Category Archives: Fiction

Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury

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Someone Like You

How would you react if you found out, as an adult, that you were adopted?

Maddie is stunned when she discovers, right after the announcement of her engagement, that she was adopted. It wasn’t your regular/average adoption. What made her situation unique was that she was initially a frozen embryo. Both her, and her sister’s embryos, were adopted. Therefore, their adoptive mothers actually carried them in their wombs.

She’s also stunned to discover that she has a sister (London) whom she’s never known – a now deceased sister.

Dawson is hurt and stunned when his best friend and love of his life, London, is killed. He searches for London’s biological sister, wanting some connection to someone who is related to London.

This book really resonated with me because Maddie is angry because she was lied to for her entire life. It hurts when parents lie to their children – not little white lies, but, life-altering lies that can hurt you later in life.

I really enjoyed this novel. It brought a lot of feelings to the surface. You can understand why Maddie is angry at her parents, and you can comprehend why she clings to Dawson, wanting to know more about her biological sister.

Maddie’s situation also causes problems with her fiancé. Although he is sympathetic, he truly doesn’t understand what Maddie is going through.

That’s so tough. Sometimes, when we share our feelings with others, and react a certain way, people may try to support us, listen to us, help us. But, there’s just something comforting, nice, warm…to have someone there who TRULY understands our plight. I realize that’s not always possible, but, it’s nice when it happens.

Maddie’s relationship with Dawson began with their similar situations – both being connected to London. Dawson gives Maddie insight about London. Maddie craves information about her sister as she tries to understand and untangle the knots that have been woven into her life.

So, if you were adopted, how would you react if your parents waited to reveal the truth to you when you were an adult? What would you do? How would you react?

Cathy’s Christmas Kitchen

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Cathy’s Christmas Kitchen

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This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you enjoy novels such as Cathy’s Christmas Kitchen then you must read Rocky Road Dreams by CECELIA DOWDY. Rocky Road Dreams is a warm wonderful Christmas romance that you’ll always remember. Read it today – and tell a friend!

Have you ever provided care for a sick relative – one who had a long-term illness?

Cathy’s life has changed drastically since the death of her mom. She’s alone. Most of her friends have drifted away since she’s spent most of her time, over the last several years, caring for her mom. Her relationship with her mom was strong, and she considered it her duty to care for her. Once her mom dies, she feels a bit…off…reflective. So begins this wonderful story.

Cathy shares her mom’s love for baking. Her mom taught her how to make her first cake when she was a child. Feeling nostalgic, she recalls the church she used to attend with her dad – before his untimely death – when she was a tyke. When she sees an advertisement for a Coffee Morning at the very same church she’d visited as a child – she felt the urge to attend.

The coffee event is the catalyst that changes Cathy’s life. She finds hope, companionship, friendship. When she comes to the Coffee Morning for the first time, bringing some of her homemade baked goods…her culinary skills are recognized. Her scones, muffins, cakes and pies create a new opportunity for her to connect with others regularly.

The food in this book will make your mouth water. I wish there were recipes provided! As Cathy meets new friends, and builds emotional connections, you want to cheer for her. I kind of sensed that Cathy didn’t like being a recluse – she was practically forced into that role because of her mom’s illness.

I loved to see how she connected with other people. She makes friends through her new church connection as she shows others how to bake. She also connects with a wayward teen and there is a hint of romance in this story too.

I liked this book, but, at times, I felt that Cathy was too nice. I felt, at times, she needed more backbone. However, her sweet nature may have been developed from having to care for her mom for so long.

If you want a warm, enjoyable Christmas story then you should read this British tale. This charming British story made me smile. The mouthwatering desserts, and the baking scenes, were magnificent!

So, have you ever cared for a sick person who had a long-term illness?

This blog post is sponsored by Divine Desserts Publishing LLC. If you enjoy novels such as Cathy’s Christmas Kitchen then you must read Rocky Road Dreams by CECELIA DOWDY. Rocky Road Dreams is a warm wonderful Christmas romance that you’ll always remember. Read it today – and tell a friend!

Jingle All The Way

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Jingle All The Way

Have you ever been on a Christmas cruise?

When workaholic Everly/Daisy is mistakenly sent on an Amazon Jungle Christmas cruise by her inept assistant, her life drastically changes when she meets Asher. Asher is the ship’s tour guide/wildlife expert.

I enjoyed reading the Amazon Jungle scenes. Everly is not outdoorsy. She’s the complete opposite of Asher and it’s a nice surprise when we initially see both of them get along so well. Everly manages to land into a lot of trouble and Asher is there to help her.

Everly feels somewhat estranged from her family. She hopes this holiday season will help to solidify her familial relationships. She also reflects about her workaholic life style. How can she balance her family, her workload, and her feelings for Asher?

This is a delightful, light, Christmas read that all will enjoy!

Have you ever been on a Christmas cruise? If you have, where did you travel?

If you like romances set on cruise ships, then you should order Coffee and Kisses. It’s a delightful, sweet cruise ship romance!

On Ocean Boulevard

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On Ocean Boulevard by Mary Alice Monroe

Have you ever worked hard for a worthy cause?

This is a delightful secular title. I believe that most Christian fiction readers can read this title without being easily offended. There is sex, but no sex scenes, and there is a tiny amount of mild profanity. This is the sequel to The Beach House. It was nice seeing some of the characters again.

When twenty-something Linnea returns home to the beachy shore of South Carolina, she’s upset. Her life is not going as planned and she doesn’t know what to do about it. She solicits her Aunt Cara – a business woman – for advice.

While Linnea and Cara work together for a worthy cause, so much happens in their lives. Cara is engaged, but, is it the right choice for her? Widowed, and single mom to an adopted child, she wonders if she’d be happier remaining an independent business woman. She does wonder if she should be spending more time with her adopted daughter instead of working so many hours. Her relationship with her fiancé and daughter is somewhat complex. The complexity of her relationships with them stem in part from Cara’s troubled upbringing and her workaholic attitude.

Linnea is finding it hard to fit in with her old friends, so, she makes a couple of new friends. The new people who are introduced into her life bring about drastic changes in her career and her love life.

I think environmentalists would find this book profoundly interesting. Both Linnea and Cara are passionate about the well-being of the sea turtles. There’s an emotional scene where we actually see the sea turtles hatching in the middle of the night. It sounded so amazing that I wanted to be there to see it myself.

There is a vignette at the beginning of each chapter. These vignettes highlight the beauty and plight of the sea turtles, the oceans and the environment. Reading this book will make you think about recycling, and doing things to help preserve the earth’s wildlife.

This was such a cozy, wonderful read. The characters and the situations they face may make you laugh and cry. For me, this was an emotional book. 00 I highly recommend it.

So, have you ever campaigned for a worthy cause? If so, what was the cause and what did you do to support it?