Lone Star Sweetheart by Shannon Sue Dunlop

 

It is always wonderful to find a new to me author, and I was thrilled to read Shannon Sue Dunlop’s new book Lone Star Sweetheart, a sweet romantic comedy. Ryan is a NY political consultant that has been brought to town to get the mayor re-elected.  Katherine is known in Sweetheart, TX for her short temper and passion   She is currently out of a job and when the mayor’s wife asks to be her campaign manager she takes the job. She is immediately at odds with Ryan.  

“Had her words ever brought healing to anyone?  Doubtful.  She wanted to be a honeycomb, but her blunt speech was more akin to apple cider vinegar.”

Katherine is a spunky character who you can not help but love.  Ryan thinks she will be easily influenced, but has calculated incorrectly. Together they  have wonderful chemistry that makes the story fabulous to read.  The small town of Sweetheart gives us funny secondary characters and all the normal complications of a small town. I was laughing out loud as I read and found the humor, mystery, and great dialogue so delightful to read.  I greatly enjoyed the author’s writing style.

"Katherine lacked the patience flirting required.  If you liked someone, tell them.  If you didn't , same thing.   It saved a lot of heartache "

This story checked all the boxes for me with its great romance, humor ,and wonderful banter.  I was very invested in the story and so enjoyed my time in Sweetheart, TX.  I highly recommend Lone Star Sweetheart.   

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and all opinions are my own.

Shannon Sue Dunlap is a die-hard fan of happy endings and believes God has designed one for each of us. She grew up in the beautiful state of Virginia where she earned an M.A. in Journalism from Regent University and worked as a contributing writer for a local paper. England, Scotland, Italy, and South Korea are just a few of the stamps in her passport, and she worked briefly as a librarian in a school in Botswana, Africa. She moved to Texas in 2014 and indie published three romances under the pen name Shannon Kent, but her most recent novel Lone Star Sweetheart is under her real name.

Inspiration comes from everywhere—including her travels, adorable music students, and the fun and flirty Korean dramas she enjoys watching. Even in the hard times, there’s humor to be found, and Shannon tries to infuse every story she writes with moments that bring a good chuckle or an all-out belly laugh.

Learn more about her at www.shannonsuedunlap.com.

Pity Date by Whitney Dineen

The Pity Date is first in the new Pity Series by Whitney Dineen. Faith has just found out that her boyfriend of one year is cheating on her, and not about to ask to marry her as she thought. Teddy is a Hollywood star who comes to Elk Lake to visit his grandfather and ends up saying he will take her to best friend’s wedding.

The town of Elk Lake Wisconsin was filled with great people and I loved the ambiance. Rosemary’s Bakery where Faith worked was a delightful place to eat amazing baked goods, gossip and find what Hollywood star is back in town. The characters were endearing and I enjoyed getting to know them better. Though this is a rom-com the author weaves in real life problems that touch all of us. The story felt real.

The great characters, interesting story and wonderful setting made this a great read. I am thrilled this is the first book in the series and look forward to visiting with my new friends in Elk Lake once again.

The story is clean, but for mature audiences.  Pity Date is on KU and publishes May 18.  

While attending the University of Illinois in Chicago, Whitney Dineen was discovered by a local modeling agent and began an unexpected career as a plus-size Ford model. She modeled in New York City before moving to Los Angeles with her husband. During “The Hollywood Years,” Whitney was bitten by the writing bug and started creating characters that are inspired by strong women with a great sense of humor. Whitney's first romantic comedy, She Sins at Midnight, won a silver medal in the 2015 Reader's Favorite Awards. Her second, The Reinvention of Mimi Finnegan, won a silver medal at the 2016 Reader's Favorite Awards, Honorable Mention at the London Book Festival and is also a finalist in the 2016 RONE Awards. Her third rom com, Mimi Plus Two, was a finalist in the 2016 Reader's Favorite Awards.

