Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Lulu Boyd is famous for her bakery’s donuts. It’s the one thing she knows she does well, and she enjoys that teenagers from the area visit several times a week. Lulu’s luck with men is another story. When the high school teacher, Preston Green, starts buying donuts once a week, she looks forward to talking with him.

Preston Green plans to teach at the small town’s high school for one year before switching jobs to teach at a college in another state. He’s not looking to begin a short-term relationship. His family is pressuring him to date.

Lulu’s high-school customers convince her to enter a contest to bid on a date. It’s for charity and Lulu reluctantly agrees. It’s one date, after all. Preston bids to have a date for a family holiday dinner. What could go wrong?

I love reading books set during the Christmas season every year. This one didn’t disappoint. It actually reads very much like a holiday movie.

I enjoyed the story. The characters had believable hurdles.

Recommended for readers who also enjoy holiday movies.

Christianbook.com

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Abbott Island Series, Book 1

Sadie Stewart moves the property she’d inherited on Abbott Island, to escape her ex-boyfriend’s abuse at her father’s company. Happy childhood memories of summers spent with her grandparents are overshadowed by her fear that Bryce will follow her.

Sadie’s childhood friend Joel Grayson is now a policeman on the island. She’d once had feelings for him but can’t trust anyone now—her own father refused to protect her from Bryce.

Joel, who had fallen in love with her while in high school, is determined to protect her.

Danger escalates and it seems that Sadie isn’t safe anywhere from Bryce.

My heart went out to Sadie. I found myself pulling for the characters that I learned to love. Many twists and turns led to escalating danger.

This story kept me turning pages. Recommended!

This is a new-to-me author. It won’t be the last book I read by her!

Amazon

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Dog Groomer’s Love Stories, Book 2  

Former Air Force Captain Cassie Quinn lost her arm in a roadside IED. To escape her nightmares and panic attacks, she applies for a job at a Dog Groomer’s. She’s surprised when the family-run business hires her. She sees it as a step toward healing.

Aaron Willis is part owner of a thriving Dog Grooming business. The animal loving bachelor has a hard time saying no to anyone who needs him. Before long, Cassie has captured his attention. They begin dating but his need to help her overwhelms Cassie.

She’s getting more comfortable with her prosthetic arm physically but inside she feels emotionally broken. Who will want to marry her?

Believable, loveable characters had me rooting for them. The tension increased as the story went on, drawing me into the story. Some surprising twists caused me to wonder how the hero and heroine could resolve their conflict.

This novel will appeal to animal lovers and dog lovers. Cassie needs an emotional support dog and it was inspiring to see how her pet helped her deal with her nightmares and her panic attacks.

I recommend this contemporary romance novel, and dog lovers will especially enjoy it.

Amazon

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Can a little girl reunite a family?

Piper Gray is glad to leave behind her marriage to a controlling husband. After the divorce, she wants to return to her hometown and raise her daughter. She lands a seasonal job at the Hudson’s apple farm, a place that has always seemed like home.

Lance Hudson has returned to his family’s business looking for a fresh start after his divorce. Piper’s presence there shocks him, for he had dated her years ago before leaving for college. She’s been away a long time. Only Sidney, his twin sister, has met Maelyn.  

Piper has a secret she’s keeping from everyone. She’ll do anything to keep Lance from meeting his daughter.

Readers learn early that Lance is Maelyn’s father. Neither he nor any of his family knows. After meeting him and his wonderful family, I must confess I was frustrated that she kept her sweet daughter from him.

The characters tugged at my heart, especially Lance and Maelyn. This book was a page-turner.

Christianbook.com  

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

True North Springs Series, Book 3

Bridget Nicholson is only working as a nurse at Camp True North Springs for a month. She reminds herself that it’s all temporary, especially when she learns her ex-boyfriend, Carson Todd, works there. Her father, who had warned her away from Carson years before, doesn’t like the camp for families who grieve lost loved ones nor does he want Bridget there. She can’t understand his attitude.

Carson had been heartbroken when they broke up the first time. Those old feelings stir to life when they meet again. Bridget, recovering from a recent breakup, only wants to be friends. Can he accept that?

A mission to search for potential bone marrow donors for a little boy at camp keeps Bridget busy as she also struggles to mend her relationship with her father.

But not everything is as it seems.

I was drawn into the story by likeable characters. My sympathy was aroused early for grieving families, yet the story moved slowly for me at first.

Surprising twists catapulted me into the story. Characters acted in believable ways. I read the book in one afternoon.

It’s Book 3 of the series yet the story also works as a standalone.

Recommended for readers of inspirational contemporary romances.

Amazon

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Dog Groomer Bria Willis doesn’t trust men. The former model has plenty of reasons to maintain her distance from Marc Graham but it’s her job to train new owners to care for their dogs. Aaron, her brother and co-owner of their dog grooming business, will be near if Marc crosses a line.

After the death of his estranged wife, Marc’s priority is helping his son Tyler recover from her death. He’d been in the same car accident that killed his mother and his counselor suggested getting a dog to help Tyler. Having Brownie around has helped his son, but the pet didn’t obey Marc. He needed Bria’s help.

Believable characters recovering from lingering wounds from past relationships put up obstacles and even threaten their friendship.

I enjoyed this contemporary romance intertwined with plenty of doggie challenges to make pet lovers swoon! Tyler tugged at my heart as much as Bria and Marc. The story moves quickly.

Plenty of cute doggie moments and challenges to thrill pet lovers!

I was given a copy of the book by the author. A review was not required. The thoughts expressed are my own.

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

A Weldon Novel, Book 2

I have read other books by this author set in the town of Weldon, Kentucky, and I looked forward to reading this newest release. I wasn’t disappointed, even though much of the story takes place in Niger.

Casey was a famous model for many years before returning to her home in Weldon. Shoppers travel to buy clothing from her boutique and meet her. She dreams of marrying Daniel, whom she has dated for about a year. However, she has a secret.

Daniel had planned to propose to Casey before his doctor tells him the reason for his headaches is a brain tumor. He may not survive surgery. How can he propose now? Nor can he tell her. Their church’s mission trip to Africa may be the last time he can share with her.

Casey’s past reaches out to her in this multi-layered story that kept me turning pages.

Secondary plots involving foster children drew me in as much as the main story.

There are many unexpected twists and turns in this novel that changed where I imagined it to be heading. The author grabbed and held my attention.

Recommended for readers of inspirational contemporary romances.

Amazon

Reviewed by Sandra Merville Hart

Three Sisters Island, Book 3

I bought this book without realizing it was Book 3 in a series. I normally try to read books in order as the characters tend to build on another in each story. I’d recommend reading the other books in the series first. Still, I was able to understand the gist of what happened in earlier stories and it made sense.

Chef Blaine Grayson is back home on Three Sisters Island. She dreams of running the restaurant for Camp Kicking Moose, her family’s campground, but nothing goes according to plan—beginning with her sister’s completed design for the camp’s kitchen. Blaine had dreamed of remodeling it. Plus, both her sisters are pregnant and had decided to surprise her with the news when she arrives.

Her estranged grandfather is staying with them.

And her best friend, Artie Lotosky, gives Blaine the cold shoulder. She doesn’t understand his reasons and he’s not explaining them.

There is romance in this story yet it’s more about family relationships. The story is told in multiple viewpoints. The characters are lovable—and, at times, frustrating. The author inserted many scenes from Blaine’s past into the story, which jarred me from the current scene.

This well-written book kept me turning pages. I will look for more books by this author.

Christianbook.com