Island Summer By Lori Hayes

 

When a betrayed young woman moves to a charming beach town to escape love, an unlikely matchmaker gets involved.

Physical therapist Emily McMillan broke off her troubled engagement to move to a charming, albeit tight-knit, seaside community for a new start. But will the locals accept her? She's too quiet, too reserved and wants to hole up in her apartment to write her latest novel. When she treats a spunky patient, popularly known as Gran, she finds herself agreeing to a date with Gran's handsome grandson.

Keith Stallings, a creative businessman who owns the local passenger ferry, tempts Emily with a dreamy island full of wild horses, an enticing beach laden with colorful sunsets, and a homecooked picnic under the stars. Heck, even a wild pelican named Sam loves him. Emily had declared men off-limits, but just when she believes this is the best island summer ever, the park service threatens Keith's livelihood.

Keith has a difficult decision to make, one that may not include Emily.

An emotionally complex beach read, this love story reaches just beyond the sand dunes where the sea turtles nest and where the tides can wash away dreams.

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: Island Summer ("Crystal Coast" series, Book Three) (9781645263234): Lori Hayes: Books

Award-winning author, Lori Hayes, writes small town women's fiction with the focus on friendships and light romance. Often times, the setting is rural North Carolina and the coast. She promises to deliver a happy ending in exchange for your much-appreciated time reading her novels.

She lives with her family in North Carolina, and while she hopes to someday say she lives near the beach, right now she is a short drive from the ocean. She thinks it's important to focus on what you have and to appreciate the small things around you, like the tang of salt in the air. For then it becomes possible for your dreams to come true, like her dream of writing and to be published.

She thanks her mother for her career. One day her mom planted the seed for Lori to be a writer, and it took hold. And as her grandfather always said, Stop talking about it and do something. So she did. While her son took afternoon naps, she sat down and started her first novel.

Quickly she learned it wasn't so easy. She bought everything she could find on the subject, and to this day she's still buying books to study. She believes life is one lesson made up of many shorter ones. Tell the story of your own life and it will come to fruition. She's living proof.

Please visit Lori Hayes' website at www.LoriHayesAuthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LoriHayesAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lori-Hayes-209726199045483/
Instagram.com: https://www.instagram.com/lisamorgan_author/

Lori also writes kids' horse books as Lisa Morgan. Visit her website at LisaMorganAuthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaMorganAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lisamorganauthor
Instagram.com: https://www.instagram.com/lisamorgan_author/

My Thoughts...

Keith and Emily's  romantic story will bring you to your knees.  If you are looking for a romantic beach read this is it. You are going to love these characters and the writing was very well done and the story was well executed.

I Island Summer 4 stars. i hope you enjoy it to.

  The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own. 

Then Again, Maybe By Susan Tuttle

 

Former beauty queen Belle Thornton knows what it is to think she has it all, only to discover she never valued what was truly important. Raising her daughter and building a thriving thrift shop that helps single mothers like herself has taught Belle what the word beautiful really means. Unfortunately, thanks to her shady landlord, Belle must toss those hard-earned dollars into the money-pit of a rental that houses both her tiny apartment and her business or risk the city closing her doors. When funds dwindle as quickly as her to-do list grows, she is forced to rely on the absolute last rescuer she’d choose: Micah Shaw. Leaving Belle at the altar, pregnant, was the worst choice Micah ever made. He returns home, hoping to reconcile with Belle and their toddler. While balancing his medical residency with caring for his ailing mother, he strives to win Belle’s heart again and ensure her business remains open. Helping with that is the easy part. Chiseling through the rock encompassing Belle's heart is more of a challenge, but one he’s determined to conquer. If only he could get her to realize that a new lease on love may be their best collaboration of all.

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Then-Again-Maybe-Along-Came/dp/1645262898/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29R83HYOGG2U0&dchild=1&keywords=then+again+maybe+susan+tuttle&qid=1606586099&sprefix=Then+Again%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1

ACFW Carol Award Finalist, Susan L. Tuttle was born and raised in the Mitten State where she met and married her best friend. A homeschooling mom of three, somewhere along the way she blinked and those three littles aren’t so little anymore. Now she balances their young adult years with directing the women’s ministry at her church and writing new stories. She fully believes that God is the biggest romancer in the world and that He loves each one of us lavishly even in all our imperfections—a belief tried and tested by her own misses at perfection. Never having met a cookie she didn’t like, most days you’ll find her enjoying one for a treat between chauffeuring her kiddos around, attempting housework, contemplating exercise, or coaxing her current characters to talk.

My Thoughts...

This was book two in a series. I did not get a copy of book one, but I will tell you it can be read as a stand alone. I was not lost, I don't feel like I missed anything.

This was such a good romance, it was a clean, fun, fast read. I have found a new author to share with all my friends.

I loved the characters  and  enjoyed the story so much.

I  gave this book 4 stars and I hope that you grab a copy and maybe an extra one for a friend to enjoy.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

Magnolia Mistletoe An Edisto Christmas Novella By Lindsey Brackett

 

Hannah Calhoun knows what she wants for Christmas. But before she can become a full-fledged partner in her mother’s wedding planning business, she has to prove she can handle her own shortcomings.

Benjamin Townsend is an entrepreneur always looking out for the next big thing—and if hosting weddings on Edisto is it, he’s all in. Even if that does mean spending a lot of time with Hannah, whose world is way more full of happily ever after than his.

Once the magnolia and mistletoe are hung, will an Edisto Christmas be exactly the magic these two need?

Pick up your copy here...

https://www.amazon.com/Magnolia-Mistletoe-Edisto-Christmas-Novella/dp/164526291X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=27A9CB6UFSMFG&dchild=1&keywords=magnolia+mistletoe+lindsey+brackett&qid=1606527627&sprefix=Magnolia+Mis%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-1

Lindsey P. Brackett has read obituaries on the radio, conned middle schoolers into reading Shakespeare, and directed musicals despite not having the ability to sing or dance. These days, she writes southern fiction infused with her rural Georgia upbringing and Lowcountry South Carolina roots. Her debut novel, Still Waters, was an INSPY Finalist and 2018 Selah Book of the Year. Find her podcasting at A Rough Draft Life with novelist Kristi Ann Hunter and stress-cooking on Instagram as @lindseyprackett. Someday, she hopes to balance motherhood and writing full-time. Until then, she’s just very grateful for her public school system.

Join her newsletter and receive a free short story at lindseypbrackett.com.

My Thoughts...

Well lets see where to start. I like most people don't think that great authors should right novellas. Do to the fact that you are always left wanting more.

That being said. I really enjoyed this story and the characters  were great the setting was great and the romance was just right. But I was left wanting to read more story by Brackett.

I gave this 4 stars and I am hoping for some more books from her soon.

The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.