Book Review: Where Hope Begins by Catherine West

Where Hope Begins

by Catherine West

Amazon | iBooks | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Paperback: 368 pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 22, 2018)

Sometimes we’re allowed to glimpse the beauty within the brokenness . . .

Savannah Barrington has always found solace at her parents’ lake house in the Berkshires, and it’s the place that she runs to when her husband of over twenty years leaves her. Though her world is shaken, and the future uncertain, she finds hope through an old woman’s wisdom, a little girl’s laughter, and a man who’s willing to risk his own heart to prove to Savannah that she is worthy of love.

But soon Savannah is given a challenge she can’t run away from: Forgiving the unforgivable. Amidst the ancient gardens and musty bookstores of the small town she’s sought refuge in, she must reconcile with the grief that haunts her, the God pursuing her, and the wounds of the past that might be healed after all.

Where Hope Begins is the story of grace in the midst of brokenness, pointing us to the miracles that await when we look beyond our own expectation.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

This miserable moment… it feels freeze-framed. Forever cemented in memory—this one defining moment in my life when I realize all I’ve done, everything I’ve poured myself into, has been for naught.

I don’t want to hate Kevin. And I don’t, always. Just most of the time.

We’ve been in and out of counseling for the past ten years. Christian counseling. Psychiatric counseling. Family and couples counseling. I can quote books verbatim on how to put a family back together after loss, how to grieve, how to pray for your husband. I must have missed the one on how to keep him at home.

Brock Chandler is all straight white teeth and sparkling eyes and smiles like a movie star. And his voice sounds like Matthew McConaughey’s. Suddenly I can’t find mine.

He knew that kind of pain. That searing forest-fire heat that eventually fizzles to dormant embers but remains a threat, a slow burn, never fully extinguished and easily flammable.

Her idea of gardening is buying a flower arrangement from Whole Foods, putting it on the table, and waiting for it to die.

…we walk toward the house in step. It’s a practiced rhythm we’ve forgotten somehow, but it has not forgotten us.

My Review:

I was astounded by the level of deft handling, observant insight, and thoughtful sensitivity given to an abundant amount of heavy personal issues and unfortunate circumstances. While my eyes may occasionally burn and sting, I am rarely moved to actual tears while reading, although this emotive and heartbreaking story had me sobbing, and more than once. I was often annoyed with the characters’ selfish tendencies for denial, indecision, and procrastination, but most of us walking this earth are guilty of those same foibles at various times in our lives. The premise and storylines were relevant, well-crafted, painfully heart-squeezing, and surprisingly engaging. I’ve never read Ms. West’s work before and despite my discomfort and tendency to eschew religious themes, I was quickly immersed and fully invested in her superbly written tale, although I was conflicted in whom to root for. Her writing style was smooth, easy to follow, and kept me reading far later than I expected. I fully enjoyed and appreciated her wry humor, which was often stealthily dropped in unexpected places. The characters were realistically flawed and as fleshed out and knowable as my next-door neighbor, maybe even more so. I was definitely a Brock fan all the way through and far from joining team Kevin until he tore off a piece of the self-righteous preacher’s wife, and from then on I had to take him seriously, I just had to, as he sorta became my hero. The ending was highly satisfying and although extremely sad, it was also the best possible outcome.

About Catherine West

Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband have two grown children and one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Her most recent novel, The Memory of You, released March 2017 and Where Hope Begins releases in May 2018. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com.

Connect with Catherine

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July 4, 2018

Book Review: The Last Rodeo by Delores Fossen

The Last Rodeo

A Wrangler’s Creek Novel (Book 9)

by Delores Fossen

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: HQN (June 26, 2018)

The most important two words for this Wrangler’s Creek rodeo cowboy? I do…

Lucian Granger isn’t winning any Mr. Cowboy Congeniality awards. Known in his small Texas town as “Lucifer” thanks to his surly nature and knack for scaring people away from getting too close, the handsome rancher has no trouble ignoring the gossip. But when he’s in danger of losing the land he’s put his blood, sweat and tears into maintaining, Lucian sets out to prove he’s a changed man—by claiming he’s about to settle down with his invaluable assistant, Karlee O’Malley.

Their pending nuptials may be just for show, but from the moment they kiss, the proverbial fireworks start going off in his head—and in his heart. Before long, the man who’s usually as emotional as a brick wall is tired of pretending and wants to share a real future with Karlee. With his world suddenly turned upside down, Lucian will risk losing the business and the ranch if it means holding on to the one woman worth becoming a better man for..,

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Witchcraft might have been involved. He was having a hard time believing that mere motherhood and social connections could allow Regina to completely dismantle and rearrange his life in two weeks…

Alice May wasn’t a smiler. In fact, Lucian always thought her face looked like an apricot right before it went bad. Wrinkled but still round.

