Dream by Barbara O'Connor

 

Dream by Barbara O'Connor

3.5 Stars rounding up to 4

I loved Wish by Barbara last year and was so excited to see the Dream audiobook available on NetGalley! Suzy Jackson does such a great job narrating. As a southern Tennessee gal, I love her accents for the characters and it feels like home. 

As a follow up to Wish, Dream follows Idalee Lovett, who lives in the small town of Colby, North Carolina. Idalee's Mama is going on tour for the summer with her cover band and Idalee works on her songwriting skills. There is a local radio songwriting contest and Idalee is determined to win with her songs. Idalee needs a new guitar and there is supposedly long-lost treasure for her and her friends to find hidden somewhere in their house from her late grandfather... the friends spend their time helping Idalee trying to find it, while sneaking around. 

We see Howard, Charlie and Wishbone from Wish helping out in this book - loved seeing them again. You can technically read this outside of reading Wish, but I think you best enjoy it after reading Wish.

I liked this one in general. We have quirky characters who rent out rooms in the house, great friendships, a sweet dog and a sweet ending. Wish is still my favorite, but this was a good companion. 

However, while I enjoyed the book, I wasn't a fan of a side character portrayed as a pet fortune teller/psychic with orange "aura". She acts kind of weird around pets pretending to be a pet fortune teller and the kiddos talk about her being convincing and think she really may be one. There is also a brief mention of tarot cards and general fortune tellers. It wasn't anything overboard, brief mentions, but I didn't love those parts. I also wish we had a bit more of Wishbone in the story as the cover indicates.

Loved her song and the ending, so very sweet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a complimentary copy of the audiobook to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7783105553
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4olbzBp

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron 

3.5 - 4 Stars

Read if you love:
- Historical Fiction
- Undercover Operations
- Julia Child 
- Hidden Identities 
- Dual Timeline
- WWII Fiction
- Paris/France Settings
- French Language 
- Kitchens and Cooking in Books

Kristy Cambron really has the attention to detail in her books and this one was really interesting! We follow Kat, who is recruited by the OSS as an agent in 1943. She is hoping to find her missing brother and agrees to go to France as a spy. Years later in 1952, she is still searching for her brother and becomes acquainted with others she knew during the war time. We see different timelines here for the same characters, with multiple identities and plans. 

I really liked Kat's character, she is very sharp and in her undercover operations she is working in a kitchen that caters to the Nazi elite. She is tied in with the resistance and there is a lot of suspicion. 

In 1952, we see her marriage to Gerard, a man she married for several reasons...but not love. Kat does not truly trust him and their marriage is very unique in tension, small bits of affection but not a huge romantic one. 

As others have mentioned, this book takes a lot of brain power to keep up. We have many timelines, different POVs and code names that took me out of the story at times. I loved the writing style, the characters and food/kitchen bits, but I did struggle to keep up with what was going on. If I am honest, I believe I missed several pieces and this book deserves more of a deep dive, re-read from me one day. 

The ending was great to see so much resolved and the bit of romance development that occurred. 

Regardless of those things, this is a very immersive story that you should take time to sit with and anyone who enjoys a good WWII fiction story will like it. I think the added layer of Julia Child was also nice because so many know of her from her cooking/kitchen days. 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and Kristy Cambron for a complimentary copy of the audiobook and ebook to read and review. I have this one pre-ordered as well and look forward to meeting her at our local bookstore on her book tour! All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7569676359
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/619927
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Uy94Oi

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If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

 

If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
5 Stars 

Let's start this review out with....I LAUGHED SO MUCH IN THIS BOOK! I read this with my friends Oceana and Lindsay and we both really enjoyed it! So many laughs and just an overall great rom-com!

This is Emma's first traditionally published book with Thomas Nelson and I HIGHLY recommend! I have loved all of Emma's books I've read, she just has such a way with writing funny, clean rom-coms and this did not disappoint!

Tied to the Appies Hockey series, we have Wyatt, Josie's brother's best friend and Hockey Player, who spend the summer together. What happens when the "enemies" spend a summer together including sailing, forced proximity situations and a sweet dog accompanies them? FEELINGS! 

Our characters spend time together, feelings come to the forefront....their walls come down as they get to know each other more deeply and we really get to know them. Emma always tells stories that are filled with depth and I love that because they are REAL people with REAL issues - more than just your average rom-com.

I loved seeing Josie open up to Wyatt about what she had been through and how much Wyatt grew from his grumpy self in the beginning to the end.

Another great read from Emma I highly recommend for a clean romance!

