I loved the setting Diane - the family "property" added so ...
352747
This was an incredibly moving story.  The relationship between Molly and her father was so moving.  I loved the setting Diane - the family "property" added so much.
822833
I hadn't read anything before by this author, but was drawn to it because of the setting being near Charleston, a favorite place of our family.  The characters were so beautifully written;  each with their own distinct personalities,  problems and secrets.  I will definitely seek out other books by this very talented author.  Thank you for bringing such a beautiful story to life!
2937331
I opened this book, went inside and did not want to leave. The characters, setting and story made for a wonderful read.

Lisa Wellman and Simon Canterville are opening a book shop (Canterville Book Shop) in Simon's lovely Victorian home, in Olde Town Portsmouth, VA. Some oppose the opening and one, Ebenezer Hart, is found dead on Simon's roof. Deputy Chief Daniel Fairhaven, Lisa's ex-husband shows up to lead the investigation. Though divorced for twelve years, Lisa is still attracted to him. Just when Lisa thinks things couldn't get worse, the ghost of Charles Dickens appears. (I loved their interaction and found myself laughing at his antics.)

An attempt on Simon's life, an unpleasant meeting with Simon's son (Ashcroft) and the suspicion of others, leads Lisa to use her budding mystery author skills to search for the killer.

I loved Simon's eccentricities, the fondness between him and Lisa and their pets (cats-Truffles, Maggie May and Puck, along with bulldog pup, Wordsworth). I would love to live in the book shop, too!

This book was dedicated to Joyce Lavene, who passed away October 20, 2015. She will be greatly missed.
688890
I really enjoyed reading June.  I was first drawn to the book by the gorgeous cover and after reading the novel feel the cover is such a fabulous fit for the story itself.  Two Oaks, the mansion at the center of June, is a character in the book and has a personality all its own.  That was probably my favorite part  that the house hated falling into disrepair, that it longed to be grand again, and that it welcomed Cassie with hopes that she would revive Two Oaks.  Beverly-Whittemores attention to the grand mansion is engaging and endearing.  My only wish was that there had been a map included of the interior of Two Oaks; it would have helped me follow those portions of the story better.

June takes place in two time periods: 1955 and 2015.  Many times when I read novels that jump back and forth in time, I end up liking the earlier story better for some reason.  That was not the case here.  The characters in the 1955 storyline were not easy to like and behaved in ways that frequently left me shaking my head.  I got particularly annoyed with Jack Montgomery and the way he treated everyone.  I really liked the main character in 2015, Cassie.  While she was surrounded by people who also were not super likeable, she managed to rise above them and pursue her story to a satisfying conclusion.

While I felt the story could have been a little more concise, I do recommend it and was very glad I read it.  Thanks to First to Read for the chance to read this novel.
1921589
I loved the setting and the characters. The story got a bit repetitive, but it was still a great read.
2821341
This book is not what you'd expect from a thriller and mystery novel...I loved the setting, new mexico, reminded me a little of the tv show, breaking bad which is one of my favorites, so i  guess it really helped me picturing all the images and scenes in my head. The writing goes along with it though, it's extremely descriptive and colored and doesnt save on the raw images. The characters are many and everyone brings something unique to the table, including paranormal! This last element, indeed got my attention as I would have never expected something like it in this genre. It gives this dark tone to the story sometimes, that will make you go on reading for hours.
If you love thriller, mystery and a great setting, this is for you!
3862825
Loved the setting, great short read.  Give it a try!
1684377
"Finding Pride" begins with an ending -- a funeral in Pride, Oregon, for the brother of main character Megan Kimble.  Megan is a wretched, battered woman fleeing the remnants of an abusive marriage.  All her life she has been beaten up physically or emotionally, learning to trust no one besides her loving brother.

  Megan had no idea Matt had built a small empire to share with her.  Although Megan is suddenly independently wealthy, her imagination is captured by the Bed & Breakfast property Matt had been working on. It will be just the therapy she needs to restore her broken body and soul.

  Matt was intertwined with Todd Jordan's family in various business ventures and had become for all purposes a member of their family. They automatically confer that same status on Megan. Todd and his younger brother, Iian, seem to compete for Megan's attention. Lacey Jordan, their petite sister, simply takes Megan under her gregarious and protective wing.

  It's a lot for Megan to digest.  She feels a sense of belonging and kinship she's never had before. This is a place she can call home, where she can be happy and safe - until her ex-husband escapes from prison.

