Book Review: Hearts in Circulation

Sarah Monzon is a new-to-me author. But, oh this book cover sucks you in. I love the idea of a bookmobile for individuals who cannot get to a library. I would love that job! I enjoyed Hearts in Circulation so much, I'll seek out the other two in this Checking Out Love series (somehow I missed the first in the series, and the final book is due out soon).

Librarian Hayley Holt is eager to serve her community. She agrees to drive the newly donated bookmobile, even though it looks like a tin can on wheels. Hayley considers it the least she can do in her daily efforts to live up to the liver transplant she received in her youth. When a rockslide traps Hayley in a back woods hollow, a surly, uncommunicative mechanic offers to repair the vehicle. Can Levi Redding endure her constant chatter and larger-than-life presence in his environs?

What a delightful and bookish forced proximity rom-com! What's more, I was duly impressed with the natural and insightful faith elements that appear as the story concludes. Monzon introduces a character whose personal struggles uniquely flesh out arguments for the faith that I have been sharing with friends and family. Her story illustrates the truth that we can never earn the free gift of salvation God offers through Christ's atonement. I loved the thoughts expressed in the Hayley-Levi confrontation scene, especially the advice, "Don't cheapen the gift!" That is what people do when they insist they must maintain, through obedient faith, the salvation Christ has secured for them. 

I enjoyed the book for more than this firm salvation security argument. The characters were endearing and the plot held me riveted. I loved the exchange of letters, in spite of the forced proximity. I loved the scavenger hunt for clues through books. What fun! I recommend this light-hearted and meaningful romance (a Carol Award finalist for the 2026 romance category). 

Book Review: The Lawyer and the Laundress

When I finished my last audiobook on Hoopla, I skimmed through the recommendations. The Lawyer and the Laundress had an interesting cover and promised a clean read. Lately, I've tried several popular titles and, quite far in, abandoned them. I abandoned Taylor Reid Jenkins' Atmosphere (despite the good writing and compelling investment in the story) when, halfway through, the main character visits a strip club and is titillated by the experience. Census, by Jesse Ball, was stilted. It also failed to be engaging or clean. Interested in Claire Foy's movie H is for Hawk, I attempted to read that book prior to seeing the film. It was quickly abandoned and I'm glad I didn't go to see the movie with my husband, despite my love of Claire Foy's performances. Finally, I just abandoned The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. It gets discouraging.

The Lawyer and the Laundress takes place in 1837 Canada, during a time of political unrest. A widowed lawyer, James Kinney, is struggling to raise his feisty daughter Evie. She is miserable at her lessons under a strict and ineffective teacher. As such, she seeks the friendship of the laundress, Sara O'Connor. Sara is no ordinary laundress, as she knows French and effectively teaches Evie. James eventually seeks Sara to serve as Evie's governess. As romance blossoms between the two of them, political unrest threatens their lives.

I just learned this is a Carol Award Finalist. For a debut novel, it was well-written and engaging. The characters are compelling. Evie is delightful. The plot moves at a reasonable pace with plenty of conflicts. Most of all, I appreciated the tasteful treatment of the romantic tension simmering between Sara and James. Christine Hill Suntz manages to write it with sizzle, without smut. Why can't all authors stick to that?  

Book Review: The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams

I had never heard of this author, and now I cannot remember where I picked up the recommendation. Was The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams offered on Book Bub? I may have been a less-than-motivated reader, so I don't count this against the book, but it didn't enthrall me. With "bookshop" in the title, you assume it will focus a lot on books. Book mentions were minimal. It takes place in a bookshop in the small town of Dove Pond.

