A Season to Love by Nicole Deese

A Season to Love by Nicole Deese

I hadn’t read Nicole’s work before, but I’d heard great things about this book from some fellow writers whom I respect, so I wanted to check this one out. Glad I did!

Let’s begin with the summary:

At this point in her life, bravery is not a trait Willa Hart would readily claim. She believes her seven-year-old daughter, Savannah, who never knew her father and successfully tackled chemotherapy, is truly the courageous one. Yet after Willa has a fateful encounter with handsome young doctor Patrick McCade, her outlook—and her view of herself—begins to change.

Patrick, a thrill-seeking world traveler and temporary resident of Lenox, Oregon, sets out to show Willa the value of adventure, even within her tiny town. But just when their friendship shows signs of turning into something more, Patrick’s life as a traveling doctor calls him back. Will his last days in town signal the end of their journey, or will Patrick and Willa find the courage to transform a single season into a lifetime?

And now, my review:

I love first-person narrative—so immediate and engaging. This writer has a fresh voice, full of insightful prose and strong description. I highlighted several phrases as I read on my Kindle. There was a delicious psychological depth in this story. Yet overall it wasn’t heavy or burdensome. I will say, though, that I was ready to move on to Act II just as we made the transition.

Our poor heroine has been through it. No wonder she’s anxious and easily triggered.  She’s found her own sensory rescue (my term for the item that brings her back to functionality) that works for her—peppermint candy. But her addiction, and her crippling fears, aren’t freedom. She’s coping, but even her young daughter can see she isn’t really living.

Our hero has some fears too, but we don’t see that until late in the story, (due to first person). In the meantime, he’ll challenge the heroine to stretch beyond her comfort zone and because she promised her daughter, she’ll try to experience more of life. He offers both understanding and support as he draws courage from her.

The uncle’s journal provides an external mentor readers can respect and appreciate, especially as both main characters are humbled by its wisdom. In this way, readers get the occasional nugget without feeling preached to.

I liked watching the heroine grow and even help someone else while she struggled. Because, as limited as she saw herself, she still had a lot to give.

The title references seasons and there were other mentions as well, even implicit ones. The heroine has come through some tortuous seasons, and now she's finding strength and falling in love. Hope stood out in her story as she realized just how competent she was to more than cope with life, but to tackle it.

One of my favorite reads in a long time! I’ve already been on Amazon looking up this author’s other books, including the first book (novella) in this series, and I’ll be watching for her next novel. I also enjoyed reading something from the new Waterfall Press.

Highly recommended.

The Thorn Keeper by Pepper Basham

The Thorn Keeper by Pepper Basham

 

Let’s begin with the summary:

With her newfound faith, Catherine Dougall hopes to take the remnants of her threadbare life and make something beautiful, even if society shuns every choice she makes.

Dr. David Ross must save his war hospital from ruin, but when his notorious aunt makes an offer he can’t refuse, he must choose between his surprising affection for a reformed flirt or his dreams.

From the beautiful Derbyshire countryside to the trenches of World War One, Catherine and David must learn to trust in a God who never forgets his children and fashions beauty out of the most broken things.

And now, my review:

I enjoyed book one in this series, so I was grateful to have a chance to read book two. 

This author has strong prose. One of the book’s themes was compassion, along with kindness—worthy traits for her to include.

Right from the beginning, I found a profound statement that displayed the author’s wisdom, but the phrases felt like author intrusion.

Unfortunately, I got lost in the story and decided to move to the next book in TBR pile when I didn’t feel hooked. Still, I wish this author all the best.

Review: The Good-bye Bride by Denise Hunter

The Good-bye Bride by Denise Hunter

I love revisiting Summer Harbor! 

Let’s begin with the summary:

She only remembers loving him. But he can't forget the way she left.

Following a concussion, Lucy Lovett can't remember the last seven months of her life. She doesn't remember leaving her fiancé Zac Callahan weeks before their wedding or moving to Portland, Maine. And she sure doesn't remember getting engaged to another man. All she remembers is loving Zac more than life itself.

It's taken Zac months to move on after Lucy left him with no explanation. He's thrown himself into his family's farm and his restaurant business in Summer Harbor. Now Lucy's back, vulnerable, homeless, and still in love with him. She needs his help putting the pieces together, but letting her back into his life is a risk—and the stakes are high. If he follows his heart he'll win back the love of his life. But if her memory returns he'll lose her all over again.

And now, my review:

The heroine in the story has lost only her recent memory. The first person she calls in a time of trouble is her estranged fiancé. Ah! What a premise! So much built-in tension. I was hooked from the opening lines, and then the chapters flew by for great pacing. 

Another element I love about Denise’s writing is her male POV. This series centers on three brothers, and I’ve enjoyed eavesdropping on their internal thoughts and banter because they seem so real. And fun. 

We revisit the past a few times in this story, and those flashbacks help us understand the beginnings of the hero and heroine’s relationship. This helped increase the sense of romance since their current relationship was so complicated. 

Our heroine fears abandonment, and no wonder. Because of this, she’s afraid to form attachments. Poor Zac, though. He doesn’t want to play the fool again. If she ran off once before, why wouldn’t she do it again?

 

Besides the theme of overcoming the past, we find the themes of learning to trust, and earning trust. The central scripture was that of perfect love casting out fear. I felt the author explained the concept of this verse very well. 

A fun read!

You’re the One that I Want by Susan May Warren

You're the One that I Want by Susan May Warren

This series is one of my favorites! 

Let’s begin with the summary:

Owen Christiansen has been in a downward spiral since an injury ended his NHL career. But a job on an Alaskan crabbing boat offers a fresh start . . . maybe even a shot at romance with Elise “Scotty” McFlynn, the captain’s daughter.

Used to being one of the guys, to never relying on anyone, Scotty doesn’t believe in happily ever after—especially with someone like Owen. Her instinct is confirmed when Casper Christiansen arrives to drag his prodigal brother home, bringing with him a truckload of family drama—and even worse, the news that Casper is wanted for questioning in connection to a crime back in Minnesota.

But Owen is more than the sum of his mistakes, a truth both he and Scotty discover when she escorts both brothers to Deep Haven as part of her new job on the Anchorage police force. Thrust into an unfamiliar world of family, faith, and fresh starts, Scotty begins to see potential for a happy ending . . . if she’s brave enough to embrace it.

And now, my review:

I loved this book! Susan’s research was obvious, and she hooked me immediately. I was up reading late into the night repeatedly with this one so I’d have uninterrupted time.

Our hero is so stuck. He’s the bad boy from earlier books in this series, yet here we get to experience his thoughts, fears, feelings. I loved going into his POV, in a believable way. He’s spontaneous, but not always wise. Ironically, he’s eager to please. We get a completely different picture of him than from the earlier books. But he mostly believes the worst about himself, and his family tends to agree with his assessment. So, it will take an outsider to show him his better qualities. 

The heroine doesn’t see herself as wife material, or even girlfriend material. She’s only had her stoic, captain father, and he taught her how to be a man. She has a male-sounding name, and all of her shipmates call her “sir.” I got confused a few times with her name. She’s all about rules because those are her safety idol. She avoids dreaming in life because dreams are outside the realm of rules. As brave as she is, she’s afraid to risk. The hero will have to show her a different side of herself. 

The prodigal son and brother are symbols and themes throughout. I liked the setting—Alaska’s Bering Sea, Seattle, and of course, Minnesota. 

One of my favorite quotes and takeaways from this book came from the author’s letter. I’ll let you read the novel to find it.

I’ve been reading this author's books from the first full-length novel. Love her work. But this was one of my all-time favorites!

Highly recommended.