Not only is the romantic chemistry in Magnolia Storms off the charts, but the characters are all so endearing and the message of learning to trust GodNot only is the romantic chemistry in Magnolia Storms off the charts, but the characters are all so endearing and the message of learning to trust God with the ‘even ifs’ is organically and tenderly woven throughout the story.
Josh and his little boy J.D. are just adorable together. Ok, J.D. is adorable no matter who he’s with, but their father-son bond is sweet and precious and everything you want a father-son relationship to be. Aunt Ruth is a hoot, and Ferguson has done a great job of capturing the personality of a fifth-grade girl in Dahlia. And then we come to Maggie, who is much more like me than I care to admit. I so identified with how she is really held captive by her fear, remembering my own battle with anxiety and that need to control all possible outcomes to feel safe.
I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the KISSES in Magnolia Storms. Wow.Za. That first (again) kiss is a doozy. It left Josh dazed and me searching for my fan! Not all the electricity in this novel is from the lightning – a great deal of it sizzles in the air between Maggie and Josh on a regular basis. Whew. Might want to read this one from the safety of your closest swooning injury-preventive location.
Bottom Line: Magnolia Storms may just be Janet Ferguson’s best novel to date, and J.D. is certainly one of the cutest kids ever to grace the pages of a novel. You will sympathize with Maggie as she weathers the storms that life brings her way, and as she remembers the importance of faith, forgiveness, and family. Cammie, Aunt Ruth, J.D., Dahlia, and Josh will also sail straight into your heart. Just the right blend of sweetness and sizzle, the romance will make you smile and swoon. The message of trusting God in the midst of pain and fear has perhaps never been more timely. Fans of the author’s Southern Hearts novels will love this new series as well!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Not only is the romantic chemistry in Magnolia Storms off the charts, but the characters are all so endearing and the message of learning to trust God with the ‘even ifs’ is organically and tenderly woven throughout the story.
Josh and his little boy J.D. are just adorable together. Ok, J.D. is adorable no matter who he’s with, but their father-son bond is sweet and precious and everything you want a father-son relationship to be. Aunt Ruth is a hoot, and Ferguson has done a great job of capturing the personality of a fifth-grade girl in Dahlia. And then we come to Maggie, who is much more like me than I care to admit. I so identified with how she is really held captive by her fear, remembering my own battle with anxiety and that need to control all possible outcomes to feel safe.
I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the KISSES in Magnolia Storms. Wow.Za. That first (again) kiss is a doozy. It left Josh dazed and me searching for my fan! Not all the electricity in this novel is from the lightning – a great deal of it sizzles in the air between Maggie and Josh on a regular basis. Whew. Might want to read this one from the safety of your closest swooning injury-preventive location.
Bottom Line: Magnolia Storms may just be Janet Ferguson’s best novel to date, and J.D. is certainly one of the cutest kids ever to grace the pages of a novel. You will sympathize with Maggie as she weathers the storms that life brings her way, and as she remembers the importance of faith, forgiveness, and family. Cammie, Aunt Ruth, J.D., Dahlia, and Josh will also sail straight into your heart. Just the right blend of sweetness and sizzle, the romance will make you smile and swoon. The message of trusting God in the midst of pain and fear has perhaps never been more timely. Fans of the author’s Southern Hearts novels will love this new series as well!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
This debut author is one to watch! The skillfully-written perspectives alternate between Alice (a nurse who knows only what she can 4.5 stars TOP PICK
This debut author is one to watch! The skillfully-written perspectives alternate between Alice (a nurse who knows only what she can see and deduce), Frank (a patient with locked-in syndrome who can see and hear everything on the ward, but can’t tell what he knows), and Cassie (a patient in the same ward whose perspective is only given before the accident that put her there). With a Hitchcock-esque mastery of suspenseful tension, Elgar creates a charged atmosphere that will keep readers riveted to the story, unable to put down the book until the surprising end. Though Cassie and Frank are both characters who in real time are unable to speak, Elgar still presents them as knowable personalities who get to the reader’s heart. And even Alice is more than just the token character in the middle of it all – her backstory and her compassion for her patients make her a compelling character in her own right....more
Strong’s fourth book in her romantic Resort to Love series is the best one yet! Genevieve is an adorably quirky and endearing heroine surrounded by anStrong’s fourth book in her romantic Resort to Love series is the best one yet! Genevieve is an adorably quirky and endearing heroine surrounded by an equally quirky and unique supporting cast. A whimsical word of warning though: Reading this book may result in humming along to Bianca’s flight-boarding music and possibly investigating the potential of Ruby’s well-intentioned goat yoga. Matt – the dashing hero – twitterpates the heart whenever he shows up on the page, and his banter with Gen is witty as well as tender. While parts of the plot are comfortably predictable, Strong throws in a few surprises along the way that keep the novel feeling fresh and fun. Readers who are familiar with the series can’t help but notice the contrast between Matt’s family (from the previous books) and Genevieve’s, which makes the story’s faith notes all the sweeter. ...more
I really enjoyed this latest book from Regina Scott! It’s Christmasy and romantic and it has a very sweet (and important) message.
