All Summer Long

"Whether the subject of change was partners, possessions, or places, some people had an easy time letting go."

I love capturing the essence of the novel I'm reviewing by its opening sentence and this one launches All Summer Long, the latest novel from best selling author Dorothea Benton Frank. Readers who are looking for something wonderful to read this summer, will definitely want to add this to their beach or lakeside bag as it is sure to provide you with simply all the entertainment and virtual escape you will need.

Olivia Ritchie, an interior designer and owner of her own company, has been living in two worlds. One in New York where she has made a wonderful living working on upscale designs for some of New York's wealthiest clientele. She has a great marriage with her husband Nick Seymour, an English professor and southern gentlemen who has made Olivia promise that one day they will leave the rat race and settle back in his childhood home of Charleston, South Carolina. For Olivia that day has come.

The one thing she has failed to do, is to clue Nick in on their finances. He has retired and while drawing his retirement, small pension and social security, Olivia had always felt confident she could handle all the finances. That is until the market began to dry up and clients could no longer afford those expensive homes that fed her salary requirements to keep the lifestyle she loved afloat. Without telling Nick, she agrees to sell their New York condo in lieu of keeping her promise and downsize to Charleston. It also means that her love of collecting trinkets to decorate their home, will have to go as well. But she vows she will do what is necessary to keep them alive until her next client comes through, which in this case is Bob and Martiza Vasile.

To say they're are rich is a complete understatement and this affords them the luxury of experiencing what it's like to be rich without all the hassle when they are invited on trips to private islands aboard a yacht, last minute trips to Spain for their son's wedding or whenever Maritza need's a good friend to talk to, Olivia is the one to call. But like the saying goes, life isn't always greener on the other side and when Olivia and Nick see what turmoil Maritza and Bob's marriage is, they vow to do all they can to help. I mean if you can't help your very well off friends, who can you help? After all, these trips are all 100% paid for by the Vasile's who don't seem to have a bottom to their bank account.

I received All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank compliments of William Morrow Publishers, a division of Harper Collins Publishers in exchange for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this novel in exchange for my personal honest unbiased opinion. I absolutely LOVED this novel. From the catty arguments between the rich friends who show up on these excursions, to the far fetched things Bob decides to spend his money on. It's like living vicariously through this novel what it might be like to either have that kind of money or simply be able to enjoy it from those who do. I love the relationship that Nick and Olivia have as well because at the heart of it all, they have what works, and it shows that money can't buy it all. I would rate this one 4 out of 5 based on my rating system as there is some profanity used in this novel that might offend readers. Without that, it would be a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about All Summer Long, Dorothea Benton Frank or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

All Summer Long by Dorothea Benton Frank

You can find Dorothea Benton Frank on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on All Summer Long, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Once Upon a Summertime

I am so blessed to be able to read Melody Carlson's latest novel Once Upon a Summertime, before the closure of summer for me. What an incredible series this is going to be and I can't wait for the next novel in this series! For those looking for an exceptional romance, pick this one up! You won't be disappointed.

Anna Gordon has always had a heart for hospitality, and thus the reason for getting her degree in hotel management. Having lived a rough childhood, living on the streets at times, she relished those moments when they would find a place to stay in a motel. She tried her best at those times, to make it the best it good be, despite what her parents did, and the very reason why she had such a desire for those guests that would come to a place to stay, wanting to ensure that it was truly a great experience.

Yet she never dreamed after all those years of attending school, that she would wind up working at the Value Lodge and living on her grandmother's couch. While all her other friends, were busy living it up at exotic locations managing exceptional hotels, she was questioning if this is as good as her life would get. Was this what her degree would be used for? Not to mention that the Value Lodge was beyond run down and the employees lazy and without the same desire for seeing the potential of what could be. So when an offer to move to New York and help manage one of the high end newly renovated hotels becomes available, Anna believes God might just have a plan in mind if she is willing to place her faith in Him.

She meets a long time friend from home, Sean O'Neil, who most girls had crushes on in high school has now been appointed as the day manager. The two eventually realize that they need a friend while trying to make their way in an unfamiliar city, but if sparks begin to fly, they both could be out of a job when the hotel mandates a no romance or dating policy among it's employees or guests. But all Anna needs is a chance to prove herself worthy so she can move on to bigger and better goals and New York right now offers her the best chance at a new life, she had only dreamed of before.

I received Once Upon A Summertime by Melody Carlson compliments of Revell Publishing and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of the book for my honest and personal review. This was such a great novel, that I read it in one sitting. I was completely lost in the world of what it is like to manage a hotel, and being a huge dreamer of one day opening a Bed and Breakfast, this one will appealed to me. Readers even get a sneak peek at the second novel in this series, even though it is unnamed at this time, I can't wait to add this one to my personal collection at home. For me, this one well deserves all 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about Once Upon A Summertime, Melody Carlson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Once Upon A Summertime by Melody Carlson

You can find Melody Carlson on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Once Upon A Summertime, please visit Christian Fiction Blog Alliances, book tour page. 

Christmas at Tiffany's

For days, my blogging readers have fallen for the clues I have left behind thinking I have traveled to New York, Paris, Venice and London, but in reality I have simply been sharing some of the incredible insights I have gotten from Karen Swan's latest novel Christmas at Tiffany's. I found myself looking up interesting tidbits as I came across them to get a real feel for the places Cassie Fraiser finds herself traveling to. From the sparkling water drinking fountains in Paris, to the famous Kiss statue from Rodin, to the whispering gallery in St. Paul's cathedral, there is such romance to be found in the oddest of places in these iconic cities.