Tay Dove is one of seven sisters. Supposedly, whenever seven sisters are born in the Dove family, those women are endowed with magical powers. Tay possesses the unique power (helpful, as she is a historian) to see the scene of writing when she places her hands on handwritten notes and letters. Of course, this comes in handy when you're trying to solve a mystery from the past with primary source documents. When the sisters uncover a tin of love letters, they beg Tay to pick up the trail and solve the mystery of their relative, Sarafina Dove, and her suitor, an alleged train robber, William Day. Rose Day, owner of the town bookshop, offers her grandson's assistance, in hopes that romance may blossom.

You have all the standard details of a mystery: suspicious characters, lost money or treasure, secret codes, and families hoping to learn more about distant relatives. It was an easy read. I just wish it had sucked me in more. Again, my indifference might have stemmed from a reading malaise. When life's circumstances heat up, my mind is more on current issues than on pages passing. I appreciated it as a clean read though (especially as I've turned aside 3 others for content I couldn't get behind). Plus, it receives many 4 and 5 star ratings on Amazon, so others are clearly enticed.

Book Review: The Battle of the Bookshops

Since I enjoyed Poppy Alexander's The Littlest Library, I checked out her newest book, The Battle of the Bookshops. It is clearly meant to be a modern retelling loosely mixing Romeo and Juliet with You've Got Mail. The names are ridiculously similar. Jules Capelthorne helps her aging great-aunt run a tiny bookstore in Portneath. It is the only bookstore in the tiny seaside town and is approaching its hundredth birthday. Enter the dashing young man from a feuding family, Roman Montbeau. Of course, he opens a flashy, new bookstore across the street. Unlike You've Got Mail, the rivalry is right out in the open, but like Romeo and Juliet, the two cannot keep themselves apart, despite family animosity.

The book was predictable, and yet, somewhat delightful. If you need something easy to read and are seeking romance, this book hits both boxes. I wasn't so absorbed that I read it in one sitting, but it only took a few days. It would make a quick beach read. I think The Littlest Library is still my favorite from this author. 

Book Review: Uneasy Street

Uneasy Street, by Becky Wade, was the first book selection for the Christian Fiction Reading Challenge. Many individuals balked because it is the 3rd in the Sons of Scandal trilogy. While I prefer to read books in order, I had no difficulty reading this as a stand-alone novel. It was a wholesome romance that follows two wounded people from friendship to alienation to tolerance to love.

Sloane Madison has had a troubled upbringing. One bright spot is her deceased sister's daughter, Ivy. When Ivy's adoptive parents go away for a house-swap trip, they leave Ivy in Sloane's charge and put them up in the guest house on a wealthy property. It seems like a horrid trick when Sloane discovers the owner of the property is none other than her former business partner, Max Cirillo. Max wants closure but Sloane wants nothing to do with him. His lack of concern and spiteful retaliation in the past require forgiveness Sloane cannot muster.

Forgiveness is a key theme in this book. From neglect to misunderstandings to adulterous mistresses, there's lots of forgiveness fodder. Ivy has her own sub-plot as she searches for her biological father and discovers an unexpected wrinkle in her adoption story. I loved Ivy and her rats. I even liked Sloane, in spite of her constant bristle with Max. Max was physically swoony, but I struggled to feel as drawn to him as the others. 

Each character comes with baggage and that baggage is steadily unpacked throughout the story. I loved the concept of giving to others what you need for yourself. So Sloane is learning to seek to meet the needs in others that she wishes her family had met for her in her childhood. Although I was unable to make the Zoom call interview with the author, I did watch it at a later point in time. My favorite part of that interview was when Becky articulated the truth that everyone experiences a novel differently because we come at the story with different histories, perspectives, and needs. I think this is also why you can read a novel at one point and then later, in reading again, experience it in a whole different way. If you are interested in watching that interview (including reader questions), click here.

I will happily try another Becky Wade book at some point, but I've too many books on my stack to seek the first and second in this trilogy. Indeed, before I even read this book, I had taken this screen shot of the author's declaration that all of her books are written without AI. In this day and age, that's a promise I want to bank on in books I read.

