Blueberry Bungalow by Konnie K. Viner: Recipe and Giveaway!

 Blueberry Bungalow

About the Book

Book: Blueberry Bungalow

Author: Konnie K. Viner

Genre: Fiction (Christian mystery/romance)

Release date: November 10, 2021

It’s been a year since Maci Driscoll’s husband passed unexpectedly, and she is stuck in lonely despair. As an established painter, she finds her inspiration and artistic spark is gone. In a desperate attempt to step out of her funk, Maci sells her seaside home and moves inland to a sleepy little town in Maine.

But peace and inspiration aren’t the only things she finds in Laurel Hill. The century home she buys has secrets to divulge, a long-lost couple to reunite, a murder to solve, and maybe even new love.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Konnie Viner is also the author of Amaryllis Journey, a 2020 Golden Scroll fiction book of the year award winner. She writes to encourage women with the assurance of God’s love and faithfulness in difficult life experiences. Her first published book is Rested Soul, Resilient Heart, Finding Hope in the Storms of Abuse and Betrayal (2017),. She holds a BS in Education from the University of Kansas and an MS in Business Management from the University of Redlands, CA. Konnie cherishes time with her three grandchildren. Her hobbies include photographing God’s beautiful creation, quilting, and reading.

More from Konnie

Blueberry Bungalow, a 2022 Selah Award Finalist, is a cozy mystery set in the blueberry fields of Maine, Recently widowed and struggling, Maci Driscoll moves from the seaside of Maine to quiet little Laurel Hill to escape the past and figure out who she is without her beloved husband. Never did she expect to find a long-lost letter, solve a decades-old murder, or fall in love, but she does.

Maci's Blueberry Pie Recipe

Crust

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup unsalted butter, cold

½ cup water

Filling

4 cups blueberries

2 tablespoons sugar

¼ cup all-purpose flour

Glaze

1 egg, beaten

coarse sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425º and place a rack in the middle of the oven.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt.

Add the butter and mix it into the flour using two knives or pastry blender.

Slowly add the cold water, a little at a time, and mix until the dough just comes together.

Remove the dough from the bowl and shape into 2 equal balls, flattened into discs.

Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.

When ready, unwrap the dough and allow it to warm up for a minute or two.

Lightly flour your surface, then roll one disc into a circle until its large enough to fit into the pie plate with an inch of overhang.

Fold the dough into fourths, then place carefully in the pie dish.

Unfold and smooth into the dish, dressing the crust however you choose (crimping, fluting, or my favorite, just pressing into it with a fork).

Fill with the blueberry filling, then roll out the remaining disc of dough and cover the blueberries entirely, making sure to cut a few slits in the top crust for steam to escape.

Lightly brush the top crust with a beaten egg, then sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to  350º and bake for an additional 45-55 minutes.

Keep an eye on the pie.

If the crust begins to brown too quickly, tent the pie with foil.

If the filling begins to bubble, you may also wish to place a baking sheet on the rack below the pie to catch any drips.

Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool.

Serve warm.

My Thoughts

Blueberry Bungalow by Konnie K.Viner is a sweet Christian romance.  I liked the characters in the story.  I thought the characters were realistic and relatable.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the charming small town, Maci’s bungalow, the pond, and the blueberry festival.  I thought the author captured Maci’s emotions.  Maci has been a widow for a year and needs to move away from all the memories.  She found a cute bungalow in a nearby town that she makes her own.  Maci is a talented artist who has not picked up a paint brush since her husband’s death.  The new setting sparks her creativity.  Maci begins painting once again.  The author painted vivid descriptions of Maci’s artwork.  I could imagine them from the word imagery.  The romance between Maci and Wade played out nicely.  I like that they started off slow allowing time for them to get to know each other.  

There are two side storylines.  Maci has a wall taken down on the main floor of the bungalow.  The carpenter, Bill finds a letter from 1965.  Maci is taken with the contents of the letter and sets out to get the letter to its intended recipient.  An eighteen-year-old girl was found drowned in the pond behind Maci’s home approximately twenty years ago.  The case was never solved.  Maci learns that Wade had been dating the victim and had been questioned by the police. When new evidence is found, it looks like the case might finally get a resolution.  Maci also spends time reading the journals of the wife of the original owner of the bungalow (it was a general store at one time with a post office).  This woman’s journey might help Maci rediscover her faith.  I enjoyed the epilogue that nicely wrapped up Blueberry Bungalow.  Secrets, healing, forgiveness, love, and faith are some of the themes in Blueberry Bungalow.  We get to see that forgiving someone helps both parties not just the person being forgiven.  We get to see that God never forsakes us or leaves us.  He is always there for us when we need Him.  Blueberry Bungalow is a charming Christian tale with beautiful bungalow, plein air painting, a lost letter, a cold case, a nosy neighbor, a tender romance, and God’s goodness.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Konnie is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and signed copy of book!! Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.  Good Luck!

Blueberry Bungalow is available from Amazon*.  You can find Konnie Viner's other novels here. Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Monday with The Edge of Summer by Viola Shipman.  I hope that you have an enjoyable weekend.  I have some indoor chores to take care of this weekend.  My closet needs some organization.  My hanging clothes are in order (summer in one section and winter in another with the clothes organized by color).  I need to organize the shoes, blankets, sheets, and other items that are in the closet.  Who knows what I will find in there!  Do not forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment for an extra entry in the contest.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 1

An Author’s Take, July 2

Texas Book-aholic, July 3

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, July 4 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, July 4

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 5

Inklings and notions, July 6

For Him and My Family, July 7

deb’s Book Review, July 8

The Avid Reader, July 9

Blogging With Carol, July 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 10

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 12

Pause for Tales, July 12

Florida Blueberry Festival

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 13

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 14

Book Looks by Lisa, July 14

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.