This Time Around Three Sweet Romance Novellas By Denise Hunter

 

For lovers of happily ever afters—this collection of three light and sweet romance stories will sweep you off your feet.

In A Summer Detour by Denise Hunter, you’ll meet free-spirited Allie Adams, who undertakes a road trip to deliver her grandparents’ newly restored ’57 Chevy in time for their fiftieth anniversary party . . . along with Luke Fletcher, the former boy-next-door who callously crushed her heart.

Pining for You by Melissa Ferguson invites you to a cozy Virginia mountain town where Christmas tree farm owner Theo Watkins III has the opportunity to drop everything for one weekend to play farmer and potentially win back the heart of his childhood best friend, Skye Fuller. Only problem? He’s the kind of man who drives a Tesla, not a tractor. 

Last but not least, He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not by Kathleen Fuller will transport you to a small town in Arkansas where thirty-five-year-old Sophie Morgan has spent years making her flower shop a success. But when this workaholic decides she’s ready to make time for dating again, she finds herself with two handsome men vying for her attention.

Whether your perfect romance involves rows and rows of Fraser firs and white pines glinting in the moonlight, childhood love that never ends, or a second chance at a happily ever after, you’re sure to find a story within this collection to warm your heart any day of the year.

Pick up your copy here..                                                                                                                                        This Time Around: Three Sweet Romances: Hunter, Denise, Ferguson, Melissa, Fuller, Kathleen: 9780785248767: Amazon.com: Books

 Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 35 novels, three of which have been adapted into Hallmark movies. She has appeared on the The 700 Club and won awards such as The Holt Medallion Award, The Carol Award, The Reader's Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.

Denise writes heartwarming, small-town love stories, peopled with layered characters who have real-life issues. Her readers enjoy the vicarious thrill of falling in love and the promise of a happily-ever-after sigh as they savor the final pages of her books.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she's been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn't orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking chai lattes, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband raised three boys and are currently enjoying an empty nest and two beautiful granddaughters.

You can learn more about Denise through her website www.DeniseHunterBooks.com or by visiting her FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/authordenisehunter         

My Thoughts...

These sweet romances are fast, fun reads. I love second chance romances so much. I will have to tell you just in case you are new to The Mary Reader I loved Hunters the best and oh boy that racoon is not to be missed.                                                                                                             Are you intrigued yet? If you want to find out about the raccoon grab your copy of this 5 star read and devour A Summer Detour By Denise Hunter you will be so happy that you did.                                                       The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.                                                                                                          

Deep In the heart of Madison By Crystal Jackson

 

Beth Everett loves romance--as long as she can experience it vicariously through romcoms, Hallmark movies, and books. She has a perfect life--a job she loves in the town where she grew up, the world's cutest dog, and great friends she can count on. If her life was a movie, she would absolutely fall in love with her best friend Jamie. But it's not. So, she really wishes they could get past that one kiss. Not that they've talked about it since it happened. Still, it's caused ripples on the surface of Beth's perfect life, and she just wants everything to go back to the way it was before. Everything's changing, and Beth has to figure out if the perfect life she planned has room enough for love. Deep in the Heart of Madison is the third book in the Heart of Madison series.

Pick up your copy here...

Deep in the Heart of Madison (Heart of Madison Series): Jackson, Crystal: 9781988281919: Amazon.com: Books

'Left on Main’ is Crystal Jackson’s first novel in the Heart of Madison series, an ongoing southern romance set in the charming real-life town of Madison, Georgia, where she lives with her two wild and wonderful children. A former therapist turned author, her work has been featured on Medium, Elephant Journal, Elite Daily, and The Good Men Project. When she’s not writing for Medium and working on her next book, you can find Crystal traveling, paddle boarding, running, throwing axes badly but with terrifying enthusiasm, hiking, doing yoga, or curled up with her nose in a book.  

This is Book Three, In the Heart of Madison Series. I will be back next week with the final Book in the series.

The tiger Mom's tale By Lyn Liao Butler

 

When an American woman inherits the wealth of her Taiwanese family, she travels to confront them about their betrayals of the past in this stunning debut by Lyn Liao Butler.

Lexa Thomas has never quite fit in. Having grown up in a family of blondes while more closely resembling Constance Wu, she's neither white enough nor Asian enough. Visiting her father in Taiwan as a child, Lexa thought she'd finally found a place where she belonged. But that was years ago, and even there, some never truly considered her to be a part of the family.

