Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson

 

Meet Me in the Margins

A light-hearted read is ideal sometimes, don’t you think? And what's not to love about a book about writing and editing books?

Let’s begin with the summary:

You’ve Got Mail meets The Proposal—this romance is one for the books.

Savannah Cade’s dreams are coming true. The Claire Donovan, editor-in-chief of the most successful romance imprint in the country, has requested to see the manuscript Savannah’s been secretly writing while working as an editor herself—except at her publishing house, the philosophy is only highbrow works are worth printing and commercial fiction, particularly romance, should be reserved for the lowest level of Dante’s inferno. But when Savannah drops her manuscript during a staff meeting and nearly exposes herself to the whole company—including William Pennington, new publisher and son of the romance-despising CEO herself—she races to hide her manuscript in the secret turret room of the old Victorian office.

When she returns, she’s dismayed to discover that someone has not only been in her hidden nook but has written notes in the margins—quite critical ones. But when Claire’s own reaction turns out to be nearly identical to the scribbled remarks, and worse, Claire announces that Savannah has six weeks to resubmit before she retires, Savannah finds herself forced to seek the help of the shadowy editor after all.

As their notes back and forth start to fill up the pages, however, Savannah finds him not just becoming pivotal to her work but her life. There’s no doubt about it. She’s falling for her mystery editor. If she only knew who he was.

And now, my review:

The heroine is an assistant acquisitions editor at a publishing company, as well as an aspiring author. What fun roles! I found these jobs relatable, and I think readers will like the behind-the-scenes elements of a writers’ life.

Her family is a passel of overachievers, so she cannot fail. Their opinions push her to try to measure up. Of course she can’t. Part of her never wanted to. That contradiction sabotages her. Readers may find themselves relating: do we be ourselves or try to be what we think others want? 

I loved the author’s fun voice. We’re in first person, present tense—my favorite. We get some snark, lots of humor, and an unfortunate opening situation, (which tone I’m glad didn’t carry forward into the rest of the book).

The hero is icy and all business, authoritative. What's behind his façade? If he ever opens up, what will we find? How fun it will be to watch him melt. Also, can he champion her? And what will it mean to her if he ever does?

The setup for this novel’s mystery is delicious. They grow closer by passing notes. We have an editor who gives honest, even blunt, feedback. You gotta respect someone like that. After her defensiveness wears off, she does. She’s lost and earnest. He’s experienced and willing to help. A perfect team.

I laughed aloud several times while reading this novel. Just what I needed during the pandemic. A treat. I’ll watch for more books by this author.

Christmas in a Snowstorm by Lois Richer

 

Christmas in a Snowstorm

I love reading Christmas books in November and December. This Love Inspired Inspirational Romance released in December 2020. Christmas in a Snowstorm is book three in the Calhoun Cowboys series by Lois Richer.

Let’s begin with the summary:

Can they weather the holidays together?

Will love turn home for Christmas into home for good?

Returning home to his Montana family ranch, journalist Sam Calhoun volunteers to run the local Christmas festival. But as a snowstorm drives him closer to Joy Grainger—the single mom helping him with the project—the last thing he expects is for her children to decide he should be their new dad. Can Sam earn Joy’s trust in time to make all their Christmas wishes come true?

And now, my review:

What a setting! The author immerses readers into a delightful winter wonderland, right from the beginning. We have a blizzard, close to Christmas, and we might get snowed in. There’s something magical about this type of setting: quiet, peaceful (if you’re in a safe place), and hopefully, warm. Add a dash of romance and a strong faith thread, and we have the recipe for a feel-good holiday read.

I was hooked from the opening pages.

The hero feels out of place, like he doesn’t quite belong now that he’s back home. Readers will sympathize and perhaps relate with his longing for acceptance. I also liked that he had a secret we would learn later. The author does a great job of contrasting people's opinions and the truth of this character's nobility. We respect him, even before we learn of his past mysterious choice.

The heroine has a slew of dreams. Though I can relate to having a laundry list of aspirations, I couldn’t connect with her at the beginning of the story. She seemed two-dimensional. She had hopes, but no substance, no relatable mothering instinct in that opening scene. But I liked how driven she was, and I liked watching her receive help and provision right away.

I enjoyed the bakery at Christmas element. Yum. Overall, that sweet Christmas feeling came through.

