The Second Story Bookshop Review

About the Book

 She inherits the bookshop of her dreams . . . But she has to run it with the ex she vowed never to speak with again.

Shelby Thatcher adores working in the charming small-town bookshop her grandmother opened years ago. Since high school she's helped Gram turn the shop into a community hub for book lovers in the lakeside town of Granville, NC. When her beloved grandma passes away, Shelby inherits the bookstore. But to her shock, Gram leaves half ownership to Gray Briggs, the man who broke Shelby's heart years ago.

Granville residents have been vilifying Gray as long as he can remember. After graduating high school he couldn't skip town fast enough, even though it meant leaving the girl he'd fallen deeply in love with and alienating her family once and for all. Now he's back, the beneficiary of his elderly friend's will. Facing the town's animosity is difficult, but seeing Shelby again is sheer torture. No one could ever stir his heart the way she did.

As the adversaries are forced to work together, Gram's beyond-the-grave scheme is working--Shelby's old feelings for Gray begin to resurface. But the problems that destroyed their relationship before still remain, and a new one surfaces--one that threatens Gram's beloved bookshop. Is their love doomed to fail again, or will they find a way to make it work this time around? (Goodreads)

Pre-Order HERE.

My Thoughts

This is an enjoyable read that is delightfully set in a quaint bookshop. I enjoyed both Gray and Shelby and there a good bit of character growth that added a lot to this story. It is a second chance romance, so as you can imagine there is baggage and things that were left unsaid. I could easily see this as a Hallmark movie due to it's sweet and predictable plot. It did get a little slow for me in the middle but held my attention to the end. Gram knew what she was doing when she wrote her will and it is always fun to see how life plays out when upended. This is a great quick and sweet read.

Four stars. 

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review."

Love, Unscripted Review

About the Book

 She thought she’d scripted the perfect boyfriend. But she’s convinced that the actor cast to play him doesn’t know a thing about real love.

Frustrated with the sad state of her dating life, restaurateur Chloe Culpepper penned a single romance novel featuring the man of her dreams. Upon the book’s publication, the hero resonated with thousands of women, catapulting the book to the top of the bestsellers list and earning the novel a movie option.

Chloe is thrilled a production company wants to bring her movie to the big screen and film it right in her hometown, Stillwater Bay, South Carolina. But when the producer casts Liam Hamilton—a notorious Hollywood playboy—for the part of her beloved Ledger, she’s appalled. He’s just like her unfaithful ex-boyfriend—and her duplicitous father. How can Liam possibly understand, much less portray, the wonderful character who captured her heart and made her readers swoon?

An embarrassing and contentious first meeting does little to allay Chloe’s fears about Liam. The man hasn’t even read her book! But one thing she she must win him over if she’s to influence his role and save the integrity of her movie.

Due to the deceitful tabloids and, okay, some minor commitment issues, Liam Hamilton’s reputation—and career—is in jeopardy. On the advice of his manager and best friend, he offers a bargain with the wholesome author of his upcoming if she will appear in public as his steady girlfriend during the making of the movie, he will take her direction on the role of Ledger.

Could a little quid pro quo offer a solution to both of their problems? Or will the bargain cause more trouble than either of them could’ve possibly imagined? (Goodreads)

Pre-Order Here

My Thoughts

I enjoy books by this author so I was excited to read her upcoming release. This story is completely predictable but it is fun. Liam is my favorite character and I just loved all of the scenes with him and from his perspective. Chloe is fine but near the end of the book I was a bit annoyed with her and her attitude. She blames other people basically for her own life choices and it drove me a bit nuts. (You can't expect to live like the famous people and not have the media dig into every aspect of your life. We all know this.)  Aside from that I really enjoyed this story. It is fun and flirty and silly and cute. It is a light easy read and it would be great to read on vacation. This book could very easily be a TV movie.

It is a fun read and while not my favorite by this author I still enjoyed it. 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from NetGalley for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Celebrate Lit Tours-Lake Season: My Thoughts

About the Book

Book: Lake Season

Author: Denise Hunter

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Release Date: November 12, 2019

A lost letter, a new love, and old secrets beckon this summer at the Bluebell Inn.

When their parents die in a tragic accident, Molly Bennett and her siblings pull together to fulfill their parents’ dream: turning their historic Bluebell, North Carolina home back into an inn. The situation would just be temporary—three years at the most—then they would sell the inn and Molly could get back to chasing her own dreams.

