Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter

 The Summer of You and Me

Book Summary

Maggie Reynolds is finally ready for love again—until the past shows up in the form of someone who may or may not be the late husband she thought she'd lost.

Five years after her husband's death, Maggie is finally ready to let go of him and the dreams she had for their future. A summer at Seabrook, where she and Ethan first became childhood sweethearts, seems the perfect time and place to find closure. Plus, she gets to spend time with his family, the Reynoldses, whom she loves like her own.

Unbeknownst to Maggie, her brother-in-law, Josh Reynolds, has been in love with her since they first met all those years ago. But his brother ultimately won Maggie's heart, and Josh's unrequited love has ruined all his relationships. If Maggie is ready to move on, then Josh is ready to lay it all on the line and come clean about his true feelings for her.

But his plans soon get put on hold when, shortly after Maggie returns to Seabrook, she runs into a man who could pass for Ethan's twin. But he disappears into the amusement park crowd before she can confront him.

The event rattles Maggie, stirs up impossible questions, and sends Josh and her on a quest to discover the man's true identity. But their search ends up raising more questions than answers—and soon Maggie isn't sure she wants those answers after all.

My Thoughts

The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter has Maggie Reynolds and her daughter returning to Seabrook Island, South Carolina for the summer.  I found the premise for The Summer of You and Me interesting, but the book failed to draw me in.  The story was overly dramatic in places and unbelievable in others (I rolled my eyes more than once).  It is an emotional story.  Maggie’s feelings ran the gamut as she deals with the grief over her husband’s death (he has been dead for five years) and the new feelings for Josh, her brother-in-law and friend.  I wanted to tell her to pull it together (she has a daughter who needs her and knows when her mother is upset).  I felt the drama with Maggie’s mother was unneeded (there was enough going on). Maggie’s mother behaved like a child, and I do not know why Maggie fell for her mother’s schemes each time.  

The storyline with the deceased husband’s double was predictable thanks to a tidbit the author tossed in that did not flow with the rest of the story.  I tried but I was unable to connect with the characters and it did not help that the story moved at a leisurely pace. The Summer of You and Me is a clean, Christian story (attending church, prayer, no swearing or intimate situations).   I did not feel that the title fit the story because it was not just Maggie and Josh.  There was Maggie’s daughter and Josh’s family (Maggie is staying in her in-law’s home).  I have been branching out to try different authors and genres to get me out of my reading rut.  Unfortunately, The Summer of You and Me was not my cup of tea. While it did not suit me, if the premise appeals to you, I encourage you to download a sample to check it out for yourself.

The Summer of You and Me is available from Amazon.  You can find Denise Hunter's other novels here. The images today are of Seabrook Island, SC where The Summer of You and Me was set.  Denise Hunter has The Second Story Bookshop coming out October 7. Thank you for joining me today.  I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter. My mother and I had a quiet day. She loves her Snoopy Easter Bunny that does the bunny hop and the little woodstock in a decorated egg costume.  Tomorrow, I will be sharing my thoughts on Written in Stone by Paige Shelton.  It is the tenth novel in A Scottish Bookshop Mysteries. I hope that you have a an uplifting day.  I am heading out to run a couple of errands. Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Thursday, April 17, 2025

Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly

 Dead Post Society
Book Summary

The seventh in the House-Flipper mystery series set in Nashville, TN, where the real estate market is to die for.

This year's honor roll is killer...

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are no strangers to murder. After all, they’ve encountered corpses on their properties before. But this is the first time they’d decided to take a chance on a property where two suspicious deaths have already occurred. Most buildings on the former boarding school property will be repurposed for an upscale retirement community, but the developer has no use for the headmaster’s house given its violent history. The headmaster and his wife were killed there decades earlier, their deaths remaining unsolved to this day.
Still, it seems a shame to see the beautiful Victorian give way to decay or the wrecking ball, even if many claim the unsettled souls of the victims still wander its halls, seeking retribution and justice. Can Whitney and Buck exorcise the structure’s demons, solve the cold case, and give the building new life? Or will ghosts from the past seek to silence them forever?

