Chandler Hill Series #1

In 1970, Violet Hawkins’ only wish at eighteen is to escape her life in the Dayton, Ohio, foster-care system and make her way to the west coast to enjoy a mellow life and find the love she’s been missing all her life. She makes it to San Francisco, but soon learns she needs a job if she’s to live properly. A kind, young man named Kenton Chandler offers her a sandwich and a job at his father’s inn and vineyards. With nothing to lose, Lettie takes him up on his offer and begins a whole new life in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. She immediately falls in love with the land and is fascinated with the idea of growing grapes in order to make wines. She, Kenton, and Rafe Lopez become friends as she learns about running the small inn on the property.
At the same time she marries Kenton, a stroke kills his father. And then before she can tell Kenton she’s pregnant, he dies in an automobile accident. Heartbroken and burdened with the gift of the Chandler Hill Inn and Winery, she’s left with the task of making them a success. Struggling to raise a child alone while working to grow the business, Lettie makes a shocking discovery that changes everything. 

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My Thoughts:

Oh my what a wonderful story!!

I was immediately drawn into the story from page one.  Violet Hawkins, aka Lettie, is a strong character that easily pulls the reader in.  As a young woman she longs for a family, freedom, but most of all she's looking for love.  San Francisco in 1970 has much to offer, but when Lettie arrives reality smacks her in the face.  Finding an affordable place that's safe to live is easier said than done.  After 4 months meeting Kenton Chandler was her saving grace, because he offers her a job at his family's vineyards in Oregon.  What Lettie didn't expect was to find the beauty and fascination the land brings her.  

This captivating and heartwarming story of Lettie Hawkins flows effortlessly.  This spectacular read has engaging characters, captures time and place, shows realistic values and beliefs, and love.  This unexpected gem was hard to put down.  This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good story. 

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Supper Club #2

Baker and pastry chef Melody Johansson has always believed in finding the positive in every situation, but seven years after she moved to Denver, she can’t deny that she’s stuck in a rut. One relationship after another has ended in disaster, and her classical French training is being wasted on her night job in a mediocre chain bakery. Then the charming and handsome private pilot Justin Keller lands on the doorstep of her workplace in a snowstorm, and Melody feels like it’s a sign that her luck is finally turning around.

Justin is intrigued by the lively bohemian baker, but the last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. His own romantic failures have proven that the demands of his job are incompatible with meaningful connections, and he’s already pledged his life savings to a new business venture across the country—an island air charter in Florida with his sister and brother-in-law.

Against their better judgment, Melody and Justin find themselves drawn together by their unconventional career choices and shared love of adventure. But when an unexpected windfall provides Melody with the chance to open her dream bakery-café in Denver with her best friend, chef Rachel Bishop, she’s faced with an impossible choice: stay and put down roots with the people and place she’s come to call home . . . or give it all up for the man she loves.

Expected publication: February 5th 2019 

by Tyndale House Publishers

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BOOKS-A-MILLION  TYNDALE HOUSE PUBLISHERS

Meet the Author:

Carla Laureano is the RITA Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.

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My Thoughts:

Oh my, what a wonderful book.  

Carla Laureano is a new author for me and how I have missed her books is beyond me.  So now I'm on a journey to read all her books.lol  Some books you read and enjoy, but others will touch your heart and soul.  Well, this booked did that for me.  I was hooked from the first page and didn't want to put it down. 

This book is the second installment from the author in the Supper Club series.  Having never read the first book in the series, I can easily say this book is a stand alone, but I encourage you to also read the first book to get the full feel of the series.  

This book centers around Melody Johannson:

When I opened this book I was intrigued by Melody. She's a French trained baker and works in a chain bakery to prepare baked goods for the following day. She has no chance to use her own recipes or talent to bring a little bit of Paris to Denver. A cold, snowy night and a chance meeting Justin, a pilot, and the next thing you know her life is no longer the predicable life she knew. 
Melody is a character that feels deeply and acts on her feelings. She was basically raised by her grandmother who was a professor and introduced her to works of literature that she loved. In fact she spent her college years persuing an education in literature, but while working at a bakery in school she found her one true love: baking. At present Melody is not anywhere close to where she thought she would be in her life. I think we all have had these same feeling at one time or another. I think her doubts and disappointments is what makes this character feel real to life for me. She has a vulnerability that most can relate to, but she is also a strong character. Melody would love to open her own place and when the opportunity comes available she talks to her friend, Rachel, who's a chef about a partnership that would make both their dreams come true. 

