So Into You by Kathleen Fuller

 

So Into You by Kathleen Fuller is labeled as a Rom-Com but I don't think this is the right label for this book. This book deals with some heavy issues like alcholism and anxiety.  An alternate name for this book could be Keeping Secrets since many of the characters in this book had secrets they did not reveal to those who were close to them.  The female lead character Brit has a successful youtube channel where she instructs art techniques.  Despite her successs Brit has anxiety issues.  She has trouble getting out in the public. Hunter PIckett happened upon her channel by accident and was intriqued so he connects with her.  Later  on they meet up and form a friendship. Hunter has his own issues. He is a recovering alcoholic who is estranged from his wealthy family.  Brit and Hunter have a growing relationship.  Brit has a low opinion of herself and finds it hard to believe a good looking guy like Hunter could be interested in her.  Both are guilty of keeping secrets. Hunter does not reveal to her that he is estranged from his family because he is a recovering alcoholic. Brit has her own secrets. Her mother does not know that she has re-connected with her father who also is a recovering alcoholic.  I mostly liked all the characters in this book. Even Hunter's parents won me over.  They just wanted the best for their son. Brit's mother Amy was a bit overbearing. She was over-protective of Brit, treated her like a child and did not respect her daughter's decisions.

I enjoyed this books and looking forward to more contemporary stories from this author who usually writes Amish fiction.

With This Ring by Amy Clipston

 With This Ring takes place in Flowering Grove which is the same small town in North Carolina that is the setting for at least a couple of her previous books. This is a stand-alone book so not necessary to read previous books although previous characters are mentioned but not really any spoilers. This book has to be my favorite of hers so far maybe because I enjoy reading the second-chance troupe. Dakota is struggling to make her bridal gown business a success. Having her shop being flooded and the insurance refusing to pay doesn't help. She rarely dates. She has not had a serious relationship since she broke up with the love of her life seven years earlier. Her ex-fiance Hudson returns to the town to convince his baby sister not to get married. Hudson gained a successful career in New York City after leaving Flowering Grove. I thought Alex was a jerk most of the story but there was still that chemistry between him and Dakota. So many times in the story I thought they would never get together because there were so many obstacles but at the very ending and I mean the last few pages we get the ending we were hoping for.

I highly recommend this book. I can't wait for her to write another Flowering Grove book. I'm not a fan of Amish fiction but I am considering reading one of her Amish novel since I like her writing style.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions express here are my own.

Between the Sound and Sea by Amanda Cox

Amands Cox's newest novel Between the Sound Sea takes place on the outher banks of North Carolina. The main character Josephina is an event planner in a small town in Tennessee but she takes on the job of overseeing the restoration of a lighthouse for an elderly man. I like it that she was totally honest with the man about the expensive endeaver to restore the lighthouse.    Another thing I liked about the story was there was a mystery going on in part of the story. Mysterious things were happening on the island. It appeared that someone did not want them restoring the lighthouse. Of course the mystery is eventually solved.  

I have read all of Amanda Cox's books and I did not enjoy this one as well as I did the others but it still was a good read. 

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are strictly my own and I was not compensated for reading book.

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter is a heartwarming romance that I could not put down. Lauren Wentworth and Jonah Landry were in love and the future looked bright to them until Lauren had an accident and she did not remember falling in love with him. When they first met they got off to a rocky start because Jonah had been hurt by a previous relationship and Lauren reminded him of her. They quickly because friends and then fell in love. The story alternates between the time before the accident and the present day. She wakes up after the accident and all she remembers is what it was like before she fell in love with him. Jonah is patient, kind and willing to give her space. He keeps hoping that she will remember the love they shared. This book kept me engaged. Will she remember or will she fall in love with him again? I loved it that he was willing to let her go. I loved that his family was very supportive of him. I love all the characters that Denise Hunter creates.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Finding You by Amy Clipston

 

Finding You is a sweet heart-warming book by Amy Clipston. Darsen Larsen has been through a lot in her young life. She survived a kidney transplant but is heartbroken that her fiance was killed tragically. After a checkup with her doctor her car doesn't start and Carter Donovon comes to her rescue.  They have different backgrounds. She is educated and comes from a weathy family who adopted her. Carter is a blue collar worker who was raised by a single mother.  They have vastly different backgrounds but bond over antique cars.  Their relationship has potential if she can get over her deceased fiance and he can get over his feelings of inadequacy. I love that he has a supportive family in his sister and brother-in-law. 

Another thing that I liked about this book is I learned something. I never knew about kidney paired donatFinding ion.  The author has drawn from her own experiences with this donation and included it in her book. If you are in need of a kidney and you have someone willing to donate but are incompatible they can still donate to another person and someone else can donate to you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker

 What We Hide is a new series by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker. Savannah Webber is estranged from her former DA husband Hez. Webster. After a tragedy hit their family Hez could not handle it and took to drinking which of course drove them apart. Savannah teaches at a university and it looks like she may possibly be accused of a crime. The best person to help her is her estranged husband. Lots of twists and turns in the story. and the couple begins to grow closer. Just when you think that the storyline is wrapped up after the bad guy is revealed you realize it is not over. The last chapter is puzzling and will make you anxious to read the next book in the series to find out what is going on with a mysterious character.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble

 Fragile Designs is a stand-alone book by Colleen Coble that captured me from the first page. I could not put this book down. It was a roller coaster ride from the beginning until the end.  The book starts out with Carly as a widow raising an infant son. Her husband was murdered and never knew he was going to be a father.  She moves in with her grandmother and trouble follows her. She finds a Faberge egg and finds out that it is quite valuable. I love the relationship she had with her grandmother's next door neighbor who at first didn't like her.  Many characters in the book who could or could not be the villain. Some who I thought were innocent turned out gulty and more than one who I though were guilty turned out to be innocent.  There are twists and turns in this story. I was quite satisfied with the ending.  

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.