Adam Bradford (aka bestselling author Nathanial Grey) is a reclusive novelist with a bad case of writer’s block. Desperate for inspiration as his deadline approaches, he travels to the setting of his next book, a North Carolina lake town. There he immediately meets his muse, a young innkeeper who fancies herself in love with his alter ego.

Molly and Adam strike up an instant friendship. When Molly finds a long-lost letter in the walls of her inn she embarks on a mission with Adam to find the star-crossed lovers and bring them the closure they deserve. But Adam has secrets of his own. Past and present collide as truths are revealed, and Molly and Adam will have to decide if love is worth trusting.

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest. To learn more about Denise, visit her website DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: deniseahunter.

Read a premium Excerpt

You can read a premium excerpt of Denise’s Lake Season here.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 12

My Devotional Thoughts, November 12

The Power of Words, November 12

A Baker’s Perspective , November 12

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, November 13

Mia Reads, November 13

Back Porch Reads, November 13

Carla Loves To Read, November 14

All-of-a-kind Mom, November 14

Among the Reads, November 14

Genesis 5020, November 14

Wishful Endings, November 15

Reflections From My Bookshelves, November 15

CarpeDiem, November 15

Older & Smarter?, November 16

Cultivating Us, November 16

Inside the Wong Mind, November 16

Blossoms and Blessings , November 16

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 17

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, November 17

Avid Reader Nurse, November 17

Through the Fire Blogs, November 18

For Him and My Family, November 18

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 18

Splashes of Joy, November 18

Robin’s Nest, November 19

Mary Hake, November 19

Baker Kella, November 19

Simple Harvest Reads, November 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 20

SusanLovesBooks, November 20

Lights in a Dark World, November 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 21

Vicky Sluiter, November 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 21

Quiet Quilter, November 22

Andrea Christenson, November 22

Pause for Tales, November 22

Just Your Average Reviews, November 22

Hallie Reads, November 23

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, November 23

To Everything There Is A Season, November 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 23

Texas Book-aholic, November 24

janicesbookreviews, November 24

A Reader’s Brain, November 24

Inklings and notions, November 24

Batya’s Bits, November 25

Livin’ Lit, November 25

The Christian Fiction Girl, November 25

Remembrancy, November 25

My Thoughts

I enjoyed this book for multiple reasons. When Denise Hunter writes a story, you never really know what to expect or what adventure awaits you. I personally think this is one of the best novels she has written. It is dual time line (one of my favorite things!) and the switching back and forth was well written. I loved all of the characters and the mystery that surrounds the past and present. The setting for the Lake House made me want to visit and having a main character as an author was an added bonus. The only thing that I didn't love was in the historical story there is a character that never seems to feel remorseful. I think that it is pretty realistic in this story line but this book is geared more toward Christian fiction. Because of that, I think perhaps a few more details would have been nice in how the historical side of things was wrapped up. All that to say I really enjoyed this story, the romance was very well done (not over the top but still there), the dialogue was fantastic, and the secondary characters were so well written. 

Five Stars. 

"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Summer by the Tides With Celebrate Lit Tours

About the Book

Book: Summer by The Tides
Author: Denise Hunter
Genre: Christian Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 21, 2019
 
From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes a heartfelt story of family secrets, forgiveness, and unexpected romance.
Following a painful betrayal, Maddy Monroe’s love life is a wreck, and her restaurant career is in shambles. When her grandmother goes missing, she and her estranged sisters converge at the family beach house in Sea Haven, North Carolina. Being with uptight Nora and free-spirited Emma at the place where their family broke apart is a struggle, and undercurrents of jealousy and resentment threaten to pull the sisters under. In the midst of the storm, sparks begin to fly between Maddy and Gram’s maddening neighbor, Connor Murphy.
As the sisters pack up the family belongings, memories of idyllic, slow-paced summers are resurrected. But long-buried secrets also come to light as Maddy discovers that all was not as it appeared that last summer in Sea Haven—nor today in the seemingly perfect lives of her sisters.
As family tensions rise and Connor causes tumult in Maddy’s heart, the sisters must find a way to accept each other for the women they’ve become before the bitterness of the past destroys their hope for a future.