This book has elements of romance, grief, disappointments, adventure of falling in love, heartbreak and most of all faith. Oh, I don't want to forget to mention the delicious food. I am a big fan of the British Baking Show and it was almost like watching another episode with Paul and Mary.lol  

This captivating and heartwarming story is one I would recommend to anyone.
** I received this book from the publisher via the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We Hope for Better Things

The Past Is Never As Past As We'd Like To Think

Published January 1st 2019 by 

Fleming H. Revell Company

Available for Purchase:

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Meet the Author:

ERIN BARTELS is a copywriter and freelance editor by day, a novelist by night, and a painter, seamstress, poet, and photographer in between. Her debut novel, WE HOPE FOR BETTER THINGS, is scheduled to be released in January 2019 from Revell Books, followed in September 2019 with THE WORDS BETWEEN US, which was a finalist for the 2015 Rising Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Her short story “This Elegant Ruin” was a finalist in The Saturday Evening Post 2014 Great American Fiction Contest. Her poems have been published by The Lyric and The East Lansing Poetry Attack. A member of the Capital City Writers Association and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, she is former features editor of WFWA’s Write On! magazine.

Erin lives in the beautiful, water-defined state of Michigan where she is never more than a ninety minute drive from one of the Great Lakes or six miles from an inland lake, river, or stream. She grew up in the Bay City area waiting for freighters and sailboats at drawbridges and watching the best 4th of July fireworks displays in the nation. She spent her college and young married years in Grand Rapids feeling decidedly not-Dutch. She currently lives with her husband and son in Lansing, nestled somewhere between angry protesters on the Capitol lawn and couch-burning frat boys at Michigan State University. And yet, she claims it is really quite peaceful.

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My Thoughts:

This is a debut novel from the author and I think she's written a book that will touch a lot of hearts.  

Let's start with this book was not what I expected as far as subject matter goes.  It takes on the tough topic of racism in America.  

This story is mult-generational about three women who dealt with racism through the Civil War, Riots of the 1960's, and present day.  

As the story opens we meet journalist Elizabeth Balsam who has been asked to meet an elderly man who wants to give her some older photos.  The gentleman has photos that he wants to return to Nora Balsam.  He knows Elizabeth is related to Nora just by looking at her, but Elizabeth isn't so sure.  After being fired from her job Elizabeth finds herself at loose ends and begins the think about the mystery of the old photos intended for Nora.  She suddenly finds herself on a rural road leading to her great-aunt's farmhouse and meeting Nora.  

As Elizabeth starts to sort out the mystery surrounding Nora, she also finds a rich family history that she never expected. The third woman is Mary Balsam who lived in the farmhouse during the civil war while her husband, an abolitionist, fought.  She had to come to grips with her true feelings about a different race.  She's faced with how her helping escaped slaves is seen by society and how those of a different race are viewed by society.  Elizabeth sees a history that's full of love, hate, loss, and many struggles the women of her family had faced.  There were parts of the story that I struggled with as it's very telling of how far we've come as a society, but also reminded me of how much further we have to go.  

This is a well written book.  The subject matter was well researched by the author.  I would recommend this book to anyone. 

*I received this book from the publisher as part of their book bloggers program.  I was not expected to write a review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Thatcher Sisters

Published May 8th 2018

 by Tyndale House Publishers

It’s been ten years since Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died in an accident, leaving the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. No longer half of a pair, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine—as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm’s length.

But with her middle sister Jillian’s engagement, Payton’s party-planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside her opinionated oldest sister, Johanna, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope that a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them . . . until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian’s plans and her future. As old wounds are reopened and the family faces the possibility of another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven further apart.

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"Sometimes you just have to forget the other stuff and remember we're sisters."

