Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter

Falling Like Snowflakes

Oooh, holiday stories! And what’s not to love about that cover? 

But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Here’s the summary:

Eden Martelli is too busy fleeing the clutches of danger to realize she’s running straight into the arms of a new love.

Speeding north through rural Maine, Eden Martelli wonders how her life came to this—on the run with her mute five-year-old son dozing fitfully in the passenger seat. When a breakdown leaves them stranded in Summer Harbor, Eden has no choice but to stay put through Christmas . . . even though they have no place to lay their heads.

Beau Callahan is a habitual problem solver—for other people anyway. He left the sheriff’s department to take over his family’s Christmas tree farm, but he’s still haunted by the loss of his parents and struggling to handle his first Christmas alone.

When Eden shows up looking for work just as Beau’s feisty aunt gets out of the hospital, Beau thinks he’s finally caught a break. Eden is competent and dedicated—if a little guarded—and a knockout to boot. But, as he soon finds out, she also comes with a boatload of secrets.

Eden has been through too much to trust her heart to another man, but Beau is impossible to resist, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As Christmas Eve approaches, Eden’s past catches up to her.
Beau will go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe. But who’s going to protect his heart from a woman who can’t seem to trust again?

And now, my review:

This story reminded me a little of the classic (to our family, anyway) Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, A Season for Miracles. There was plenty of suspense, and I was hooked from the opening sentences. 

Our heroine has been abused. She’s strong and determined to launch a new beginning for herself and her son, and there are very few people she can trust. She strives for safety, but can’t find it anywhere. Even if readers haven’t experienced physical danger to the extent of this character, they’ll probably relate to wanting to feel completely safe and never quite feeling it. 

The hero isn’t so sure about this whole Christmas-without-his-parents thing. But having the rest of his family, and the heroine around, helps. He’s a suspicious ex-cop who has reason to question the heroine’s life and story. I enjoyed watching them interact knowing both their secrets. 

I’ve enjoyed Denise’s Summer Harbor series. Looking forward to her new book.

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck

I enjoy reading Rachel’s books.

Let’s begin with the summary:

A lonely wedding chapel built as a tribute to lost love just might hold the long-awaited secret to hope and reconciliation.

For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for his beautiful and beloved Collette Greer, whom he lost so many years ago. The chapel is a sanctuary for his memories, a monument to true love, and a testament to his survival of the deepest pain and loss.

Photographer Taylor Branson left her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, to make a new life for herself in New York. She had lots to run away from, not least of all a family history of broken promises and broken dreams. Love catches Taylor off guard when she falls for Jack Forester, a successful advertising executive, and their whirlwind romance leads to an elopement—then to second guesses. Jack, in spite of his very real love for Taylor, is battling his own demons and struggles to show her his true self and the depths of his love for her.

Taking a photography assignment in Heart’s Bend, Taylor is thrown back into a past of family secrets buried deep beneath the sands of time. When Taylor and Coach’s journeys collide, they each rediscover the heartbeat of their own dreams as they learn that the love they long to hold is well worth the wait.

And now, my review:

There were so many layers to this story. We follow a few characters and experience their stories as they intertwine.I liked that we could explore a few generations and their love stories.

As with Rachel’s other work, I love the supernatural aspect. The chapel became a character in its own right in this story. An interesting, almost living locale.

Along with her strong prose, Rachel threw in some wise phrases throughout. I can’t quote from the ARC, but here is the gist of one of them: that nothing tastes as bitter as regret. So good. There were several places I highlighted in my e-book, ARC version as I read.

Each of the characters must overcome some aspect, some ghost, from their pasts in order to experience the future they hadn’t even been brave enough to hope for. Looking forward to Rachel's next book.

The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz

The Mistress of Tall Acre

I enjoy Laura’s writing, so I was excited to read this title for review. 

