Book Review: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer

 

Dear Henry, Love Edith. Becca Kinzer. Tyndale House (2023). 373 pages. Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christian Fiction.

First Line: "Henry grimaced, not sure which irritated him more - the persistent ache in his knee or the relentless voice in his ear."

Summary (Goodreads): After a short and difficult marriage, recently widowed Edith Sherman has learned her lesson. Forget love. Forget marriage. She plans to fill her thirties with adventure. As she awaits the final paperwork for a humanitarian trip to South Africa, she accepts a short-term nursing position in a small Midwestern town. The last thing she needs is a handsome local catching her eye. How inconvenient is that?

Henry Hobbes isn't exactly thrilled to have Edith, who he assumes is an elderly widow, dumped on him as a houseguest for the summer. But he'd do almost anything for his niece, who is practically like a sister to him given how close they are in age. Especially since Edith will be working nights and Henry works most days. When he and Edith keep missing each other in person, they begin exchanging notes--short messages at first, then longer letters, sharing increasingly personal parts of their lives.

By the time Henry realizes his mistake--that Edith is actually the brown-eyed beauty he keeps bumping into around town--their hearts are so intertwined he hopes they never unravel. But with her departure date rapidly approaching, and Henry's roots firmly planted at home, Edith must ultimately decide if the adventure of her dreams is the one right in front of her.

My thoughts: This is a fun romantic comedy that could easily be a movie. The author writes in such a way as to allow the reader to "play the movie" in their head.  She could take a simple sentence uttered by one of the characters and turn it into a hilarious mess.  I will admit it did feel a tad over-the-top at times.  

But, the story is not all fluff and light-heartedness.  There is some depth.  Edith and Henry have both had some difficult times in the past that are informing how they are living now.  They both have to do some soul searching.  Fortunately, each of them has a friend to give them a nudge in the right direction.  But, these things take time which is realistic, but also really frustrating for the reader!  Just when you think things are going the right direction, suddenly they are going the opposite way.  Yes, there was quite a bit of tension which kept me turning pages. 

The scenario is a funny one - two people live in the same house, but have not met.  As the story progressed and Henry discovered who Edith was, but chose to keep deceiving her, I was disappointed.  However, that didn't last long as Henry finally set out to right the wrongs and tell the truth.  And of course that didn't go smoothly either. 

Some of the themes are home, serving God, love, being good enough and self-doubt.  If you are looking for a light-hearted read with some depth, give this book a try.

Quotes:

"The light of the full moon guided her.  The muted brassy sound of big band music, competing with the tune of cicadas, followed her.  She folded her arms over her stomach, a sense of peace battling with a restless desire to run."

"'Let me get this straight,' Lance said, raising his voice to be heard above Frank Sinatra's croons.  'You're baring your soul to an old lady who's living in your house but you've never actually met.  You've got the hots for a lady you've met but don't know anything about.  And you're still going out with a lady who drives you crazy every time she talks, which is all the time.'"

Book Review: A Seaside Wonder by Melissa Tagg

A Seaside Wonder (Muir Harbor #2). Melissa Tagg. Larkspur Press (2022). 383 pages. Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance.

First Line: "If not for the proprietor's name on the little shop's window, Philip might never have thought of it again."

Summary:  Indi Muir has never recovered from the decision she made eleven years ago.  Since then her life has seemed to be a series of distractions to help her forget.  When her ex-fiance returns to Muir Harbor with news that is going to force her to face what she has been running from, Indi begins to feel like her carefully constructed world is falling apart.  To top it off, someone has been sneaking around Muir Farm looking for something.  

When his mother died, Professor Philip West was ,made guardian of his half-sister, Holland.  This caused him to move back to Maine and into his grandfather's house, a place that feels cold and lonely.  Holland doesn't seem to want Philip around and is sure she can take care of herself.  Encouraged by a friend to get away for a while and take Holland with him, Philip decides to return to Muir Harbor, a place that made him feel at home.  It all sounded ideal in theory, but in practice it is more complicated than he imagined.

