Review: Starting Over on Blackberry Lane

 * Book 11 in Life in Icicle Falls series *

Icicle Falls changes for three women when a handy man arrives in town. They pool their money together to win a bid on his work at a fundraiser. Stefanie can't stand the fact that her husband starts projects and never finishes them. Griffin's decided to take a chance on her dreams and move to New York City, but her house needs some work before it will sell. Cass has a leaking roof, which desperately needs fixing.

As their home improvement needs get sorted out, their lives move forward in ways they couldn't imagine. Stefanie starts have marital issues when her husband's pride is hurt. Griffin isn't sure she should chase her dream because she doesn't want to leave Icicle Falls. But she also knows if she doesn't leave now, there's a chance she might always regret it. Cass's kids barely spend time at home anymore, only during the summers now that their in college. Could her house be too big for just her? Maybe it's time for her to move on too.

My Thoughts: I adore this series. I love seeing old friends and meeting new people in town. I loved the age difference in these three friends - and how that changed where they were in their life. I enjoyed Grant Masters - he was wise about life. I liked this relationship with his sons. I felt for each of these women in their struggles - as they made potentially wrong turns, but I love how they stuck by each other. The characters make this series for me.  I can't wait for my next visit to this small town.

Cover Thoughts: Beautiful
Source: My library

Library Recommendation: The perfect romance series for the public library.

Adult Review: What We Find

 * First in a new series *

Maggie's having a bad year. Her medical practice is in trouble - from her partners and her own drama. The parents of a dead teenager are suing her. On top of that, Maggie's just miscarried and her boyfriend doesn't want to deal with her drama. He dumps her flat out. All of this combined leaves Maggie crying in the stairwell.

Her friend finds her and suggests Maggie take a few weeks off. Maggie realizes that might be the best idea and flees to her father's home. There she hopes to straighten her life around and to figure out her next steps.

Sully lives off the the trail of the Continental Divide Trails where he owns a general store mixed with camping areas. It's the perfect place to relax and unwind - until he has a heart attack.

Maggie takes great care of him, but she can't do everything herself. A man who was just passing through steps in to help her. He's a little secretive, but Cal might be just want Maggie needs.

My Thoughts: Robyn Carr came through Connecticut on her book tour and she was entertaining. I was more excited than ever to start her new series, although I fully admit to be a newbie to her books. I have read one other book before, but I haven't started her series yet. 

I really liked this book. In the beginning of the book, I felt heartsick for Maggie. But I loved how strong she was, how she didn't back down from her future, and how she took control in situations. 

I love the layers of relationship in this novel. I really liked her conversations with her father - from the teasing moments to the sweet moments where they talked about the past and how it changed them both. I liked Maggie's relationship with Walter and how she started realizing the influence he's had on her life and how she starts to finally understand him. I really liked Cal - he's strong, a thinker, a reader, and knows how to handle himself. 

I'm so looking forward to the next book in this series.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: Book sent for review

Christmas Book Review: Winter Wedding

* Book 9 in the Whiskey Creek series *

Lourdes Bennett needs some time away from her life, after her last album tanked. She's going back to her country music roots, but needs a place to write. So she rents a cabin in Whiskey Creek, hoping to stay hidden. Lourdes hopes that her manager boyfriend will accompany her, but at the last moment, he backs out. When the heater dies at the cabin, Lourdes moves in her with landlord for the night.

Kyle hasn't loved anyone since his last girlfriend married his stepbrother. He certainly never loved his ex-wife. She's making trouble for him all the time and he's at the end of his rope. The more time he spends with Lourdes, the more he realizes he's attracted to her.

But Kyle's not looking to leave Whiskey Creek and Lourdes isn't looking to settle down in a small town. Is there something between them worth exploring anyways?

My Thoughts: I really loved this addition to the Whiskey Creek series.

I loved learning more about the musical business in Nashville. I loved watching the process of Lourdes writing songs.I like how she trusted Kyle right off the bat and how they became friends. I like the slow building romance and this was fantastic.

And not without road bumps. Lourdes needed to figure out her life in Nashville, including her relationship with her manager. Kyle had an ex-wife, Noelle who did her best to make his life horrible. I felt bad for him for having to deal with her and her insecurities and crazy plans. 

I liked the Christmas scenes of getting a Christmas tree and decorating houses, seeing the town decorations, and family dinners.

As always, I liked seeing characters from former books and checking in with them. 

Cover Thoughts: Fantastic
Source: My Library

Final Thoughts: If you're a contemporary romance fan, you better be reading this series.

Series Love: Calamity Janes

Five best friends have their own lives, their own problems, and their own heartache. But they all come back for their ten year high school reunion. So much has changed, but what hasn't changed is the bond of friendship between them. 

Cassie's still heartbroken from the last time she gave away her heart. Now her son's asking questions she doesn't want to answer and more importantly she doesn't want to run into his father. How will she explain the last 10 years of her life to him?

Karen and her husband own a ranch that's struggling financially. When a tragedy changes everything = Karen must decide what to do next.

Gina and her business partner own an flourishing restaurant in NYC - until he leaves with all their combined money. People are looking to her for answers, but Gina has no idea what to tell them. She especially doesn't know what to tell the lawyer that won't let her out of his sight. 