Unfortunately, I found some grammatical issues in this published book. The story momentum sagged at one point, and I stopped reading in favor of the next book in my to-be-read pile.

Though this novel wasn’t for me, it’s definitely a Christmassy read for relaxing indoors on wintry nights.

I never felt lost even though I hadn’t read the earlier books in this series. Brava to the author! I wish the author and publisher all the best.

This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche

 

This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche

Madison River Romance series: Book One

A fellow reader recommended this book to me. So glad my library had it in e-book format.

Let’s begin with the summary:

In the first entry in the Madison River Romance series, Keira Knudsen gets the traveling opportunity of a lifetime, but when she reunites with her first love, Robbie, she learns that even a wandering heart needs a home....

No one in the quaint town of West Yellowstone, Montana, knows that unassuming geography teacher Keira Knudsen moonlights as sensational travel blogger Kat Wanderfull. No one, that is, except for her first love, Robbie Matthews, who has just discovered the woman he is falling for online is the same one that broke his heart five years ago.

But Robbie has another problem: the mother of his daughter, Anabelle, has resurfaced after a three-year absence determined to rip Anabelle away from him. Robbie needs a steady paycheck for a chance at custody, and now, on the eve of a grand adventure that could give Keira a chance to flee her old, troubled life once and for all, she is in need of assistance.

With so much broken trust between them, Keira and Robbie must keep an arms-length away to make this partnership work. But the more time they spend together, exploring majestic places and sharing new experiences, the closer they get—until their secrets and dreams threaten to cost them everything.

And now, my review:

Oh, I loved this book! I haven’t read this author before (that I recall). We have a travel blogger who serves as a product influencer. A very interesting, trendy career. Loved that. She’s nomadic and troubled by her past. But she's also looking for a good relationship.

The hero is a great single father to his young daughter. This aspect was so well written. He sacrificed and protected, and their interactions were adorable. 

I loved that this was a reunion romance. These two were once in love. They share a pen pal relationship, which I really enjoyed. 

The author’s prose and descriptions helped immersed me in the story. I felt I was in the locations Kat Wanderfull visited. 

Here’s an example of the author's prose: “…before finding his eyes, which still lingered on her mouth. A dreamy expression flickered across his face. If she had to guess, he found his way to the same memory, but he set up a picnic there.” (page 43)

Or this: “Just like that, a portion of her fortress crumbled. And Keira had no immediate plans to rebuild.” (page 84)

These two had fun banter! Their jobs force them together, leading to some great romantic tension. From what I could find this isn’t a Christian publisher, but the story is “clean” or wholesome. (You won’t find nudity, profanity, or sex scenes.)

My favorite part of this book, on top of all the other things I loved about it, was the way the author included God in the story. She added a touch here and there. Two-way dialogue, God directing the imperfect characters. So good! 

The book deals with some heavier material, but it’s not overly so. I found a ton to love about it and looked forward to reading opportunities throughout the day. I could barely put it down to tackle life stuff.

The overall feel is that of hope as light comes into the circumstances. A great story. A great romance. Imperfect characters who grow and find hope. Excellent prose. I loved it. 

Looking forward to checking out the next books in this series.

Highly recommended!

A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh

A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh

Just look at that yummy cover! 

Okay, let’s check out the summary:

Hayes McGuire never believed the stories about a famous Nantucket matchmaker until she ropes him into taking over her duties while she's off the island for Christmas.

So he enlists the help of the one person he can trust with this crazy scheme—his best friend, Prudence. Armed with a series of rules, a book of success stories and the promise of Christmas magic, the pair of old friends sets out to make a Christmas match.

Little do they know that magic doesn’t discriminate, and they soon find their years of friendship deepening into something more. Will Pru and Hayes ignore the electricity in the air between them, or will there be more than one match made at Christmas?

A Match Made at Christmas is a stand-alone holiday novella.

And now, my review:

Loved the setup with this one—a male matchmaker! Ha! The characters are fun and quirky, and this stand-alone novella was the perfect, light read during the holidays. It reads fast, yet I savored it while highlighting a lot of passages. 

These two have to team up as he hasn't a clue how to be a matchmaker. He's hoping she'll help. What a fun way to force them to have to spend a lot of time together with a romantic goal.