Book Review: Every Hour Until Then

Every Hour Until Then had a lengthy hold list at my library. How amusing that it came available just after I read about Michael J. Fox's forays into time travel. This is my first Gabrielle Meyer book. I've been noting recommendations. It takes a clever author to weave a time-travel book well.

Every Hour Until Then is billed as an inspirational Victorian and WWII-era time-travel romance. I wasn't aware it is the fifth in her Timeless series. I decided to plunge ahead anyway because I've always been interested in Victorian England. Meyer poses a fascinating premise. Characters in her time-travel series live in two separate eras (alternating between the two with each sleep) and must finally decide which path they wish to remain in permanently. For this novel, Kathryn uses what she learns in 1938 London to foil Jack the Ripper's deadly intentions for her 1888 sister, Mary Jane.

I'm intrigued by the idea that the Ripper was undetected because he was protected by the brotherhood of Freemasons. This sounds like a plausible theory. While the book didn't suck me in as much as I'd hoped, the two time periods were interesting when paired together. In 1888, Kathryn is the daughter of an eminent doctor with Freemason ties. In 1938, she is in London on assignment to help put together a display on Jack the Ripper's reign of terror. The rules of time travel in the novel add danger to Kathryn's desires to intervene to save her sister from becoming the fifth and final victim.

I'm not sure I will backtrack and begin at the start of this series. I'm quite interested in Victorian London, but not as interested in other time periods and places. The time-travel element sometimes felt clunky. Plus, the inspirational elements were stroked more than seemed necessary. Still, it is currently ranked 18 in Christian Historical Fiction books. It was an interesting story, if you're a big fan of time-travel novels. Moreover, the subject of the Ripper might make for lively discussion in a book club setting.

Book Review: Statistically Speaking

Once again, I sought a British novel on Hoopla so I could listen to the British accent. The title, Statistically Speaking, clued me in that it might be similar to a favorite of mine, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Yes, a character in the novel uses statistics, historical facts, and numbers as a coping mechanism. Yes, there's romance. And, yes, there's also deep pain and scars to face with or without numbers.

Gemma Jones is a history teacher in her thirties. Raised by an addict and then in foster care, she latches onto tangible things to battle the intangibles thrown her way. One such intangible is the existence, somewhere out there, of the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was 16. Now that daughter is about to turn 18. When Gemma's new student resembles her, it sets Gemma's mind whirling. The statistical probability is small, but... what if she is her long-lost daughter?

I enjoyed this emotional story of mother love, female friendship, and found family. Gemma is a likable, conflicted character. I loved the friendship that develops between Gemma, her housemate, the young student, and the student's mum. Such bonds are rare and precious. If you are in need of a feel good story, this Debbie Johnson novel is a perfect pick.

Book Review: The Second Story Bookshop

I enjoyed the play on words for the title of this book by Denise Hunter. The second story bookshop is, indeed, on the second story of a building. However, it is also the "second story" for a woman whose husband has passed away and who seeks a new passion, bookselling. But, everyone is worthy of a second story. Indeed, many characters in this novel find their way to a second chance and a new chapter in life.

The Second Story Bookshop is a grand story of redemption. I love it when bitterness gives way to forgiveness, when brokenness becomes a vessel for God's mercy and grace. Shelby Thatcher has always worked in her Gram's bookshop. Reeling after her grandmother's death, she is stunned by the reading of the will. Instead of inheriting the bookshop, she learns she is only part owner. The secondary owner is her ex, Gray Briggs, who shattered her heart years ago. Then, another blow descends when she discovers her grandmother's debts. Can she forgive Gray and work together with him to restore the bookshop to its former glory and to a profitable margin? Will the town that hates Gray drive him away before he can earn Shelby's forgiveness?

What a seducing promo paragraph on the Amazon page:

"If you're looking for an enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance set in a cozy lakeside bookshop brimming with healing, heart, and Southern charm, The Second Story Bookshop is your perfect, feel-good escape. Let Shelby and Gray's tender journey remind you that sometimes the path back to love starts at the front step of a bookstore.

