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A New Beginning in a Small Town–overcoming the past
A New Beginning in a Small Town
by Melinda Curtis
Each book in the Love in Harmony Valley series focuses on different protagonists, but the setting is the same small town of about 80 people. There are relationship issues centered around the backgrounds of the characters and around efforts to revive the little town. Characters from one book recur in the next.
In previous books, a trio of young millionaires is introduced: Will and Flynn who are programmers and Slade, the businessman. Each of the friends has difficulties and it takes the right woman to help them sort those problems out. Will has Emma, and Flynn has married Becca. Their stories are in the first two books of the series.
In A New Beginning in a Small Town, the three are finally getting their winery established. As beer drinkers they need to get an excellent winemaker if they want to use the winery to reboot the small town. One of the local councilwomen puts her granddaughter Christine in the competition. Christine has a great reputation, comes from a line of winemakers, and needs a change. She is also a strong woman and looks beautiful whether in a designer evening gown or in her winery “uniform” of shorts and a ratty T-shirt bearing a band logo.
She has to make sure the trio are in this project for the long term. Slide is her immediate boss, and he doesn’t seem very committed. Is Christine the right person to save the winery and Slade who is clearly hurting?
What is it with the expensive silk ties that Slade always wears and fingers nervously even in terrible heat or on manual labor projects? Why does Evy, Slade’s ex-wife suddenly drop off their twins, with Gothic attire, wide-eyed, and totally silent? Melinda Curtis’ descriptions of Slade and the twins are excellent; it is very easy to picture them.
Slade’s neighbor, “old man Takata,” is an interesting, wise character and holds some keys to Slade’s past. With Christine’s help, the twins gradually open up. The ending of the book has some surprising, chaotic scenes that reveal a lot of the various characters’ motivations. Like Christine, the reader will waffle between wanting to shake some sense into Slade and hug away his pain. Kudos to Melinda Curtis on a well executed romance that addresses a very serious subject in a respectful manner.
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: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. #3 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series, but could be read as a standalone because of the excellent summary the author gives of both the town’s and Slade’s situations.
2. Melinda Curtis, as shown in other series she has written, has a knack for creating a background that unites her characters as they are gradually introduced in each book. This book is Christine and Slade’s story.
Publication: March 21, 2023—Franny Beth Books
Memorable Lines:
“When you’re younger than everyone else and smart, earning scores that skew the grading curve, you have to develop survival skills. Like smiling. And when that failed, I became good at blending in with the crowd and being a good listener.”
“Success, for me, became mandatory, the route to proving to my dad that life was worth living.”
“Can’t just means you won’t.”
A Small Town Second Chance–the heart of a caregiver
A Small Town Second Chance
by Melinda Curtis
Becca MacKenzie is a young widow and a caregiver. Her clients love her for her compassionate and caring spirit. She is trustworthy and honorable. Unfortunately, fulfilling a client’s last wishes and following legalities of wills and trusts do not always line up. Becca makes some difficult choices that come back to bite her legally.
She arrives in Harmony Valley to deliver a ring to an aging widow from a former beau. In the process, she is hired to care for Edwin who has just been released from the hospital. His handsome grandson Flynn has earned considerable wealth as a programmer, but is currently living with Edwin to take care of him and to establish a winery with hopes of revitalizing the town of Harmony Valley.
Flynn is a caregiver in his own way, acting as a handyman fixing house problems for the aging residents. Coming from a dysfunctional family, Flynn is raised by Edwin but now finds himself in the middle of lots of issues—familial, business, and relationship—as he and Becca try to not fall for each other.
A Small Town Second Chance addresses serious issues, but it has characters that will make you smile. There is amusing banter among the trio of men building the winery. Rose, Agnes, and Mildred are strong-willed elderly women who don’t try to stay out of everyone’s business. Abby is a sweet, comfort service dog who travels with Becca and is as compassionate as she is. Truman is Flynn’s step-sister’s son who seems to shoulder heavy burdens for an eight year old. As happened to Flynn as a youngster, Truman’s mother drops him off at Edwin’s house. Truman is sad but flourishes under the care of Becca, Flynn and Edwin who work to make him feel needed and loved. Pennies hold a special symbolism in the book, and Becca’s “House Rules,” many of which are created to keep Flynn at a distance, are lots of fun.