Oh, I love a good pining story. The heroine pines for the hero, but he doesn’t seem to know it. Meanwhile, we get to spend time in his POV, which is a benefit of this story’s third-person, dual POV narrative. He projects a certain persona that isn’t quite honest. I loved seeing his vulnerable side, and watching his character grow. Wanting to discover his secret was one element that kept me reading. It wasn’t too heavy.

There were several moments of delicious banter, romance, and delightful humor.

I loved this story and will definitely track down more of Courtney’s books.

Highly recommended!

Untangling Christmas by Becky Melby

Untangling Christmas by Becky Melby

If you join Becky Melby’s newsletter mailing list, you will receive the coolest Christmas short story for free. Quick! Click over! www.beckymelby.com

Let’s begin with a summary:

Kelsey Lemmon is stuck at work on Christmas Eve with her boss—sort of—a Mr. Roman Sasse III. Yeah. And it’s a mess—the garden supply center. They get locked in, and they’ll have to make due until help arrives to let them out. Kelsey figures she’s fired, so she starts sharing her genuine opinion about how the Sasses could make the place better. Meanwhile, Roman has some ideas of how to make Christmas better. 

And now, my review:

What a fun short story!! Becky’s writing voice is such a hoot! I laughed aloud several times as I was reading. Her prose and pacing are perfect.

What’s more fun that watching a Christmas romance play out in your head while you read, as if you were watching a Hallmark movie? This story is delightful! It reads fast, but that’s the type of story you want during this rushed season, right? Becky painted a fun setting and great characters. I gobbled this story up like dark chocolate fudge on Christmas Day, or candy canes on Christmas Eve.

I’ve been a fan of Becky for some time, so I was happy to sign up for her newsletter for this Christmas freebie. If you like hip, snappy prose and wholesome contemporary romances, sign up. You’ll get this story, but you’ll also learn about her upcoming titles. I, for one, don’t want to miss them!

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Sleigh Bells Ring

Sleigh Bells Ring novella compilation

Sleigh Bells Ring by Sandra D. Bricker, Lynette Sowell, Barbara J. Scott, and Lenora Worth

Let's begin with the summary:

Santa Claus is coming to town, and so are the Tucker sisters.

Never mind a pony. The Tucker girls have inherited their father’s horse farm for Christmas. Make that . . . a run-down horse farm. It needs some serious TLC in order to make it sell-ready. Joanna knows that by recruiting her sisters and one handsome ranch hand they can fix up the place and even celebrate one last Christmas while they’re at it. However, to Isabella, returning to their home in Kentucky bluegrass country for Christmas seems like an impossible hurdle. Can her Chicago boyfriend make life merry and bright again?

One thing’s for sure—nothing is peace on earth for Sophia as a new beau brings up old wounds. And when the fate of the horse farm is put in jeopardy because Amy accidentally fraternizes with the enemy, tensions rise. But it’s not like the land developer stole Christmas . . . just her heart.

Can the Tucker sisters have themselves a merry little Christmas?

And now, my review:
 
This is a delightful Christmas novella collection, featuring four sisters during the Christmas season. One of the authors, my friend Sandie Bricker, recently passed away. But before she did, she asked if I'd be willing to read this collection for review. I really enjoy reading Christmas novella collections this time year, and I gladly accepted.

Sandie's book is first. We see the launch of the struggle to get all the sisters together for Christmas. They've just lost their father, but they had complicated relationships with him. Plus, they have their own lives now, so coming back to the house where he lived, and where they grew up, isn't something they are eager to do.

I liked the reunion romance aspect of this set, as well as the peaceful rural setting. There's something idyllic about breaking away from the big city and the hectic lifestyle to focus on family and Christmas and even revisit the past for a season. There's healing in that. Readers will relate to this.

I also liked that this was a compilation of contemporary stories. They're each novellas (about 20K words each), so they read quickly, which is helpful during this busy time of year.

Another bonus of reading compilations like this is getting to know knew-to-you authors. This set gives readers a taste of four different authors' writing voices and styles. Yet they blend together well. Pick up this compilation. You'll enjoy it! And you might even find another favorite author or two.

Catching Heat by Janice Cantore

Catching Heat by Janice Cantore

I hadn’t read any of the earlier books in this series, but this looked interesting.

