Kathleen Friesen

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Book Review: At Bluebonnet Lake

11/8/2014

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TITLE:  At Bluebonnet Lake

AUTHOR:  Amanda Cabot

DATE:  2014

PUBLISHER: Revell

STARS:  ****/12

Marketing maven Kate Sherwood’s world is fast-paced, challenging, and always changing. The last thing she wants to do is slow down to a crawl at Rainbow’s End, a dilapidated resort in the Texas Hill Country. But she cannot deny her ailing grandmother’s request to visit the place where she and her deceased husband spent one glorious week (albeit fifty years ago). There Kate meets Greg Vange, the resort’s handyman. But there’s more to Greg than meets the eye–billions more, in fact, as he recently sold his successful software company and is at the resort in search of what’s next for his life.
Kate isn’t looking for romance, but she can’t deny the sparks of attraction that fly every time she and Greg are together. She even starts to see potential in the rundown resort. Could there be a future there? Or will Kate’s long-sought promotion take her back to the big city?


At Bluebonnet Lake is a sweet story in an intriguing setting. Bluebonnet Lake, as portrayed by author Amanda Cabot, is my kind of place. Quiet, unassuming, and filled with the beauty only God can create.

Kate Sherwood doesn’t see that, though. She sees a deteriorating resort in a dying town, and she wants nothing to do with it. She’s only there for her grandmother’s sake, and she’d not sure either of them should stay.

But there is one pull, in the form of perceived handyman Greg Vange. All the characters in this book are multi-layered, and that’s what makes this story work. I enjoyed getting to know Kate, Greg, Grandma Sally and Roy, as well as some of the townspeople.

The only negative in my reading of this book was that the ending was telegraphed from the first chapter. However, the characters and  the problems they faced kept me enjoyably involved. Therefore, I give At Bluebonnet Lake four and a half stars.

Revell gave me a copy of At Bluebonnet Lake in return for my honest review.


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Book Review: Echoes of Edinburgh (Passport to Romance)

11/2/2014

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TITLE:  Echoes of Edinburgh (Passport to Romance)

AUTHOR:  JoAnn Durgin

DATE:  2014

PUBLISHER:  White Rose Publishing/Pelican Book Group

STARS:  *****

To honor her dying father’s wish, Chicago stockbroker Shelby Harmon promises to hand deliver an envelope addressed to “Robert Nichols, Personal & Confidential.” Her quest to find Robert leads her to a most unlikely place—the Castlehill Gardens outside Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle. Who is this fiercely private man and what is his connection to Harmony Lane, her family’s horse farm in Lexington, Kentucky?

Harrison Reed cautions Shelby against dredging up hurtful memories for his close friend, Robert. As they explore the city together, Shelby and Harrison find themselves increasingly drawn to one another. When the contents of the mysterious envelope are revealed, the answer gives her hope for the future of Harmony Lane. Is the time spent in Edinburgh with Harrison destined to be nothing more than a beautiful memory? Did Shelby lose her heart in Edinburgh...or find her way home again?


With complex and thoroughly likeable characters, sparkles of humor, and sweet romance, Echoes of Edinburgh is a winner. Shelby and Harrison experience and instant attraction, but they investigate this possible relationship with care – in spite of the sparks. Author JoAnn Durgin takes the reader on the lively romp through the streets and attractions of Edinburgh, and her descriptions made me want to book a flight to experience it for myself.

I enjoyed this book from delightful start to satisfying end and am happy to award it five stars.

 


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    I’ve always loved music, even before the writing bug hit. Grace notes are little extras, not the actual melody. Just something that adds to the feel of the music. My desire for this blog is to encourage and bless readers, to share a little grace.

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