Her eyes narrowed some when she turned back to Lucian. “There’d be a lot of folks plenty upset if you hurt her. Just remember that.” It seemed like a threat, and coming from a longtime garden guild member, it seemed like a threat with some teeth. The woman knew how to use a hoe and shovel.

FYI, if you need to take a leak in the powder room off the foyer, then you’ll have to stand in the corner and aim because Regina’s marked off the area by the john as belonging to Dylan and her.

Technology paled when it came to the speed of communications by folks hell-bent on gossip.

Candy was wearing super -skinny jeans and a red top with enough sparkles and sequins to trigger a seizure. Her five-inch heels had “sprained ankle” and “I don’t belong here” written all over them.

My Review:

Delores Fossen’s sly humor and clever wit kept me smirking throughout this highly amusing and engaging tale. I nearly bounced in my chair with gleeful anticipation whenever a new character or visitor was introduced as Ms. Fossen’s colorful descriptions of their appearance and unique personality traits never failed to bring a sharp and humorous visual. The eldest son Lucian, AKA Lucifer, was the focus of this installment, and both of his hands were full of troubles financial, personal, and familial when his ne’er-do-well and often-married father returned with news he was taking over the family enterprise. The Granger family was definitely not short on quirky characters, which fit just as well with the eccentric and petty inhabitants of the small community of Wrangler’s Creek. I always enjoy spending time there, although as Regina had contentiously marked off ownership boundaries within each room with masking tape, it would have been a bit of a challenge to visit their ranch.

About Delores Fossen

USA Today bestselling author, Delores Fossen, has sold over 70 novels with millions of copies of her books in print worldwide. She’s received the Booksellers’ Best Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and was a finalist for the prestigious Rita ®. In addition, she’s had nearly a hundred short stories and articles published in national magazines.

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July 4, 2018June 25, 2018

Book Review: Summer Secrets (The Cottage on Lily Pond Lane #2) by Emily Harvale

Summer Secrets

The Cottage on Lily Pond Lane #2

by Emily Harvale

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK

#LilyPondLane

Escape to the seaside village of Little Pondale with Part Two of this heart-warming and romantic, four-part serial.

Mia Ward was amazed to inherit her great-aunt Matilda’s thatched cottage in the tiny seaside village of Little Pondale – especially as Mia didn’t know she had a great-aunt Matilda. She was even more astonished to discover she’d only inherit the place if she lives there for a year.

Now Mia and her friends, Ella and Garrick are embracing village life. Garrick’s also embracing someone in The Frog and Lily, so Mia turns her attention to one or two of her sexy, single neighbors. But great-aunt Matilda remains an enigma and Mia’s still determined to discover who she was.

When Mia’s mum, Lori arrives, she’s eager to see what the summer has to offer. There’s the Kite Festival, the Fête, the Frog Hill Run, but what really appeals to Lori, much to Mia’s horror, is the Midsummer Night’s naked bathing in the pond at Frog’s Hollow.

As sweltering days surrender to sultry nights, love is definitely in the air. And when an incident means Mia has to face her greatest fear, help arrives from a surprising source. But one thing is clear… someone is trying to make sure Mia doesn’t stay in Little Pondale…

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

I know this is mean but after spending all morning with her I’m beginning to wonder if Hector didn’t throw himself into the path of that car and his death had nothing at all to do with the curse of Frog’s Hollow.

They had tried to get Garrick to join them but he said his singing voice sounded like a rhino being strangled in a mud hole and whilst Mia had no clue as to what sound that would make, it probably wasn’t pleasant, so they’d left him in the pub.

Wait and see if he asks you out. Or go to his bakery and ask to see his buns.

“Well, all I can say is if only I were a few years younger, Alexia Bywater would have serious competition, deary. I was a pretty young thing you know and my body was curvier than hers. Flexible too. I could wrap my legs around my neck, you know, dear. Probably still could if it weren’t for a touch of arthritis.” A rather unpleasant vision of Hettie with her legs wrapped around Garrick’s neck popped into Mia’s head as Garrick choked on his coffee and Ella made a curious sound, almost like a clucking chicken.

He smiled tenderly and Mia was sure a bone in her ribcage must have broken because something had just pierced her heart.