My thoughts: Melissa Tagg is quickly becoming a favorite author.  A Seaside Wonder drew me in from the very beginning.  This is the second book in the Muir Harbor series and we step into the story at a place overlapping with the previous book, but from a different perspective.  Autumn by the Sea was told from Neil Muir and Sydney's perspective.  This book is told from Indi Muir and Philip's perspective.  Stepping into part of the story we already knew was a unique and interesting twist.

Indi Muir was adopted by Maggie Muir when she was a baby, so this is the only family she has ever known.  Just after high school, she made a life changing decision.  Since that time she has done all she can to make up for it.  If she stays busy, she won't have time to think or feel.  Indi thinks her family and others see her as a mess - as someone who doesn't think before she acts and gets herself into difficult situations.  The reality is that her family sees her as a talented, creative and kind young woman who has the confidence to take risks.  I loved the way the author took us along on Indi's journey of growth.

You couldn't help liking Philip from the very beginning.  He is generally quiet, shy, studious and some would say boring.  But he is also funny, kind, practical and thoughtful.  After his best friend's wife describes him as "shy and bookish", he had this conversation:

    "'Shy and bookish are not insults.  Not according to my wife.  She says it makes you endearing.'

    'I don't want to be endearing and I don't want to be having this conversation.'"

The opening scene where Indi and Philip meet - the meet-cute - is hilarious.  

While there is romance, there is so much more to the story.  There are themes of abandonment, family - birth family, found family, who is your family - , grief, love, faith, loyalty, prayer, loss, failure, and being thankful for what you have.  Once again, this story has a little romance, a little mystery and a little family drama.  Together they made a wonderful story full of depth and humor with a satisfying ending.  There were several story lines that were begun in the first book that continue in this one.  Some are brought to conclusion, some are advanced and some have not yet been finished.  

If this book sounds interesting to you, I would recommend you start with the first book, Autumn by the Sea.  It is a story you won't want to miss and you will be introduced to the Muir family and Muir Harbor.  Now I will be eagerly awaiting spring because that is when the next installment of Muir Harbor will be available.  

Quotes:

"The night air felt fragile somehow, a crystalline moon tucked into black velvet, the morning's mild temps lost to a brittle breeze that wisped its way in and around the bare branches of Muir Farm's backyard trees."

"... no, none of this had been chance.  All of it had been a gift from the God who was teaching him how to wonder again.  Teaching him through the beauty of a seaside farm and a tiny town at the edge of a lit-up harbor.  Through all the ups and downs of finding his place in Holland's life."

"'Look at Maggie.  She doesn't pretend she doesn't have holes in her heart where Robert and Diana and her granddaughter should've been.  But she still has beauty and joy and love in her life.  She's figured out how to live in the tension between honest heartache and steadfast hope.  She's put her trust in a God who...who maybe doesn't make every crack disappear, but who holds all her broken pieces tenderly.  Who heals her simply by being with her.  Staying with her.'"

Book Review: On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher

On a Coastal Breeze (Three Sisters Island #2).  Suzanne Woods Fisher.  Fleming H. Revell (2020).  306 pages.  Genre:  Christian Contemporary Romance.

First Line:  "Just before Maddie unlocked the door to her office, she straightened the name plaque on the wall:  Madison Grayson, Marriage and Family Therapist."

Summary:  This is the second book in the Three Sisters Island series.  Maddie Grayson, middle sister in the Grayson family, is feeling good about where life has taken her.  She has made the move to live on Three Sisters Island along with her dad and her two sisters.  Her career is finally taking off.  She now has an office of her own.  But just when she thinks things are going well, the new pastor drops in.  Literally.  

Richard O'Shea makes his entrance to the island by parachuting out of an airplane.  Maddie has been so focused on getting her office up and running that she hasn't paid much attention to who the town has hired to be their new pastor.  When she hears his name, she wonders if he is related to the Ricky O'Shea that she went to school with.  It turns out he is not related, he IS Ricky O'Shea.  She wonders when Ricky became a pastor.  How did that even happen.  He spent most of their childhood making things miserable for Maddie.  She is not ready to accept him as a pastor.  But everyone else on the island seems impressed by him, even her dad.  She will try to give him a chance.  But will she ever be able to see past the anxiety he caused her?