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

 
Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 25 books, including A December Bride and The Convenient Groom, which have been adapted into original Hallmark Channel movies. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Carol Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist. When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are rapidly approaching an empty nest. To learn more about Denise, visit her website DeniseHunterBooks.com; Facebook: AuthorDeniseHunter; Twitter: @DeniseAHunter; Instagram: deniseahunter.

Read an Excerpt from Summer by the Tides

MADDY MONROE WAS COWERING behind a ficus tree near the hostess station when her cell phone rang. Her hands shook as she silenced the phone before it drew the attention of the staff.
She jabbed the elevator button for the third time. “Come on, come on.” A star could be born in interstellar space, a polar valley carved by a glacier in the time it took the elevator to reach this floor. Stairs were not an option, as she was on the twentieth floor of the Waterford building and sporting heels.
She sniffled. Drat. She seemed to be crying. She swiped a hand under her eyes, heedless of her makeup.
She heard voices, Nick’s boisterous laugh. Maddy shrank deeper into the ficus and finally, finally, the elevator dinged its arrival.
“Maddy?” Noelle’s concerned voice tunneled down the hall. “Maddy, wait.”
“Oh, come on,” she muttered, tapping her fingers against her leg until the gold doors crept open. As soon as she could fit, she squeezed inside and punched the ground-floor button.
She didn’t draw a breath until the doors sealed and the elevator began to drop. She placed a palm over a heart that was threatening to beat its way out of her chest. Her white blouse clung to her back, and her skin prickled beneath her arms.
She closed her eyes, the scene that had just transpired playing out in fast-forward in her mind. And then, as if that montage weren’t painful enough, the image of Nick’s face appeared. The look on his face just before he’d kissed her good-bye last night.
Nick. She clamped her teeth together until her jaw ached.
There had been signs. Many of them, really, she was realizing now. They ranged from whisper-subtle to neon-sign obvious. But like so many other walking clichés before her, she was only seeing them in retrospect.
Maddy opened her eyes to the buttery sunlight streaming through her blinds. She scrambled for her iPhone to check the time. But as she did so, the events of yesterday washed over her like a tsunami. She didn’t have to get up at all, because she didn’t have a job anymore.
Her cell buzzed with an incoming call, and she squinted bleary-eyed at the unfamiliar number on the screen before declining it.
She drooped against her pillow, only now aware of how fat and swollen her eyes felt. Of the persistent achy lump pushing at the back of her throat. Her heartbeat made the bed quake. Her eyes burned with tears. Yesterday’s anger had faded, and something worse had filled its spot.
Yesterday she’d come home, changed into yoga pants, and worked in her little garden until she was too exhausted to do anything but flop on the sofa. She hadn’t fallen asleep until after three o’clock in the morning.
She didn’t want to talk to anyone, didn’t want to see anyone. She didn’t even want to be awake today. She pulled the covers over her head and prayed for oblivion.

Required text: Taken from “Summer by the Tides” by Denise Hunter. Copyright © 2019 by Denise Hunter. Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 4
The Power of Words, June 4
Back Porch Reads, June 4
The Morning Chapter, June 5
A Baker’s Perspective, June 5
Worthy2Read, June 5
Carla Loves To Read, June 6
Genesis 5020, June 6
Through the Fire Blogs, June 6
Among the Reads, June 7
Quiet Quilter, June 7
For Him and My Family, June 7
The Christian Fiction Girl, June 8
cultivating us, June 8
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 8
Girls Living For God’s Glory, June 9
Moments, June 9
Inklings and notions, June 9
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 10
Coast and anchor, June 10
amandainpa, June 10
Lighthouse Academy, June 11
EmpowerMoms, June 11
Pause for Tales, June 11
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, June 12
For The Love of Books, June 12
Just the Write Escape, June 12
All-of-a-kind Mom, June 13
Texas Book-aholic, June 13
Hallie Reads, June 13
2014 and Beyond, June 14
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 14
Simple Harvest Reads, June 14
Living Life Free In Christ, June 15
janicesbookreviews, June 15
Vicky Sluiter, June 15
Have A Wonderful Day, June 16
A Reader’s Brain, June 16
To Everything A Season, June 16
Lukewarm Tea, June 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 17
Daysong Reflections, June 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away a finished copy of Summer by the Tides!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!
Click here to enter.