Meet the Author:

Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A Christy Award winner, as well as an ACFW Carol Award winner, Beth’s first women’s fiction novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, releases May 2018.

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My Thoughts:

I loved this book!!

I love reading a good story, but this story swallowed me heart and soul.  

(Warning, this book should come with a box of tissues.)

Beth Vogt weaved words together that evoked so many emotions for me.  In fact, after reading the last page I found myself thinking of these characters. 

I knew when I received this book I would need to set aside time to immerse myself in the story, but I had no idea how deeply it would touch me.  

This is the first book about the Thatcher sisters/family.  Ten years ago the unthinkable happened, Pepper Thatcher was killed in an accident.  As you can imagine this was very difficult for the Thatcher family, but no one more than Payton who was Pepper's twin.  Every time Payton looks in the mirror she sees Pepper or what at least what she would have looked like.  Payton is coping with her loss the best that she can, but she is suddenly free falling without a safety net.  Normally your family would be there to catch you, but Payton has held her family at arm's length since Pepper's death. She's afraid if she loves too hard or gets too close and loses someone that the hurt will be more than she can endure, plus she's hiding a secret that she's afraid to reveal to anyone.  

Payton owns and operates a successful party planning business, so when her sister Jillian becomes engaged it's natural she would ask Payton for help.  Unfortunately Payton knows this means working with her older sister, Johanna, who is not only bossy, but also wants to organized everything.  She puts aside her anxiety and agrees for Jillian's sake, but with being around her family more than usual has brought her nightmares on with a vengeance.  Plus the resurface of Zachary Gaines  could also have an influence on her nightmares returning.  Zachary Gaines was the boy involved in Pepper's accident and knows the secret she's held close all this time. 

This captivating story immediately pulled me in immediately and held me, until I fell asleep at 3 am, until the last page was turned.  It captures emotions that are both real and raw.  Yes, I think this is a story everyone will love and I recommend it.  

**I received this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

The Memory of You

Thirteen years ago, Natalie lost a part of herself when her twin sister died. Will traveling back to the family winery finally put the memory to rest, or will it completely destroy her?
When Natalie Mitchell learns her beloved grandfather has had a heart attack, she’s forced to return to their family-owned winery in Sonoma, something she never intended to do. She’s avoided her grandparents’ sprawling home and all its memories since the summer her sister died—the awful summer Natalie’s nightmares began. But the winery is failing, and Natalie’s father wants her to shut it down. As the majority shareholder, she has the power to do so.
And Natalie never says no to her father.
Tanner Collins, the vintner on Maoilios, is trying to salvage a bad season and put the Mitchell family’s winery back in business. When Natalie Mitchell shows up, Tanner sees his future about to be crushed. Natalie intends to close the gates, unless he can convince her otherwise. But the Natalie he remembers from childhood is long gone, and he’s not so sure he likes the woman she’s become. Still, the haunted look she wears hints at secrets he wants to unearth. He soon discovers that on the night her sister died, the real Natalie died too. And Tanner must do whatever it takes to resurrect her.
But finding freedom from the past means facing it.

Expected publication: March 28th 2017

       by Thomas Nelson 

Available for Purchase:

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THOMAS NELSON

Meet the Author:

  Catherine West is an award-winning author who writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Her first novel, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, released in 2011 and won the INSPY for Romance, a Silver Medal in the Reader’s Favorite Awards, and was a finalist in the Grace Awards. Catherine’s second novel, Hidden in the Heart, released in September 2012, was long listed in the 2012 INSPY’s and was a finalist in the 2013 Grace Awards. Catherine’s latest novel, Bridge of Faith, is now available on Amazon.
When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two grown children. Catherine’s next novel, The Things We Knew, releases July 2016, through Harper Collins Christian Publishing. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com  


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My Thoughts:

