The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson

Greetings!  I hope you are having a relaxing weekend.  Here are some books that will be released on March 10:  Hope Deferred by Linda Byler, The Operator by Gretchen Berg, Revenge is Sweet by Kaye George, The Forgotten Murder by Jude Deveraux, and Death on the Page by Essie Lang.  Revenge is Sweet is the first book in The Vintage Sweet Mysteries.  The Darkness We Hide by Debra Webb releases on March 30 along with Dead in the Doorway by Diane Kelly.  Did you know . . . in 1911 the first woman was issued a pilot's license; in 1884 Susan B. Anthony addressed the U.S. House Judiciary Committee arguing for an amendment to the constitution granting women the right to vote; in 1945, International Women's Day is first observed; Phyllis M. Daley is the first black nurse sworn in as a U.S. Navy ensign in 1945; the first woman medical officer is assigned to a naval vessel in 1950!

My Summary

The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson has Dillon Michaels making a major change.  Dillon breaks up with her boyfriend, Brandon Kranze after he is late once again for a date.  The next day, Dillon is fired by her dragon of a boss because she will not come to work on a Saturday.  She packs up all of her belongings, loads them into her car and heads for her grandfather’s farm in Silverdale, Oregon.  Her grandfather is thrilled to see her.  Dillon can see changes in him and the house since his wife passed away.  Unfortunately, Margot, Dillon’s mother, broke up with her boyfriend of seven years because he proposed and has moved into Dillon’s bedroom.  That leaves Dillon with the lumpy sofa to sleep on.  Dillon mentions to her grandfather, Alex about the wonderful night’s sleep she had in a refurbished vintage trailer on her journey to the farm.  Much to her surprise, he gifts her with a vintage 1964 Aloha Oasis.  Dillon is excited to fix up the tiny trailer and quickly heads to hardware store where she gets assistance from the owner, Jordan Atwood.  Jordan is helpful, kind and attractive.  Dillon is enjoying her time fixing up her tiny home she dubbed, Desert Rose, working in her grandmother’s garden and spending time with Dillon.  Then her ex-boyfriend, Brandon arrives determined to win her back.

My Thoughts

The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson is an entertaining story.  Dillon Michaels dumps her commitment phobic boyfriend and then loses her job within twenty-four hours.  She has been unhappy with her life for a while and decides it is time to make a change.  Dillon packs all her belonging into her car and heads for her grandfather’s farm in Silverdale, Oregon.  She arrives to find her mother ensconced in her bedroom and finds her grandfather depressed (understandably) as well as lonely after the loss of his wife.  Dillon cleans the house and then begins working on her grandmother’s garden.  Sleeping on the couch, though, is taking a toll on her back.  Her grandfather then gifts her a 1964 Aloha Oasis which Dillon is excited to fix up.  She gets assistance from hardware store owner, Jordan.  Their friendship has the potential to blossom into a romantic relationship until her ex-boyfriend, Brandon arrives in town intent on wooing her back.  The Happy Camper is a fun story with some aggravating moments.  Melody Carlson has an engaging writing style that draws the reader right into the story.  Dillon Michaels is a likeable and realistic character.  Alex, the grandfather, was a sweet man.  He was kind and generous.  Dillon and Jordan have a bumpy journey, but that is normal.  All relationships have issues mostly from miscommunication and wrong perceptions.  My favorite part of The Happy Camper is Dillon restoring the vintage trailer.  It makes me want to go out and get one.  I like how this tale shows realistic situations.  Our journey in life can change at any moment as we see in The Happy Camper.  As we grow older, we develop and grow as individuals.    The Happy Camper is a feel-good Christian story with humor, family drama, and romance. 

The Happy Camper is available through Amazon*.  Thank you for reading my summary and review.  Tomorrow I am featuring Before He Vanished by Debra Webb.  It is the sixth A Winchester, Tennessee Thriller.  I will have my review plus an excerpt from the book.  I hope that you have a peaceful day.  We all need a chance to recharge before embarking on a busy week.  I will leave you with a book joke.  Why did Dracula go to the library?  He wanted a book to sink his teeth into!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

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