Anyone who loves deeply will know pain. But if you avoid pain by shunning love, you shortchange yourself many of life's blessings. This book drives that truth home.

Book Review: A Bramble House Christmas

I think I was searching another Christmas book when I stumbled upon C. J. Carmichael's A Bramble House Christmas. This was not inspirational, but still delivered a cozy Christmas read. I thought this was going to be a clean read, but just before the end, in typical modern day fashion, the romance characters end up in bed before marriage (and that with a child in a nearby room - seriously?). The story held my interest.

Finn Conrad uses his pen name to book a room in the same hotel in Marietta, Montana, where nurse Willa Fairchild is spending the holiday with her young son, Scout. Finn is hoping to learn why his deceased father left a large portion of money to this nurse who provided care for less than two months. Is she a scam artist and what secrets is she hiding about her six-year-old son? As Finn investigates, he comes to know Willa and Scout and discerns the reason his father left Willa the money and a treasured heirloom ring. That ring holds mystery, as well.

The characters are believable. The romance is leisurely. Heartstrings are tugged. This could have easily been a clean romance. I did enjoy the story; it just saddens me that the foregone conclusion is that flirtation and chemistry will lead to premarital passions. Thankfully, descriptions were not graphic and amounted to a small intrusion in a touching tale. There is also a 2017 movie on the Hallmark channel. Click here to watch the trailer.

📒 Content caution

Book Review: Christmas With a Crank

Before I was one-third into this Christmas book, I recommended it to others. In part, because I like anything Courtney Walsh writes. But also, I was sure it would appeal to a group member in my Bible Study Fellowship group. Her family runs a tree farm, just like the setup in this book. Not only will she enjoy the story, she might even implement some of the marketing genius cooked up in Christmas With a Crank.

When Olive and Liam were twelve, they were next-door neighbors. They even shared a first kiss in a tree house. But their lives have veered away from that storybook beginning. Liam's family moved to live on the tree farm they run. Olive dated his friend, Travis. Now, almost two decades later, Liam's parents are looking to sell the farm. They hire Olive to run a final extravaganza to go out with a bang.

The problem? Liam is grumpy. What a Scrooge! Why can't he see the value of his family's beautiful property and business? He lives in Indianapolis, where he works for a gaming company. He assures Olive he is only back for the holiday and does not intend to stay. But the chemistry flares up again. Can Olive remind Liam of the olden days enough to lure him back again? Can she turn his frown upside down?

You can always count on a clean and delightful reading adventure with Courtney Walsh. Her books present flawed individuals seeking solutions to their problems and soulmates for their hearts. Olive and Liam are relatable and endearing. The hubbub of Christmas unfolds with magic and mystery. She doesn't tie up everything with a glittery bow, but the ending is happy and hopeful. Thanks, Courtney, for another holiday romance worth reading.

Book Review: A Very Merry Matchup

Becca Kinzer's A Very Merry Matchup is a delightful and wholesome Christmas novella. What a task to come up with a new idea for a seasonal story. Kinzer's novella boasts a delicious blend of romance and humor. Indeed, it's like a Shakespearean comedy of errors. Misunderstandings lead to colorful confusion. Yet, when those misconceptions resolve, the reader gains a touching resolution.

Ivy West has a plan. She knows what kind of life she wants (nothing like what she grew up with), and she's working hard to get there. Beau Wall may be handsome, but his unstable career in baseball would never mesh with Ivy's perfect plan. Thinking someone should snatch him up, she plays matchmaker and pushes him to pursue her friend, Lucy. Alas, she's not the only one intent on making matches.