For me this was a wonderful story!  Once I picked this book up I couldn't put it down.  It has heart touching story line with complex characters that kept me glued to the pages.
  I could feel the turmoil Natalie experienced just jump off the pages. Natalie's feeling were both raw and real.  She is haunted by memories from 13 years ago and a secret she has kept close to her heart.  As she feels her life is coming apart she returns to the one place she feels safest, Maoilios, the family winery located in California.  She has two goals in mind:  to finally make her father proud of her and to hopefully lay some ghosts to rest.  
Tanner Collins had my heart from the moment I met him.  He stepped up when no one else would.  He has a wonderful relationship with Hal, but everything feels threatened with Natalie's arrival.  He suspects her of betrayal of the one person who has not only his loyalty, but also his love.  
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good story.  Be warned this is a one setting read, or at least it was for me.  This was the first book from Cathy West I have read, but it won't be the last.  
**I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  

Blue Jeans & Coffee Beans

Escape to Stony Point, cuff your jeans and walk along the water's edge in this nostalgic story bringing old friends, and their lives, back to the sea.

After years of pursuing a denim design career, Maris Carrington never imagined trading her Chicago studio for a New England shingled cottage. But a forgotten home movie tucked inside a dusty attic box leads to an unexpected summer ... One of uncovering family secrets while settling her father's estate, one of inheriting a forlorn German shepherd, one of reconnecting with old friends on a weathered boardwalk, beneath starlit skies on a beach nestled in a crook of the Connecticut coast.

Her design career had become a shell, curving around her like the intricate whorls of a conch, shielding her until now. Until fried clam dinners and carousel rides beckon a lost love. But can Maris ever really go back? Can these beach friends ever be who they were to each other all those summers ago? Now one of her circle is dead; another unemployed and struggling in a tenuous marriage; another regretting a fateful decision; while one is missing a mother, ever seeking a connection she longs for.

To the backdrop of seaside cottages and a boarded up beach hangout, to the soundtrack of whispering lagoon grasses and a vintage jukebox, Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans asks if we can really design our own lives, or if our fate lies somewhere in the stars.

Available for Purchase:

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  Meet the Author:

 

Joanne DeMaio is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives with her family in Connecticut and is currently at work on her next novel. 

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Stony Point, Conneticut

 Life's momentarily pauses in their brief seaward gazes, as though this forms the core of it. 

All else springs from this connection. 

My Thoughts:

Joanne DeMaio has written a story that immediately whisked me to the shores of Stony Point. She brings her characters and setting to life with ease. I could feel the breeze, the warm sunshine on my face, smell the sweet salt air,  feel the sand and ocean on my feet.   I loved this sentence:
This beach has a way of casting its spell right through the windows under the guise of sun and salt, the call of the gulls, the sound of the waves. 

This is a story of children who played this beach as children through their teen years and after many years of going their own way have returned to their childhood beach for one reason or another and suddenly find life more complicated than they ever imagined. The first few pages drew me in immediately. This is the story of  Maris Carrington who left Stony Point 12 years ago, but of course a lifetime of memories live in her heart. With the recent death of her father she realizes that she must finish tying up some loose ends in his estate and the one that will take the longest is getting the family home in Stony Point ready to put on the market to sell. She takes a leave of absence and heads to the shore to not only ready the house and visit with old friends, but also to face some old memories/ghosts and to decide if a life with her boyfriend, Scott, is what she really wants. 

Her arrival is all that she anticipated and meeting with her childhood best friend, Eva, was a must.  A lot has changed since she left the area, but then again some things are unchangeable.  Suddenly Maris is back in the swing of beach life with her friends and the memories of yesteryear.  

Jason Barlow is an architect now, but he's lost in the memory of his brother, Neil, who is the ghost he can't let go.  Jason fondly remembers Maris and their one unforgettable kiss at Foley's, but she has a life in Chicago and a fiance`.  As their friendship renews so does feelings that neither is willing to admit to, but will the sparks ignite a flame that neither can put out?

This story brings elements of romance combined with romantic tension, forgiveness, turmoil, and humor.  The plot is sweet, but at times it touches on some tough issues, plus there are twists and turns that the reader doesn't expect.  The characters are complex and engaging.  The characters show real and raw emotions.  This story is told in a way that can evoke both laughter and tears. 
Some will say this is a perfect beach read and yes it might very well be, but I must tell you that I feel it's a book that perfect anytime.  
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read.