In addition to her love of romantic comedies, Whitney has also written a series of adventure books for middle readers. The first two books in The Wilhelmina Adventures, Wilhelmina and the Willamette Wig Factory (Finalist in the 2016 Reader's Favorite Awards in 4th-6th Grade Fiction) and Who the Heck is Harvey Stingle? have both been released. The third adventure, Beware of the Basement, will be out in the winter of 2017.

Whitney's new release, Motherhood Martyrdom and Costco Runs is a humor/mommy memoir that's taking reviewers by storm! Get ready to laugh, cry, and pee your pants a little . . .
Whitney and her husband, Jimmy, have relocated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to raise their children, chickens and organic vegetables.

The Pursuit of Miss Parish by Grace Hitchcock

The Pursuit of Miss Parish is second in the Aprons and Veils series by Grace Hitchcock,, but this is a stand alone book. Miss Parish leaves Charleston to become a mail order bride to Colt Lawson, a ranch in New Mexico in 1899. After many letters, a picture and a very long train ride she arrives in New Mexico and has second thoughts. She instead becomes a Harvey Girl Waitress at the Castañeda Hotel Harvey House.

It was wonderful to revisit New Mexico and learn more about the Harvey Girls. Belle Parish is a lovely sincere character who I would love to be my friend. The town had a homey feel to it and I enjoyed visiting with the Harvey Girls, local ranches, and attending an amazing church fundraiser. As the story unfolds we learn more about Colt, a Texas Ranger and the local outlaw gang. I was very invested and kept reading to see what would happen and who Belle would choose.

The Pursuit of Miss Parish has mystery, romance, and adventure. The author draws you in and there are some surprises, great dialogue, and sweet romance. I enjoyed my time in 1899 and look forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend The Pursuit of Miss Parish.

Pinterest Board with pictures and quotes from the story.     

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Grace Hitchcock is the author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Dakota, son and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.

Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson

Famous for a Living by Melissa Fergusan is a great read. Cat Cranwell is a famous influencer who has made an incredible life for herself by being famous. Until it is not so amazing and she decides to work for her uncle in Kannery National Park, Montana. How does a city girl deal with living in a small cabin with a roommate, critters, blizzards, moose and a handsome anti-technology park ranger named Zaiah.

This delightful character driven story was filled with wonderful lessons, sweet romance, and very funny moments. It also challenges you to reflect on your phone usage and your virtual identity. I enjoyed walking through life with Cat both in NY and in Montana. The secondary characters were so well crafted and added to the story. So many funny scenes that made me laugh out loud.


I thoroughly enjoyed Famous for Living and highly recommend it.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.  

Melissa Ferguson is the bestselling author of titles including Meet Me in the Margins, The Dating Charade, and The Cul-de-Sac War.

She lives in Tennessee with her husband and children in their growing farmhouse lifestyle and writes heartwarming romantic comedies that have been featured in such places as The Hollywood Reporter, Travel + Leisure, Woman’s World, and BuzzFeed.

She’d love for you to join her at www.melissaferguson.com
Instagram: @our_friendly_farmhouse
TikTok: @ourfriendlyfarmhouse

The Last Word by Katy Birchall

The Last Word by Katy Birchall is a funny and delightful story. Harper is a chaos in motion and loves her job as the celebrity news reporter at her magazine. Ryan is orderly and endearing and works as an editor. They love to argue and of course have the last word in this enemies to lovers story.

I adored the banter between Ryan and Harper especially in the newsroom. The back and forth timeline allowed for their backstory to flow seamlessly. Being able to watch Harper connect with people over interviews was truly magical, and I wanted to sit next to her and take notes on how she did it. I enjoyed the unexpected funny scenes, family drama, and workplace humor which added to the appeal of the story.

The Last Word was a great read and I enjoyed hanging out with Harper and Ryan. The setting in London added to its charm. I recommend it.

(skippable steam)    

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a review.

Katy is the author of several young adult novels including The It Girl series, the Hotel Royale series and Morgan Charmley: Teen Witch. She is the co-author of the middle grade Lightning Girl series and Star Switch with Alesha Dixon, and the Find the Girl teen series with YouTube stars Lucy and Lydia Connell. Katy was proud to be the author of a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma for the Awesomely Austen series, a collection of Austen’s novels retold for younger readers. She has also written a non-fiction book, How to be a Princess: Real-Life Fairy Tales for Modern Heroines.