My Review:

I am continuing to groove on this light and fun new series with the second installment ushering in more mysterious elements to the storyline. Mia appears to have stirred up some animus within the quaint little village as ominous tidings began arriving on her doorstep, an activity that is in addition to the residents’ favorite pastimes of gossiping and betting on how long she will last. Mia seems to have become as fickle as a fourteen-year-old middle schooler, although in her defense, there does seem to be a surfeit of handsome single men in one place. The plot lines are thickening as the characters already have been well established, and the humor advances with the arrival of Mia’s feisty mother. Love is in the air but warnings from a fortune-teller may have muddled things a bit. I learned two new phrases to boast about with one to add to my Brit list and the other appearing to be more universal, but I was unfamiliar with the delightful term of “bingo wings” which is an extra fun label for underarm flab… although I lovingly call mine kimono arms. My Brit vocabulary list now includes the addition of “Jack the Lad,” which Mr. Google informed me was “a brash, cocky young man.” I do love learning new terminology.

AND COMING SOON –

Part 3 – Autumn Leaves!

Purchase Link – http://newbook.at/LilyPondAutumn

Escape to the seaside village of Little Pondale with Part Three of this heart-warming and romantic, four-part serial.

Mia Ward was amazed to inherit her great-aunt Matilda’s thatched cottage in the tiny seaside village of Little Pondale – especially as Mia didn’t know she had a great-aunt Matilda. She was equally astonished to discover she’d only inherit the place if she lives there for a year.

But it didn’t take long for Mia and her friends, Ella and Garrick to settle in. Now Mia’s mum, Lori has joined them, and they’re all enjoying village life. Mia’s keen to overcome her fear of water and with Garrick by her side, she’s confident about the future.

Until a fortune teller’s predictions give everyone cause for concern. Now Mia’s not so sure of anything, except that someone still wants her to leave. That makes her more determined to learn all she can about Matilda – and the codicil.

But as the mists roll in over the sea, are autumn winds making passions cool? And when more than one unexpected visitor gives Mia a shocking surprise, is everything about to change?

Author Bio –

Having lived and worked in London for several years, Emily returned to her hometown of Hastings where she now spends her days writing… and chatting on social media. Emily is a Member of the SoA, a PAN member of the RWA and a Pro Member of ALLi. She’s an Amazon bestseller and a Kindle All Star. Emily loves writing and her stories are sure to bring a smile to your face and a warmth to your heart.

Emily says, “I write about friendship, family and falling in love. I believe in happing endings.” When she isn’t writing, she can be found enjoying the stunning East Sussex coast and countryside, or in a wine bar with friends, discussing life, love and the latest TV shows. Chocolate cake is often eaten. She dislikes housework almost as much as she dislikes anchovies – and will do anything to avoid both.

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/emilyharvalewriter

https://www.twitter.com/emilyharvale

https://www.instagram.com/emilyharvale

July 3, 2018

Book Review, Giveaway: Poppy’s Place in the Sun by Lorraine Wilson

Poppy’s Place in the Sun

by Lorraine Wilson

Goodreads

Amazon US / UK / B&N

‘She had me at Bonjour! Warm, funny, deliciously French…this lovely story filled my heart with sunshine’ Jane Linfoot

Sometimes you need to lose yourself to find your way home…

With only her trusty dogs Peanut, Treacle and Pickwick by her side, Poppy Kirkbride could be forgiven for having doubts about her move to a quiet village in rural France. But as the sun shines down on her ramshackle new home, Poppy knows she’s made the right decision. A lick of paint, and some TLC and her rustic farmhouse will be the perfect holiday retreat – Poppy’s dream come true.

Poppy is welcomed by her fellow villagers, except for brooding local vet Leo Dubois, who makes it clear Poppy isn’t welcome in his village – or his life! Leo might be gorgeous, but Poppy won’t be told what to do by an arrogant Frenchman – no matter how kind and gentle he is to her dogs!

Determined to stay, Poppy tries to understand the enigmatic Frenchman better. But as the two get closer, Poppy sees another side to Leo – a man with heartbreak of his own. Falling in love with Leo is easy, but can he ever return Poppy’s love? And what would this mean for her dream life and place in the sun?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Pete will laugh when I tell him about this. He’s never been one for the jealous boyfriend act. Which is good, sort of, but maybe a little bit unflattering. He usually makes a joke out of it, asking whether the other man had a white stick or a guide dog.

She’s certainly the smallest dog I’ve ever seen, but with a personality so huge I don’t know where she can possibly be keeping it all.

Not only does close proximity to him does funny things to my body chemistry, but it seemingly reduces my IQ at the same time.

He seems anxious, not so much worried about treading on eggshells as stepping into a man-trap with iron teeth.

