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Miss Plum and Miss Penny–love in a small village
Miss Plum and Miss Penny
By Dorothy Evelyn Smith
Miss Plum arrives in the little Yorkshire village of Greeth in a state of despair. When the main character of the story, Miss Penny, an unmarried woman, takes compassion on her, rescuing her from suicide by duck pond, she finds herself responsible for a woman who seems unable to accomplish anything and typically reacts to challenges, major or minor, by breaking down into tears. Somehow outside the government social system, Miss Plum has no one and nothing to her name. As Christmas approaches, Miss Penny and her friends find themselves unable to charitably rid themselves of the problems that daily accompany Miss Plum.
Miss Penny celebrates her fortieth birthday as the story opens. She is active in the village and content with her life. Romance for her is limited to a yearly birthday card from George, a commonplace beau she was forbidden by her parents to marry as a young lady. Her stalwart housekeeper and cook Ada is also her confidant and friend hailing back to her childhood. Miss Penny has two friends, a retired banker, and a vicar. Thoughts of a romantic relationship float about, but none of them take it seriously.
As Miss Plum, somehow attractive to men, stumbles from one disaster to another, the village moves on with skating on the frozen Tarn and engaging in Christmas caroling. Although a romance, Miss Plum and Miss Penny is very different from a modern love story. Character driven, this novel brings you into Alison Penny’s cozy home “The Laurels” and out into the wet and cold with galoshes, cardigans, and overcoats. The characters include a live-in housekeeper with various skill levels for Miss Penny and each of the two men. Clearly a marriage would disrupt the delicate balance of two households; good housekeepers are not easy to find!
There is a lot of humor in this charming novel. Not the “laugh out loud” kind, but the “smile and turn the page to see what the characters will do next” type. Imagine yourself curled up by the fire enjoying each page; that is the kind of book Miss Plum and Miss Penny is. The descriptions and writing style are enchanting. I liked the resolution as the book concluded, but was sorry to say goodbye to these delightful characters.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Romance
Notes: This was a book club selection this fall, and not everyone in the book club enjoyed it as much as I did. Several members did not think there was enough character development or growth. Others pointed out that the characters did not change but did find contentment in their circumstances. These reactions are a prime example of not every book being the “right book” for every reader.
Publication: 1959—Robert Hale
August 3, 2020—Dean Street Press
Memorable Lines:
“Love isn’t safe,” he said heavily. “Love is a blinding flash in the dark. It is a leap over a cliff. It is a breathless dive to the bottom of the ocean…”
Love should be gentleness and tolerance and a sweet cherishing. That was the only kind of love she could ever have given—or accepted.
Women accepted sorrow and defeat. The cruel wind battered at them and they bowed to the wind; and when calmness came again they lifted their heads, bruised but unbroken. Not so men, who stormed and argued and kicked against the pricks, and often went to pieces altogether.
A Love Letter to Paris–lost art of correspondence
A Love Letter to Paris
by Rebecca Raisin
Lilou has been through several devastating romantic relationships as have some of her friends. Looking for a better way to connect, she anonymously founds Paris Cupid which matches people and enables correspondence which could result in a friendship and possibly a slow burn romance. Her day job is her own shop selling antique diaries and love letters in the Paris Market.
There are, of course, complications with both of her jobs. Through social media there is an outcry for transparency for Paris Cupid when a movie star sings its praises. Lilou has three handsome men at the Paris Market whom she suspects of secretly liking her. She visits with one of her antique dealers in a cemetery where some homeless cats hang out; their affection for the cats turns into a plot thread. Lilou is fluent in both English and French so the author throws in some French phrases that require no translation; the meaning comes from the context.
A Love Letter to Paris had no appeal for me through the first half. Then my interest picked up and was maintained throughout the second half of the book. The characters never came to life for me, however, and I didn’t like any of them. The resolution was apparent early on in the book, but the journey to the conclusion did not contain events that could have made it a page turner. Other books by Rebecca Raisin, especially those in the Travelling Shops series, have been delightful, but this one missed the mark for me despite my personal love of Paris and the French language.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 3/5
Category: Fiction, Romance
Notes: Clean language except for the occasional use of “merde,” the most common French swear word. No inclusion of intimacies.
Publication: July 8, 2024—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
The market is like a petri-dish when it comes to gossip, and left unattended it grows, multiplying until everyone hears an exaggerated version of the story that just isn’t true.