My Thoughts

Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly is an entertaining cozy mystery.  I always look forward to catching up with Whitney, Buck, and Sawdust in the latest A House Flipper Mystery.  While Dead Post Society is the seventh A House Flipper Mystery, it can be read as a standalone (but you will want to read all the books in this cute series).  Whitney and Buck have purchased a brick Victorian to flip, but it has a history.  Whitney finds a bullet in a decrepit porch post and then bullet holes in the house that line up with the bullet’s final location.  Whitney does some digging and learns about the crime that occurred in the Victorian many years ago (this is a very cold case). 

There are strange shadows and noises in the house. I suspected who the guilty party was early on but enjoyed following Whitney in her quest for the truth.  I like Whitney who is smart and caring plus she has a husband who loves and understands her (she also loves cats).  Whitney is also an excellent carpenter who rocks a pair of overalls.  The ending is sweet, and fans of the series will love it.  There is a poem at the beginning of each chapter that ties in nicely with the books title.  I love the chapters from Sawdust’s point of view.  The author really captures cat behavior and, I think, how they think (I laugh at Sawdust’s thoughts).   Dead Post Society is a cute cozy with a decrepit Victorian, a bullet in a post, a cold case, a clever cat, and a cheerful couple.

Dead Post Society is available from Amazon.  The next A House Flipper Mystery is The Barn Identity which will be out on March 31, 2026 (such a long wiat).  You can find the other A Housse Flipper Mysteries here.  If you follow Diane Kelly on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for popping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, April 22 with The Summer of You and Me by Denise Hunter.  I hope that you have a a very Happy Easter. I have my mother's Snoopy in a bunny costume and woodstock wearing a decorated egg costume ready to go inside her Easter basket (they are adorable). We will have a traditional Easter meal on Sunday (brown sugar ham, a sweet potato for my mother, and rolls).  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Land of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron

 

Land of Dreams

About the Book

Book: Land of Dreams (Home to Green Creek Series Book One)

Authors: Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron

Genre: FICTION / Christian / Historical

Release date: April 1, 2025

From Norway to America, they must strive for resilience amid unpromising new beginnings.

On the ship to America, Norwegian immigrant Amalia Gunderson makes a solemn promise to a dying mother, vowing to watch over her five-year-old daughter, Ruth. Together, Amalia and Ruth trek to Iowa to claim the farm and former boardinghouse that Ruth has inherited, despite opposition from a difficult cousin. Struggling with an empty house and scarce resources, Amalia resolves to return the boardinghouse to its former purpose, aided by the kindness of strangers and the resilient spirit of her young charge.

As Amalia and Ruth fight for their new home, a trail of orphans shows up on their doorstep, and Amalia makes a promising friend in Absalom Karlsson, the magistrate’s son. With each challenge they face, Amalia and Ruth find hope in believing that faith and determination can overcome even the most daunting of trials.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than one hundred books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than five million copies. She makes her home in Tehachapi, California.

 

More from Lauraine

Different stories come about different ways.  One of the things I’ve learned through these years of writing is the value of slowly waking up and paying attention to what was going on in my mind. I saw a young woman standing at the railing of a ship tossing on rough seas. A gray day. And I heard the splash as her father’s body sank into the waves. I sniffed, mopped my eyes and settled back, hopefully to sleep awhile longer. But the dream, if that was what it was, continued. A little girl named Rut, or Ruthie, joined Amalia at the rail, slipped her hand into the young woman’s and asked if she could please come, her mother wanted to see her. And my internal game of what if continued for these people on a cholera attacked ship from Norway to Amerika.

I knew a new story had begun but had no idea where it was going. As I said, I treasure that time between sleeping and waking when I can part the curtains to my subconscious mind and see what it has been playing with. What a gift God has created in us.