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: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: 1. #2 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series, but could be read as a standalone.
2. Melinda Curtis, as shown in other series she has written, has a knack for creating a background that unites her characters as they are gradually introduced in each book. This book is Flynn and Becca’s story.
Publication: July 28, 2023—Franny Beth Books
Memorable Lines:
“It wasn’t easy to stay until the end. The ability to stay says a lot about a person.”
“I can fix things for my mom, and she’ll be happy.” Flynn remembered thinking the exact same thing when he was a kid. He wanted to be indispensable. An insurance policy for any kid who felt disposable.
“Symbols are important. That’s why we cherish wedding rings and family heirlooms.” Her delicate chin jutted out. “They remind us of love, of what’s honorable in the world, and how we’ve made our mark on it.”
Dandelion Wishes–friendship in times of hardship
Dandelion Wishes
by Melinda Curtis
First published in 2012, Dandelion Wishes was reedited and republished by author Melinda Curtis in 2023. Meanwhile, it has also been made into a video as Love in Harmony Valley.
The Prologue introduces the three protagonists as children. Emma Willoughby is adventuresome and plows ahead regardless of potential disaster. Her inseparable best friend Tracy Jackson is with her every step of the way. Tracy’s brother Will is four years older and sees it as his job to keep the girls out of trouble.
When you fast forward to the current time, disaster has struck the trio in the form of a car accident. Emma was driving, but although the fault was not hers, Will can not forgive Emma and Emma can not forgive herself. He kept the pair separated for the six months Tracy was in rehab. She has come a long ways, but she still has speech aphasia. Emma still suffers from the accident, but with unseen injuries that plague her.
Woven into the backdrop is a financially highly successful trio consisting of Will and his two business associates who are trying to revitalize their hometown of Harmony Valley and are in conflict with the town council. Emma’s Grandma Rose has always been an eccentric, but she is now displaying some traits that have her friends and family worried. Perhaps the most important thread is the unexpected attraction Will and Emma feel for each other despite the chasm in their relationship.
Forgiveness, understanding, and independence are major themes. Will any of the protagonists be able to put their lives together after the emotional and psychological damage they suffered? Will the residents of Harmony Valley find a way to age gracefully as individuals and as a town?
There are nine books in this series, and I am looking forward to reading more about the characters introduced in this first book. Melinda Curtis has a way of providing gentle clean romance that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities that confront people in their daily walks.
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: Women’s Fiction, Romance
Notes: #1 in the Love in Harmony Valley Series
Publication: January 17, 2023—Independent
Memorable Lines:
“But this man wants to convert Harmony Valley from a peaceful, small town into a soulless tourist destination.”…”And then he’ll leave.” Rose went on. “Men always leave. And the opportunistic ones take whatever they can with them.”
In the eyes of her brother, Tracy was handicapped, disabled, incapable of living independently. Tracy felt as insignificant as a plain number two pencil in a mechanical pencil world.
Sometimes, waiting to see what Granny Rose did next was like sitting in the front car of a roller coaster at the top of the first big hill, anticipating a stomach-dropping ride because there was no effective brake.
Not a dandelion, but very similar. This plant is a wildflower found in northern New Mexico.
Her Only Wish–composing a life list
Her Only Wish
by Shelley Shepard Gray
While the first book in this clean, sweet Amish series focuses on Mary and her relationship with Jayson, the reader is also introduced to Mary’s new friends Lilly and Betsy. These three young ladies consider themselves wallflowers because of events in their pasts. We also meet Esther, Mary’s nemesis, along with several young men. All of the characters are Amish, New Order Amish, or Christians who are former Amish.
In this second book in the series, we are back in Pinecraft. Mary and Jayson have welcomed Betsy to stay in their home on vacation for a month. This book centers around Betsy’s “life list.” Betsy explains that her list is not a bucket list—“a list of things to do before you die.” Her life list consists of “things to do to make me feel like I’m finally living.” She has been very sheltered most of her life so her list makes sense as she works at being more independent. As she works on her goals, her “life list” idea catches on and other characters make their own lists.