My Thoughts

I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel, Denise tends to surprise me in some way with her writing. This was a easy breezy summer read. I enjoyed the sisters and their issues because-real life. I thought the romance could have been a little better written maybe not so obvious or predictable but otherwise this was a good read. The story line was fun and the setting made me want to go on vacation. Their is food mentioned in this book as well that made my mouth water. I would be curious to read more about the other sister's from this novel as their lives interested me more so than Maddy who is the main character in this book. If you are looking for a fresh summer read this would be a good book to pick up! 

"Thanks to the publisher for the free copy. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

 

On Magnolia Lane Review

 About the Book

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes the final book in Hunter’s Blue Ridge Romance series.

Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.

Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same.

Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.

Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

  Back in a beautiful setting, Hunter takes us into the lives of Jack and Daisy. This was a pretty fast read, very much a Hallmark type story line. I will say that I liked how the author added some diversity of the characters. I also thought it was important for Jack to be a pastor because it really showed how pastors are people too, they mess us, they have feelings, etc. I think sometimes we hold them up as if they are without sin or capable of being hurt. That simply isn't the case and I thought that part of the story was well written. I found the side story of Daisy and her discovery interesting, while someone unrealistic. This was just a sweet little romance that was enjoyable. 

Four stars. 

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free. All opinions are my own."

 

Honeysuckle Dreams Review

 

 About the Book

After Brady Collins’ ex-wife dies, he receives devastating news—his nine-month-old son Sam isn’t his son at all. And Sam’s wealthy maternal grandparents want custody of the child. Brady knows he’s in for the fight of his life. But regardless of what any blood test says, Sam is his son, and Brady will go to any lengths to keep him.

Brady’s attorney tips him off that one major life change would virtually assure him of winning guardianship of baby Sam at the final hearing: an impending marriage. And his friend Hope is willing to step in as the loving and devoted fiance.

Local radio celebrity Hope Daniels has been driven by a solitary goal her entire life, and after a happy accident she’s finally offered her dream job. But if the truth comes out about her arrangement with Brady, she may miss the chance of a lifetime and stand in the way of a dear friend’s dreams.

As Brady and Hope make sacrifices to help each other in their times of need, they risk uncovering a truth neither of them expects to find. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I so enjoyed this book! I read it in an evening and while this isn't a terribly long book, it had just the right amount of everything to make it a solid read. The only slight thing I had issues with, as I have with other Hunter books, is the focus on physical beauty and appearance. I understand this is a romance story, but truly this part is overdone and for some reason it just bothers me. This book has such a great story line relevant to many issues people have. I loved the radio host career that Hope has, such a great addition and unique! The love story is so very well written dealing with personal struggles and really getting the heart of a marriage starting with friendship. This is one of Denise Hunter's best novels in my opinion.  Five stars.

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free. All opinions are my own."

Blue Ridge Sunrise Book Review

About the Book

Former free spirit Zoe Collins swore she’d never again set foot in Copper Creek or speak to the man who broke her heart. But return she must when her beloved Granny dies, leaving the family legacy to Zoe--a peach orchard nestled at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.


When Zoe returns home with her daughter and boyfriend Kyle, she finds that she’s the only person in town who doesn’t expect her to give up the life she’s established far away from Copper Creek. Everyone believes she was born to run the orchard, but how can she make it her home after so many years?


Cruz Huntley never quite got over his first love Zoe Collins, the little sister of his best friend Brady. Not when she cheated on him during their “break,” not when she took off to parts unknown with good-for-nothing Kyle Jenkins, and not even now—five years later.


As life-changing decisions and a history with Cruz hang over Zoe’s head, tensions rise between her and Kyle. Even as she comes to terms with the shifting relationships in her life, Zoe still isn’t sure if she can remain in Copper Creek with her new responsibilities . . . and her first love.   (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I have a lot of mixed feelings with this book. I love the cover and at first I liked the idea with this story line (though it is a very common story line, so as for being unique it is not.) The setting is the best thing going for this book and I think Denise did a great job with the small town and orchard. The characters I simply couldn't click with. I felt as if some parts where rushed and really what it comes down to is I just wasn't that excited about the story half way in. There isn't really reference to religion, which I wasn't expecting since reading Hunter's last novel. If you are looking for a Christian romance story this might not be the book for you. If you like reading main stream contemporary fiction, you might enjoy this book. My rating is based upon just not clicking with the story line and characters.

