To Light the Way Forward

 I first met Nancy Naigle's writings when I read The Shell Collector and she became one of my favorite authors.  Her writings have a depth to them that is not often encountered in other authors. 

To Light the Way Forward continues The Shell Collector with some new characters introduced, as well.  At the beginning of the book Hurricane Edwina is on her way toward Whelk's Island, North Carolina. In Pennsylvania, Rosemary is at loggerheads with her daughter who is playing the role of a helicopter parent to her mom. Rosemary has reconnected with a high school friend who has invited her down to visit her in Whelk's Island. So Rosemary packs up her car and goes south.  When Rosemary stops for gas, she runs into Amanda, Hailey, and Jesse.  Hailey and Jesse pretend they are British Royalty and thus begins Rosemary's first friendship on Whelk's Island. Soon after arriving on the Island, she meets a plethora of Island folk and forges relationships with many that she meets.  

When the hurricane comes, the devastation it brings is heartbreaking, especially for Tug, the diner owner.  It's been all he's done for most of his life. He's at loose ends and doesn't quite know what to do with himself, his time, or his skills.  

Nancy Naigle has written a book that takes friendships to a whole new level, throws in a touch of elder romance, and gives the reader a lot to think about.  Life is a lot more than just working a job or dealing with family drama.  It's about relationships that build and make us better people. This is a strong four star book that hits all the feels for the reader. 

WaterBrook and Multnomah provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Everything's Coming Up Rosie

 Rosie wants to be a successful actress on the stage, but she is in a place of stagnation.  Her roommate kicks her out of the apartment for nonpayment of rent on the same day she loses her job.  In desperation, she moves back to her parents' home--but she was going to be going there for a baby shower for one of her best friends. She hasn't been totally honest with her friends about how life has been in New York.  When she gets an offer from one of her blind applications for the summer she takes the offer without thinking.  She finds out she's taken a job in a retirement center to direct their summer musical. 

Rosie's summer gets off to rousing start when she sinks her golf cart into the mud. Life at the senior community has its charm and its mishaps. It also has Booker Hayes, a physical therapist and handyman who is called on to help out in a myriad of ways. 

There is a romance that brews between Booker and Rosie, but it develops slowly and organically.  I liked the way Rosie's dreams developed.  I really appreciated the way Courtney Walsh pulled that part of the story together. This is the kind of book that readers will not want to put it down and will lose sleep to finish the novel.  Four Strong Stars.  

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

What Not to Do on Vacation

 This is a fun read, it has the classic romance novel formula with a few twists thrown in for good measure.  Savannah, Cora, and Bianca are sisters who are meeting at their favorite beach house they visited as children in order to fulfill a wish their dead mother had.  Bianca comes with the news that she is getting married to a man she met online but not in real life.  Savannah has her own secrets that she's bringing to the sisters' vacation.  Cora isn't bringing a secret but she's not totally buying what Bianca is selling.  

It is through Bianca's machinations that Cora meets Jax and eventually they become an item.  Cora never really wanted the relationship to work to prove a point to Bianca.  That it did become a relationship surprised Cora. Where the romance novel formula breaks down is that Jax is not the one who throws a spanner into the works, but someone else who had nothing better to do than gossip.  

Rachel Magee has written a cute rom-com that gives her readers the escape they need for an afternoon or to take to the beach for a vacation read.   Strong Four Stars

Thomas Nelson Fiction provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

Welcome to the Honey B&B

Melody Carlson writes books with a light-hearted hand, but this one is a bit more serious and true-to-life.  At the end of the book she tells her readers that this comes from a place in her heart that makes the story more real and deeper than some of her others.  This depth creates a thoughtful story that touches the soul. 

At the heart of this novel is CT, a man suffering from Frontotemporal Dementia.  It's a devastating illness because the sufferer knows something is wrong but can't do anything about it. CT's hobby has been keeping bees and when his daughter and granddaughter came to help his wife, his granddaughter picked up his hobby of keeping bees. 

Welcome to the Honey B&B really delves into some real-life situations and gives them a humane treatment.  While the book is promoted as a romance, what little romance there is, is understated and quite quiet.  

This is the best Melody Carlson book I've read.  It presents real struggles with real personalities. This is  a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and a honeybee hive. 

Revell Publishing provided the copy I read.  All opinions expressed are solely my own. 

 

Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

I have liked the books that Amy Clipston has written because they are not too heavy for the reader.  Her books are great entertainment for a mental escape. 

Everleigh has inherited half of a B&B with a handyman her godmother had hired to do odd jobs around the Inn.  Everleigh wants to sell it and start a non-profit to help parents with critically ill babies.  Cade, the handyman, wants to keep the B&B and run it.  He comes to a compromise with Everleigh that if she can sell it to someone who will run it as a B&B instead of tearing it down and developing it he will consider selling it. She cannot use a realtor, nor sell it to a developer, and he has ultimate veto power on which offer she accepts.  AND there is a time limit on the sale. There are shady folks who make offers or ingratiate themselves to Everleigh as a way to get past her defenses. The people she thinks are friends are actually sheep in wolves' clothing.  The more Everleigh and Cade work together, the closer they become.  

This is a feel-good book once you get past all of the villains who wish to destroy what Everleigh's godmother has built up.  A gamut of emotions rolls through the book and reels the reader in from the beginning to the end.  A strong Four Star book.

Thomas Nelson Publishing provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.

 

The Collector of Burned Books

 Corrine Bastien lives in the building next to the library of books that Germany has the books consigned to be burned by Hitler.  Christian Bauer has been sent by Goebbels to oversee the library and secure the books that are missing from the shelves. While Christian does not adhere to Hitler's beliefs, he is still somewhat a person to be feared in Corrine's eyes.  

Roseanna M White has cobbled together a group of characters who add small sparks of life here and there, but the book still falls a bit flat for me.  The plot moved a bit too slowly for me and it wasn't until the last quarter of the book that the pacing finally hit its mark.  Some of the characters were easy to dislike--maybe, even hate. Some of the characters were so very likable, and some were just space fillers while others were there just to bully people around. Corrine did develop depth throughout the book, which I appreciated.  Christian had a heart from the beginning but didn't show it until later on in the book. 

This wasn't my favorite book but it did give a glimpse into life in Paris under German rule during World War II. This is something we need to be reminded of so that we don't repeat history.   Four Stars.

Tyndale House provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.