Through a hilarious myriad of mix-ups, Ivy lands at Beau's house for the holidays, convinced she's there to help celebrate Lucy's engagement. Beau and Ivy each arrive with a rambunctious dog in tow. They make an adorable couple, if only Beau (and his family) could convince Ivy to give him a chance. Thankfully, Beau can see through to her heart. He recognizes her wounds and her deepest longings. Her plan may not allow it, but everyone knows plans often go awry (and with Becca Kinzer, going awry means loads of laughs).

What a perfect pairing of humor and humanity. There is a depth of pain leading to Ivy's walls. Yet, the power of love softens and redeems it. I recognized Ivy's desire to avoid the mistakes of her parents. My teen struggles felt similar. I rooted for Beau and his loving family. Who doesn't want a family like that? Plus, having once had a rambunctious Goldendoodle, I loved the humorous comic relief the dogs provided. This is a holiday tale I recommend and will happily read again.

Book Review: Positively, Penelope

How grateful I am to Pepper Basham for providing another light-hearted, uplifting, clean romance! After enjoying Authentically, Izzy, I gave the second book in the series a go. Positively, Penelope returns to the same sibling set, but you could read it as a stand-alone novel. What a delightful and upbeat character! Penelope shines in a dark world. Since my world has had its own gloom, it was thrilling to enter this alternate reality and have Penelope's words "turn my frown upside down." (Ha! My husband's frequent complaint. He says I always frown. He's not alone. When I was in high school and concentrating on something I was learning, the teachers would often stop to say I looked like I was in pain. Oh my! I need to channel Penelope from now on!)

Penelope Edgewood loves musicals and all things theater. When she takes a temporary internship at the Darling House Theater on the island of Skymar, she brings her love of magic and fairy tales and princesses along. Is her positive spirit strong enough to battle the darkness of the owners (still reeling from several losses), the mystery of an idea thief, and her own bout with homesickness? Can she remain positive when life threatens to pull her down?

I had forgotten my intention of seeking a hard copy of the book for this second installment. Others complained about the awkward inconvenience of listening to each epistolary entry read aloud. It is true. Epistolary novels, especially if involving emails and texts, read better on the physical page. However, I love a good epistolary novel, so I put up with the email subject lines and text tags. This is a delightful series with fascinating and quirky characters, light-hearted romance, and other-worldly settings. I look forward to exploring the next book, Loyally, Luke.

Book Review: Christmas Baggage

Christmas Baggage by Deborah M. Hathaway was another holiday read to spur me into the holiday mood. I loved being transported to London with the main character. The whole time I was listening on Hoopla, I kept thinking of this Facebook video by Wonders of London, showcasing the Christmas lights in London. Don't have Facebook and can't follow that link? Try this one for Christmas videos on their You Tube page. It would be fabulous to be in London in December! Want to go there but can't travel? This book will transport you into the sights and sounds of London during the holidays.

Poor Claire Frost! Her boyfriend dumped her and, as usual, her parents would rather be on a cruise than spend Christmas with her. Then her best friend begs Claire to accompany her on a visit to relatives in England. She even finds her a discounted airline price. How can Claire say no?

From her first encounter with her friend's cousin, Liam, Claire is as frosty as her name. What a jerk he is! Who cares if he's drop-dead handsome! She couldn't possibly be interested in someone so rude and condescending. Or could she? Especially with that fantastic British accent. Swoon!

As the Amazon page articulates, this book is perfect for clean read romance lovers. It provides a happily ever after and warm Christmas feels in a British setting. It follows the popular enemies-to-friends-to-love-interests pattern. The book transported me to a world of wonder and magic. What better place to fall in love than London? What better time than at Christmas? 

Book Review: Funny Story

Funny Story, by Emily Henry, was not a clean read! No, indeed it veered into graphic descriptions of activities I would prefer to be left to my imagination with a slow fade. Alas, I listened in audio form. I could not quickly skim through and get beyond, but had to barrel through the sensual scenes (I'd say "intimate," but they were casual and to me, intimacy is hard-won through marital commitment). However, again, these scenes popped up after fully invested, and besides, the story was so delightful otherwise. I can understand why it was an instant New York Times bestseller (and Julia Whelan's narration was outstanding, as always).

