Beach Dreams by Trish Perry

Beach Dreams by Trish Perry
Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (July 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0736924469
ISBN-13: 978-0736924467
From Amazon.com:
Editorial Reviews
Product Description

Following up on Sally John’s bestselling Beach House series (The Beach House and Castles in the Sand—nearly 45,000 in combined sales) is a brand–new Beach House book from veteran Harvest House novelist Trish Perry.

Tiffany LeBoeuf recently lost her mother to cancer. Still grieving, Tiffany seeks rest for her body and soul at a cozy beach house in San Diego. A scheduling mix–up causes a double booking, and Tiffany ends up sharing the house with a woman named Eve. When Eve’s boyfriend, Jeremy, arrives to surprise Eve, he’s surprised to see Tiffany as well. He settles in at the beach house next door, and what happens after that surprises them all.

A fun, contemporary romance about how God uses even our mistakes to bring about His divine purposes. Beach Dreams is the perfect get–away read.

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This book was terrific! The snappy writing style makes this novel a must-read while vacationing. The short chapters quickly propel the story forward, causing the reader to eagerly anticipate the next scene.

Tiff is a new Christian, and when she first met Jeremy in the past, as a non-Christian, her negative behavior left a bad impression on him. Jeremy recalls initially meeting Tiff, and wonders why she is much different, and more pleasant, than the woman he first met.

Jeremy is currently in an unsatisfactory relationship with Eve, and when Eve decides to vacation in California for two weeks, Jeremy springs for a beach house for Eve and her friend to enjoy while on vacation.

Due to a mix-up, Tiff, Eve, and Tiff’s father, Orville, end up in the beach house together. Eve is distraught about the mix-up, and when Jeremy makes a surprise visit to California, his life takes some unexpected turns when he discovers why Eve really traveled to California. While visiting the west coast, Jeremy’s life drastically changes as he makes new friends and discovers the truth about Jesus.

The author, Trish Perry, is sponsoring a contest. Here’s the link if interested. You could win a nice prize to use on your next beach vacation!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Book Giveaway!


I’m giving away the following novels this month! Remember that some of these books are new and some are slightly used. If you are interested in winning any of these titles, leave a comment and leave an email address so that I can contact you!

Here are the titles:

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber – note this is a secular title
Redemption by Jacquelin Thomas
The Last Ten Percent by Michelle McKinney Hammond
Murder, Mayhem, And A Fine Man by Claudia Mair Burney
Catching Katie by Robin Lee Hatcher
Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy

The following six titles are Heartsong Presents novels. I’m giving all six of these away as a set:
Garlic And Roses by Gail Gaymer Martin
The Prisoner’s Wife by Susan Page Davis
Picture This by Nancy J. Farrier
What’s Cooking by Gail Sattler
Listening To Her Heart by Joyce Livingston
The Love Song by Anita Higman and Janice A. Thompson

The following two books are Heartsong Presents Mysteries, and I’m giving them away as a set:
Another Stab At Life by Anita Higman
Trouble Up Finney’s Nose by Dana Mentink

Unlikely Hero by Marta Perry

John’s Quest by Cecelia Dowdy

A Secular Title

 

 

 