*content warning for mention of attempted sexual assault recounted. no spice, kisses only, no language

Thank you to Emma, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for complimentary copies of the ebook and audiobook to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7688713722
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4l4DgLV
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/619936

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

God Speaks Your Love Language by Gary Chapman

 

God Speaks Your Love Language by Gary Chapman

4 Stars

I really enjoyed this book. It's heartwarming, encouraging and a good reminder that the Lord meets us where we are. Most people have heard of the 5 Love Languages and Gary Chapman's books. In this one, Gary takes the concept of the 5 love languages and beautifully shows how God speaks to us in the ways we best receive love. I loved how this was not just a theory but he added scriptures tying it back to my own personal and relatable walk with the Lord.

He meets us where we truly are in each season of life. This books truly helped me to see that we are all designed with a unique way to connect with His love.

If you feel distant from God or unsure of how He is speaking to you personally, I would recommend adding this book to your bible study time. A very gentle reminder that His love is not just general.....it is very specific to you. 

I love how he shared different stories from others with their own personal experiences too. Many were relatable and it made me slow down and notice the little things. A very practical Christian Non-Fiction that is easy to read that I would recommend.

Thank you to Moody Publishers for a complimentary copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7766033115
Moody Publishing Books: https://moody.pub/BookLoverAmanda
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3H5Oa5Z

Book Review: The Sands of Sea Blue Beach by Rachel Hauck

The Sands of Sea Blue Beach - Rachel Hauck
4 Stars 

Rachel sure does know how to deliver a heartwarming, emotionally layered story! This one is filled with second chances and healing. If you want a book with depth, charming seaside town and a second chance romance, check this out.

Emery Quinn is our main character and she is very relatable with her realistic feelings of grief after losing her mother to cancer when she was a teen. Cut to being in her 30s with no real career or relationship and her step sister is set to be married. She struggles with comparison and the complexity of her blended family. She goes back to Sea Blue Beach and starts a new role at the struggling Sea Blue Beach Gazette. Here is where she runs into her old boyfriend from a summer long ago and they reconnect in many ways, recounting events of the past. Caleb Ransom has a sense of devotion to his nephew and preserving the town's history - you really root for him and Emery. 

Their reunion 16 years later if filled with so many feelings. There is a sweetness to their romance but also a lot of hardship. We see family wounds brought to the surface, community divisions and issues with the paper they try to work out. 

Emery is such a layered character because we see every aspect of her mother's cancer diagnosis leading up to her passing away. You learn about their past together in flashbacks and why they drifted apart so long ago.

This is a story about coming home and finding second chances. An emotional, sweet and raw story. I love the town's motto is "Emmanuel, God with us." and how that tied in with the ending for Emery. I do think I would have liked a bit more of her faith journey explored, but it was a realistic take on someone walking through grief, emotions of anger and frustrations to God and coming back to being open to Him. 

I always love Rachel's family stories and look forward to more by her. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Bethany House for a complimentary copy to honestly read and review.

Content: lots of discussions and feelings about grief surrounding loss of a parent with cancer, flashbacks to those moments real time with the parent. clean romance.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7624148512
Amazon: https://amzn.to/42SkDVz
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/618521

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

Book Review: The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanne M. White

The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanne M. White
5 Stars

This books was breathtaking for me! I loved it so much. I related to the characters and felt the passion Roseanna had with writing this story from the very first chapters. What made this story really shine was the interconnected characters, themes of freedom, faith and honesty. 

Roseanne really shares a story with depth and the Catholic faith displayed was beautiful and authentic to the time and characters. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1940, we see a story of resistance, not just with weapons but with words.

We follow Corinne who is a young woman finding refuge and purpose in a secret library filled with banned books. Her love for truth and literature make her a fierce heroine and that really comes to light as we get to know her.

On the other side of the war is Christian Bauer, a German professor trapped working for the Nazi's, forced into a role he never wanted. He has quite the internal struggle and his rebellion is beautifully portrayed as he works from within to preserve what the regime wants to destroy and control.

I loved seeing Christian and Corinne together in this story - they had chemistry, connection - it was great.

My favorite excerpt from this book was towards the end: 
"Read novels, because they will put you in someone else's skin. Read poetry, because it will give wings to your soul. Read science, because it will show you what's possible. Read politics, because it will teach you how strongly people care about how their fellow men are treated, wherever they stand on hat the best way is." ....."Read things you hate and things you love an things you never thought you'd understand. And never, never accept the excuse that you're not strong enough to handle it if you read something that offends you. You are. You're strong enough to be offended an then try to understand why. You're strong enough to grant that someone can be different and still be worthy of dignity.  And if you aren't? Then read more, until you are."

