Melody Carlson

The Grass is Greener….

Ginny manages an upscale boutique hotel in Seattle, and she can do her job in her sleep. Everything runs like a well-oiled machine unless her boss, Diana, steps in. She is famous for causing problems, blaming them on Ginny, and expecting her to fix them.

After Diana's latest escapade, Ginny is ready for a change, and she just found it--a site where people swap jobs for sixty days.

Jacqueline manages her grandfather's run-down fishing lodge. It is in the backwoods, and she hates every part of it. When Jacqueline stumbles on the job swap site, she knows this is her way out.

Both women connect, and immediately make arraignments to trade jobs.

Although Jacqueline lied about the condition of the lodge, Ginny is thrilled to be in such a beautiful location. She immediately rolls up her sleeves to get to work improving the lodge.
Ginny finds herself fitting in well with everyone, especially the handsome fishing guide. She never wants to leave.

Despite pulling out all the stops, Jacqueline's plan to catch the attention of Diana's son has barely gotten off the ground. Additionally, she is not used to working as hard as Ginny. It doesn't take Diana long to demand that Ginny come back.

Jacqueline creates a bunch of lies designed to get Ginny to leave the fishing lodge. Will it work?

This entertaining story is a page-turner, and the job swapping idea is a great twist. It is fun to read about the ideas Ginny has, along with wondering if the lies Jacqueline has told will catch up with her. I highly recommend this clean tale. It will be enjoyed by fans of DIY, stories of starting over, and well-written books.

Thank you, Revell Books, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own.… (lisätietoja)

Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson has a cute premise. A job can get humdrum after a number of years. It would be a nice change of pace to be able switch positions with someone for two months. You get to go to a different state, meet new people, and experience new challenges. I like Ginny, but I really did not like Jackie. There was little change in Jackie’s character. I doubt this leopard would change her spots for long. I did not like that Ginny was labeled a workaholic (what is wrong with someone who enjoys their job and most of the people at their workplace). It was suggested to Ginny that she have fun and needed a man in her life. I did not like the implication that Ginny (or any person) needed a man (or woman) for her life to be complete. I enjoyed Ginny’s time at the fishing camp. There were some interesting characters and scenes as well as humor. One of the relationships did not make sense considering how the female manipulated the man for most of the story. Just for the Summer has a feel-good ending. Just for the Summer is a nice story, but I did not enjoy it as much as other books by this author.… (lisätietoja)

This was a very fun book. I enjoyed the job trade and have to admit there are were times I would have wanted to do something like that! I liked Ginny who seems to give her all to her job, but Jacqueline, with whom she traded jobs and locations, seemed not so likeable as Ginny. The story was enjoyable and a nice light read. There are some twists and a bit of romance and a quick read. I have enjoyed this and other books from this author. I will continue to do so. I enjoyed this book! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (lisätietoja)

Switching jobs for the summer was a dream come true for both Ginny and Jacqueline who seemed to be stuck in their jobs. They were stuck but didn’t know where to go next. All parties agree to change jobs and living arrangements as spelled out on the job app.

It was delightful to watch two lost souls discover their place in this world. Both women quickly realize that the pursuit of happiness entails more than merely altering their surroundings Everyone is better for their discovery! Aside from the clever banter, strange and enjoyable circumstances, I was pleasantly surprised by the author’s depth in getting to the heart of the matter.

This makes for a great summer read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher, and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/… (lisätietoja)