First – I have to taI really enjoyed this latest book from Regina Scott! It’s Christmasy and romantic and it has a very sweet (and important) message.
First – I have to talk about the kids. Frisco and Sutter and sweet little Mica. These kids are adorable! Even the boys in their own precocious, rambunctious way. Their fierce protectiveness of their family, their boyish energy, and their ultimately tender hearts (masked by manly gruffness of course) made me smile every time they stole a scene.
Callie – oh how I wanted to just give her a huge hug. She’s been through so much and carried so many burdens that, when someone else shows up to carry them for a while, she doesn’t know how to relax and just ‘be’, nor even how to rest in a friendship. And the delightful Wallin family is full of potential friendships! Callie’s insecurities are in juxtaposition to her inner strength, and this makes her a very layered and inspiring character. And the subplot about reading! Ah! Be still my heart.
Levi is a reformed rogue turned preacher (that seems to be a theme today) with a big heart. He’s also currently fighting a losing battle when it comes to his feelings for Callie. I loved watching him fall in love! And learn to be an uncle-dad! So swoony. It’s also here, in Levi’s preacher capacity, that the author is able to weave some very sweet spiritual truth into the story. Namely – that we are more precious than God to the One who loves us best, that we are more than the sum of our past, and that He has come that we might be forgiven.
Bottom Line: His Frontier Christmas Family is delightful in every way. It will hit you in all the feels and leave your heart cozy warm and Christmasy. Swoony romance, adorable kids, and a large lovable family make this the ideal wintry weekend reaad!
(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I purchased for my own collection)
A Gift for Santa has all the elements that make a terrific & cozy Christmas story! Reindeer farm. Adorable little boy. Family. Romance. Small town. SnA Gift for Santa has all the elements that make a terrific & cozy Christmas story! Reindeer farm. Adorable little boy. Family. Romance. Small town. Snow. And, of course, Santa.
Marissa is in a unique situation, thanks to her ex-boyfriend/ex-boss who stole the money from their foundation and escaped to who knows where. While she tries to figure out how to clear her own name, she heads home to her aunt & uncle’s reindeer farm … to find that things are in worse shape there than she imagined. The guy who can save the day? Her former fiance Chris. I really liked these intriguing elements to Marissa’s character. It gave her type-A personality some softer edges and gave her a lot of layers to explore. Her Aunt Becky and Uncle Oliver are people I want in my own family – what sweeties and still so in love!
For his own part, Chris is a great guy who had a rotten childhood. And while he maintains that he would be a horrible father, thanks to his own abysmal example, he can’t help but take a neighborhood foster kid under his wing. And y’all this is what makes the book unputdownable. The romance is swoony and sweet, but Ryan adds a whole other level of sweet and precocious and endearing. The babysitting scene will leave you laughing for sure. Poor Chris...
Bottom Line: A Gift for Santa by Beth Carpenter really must be read with a plate of yummy Christmas goodies and a steaming mug of hot cocoa. It is a Hallmark Channel worthy story of love and family and Christmas. The characters quickly feel like old friends, and the setting is vivid and intriguing. There’s a bit of suspense thrown in to round out the mix, and overall this is just a perfect story for the holiday season!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible is such a great way to introduce preschoolers to God’s story as a linear concept. Specifically, that’s God promise oThe Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible is such a great way to introduce preschoolers to God’s story as a linear concept. Specifically, that’s God promise of rescue is the common thread that runs through Scripture.
The illustrations are positively gorgeous and adorable, all at once. Preschoolers will be drawn to the bright colors and not-too-busy illustrations. Heck, I am drawn to them too. It makes me smile… and books that make me smile deserve a shoutout!