Cassie Fraiser got the shock of her life on her tenth anniversary to Gil. She found out that the life she had been living with him was a complete lie. He was sleeping with her best friend Wiz and fathered a son, Rory, three years before their 10-year anniversary party. Not quite sure what to do or where to go, Cassie has been officially adopted by her boarding school friends who each have vowed to take her for four months in the cities where they live. They will provide a roof over her head and a job for her while she figures out just where she needs to go after her failed marriage.

In each of these amazing locations, Cassie has willingly agreed to give herself up 100% to each of them, allowing them to pamper, spoil and torture her with their own select advice on moving forward in her life. She arrives on the morning after her disastrous anniversary party in New York with her best friend Kelly, who is as addicted to fitness as she is working all hours as a PR for the fashion industry at Harper Communications. She vows to do much more than get Cassie into shape and convinces her that the fast paced urban city of New York is just what she needs to keep her on her toes. She even makes her a Senior PR assistant at her company, but when she realizes she is in way over her heads, Kelly might be the one to take the fall.

She spends the next 8 months traveling to Paris, Venice and subsequently London all while taking on a treasure hunt/bucket list from her childhood friend Henry who is a bit of an adventurer who has traveled quite literally the world over and back and knows just the perfect places for her to see and people to connect with all while growing whatever seeds he sends her to grow. She struggles to figure out just who the real Cassie is, despite all the make overs her friends provide and the many jobs she gets to try on for size. After ten years, she needs to find out just who she is and who she wants to be, and she might be in for more surprises that she expects.

I received Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions in this review are strictly my own personal opinions. I originally thought this was going to be a Christmas romance, based solely on the title and was thrilled to take a virtual vacation right alongside Cassie. I love the idea Henry had for giving her something to do while she was in each of these amazingly romantic cities, besides your normal tourist activity stuff and I can't wait to start my own. This is such a great novel that showcases how one woman and her best friends help her get over one of the most difficult chapters in her life, dealing with the loss not only of the man she thought she knew over 10 years, but her hopes and dreams for a future with children. At well over 580 pages, this one was worth taking my time to enjoy over a couple of days. I give this one a 4 out 5 stars based on my own rating scale. It does contain some profanity and adult content, that some readers might find offensive, that prevented me from rating it a full 5 out of 5! I absolutely loved the adventure, the lists from Henry and the language of flowers you find scattered throughout this novel!

For more information about Christmas at Tiffany's, Karen Swan or where you can preorder a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Christmas at Tiffany's by Karen Swan

You can find Karen Swan on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

To read more reviews on Christmas at Tiffany's, please visit William Morrow's website. 

Recollection - 7 Hours Series

"Nine-Three-One-One-One-Seventy-Five-Seventy Seven."

These were the same numbers that New York taxi cab driver, Adrian Colfax heard himself mumbling each time he drifted in and out of consciousness. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember what they meant and why they were continuously on his mind. At 1:01 a.m. he ventured inside Java Cove, a coffee shop he used to frequent every night for a cup of joe back when he was a cabdriver in Manhattan. Back when he was working through the night shift to put himself through college. Back when...

Back when he was in love. Now as Adrian entered the coffee shop, he saw that his old friend Scotty Leonard was still managing the place. He still looked the same after all these years. Adrian felt like Rip Van Winkle waking up after decades of sleep to find that the world had passed him by. Only in Adrian's case the world hadn't changed at all. It just felt older somehow.

He find that by talking to Scotty about his dream and wonders just what the numbers 931117577 mean. Even Scotty can't make heads or tails of the message and refers him to his cousin Pam who is a physic palm reader that occasionally works for the police as needed. He takes Scotty up on his offer and persuades Pam to see him even though she has closed for the night because of Scotty. When she takes his hands across the table she sees something so horrifying and dark, that she immediately tells Adrian to leave. All she will tell him is that he seems to be out of place somehow. That he is unclear and out of focus. He feels that the dark cloud might be death and when he questions her further, she asks if anyone close to him has died recently. Someone he loves.

That's when Adrian realizes that this dream must have something to do with his girlfriend Kate, yet before he can locate her, he has another dream this time longer than the last one and in it the details become more clear. He meets a man who tells him that time is wasting. You just might be able to save her...if you can remember in time. Now if he can only remember what that is that he is supposed to do.

In the short story series, 7 Hours, Recollection is one written by Tom Pawlik and again we are visited by a man who provides an offer simply too good to be true. This one involves Adrian Colfax who is warned that he needs to be careful trying the change the past. You might not like how the future turns out. This is such an incredible series, I am inhaling each one like desserts. They are rich in detail, suspense and always a twist in the message that probes the reader to wonder if you were at the end of your life, and given a choice, to have an additional 7 hours to your life or to go back and revisit 7 hours of your life, what would you chose? That's just what you discover in this short story from Tom Pawlik, what the choice that Adrian makes affects his life and you'll have to read it to know how it all turns out.

Trust me, it's a great story and one I highly recommend. I give this one a 5 out of 5 stars! These are available as eBooks only right now through your local online retailer. So far, I've read three out of the 7 and am going to read them all. If you love stories like your classic Twilight Zone or Night Galley episodes, you will LOVE these!

For more information about Recollection, Tom Pawlik or where to purchase this wonderful eBook, please click on the links below:

Recollection (7 Hours Series) by Tom Pawlik

You can also follow Tom Pawlik on Facebook to get all the latest information on what he's doing in the literary world.