They’ve taken information directly from the Paris Cupid website, saying it’s a small affair dedicated to matching the lost, the weary, the broken hearted, or the just plain romantic, using the medium of love letters.
The perfume of old books: earthy, musty nuttiness with hints of vanilla and sweet almond is like a drug.
B is for Bonnet–reconciliation
B is for Bonnet
by Shelley Shepard Gray
After I finished reading A is for Amish, I listened to an audio version of B is for Bonnet. I had already decided which of the characters introduced in A is for Amish would be the protagonists in this second book in the series, and I was so wrong! Although all four of the siblings considering returning to their Amish roots show up in the next book (#2), the focus is on Jonny, the youngest boy, and their father Matt.
A lot of B is for Bonnet deals with reconciliation and forgiveness. Two new female characters are introduced for romantic interest. Treva (Amish) owns a coffee shop and Kennedy (English) is a house/pet sitter. Both English and Amish characters and ways of life are at the forefront as they deal with what it means to “live Amish” and face decisions about their future. The return of an ex-boyfriend, a health scare, and an accident are events in the book that move the plot along.
Callie Beaulieu is the narrator for the audio version. I’m sure it is hard transferring from male to female voices, but I was usually able to recognize which character was speaking.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Religion, Romance
Notes: 1. #2 in the Amish ABCs series. It could be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading A is for Amish first to get a solid base for the characters.
Publication: January 21, 2025—Kensington
A is for Amish–converting to Amish
A is for Amish
by Shelley Shepard Gray
Four siblings raised together in a dysfunctional way. Four siblings searching for where they really belong. This quartet unites to discover if they could not just survive, but thrive, for a year in the Amish community of their grandparents with whom they spent a lot of time growing up. Their parents had given up the Amish way and gotten divorced. Then they funneled most of their attention into finding their own happiness with another spouse. The children went back and forth between Mom, Dad, and grandparents. Martin, the oldest at twenty-five, assumed the role of protector and guide for the others, Beth, Kelsey, and Jonny.
Each at their own crossroad, they travel together from Cleveland to discuss moving in with their grandparents to learn the Amish way. Because Mommi and Dawdi are overwhelmed with the idea of training four adults at the same time, the young adults decide that just two of them should stay. Martin and Kelsey are the volunteers who remain. Martin, with a very successful career in finance, finds the transition more difficult; he just wasn’t used to working with his hands. Kelsey immerses herself in helping her grandmother and learning Pennsylvania Dutch. Other than conflict with a bossy hen, she has less trouble adjusting.
While Martin and Kelsey are dealing with the restrictions of Amish life, new cultural norms, and issues of faith, they are generally accepted into the community. Martin is enchanted with Patti, his grandparents’ neighbor, who was bullied as a child because of a port-wine birthmark on her neck. Spunky Kelsey captures the heart of Preacher Richard who is trying to help her assimilate. Martin and Kelsey are keenly aware of the need to separate their romantic feelings from the decision to become Amish. Not an easy task.
I had a lot of fun with this Amish novel. The characters are likable—except the one who shouldn’t be. Even his actions and attitude are interesting, moving the story along as he reveals his true nature. In my reading of previous Amish novels, there was usually a Bishop as there is in A is for Amish. This book mentions the selection process for a preacher: “even putting one’s name into the lot was stressful. Discovering the marked Bible was sometimes seen as both a blessing and a curse. No man accepted this fate easily—especially if he was chosen by the Lord to be a preacher at such a young age.” There is a lot of character growth in this novel, but not resolution for everyone. With four young adults as the focus, you can expect a “hook” to draw you into other books in the series about the various siblings.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Religion, Romance
Notes: 1.#1 in the Amish ABCs series
2. I did a brief Internet search on Amish bishop versus preacher/minister. It was interesting, and I unsurprisingly, as there are various Amish orders, found conflicting information on the role and selection process.
Publication: June 25, 2024—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“Now I understand. You’re not afraid of giving up your life…you’re afraid that even after doing all this, you still won’t be happy.”
“We do,” Kelsey said in what she hoped was a gracious tone. “We have more than enough. I, for one, would be delighted if you joined us.” Of course the moment she said those words, she wished she could take them back. She sounded like a spinster in the middle of a Jane Austen novel.