The stories are geared toward a child’s short attention span but at the same time they are packed with truth. I really like the format of the highlighted main idea as well as a question that you can discuss with your preschooler. This can be used for early elementary ages too, thanks to the verse references and those discussion questions.
Bottom Line: This is adorable. And truth-filled. And well-done in every way.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
In this third book in Mills’ action-packed FBI Task Force series, the stakes are higher than ever. Compelling characters and a riveting plot that fitsIn this third book in Mills’ action-packed FBI Task Force series, the stakes are higher than ever. Compelling characters and a riveting plot that fits seamlessly with current events make this novel impossible to put down. And at just 400 pages, this means readers can count on being glued to the page late into the night – as ‘just one more chapter’ turns into ‘can’t stop now’. Mills does an excellent job of crafting Monica as a strong heroine with a heart, an excellent counterpart to Kord’s more jaded side as well as an equal (if not stronger) investigative partner. The tension between the Saudi and American characters is handled respectfully, focusing on the common ground without apology for the differences. Faith plays an important role and is integrated naturally into the plot, but one character’s conversion feels somewhat abrupt. Although the romance needed a bit more transition between ‘wary’ and ‘kissing’, the suspense is flawlessly crafted and engaging....more
What a delight to reread this favorite book from my adolescence as we celebrate its 50th anniversary!
When I first read this book as a young teenager, What a delight to reread this favorite book from my adolescence as we celebrate its 50th anniversary!
When I first read this book as a young teenager, I fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the call to be a teacher. This was Christian fiction before the distinction became part of our vocabulary. Reading it as an adult, I fell in love with it all over again. This time though, I bring a new set of life experiences and heartbreaks and joys to the table and in that way the story came alive in a whole new way for me.
Oh how I love these characters. Fairlight. Little Burl. Ruby Mae. Miss Alice. Dr. Neill MacNeill (I love saying his name too lol). Mountie O’Teale. And a host of others, including of course Christy herself. And the setting? Such a stark, unforgiving, lonely place to live but at the same time it’s filled with such beauty, such melodies, and such a fascinating history. Here in Cutter Gap you grow to trust God more than you ever have before – because you need Him more than you’ve ever needed Him before.
Bottom Line: Christy is a story of courage, of faith, and of friendship. It’s about cherishing our differences while embracing our commonalities. It’s about trusting God for every step on a journey that literally can be uphill in the snow both ways. It’s about loving God and loving your neighbor, no matter how they talk or dress or what they believe. There is heartbreaking grief on these pages, but there is also inconceivable joy and love. (Some of that heartbreaking grief takes the form of events that might be too much for children or even young teens.)
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Tis the season for holiday travel, and let’s just say we all hope our travel plans don’t turn out like Rory and Colt’s...
Rory is a delightfully layereTis the season for holiday travel, and let’s just say we all hope our travel plans don’t turn out like Rory and Colt’s...
Rory is a delightfully layered character whom I honestly expected to be difficult for me to relate to. She is a supermodel, after all. And I am the polar opposite of a supermodel lol. But surprisingly I think we would be great friends. The combination of her vulnerabilty and strength make her so much than she appears at first glance. For that matter, Colt too. He seems at first to have little redeeming qualities – a typical playboy with a chip on his shoulder and one thing on his mind. But as the story progresses, we learn there is more to him than meets the eye too.
Rory and Colt don’t immediately hit it off, which makes for some great snark. The conditions in which they find themselves are unusual circumstances (fortunately) so emotions are already running high. As a result, once they do hit it off? Just go ahead and climb into the freezer for the remainder of your reading time. I should mention here that, while this is absolutely a ‘clean’ romance, it gets pretty steamy.
Christmas at Gate 18 is a little bit of romcom and a little bit of Hallmark Christmas movie all wrapped up into one, with a little extra heat added (because it’s cold outside, y’all!).
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
I was hooked on this little-but-meaningful devotional right from the introduction. In the first 2 pages, Spoelstra briefly examines the characteristicI was hooked on this little-but-meaningful devotional right from the introduction. In the first 2 pages, Spoelstra briefly examines the characteristics of the biblical celebrations God initiated. As she says, “He loves a good party!” She noticed three elements common to these festivities – ritual, relationships, and rest – and therefore has divided Total Christmas Makeover into those three sections. I don’t know about y’all but I’m tempted to skip ahead to the section on ‘rest’ (Ummm, confession: I did.)