My thoughts:  The setting is an island off the coast of Maine.  It is beautiful and interesting with a small town feel.  There is a lighthouse, a beautiful church and a cafe.  The Never Late Ferry runs from the mainland to the island regularly.  Maddie's dad purchased Camp Kicking Moose and has been remodeling the cabins to get it ready for the summer.  

This story focuses on Maddie, the middle sister as she starts her counseling practice and deals with Ricky O'Shea turning up on the island as pastor.  But, there are other storylines that are progressing as well.  

Cam, the oldest sister, is working on writing a proposal to get a grant for renewable energy on the island.  She is engaged to Seth, the school teacher, but they have not yet set a date for their wedding.

Blaine, the youngest sister, is coming over for the summer break.  She has been attending culinary school.  But, she is not herself.  She feels like she needs to take a break from school and travel to attempt to "find herself".  

Paul, the father of the Grayson girls, is gearing up for the second summer of campers at Camp Kicking Moose.  

One of the themes in the book is fear.  Several of the characters are dealing with fear in one form or another.  This is something that Pastor Rick has dealt with in a big way in his life and is able to counsel others and help them identify their fears and attempt to work through them.  I appreciated this aspect and how it was dealt with Biblically.

I liked the story well enough, but I didn't love it.  I am not sure exactly why.  Perhaps my reading tastes are changing?  I felt the same way after reading the first book in the series and was undecided whether I would continue with the series.  When I saw the book on the shelf at the library I decided to give it a try.  

Book Review: A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay

A Portrait of Emily Price

Author:  Katherine Reay

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (2016)

368 pages

Genre:  Inspirational Contemporary Romance

"Piccolo.  The restaurant matched its name - a tiny and delicate white stucco building with a short, neat brick walk leading from its front door to the parking lot.  Its wilted green awning and window boxes filled with equally droopy flowers made it look worn and comfortable - completely at odds with the man flashing his eyes between his watch and me."

Emily Price works for an insurance company doing restoration work.  Since she was a young girl she has loved to fix things and became fascinated with the art of restoration.  Her father took her to the Art Institute of Chicago and rather than look at the paintings, she followed a tour group called "Maintaining the Masters".  Her company has sent her from Chicago to Atlanta to do some restoration work at a home that was damaged by fire.  The company has also rented a workstation for her at Atlanta Conservation, Inc., owned by an Italian man named Joseph.  As soon as she arrives in Atlanta, Joseph takes her to a restaurant owned by his aunt and uncle.  While at the restaurant, she is introduced to Joseph's brother, Ben.  Emily finds herself immediately drawn to Ben, but tells herself that is silly.  She has been sent here to do a job, not meet a man.  Besides, after her last relationship, meeting a man is the last things she wants to do.  But Ben is different.  He has depth, he is caring, he is handsome...

Ben Vassallo has only recently arrived in Atlanta from Italy.  Ben came to visit his brother, Joseph.  It was only after he arrived that he met his aunt and uncle.  Ben has worked as a chef in his family's restaurant in Italy.  When his aunt and uncle meet him, they pounce on him, begging him to help them revitalize their restaurant, Piccolo.  Ben agrees.  But Joseph is skeptical.  Ben has always been a dreamer, eager to jump in and help, but rarely bringing a project to completion.  But, it has been a long time since Joseph has seen his brother, maybe he has changed.  Something happened in Italy that caused Joseph to leave his family home more than ten years ago.  Ben insists that he wants to help.  Can Ben turn the restaurant around?  Will he lose interest and leave things worse than they were before?

This story is beautifully written, filled with deep characters, interesting work and delicious food.  Families are complicated and that is definitely a theme in this story.  Joseph and Ben's Italian family are very loyal to one another.  However, there are secrets from the past that have caused division and hurt within the family.  Emily and Ben's relationship is magical and I kept expecting that something would come between them.  Something does come between them, but their deep devotion to one another is what gets them through. Emily is a fixer and Ben is a helper.  Emily is unsure of herself, she doesn't think she is good at what she does and doesn't have the confidence to get better.  Ben has confidence in his ability, but just wants to be trusted.  

Emily and Joseph's jobs as restorers are fascinating and a world I knew nothing about.  Being able to take something that has been damaged and make it whole again must be very satisfying.  