Emma's busy being the best lawyer in Denver, but she's too busy to enjoy her life. Her daughter doesn't love the long days. In fact, she'd be happier in Emma would consider moving back home. With a huge court case at home, Emma starts thinking coming home might not be a bad idea.

Lauren never thought her Hollywood life would last. Now after two divorces and several hit movies, she realizes  that something's missing. After returning home for her reunion, she's thinking seriously about moving back. She stays at ranch, helping with a spooked horse. Is she really ready to give up the spotlight?

My Thoughts: Great friendships, fantastic romances, banter and meddling, strong women, small town charm - what's not to love about this series?

Covers: Picturesque - these are the newly repackaged covers

Source: My Library

Review: Thursdays at Eight

Four woman took a class on journaling. The class was horrible, but they formed a bond. They meet each Thursday for coffee and share details of their lives.

Claire's drowning in anger at the through of her broken marriage. She's trying to pick up the pieces and become the person she used to be, before everything happened.

Elizabeth's family just moved away. Now for the first time since her husband died, she's alone. She hates that feeling. She doesn't want to waste any more time of her life. After all, she thought she would have all the time in the world with her husband, but it was not to be.

Karen's an actress who's trying to earn the support of her family. They don't approve of her occupation. She struggles between wanting their support and wanting her independence.

Julia's family seemed complete with two kids and a brand new business. Then she discovers that she's pregnant. She's not happy about the surprise and all the changes it will bring to her life.

Together these women support each other when they're down, they cheer on success, and help counsel through the most trying times. 

My Thoughts: I really love Debbie Macomber's books. I enjoyed the different perspectives of each woman, along with their journal entries. I also liked how the ages of the women varied. I love books on women supporting each other through life. It makes me long for a group of friends just like it! I liked the set up of the book - each woman picked a word to match the upcoming year. At the end of the year, they talked about how the word defined their year.  While they had several problems and heartaches, they also had several triumphs.  A fabulous blend of messy life with glimmers of hope and success. 

Cover Thoughts: Love the new cover
Source: My Library

Similar Teen Reads: Girls Dinner Club, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and The Lonely Hearts Club

Adult Review: Call Me Mrs Miracle

Holly has had a hard year. Her brother shipped out to Afghanistan, leaving behind his eight year old son. Holly and Gabe struggle to make their lives blend. Holly's afraid she isn't doing the best job.

Her work life took a nosedive after she had to stick to a strict schedule for Gabe. She earns evil glares from her boss when she rushes out the door at 5 pm. Her social life is practically nonexistent. What Holly wants more than anything is to make this Christmas special for her nephew.

Together, they go to Finley's Department store to see the window decorations and visit Santa. Gabe tells Santa all about the robot he wants for Christmas.

Immediately followed the visit to Santa, they head for the toy department where they see the hottest toy of the season. It's amazing, but expensive. Holly has no idea how she's going to pay for it.

While at the store, she meets a sales clerk Mrs. Miracle. They chat for a few minutes and become fast friends. While there, she meets the manager who turns about to be the man who bought her coffee the day before. As Mrs Miracle watches them talk, she sets a plan of matchmaking into motion.

My Thoughts: Wonderful! The Christmas perfect book - especially to start off the season. Snow, toys, friendship, the thawing of hearts, and romance makes this one a winning combination.

Cover: While it's a great cover, I do wish the robot had a place in the window. As is, it makes the train the central toy around the book.

Source: My Library

Heard about it: Bookpage magazine delivered to the library monthly

Fun Fact: There's a first book in the series Mrs Miracle (which I didn't realize, but now have it on hold at my library) - both books were made into movies.

Spotted: Spy Glass and Outside In

If you read this blog, you know I ADORE Marie V. Snyder. I briefly got to meet her at BEA this year, which was awesome. Here's her next two books, both of which I can't WAIT to read!

I'm super excited for the final installment of the glass trilogy which comes out September 1st. Isn't the cover gorgeous?

You can read the first chapter here!

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Also, here's the cover for Outside in, the 2nd book from her YA series. This one comes out in March of next year. The first book was amazing - so very different from her adult books and set in a very creative science fiction world.


I'm loving both of these covers!

Review: Hannah's List (adult)

Hannah died last year, but she left her husband a letter to be opened on the anniversary of her death. He opens it to find an expression of love and something he never thought he'd find - a list of three women Hannah wants him to date. She wants him to move on and knows that this past year, he's been going through the motions, but not really living.

She knows him well. He's extremely reluctant to follow her advice. The first woman on the list is her cousin who owns a cafe on Blossom Street. He wanders into the cafe on morning for coffee. She isn't there, but he leaves a message at the counter.

The next woman is a nurse who made Hannah's last days comfortable. Michael speaks with her at a hospital children's picnic. She's recently divorced herself and understand what he's going through. They agree to dinner later in the week.

The third woman he calls cold, asking her to come into to paint a mural on the wall at his office. When she arrives late, he remembers her from the funeral. Everything about this woman annoys him and he can't understand how she made Hannah's List. He hires her and now must deal with seeing her in his office until she completes her project.

Will one of these women help him come out of his shell and bring him back to life?

My Thoughts: This isn't a book I normally review on this site, but I adore the Blossom Street series. They're adorable and heartwarming. I can't decide which one I like best. This one was amazing as well. I was a little shocked to see this book written in majority from a male perspective, but it works.

The Cover: I LOVE it - very cozy!

Source: my Library