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A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira (May 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778322955
ISBN-13: 978-0778322955
From Amazon.com
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Macomber revisits the cozy Seattle yarn store of 2004’s The Shop on Blossom Street in another heartfelt tale of crafts and camaraderie. After a slow beginning, this sequel clips along satisfyingly, as shop owner Lydia, a cancer survivor, and her no-nonsense sister, Margaret, meet three new and conveniently quite different friends and bond over the complications of life. Overweight, depressed teenager Courtney Pulanski has found herself plopped into a new town for her senior year, living with her grandma while her dad works in Brazil. Bethanne Hamlin, a recent divorcée, and Elise Beaumont, who’s been single for years, are both still suffering from their broken marriages. Serving as sounding boards and sources of endless support for each other, the women find friendship and, of course, resolution for their problems (the latter a little too easily). Readers will miss The Shop on Blossom Street’s spirited Jacqueline, who plays a minor role here, and a few things—like the character of Elise’s ex-husband, Maverick—strain credibility. But the author’s trademark warm treatment of the lives of women will satisfy her readers. Despite occasional draughts of treacle and a too-easy denouement, this should be another Macomber bestseller. (May)
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This is the first novel I’ve ever read by Debbie Macomber and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although this is not an inspirational title, it was sweet, for the most part, and I could see lovers of inspirational fiction enjoy this novel.
Courtney is still hurting over the death of her mother four years ago. When her father has to go out of the country to work, she is forced to move, spending her senior year in a new school. Her grandmother signs her up for a knitting class and she bonds with the older women.
Lydia has found comfort and solace by knitting. Knitting provided an outlet while fighting bouts of cancer. Now, cancer free, she wants to share her joy of knitting with others, so she opens a yarn shop. Her life changes when Brad, her current boyfriend, wants to give his relationship with his ex-wife another chance.
Bethanne’s husband has recently divorced her, and she’s left struggling to make a living for herself and her teenaged children. She discovers that she has untapped business skills which enable her to support herself, helping her to heal from her breakup.
Elise has yet to forgive her ex-husband for his gambling habit. Due to circumstances, the two abide together in their daughter’s home. After over thirty years of separation, they find that their attraction still sizzles.
All of these women find comfort with one another while knitting every week in Lydia’s shop, making socks for and sweaters for sweethearts as well as family members.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Some Of The Winners!

Here are some of the winners for my last book giveaway:
Bygones by Kim Vogel Sawyer – Marla Alleman of Pierre Part, Louisiana

Tuesday Night At The Blue Moon by Debbie Fuller Thomas – Marla Alleman of Pierre Part, Louisiana and Martha Artyomenko of Kalispell, Mt

Ain’t No Mountain by Sharon Ewell Foster – Jenn Simpson of Ontario, Canada

The Visitation by Frank Peretti – Katherine Harms of Baltimore, MD


John’s Quest by Cecelia Dowdy – Bethany Goff of Chesaning, MI

I will probably be mailing the books off later this week.

I’ve already contacted the winners for the following novels, but have not received a response so far. If I don’t hear from the winners shortly, then I will choose other recipients:
The Ex Files and A Sin And A Shame
The Spinster Brides Of Cactus Corner
Married In A Month

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Prisoner’s Wife

The Prisoner’s Wife by Susan Page Davis
Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc (June 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1597894621
ISBN-13: 978-1597894623
Editorial Reviews
Note: The Prisoner’s Wife is now available in stores everywhere in the anthology, Maine Brides.

Product Description
Lucy lost Jack years ago. Jack Hunter’s father was a drunk and a criminal, and Lucy Hamblin’s father believed the apple lay near the tree. When her father forbade their love, Lucy buried her heart out of obedience, but she never stopped loving Jack. On a strange evening four years later, she’s summoned to the local jail. Jack has been accused of murder and has a request to make of Lucy. It appears Jack Hunter will hang in the morning, and to preserve his property and provide for the woman he loves, he asks Lucy to marry him. When his trial is postponed and ultimately dismissed, Jack has new worries: Lucy agreed to become a prisoner’s widow, not the wife of a man her father despised. Can Lucy and Jack accept he Lord’s miracle of preservation – of Jack’s life and reputation…and the love they believed they’d lost?
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I really enjoyed this historical Heartsong. The author did a great job of keeping the flow of the story, and she also had something exciting to happen in each chapter, forcing the reader to keep turning the pages. You really feel Jack’s pain spans several years. Lucy’s father never accepted that Jack would be good enough for his daughter, thwarting Jack’s plans to court her. However, when Jack is arrested for a crime he didn’t commit, he marries Lucy, wanting her to gain the inheritance of all he’s acquired over the years. The plan takes a new twist, and when Jack is released, a strange series of thefts happen on the farm. Both Lucy’s and Jack’s faith is tested in this wonderful story!

~Cecelia Dowdy~