The descriptions of the Italian countryside make you feel like you are there.

"It was filled with light and color and a texture completely foreign to me.  The landscape rose and fell in gentle hills.  And every now and then the highway cut through a mountain, rather than rising over it as they do in the US, and we emerged from the tunnel into sunlight on the edge of a valley dipping below us, bathed in green - often with a beautiful medieval walled village perched above.  Cypress trees, pine trees, olive trees, vineyards, and pastures sloped all around us."

The food descriptions were equally amazing.

"Bread is life in Italy.  Papa makes it.  All kinds.  And Mama makes pasta so light it rises to your mouth.  Pizza is the form of bread left for me - a way to make the restaurant different, mine, prove my hands are good."

"The waiter laid four broad white plates before us.  Each was topped with a different pizza.  The bit of crust I could see on the edges was light and airy, and the toppings stunning:  one with arugula and prosciutto;  another, figs and mascarpone;  a third, sausage, duck eggs, and pecorino?  And the last, all green with who knows what.  And the smell?  We were enveloped in Italy."

It took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, but once I did I would often find myself completely unaware of what was going on around me and felt very jarred when I had to come back to reality.  

If you are looking for a book that takes you away from it all, is full of deep characters, beautiful scenery, delicious food and the love of family, I recommend this book.

Book Review: Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe (The Saturday Night Supper Club #2) by Carla Laureano

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe (The Saturday Night Supper Club #2)

Author:  Carla Laureano

Publisher:  Tyndale House (2019)

432 pages

Inspirational Contemporary Romance

"Once upon a time, Melody Johansson had believed in happily ever afters."

Melody Johansson, a European trained pastry chef, has been working in an American commercial bakery.  Several months ago, as a token of solidarity, Melody quit her job at Denver's upscale Paisley when her boss and best friend Rachel was forced out because of bad press.  Melody longs to work as a pastry chef again.  In the meantime, she works 12 hours a day at a bakery to pay the bills and bakes amazing pastries in her free time.  Until a mysterious pilot turns up at the bakery at 4 am, his car stranded in the snow just outside.  

Justin Keller is a pilot who works for a fractional, flying light business jets for executives, politicians, athletes and celebrities.  He began flying at a young age as his dad is also a pilot.  After helping his dad build an airplane,  he clocked many hours flying in it.  He and his brother-in-law have tossed around the idea of purchasing a small charter company of their own.

After their meeting at the bakery at 4 am, neither thinks they will see the other again.  Both are attracted to the other, but push those feelings aside, because the chances of seeing one another again are slim.  But, when Melody suddenly becomes the owner of a classic car that needs to be restored so it can be sold, the first person she thinks to call is Justin.  As the car brings them together again, they find they are like old friends, able to pick up where they left off.  But the road to a relationship is littered with many obstacles.  They both have complicated family backgrounds, are dealing with the remnants of old relationships and have new opportunities to follow their dreams in the future.  Will they find a way around those obstacles to develop their relationship or is it just not possible?

These characters are so complex and have such depth, it was a joy to spend time with them.  This is a story about following your dreams, the difference between dreams and plans, the importance of family and friends, deception and faith in God.  The story takes many twists and turns and at times the tension had me growling at the book.  In the end, things work out.  Highly recommended.

Book Review: The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

The Fifth Avenue Story Society

Author:  Rachel Hauck

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (2020)

400 pages

Genre:  Inspirational Contemporary Fiction

Five people receive an invitation to The Fifth Avenue Story Society.  All five decide to attend, even though not one of them is sure who sent them the invitation, who will be there or what to expect when they arrive.  One man knows two of the invitees, the others are strangers.  Each one is struggling with something from their past that is impacting the present, however this is not discovered until much later. 

Jett is a divorced literature professor who has written a book and is in the process of writing a dissertation.

Lexa works for restaurant start-up.  She feels she keeps the company running and should be named its CEO.  She was married to Jett.

Coral is owner and CEO of a cosmetics company started by her great-grandmother.  She is also a celebrity who recently was in the news for leaving the prince of Lauchtenland at the altar.

