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The Summer of You and Me–honesty in the family
The Summer of You and Me
by Denise Hunter
Maggie is a teacher in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but she and her adorable four year old daughter travel to Seabrook, North Carolina, “a sleepy seaside town poised between the more popular Outer Banks and Myrtle Beach” for the summer. They will be staying in the home of her in-laws who are traveling in Europe. This is a big emotional decision for Maggie whose military husband Ethan passed away five years ago in Pakistan.
The summer is full of positive interactions with Ethan’s brother, Josh, and his sister, Erin. They have all been good friends for a long time. In fact, Josh, two years younger than Maggie, fell in love with her as a young teenager, but she fell hard for Ethan. How could Josh compete with his older brother when he was clearly too young to date Maggie? They became the best of friends, and no one ever knew that Josh loved Maggie. But Josh was always there for Maggie.
One summer evening, Maggie spies Ethan at a carnival, only it couldn’t be Ethan! That evening catapults the pair into a search for the truth that takes some interesting side paths that bring Maggie and Josh together and then apart in an emotional roller coaster ride.
The Summer of You and Me explores the intricacies of family dynamics and how dysfunction in a family affects individuals. Even positive relationships can produce misunderstandings that change how a child views themselves, carrying unhealthy perspectives into adulthood. The characters in this story are interesting and are trying to do their best for everyone else, but things don’t always go the way they were intended. The impact of the fallout can be disastrous. The story holds a lot of surprises and tension as Maggie and Josh try to negotiate their changing relationship and solve the mystery of Ethan’s doppelgänger. I enjoyed the clean romance that combines mystery with relationships and psychology.
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, Women’s Fiction
Publication: April 22, 2025—Thomas Nelson
Memorable Lines:
As Josh entered, Mom greeted him in such a way as to maintain civility while still making him feel unwelcome. It was a special gift.
He didn’t feel like a friend. Friends didn’t make your heart wobble your chest. They didn’t make your knees go noodly or your skin vibrate with life.
God, help me. She winged the ancient plea heavenward. Hopefully He would forgive the ambiguous request. She couldn’t seem to formulate anything more meaningful.
To Trust a Hero–scars of betrayal
To Trust a Hero
by Alexis Morgan
I enjoy Harlequin Heartwarming novels because they are predictably clean romances. To Trust a Hero fits that role, but it also has characters you will love and a mystery that you may figure out the whodunit of the plot before it is revealed, but not the why. I loved watching it play out. The main characters Max, a freelance writer, and Rikki, a single mom and the owner of a B&B, both have difficult backgrounds that they have not shared with others. Their pasts make trusting difficult for each of them, but when Max rents out the turret room for an extended period, he finds that he is not “just a guest anymore.” It is hard to tell who he falls in love with more, Rikki or her adorable 5 year old son Carter. Carter and Max bond over Legos.
This is Max’s return to the town of Dunbar. He has been invited to see the Trillium Nugget in the Dunbar Historical Museum. His presence and the Nugget caused quite an uproar in a previous book, but was worked out satisfactorily. On his return, the townspeople gradually warm up to him. Now he wants to write a book about his great-grandfather using resources at the town’s museum to research his ancestor’s story.
When someone breaks into Rikki’s B&B and vandalizes two rooms, Max flies into protective mode. At that point we learn more about Cade. the Chief of Police, and Titus, an excellent cook with a gruff exterior.
Interesting characters, gentle romance, a mystery without a murder, and a cute kid—I couldn’t ask for more. If you want to escape from all the craziness infused into this world, take a trip to Dunbar. I think you’ll find it an engaging and pleasant relief.
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
Notes: # 2 in the Heroes of Dunbar Mountain series. Although To Trust a Hero is great as a standalone, now I want to read about Max’s first involvement with the town in The Lawman’s Promise. My interest has also been piqued by hints that the next book in this series, Second Chance Deputy focuses on Titus.
Publication: August 22, 2023—Harlequin Heartwarming
Memorable Lines:
Max knew firsthand what it was like when a kid couldn’t depend on anyone, and he devoutly hoped that Carter never experienced how much that kind of betrayal hurt or the scars it left behind.
“It must be something in the water supply here that makes men act stupid around strong women.”
The cruise had been fun, but it was Carter’s infectious joy that had made the day special. Every time a new whale appeared, the little guy had cheered and then run from one side of the boat to the other to get the best view.
education pathways 