Overall...I will be thinking about this book for a while. Absolutely amazing. Readers of historical fiction will love this. I love that it felt like a love letter to books also. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers, TLC Book Tours and Roseanna M. White for a complimentary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7562966242
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44Mzssy
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/617727

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Tame Your Thoughts - Max Lucado

                                                   Tame Your Thoughts - Max Lucado - 4 Stars 
            
This was a solid, encouraging Bible study with some good biblical reminders about renewing your mind and replacing lies with God’s truth. The concept of being intentional with your thought life, especially the tools like picky thinking, identifying those bad thoughts, uprooting them and replanting with scripture was easy to understand and helpful in a practical, real-life way.

While I didn’t find anything super deep or theologically profound, the simplicity of the message is exactly what some of us need in a busy or anxious season. It’s great for newer believers or anyone looking to refocus and get back to the basics of truth-filled thinking.

I especially appreciated how the study addressed things like anxiety, guilt, and rejection in a compassionate, Scripture-based way. This one might not be revolutionary, but it’s definitely a great reset for your mindset—and sometimes that’s exactly what we need. 💛

Note this comes with study videos also that I enjoyed hearing Max speak. It would be great with a group of people to study with because it gives a lot of thought provoking questions people can discuss in a group setting, as well as some personal study pieces too.

Thank you to the publisher for an e-book copy to read for review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7745098927
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4o69h99

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: No Stone Unturned by Jenelle Hovde

 No Stone Unturned by Jenelle Hovde 
5 Stars

This was SO good y'all! A beautiful layered regency romance!

Read if you like:

✨Regency Romance
✨Christian Historical Romance

✨English Countryside Settings
✨Slow-burn Romance
✨Restoration of Artifacts/Antiquities

✨Archeology 

✨Unexpected Discoveries

✨Books with a Jane Austen Feel

✨Stories that take time to Unfold 

✨Strong Heroine

✨Wounded Hero with Growth

✨Heartfelt Journeys

We follow Miss Bridget Littleton who is NOT your typical society lady. She is very passionate about preservation of history, antiquities and artifacts. She finds herself at odds with the new Lord of Hawthorn Abbey over an ancient Roman mosaic. It leaves quite the enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance that I really enjoyed!

Captain Rafe Hawthorn is a hero marked by hardship and duty to restore both his family's legacy and his own worth. After his uncle passed away, he is the new lord of the estate and is trying to fix all the things that are broken. He is not too thrilled about Bridget and her quest to dig on the property...the conflict creates real high stakes and yet, they find themselves in a reluctant partnership where their chemistry grows. It's a story that takes time to unfold, which I loved. 

I think if you like stories by Julie Klassen, Jane Austen or Abigail Wilson, you will love this book. Like Julie, we see the story take some time to unfold which I love. Like Jane's Northanger Abbey, we have an Abbey that appears to have a mystery behind it, some mentions of Bridget reading Udolpho - I loved the ties to that. And like Abigail, we have a regency romance with some mysterious happenings going on.... Others have compared this to Poldark atmospherically and I can see that too. 

I loved the added faith element. We saw so much doubt from Bridget and she really felt realistic as she worked through those issues and the thread of "can a man really change?".... Yes, if God plays a role in it. 

I'm really looking forward to more by Jenelle. Very impressed! Highly recommend!

Thank you to Austen Prose, Tyndale House Publishers and Jenelle Hovde for a complimentary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7561834978
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GLOruF
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/617733

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry  

4 Stars 

What a beautiful book of mothers, daughters and the magic of storytelling. I really enjoyed this one. Patti sure does know how to engage you in a book and keep you there needing to know what happens up until the end. I loved Flora Lea and this did not disappoint.

We follow Clara - a daughter still haunted by the loss of her mother, Bronwyn. Her mother was a child prodigy and literary sensation who vanished off the South Carolina Coast in 1927. Cut to 1950s when Clara is now a mother herself and gets a call from a man in London, Charlie, who says he found her mothers dictionary of invented language, stories and a letter for her that brings her from America to London on a journey through grief, motherhood and discovery....all set against the 1952 Great Smog of London.

Overall, this was a really layered story with lots explored - loved Clara's daughter Wynnie, she added so much to the story. Seeing the circumstances around the Great Smog of London was also interesting to get more details and added higher stakes to the plot. 

My only issues I had with this was I wasn't in love with the ending with the aftermath once things were revealed, I would have liked a bit more exploration there with the ending. It felt like it was wrapped up too soon after things were solved and that things went "back to normal" almost too quickly for the family. Also, I was not a fan of Charlie and Clara's relationship - there is a "fade to black" scene with them, while not explicit, there is mention of them sleeping together all the time and they had only known each other a couple of weeks, so it did not really add anything to the story for me personally. That was very brief mentions though and doesn't necessarily take away much enjoyment from the story for me, I still really liked it. I think if Charlie and Clara had more developing feelings for each other vs outright sleeping together all the time so quickly, that would have been better and made more sense for the story.