Daphne and Peter always introduce their impending marriage by explaining the funny story of their meeting and finding love. Only now, Peter has realized he's actually in love with his best friend, Petra. Daphne had moved her entire existence to Peter's Michigan town to be with him and now she is alone, without genuine friends, and seeking a replacement for the one good thing about her life, her beloved job as a children's librarian. Also, she must find a new place to live on the spur of a tragic and traumatic moment.

After Daphne moves in with Miles, Petra's similarly rejected fiancé, she receives a wedding invitation to Peter and Petra's wedding. Why not prove she is not as devastated and lonely as Peter believes? Why not rub in his face that she could move on quickly? Thus, she spins a new funny story. She will attend with her new boyfriend, Miles. Can they keep up the pretense? Is it really a pretense? What does Daphne truly need and will she find it in this sweet Michigan town?

This was entrancing! There were several laugh-out-loud lines! Moreover, I loved the characters. Daphne struggles with inevitable trust issues from a father who was never there for her. Certainly being dumped by your fiancé intensifies trust issues all the more! But Miles is so likeable. He is sweet, endearing, and the kind of guy that everyone falls for. Then again, we're all reeling from the emotional baggage of life.

I have my own funny story... about this book. I didn't begin listening as soon as I received it from the library. It came due before I finished. No worries. I'd seen it available on Hoopla. Alas, only on the neighboring town's catalog. Thus, I had to wait until the audio version came available again (3 weeks). At the checkout, the woman next to me was checking out the hard-cover copy of... Funny Story. (I had also noticed a woman on a recent plane trip reading this same book.) Funny! Delightful! Well-earned reputation.

📒 Content caution: sex, drug use, language

Book Review: The Summer of Yes

One of my favorite books of last year was The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh. I recommended it to my new book club, not even realizing it was published by a Christian publisher. That book hit all the boxes of need in my life. It resonated like a megaphone. During my second read-through with that book club, I noted all the things Isadora attempted to improve her happiness quotient in her life. While I haven't pursued those lessons, I relished the opportunity to consider what stands in the way of feelings of happiness and fulfillment.

I jumped on the hold list as soon as I saw my library had a new Courtney Walsh book. The Summer of Yes is as uplifting and life-affirming as her previous book. Once again, it inspired contemplation and introspection. I questioned, "where do I say 'no' out of fear or discomfort?" The ability to determine your "yes" or "no" with integrity is a tricky thing. I have said "yes" in previous circumstances, based on a belief that it is something others want me to do. It may have even seemed God wanted me to do it, yet when life led in another direction, others then questioned my integrity and my belief in following God's leading.

This is a tangent, but one worth exploring. Where do we get the right to determine where God is leading another person and how can we be certain that God might not be leading them out of an opportunity, just as much as He led them into an opportunity? This is very personal. My parents were Salvation Army officers for many years. Then one day, my dad said God was calling him to leave the ministry. I cannot express how many people cast judgement on them for this action. Even the wording in the Army's officer covenant holds marital implications, as if God's calling is a calling for life. In my opinion, that's not how God works. Biblically speaking, His call has led His followers into and out of opportunities, even into prison experiences. The important thing is to filter these decisions through a lens of God's desires for us. This is not a straightforward task. We can think we know God's desires (and often think we know God's desires for another person), but sometimes that is personally motivated rather than spiritually motivated.

Back to the book and why you should say "yes" to reading it. A random, life-threatening accident lands Kelsey Worthington (assistant editor for a publishing company) in a hospital room with Georgina Tate (eminent businesswoman). Kelsey recognizes Georgina and her curious mind kicks in. She asks Georgina if she has any regrets in her long life of breaking the glass ceiling. Kelsey is processing her life, in light of her near-death, and wondering if what she is pursuing will be worthwhile in the end. This is a valid question everyone should explore.

