha fudge brownies.
These certainly aren’t all of them but here’s a stack of books I’ve really enjoyed so far this year. What about you, have you read and enjoyed any of these?
258 pages Barbour publisher June 01,2022 publish date grab a copy here
ABOUT THE BOOK
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
Only last year, Fannie O’Brien was considered a beauty with a brain, and her future shone bright, despite the war pounding Europe. With her father’s sudden death and her brothers overseas, Fannie must now do the work of three men on their 200-acre farm—until eight German prisoners arrive and, just as Fannie feared, trouble comes too. Someone seems intent on causing “accidents,” and Fannie is certain the culprit is one of the two handsome older Germans—or possibly both. Can she manage the farm, keep the prisoners in line, and hold her family together through these turbulent times?
MY THOUGHTS
This book has an interesting take on WWII. So many books have been written about the men off fighting the war on foreign soil. This one takes place on American soil and is about the people left at home while their loved ones are off fighting.
A woman missing her husband, recently widowed is running their Wisconsin farm along with her two daughters and a son. Her two older sons are in Germany fighting the war. Missing them desperately every day they pray for their safe arrival back home.
One thing I had never heard of was German POW’s being held were used as laborers at farms with a guard at every work area. The farms still needed planting and harvesting to provide for themselves and those on the frontline.
The author brings to life the feelings the characters have in the many situations they are forced to endure.
There is a light romance, but I am glad that it wasn’t the focal point of the book. I enjoyed the information the author presented, especially in her notes in the back of the book. I’ve learned so much from this series.
Pub Date 01 Jun 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Series
THE AUTHOR
Naomi is an award-winning author who crafts her stories from the pristine north woods of Wisconsin, where she and her husband Jeff live as epically as God allows near the families of their five children. She enjoys roaming around on the farm, snacking out of the garden, relaxing in her vintage camper, and loving on her passel of grandchildren. Naomi is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers; and the Lake Superior Writers. Though she has written in a variety of venues, her great love is historical fiction. She had three new releases in 2022. Her novel, Song for the Hunter is the sequel to Mist O’er the Voyageur, a 2019 Selah Awards finalist and two-time Book of the Year nominee. Not for Love is her novella in Barbour’s new Lumberjacks & Ladies collection. Her Heroines of WWII novel titled Season of My Enemy releases in June. She is the author of several other series, collections, and stand-alone novels. Naomi would love to connect with you around the web and you can sign up for her monthly newsletter on her site.
Website: naomimusch.com
FB: Naomi Musch – Author
Twitter: @NMusch
Instagram: Naomi Musch
Goodreads: Naomi Dawn Musch
Bookbub: Naomi Musch
Pinterest: Naomi Musch
Share your smile with someone today. Thanks for stopping in.
Vegan Book Blogger 