Really liked the last chapter from Wynnie's POV - that added a lot to the end and the author's note where she explained all the real life story tie ins was nice. 

Reading this with my friend Melissa was also a wonderful experience! Looking forward to reading more books by Patti! 

Content: few mild curse words like H*ll, D*mn, fade to black bedroom scene before marriage, parental abandonment feelings, asthmas attacks, grief explored

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7351842278

Amazon: https://amzn.to/44FAB4Z

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

Book Review: Remembering the Cowboy by Mandi Blake

Remembering the Cowboy by Mandi Blake
4 Stars 

Book 1 in the Blackwater Ranch Series 

Another Mandi Blake comfort read for MEEEEE! :) I loved Noah and Camille so much! So much sweet romance cheeseeeee I loved it.

We start off with Camille getting in a car accident and Noah being on the scene to help her. They have history as best friends to more growing up as teens but had a falling out....yet Camille can't remember much about their past after the accident. Camille's step father Nathan doesn't want them together because name, status and money mean more to him than anything and Noah being a farmer cowboy guy isn't enough for his daughter....so he threatens Noah to leave and he does....

Cut to 6 months later when Camille is trying to remember who the guy that helped her was and she sees Noah and recognizes him as her hero.... they start to re-connect and little by little memories start to return...the only problem? Her step-dad threatens Noah's family and all they have worked for...

I love the amnesia trope so much and this was very well done! I like how her memories came back little by little as her and Noah interacted. I also like how Noah didn't just come out and spill the beans on everything in the past and allowed her to see what she needed to see naturally.

The ending was sweet with some nice faith moments. I recommend this for a cute, feel good, sweet Christian romance when you need something that makes you smile like a good ol' hallmark movie.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7139056177
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4eIfvri
Mandi's Store: https://mandiblakeauthor.com/products/remembering-the-cowboy-signed-paperback?_pos=1&_sid=31f79053b&_ss=r&variant=47470137377043

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle

Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle 
4 Stars 
Book 2 in The Secrets of Kincaid Series 

Another great read by Angela Carlisle! I am really enjoying her writing style and this series. 

Read if you enjoy:
- Christian romantic suspense
- Unknown Illness Mystery
- Childhood Crush/Friends to More
- Friend's Sister Trope 
- Lost Memories
- A Crime that "Didn't Happen" 
- Protective Hero
- Small Town Secrets

This book was really fast paced with a good balance of romance. From the first chapter, you are drawn into Allye Jessup's world....she is a photographer who believes she's witnessed a murder, yet wakes up bruised, disoriented and without proof. She is the sister to Bryce Jessup in book 1 and we see Bryce and Corina a bit in this one too from book 1.

Allye reports the incident to local police, which brings in Detective Eric Thornton to take the case. He cares for Allye and is very protective of her throughout the story, as he can tell something is going on with her. Allye has been through a lot lately with her health as well - a mystery illness with some series brain fog and memory issues. This leaves her second guessing what she saw but as things continue to get even more weird....she knows it couldn't be her mind betraying her. She realizes soon this is the real deal. 

What I appreciated most was the way the story handled doubt....both in her mind and in faith. Allye’s struggle with her health and memory made her a more layered character and the inclusion of those internal battles added depth to the threats she faced. I was proud I guessed the bad guy and the reason for the medical issue she was having! (I never guess these things haha)  I think I would have liked a little more of their romance bits together but overall I would recommend as a good Christian romantic suspense series! Looking forward to book 3 next year!

Would recommend as a good Christian romantic suspense series! Looking forward to book 3 next year!

Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7464149913
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3TqzrW1
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/618525

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham

 The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham 
Book 4 in the Freddie and Grace Mystery Series 
4 Stars 

Pepper delivers another delightful blend of mystery, romance and adventure in The Highland Heist, book 4 in the Freddie and Grace series. We are back with our main characters into another nail-biting quest....involving family secrets, a missing sister, haunted castle and a legacy buried deep in the Scottish Highlands.

As always, Freddie and Grace are a joy to journey with. Their banter is endearing, their devotion to one another shines through, and their knack for solving mysteries is AWESOME. We see Grace's sister Lillias back who is entangled in a murder investigation that Freddie and Grace work to solve.