“We’re all scarred one way or another, child. We live on earth, not heaven. But you mustn’t forget that our Lord doesn’t make mistakes. You were meant to be special because He sees all of us that way.”
The Golden Gals’ French Adventure–senior ladies having fun
The Golden Gals’ French Adventure
by Judy Leigh
Not as funny as I had thought it would be based on the one other book I had read by Judy Leigh, The Golden Gals’ French Adventure, is nevertheless an interesting story. It is the tale of Fliss and Shirl, two friends from North Clayworthy, England, who travel to Brittany on vacation. Fliss is retired, entitled, and rich. Shirl is down to earth and a good friend to Fliss who hires her as a chauffeur and cleaner. When Fliss decides to visit an old friend at his family home, she recruits Shirl to go with her. They take along Shirl’s granddaughter Macey Roux who is a delightful baby—except when she is teething. She captivates all on the trip, even Fliss who has never had anything to do with babies.
The Golden Gals’ French Adventure is character driven. The reader meets a variety of people, most of whom are likable. A few start out less so, but then there is character development. The adventures include the beach, historic sights, learning French, a cooking competition with a chef, delicious French food, Breton customs, a castle, and of course some romance. The welcoming Barron family is delighted to have guests. A subplot is that Macey Roux’s mother, Gemma, is in Corfu with a boyfriend who doesn’t know of the baby’s existence. How will the characters respond when the Corfu and Brittany holidays end? Will it be hard to give up the vacation fun or will they be ready to return to their lives in North Clayworthy with the thought of “there’s no place like home?”
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Fiction, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Notes: Some swearing. No open bedroom doors.
Publication: June 4, 2024—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
It occurred to her that she’d always been too busy. She’d never stopped to notice the beauty in nature; she’d been far too busy chasing things she’d believed were desirable. She realised now that they weren’t.
Maurice’s house was perfect for him. It held memories that made it wonderful, just as it was. And it was a home, unlike her own sterile house, a place where she simply kept her things.
…her feelings for the Barrons were completely fraternal which was much better than a roll between the sheets. It lasted longer; it was worth more. It was honest respectful, and it was a form of love she’d seldom encountered.
A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge–animal rescue
A New Dawn at Owl’s Lodge
By Jessica Redland
Zara is the production assistant for documentaries about animal rescue centers and also about country living. Twenty-six years old, she has recently had a breakup from a six month relationship with a man who had been unfaithful to her. She is also insecure because of her mother’s obvious preference for her brother Roman who is a star footballer.
Snowy is the reclusive former Olympic gymnast whose extremely fair coloring makes him highly recognizable. Raising his son with the help of his amazing grandfather after his wife Eliza passed away has not been easy. He needs to protect him from taunts based on his resemblance to his father and from the paparazzi who even years after his wife’s death seek him out for a “good” story.
An injured owl brings Zara and Snowy together, and Grandpa gives the potential romance some encouragement. Zara and Snowy see past each other’s hurts and discover the really kind people buried beneath the facades erected to keep others out. Snowy’s son Harrison is a talented and enthusiastic gymnast under Snowy’s tutelage. Snowy also home schools the boy who is bright and polite. Harrison and Zara take to each other quickly making it easy for Snowy and Zara to move past friendship and develop a romantic relationship.
The road to happiness is not without its bumps. The reader will discover the inner workings of Zara’s family; her stepfather Owen has been stellar, if not always successful, in trying to smooth difficulties for Zara. Snowy had a very difficult relationship with his father who was also an Olympic gymnast.
Alcoholism is an issue for several characters in the book as they use alcohol to numb pain and grief. Of course, the alcohol just makes for more problems. The owl rescue work that Snowy and his family manage on their large property is an important focus in the book. Major threads include Zara’s need to think about her future employment prospects and Snowy’s conflicts about allowing friendships for Harrison and enabling him to achieve the competitive steps necessary to become an Olympian—if he chooses that pathway.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. Contains just a few instances of bad language and no open door bedroom scenes.
2. #2 in the Bumblebee Barn Series. It could be read as a standalone because Redland does a great job of filling in the backstory. You might enjoy it even more if you read #1 first because there are overlapping characters.
3. Clearly marked narration by chapter varies between Zara and Snowy and reveals their perspectives. It was a good choice for this novel.