Around about the same time, something brought a story that one of my aunts on my father’s side told me when I asked her what she remembered of her growing up years. Auntie Harriet chuckled and asked, “Have you heard of the rutabaga years?” I shook my head and settled in to listen. They were a family of eleven children, my dad being the eldest, they lived in a big two story house with a huge garden, a flock of chickens and bad weather. Late spring freeze, early fall freeze and much of the produce killed off. All but the root crops, and rows of rutabagas. Many were dug and stored in the cellar, lots left in the ground, to be dug up later. Rutabagas can be fried, boiled, mashed, grated, turned into soup and stew, mixed with other vegetables, added to pancakes, even turned into pie. Ah, yes, the rutabaga years, Auntie Harriet said she didn’t particularly care for rutabagas for a long time after that. But in the mean time, they became part of Amalia and Ruthie’s new life at a big house Ruthie inherited in Green Creek. North and West of Decorah Iowa in 1819. Come join a delightful cast of characters in Land of Dreams.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading Land of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron.  I began reading and I was quickly drawn into the story.  The characters are developed.  I liked that they were realistic with strengths as well as flaws.  They will need to be strong and have faith if they are to overcome the obstacles thrown their way.  I like that there were twists along the way that kept things interesting.  I cannot imagine traveling from Norway to America.  It was a long journey that would require various modes of transportation.  I enjoyed the lovely setting.  I could visualize it thanks to the author’s picturesque descriptions.  Faith was beautifully woven into the story, and I felt that it enhanced it.  One of my favorite moments was when one of the ladies had to deal with a difficult individual.  I like how she behaved and her comment afterward, “Why couldn’t everybody just be nice?” is something that I often wonder as well.    I like how people befriended Amalia.  They helped her settle into the town and boardinghouse.  They also supported her as she dealt with the difficult Miss Berg.  There was one struggle after another with Miss Berg.  I appreciated the author’s note at the end.  Land of Dreams is a story about new beginnings, compassion, trust, friendship, loss, and faith.  I cannot wait to read the next book in the Home to Green Creek series 


Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lauraine is giving away the grand prize of a $25 gift card to the Baker Book House website and paperback copy of the book! Be sure to comment on the blog stops (including this one) for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54198

Land of Dreams is available from Amazon.  The next book in the Home to Green Creek series is At Morning's Light which will be out on December 2.  You can find Lauraine Snelling's other novels here.  Kiersti Giron helped Lauraine Snelling write the Leah's Garden series.  Thank you for joining me today.  I really appreciate it.  I am still recovering from my fibro flare up (my mother keeps saying that she told me not to overdue it).  The people that run our village are going around on golf carts looking for minor violations and leaving notes on people's doors. 
My neighbor received one of the notes stating her garden needed to be weeded and her little pond needed to go.  She broke her hip a couple of months ago and is still unable to get around.  I offered to take care of the garden for her. It is looking good.  I may have added a few extra elements (a cute welcome sign with a solar light, an herb garden, ferns, marigolds, and a wind spinner).  She should have known that when she told me that sprucing it up was fine that I would run with it. Wee are enjoying some lovely spring weather which makes it a pleasure to be outside in the garden. On Thursday, April 17, I am featuring Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly.  It is the seventh A House-Flipper Mystery.  I hope that you have a day filled with laughter (laughter can help lessen stress, depression, and anxiety plus it makes you feel happier).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Not up to snuff!

 

Hello!  I'm sorry, but I will not be sharing a new book with you today.  I over did things this weekend which triggered a fibromyalgia flare up.  I just need to rest (aka sleep) and relax (stay still) which is hard for me to do.  I will return on Wednesday, April 16 with Land of Dreams by Lauraine Snelling with Kiersti Giron. I hope that you have an enjoyable day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader



Wednesday, April 9, 2025

An Amish Widow's New Love by Vannetta Chapman

 An Amish Widow's New Love
Book Summary

She thinks she’s done with romance

But love has other ideas…

When newly widowed Hope Lambright moves to Indiana with her three sons, the last thing on her mind is romance. And much like his new neighbor, widower Amos Yoder thought love was part of his past. But when Hope boldly asks Amos for a job at his Amish outdoor market, he finds he can’t say no, and soon their professional relationship blossoms into something more. They’ve both loved and lost once. Will they be brave enough to risk their hearts for a second time? 
My Thoughts

An Amish Widow’s New Love by Vannetta Chapman is a darling story.  Amos Yoder’s has an empty nest now that his five daughters have married, but it may not be that way for long.  I like Vannetta Chapman’s writing style.  It is friendly and engaging.  The characters are friendly and relatable.  I felt for Hope whose middle son, Lucas, is struggling since the death of his father, and she is hoping that a new town will be good for all of them. I enjoyed visiting the market again.  It is a large operation which gets busier each year.  I like how faith was woven into the story.  An Amish Widow’s New Love is the sixth book in the Indiana Amish Market series.  It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading each book in this delightful series.  It was great to catch up with Amos’s daughters and their families. The Yoder clan continues to expand, and the market is a family affair.  I was happy and sad to reach the end.  I liked the ending, but I am sad that it is the last book in the series.  An Amish Widow’s New Love is a heartwarming tale with a new town, a lemon of a home, a troubled teen, a caring community, piles of paperwork, and a fresh start.

