Tuesday, November 20, 2018

On Magnolia Lane by Denise Hunter

From the bestselling author of The Convenient Groom (now a beloved Hallmark Original movie) comes the final book in Hunter’s Blue Ridge Romance series.





Pastor Jack McReady has secretly carried a torch for Daisy for two long years. She’s a member of his congregation, after all, and she’ll never see him as more than a trusted counselor. Jack’s best friend Noah has taken every opportunity to encourage his lovesick friend, but when Noah catches wind that Daisy has joined an online dating site, he takes matters into his own hands and orchestrates a meet-cute of the most unconventional kind.

Owner of the local flower shop, Daisy Pendleton is content with her small-town life, but she’d sure like someone to share it with. After several disastrous first dates, she’s about to give up—and then she finds a seemingly wonderful man online. Daisy gets to know TJ through a series of messages but finds herself spending more time with Pastor Jack outside of the church at the same time. What she doesn’t know is that her online prospect and Jack are one and the same. 

Just as Daisy’s love life starts to look promising, a mysterious woman appears in town. Daisy is faced with a revelation about her family that turns her world upside down, and she looks to both TJ and Jack for help.

Jack must find a way to reveal himself as her online suitor without breaking her heart and losing her trust. As Daisy faces Jack’s betrayal, she’ll have to learn to extend grace to herself, her family, and the man she’s grown to love.


Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2018
Genre: contemporary romance
Length: 320 pages


MY REVIEW
On Magnolia Lane is the sweet ending to a great series. Fans of Denise Hunter (like me!) have been awaiting Daisy’s and Jack’s story for many months now, and Ms. Hunter did not disappoint. These characters are virtuous and endearing, yet realistically flawed. Their love story is steadily paced, intricately weaved throughout a gripping plot, which plays against a unforgettable setting. 

What I loved most about this book was how the author portrays our fleshly mistakes, the grace that’s able to forgive them, and how, no matter where we’re at in God’s will, we’re simply beautiful messes. 

I give this book five stars.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

UNCOVERING THE PAST CAN LEAD TO AN 
UNEXPECTED FUTURE...



Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan's great-grandmother was a guest at oil tycoon Howard Dawkins' palatial estate on the shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie's great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage--and the fortune that might be hers. When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate's private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems almost too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up . . .

Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight as two charming characters get caught up in the adventure of uncovering the past and finding their way to an unexpected future.


Publisher: Revell, 2018
Genre: contemporary romance
Length: 358 pages


MY REVIEW
Mystery, intrigue, treasure hunting, genealogy, romance--this novel has it all. With realistic characters who are likable from the first page, the plot consistently challenges the reader to question what they would do in the same situations. The story is centered around an old diary, shared with the reader throughout the book. I enjoyed how the past and present were connected and the pace in which the story progressed. Ms. Johnson's books are always a delight to read. This is a great start to her new Georgia Coast Romance series. I look forward to the next book. 

I gave this book 4 of 5 stars.