Katy lives in London with her partner, Ben, and her rescue dog, Bono.

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer in the second book in the Timeless series. Maggie lives three separate lives at the same time. What? No really she does and that is what makes this story so fascinating. She wakes up each day in either 1861, 1941 and 2001. She is the same person with all her knowledge but in a different time. But by January 1 she must decide which life she wants to stay in permanently. How will she choose?

The author seamlessly weaves together the time periods with Maggie at the center. It was fascinating to think about trying to live in three different time periods with knowledge of the future and first hand experience of the past. The author deftly brings the reader through each time period sharing wonderful characters, historical details, and great heroes. The stories in each time period were so well developed that I was very torn as to which one Maggie should choose. I was so invested in this story!

This will be one of my favorite books of 2023. In This Moment literally held me captive and I stayed up way too late to finish it. I was intrigued from the beginning and the ending was beautiful. I highly recommend In this Moment by Gabrielle Meyer.

I was given the book by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

WIFE, MOM, WRITER, FRIEND...

Gabrielle lives on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing historical and contemporary novels inspired by real people, places, and events. The river is a constant source of inspiration for Gabrielle, and if you look closely, you will find a river in each of her stories.
When Gabrielle is not writing, you might find her homeschooling her children, cheering them on at sporting and theatrical events, or hosting a gathering at her home with family and friends.

Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson

 

Will you be watching the Coronation  King Charles on May 6, 2023? I can only imagine what it would be like to view in person. Today I am featuring Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It is Coronation Year, 1953, and a new queen is about to be crowned. The people of London are in a mood to celebrate, none more so than the residents of the Blue Lion hotel.

Edie Howard, owner and operator of the floundering Blue Lion, has found the miracle she needs: on Coronation Day, Queen Elizabeth in her gold coach will pass by the hotel’s front door, allowing Edie to charge a fortune for rooms and, barring disaster, save her beloved home from financial ruin. Edie’s luck might just be turning, all thanks to a young queen about her own age.

Stella Donati, a young Italian photographer and Holocaust survivor, has come to live at the Blue Lion while she takes up a coveted position at Picture Weekly magazine. London in celebration mode feels like a different world to her. As she learns the ins and outs of her new profession, Stella discovers a purpose and direction that honor her past and bring hope for her future.

James Geddes, a war hero and gifted artist, has struggled to make his mark in a world that disdains his Indian ancestry. At the Blue Lion, though, he is made to feel welcome and worthy. Yet even as his friendship with Edie deepens, he begins to suspect that something is badly amiss at his new home.

When anonymous threats focused on Coronation Day, the Blue Lion, and even the queen herself disrupt their mood of happy optimism, Edie and her friends must race to uncover the truth, save their home, and expose those who seek to erase the joy and promise of Coronation Year.

My Review:

Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson is a wonderful novel set during 1953 the Coronation year of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The story is told from three different perspectives Edie the owner of Blue Lion Inn, Stella a photographer, and Jamie an artist. This beautifully written story weaves together all perspectives during a fascinating time period to make an enjoyable historical fiction novel.

Coronation Year contains a little romance, mystery, and characters that I connected with. I felt immersed in the story as I walked through the streets of London in the shoes of each character. The backdrop of the year of the coronation for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth was fascinating and gave me a greater understanding of the historical events of the time. I found that the well written details of each character’s profession, background and passions added to the story. A truly inspiring read.

I enjoyed my visit to 1953 London during the time of the Coronation for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The story drew me in and the characters were so absorbing. I very highly recommend Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson. I look forward to reading more of her stories in the future.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Jennifer Robson is the internationally bestselling author of seven historical novels, among them Somewhere In France and The Gown. She holds a doctorate in British economic and social history from Saint Antony’s College, University of Oxford, where she was a Commonwealth Scholar and an SSHRC Doctoral Fellow. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and children.