Let’s begin with the summary:

Twenty-seven years after the deaths of Detective Abby Hart’s parents, she’s desperate to find the proof that will put the mastermind—the governor’s wife—behind bars. When she joins a newly formed task force and teams up with PI Luke Murphy, Abby is sent to San Luis Obispo to work the cold case of a murdered college student. Realizing their investigation will bring them near the town where Alyssa Rollins grew up, Abby decides to do a little digging of her own into the Triple Seven fire.

Luke is eager to help Abby close the books on a case they both have personal stakes in. But as she uncovers long-held secrets, Abby stumbles into an explosive situation, and Luke fears that her obsession may prove deadly.

And now, my review:

It’s always a plus to pick up a book written by someone who has the insider’s knowledge of a given career field. This author is a retired police officer, so her police procedural details were solid and they added a lot to the read.

The short chapters were a solid technique for creating swift pacing. Unfortunately, the characters weren’t layered enough to keep me reading.

I had a difficult time getting into this story. Perhaps that’s in part due to the fact that this is book three in the series. These characters were new to me, and their relevant story began long ago. The story’s opening chapters included a lot of backstory, which dulled the reading but didn’t help me care for the characters or get into the story.

Currently, funny enough, my husband is gladly reading away. He suggested that perhaps this just wasn’t my preferred genre. He may have a point. The romance moved very slowly.

All that said, readers who enjoy crime/detective novels and/or those who have read the earlier books in this series will enjoy this book.  

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart

The Long Journey to Jake Palmer by James L. Rubart

I’ve long enjoyed reading Jim’s books, so I was excited to see this new one.

Let’s begin with the summary:

What if there was a place where everything wrong in your life could be fixed?

Corporate trainer Jake Palmer coaches people to see deeper into themselves—yet he barely knows himself anymore. Recently divorced and weary of the business life, Jake reluctantly agrees to a lake-house vacation with friends, hoping to escape for ten days.

When he arrives, Jake hears the legend of Willow Lake—about a lost corridor that leads to a place where one’s deepest longings will be fulfilled.

Jake scoffs at the idea, but can’t shake a sliver of hope that the corridor is real. And when he meets a man who mutters cryptic speculations about the corridor, Jake is determined to find the path, find himself, and fix his crumbling life.

But the journey will become more treacherous with each step Jake takes.

And now, my review:

I savored this book. I was hooked from the opening pages and by the middle of chapter two I was enthralled. Jim didn’t save the “good stuff”—revelations for readers—until the end, but peppered takeaway throughout.

One of the themes in the story is the ability to be objective about ourselves and see our identity through the haze of lies or fears we believe about ourselves.

Jake Palmer is a corporate trainer. He holds seminars on “reading each other’s labels” and finding out “what’s in your bottle.” But what the author did was address the universal hunt for our own identities. Who are we, as individuals? And what stands in our way from seeing ourselves as we truly are and then living in that reality? Occasionally others see us better that we see ourselves. They see our strengths and abilities more clearly than we do.

Sometimes toxic shame gets in the way. (Toxic shame is shame for who you are; basic shame is feeling badly about what you’ve done.) Jake grew up being told from authority figures, whom children tend to believe without question, that he wasn’t enough. This story is about him coming to grips with that lie because ironically the whole time he’s been coaxing people out of their hiding places into being who they truly are, he’s been hiding.

Another universal theme: people can get tangled up in regrets. These paralyze us and hold us in one place, preoccupying our time and energy. We sometimes want to go back to a certain moment and change it, and the fact that that’s impossible doesn’t keep us from ruminating on what we’d do differently or berating ourselves for not doing something differently in that moment. Those regrets and ruminations can be based in something we did, or something others did to us. That entanglement can hold us captive for years, even our whole lives, keeping us from living out our destinies or seeing our worth. The hook in this story is the promise of a place where Jake could go where what was wrong in his life could be made right. He could get back what he’d lost.  

The author, like life, presents readers with a choice: keep hiding or face our stuff and learn to move forward without shame. But there will be a fight, and the choice to do battle is only the first difficult thing to overcome.

I’ve come to expect Jim’s work to include the supernatural, which this novel does around the mysterious corridor and person he finds there. I also loved the Superman references; the NW lake setting; the Narnian references, the friendship group; the affirmation-based story; the psychological study; the battle to choose hope; and the call to discover, embrace, and walk in our true identities.

This was one of my favorite reads this year. A life-changing novel that will stick with readers long after they finish.

Highly recommended.