When her estranged father dies unexpectedly, leaving the fate of his Taiwanese family in Lexa's hands, she is faced with the choice to return to Taiwan and claim her place in her heritage . . . or leave her Taiwanese family to lose their home for good. Armed with the advice of two half-sisters (one American and the other Taiwanese, who can't stand each other), a mother who has reevaluated her sexuality, a man whose kisses make her walk into walls, and her self-deprecating humor, Lexa finds the courage to leave the comfort of New York City to finally confront the person who drove her away all those decades ago.

With fond memories of eating through food markets in Taiwan and forming a bond with a sister she never knew she had, Lexa unravels the truth of that last fateful summer and realizes she must stand up for herself and open her heart to forgiveness, or allow the repercussions of her family's choices to forever dictate the path of her life. 

Pick up your copy here...

The Tiger Mom's Tale: Butler, Lyn Liao: 9780593198728: Amazon.com: Books

Lyn Liao Butler was born in Taiwan and moved to the States when she was seven. In her past and present lives, she has been: a concert pianist, a professional ballet and modern dancer, a gym and fitness studio owner, a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, an RYT-200 hour certified yoga instructor, a purse designer and most recently, author of multi-cultural fiction. Her mother swears she was not a Tiger Mom to Lyn. Lyn came about her over-achieving all by herself.

Having lived in New York City for over a decade, Lyn fled for the peace and quiet of the suburbs when she married her FDNY husband. She now resides on a lake with her Fireman, their son (the happiest little boy in the world) and their two stubborn dachshunds, Pinot and Lokie. When she is not torturing clients or talking to imaginary characters, Lyn enjoys cooking, sewing purses for her Etsy shop, spending time with her family and trying crazy yoga poses on her stand-up paddleboard. So far, she has not fallen into the water yet.

My Thoughts...

Family secrets and good food. This book has them both. You are not going to be able to put this book down. You will be speed reading to the very end.

It was very well written and had me wanting more from Butler.

I am adding this author to my must read list.

4 stars and I recommend this one for sure.

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

The Get It Together Planner GIVEAWAY!

 

An undated 52-week planner with organizational tools and inspirational messages to help kick-start the year ahead (whenever you want to begin!) and direct you toward a life filled with purpose, intentionality, and fruitfulness.

"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." --1 Chronicles 28:20, NLT

The Get It Together Planner features classic Scriptures on fruitfulness and productivity as well as timeless quotes from inspirational experts in the fields of purpose, mindfulness, and intentionality. The beautifully designed interior has ample room for recording appointments and deadlines, shopping and to-do lists, meal plans and budgets, and much more. Each month, space is dedicated for reflection on the month past and setting firm intentions and goals for the month ahead.

Pick up your copy here...

The Get It Together Planner: Living with Intention Week by Week: Ink & Willow: 9780593192924: Amazon.com: Books

The Ink & Willow line infuses contemplation and inspiration into the regular spiritual practice of creative-minded Christians, wherever they are in their faith journey. Each thoughtfully curated gift product is based in biblical truth and sparks a reminder of how God reveals beauty in the midst of our ordinary.

Throughout literary history, willow trees have been symbols of growth, balance, learning, healing, and harmony. Since willows often grow near streams or rivers, the name Ink and Willow was inspired by the verse in Psalm 1 about the person who delights in God and therefore is deeply planted and able to thrive, bearing fruit and prospering through every season. The word ink has a dual meaning, first as a nod to the act and art of printing words on paper, and then, in the sense that ink symbolizes life. In combination, Ink & Willow becomes the perfect metaphor for what this thoughtfully curated line of products is designed to do, which is to inspire, nurture, and engage Christians.

www.inkandwillow.com and @inkandwillowgifts on social.

My Thoughts...

This planner is for everyone. I am using it as my blogging/review planner. I love it it has everything the budget tracking is so handy. The Meal planner each month comes in very handy. I really will use the priorities page each month. What a great way to use my time better and a great amount of space to record all of your Bible reading/notes.

This is going to be so useful in the next year.

Hopefully you will grab one or two they make such a great gift.

I gave this planner 5 stars. 

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

The Stranger in the Mirror By Liv Constantine

 

Addison’s about to get married, but she’s not looking forward to the big day. It’s not her fiancé; he’s a wonderful man. It’s because Addison doesn't know who she really is. A few years ago, a kind driver found her bleeding next to a New Jersey highway and rescued her. While her physical wounds healed, Addison’s memory never returned. She doesn’t know her real name. Or how she ended up injured on the side of a road. Or why she can’t shake the notion that she may have done something very, very bad . . .

