The Summer of Starting Over - Book Review

                                         The Summer of Starting Over  by Savannah Carlisle

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Callie Jackson, a country music star is heading home to Big Dunne Island to clean out her parents’ home. She hasn’t been home since her parent’s funeral, so she is hesitant what will be waiting for her. She left as a young girl after being discovered and has been on the road since. She left everything behind, her family, her friends and her first love. Now she must face all the tough choices she made years ago.

One person Callie will have to face is Jesse Thomas, the boy she told not to follow her to Nashville. When she left, she took his heart with her. He stills lives in Big Dunne Island and has made his own choices since she left. Can Callie repair the broken relationships? What will happen when she finds out her friends and family have been keeping a secret from her? Will she run back to Nashville or finally stop running and stay home on Big Dunne?

I absolutely adored this novel by Savannah Carlisle. The characters in the novel pulled at your heartstrings and they were all so easy to love. The story is set in a small town, has amazing characters and is the first in a new series which is my favourite kind of book to read. The novel flowed seamlessly and I loved the little added twists and surprises. Thank you to Harpeth Road Press for my advanced copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. Come join Callie and the residents of Big Dunne Island this spring.

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn 

  Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

Spotted at Lighthouse Bay by Amelia Addler

Spotted at Lighthouse Bay by Amelia Addler

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Adelaide is staying with her sister Sheila after her marriage and job ended. It is the perfect place to start the next chapter of her life. She spends her day sipping tea in the tea house, strolling the beach and just relaxing. Everything is peaceful until her mother and a bodyguard show up unannounced. Her mother is there after being scammed and is looking for her daughters to bail her out yet again. The body guard is saying he is there to protect her against a threat issued to her ex-husband. Adelaide is non too impressed with either new guest.

As Adelaide and Rick start to spend more time together, it gets harder to keep things professional between them. With her family around her, can Adelaide open her heart again? Can Rick face his demons and still protect Adelaide?

Amelia Addler brings us another amazing novel filled with family, friends and an unfolding mystery. As this is the fourth book in the Spotted Cottage series, we get to meet new characters but also get to see what characters from the previous books are up to. Although it is a series, you could easily read this as a stand alone novel as Amelia does an amazing job filling in the back story. I loved the romance between Adelaide and Rick and it was nice to have a mid life couple fall in love. My sincere thanks to Amelia Addler for my advanced readers copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. Come join the group for tea at the Spotted Cottage this spring.

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn

  Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

To Sicily With Love by Jennifer Probst

To Sicily With Love by Jennifer Probst

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Aurora York is a successful life coach and is adored by her fans. She has it all together. A fabulous career, a gorgeous boyfriend and a home she loves. She has put everything into her career at the cost of not seeing much of her friends and family, but that is how it goes when you want to be successful right?

 When her world comes crashing down, Aurora can not seem to keep it together. She could lose everything she has worked so hard for. Aurora decides to take a DNA test as she is an only child, and to her surprise, she finds a match in Italy. How could that be? When she connects with her match, she finds a whole family she knew nothing about. On a whim she flies to Italy and is soon embraced with not only family, but culture and tradition. Can Aurora leave her new family behind and return to the States?

I loved this book by Jennifer Probst. It was like cuddling up in a cozy blanket and going on an adventure to Italy. The characters were fabulous and the story kept me engaged throughout the book. My thanks to Berkley Publishing and the author Jennifer Probst for my advanced readers copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily. Grab a copy friends and go on a beautiful adventure to Italy.

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn

  Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

She Doesn't Have A Clue - Book Review

She Doesn't Have A Clue by Jenny Elder Moke

Kate Valentine a bestselling mystery author is headed to her ex-fiancé’s wedding on a historic private island. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, Kate’s ex friend and co-author on her adventure series, Jack happens to be on the boat headed for the island. If that is not frustrating enough, things go completely sideways on the first night of the wedding reception dinner when a body is found. This looks like a mystery Kate’s lead character in her novels Loretta could possibly solve, but can she?

This novel by Jenny Elder Moke is well written so I will give the writing a four-star review. As for the story line, I found I lost interest quite quickly when the story kept changing from Kate and Jacks perspective, to a perspective from Loretta. The story had all the ingredients of a good mystery but something for me was lacking. Kate and Jack were fun, but there were too many supporting characters mixed in for my taste, so on that note, I give the plot three stars. My thanks go to the author and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced readers copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. 