  It's a classic tale of renewal, at times a bit formulaic. The characters grow on you and the setting is idyllic.  The only downside was a preponderance of technical issues in editing and formatting.  The storyline itself is good. It deserves to have the interior re-edited to make it a far more pleasant reading experience.  Hopefully the newer installments of the series have overcome these issues.
4697175
I loved the setting of this book - I could feel the Florida humidity sticking to me. Be warned, there is no happy ending to this book, but it is contemplative, and humane. I also liked that nearly all of the characters were women, and it portrayed a sister relationship accurately, without sugarcoating. Worth a read -- especially if you can get it free through Amazon's lending library!
2894270
I loved Waylon and Heather...although Heather drove me crazy in spots. Rose, Jill, Cal, Trenton, Charlie and Blu round out the cast of characters. I loved the storyline of foster sisters and their foster mother creating a bond that stands through all the changes life brings. Family is the thread that runs through this story at several different levels. I laughed, I ached, I wanted to bang my head against a table and I relaxed, exhaled and enjoyed the HEA. I even worked through some of my own family issues! This is a wonderful story...maybe better than  Cal and Jill's story. I can't wait for Trenton's story and to catch up with the gang down the road. This story left me feeling good. And I'm still grinning and revisiting some of my favorite moments . This is a keeper. Pick it up and enjoy
4910259
Tricia's Montana Amish series has been delightful to read. I think The Promise Box is my fav so far. Great setting and good characters.

One of the things I love about Tricia's writing is that the characters are balanced people. They have bright points and flaws. They question life, same as the rest of us. This is a Christian novel, but I liked how the Christian themes were more organic to her plot rather than forced and/or hitting me over the head.

Something I like about Tricia's approach to Amish fiction is her even-handed dealing with the characters. Some of the Amish novels I've read feature characters who are always angry and distrustful of outsiders. There is some of that here, but it's not so universal. Even within the distrustful characters there is a push and pull to understand others. I think it reflects how a lot of small communities (not only Amish) feel about new people.

I loved the sweet promise box Lydia's mom left her. What a lovely idea to pass on to one's children. It meshed beautifully with Lydia's character development.

My fav character was probably Gideon. He was a fun hero to watch--kind, but not a dashing Romeo. In fact, I think he felt out of his element at every turn, but he persevered. Gotta admire a guy like that. His backstory was touching, too. I would say Gideon and his character journey, along with the setting, are the biggest reasons I gave a 5 star rating for this title.

I'd really like to visit West Kootenai. Tricia's descriptions bring it alive, and it sounds like a beautiful place. Of course, I think I'd only truly love it in the summer.

I was given a copy of the book to review, but the opinions are my own. Thanks to Zondervan for my book.

Bravo, Tricia Goyer.
744343
I have always enjoyed Diane Darcy's books, but this one caught me off-guard ... and I'm so glad it did!  With the first few chapters, I wasn't sure about this book - I REALLY disliked Melissa.  Today I finished it and am still mulling over the satisfaction I have by the story's conclusion - and now I respect Melissa.  I think the most important thing left with me were the subtle messages about family, history, and connections!  I love genealogy, but what a great spin on heritage and what our ancestors gave to make us who we are today.  You will really enjoy this book, I know it will stick with me for a long time to come.
2374991
Loved the characters,and the setting,as Sonoma is one of my favorite places in California. Wanted more book,but understand there is to be a series-yay! Also loved the recipes included at the start of each chapter.
4951120
I really enjoyed this novel set over 3 generations and two countries. The descrition of the property made me feel like I was there.
The main characters were very strong and the similarities between the grandmother and grand daughter in their passion for their careers was not eveident to either of them during their lives; only the grand mothers passing shows her grand daughter what an incredible life she had also lived.
973538
I loved the premise of this book, set in the world of HGTV type TV reality show. I happened to download the book when it was on a free day from the author. Thank you to K.C. Ford for that offer.  I liked both of the MCs and most of the secondary characters in the book (of course I hated the villain).  I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book wondering whether the MCs would have their happily ever after or go their separate ways. Both flawed, inexperienced in love and relationships, it was touch and go. The author did a fine job of depicting the inner conflict that many feel when entering unchartered territory. The damage that parents can do to their children that can last a lifetime when it comes to being able to relate to others on an intimate level was palpable. The author did a great job of describing and showing that dynamic.  I enjoyed the book very much. I would have happily paid for it so it was nice to receive as a freebie.
3109200
This was such an enjoyable read! I loved the setting & the characters...good & bad. I downloaded the 2nd book already. I was especially impressed with the description of the living conditions of the poor,some of which we'd never thought of; like children running naked,or lack of underwear,even for adults.
3332609
I loved the unique setting and the wonderful characters that Cleeves has created.  They are the kind of people you would like to know in real life.  (Except for the killers, of course!)  In fact, I liked this book so much that I've bought the next book in the series.  I'm  reading it now.  Her main character, Jimmy Perez, is a quiet, intelligent police officer.  The harsh but beautiful environment of the Shetland Islands was very interesting to me, too.