In a posh home in the Boston suburbs, Julian tries to figure out what happened to his loving, caring wife, Cassandra, who disappeared without a trace two years ago. She would never have left him and their seven-year-old daughter Valentina of her own free will—or would she? 

As these two lives intersect, The Stranger in the Mirror hooks readers with riveting drama, told with Liv Constantine’s hallmark blend of glamour, tense psychological thrills, and jaw-dropping twists. 

Pick up your copy here...

Amazon.com: The Stranger in the Mirror: A Novel (9780062967329): Constantine, Liv: Books

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Together, they are the bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, The Last Time I Saw You, The Wife Stalker, and The Stranger in the Mirror (coming July 2021). Their critically acclaimed books have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Lynne and Valerie are national and international bestselling authors and their books have been translated into 28 languages, are available in 33 countries, and have been optioned for both television and film. Lynne lives in Milford, Connecticut; Valerie in Annapolis, Maryland. Visit their website at www.livconstantine.com and find them on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LivConstantine2 or Instagram under the handle @livconstantine2

My Thoughts...

Again these two authors blew me away. I loved this book from start to finish, You are not going to see the twists you will be shaking your head who is who and where did it all start. Who is Cassandra, who is  Addison, who is Julian, and who is Amelia? You have to read this to find out.

5 Stars two times. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

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

Right On Walton By Crystal Jackson

Lindy Carver can really get behind the idea that the future is female. After all, she’s taking family planning into her own hands as she approaches 40 with no relationship in sight. A passionate artist and fierce feminist, Lindy knows that she’s capable of creating exactly the life she wants, even if she has to do it alone. Dean Walton has elevated casual dating to an art form, having escaped a dysfunctional childhood with no intention of repeating those patterns in his future. He’s known Lindy forever, but lately, tension has grown between them that has nothing to do with annoyance. As their relationship heats up, their careful plans go sideways, and Dean’s reputation may just come back to haunt them. Right on Walton is the second book in the Heart of Madison series.

Pick up your copy here...

Right On Walton (2) (Heart of Madison Series): Jackson, Crystal: 9781988281810: Amazon.com: Books

Left on Main is Crystal Jackson’s first novel in the Heart of Madison series, an ongoing southern romance set in the charming real-life town of Madison, Georgia, where she lives with her two wild and wonderful children. A former therapist turned author, her work has been featured on Medium, Elephant Journal, Elite Daily, and The Good Men Project. When she’s not writing for Medium and working on her next book, you can find Crystal traveling, paddle boarding, running, throwing axes badly but with terrifying enthusiasm, hiking, doing yoga, or curled up with her nose in a book. Follow her work at https://www.facebook.com/CrystalJackson.Writer , https://www.instagram.com/CrystalJackson.Writer , https://www.crystaljacksonwriter.com , https://www.medium.com/@crystaljackson , https://twitter.com/cjacksonwriter

Kids & Cocktails Don't Mix By Heather Haldeman

What happens when life looks like nothing it's supposed to? Pudgy Heather, granddaughter of the Governor of California, lives in an exclusive gated community in Los Angeles with celebrities and political figures as neighbors during the Vietnam War-era. Life is easy and opulent, with parties where Kids & Cocktails Don't Mix. Moments straight out of "Mad Men." But when her father abandons the family to chase a wealthy woman, Heather, together with her glamorous mother Marilyn, and sister April, must find the grit to keep going forward.

This moving memoir explores machinations of gender and power dynamics in the 1960s and '70s as they unfold in Heather's family, including Marilyn's need to find a new husband, complete with a resume (bathing suit photo by the pool) and fancy new clothes. What other choice does she have? Meanwhile, cars are repossessed and the fashionable house they live in is crumbling to pieces. In Heather's young life, nothing is as it appears. As Heather comes of age, she must make decisions about how she wants her own life to look. Which of the many inheritances of her parents will she keep and which will she jettison?

Pick Up your copy here...

Kids and Cocktails Don't Mix: A Memoir: Haldeman, Heather: 9781627203364: Amazon.com: Books

 

Heather Haldeman lives in Pasadena, California. She has been married to her husband, Hank, for forty-one years. She has three grown children and two granddaughters.

Her essays have been published in The Christian Science Monitor, Chicken Soup for the Soul, From Freckles to Wrinkles, Grandmother Earth, The Mom Egg and numerous online journals.  She has received first, second and third prizes for her essays.

This was an interesting memoir, if you enjoy reading about people and what goes on in their life then you  are sure to enjoy this one.