Three stars.

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free. All opinions are my own."

Sweetbriar Cottage Review

 

 About the Book

When Noah and Josephine Mitchell discover their divorce was never actually finalized, their lives are turned upside down.

Following his divorce, Noah gave up his dream job, settling at a remote horse ranch in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northern Georgia, putting much-needed distance between himself and the former love of his life. But then Noah gets a letter from the IRS claiming he and Josephine are still married. When he confronts Josephine for the first time in months, they discover that she missed the final step in filing the paperwork and they are, in fact, still married.

Josephine is no happier about the news than Noah. Maybe the failed marriage—and okay, the botched divorce—was her fault, but her heart was shattered right alongside his, more than he would ever believe. The sooner they put this marriage behind them, the better for both of their sakes.

But when Josephine delivers the final paperwork to his ranch, the two become stranded in his cottage during the worst spring snowstorm in a decade. Being trapped with Josephine is a test of Noah’s endurance. He wrestles with resentment and an unmistakable pull to his wife—still beautiful, still brave, and still more intriguing than any woman he’s ever known.

As they find themselves confronted with each other and their shared past, old wounds surface and tempers flare. But when they are forced out into the storm, they must rely on each other in a way they never have before. Josephine finally opens up about her tragic past, and Noah realizes she’s never been loved unconditionally by anyone—including him. Will Noah accept the challenge to pursue Josephine’s heart? And can she finally find the courage to trust Noah? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Isn't the cover lovely?! I think this is one of the prettiest covers I have seen this year. 

I have so many mixed feelings about this book. Finishing the last chapter left me unsettled and slightly depressed. This book has a lot packed into a short time.I felt like this story could have been better explained with a few more chapters. It felt rushed, even with the different story lines. As a reader I felt like I didn't get to know the characters as much as I would have liked to, especially Noah. Honestly, I would have loved to read more about the characters themselves instead of long kissing scenes and how great their chemistry was. I also was bummed by how much focus was on the appearance of Josephine and her figure. Granted some of it was necessary for the story line but it was repetitive. I want to know her heart not how her shirt stretches across her chest. Don't get me wrong I like romance, and I understand the difference seeing as these two were married but at times I just wanted more depth. I love the back story and I love that Denise wrote a book full of so many issues that are relevant to many people. I love that she took a "divorced" couple from despair to somewhat less broken. So all of that being said I still have mixed feelings.

I will say that for a Christian book, there were a few edgy scenes throughout the book that took me by surprise. Nothing completely graphic but the imagination goes a long ways.

I give it four stars.

"I received this book from BookLook for free. All opinions are my own."

Married 'til Monday Review

About the Book

With a big anniversary party in the works for her parents, Ryan will pretend to be Abby's husband for just one last weekend.

Ryan McKinley has tried to move on from his ex-wife, Abby. He’s sulked, he’s gotten angry, and ultimately he bought her dream house. Big mistake. Living alone in the massive 2-story has only made him miss her more. When her parents call him out of the blue about their anniversary party in Summer Harbor, Maine, Ryan believes God has dropped a golden opportunity straight in his lap.

Abby McKinley never exactly told her parents about the divorce. A strained relationship with her dad has culminated in a distant relationship with her parents, but she’s finally succumbed to her mom’s pressure to make the drive for their 35th-anniversary party.

Then Ryan shows up on her doorstep, looking as devastatingly handsome as ever. When he insists he’s going to Seabrook, with or without her, Abby knows she can’t say no. Her parents still think they’re married and now Ryan knows it too. Besides, he only wants to check in with his best friend from college—her cousin Beau, who just lost his dad. It’s just a one-week road-trip with the man who broke her heart. What could possibly go wrong? (Goodreads)

My Review

I haven't read all of the books in this series but I read that this was the author's favorite so that peaked my interest. I actually really like the idea of this book because it's about a divorced couple, and that is not something you read in Christian fiction. So, I like that Denise went in that direction and where she took her storyline. In our world divorce is pretty normal and I think a story like this is possible. The characters are well developed and I really liked Ryan. Abby drives me crazy but by the end of the book I liked her a bit more. Out of all of Denise's books', this one I think is one of her best. Good solid plot line and a really good message.

Four stars.

"I received this book from BookLook Bloggers for free in exchange for an honest review."