Kelsey determines to alter her life by saying "yes" to things she has always turned down. She begins by taking time off work (something she never did) and spending time at the zoo with her best friend (again, she admits she was a crappy friend). But the more she ponders Georgina's life, the more she is convinced that the intersection of their lives was with purpose. She believes that purpose is to pursue the "Summer of Yes." Kelsey hijacks Georgina's life and leads her on a road trip that will alter both of their lives and will cause them to re-evaluate their decisions.

Georgina's handsome son adds a layer of romance. The characters are interesting and believable. Walsh nails the voice again. Kelsey and Georgina both are very particular and opposite characters. I enjoyed the road trip aspect, the thoughts to contemplate and personalize, and the positive resolution. Various lines made me laugh out loud. This is a book about redemption and forgiveness, my favorite themes to explore. I recommend this book if you catch yourself turning down opportunities because they require you to step out of your comfort zone or approach things you feel unqualified to attempt. After the acknowledgements, there's a section with discussion questions, making this a perfect option for a book club.

Book Review: The Joy of Falling

I'm glad I discovered the novels of Lindsay Harrel. Each one I've read has been charming. This one, The Joy of Falling, is again a bit different from the others. Harrel is not a formulaic author. Each book seems to come from a fresh perspective and presentation.

In The Joy of Falling, we meet two widows, whose husbands were brothers who lost their lives while on a grand diving adventure. Eva quietly adored her husband, Brent. Angela harbored deep resentment for her husband, Wes. She felt he disregarded the family in pursuit of extreme sports. Now, these widows are alone. Prior to their death, the husbands had signed up for a race. The women decide to run it together in memory of their husbands. During the process of training and running the race, both face inner demons and find a way to a new life.

I enjoyed the book. The characters were real and stirring. Their dilemma was raw. Their progression in faith rang true. Sadly, it was a disjointed listening experience. I listened between jaunts off to my mother's celebration of life and then my nephew's wedding in Texas. Still, I will seek more from this author.

Book Review: Coffee and Cake at Wildflower Lock

When I completed New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock, Hoopla offered the sequel Coffee and Cake at Wildflower Lock. Thus, I continued in my stream of light-hearted romances. My brain and heart seem to lack stamina for books with greater substance. It was fun to return to the sweet and conflicted character of Daisy May. I don't know if I'll seek the third in this Wildflower Lock series because it isn't available on Hoopla (and I so enjoy listening to the British accent of the narration).

After losing her job, Daisy May comes up with a brilliant plan to open a coffee shop on her canal boat. The market is ripe, but does Daisy have what it takes to start-up a new business? From day one, she encounters many obstacles. She believes she can tackle them all with the help of her good-looking, kind-hearted neighbor, Theo. Although he's eager to pursue a romantic relationship, she puts him off, worried he is too close to his break-up with his previous girlfriend.

One night, a drunken stag party leads to further disasters on her boat, compounding her financial woes. A dapper young man, Christian, appears to purchase a painting his mother saw while getting coffee on the boat. Now, Daisy's romantic quandary intensifies as she feels attracted to both Theo and Christian. Which man will win the day? How can she decide between two attractive and endearing options? This novel is perfect for fans of British contemporary romance. Almost makes me want to live on a canal boat, despite the many challenges Daisy encounters.

Book Review: Love in Tandem

Looking for a sweet, light-hearted romance? Becca Kinzer writes wholesome Christian romance. After enjoying her epistolary novel, Dear Henry, Love Edith, I signed up for her newsletter. As a thank you, Kinzer offers two novellas. I only read the first one on offer, but have continued to follow this author through her newsletters. In addition, when she challenged readers to ask their library to purchase her upcoming title, I reached out to my local library. They agreed and the book must be gaining buzz because my due date is looming with no renewals available. Someone else is in line waiting to read Love in Tandem.