There are a number of interesting new characters in Her Only Wish. Some have romantic relationships and others are friends. The story also dives into the parent/child and sibling connections. Some of these characters show growth and others demonstrate a stubborn display of ego and selfishness. I found August’s story particularly interesting. He grew up as a missionary kid involved in many cultures and languages. For his parents, their mission work is more important than August. They use love or the withholding of love as a means of control, and they let everyone know how righteous they are because of their works. They put August in a difficult position on more than one occasion, and the reader gets to watch his struggle as he comes to grips with basic decisions about his future. I enjoyed Her Only Wish and look forward to reading more in the Pinecraft series.
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, General Fiction, Romance
Notes: # 2 in A Season in Pinecraft Series. It could be read as a standalone, but the background from #1 in the series is helpful and the book is a good read.
Publication: June 6, 2023—Revell
Memorable Lines:
“That woman is a looker, ain’t so?” “She is.” “She’s as bright as a new penny too. Sweet but with a touch of vinegar.” August chuckled. “That’s a good way to describe her.”
Betsy seemed to be really enjoying herself. She smiled the entire time—kind of the way a puppy looks when it’s allowed to roam on the beach without a leash.
But a part of him was certain that the Lord hadn’t just been at work making golf balls sail through the air…He’d also been working on August’s life. Showing him that he hadn’t been making mistakes by working for his aunt and uncle. He hadn’t been wrong to try to go his own way. The Lord had a path for every person, no matter how important or forgettable.
Her Heart’s Desire–starting over
Her Heart’s Desire
by Shelley Shepard Gray
Mary is a young Amish lady who was bullied almost all through her childhood. She prays about a new start, and God provides her, through her home business of making greeting cards, with the funds to go to Pinecraft, Florida, for two weeks. Never having traveled far from her home area, she bravely makes the long bus trip alone from Ohio to Florida. She meets two other girls traveling solo to the same inn. They are all seeking a new start for various reasons and soon become fast friends. All is going well for Mary until her worst nightmare comes true in the form of an unwanted visitor from her home town.
Most of the characters in Her Heart’s Desire are either Amish or have decided not to join the Amish church but still share their faith in God and many of their beliefs and customs. You’ll like meeting the characters: so many are kind and generous and are helpful to the trio of girls as they work through past issues and grow in their determination to live their new lives. There are chaste romances with some handsome young men and fun times exploring the local beaches and shops.
I assumed Pinecraft, Florida, was a fictional location, but it is not. Wikipedia says it is a “small neighborhood community of approximately 3,000 Amish and Mennonites…in Sarasota, Florida.” It seems that many Mennonites and Amish enjoy the area as a good place for a winter vacation.
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, General Fiction, Romance
Notes: #1 in the Season in Pinecraft Series
Publication: January 3, 2023—Revell
Memorable Lines:
Yep, one could say that his conversation with her had gone as well as a bullfrog jumping into a cement swimming pool.
For a little while, she felt confident, the kind of confidence one gets only when she’s accepted wholeheartedly. It was lovely.
Her former friend’s concerns were twisted, and the things she was concerned about were so silly and so narrow. It was obvious that she wasn’t looking for a change of heart; she simply wanted things to be how they used to be.
Secrets in the Stacks–supporting friends
Secrets in the Stacks
by Lynn Cahoon
The Survivor’s Book Club is for women who are currently undergoing or have finished treatment for breast cancer. It was founded by Rarity, a local bookstore owner and cancer survivor. The group does not actually read books about cancer, but their background gives them an unspoken bond and perspective. When one of the club members discovers her grandmother murdered in their home, the group shifts into high gear to support their friend, clear her of suspicion, and help discover the real murderer.
As is usual with a Lynn Cahoon book, Secrets in the Stacks has an intricate plot, great characters, and a lot of surprises. Cahoon actually discovered cozy mysteries when she was going through breast cancer treatments herself and realized that writing is what she really wanted to do. She has been very successful with several popular series to her credit, but this is the first one that draws on her experiences with cancer treatment and survival.