My Review:

I enjoyed this refreshingly sweet and amusing tale; it was just what I needed for a genre cleanse after reading heavier fare. It was a light and humorous read with some heart-squeezing moments and a few bursts of romantic sizzle. I adored the character of Poppy, an illustrator of children’s books, a daydreamer, and rescuer of abused and abandoned animals and people. I frequently smiled at the levity provided by the descriptions and hijinx of Poppy’s tiny canine companions as well as the antics of the nearby assortment of football playing “delinquent donkeys” and demonic goats. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, entertaining, and lively, while the characters were endearing and alluring, with the exception of the cranky Madame Gilbert and Pete the Prick. Poppy had been devastated to be dumped by text but she came out the better for it with an upgrade to a tall, dark, and handsome Frenchman. I picked up a few additions to my Brit Vocabulary list with “being bolshie” (being deliberately combative or uncooperative) and “calling bagsy,” which would be what we Americans do when calling dibs.

Author Bio

Lorraine Wilson writes flirty, feel-good fiction for Harper Impulse – a Harper Collins imprint – and is unashamedly fond of happy endings. She loves hearing from readers and feels incredibly grateful to be doing the job she always dreamt of.

She splits her time between the South of France and Cambridgeshire and is usually either writing or reading while being sat on, walked over or barked at by one of her growing band of rescue dogs.

You can find her online either via her website: http://www.lorraine-wilson.com or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LorraineWilsonWriter and Twitter @Romanceminx

Giveaway

Win a PB of Poppy’s Place in the Sun

and a crossbody handbag (Open Internationally)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for the fulfillment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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July 2, 2018

Book Review: Echo Moon (A Ghost Gifts Novel #3) by Laura Spinella

Echo Moon

(A Ghost Gifts Novel #3)

by Laura Spinella

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Paperback: 428 pages

Publisher: Montlake Romance (May 22, 2018)

A past life, a past war, and a past love. Peter St John can’t foresee a future until he confronts his past sins.

When photojournalist Peter St John returns home after a two-year absence, the life he’s been running from catches up. For years his mother’s presence, coupled with Pete’s own psychic gift, has triggered visits to 1917. There, he relives battles of the Great War, captures the heyday of Coney Island on canvas, and falls in love with an enchanting and enigmatic songstress named Esme. Present-day Pete still pines for Esme, and his love endures…but so does his vivid memory of killing her.

When he discovers family heirlooms that serve as proof of his crimes, Pete will have to finally confront his former life. He also meets a young woman—who is more than what she seems—with a curious connection to his family. As century-old secrets unravel, can Pete reconcile a murder from his past before it destroys his future?

“Enthralling and imaginative, where the past intertwines with the present, Spinella masterfully delivers in the third and final installment of her Ghost Gifts trilogy. Echo Moon is filled with suspense, mystery, and romance, and kept me turning the pages and on my toes until the very end, an ending I didn’t see coming. I love unexpected twists! Fans, new and old, as Echo Moon can easily stand on its own, will devour Peter St John’s story. I sure did.” —Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Everything We Keep

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

He longed for Esme the way you might want air in a sealed tomb.

I just saved you from a gang of boys with ideas that’d make nuns faint!

Listen to me when I tell you it won’t stop, Pete. The dead haven’t anything better to do.

His eyes were set so close Esmerelda thought he could be his own one-eyed act.

Caroline thinks she meditates. Translation, three hours of binge watching Dexter.

My Review:

All three books in this series have been astoundingly well-crafted, ingeniously plotted, cleverly written, and tantalizingly unpredictable. While I rapturously enjoyed all three books, Echo Moon was the most intriguing, complicated, and riveting of the bunch. I had to read it slowly to ensure that I retained all the twisty and cryptic clues, but more so that I could savor every well-chosen word. The storyline cleverly brought together all the unique characters and their talents, foibles, and leftover mysteries from the previous installments, and incorporated them with new and complex issues that had been tormenting the main character of Pete since childhood.

I rarely read paranormal or otherworldly genres but I was stunned by the realization of how much I was enjoying the creative and unusual concepts that are so agilely put forth in this series in such a believable and plausible manner. I am in awe of Ms. Spinella’s wordcraft. She has mad skills and I greedily covet her cunning wordplay. I found all her characters to be well drawn, endearingly quirky, and enticingly detailed, with my favorite being her “redheaded actress who ate like a lumberjack.” I read all three books in succession and have basically been living this family for close to a week. I am already mourning the loss of their company.

About Laura Spinella

Laura Spinella is the author of the Ghost Gifts trilogy—including Echo Moon, Foretold, and the #1 Kindle bestseller Ghost Gifts—as well as the highly acclaimed Unstrung and the award-winning novel Beautiful Disaster. She is a two-time RITA finalist who consistently receives reader and industry praise for her multifaceted characters, emotional complexity, and intriguing storylines.

Spinella lives with her family near Boston, where she can always be found writing her next novel. She enjoys hearing from readers and chatting with book clubs. Visit her at www.lauraspinella.net.