Jenna Mindel

The main reason this one caught my attention is the cherry orchard setting and that did end up being my favorite aspect of reading this. I really liked that this took place over the course of a growing season, you get a strong sense of all the work that goes into producing a crop of cherries, what needs to be done at the various stages, the effect of the weather, etc. I also enjoyed Eva’s cherry infused baking, it all sounded delicious.

I found the abuser part of the storyline a bit of a struggle. Prior to the events of this book, a boyfriend got violent with Eva. I did think a good job was done here of showing how that event scarred her, and I’m not criticizing Eva’s path for healing, everybody has to do whatever works for them even if I couldn’t imagine that being enough for me. Where I mostly struggled was with this ex-boyfriend. Generally, in real life, his sort of behavior is not a one-time thing, whether or not they get sober, whether or not they find god, it’s hard to believe this behavior wouldn’t at some point be revisited upon other women in his life, so I didn’t feel particularly good about where he ends up in the story, for me, it did not feel like the punishment anywhere near fit his crime.

As mentioned this took place over many months and I do like that in a romance, it just always seems more plausible than knowing each other three days and promising forever. Still, even though Adam and Eva spend plenty of time together here, working and otherwise, there were several moments where he cut her out of their working relationship even though these things were supposed to be part of her job and I guess maybe those instances cast some doubt for me on their potential as romantic partners. I wouldn’t have minded just a couple more short scenes showing them as more of a team.

Their relationship and the book did close strong, I did get that united force feeling from them in the last bit before the epilogue, I thought that situation was really effective, a great add to the story and I liked how they responded to each other during it.… (lisätietoja)

3.5 stars (rating shown may vary depending on whether site allows half star ratings). I'd put this at 3.5 stars but it's closer to a 3 than a 4 for me if I have to give a whole star rating.

I can't remember if I've read Jenna Mindel before--I suspect I have. I am pretty sure I have not read Maple Springs sub series before though.

I liked the idea of an edible wild plant class and to have the featured couple meet through that was something different. Bree Anderson, an accomplished cellist, is helping out her injured mom by being the liason to Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) officer Darren Zelinsky, who is leading the group on their outings. Bree is in town to relax prior to starting a 2 year residency in Seattle where she would be studying music composition. Bree is coming off a 2 year relationship with Philip, who wasn't supportive of her wanting to do the residency in Seattle (and as we find out later, wanting control of her life). Darren is gun shy after his bride-to-be ran off with his best friend shortly before the wedding. However, Stella, grandmother of Darren's former flame, thinks the two of them suit each other.

When you pick up a Love Inspired Book, you are pretty much assured that the featured couple will be together (in some form) by the end of the book. It's just a question of how they get there. In this case, the ending reminded me a bit of O. Henry's "Gift of the Magi" where each member is willing to sacrifice for the other--or at least in Darren's case that is so. I'm not sure Bree gives up quite as much as she seems to have changed her mind about what she wants out of her music career by the end of the book.… (lisätietoja)

A friend sent me this book in a box of books. A different friends likes to read books "in season" (books set at Christmas around Christmastime etc.) so since it was approaching Valentine's Day when I was choosing a book from my TBR pile and saw the word Valentine, it was the one I picked up.

Both main characters were interesting. Zach: a former Army captain who was part of the reduction in force cuts who discovered glasswork in a class, loved it, found a way to apprentice while he was part of the military, and now is opening his own shop. Ginger: owner of a tea shop

I like tea, but there was very little about that in this book. Ginger buys tea and tea pots but she's mostly reselling what others have made. Other than some of her tea pots being from Sally, the former owner of the building, there doesn't seem to be much personal touch to Ginger's products.

I was much more intrigued with learning about glasswork. Obviously what's in this book in quite simplified. You probably couldn't go start making things yourself by just reading what's in this book. I've watched a docuseries/competition show about glasswork though so gaining a bit more knowledge about how the process works is interesting to me and this book accomplished that.

Unfortunately, the romance plot seems recycled. I feel like I've read it before--insert a different holiday (usually Christmas) and different character names and types of stores and ...

The same friend who likes to read books in season once commented that there needed to be a subgenre of romance dedicated to law enforcement being at least one of the main characters. If that's the case, perhaps there also needs to be a subgenre with military/former military being at least one of the main characters.

PTSD, survivor's guilt, and other issues soldiers' and veterans' have are subjects worthy about knowing--but I will have to leave it to others with more knowledge of the subjects to know how faithfully the portrayal is in this book.… (lisätietoja)

3.5 to 4 stars (rating shown may differ depending on whether site allows half star ratings)

I liked the underlying story more than I liked the romance itself, which as usual for this series--seems a bit rushed. The story itself had many good life lessons.

We like to think we're in control, when really, we're not in control of anything. God is.

We can't run away from our problems. If the problems aren't dealt with in a healthy way, we end up dealing with them in an unhealthy way.

Sometimes God's answer is no. Sometimes God's answer is wait.

There are consequences to our choices and actions.

Dorrie doesn't want Hannah and Gracie to know Karl is their father. I don't remember how old the girls are. I do remember one is older and the other younger. Does Dorrie really think they won't figure it out at some point? How does she explain their Aunt Kellie and their grandparents? I can't remember if in the story they are told that Karl is Kellie's brother but at some point, logically, they're going to figure out it's a possibility. (We aren't told if the girls are told Karl's their father, but at the Thanksgiving dinner one of the girls does ask about Karl.)

I can understand Kellie's fear of relying too much on anyone and of being romantically involved with someone. Both open us up to the potential of hurt. We know that Kellie was a cutter at some point in her life--I can't remember now if she got real counseling to deal with it or if she just kind of used her high school counselor's interest and Christianity to cope. I wonder if she ever feels the impulse to do it now or if she's found healthier ways to cope. Interesting since the author gives us insight into Ryan's thought process on this recovery process, but we don't hear Kellie's--at least not about cutting--we do see some of her insecurities about trusting others and the worry that she'll end up involved with an addict.… (lisätietoja)