Rarity is supported by a group of friends who are Sedona, Arizona, locals. She is close friends with Drew, a detective, but the romantic interest in the story is Archer, an athletic man who leads group hikes in the surrounding area. Rarity has her dog Killer, a Pomeranian, with her almost constantly. As the boss, she can even take her well-trained dog, who has a great instinct about people, to work with her.
The murdered grandmother was well-loved in the community, but no one seemed to know anything about her life before she and her teenaged son moved to Sedona. The group decides that something from her past could be a motivation for the crime. The deeper they delve, the more complications arise.
The ending is dramatic, action-packed, and surprising. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
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: Mystery
Notes: 1. #2 in the Survivors’ Book Club Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone as Cahoon provides any background information needed.
2. Sedona is often associated with new-age beliefs so there are several references to tarot cards as well as one to crystals and sending out good wishes through the universe. Some of the characters believe in the “mystical part” of the tarot card reading and others don’t. As a Christian, I avoid the occult, but there are few enough references and enough skepticism on the part of the characters that I am able to read this book. It is not a predominant theme.
3. Includes a recipe for Hamburger Stew.
Publication: November 1, 2022—Kensington Books (Lyrical Press)
Memorable Lines:
“…running my own business is harder than I thought it would be. Every time I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be a train.”
She’d worked out her negative feelings about what Shirley had said without confronting the woman. Sometimes you just needed to realize it was you and not them.
The book club was more than just a bunch of women reading books. Or even poking their noses into an investigation, or now, two. They were there for each other.
The Story of Love–being Englisch in an Amish community
The Story of Love
by Beth Wiseman
Yvonne moves from her house in Houston to live in Amish country in Montgomery, Indiana. Her friend Eva has been ordered to bed during her pregnancy, and Eva’s father-in-law is confined to a wheelchair leaving the farm management to Eva’s husband Jake. Yvonne, a rare book dealer, had met the couple at their bookstore, and now she steps in to help her friends at their store.
Abraham is a police officer who left the Amish church on friendly terms hoping to be useful as an intermediary between the Amish and the Englisch. He met Yvonne shortly after her fiancé died and hoped that at the right time he would be able to get to know her better.
The Story of Love is a sweet story of two people trying to sort out priorities and relationships. When the tale begins, Abraham is dating a very attractive woman who is as shallow as a mud puddle. With Yvonne and Abraham trying to make honorable choices, it takes a while for the romance in the story to progress. There is the further complication of Abraham’s family’s attitudes toward both women and their continuing discomfort with Abraham leaving the Amish faith. It is a problem for him too. Interesting and important subplots center on a homeless dog and a case of domestic violence.
I really enjoyed reading The Story of Love and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Hopefully Ever After, to discover what lies ahead for the characters. It is a gentle book but also has some action and confronts some serious issues. The characters use some Amish terms, and through the plot I learned how the Amish celebrate Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
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, Romance
Notes: 1. #2 in the Amish Bookstore Novel Series. It would be fun to read the first book in the series, but I had no problem jumping into this one.
2. Contains a Glossary of Amish words used in the book.
Publication: October 11, 2022—Zondervan Fiction
Memorable Lines:
Brianna smiled, looking gorgeous, but now that Yvonne had seen what was on the inside, her striking appearance had lost some of its luster.
This was what Christmas was supposed to be. Gifts created out of love. Meals shared with family. And an all-knowing sense that where more than one gathered in His name, He was there.
…if she was honest with herself, she was the problem. She was unlovable, despite her outward beauty that she’d always counted on to get her through life, to land her a good man, and to enjoy the life she thought she deserved. Maybe you had to give love with genuine intent before you got it back.