4. Ending notes include interesting information on the various types of owls.
Publication: May 16, 2024—Boldwood Books
Memorable Lines:
It didn’t matter how many times I saw a barn owl in flight, the silent majesty of its glide completely captivated me, the white face, body and underside of the wings giving the appearance of a ghost floating past. I watched it fly out of The Roost and ran to the open doorway to catch it disappearing into the night.
The universe was so much bigger than me and my problems and five minutes of stargazing helped put everything into perspective.
The Freak Show taunts from school circled round my mind and I pushed them aside. My appearance didn’t actually bother me. It was the taunts themselves which had bothered me because they’d led to me being an outsider and being alone like that had hurt. It still did.
The Proposal Plot–marriage material?
The Proposal Plot
by Kathleen Fuller
Books that focus on the Amish are generally clean and wholesome because they are a reflection of Amish faith and beliefs. The Proposal Plot is no exception, but that doesn’t mean that every character is a model of good behavior, kindness, and self-control. There is plenty of room for these characters to grow. Nelson Bontrager has been hurt in wooing two different women and has sworn off women altogether. Ella Yoder has been raised to believe she is not pretty and not “marriage material” because she is bossy and argumentative. The two clash from their first meeting. Ella’s spoiled sister Junia, however, falls head over heels in love with Nelson’s slightly younger nephew, Malachi. The girls’ dad, the widower Barnabas, owns E&J’s Grocery store and is caught in the middle between his two constantly warring daughters.
Wendy, a successful New York City lawyer, needs some distance from the career ladder she has been climbing so she moves temporarily to Marigold, Ohio, and opens an office in a nearby small town. She lives with and becomes a caregiver for her aging, diabetic mother. Wendy is talented at mediation and can afford to accept only cases she chooses and work the hours convenient to her.
This story is a roller coaster of emotions and conflict as there are love/hate relationships throughout the book. There is also a conundrum for one of the characters as she tries to sort out her attraction to Barnabas versus her attraction to the Amish faith. Learning about the backgrounds of all these characters and watching them sort through their feelings makes for an interesting and enjoyable read and a breath of fresh air from the daily news cycle.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Christian, Religion, Romance
Notes: #2 in the Amish of Marigold series, but could easily be read as a standalone. It appears there will be three books in this series.
Publication: May 7, 2024—Zondervan
Memorable Lines:
Regardless of what his future held, he had his family and his faith—and he was grateful.
But that would be a lie. Not that she’d been the most honest person all her life. She’d lied in court—what lawyer hadn’t? Over the years she’d lied to her parents more times than she could count, mostly so they wouldn’t worry about her or pry into her life. Most of all, she’d lied to herself.
I love having you with me. I just want you to know that I’ll be okay, whatever you decide.” She smiled. “God’s got my back. He always has.”
Since the Day We Fell–sacrifices for love
Since the Day We Fell
by Kerk Murray
Is it possible to fall for someone so quickly and so thoroughly that you hardly know what is happening? It seems like that for Lisa and Noah, but Since the Day We Fell actually contains a slow burning romance as the two get to know each other as friends working on projects.
Noah comes to town trying to escape a bad relationship and finish writing his book. When he meets Lisa, his world changes and he decides her failing inn would provide the quiet and inspiration he needs as a writer. Lisa is desperate for guests at the run down inn after her mother passes. Things get worse when she discovers she only has a few months before the bank forecloses on the mortgage.
Noah tries to overcome his writer’s block and avoid paparazzi and his ex-girlfriend, the glamorous Sophia. Meanwhile, Lisa is grieving her mother’s death, trying to save the family inn and reputation, and avoid her abusive ex-husband. Help comes to both of them from an unexpected source, but there are plenty of bumps in the road to make the reader wonder if they will ever find their “happily ever after.” This book is a clean, feel good romance that explores love, friendship, and sacrifice. Although the community relies on tourists for its income, it embraces and supports its residents in ways that exceed expectations. Emma is Lisa’s best friend who will do anything for her. Daisy is a chocolate lab rescue dog that Lisa inherited from her mother. She is a sweet dog, but still puppyish and gets into mischief; her antics add fun and surprise to the story. Daisy’s name has a special, heartbreaking significance for Noah that is explained late in the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction
Notes: #2 in the Hadley Cove Sweet Romance series, but worked well for me as a standalone.