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn 

  Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

A Very Coral Christmas - Book Review

A Very Coral Christmas by Jan Moran

Christmas is approaching and the residents of Summer Beach are getting ready to celebrate. It’s a busy time and Marina and her family are in full preparation mode. There is the annual beach bonfire, a festive holiday performance and let’s not forget the Christmas market. With two new little bundles of joy this year, things are busy. When Ginger meets a young lady whom she invites to stay with her, things get very interesting. Ginger also has a few secrets of her own that will be brought to light this holiday season. Will this Christmas be the last one they share at the Coral Cottage?

Jan Moran brings us another delightful story of family, friendship and romance in a small beach town. It was fun to catch up with the residents of summer beach and see them getting ready to celebrate the holidays. The story also brings us that little bit of a mystery that Jan is so well known for in her novels. It was everything I expected and more. The perfect holiday book to curl up with this Christmas. My sincere thanks to Jan Moran for my advanced readers copy that I voluntarily read and reviewed. Come join the residents of Summer Beach for a Christmas to remember.

Jan Moran is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of heartfelt women’s fiction series, beach reads, family sagas, and romantic 20th-century historical novels. Jan dreams up her popular, small-town contemporary beach books on sunny shores in Southern California. Don't miss out on new releases and special offers - join Jan's Readers Club on her website for all her news.

Pour a cup of tea or a glass of wine, open one of her books, and find yourself transported with characters you’ll soon be rooting for as friends. Jan is an avid traveler, so you’ll find her books infused with authentic locales and things she loves to research—from chocolate, wine, and food to history, fashion, and more. Readers often say that along with a heartwarming story, they also learn many fascinating details.

As a native of Texas who lived on the East Coast and worked in Paris, Hong Kong, and Canada, Jan brings a wealth of experience to every book she writes. She welcomes you to her wonderful world of storytelling.

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn

  Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

A Spot at Starlight Beach book review

A Spot at Starlight Beach by Amelia Addler

Mackenzie Dennet has come home to San Juan Island after losing her job and her boyfriend. She is down in the dumps and is not sure where she goes from here. When she gets the offer to help her family in their cause to relocate a captured whale, she begrudgingly takes it. How hard can it be? The difficult part comes when first she is approached by smooth talker Cameron to come work for him, and secondly when she meets Liam, a quiet artist who is staying on the island. She has no time for a relationship so she tries to ignore them both. Can she focus on Lottie the whale and put these two men aside?

This third book in the Spotted Cottage series by Amelia Addler is another fabulous read. We have our old friends from the first two books to catch up with, and also some new characters that add an interesting twist to the story. I was hooked by the end of page one, and could not put the book down. In Amelia’s style of romance and mystery, the story is brilliantly written and I can not wait to see what happens next. My thanks to Amelia Addler for my advanced readers copy which I voluntarily read and reviewed. Come to the San Juan islands and lose yourself in this amazing series.

Amelia Addler writes always sweet, always swoon-worthy romance and women's fiction stories and believes that everyone deserves their own happily ever after. Her soulmate is a man who once spent five weeks driving her to work at 4AM after her car broke down (and he didn’t complain, not even once). She is lucky enough to be married to that man and they live in Pittsburgh with their little yellow mutt.

You can visit her website at AmeliaAddler.com.

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn 

  Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

The Greatest Lie of All - Harlequin Blog Tour

The Greatest Lie of All by Jillian Cantor

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After a breakup, Amelia Grant is on her way to the Estate of Gloria Diamond, the famous romance author. Amelia is an actress and she will be playing the character of Gloria in a movie based on her life. Amelia is excited as this could be her chance at making a comeback. When she arrives, she is met with an aloof Gloria who only agrees to meet with Amelia for one hour a day. How will she get ready in time?

As the days go by, Amelia meets an ally in Gloria’s son Will. Soon they start to uncover a secret Gloria has been keeping for years. This will soon shake everything Amelia knows. Will she still be able to portray Gloria after uncovering her secrets?

This was such an entertaining novel by Jillian Cantor. I thought it was just a nice romance novel, but boy I was wrong. It was a mystery and kept me guessing right until the end of the book. The characters were written with such depth that it was easy to get wrapped up into the novel. I also really liked how the story went back in time so I could dive into Gloria’s story.  My sincere thanks to the author Jillian Cantor, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced readers copy which I read and reviewed voluntarily. If you are looking for a fabulous book with a touch of romance, a family full of secrets, then this is the book for you my friends. 

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn

Jillian Cantor is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of eleven novels for teens and adults, which have been chosen for LibraryReads, Indie Next, Amazon Best of the Month, and have been translated into 13 languages. She has a BA in English from Penn State University and an MFA from the University of Arizona. Born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, Cantor currently lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons.

The Greatest Lie of All

Jillian Cantor

ISBN: 9780778387312

Publication Date: November 6, 2024

Publisher: Park Row Books

 

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  Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.