REVIEW WEDNESDAY - An Early Spring

Good morning, readers. 

I hope you took a few minutes to check out our author for this week, JoAnn Durgin

AMAZON

BLURB:

Small-town charm and rediscovered dreams are always in season in Dogwood Creek, Tennessee!

Investigative journalist Ryan Hartmann is living his best life. Based in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, he gets the prime assignments and travels the world. When he finally takes a break to visit his Grandpa Luke in a tiny mountain town in Tennessee, Ryan encounters a gorgeous fireball of a woman at the local diner before he even steps foot in his grandfather’s house. After a case of mistaken identity and a wacky run-in at the local bookmobile, these two are off and running!

Jennifer Collins moved into her grandmother’s mansion in Dogwood Creek five years ago. Her Grandma Ellie has plenty of room and, as a successful playwright, she needs an assistant. Also a part-time actor at the nearby Smoky Mountain Playhouse, Jennifer slides effortlessly into both roles. What she doesn’t expect is a handsome man from Atlanta with mesmerizing eyes, surprising transparency, and a witty sense of humor who comes to town and challenges her at every turn. When a long-held, fiercely guarded family secret is leaked to the public and the press, who has the obvious motive? Who can be trusted?

Join the fun among the dogwoods where love is always in bloom. Toss in a bit of mystery, a group of lovable matchmakers, and the perennial possibility of small-town hijinks. Where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and everyday citizens step out of the shadows as heroes. Who knows, there might even be a knight in shining armor among them!

I knew going in this was Christian fiction. I have read and reviewed them here many times. However, An Early Spring is really high on the subject. God is mentioned at least once on nearly every page, they live their life according to God, and she backs up some of the discussions by having the characters quoting verses. I get all of that, and I know that's what readers of Christian fiction want. I'm not going to ding her on any of those points.

The good news is, Jennifer and Ryan's story is truly heartwarming. I got multiple chuckles with the bantering between Ryan and his grandfather. Jennifer's grandmother is the epitome of where Hollywood legends go when they walk away from the industry. I loved how JoAnn sprinkled in some of the classic actors that would have been a part of her grandmother's day. I love a classic Hollywood movie. I wonder if there is a story similar to her grandmother's final picture.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too. I'm giving An Early Spring...

You'll find out more about JoAnn Durgin in the links below:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   GOOD READS  BOOK BUB

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE   

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - JoAnn Durgin

Good morning, readers!

Totally flip the script from last week. This week we get to know Christian author, JoAnn Durgin.

Here's a bit about JoAnn:

JoAnn Durgin is a USA Today Bestselling Author named one of the "35 Essential Christian Romance Authors" in 2018 by Family Fiction Magazine. A former estate administration paralegal, she is the author of more than forty contemporary Christian romantic fiction novels ranging from novellas to supersize novels over 500 pages! JoAnn is unapologetic about sharing the hope, grace, and mercy to be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

JoAnn is best known for the beloved LEWIS LEGACY SERIES. The series is complete with 12 books plus the accompanying novel, PRELUDE. Other popular series include the STARLIGHT CHRISTMAS SERIES, the WONDROUS LOVE SERIES, and the TREASURED VOW SERIES as well as a number of standalone novels. JoAnn also writes contemporary Christian romance under the pen name of Julianna Desmond.

I'll be sharing Book 2 in the Dogwood Creek Matchmaker's series tomorrow. In the meantime, please check out her links below:

WEBSITE   FACEBOOK   GOOD READS  BOOK BUB

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE   

All my best!

~ Angela

 

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning!

I'm am scheduling all of the blog posts for the rest of the month. I leave on Friday for a Junk Journal retreat and won't be checking in until I return end of the month. Bob is going to hold down the fort while I'm gone. I hope you'll continue to check in. ~ Thank you!

All my best!

~ Angela

FRIDAY PHOTO

 Good morning!

We had a semi-feral MainCoon I'd named Fluffy (for obvious reasons). just showed up in our yard one day. He spent eighteen months getting to know me before I could pet him, eventually hold and love on him. He loved to be brushed. 

About a month ago another male showed up. A tuxedo tabby. Very territorial and ran fluffy off. I miss my ginger kitty. This picture reminds me of him.  Is there a cat in your story? 

courtesy of y20221225-cat-9169528_640 on pixabay

All my best!

~ Angela

REVIEW WEDNESDAY - Spring Trip

 Good morning, readers.

I have to let you know up front this is not the type of book I would normally read, but the book is only 96 pages and I was intrigued about what the author, Sage Donnell, would accomplish in such a limited number of pages. Let's dive in!

AMAZON

BLURB:

Spring break is coming up and high school teacher Kade could not be more excited to spend the week with her girlfriend, Aiesha. The two haven't seen much of each other since their Valentine's trip thanks to their long distance relationship and generally busy lives, but this will give them the opportunity to spend the whole week together.

Will friends, surfing, and a few communication issues get in the way?

Features an ace-spectrum character.

While I've read Lesbian romances, the aspectrum character was new to me. Sometimes, authors forget that regardless of gender, or sexual preferences, the core of the relationship is the same. Are they compatible and can they work within those challenges and come together?

Sage Donnell did this masterfully. There is no gratuitous sex in the book. It's very clean, behind closed doors (or at least out of site since they're sleeping in a loft). SPRING TRIP is all about finding your way in a new, budding relationship. She shows Kade's struggle and growth masterfully as well as Aiesha's understanding of Kade's struggle and patience to let things grow naturally between them. 

Again, while this isn't my normal read, I enjoyed the story. Isn't that why we read books? For the stories?

I'm giving SPRING TRIP...

Remember to check out Sage Donnell's links below.

GOODREADS   X-TWITTER  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Sage Donnell

 Good morning, friends!

As you'll see from her photo, water is Sage's happy place. Here's more about her:

BIO:

Sage grew up in Colorado, spent most of her adult life in Portland, Oregon, and now resides in Ajijic, Mexico. She is trying to improve her Spanish and has found that even in Mexico, she's still her. 

She is a not-too-serious hiker, a voracious reader, a lover of games, and an enjoyer of a good water-based activity on a hot day. Although her beloved dog only agrees with the first two activities.

I'll be reviewing her book, Spring Trip, tomorrow. In the mean time, you can find more about Sage and follow her through the following links:

GOODREADS   X-TWITTER  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

All my best!

~ Angela

THOUGHTFUL MONDAY

 Good morning!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Spring is taking a roller coaster ride. Near freezing temperatures the past two nights. Now, we're to warm up again. I just keep asking, 'is it fall yet?' 

All my best!

~ Angela