Smitten by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter

How delightful to receive the ARC (advanced reader copy) for this book during a recent writers’ conference. Smitten is a novella compilation with four novellas written by Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter. It releases December 20, 2011.

Let’s begin with the back cover copy:

Four friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country's premier romantic getaway—and each finds her own true love along the way.

With Smitten Lumber closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners—Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese—decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They'll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination!

As Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese work to save the town, each discovers romance in her own life. Meanwhile, the faith of a little child reminds the whole town what it means to have real faith in the God who is the always and forever Love.

Discover a novel written by four of Christian fiction's most popular romance novelists- friends in real life who've drawn an amazing story of four friends! Includes a Reading Group Guide as well as "Conversation over Coffee with the Authors."

And now, my review:

In the authors’ note for this book, we learn about how the project came together. One of the things the authors mention is that they each wrote a character who was a lot like themselves. So, in reading the novellas, you get a glimpse of both their relationship with each other as well as their own personalities. I loved that aspect of this book. The authors are a group of dear friends. What a thrill to see the photographs from the same writers’ conference (a year earlier) when they signed the contract for this book, and then to see the close-to-final product last month.

These four best friends (the characters, not the authors *smile*) are gearing up to save their small town from financial ruin following the lumber mill’s closing. Along the way, they each fall in love. The stories overlap, so you’ll probably want to read them in order. I began with the first story (read most of it, though I didn’t finish it), tried the second and third stories and couldn’t get into them, then skipped ahead to the fourth story which I really enjoyed! (You could blame this on my love for Denise Hunter's books. *wink*) I laughed aloud, related with the heroine, loved the hero, and delighted in the twists of this reunion romance. The fourth novella made the book for me.

I think fans of each of the authors will enjoy this book as well, for the same reasons. And the other authors may gain new fans as people pick up the book due to a certain name on the cover. I’ve always liked reading novella compilations because each story is “bite-sized” if you will. Same’s true for this Thomas Nelson offering. If I’d had more time, I may have finished all of the novellas. As it was, I had several books awaiting me so I felt rushed. Most readers will probably be able to relax and lose themselves in the lovely setting.

I’ve heard mention there may be a Smitten 2 (with a different title, probably) coming next year. I’ll be watching for it.

We Have This Moment by Diann Hunt

Recently I heard of a delightful read, got my hands on a copy, and dove in. Here's the back cover copy for Diann Hunt's "We Have This Moment," a Grace Chapel Inn book:

Autumn is a beautiful time in Acorn Hill-and a busy time at Grace Chapel Inn. Love begins to blossom when one of Alice's patients reunites with a long-lost love who just happens to be one of the inn's guests. Will these high school sweethearts get a second chance at love? Jane is occupied with a secret project and her suspicious packages and frequent trips to neighboring Potterson keep her sisters guessing. Meanwhile, Louise, with the help of a very special little girl, helps a worn-out teacher discover her true calling in life and Lloyd goes to great lengths to get a special gift for aunt Ethel. Preparations for a harvest party, complete with pumpkins, cider, and a hayride, make the season festive and remind the Howard sisters to appreciate every moment they have together.

Isn’t that a homey cover? If you’ve read my reviews before, you know covers are important to me. Diann’s story is just as cozy inside as this cover portrays. With simplistic style, Diann takes us into a warm inn run by three biological sisters who look out for each other and minister to those around them. You’ll feel included as they settle in for tea or as they arrange get-togethers for the other characters (in their quaint town) or guest. the other elements beyond this familial one is that of a romance between two old flames. Personally, I would have liked for this relationship to have moved faster or that we could (as readers) have spent more time in those characters’ heads as their reuniting and rekindling occurred. But this novel centered on the sisters, and their cozy acceptance is enough escape for some readers. The book didn’t proclaim itself as a romance; it is what it claims to be—a lovely, homey, entertaining read. Some books set out to be edgy. Not this one. And though this reviewer appreciates edgy elements, I found this book charming and entertaining. Diann has penned a simple and sweet story, perfect for curling up by the fire on a chilly autumn evening.