Publication: April 23, 2024—Books Go Social
Memorable Lines:
She moved through the world with a gentleness and authenticity that was as refreshing as a warm cup of tea on a rainy day.
The pier stretched out beneath them, a dazzling array of colorful lights twinkling like a scattering of fallen stars. Under the moonlight, the ocean’s surface shimmered in a ripping of silver and shadows.
Remember, when emotions are high, judgement is low.
The Finders Keepers Library–caring and helping
The Finders Keepers Library
by Annie Rains
I was immediately enchanted by the format of The Finders Keepers Library. Each chapter begins with a quote, usually bookish, always by a famous author (from Lamott to Tolkien and many in between), and always pertinent to the content of the chapter. I am quite familiar with starting chapters with quotes, but sometimes they are obscure, obtuse, or irrelevant. Not in this book where they are charming and relatable! Each chapter also begins with a pencil sketch of flowers emerging from a book. This illustration has a special meaning because one of the main characters, Eleanor, owns the free library created by her deceased husband along with an extensive garden. They combined their hobbies in a way that engages the community.
Savannah is in between jobs and has just had a troubling medical diagnosis, lupus, that she is learning to live with. Rather than go to her parents’ home, she has a long overdue visit with her beloved Aunt Eleanor who could really use her skills with plants to get the garden in shape for the wedding of a friend of Savannah. Eleanor’s next door neighbor is Evan who was Savannah’s close friend every summer when she came to visit. When they parted ways after high school graduation, they lost touch with each other although neither forgot the “what could have been” of their relationship. Now they are at a different place in their lives. Evan is divorced and has newly become the custodial parent for his grieving daughter. Savannah’s partner of two years walked away when she got her lupus diagnosis. Eleanor has not left her house in a year since she was hospitalized from a bad fall. All of these really nice characters, plus several more, have issues to work through and obstacles in the way. Annie Rains weaves several sweet romances into this story of people helping each other. I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Fiction, Romance, Women’s Fiction
Notes: 1. #1 in the Love in Bloom series
2. Clean
Publication: April 16, 2024—Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Memorable Lines:
“If you ask me, a cup of tea and a good book is the best kind of medicine.”
“I think sometimes, when we’ve been wounded, we humans like to push people away, to prove our greatest fears.” She looked at him again. “What fear?” She shrugged. “That we’re unlovable.”
Knowing that someone loved you enough to bother you when you wanted to be alone was always better than leaving that person alone and letting them believe that no one cared.
The Mystery of Haverford House–multiple timelines
The Mystery of Haverford House
by Rachel Burton
Viola, originally from Australia, has had to reinvent herself several times. She has finally found a place that feels like home—a huge estate in Yorkshire. Her job is to manage Haverford House as a tourist attraction, but it is difficult to maintain it as a viable establishment financially given its size, age, and tax status. The current earl and owner wants to sell it, but his mother, the dowager countess, is sentimentally attached to it.
There is a mystery and legend that Viola emphasizes in her house tours. Annie Bishop, a serving girl at Haverford, disappears in 1933. Was she murdered or did she travel to America to start a new life? As the story unfolds for the reader, much of the status of women during the period between the two World Wars is revealed. There is also a focus on the works of Shakespeare, particularly Twelfth Night, as there is a production of it in both timelines. The characters are fleshed out in both timelines with some villains and heroes in both. It is interesting to see that the Haverford residents in the 1930’s, even the “nice” ones, were disdainful of the servants that worked in the house. There were also those in the lower classes who felt they and their peers should “mind their place.”
My interest in both storylines never flagged. I no sooner finished a chapter with my interest peaked than the focus changed to equally compelling events in the other storyline. This seesaw continues all the way to the end of the book with a number of surprises along the way.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Notes: clean in all aspects
Publication: March 14, 2024—Aria
Memorable Lines:
“I don’t know where you all find the time for reading,” Polly says regularly. In my opinion you make time for the things you love but she has no interest in fiction, or books in general. She hated dusting the library, but lucky for her I was always willing to do it.
I wonder if he knows why he is here—I wonder if he realizes how badly the estate needs his father’s money? And I wonder what it must be like for Prunella and Cecily, being duty-bound to marry somebody they might not even like, let alone love.
Viola wanted to run upstairs to her flat, get into bed and pull the duvet over her head. Alternatively if the ground would like to open up and swallow her that would be fine too.
education pathways 