Indiana Amish Market Series

An Amish Widow's New Love is available from Amazon.  You can find the other books in the Indiana Amish Market series here.  You can follow Vannetta Chapman on Amazon, and they will send you an email when she releases a new book. Thank you for popping by today.  I will return on Tuesday, April 15 with Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan.  I am off to continue my hunt for someone to install insulation and a vapor barrier under my home.  I know that I will find someone eventually (they either make appointments and do not show up or they show up and never send the estimate).  I hope that you have a jolly good day (I was watching British shows last night).  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book


Title:
Lullaby by the River
Series: Amish River
Author: Temperance Johnson
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Genre: Amish Fiction

An unique Amish love story.

A wounded woman with no way out…unless she marries her ex.

After unexpected abuse, quiet and happy Priscilla Yoder thinks her life can’t get worse. But then she finds out she’s pregnant, and her family and church insist she marry the man who hurt her. When a man she used to love, a man who wants to leave the Amish, offers to marry her, she doesn’t see a better option.

Danny Taylor, charming bad boy of his Amish community, is ready to leave the plain life. But when a woman he used to love finds herself in danger of marriage to an evil man, he can't resist offering marriage to keep her safe. Only problem is, he didn’t expect to fall for his bride so fast. She's softening his tough heart and showing him that there’s a good side to the Amish. As they grow closer, he realizes this gorgeous woman in pain has giant walls, and it will take both patience and faith if he wants to scale them.

Caring for Danny was never what Priscilla wanted. And she never expected his faith to bring her closer to God.

But when Danny’s past wounds resurface, and as Priscilla learns to hope again, can they trust God to make their relationship more than just a marriage of convenience?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

Also Available:

 

About the Author

Temperance Johnson has always loved to read and write. As one of eleven children, she read from her older sister's books. With that, her love for both reading and writing has only continued to grow. Passionate about the subjects of adoption, family, and faith, she started the Liberty Chronicles and now her Amish fiction. In her free time, she plays with her ponies and many nieces and nephews. Her horses even made it into her stories. She enjoys spoiling her ten nephews and twenty-three nieces.

Connect with Temperance by visiting temperancejohnson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.


My Thoughts

Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson is not your usual Amish novel.  There are topics discussed that can be triggering for some readers such as sexual abuse and mental abuse as well as cruelty by spiritual leaders and parents.  I did not like how the victim was blamed for what happened to her.  Danny Taylor is a considerate individual known for his kindness and belief in God. I felt for Priscilla who went through such a terrible experience. It is something that will continue to haunt her for the rest of her life. It is difficult to fathom the experience of having one's parents and spiritual leaders attribute blame to an individual for a reprehensible act committed against them. I was surprised by Priscilla’s naïveté considering her age and the world we live in. I enjoyed seeing Danny and Priscilla’s relationship develop as they dealt with one foot in the Amish word and one in the English. I liked how Danny introduced Priscilla to God and Christianity. The story is told from Danny and Priscilla’s perspective.  I appreciated getting to see the issues from a male and female perspective.  Lullaby by the River is a story about truth, forgiveness, healing, love, and faith.  


Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Baker Book House gift card and a print copy of Lullaby by the River!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 7, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 14, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway


Lullabye by the River is available from Amazon. Temperance Johnson has also written Liberty Rose which is part of the Liberty Chronicles.  If you follow Temperance Johnson on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release. Thank you for joining me today. I will return tomorrow with An Amish Widow's New Love by Vannetta Chapman. It is the sixth book in the Indiana Amish Market series.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway!  I hope that you have a stellar day.  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.