Each day’s reading is also divided into three sections – a devotional reading, questions for reflection and some practical suggestions for application. The readings are centered on Scripture, as well as being personal and engaging. The reflection questions give us the chance to pause even further and examine our own hearts and the way we ‘do’ Christmas. The ‘practical approach’ section varies in length but has thoughtful and accessible suggestions to make this Christmas the most meaningful (and restful) holiday we’ve ever had.
Bottom Line: Total Christmas Makeover by Melissa Spoelstra is the perfect choice to keep us focused on the Reason for the Christmas season. With short devotions and thought-provoking questions & applications, Spoelstra reminds us to remember what God has done for us through ritual, invest in our relationships even through the busyness of the holidays, and be intentional about rest. This is a book I will re-read every Christmas to recenter myself on what matters most.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
This book by Hayley DiMarco landed in my lap at just the right time. One look at all the page flags I“A woman overwhelmed”. Yep. Right now that’s me.
This book by Hayley DiMarco landed in my lap at just the right time. One look at all the page flags I’ve got sticking out of my copy should tell you as much.
Two weeks ago when I first read this book, one of the things that most caught my attention was this sentence in Chapter 23:
Can I trust God with my schedule and be willing to miss out on something I wanted to do?
I needed to read it again today too. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the good things we want to do. Blog posts. Reviews. Interviews. Articles. Speaking engagements. Family time. Vacation. Me time. Reading. Watching TV. And then there’s all the stuff we “have” to do. Sometimes those two categories overlap – and we actually want to do the things we have to do. But often we just get overwhelmed, don’t we? Trusting God with our schedules is hard for a lot of us. Maybe even more difficult than trusting Him with ‘hard stuff’ like prayer needs, finances, illness? I think we even feel like our schedule is the one thing we DO control, which is why it’s so hard to trust God with our to-do lists and calendars.
Speaking of to-do lists, the next chapter stepped on my toes a lot too. The only thing on God’s to-do-through-me list is love. I’m the one who clutters it up. And, as the author says so beautifully, “if you keep God’s mission (love) as your goal for the rest of your life, you will find yourself less overwhelmed by life and more overwhelmed by your God.”
Bottom Line: A Woman Overwhelmed by Hayley DiMarco needs to be on every woman’s to-read list! With hilarious chapter headings (‘The World Can’t Handle My Ninja’, ‘My Face Just Won’t Shut Up’, I’m Like the Fat in a Cheese Stick’) and an engaging & witty writing voice, DiMarco speaks to the heart of a woman and refreshes the soul. Each chapter’s ‘Thoughts to Ponder’ help the author’s personal insights become personal to the reader as well and would make great starting points for a small group discussion.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)...more
This is my first Rula Sinara book, but it will not be my last! Fun & layered characters. A vividly drawn setting. Engaging writing voice. Witty momentThis is my first Rula Sinara book, but it will not be my last! Fun & layered characters. A vividly drawn setting. Engaging writing voice. Witty moments. Heartfelt scenes. Emotional tension. Romantic chemistry. Family. Friendship. All of these things and more make Every Serengeti Sunrise a new fave.
While this book can absolutely be read as a standalone, I couldn’t help but notice that these characters seemed to have backstories that had already been told. So I did some digging and discovered that I was right. The really cool thing about Every Serengeti Sunrise is that it tells the story of three adult friends – Haki, Maddie, and Pippa – whom readers first met as children in the previous three books of this series. According to the author, this book takes place about 15 years after Through the Storm (book 3). Let me tell you, I am definitely going to be back-reading the first three books after falling in love with this one (and its characters).
Sinara writes with such a compelling, warm and witty voice. You can’t help but be immediately drawn into the characters and their story. It’s not long before you are emotionally invested in every facet of the plot, including the doozy of a love triangle and the survival of the wildlife you meet along the way. As a result, your heart is broken just a little bit along with the characters’ hearts, but it’s completely worth the wound.