As always, let’s begin with the summary:

A marriage of convenience. She is in love with someone else. He has no wish to love again. What could possibly go wrong? In the aftermath of the American Revolution a destitute young woman agrees to a marriage of convenience and becomes Mistress of Tall Acre. But when secrets from her husband's past are revealed, loyalties and ties are torn asunder.

And now, my review:

I really enjoyed this tender story.  I like marriage-of-convenience stories. The heroine was a strong character, who bravely faced her problems. I both respected and sympathized with her. I wanted her circumstances to improve. The hero has a few mixed-up priorities. But those can be reordered. He also knows his wife is in love with someone else. Still, he’s determined to help her. Rather noble.

There’s mention of “too much loss” in the story. I believe readers will relate with the struggles, responses, and pain of these realistic characters, even if they haven’t suffered similar trials.  I liked how our hero didn’t look down on the heroine and our heroine wasn’t put off by the hero’s wounds, which again speaks to their strengths.

And though there were realistic problems, I didn’t find the story heavy. I enjoy the author’s voice and storytelling. Laura is a pro at writing in this time period. She's done her research, and you know you’re in good hands. I’m always glad I’m reading on my Kindle because I can easily press a word for a definition, though, sometimes the dictionary can’t even help. :)

Happy reading, friends!

The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart

The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart

This story’s premise (see summary below) intrigued me, and I enjoy this author’s work so I was glad to read this title for review.

Let’s begin with the summary:

What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?

Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.

So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.

Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.

Sounds interesting right? And now my review:

Brock has a lot of regrets, especially in regards to his relationships. He’s made several mistakes in his life as a result of not valuing people. I’d say that is the overarching theme of this story. Readers will relate with carrying regrets and wishing there was a way to go back and advise your younger self. The hitch? What if she doesn’t listen? The hope? What if she does and your whole life changes for the better?

The story was unpredictable and kept me hooked. There were times I was confused reading this ARC, even though Jim used dates to help orient us. I enjoy reading Jim’s voice. And his premises are oftentimes outside this normal, physical world, which is fun. Looking forward to his next book.

Love in the Details by Becky Wade

Love in the Details by Becky Wade

I love the Zondervan wedding novellas! Pair that series with this author, and I was thrilled to read this title for review.

Let’s begin with the summary:

When Josh returns to his hometown of Martinsburg, Texas, to help his best friend get married, he didn’t intend to run into church wedding coordinator—and ex-girlfriend—Holly. He can’t help but pine after the girl he never got over.

Holly broke up with Josh years ago in an attempt to ensure his future success. But she loved him then and still loves him now. As she helps him plan his best friend’s wedding, she can’t help but feel horrible for the pain she caused him. And even though she longs to be with Josh, she doesn’t feel worthy of his big-time lifestyle when she is more comfortable in her small town world. Will Josh and Holly be able to keep things as they are when their true feelings threaten to surface at every turn?

And now, my review:

Oh the fun of reunion romances! I’ve enjoyed Becky’s books from her first release. So glad Zondervan included her in this series. I’ve just finished reading two regency romances (historicals), so coming back to a contemporary was a fun change.

Here we have a couple who were once in a relationship and who run into each other again years after they broke up. That’s a fun conflict. The fact they are each unattached, that there is still electricity between them, makes it even more enjoyable. But their secrets get in the way.

The hero’s directness was delicious. So often in romantic fiction we see characters who miscommunicate or have misunderstandings. I enjoyed watching a character speak the truth outright.

The heroine’s noble in keeping the secret she keeps, but I still longed for her to be open and forthright. (Which may have been why I appreciated the hero’s approach.) Her best friend, Sam, is a hoot! Their banter was delicious. As I read, I saw this story as a fit for a TV movie.

This was a fast read, with a theme of personal worth. In fact, the author snuck that theme in such a way that I questioned my own understanding because I didn’t see it coming—it just seemed natural. Ah, the sign of a good story—a profound lesson without preaching, for the discerning reader. 

As always with these Zondervan novellas, the first release is in e-book format before three are combined for re-release in paperback format.

Enjoy!