NetGalley

Excited about Reading: Just a Kiss by Denise Hunter

/ Dora Hiers / 11 Comments

Y’all know I’m a huge Denise Hunter fan, right? Did you see the Hallmark movie made from her book, The Convenient Groom? I didn’t enjoy the movie nearly as much as the book. So, fair warning, read the book. lol. Enough of the commercial. Back to Just a Kiss…

Riley’s just come home from serving in the Marines, minus half of one leg and suffering from PTSD. His best and dearest friend, Paige, can’t wait to help him adjust to life back in the States. Riley’s loved her since high school, but Paige was a little slower to realize her feelings…and his.

I confess I struggled to write this review. Not because the book was bad. Hardly! As with all other Hunter books, I gobbled snatches whenever I could. But I. Did. Not. Like…

Riley.

Gasp! How bad is that? Riley’s the hero, the brave man who served his country, the friend who chose not to reveal his true feelings solely to preserve their lifelong friendship.

At times, I wanted to reach into the book and sit Riley down over a cup of coffee. To warn him that unless he stopped with the surly attitude directed at Paige, he would lose her for good. How could she love this guy?

Maybe Riley would kindly explain that depression does that to a person. That it was like being tossed into a deep, dark prison where pain and sleepless nights are the norm. No wonder Riley acted that way. Paige chose to love him for the hero she knew him to be, and the walls of bitterness and resentment had to crumble eventually. Good thing he finally came around. And so did I. 🙂

The real goodie in this book wasn’t the romance. For me, it was the meaty nuggets to chew on later.

To Ponder

  • How I consider myself lacking because of certain physical limitations
  • How stubbornness and pride keep me from achieving my full potential
  • How I need family and other connections
  • How I sometimes fixate so much on what’s wrong, it’s difficult to be grateful for what’s right
  • How seasons in my life come around for a reason, a purpose, and I shouldn’t fight them, but learn, grow, evolve.

This might not have been my favorite of Hunter’s books, but I’m so glad I chose to spend a few hours hanging out with Riley and Paige. And I would do it all over again.

Disclaimer: Sending my thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with a free copy of Just a Kiss in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion. Other than the free kindle copy, I was in no way compensated for my review.

Excited about Reading: Love on a Deadline by Kathryn Springer

/ Dora Hiers
Amazon Purchase Link

The Cover Story~
MacKenzie “Mac” Davis left her hometown of Red Leaf, Wisconsin, to pursue a degree in journalism. But when her dad, the town’s beloved Coach Davis, suffers a mild heart attack, Mac returns home to help out. She takes a job at the weekly newspaper but instead of covering serious topics, her editor wants her to write about social events—like the garden club’s flower show and the historical society’s afternoon tea. Mac knows it’s no way to earn her father’s respect—or the attention of one of the newspapers she hopes will hire her when she leaves Red Leaf.

When Hollis Channing, Mac’s high school nemesis, returns to Red Leaf to marry her celebrity fiancé, the editor asks Mac to cover the big event—and all the festivities leading up to—for the newspaper.

The last thing Mac wants to do is reconnect with the person who made her life miserable when she was a teenager . . . unless it’s spending time with Ethan Channing, the bride’s older brother—and Mac’s first crush.

Mac is no longer the awkward girl who wore the school mascot costume to the Homecoming dance but she realizes something hasn’t changed. Her feelings for Ethan.

Sharing my takeaway~
Reporter “Mac” Davis chomps at the bit for a meaty story, anything that’ll take her back to the big city, away from Red Leaf where everybody still thinks of her as Coach’s daughter. Physician Ethan Channing returns to his hometown, intent on sinking roots in the small community, surprised at Mac’s transformation from sideline “water girl” to beautiful woman.

I have read a few books by Kathryn Springer and enjoyed them, so I scooped up Love on a Deadline when it listed on NetGalley. I’m glad I did. The romance between Mac and Ethan moved along at a fairly smooth pace, and the cast of secondary characters really enhanced the story. The faith thread was subtle, and the story kept me flipping pages for a couple hours.

No heavy drama to sift through in this novella, just a really sweet story that makes for light, relaxing reading. A great book to pack in your beach bag or to squeeze in on a lazy weekend afternoon.:)

Disclaimer: Sending my thanks to NetGalley and Zondervan for the privilege of reading and reviewing Love on a Deadline. I was provided a free copy of the book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. I was in no way compensated for my review.

Excited about Reading: Hope Harbor by Irene Hannon

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments
Amazon Purchase Link

The Cover Story~ 
Tracy Campbell never wanted to leave Hope Harbor, Oregon, or the idyllic three-generation cranberry farm where she grew up. But life–and love–altered her plans. When tragedy strikes and changes her plans yet again, she finds herself back in her hometown with a floundering farm to run and a heartbreaking secret. Romance is not on her agenda. Nor is it on Michael Hunter’s. The visitor from Chicago has daunting secrets of his own. But when Tracy recruits him to help save a struggling charitable organization, the winds of change begin to sweep through Hope Harbor, bringing healing, hope, and love to countless lives–including their own.

Sharing my take~
Meet the major players. Tracy Campbell, part time accountant and full time cranberry farmer. Michael Hunter, guilt-ridden, grieving businessman from Chicago who came to Hope Harbor to honor a wish of his late wife. Anna Williams, recluse, taking in wounded animals to make up for the two-decades-long rift with her estranged son. Charley, artist and taco maker (and angel?). And Floyd, a lonely seagull.

“In the beginning he brought his wife, but he’s been coming by himself for the past four months. I guess something happened to her.”
A husband and wife seagull pair.
Tickled by that fanciful notion, Michael dug out a few stray pieces of taco filling and tossed them to Floyd, who scarfed down the treat. “Maybe he’ll get married again.”
“He might, down the road…but gulls mate for life, and this one’s still in mourning.” 

Lonely and wounded by love…kind of sums up all of the characters in Hope Harbor except Charley, who seemed to be the orchestrater of healing. I enjoyed the story and how the characters grew during the course of the book, and I appreciated the parallel of their relationship with that of the seagulls. That said, the romantic chemistry was stiff and a bit lacking for me.

Ever read a book where you almost felt as if you were there? This is one of those books. The “charming Oregon seaside village” came to life. At times I felt like I was walking along the dikes of the cranberry farm flicking away bees or sitting on the picnic table outside Charley’s food trailer, the sea breeze kissing my cheeks.

But what really ramped this book up for me was its theme of forgiveness and restoration.

“Are you condoning her behavior?”
“No. But I guess I’ve gotten more tolerant of mistakes as I’ve grown older and made plenty of my own. It seems to me it’s better to treat people in the midst of a crisis with compassion than censure or criticism.”

Hope Harbor isn’t a fluffy book to wile away a lazy afternoon. It’s deep and packs a powerful message. Don’t pick up this book for the romance. Pick it up because of the story.

Disclaimer: Sending my thanks to NetGalley and Revell for the privilege of reading and reviewing Hope Harbor. I was provided a free copy of the book in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. I was in no way compensated for my review.