Bottom Line: Every Serengeti Sunrise by Rula Sinara will make you smile, chuckle and – yes – shed a few tears. The characters become your friends, and the Serengeti setting feels like home. For those of us who will probably never venture across the world for the breathtaking experience of life among the giraffes and elephants and lions, we can live vicariously through Haki and Maddie and Pippa while we’re immersed in the pages of their story. Along the way, we also get a taste of important human rights and animal rights issues, as well as a reminder to be the person we were created to be – not someone living solely to meet everyone else’s expectations. A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging story in every way!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Every book I read by Crystal Walton becomes my new favorite. Guess what? Just Maybe is my new ‘new favorite’. It’s southern and sassy and SWOONY (whewEvery book I read by Crystal Walton becomes my new favorite. Guess what? Just Maybe is my new ‘new favorite’. It’s southern and sassy and SWOONY (whew… read this from safety of your freezer!!). But even more than all of that it’s so tender and sweet, even in unexpected ways.
Let’s start with the fun stuff. The chemistry. <> Cooper and Quinn may be opposites in a lot of ways, but boy howdy do they generate some fabulous sparks. Cooper takes Quinn’s quirks and sass – and family – in stride, in his laidback charm-you-with-his-smile ways. And gives as good as he gets. Heat was already in the air between these two, but when he suddenly declares himself her (pretend) boyfriend to spare her image with her family … well, get out the smelling salts because “breath, time – lost”. I’ve still not quite recovered from that first kiss. It takes them a bit (of toe-curling delicious almost-kiss moments) to get to that point but once they do… oh sweet mercy.
It’s not just sparks that fly in this story – there’s some good old-fashioned southern family dynamics going on too. Quinn might have been embarrassed by her family but I loved them!
But what I loved even more than Quinn’s grammar-correcting quirks or Brayden’s adorable sweetness or Cooper’s unabashed charm or the community’s eclectic personality… is the gentle way in which Crystal Walton weaves a message of embracing the mess of our failed expectations and leaning in to the ‘you’ that God sees. Letting Him write a beautiful story that makes sense of the mess and turns it into something beautiful. The faith element is subtle but oh so tender.
Bottom Line: Crystal Walton gets better and better with each new book! Just Maybe is witty and sassy and quirky and swoonily romantic, and Walton’s impeccable way with words paints a vivid picture in your heart and on the page. A must read for contemporary romance fans!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
This is such a delightful book, y’all! I can’t recommend it enough!
Nate and Julie are old friends drawn back together by a little boy named Duke. Who,This is such a delightful book, y’all! I can’t recommend it enough!
Nate and Julie are old friends drawn back together by a little boy named Duke. Who, by the way, is just adorable. The chemistry between Nate and Julie is full of past emotions that give weight to the sparks that fly between them without their consent. And trust me, you will be quickly be swooning over Nate and his easy way of being a small town sheriff and looking out for the people in his care.
Speaking of those people, a quirky cast of characters brings lots of wry humor to the mix and at times had me chuckling out loud. Their personalities all so vivid that I could easily see them brought to life on the screen courtesy of Hallmark.
Bottom Line: Sweet, sassy and romantic, Support Your Local Sheriff is definitely going on my faves list for 2017! Colorful characters, a cozy small town setting and an adorable toddler will make you laugh and smile, while Nate and Julie’s story will leave you swooning and maybe even wiping at a few stray tears.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Too much introspection can be harmful, sure, but as Anne Bogel claims in Reading People, uncovering insights into personality – our own and other peopToo much introspection can be harmful, sure, but as Anne Bogel claims in Reading People, uncovering insights into personality – our own and other people’s – also helps us see the world from someone else’s point of view for a while. It can explain why we have a difficult time getting along with someone, why clutter irritates us so much, why we get our energy from being by ourselves, and so on. It can also improve our relationships – particularly in the way we approach conflict – and gives us the tools we need to create an environment of peace for ourselves and those we love.
On the pages of Reading People, Bogel arms us with easy-to-absorb information, as well as handing us the keys to truly know ourselves and those we love. She gives an overview of several personality frameworks, including:
the Five Love Languages Keirsey’s Temperaments the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (and the Cognitive Functions that go along with that) the Clifton StrengthsFinder, and the Enneagram
Bottom Line: For anyone who can’t get enough of those personality quizzes that invade social media, this is the book you need to read! If you’ve ever asked yourself, ‘Why does my spouse (or parent or child or friend) do that?’, this is the book you need to read! Reading People by Anne Bogel is conversational, educational, and applicable to everyday life. The frameworks she presents have the potential to be eye-opening and life-changing for those who take the time to truly understand themselves and others. There’s a lot of information here, but Bogel’s engaging style sets you at ease and feels like a chat between friends. While I do wish there had been more time devoted to ‘ok, now I understand myself better – how does that play out in my interactions with other types?’, the author also leaves us with a list of recommended reading for further study. Now that I know what I want to know, this list points me in the right direction to find out what to do with what I know.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Buckle in for this thrilling ride! Kathleen Valenti’s debut novel is an edge-of-your-seat adventure from start to finish. Well-written, excel4.5 stars
Buckle in for this thrilling ride! Kathleen Valenti’s debut novel is an edge-of-your-seat adventure from start to finish. Well-written, excellently plotted, sprinkled with humor and romance.