Ed is a widower with one daughter who is attempting to write a memoir of his wonderful marriage.

Chuck is an Uber driver, who discovered his wife was having an affair.  They have young twins who Chuck is not allowed to see.

What an interesting story concept this is!  I will not soon forget the characters.  Each one has much depth and are people I would like to know.  Of course, each one has flaws, but that is what makes the story interesting.  Each one makes the commitment to continue coming to the Story Society meetings each week even though they are not really sure why they are meeting.  As they continue to meet and become friends, they help one another work out issues in their lives.  Soon they are coming because they enjoy spending time with each other.  It is a hope filled story that will stick with me.

Some of the themes are friendship, dealing with the past, faithfulness, forgiveness, and family.  I highly recommend it.

Book Review: On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher

On a Summer Tide

Author:  Suzanne Woods Fisher

Publisher:  Fleming H. Revell (2019)

320 pages

Genre:  Inspirational Contemporary Fiction

"A week ago, Dad had asked all three girls to come to the house on Sunday afternoon.  He gave no explanation, only that he'd tell them everything then."

Paul Grayson needs a change.  It has been just over two years since his wife passed away.  His youngest daughter is now away at college.  A few months ago he had a bad case of laryngitis and his voice never fully came back.  This makes it impossible to do his job as a sports announcer.  When a friend mentions that the summer camp that Paul and his wife attended is for sale, Paul buys it and sells his house.  Along with the summer camp, he also becomes owner of the part of the island that it is on.  His daughters are shocked and upset.  They think that maybe he had a seizure or a stroke and is talking nonsense.  He assures them that he has not.  Paul has felt that his daughters aren't close anymore, that they are no longer involved in one another's lives and he wants that to change.  The vision Paul has is that his daughters will want to move to the island and help him get the summer camp up and running again.  All three refuse...at first.  

Cam is part owner of a technology company and is attempting to raise the orphaned child of her best friend.  She is very busy.

"You can't expect us to uproot our lives to help you run a summer camp."

"We all have our own lives.  We can't drop everything and rush to this island.  This is your venture.  Not ours."

End of story.  Or maybe not.  God has other plans for the Grayson family and it was fun to come along for the ride.

I did not immediately connect with the characters in this story.  Cam is actually the heroine.  She is driven and smart, but she see's that her son is suffering from her lack of involvement in his life.

Maddie is constantly using her counselor skills on everyone else and I found that I really didn't like her much.  Blaine is the youngest and just can't seem to figure out what she wants to do with her life.  She is only nineteen after all.  At different times and in varying circumstances, all three end up on the island helping their dad.  

Another character in the story is Seth Walker, the school teacher, worship leader, preacher and jack-of-all-trades on the island.  I really enjoyed his teaching style, which is near and dear to my heart after homeschooling my kids.  He gets the kids outside every day exploring the wonders of God's creation.  They learn by doing.  Others worry that they are not spending enough time on the basics.  But Cam comes to realize this is just the environment her son needed and watches him blossom.  It was interesting to learn about falcons as Seth rescued one and is preparing it to be returned to the wild.  There is a little romance that brews between Seth and Cam.  There are also some surprises along the way.  

By the end of the story, I was looking forward to the next book in the series.  It is an interesting setting for a story and was fun to watch the family work together to improve the camp.  

Book Review: The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano

The Saturday Night Supper Club (The Saturday Night Supper Club #1)

Author:  Carla Laureano

Publisher:  Tyndale House (2018)

416 pages

Genre:  Inspirational Contemporary Romance

"Three hours into Saturday night dinner service and she was already running on fumes."

Rachel Bishop has worked her way up to being part owner and head chef of Paisley, a casual fine dining restaurant in the heart of Denver's foodie district.  Paisley has only been in operation for a few months and has not yet turned a profit.  Competition is fierce in this market, but Rachel is determined that her restaurant will make it. When local food critic Carlton Espy turns up at the restaurant after writing a review questioning both her cooking and her professional ethics, her business partner thinks she should make a statement to the press.  The same day, an article in The New Yorker by Alexander Kanin appears that makes reference to the review without naming names.  The New Yorker article is defending Rachel, however it is drawing more attention to the review.  Her good friend and media consultant, Ana, suggests that she do an interview to get her point of view out.  Rachel disagrees.  She wants attention for her food, not her personal beliefs.  After a long shift, she is heading to her car when she is approached by a reporter.  Ana has told her to direct all media interaction to her.  However, in the heat of the moment,  Rachel says some things that end up being edited by the reporter to look as if she is saying the opposite of what she is really saying.  Things look bad.  The restaurant was just gaining momentum, will this hurt business?