Loved the Scotland setting and the crumbling castle - very eerie and lots of twists and turns! Highly recommend this one. I always love being back with these characters. Very cozy stories.

If you have loved the previous Freddie and Grace books, this one will be another hit in the series! Lots of humor, romance and Scottish charm. 

Thank you to Barbour Publishing for a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7673104496
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EOcUPj
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/615158

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink

Book Review: Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink 

3 Stars 

Book 1 in the Elements of Danger Series 

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, high-stakes Christian romantic suspense, this one certainly delivers. The plot immediately throws you into danger, with a volcanic eruption, a mystery baby, and a woman with no memory trying to piece it all together. The tension never lets up, making it a definite page-turner.

That said, the romance aspect fell a bit flat for me. It leaned heavily into “trauma bonding,” / "trauma romance" with Kit and Cullen forming a connection during extreme circumstances without much time to genuinely get to know one another. Their relationship felt rushed, with a sudden kiss that didn’t feel entirely earned given how little groundwork was laid. It left me wishing we’d had a chance to see who they were outside of the crisis they were enduring and wanting them to have time to know each other outside of the trauma before jumping into a loving relationship.

Still, the action-packed storyline and the unique setting of an active volcanic zone kept me engaged. Dana Mentink knows how to write suspense and I appreciated the clean, faith-based elements woven throughout. While the romance didn’t quite hit the mark for me and didn't really stand out... this is a quick, adrenaline-fueled read for fans of survival-driven suspense reads with a light romance thread.

Thank you to Revell for providing a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7673102957
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/618557
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EWJTkp

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Book Review: Fire and Icing by Savannah Scott

Fire and Icing by Savannah Scott
Book 1 in The Firemen of Waterford TN Series

As a Tennessee gal, I enjoyed this story. Dustin and Emberleigh were cute together. Savannah's books are some of my favorite so this is one I was really anticipating. :)

Read if you enjoy:

• 💘 Fake Dating

• 🚒 Firefighter Romance

• 😂 Laugh out Loud Rom-Coms

• 💞 Clean Romances

• 🧁 Baker FMC

• 👨‍🚒 Firefighter MMC

• 🍰 Baking Competitions

• 🏡 Small Southern Towns

• 😬 Meet "Ugly"

We follow Dustin who is Stevens' brother from the Love Trippin' series. He moves from Marbella Island, California🌊 to Waterford, Tennessee🏡. Dustin is the new rookie firefighter👨‍🚒🚒 in Waterford and the first job is a 🍰kitchen fire at Emberleigh's place. He hauls her outta there - literally 😂- and they have somewhat of a meet "ugly" rather than a meet "cute".😂 Emberleigh is a baker who is entering a baking competition and one rule is she needs a partner that is not a baker, so they agree to fake date for the competition's sake....but as things would have it...feelings start to form and the rest is history.

While I really enjoyed getting introduced to this charming small town and the lovable group of firefighters, especially Dustin....who was such a golden retriever of a main character, sweet, supportive, and easy to root for, I found myself wishing for just a bit more depth to the overall story. Compared to other books I have LOVED in the Love Trippin' series, this one felt a little lighter on emotional layers, and I didn’t connect with Emberleigh as much as I hoped to. That said, I still enjoyed my time with this and recommend it as a clean rom-com with no language, and I think readers who enjoy sweet, small-town romances will find plenty to love here.

Favorite Quote: 

" A good relationship is built on open communication. Sometimes you fight or disagree, but you always come back to one another because that's what matters most."

Thank you to Savannah for providing a copy of the book for my honest read and review. All thoughts are my own.

3.5/4 rounded up to 4 on Goodreads.

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7667134897

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GfwXXy

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

Book Review: The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

 

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

5 Stars 

Set in North Carolina, Maggie has been grieving the loss of her husband the last five years. She is taking pictures one day with her little girl at the amusement park one day and thinks she sees someone who looks like her late husband.  Her brother-in-law, Josh, helps her figure out this odd mystery....and who the man is that looks like her late husband. Soon...feelings happen and they try to navigate them, through grief and how to handle the romantic feelings that are happening.

Loved Josh's character so much, he was a great guy. This is a clean romance, with no language. There are no faith elements as this is just a clean read. Audio narration is great!

The way the grief in this book was explored was beautiful and the ending had me in tears with the revealing of everything in the mystery aspect. This felt realistic in many ways.

- Clean summer romance books
- Light mystery elements
- Childhood friends
- North Carolina setting
- Death of husband / grief storyline
- Toxic relationship with mother/daughter 
- Single Mom Trope
- Great dialogue 

Definitely recommend!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7171472749
Amazon: https://amzn.to/46lV7Ks
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/600801

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.