Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Sandcastle Inn by Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor #10
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Revell
Released: April 1, 2024
330 pages

About the Book:

Vienna Price never intended to return for more than a passing visit to Oregon and all the bad memories she'd left behind. But when your career tanks, home is where you go to nurse your wounds and chart a new course. Only temporarily, of course--because as much as she loves her quirky mom, anything more than a short stay would drive them both crazy.

A trip to Oregon isn't in Matt Quinn's plans, either, until a perfectly timed appeal for help arrives from his sister. What better place to decompress after a shattering loss than a quiet, seaside town named Hope Harbor? But R&R isn't on the agenda when he arrives to find his sister's new enterprise on life support.

Vienna, however, may have just the skills needed to resuscitate the foundering B&B--if Matt can convince her to hang around long enough to mend an inn . . . and his heart.




My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐


The characters more than the romance kept me invested in this book. I liked getting to getting to know their stories and seeing them interact with one another. Vienna and her mom are opposites in so many ways, but this visit has given Vienna a chance to see her understand her mom better and connect in a new way. Matt is in town to assist his big sister with the overwhelming challenges of the inn while she is away caring for a friend. Quite a few times Matt felt like a big brother looking after his little sister. I enjoyed their phone conversations, especially when Cora got on the phone. When the cause of Matt's grief was shared, my heart broke for him. Andrew & Paige have experienced quite the trial, and I loved how Paige stuck by Andrew, encouraging and supporting him. I liked the way the characters grew and accepted the changes that were happening in their lives. However, it felt like a lot of the romance happened off the page, and I wasn't as connected to their relationship as I would have liked. It was fun to see recurring characters and mentions of previous characters. Another uplifting addition to the Hope Harbor series. Can I go hang out at Bev's Book Nook?

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

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Monday, October 14, 2024

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Genre: General Fiction
Publisher: Dell
Released: September 24, 2007
258 pages
About the Book:

Rick Dockery was the third-string quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. In the AFC Championship game against Denver, to the surprise and dismay of virtually everyone, Rick actually got into the game. With a 17-point lead and just minutes to go, Rick provided what was arguably the worst single performance in the history of the NFL. Overnight, he became a national laughingstock and, of course, was immediately cut by the Browns and shunned by all other teams.

But all Rick knows is football, and he insists that his agent, Arnie, find a team that needs him. Against enormous odds Arnie finally locates just such a team and informs Rick that, miraculously, he can in fact now be a starting quarterback–for the mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy.

Yes, Italians do play American football, to one degree or another, and the Parma Panthers desperately want a former NFL player–any former NFL player–at their helm. So Rick reluctantly agrees to play for the Panthers–at least until a better offer comes along–and heads off to Italy. He knows nothing about Parma, has never been to Europe, and doesn’t speak or understand a word of Italian. To say that Italy holds a few surprises for Rick Dockery would be something of an understatement.


My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I should have dnf'd this book. It started out alright but around the 60% mark it began to include descriptions of characters sleeping together and swearing. We are following Rick a NFL quarterback who has struggled in the NFL and goes over to Italy to play in their football league. There are a lot of descriptions about Italian food and cars, and obviously football. We do see Rick begin to expand his horizon and care about people other than himself, but not a whole lot and the ending was very abrupt with no real conclusion of what Rick decides to do beyond the next few weeks.

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

 

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Sunday, October 13, 2024

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy #3
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Revell
Released: February 1, 2020
363 pages

About the Book:

In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the U.S. Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for—fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.

Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family—the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.

After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true?
  



My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


My favourite of the series. Let's just say marriage of convenience without forced proximity was so enjoyable to read. I loved watching the characters grow not only closer to each other but also in their self-confidence and overcome obstacles from their past. The addition of letters between various characters added to my enjoyment, as it allowed me to feel closer to the characters. Highly recommend this series!

(I purchased my copy of this book; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

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Saturday, October 12, 2024

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy #2
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Revell
Released: February 6, 2019
356 pages

About the Book:

Numbed by grief and harboring shameful secrets, Lt. Adler Paxton ships to England with the US 357th Fighter Group in 1943. Determined to become an ace pilot, Adler battles the German Luftwaffe in treacherous dogfights in the skies over France as the Allies struggle for control of the air before the D-day invasion.

Violet Lindstrom wanted to be a missionary, but for now she serves in the American Red Cross, where she arranges entertainment for the men of the 357th in the airbase Aeroclub, and sets up programs for local children. Drawn to the mysterious Adler, she enlists his help with her work and urges him to reconnect with his family after a long estrangement.

Despite himself, Adler finds his defenses crumbling when it comes to Violet. But D-Day draws near. And secrets can't stay buried forever.
  



My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


I did not expect to like Adler as much as I did because I didn't like his actions at the beginning of book 1. He has made some bad choices in the past that have caused a rift within his family. He is now is a pilot for the Air Force. He meets Violet, who is working for the American Red Cross. Both have lessons to learn and dreams for the future to figure out. I enjoyed how Violet encouraged him to reach out and try to reconnect with his family. I did not like how she responded to Adler's past when it discovered, but she sees her error and apologizes. I loved Nick and how he quietly help Adler work through stuff. I followed the war happenings better in this one than book one. Once again there were letters of correspondence included that helped me feel more connected to the characters. I loved the faith message of the story and the hope that is in front of Adler. Immediately picked up book 3 once I finished this one in hopes of full family restoration.

(I was gifted this book from a friend; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

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Friday, October 11, 2024

The Sea Before Us by Sarah Sundin

Series: Sunrise at Normandy #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Revell
Released: February 6, 2018
354 pages

About the Book:

In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a "Wren" in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), who pieces together reconnaissance photographs with holiday snapshots of France—including those of her own family's summer home—in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt turns into naval bombardment plans for D-day.

As the two spend time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn into something more. But both of them have too much to lose to give in to love . . .
  







My Rating & Thoughts:    ⭐⭐⭐⭐


I loved Wyatt. A horrible accent happens that causes a rift between the three Paxton brothers. It also leads him to make a bad choice that he is trying to rectify. He is now a Navy officer prepping for the D-Day invasion. Dorothy works for the Women's Navy creating maps from photos. I was fully invested in the various character relationships - romance, friendship and family. I was lost when some of the war stuff was being described. There were a few characters that frustrated me and the gull of them to treat Dorothy that way. We see the characters grow and learn to accept the past as the past and move forward. Faith is openly discussed between various characters. There are some tough moments or revelations that happen that made me feel for the characters. I did love reading the few letters of correspondence that were included. Immediately picked up book two after finishing.

(I was gifted this book from a friend; opinions expressed 
in this review are my honest opinion and completely my own.)

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