Alex Kanin despises unfair treatment.  Especially unfairly harsh criticism leveled at people in creative careers.  He had been on the receiving end of plenty of that when his book came out.  However, when he wrote the online article for the The New Yorker, he never expected it to go viral.  When he checks Twitter at the urging of his literary agent, he is stunned.  There are lots of positive Tweets, but there are also Tweets guessing at who the chef he mentioned is.  Alex should be excited about all the buzz, but he has a sinking feeling that he has actually sent more readers to the negative review of Rachel and her restaurant.  

"So why did he feel like he'd done something terrible?"

"It was because he'd inadvertently given those trolls a national stage, which was exactly what they wanted.  And he was profiting from it.  The whole thing made him feel like an ambulance chaser."

He decides he has to contact Rachel and apologize and he must do it in person.  Will she see him?  Will she accept his apology?

What a great book!  It is full of deep characters, delicious food and an irresistible location.  

Rachel is a hard-working, driven woman.  Her restaurant means everything to her, but so do her employees.  They are like family.  It was so interesting to peek into the life of a chef and realize how much work they actually take home with them.  I understand more fully how being a chef is not just a job, it definitely has to be a passion.

Alex is also driven and hard-working.  However, he realizes that his career is just that.  He is passionate about writing, but has learned that it doesn't define him.  Both Rachel and Alex are growing in their faith and we get to see some glimpses of that. They both also have complicated families that have shaped who they are and the decisions they have made.

And the food!  I don't consider myself a foodie, but I enjoyed the interesting food described in the story and the process Rachel goes through to plan a menu.  There were casual food experiences as well at homes and restaurants in the area.

I feel like I visited Denver after reading this book.  The descriptions of locations were so vivid.  I especially have a picture of Alex's rooftop patio.

"As spectacular as the condo had been, the rooftop deck was even more beautiful.  Brick half-walls enclosed it and gave it some privacy from the other patios; potted plants and trees around the outside edges made it a garden wonderland.  A long metal table dominated the center of the wood-decked space, with smaller conversation areas set up among the plants.  He had even strung lights up above.

And the view: she could see all the way south to the edge of the city.  At night, there would be no better place to be."

The book contains themes of hard work, dealing with criticism, our identity, faith, family and of course, food. If you are looking for a light romance with deep characters, great food and a beautiful location I highly recommend this book.

February Reading Wrap-up

In the month of February I read 9 books and did not finish (DNF) 2.  My goals for February were to read at least one book from my own shelves, a biography or memoir and a children's book.  I met all three goals!

Here are the genres I read from:

Mystery:  3
Amish Fiction:  1
Biography/Memoir:  1
Southern Fiction: 1
Children's Fiction:  2
Inspirational Contemporary Romance:  1

Books from the library:  6
Audiobooks: 1
Books from my shelves:  2

My favorites were:


Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher


Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter



The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano


The two I did not finish were:

A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L'Engle - it was too disorderly and I wasn't connecting with it

Atonement by Ian McEwan - it was beautifully written, but contained content inappropriate for me

I always give a book at least 50 pages before deciding whether to abandon it.  I did that in both of these cases.  It is always frustrating to abandon a book after having invested some time in it, but there are so many books to read that I have realized it is actually wise to not finish a book if it is not working for me.  Also, even if I abandon it, I have experienced it for myself and come to my own conclusion rather than relying on the opinions of others.

The two books I read from my own shelves were Delta Wedding and Pollyanna.  My husband and I took a trip to Phoenix and these were the books I brought along.

For the month of March I have no goals other than to keep reading.  I am co-teaching a homeschool literature class and will be reading/re-reading four books for that.  For any other reading I do, I will just see what I am in the mood for.

How was your reading February?