Maggie O’Malley just wants to save the world. Or at least fight the cancer that took her mother. But when she starts her new job – a job that is supposed to let her do just that – she quickly finds herself in a different kind of battle. A battle for her life. Twists and turns, wry humor, friendships and family all come along for the chilling chase and help set the stage for future books in the series.
In the middle of the suspense-filled uncertainty, a couple of things become clear: you may never again get another flu shot or a repurposed smart phone without pausing just a minute to remember this book.
Bottom Line: Protocol by Kathleen Valenti will keep your pulse racing and keep you on the edge of your seat. Carve out enough time to read this from beginning to end because you won’t want to stop once you start. This could easily be developed into a movie, the suspense notched high from start to finish. I love the romantic development too and look forward to reading more books to come in this series!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that there is some crude language scattered throughout this novel. ...more
This book, y’all. Not only one of my faves for this year… It’s one of my new all-time favorite-favorites. This is one I will reread more than once. A This book, y’all. Not only one of my faves for this year… It’s one of my new all-time favorite-favorites. This is one I will reread more than once. A book I will give to everyone who will stand still long enough to take it. A story I will talk about even years from now.
Hannah and Karim’s story touched me deeply. Not only because of their tender and passionate friendship-set-on-fire (get ready to swoon, y’all!!!) but also because the heart of Jesus shines through every page.
Hannah is in a tough situation, one that in many ways parallels the Biblical story of Esther. As the daughter of missionaries to the Bedouins, Hannah has grown up in a world that most of us would struggle to adapt to even for just a few days. Her faith is tested like never before, but it’s also strengthened like never before. Several parts of Hannah’s story are uncomfortable for we Western ‘Jesus-girls’ to consider but doesn’t the story of Esther sit a little uncomfortably with us too? I think Monzon has done an absolutely fantastic job of taking perhaps the most intriguing Biblical narrative and placing it in a contemporary context that captures us and leaves us riveted to the page.
Bottom Line: The Esther Paradigm is Sarah Monzon’s best book yet. The whole story, not to mention Karim himself, is bravely unique to Christian fiction but it is here ‘for such a time as this’. This is a novel we all need to read and ponder and allow the truth tucked inside the story to change our own hearts. A must-read for everyone! Can’t recommend it highly enough!
Crank up some Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood – maybe even a little Brad Paisley or Mo Pitney – and settle in for a small-town read with big appeaCrank up some Miranda Lambert or Carrie Underwood – maybe even a little Brad Paisley or Mo Pitney – and settle in for a small-town read with big appeal. From the gravel roads and swirling dust to the old dock and the symphony of crickets & cicadas, anyone who has ever lived and loved in a small town will find their place in this story.
While there are some yummy heroes with definite book boyfriend material in Written in the Stars, it’s really more about the ladies’ journey. Brooke (former Miss Texas, not Miss America thankyouverymuch) and Holly (a small town girl through and through) are both completely relatable as heroines, no matter your life experiences or background. If you’re like me, you’ll see a little bit of yourself in each woman. Sassy Holly may be my fave, but Brooke has a lot to teach me and I think we’d end up good friends in the long run. Both women are stronger than they give themselves credit for, and their temporary adventure is one of my fave aspects of the book. Made me smile and pulled on my heart.
Bottom Line: Written in the Stars by Christina Coryell is a love letter to small town America. It’s a story about friendship and love, about coming home and leaving home. But it’s also a gentle reminder to hold out for the person who ‘would go through the trenches’ for us, to remember that we’re ‘worth the wait’, but to also not believe the lies that tell us our worth is found in any person or identity. Instead, it’s found in the One who hung the stars, knows them each by name, and pursues us with an everlasting Love that gives us the courage to dream and the strength to hope. While these elements are subtle to be sure, they are still visible enough to stir the heart in the right direction. If you love a small town setting, vivid characters and compelling backstories, head down these backroads with Christina Coryell!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)