I think a cross-country tandem bike ride sounds horrific (after ten minutes on my bike, my bum shouts resistance). Still, the story idea was ripe for plenty of obstacles and laughs. In a standard tale of "opposites attract," Charlotte Carter and Zach Bryant end up on a 500-mile bike trek together. Charlotte hopes to win the prize money to save her beloved small-town music program. Zach is only back in town for his brother's wedding, a wedding Charlotte envisioned for herself until Zach's brother broke their engagement. He can't wait to get back on the road, far away from his Illinois roots. Can they set aside their differences enough to power through and win the challenge? Will an endless stream of difficulties hold them back?

I'm not sure what keeps drawing me to rom-com. Maybe I'm not prepared for deep or intense emotional engagement. When things are difficult, I appreciate submerging into a light-hearted journey. Sure, it often requires the willful suspension of disbelief, but it dulls the senses from more extreme realities at the same time.

Book Review: New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock

I've emphasized before that I'm not terribly interested in rom-com. Yet, here I am again, reading a delightful romantic comedy, mostly because it was billed as clean romance. I believe I noted the title from a Book Bub email and then found it available in audio form on Hoopla. My treadmill time slipped away as I listened to this conflicted character face her many challenges. New Beginnings at Wildflower Lock is now available in Kindle form for only 99 cents.

Daisy May feels dissatisfied with where her 25 years of life have taken her. Unable to settle on a fulfilling career, she has tossed aside her aspirations in art, and pines a lengthy romance that dissolved in her hands. One day, she receives a legal envelope bearing news of the bequest of a canal boat that belonged to her now-deceased grandfather. She never knew this grandfather. In fact, her mother shut down every attempt to discuss her father or his family. She leaps at the opportunity to repair and sell this canal boat. Meanwhile, the truth about her past becomes clear and new relationships develop.

This conflicted character drew me in right away. She wants so much more from life than she can grasp. Her difficulties stem from the dynamics of her past relationships, or the void left by their absence. I adored her relationship with her canal boat neighbor, Theo. It begins in a prickly manner, yet grows in warmth and affection. I loved the character growth amid the blunders Daisy makes. This is the first book in a series and I will seek access to more of Daisy May's story (from a new-to-me author). 

Book Review: The Secrets of Paper and Ink

I thoroughly enjoyed The Heart Between Us by Lindsay Harrel. Thus, I sought another title from this author for my treadmill time. The Secrets of Paper and Ink was quite different from The Heart Between Us (although, at one point, a modern-day character in the book mentions having read that book - a clever nod to her previous work). In this second book by Harrel, the author establishes a dual-timeline tale that follows three women coming to grips with who they are and what they want from life. Set in Cornwall, England, it was delightful to roam the countryside and the literature of that locale.

As a therapist, Sophia Barrett is in the business of helping people. So why can't she help herself get over the loss of her controlling fiancé? She decides she needs to get away. What better place to go than to Cornwall, where her favorite author lived and wrote? She finds an advertisement for a room above a bookstore, available for reduced rent in exchange for bookstore help (sounds like a dream, right?). She has always loved books, but is she finally ready to write her own story?

The bookstore owner, Ginny Rose, is struggling to keep the business afloat now that her husband has gone AWOL, claiming he needs some time apart. Ginny appreciates Sophia's help. When they find an old notebook among the books, she gifts it to Sophia. But Sophia knows nothing about the author of the notebook. Is it a novel or a diary? Did Emily Fairfax exist or is she a figment of someone's imagination?

I enjoyed the setting and the characters' paths of self-discovery. They are flawed, yet they admit their weaknesses, face them, and try to make changes. They home in on their dreams and pursue them with abandon. The book explores various things that hold women down. It also leads to the discovery of grace. Spiritual insights come naturally. If you are looking for a sweet tale set in historic and modern Cornwall, this book provides a clean read full of heart, with spiritual application.