Liturgy of the Ordinary: sacred practices in everyday life
Liturgy of the Ordinary
by Tish Harrison Warren
Liturgy is the form or pattern that a church service follows. It may be a general and loose sequence or it may be highly structured as followed by Anglicans and other denominations that use The Book of Common Prayer. In Liturgy of the Ordinary, Tish Harrison Warren connects our daily routines to the rituals and patterns of the Christian life from our waking in the morning to our rest at the end of the day. Along the way she examines our search for lost objects and ties it into confession and repentance. She discusses quarrels within the family and how as Christians we are called to extend peace or shalom. Warren dissects how we look at time and at community. She suggests savoring the good gifts of God in our everyday life, but discourages overindulgence in pleasure lest it become an addiction, trapping us in the cycle of wanting more.
Liturgy of the Ordinary is a wonderful book for individual enjoyment and study or for sharing with a group. It is a book that takes simple concepts and invites a deeper dive. Warren is an excellent writer. The book is full of wisdom from both Warren and those she has studied. She invites the reader to look at everyday routines in a new way. The book is replete with anecdotes and quotes. Above all, Warren is open and honest; readers will see themselves in her struggles and her revelations. She makes the mystery of living out the Christian life in this broken world both real and accessible.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Christian, Nonfiction
Notes: Includes Discussion Questions, Practices, and a Bibliography
Publication: 2016—InterVarsity Press
Memorable Lines:
Waiting, therefore, is an act of faith in that it is oriented toward the future. Yet our assurance of hope is rooted in the past, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth and in his promises and resurrection. In this way, waiting, like time itself, centers on Christ—the fulcrum of time.
Christian friendships are call-and-response friendships. We tell each other over and over, back and forth, the truth of who we are and who God is…My best friendships are with people who are willing to get in the muck with me, who see me as I am, and who speak to me of our hope in Christ in the midst of it. These friends’ lives become a sermon to me.
The words of the liturgy felt like a mother rocking me, singing over me, speaking words of blessing again and again. I was relaxing into the church like an overtired child collapsing on her mom. When my husband and I would get into the car after church each week and talk about the service, I would say to him, “It feels like chamomile tea.”
Hooked on You–Riley and Hayden’s story
Hooked on You
by Kathleen Fuller
Riley and Hayden went to the same high school, but barely knew each other. She went off to New York City hoping to find success as an artist while he pursued a career in baseball. Both find themselves helping out at family businesses—a yarn shop and a hardware store in the dying little town of Maple Falls. Author Kathleen Fuller has created damaged, but likable characters and surrounded them with loving, supportive people. Will the pair overcome their pasts? Can they save the businesses and the little town?
Join the BB’s (Bosom Buddies) who are Riley’s grandmother’s friends, and the Three Musketeers, an unlikely group of three young women as they welcome the loner Riley with the friendship she never had.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Romance
Notes: 1. #1 in the Maple Falls Romance Series which should be read in order.
2. Includes a map of Maple Falls and Discussion Questions
Publication: 5/11/2021—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
A riot of colors, textures, and fibers filled the canvas in front of Riley McAllister. She tilted her head to the right. To the left. Then, with careful precision and pointed tweezers, she started to apply a hair-thin golden thread to the narrow bead of glue on the peacock feather in the center, the final touch to a project that had taken over three months to complete.
Mimi’s lilting Southern drawl filled Riley’s ear, triggering the tiniest spark of homesickness, which always surprised her. After nine years of living in New York City, she should be over it, but every time she heard Mimi’s voice, it came back again. Riley’s life in Maple Falls had been a big disappointment, but that wasn’t Mimi’s fault.
The Maple Falls Romance Series
I tried to start reading the Maple Falls Romance Series with an Advanced Reader Copy of the third novel. By the time I got to the fourth chapter, I realized that Sold on Love was just not good as a standalone. I was dropped in the middle of a small town wedding where everyone, except me, knew everyone else. Very confusing! Fortunately, since bad weather closed the library for a few days, my library was able to provide me with e-copies of the first two books in the series. Each book in the series focuses on a different couple, and thus characters are introduced as necessary and show up again in later books. The books in order of publication are:
Hooked on You
Much Ado About a Latte
Sold on Love
Two to Tango (to be released on July 11, 2023)
My next upcoming reviews will give my impressions of the three published books in the series. They are all clean, gentle romances. I am attracted more to cozy mysteries than romances, but I did enjoy these.
education pathways 