Savoring the Seasons

One of my favorite settings for a novel is an small, quaint country English village. I guess I found my love for them after watching the movie The Holiday. But I became truly enchanted when I picked up the Chilton Crosse novels and found that love I had been missing. In each novel in the series, the reader gets to know each of the village's residents a bit more that live in Chilton Crosse and with Savoring the Seasons, by Traci Borum, the fourth novel, the reader gets to really know Julia Bentley who runs Rose's Bakery in town. Her ninety year old father does his part by sitting outside the bakery handing out samples to those that pass by, whether tourists or simply someone in town. In fact, the entire town knows how much of his life and love he has poured into the bakery.

The bakery has been open now close to 40 years and with that, the town decides to celebrate all the hard work that the Bentley's have put into their baking. Mrs. Pickering decides the best way to do that is to form small committees to complete the tasks need to pull this off as a surprise of a lifetime and the only thing they will allow Julia to do, is bake a cake. So as the town sets off to complete their assignments, Julia discovers Tristan Hannigan, the new delivery man for supplying the bakeries needs and feels immediately drawn to him. Until he shaves off his beard and she realizes he is more than a decade younger than she is. While she is 40, and he is only 29 going on 30, she wonders if there might be a possibility for them. For now, they agree to be friends, something everyone can do with more of, especially Julia who's life consists of waking up early to begin baking, and taking care of her elderly father.

Just reading about all the tasty treats Julia whips up since discovering an old cookbook left behind with all her mother's notes, makes the reader want to indulge in some as well. Just as it seems things might be looking up in the romance department for Julia, Tristan's mates from the University show up since he refused to attend their reunion and with it, Tristan's old ex who is drop dead beautiful who still seems to have a thing for Tristan. With the retelling of all their old school stories, Julia can't really contribute much except for smiling at this and that, and begins to wonder if the feelings she has for Tristan aren't just hopeful anticipation and perhaps the age difference between them is more than meets the eye.

I received Savoring the Seasons by Traci Borum compliments of Red Adept Publishing. The delightful thing about this novel is the quips of wisdom that opens up each chapter. While it might allude to baking advice it also parallels life advice as well. For example, "Don't take fresh ingredients for granted. Smell them, touch them, turn them over in your hand and really look at them. Appreciate their qualities and what they're about to do for your recipe. Don't get to busy that you forget to savor the small things." And that is just the theme of this novel. Savoring the Seasons in our lives. Too often we are consumed by our daily to do lists that we forget to engage in the people around us and before we know it, life has passed us by. I know if you love novels that take place with a small group of people that love and care for one another, pick up the Chilton Crosse series. For me, this one was well worth all 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Savoring the Seasons, Traci Borum or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Savoring the Seasons by Traci Borum

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Finding the Rainbow

If you have always dreamed of heading off to a charming English village, I invite you to come to Chilton Crosse! Set in the beautiful rolling hills of Cotswold, you are bound to fall in love not only with the English countryside, the quaint shoppes but the amazing people who live here as well. For fans of Traci Borum, Finding The Rainbow is the second novel in the Chilton Crosse series, and for me, it was a welcome site to feel like I am coming home again to this beautiful place and the people I met from Painting the Moon, the first novel in the series.

This time the story continues with Holly Newbury's life if you remember, she became the assistant working at Noelle's art gallery along with Frank. We caught glimpses of her but never knew her story until now. All around her everyone is getting married, from Noelle and Adam to Lizzie and Joe the pub owners and poor Noelle doesn't seem to have any prospects outside of the constant prying from Gertrude, the old spinster she pays visits too. But with raising her 3 sisters and helping her busy father, Holly has her hands full. Since her mother's sudden death, she barely has time for anything, except the constant chores, and badgering from Gertrude. In order to give Gertrude something to consider, Holly starts up a book club at Gertrude's home since she refuses to get out anyway, and they pick Jane Austen's Emma as their first choice, since a local movie company is making the film in town.

She just hopes she can garner enough interest to have people attend, but with Franks help, they put together enough posters to advertise the club. She just wasn't banking on Frank being interested in anything more than a working relationship with her. But since the town is so small, beggars can't be choosers, so she agrees to dinner with Frank, never expecting he might express his interest in her as he walks her home. When she kindly turns him down, she knows it will now lead to an awkward situation at work. Holly soon finds a warm friendship with Fletcher Hays, a lonely American writer working on the film who is simply looking for someone to pass the time with, which is just perfect for Holly. She doesn't need anything more on her already full plate. After all she knows he is returning home once the film is complete so keeping her feelings in check should be easy to do right?

I received Finding the Rainbow by Traci Borum compliments of Red Adept Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. I was absolutely delighted by this charming story and loved coming back to Chilton Crosse. Even Gertrude got to grow on you after awhile and it made me want to re watch Emma after reading this one. I have been so blessed to have read through this series and anticipate so many more from Traci Borum. If you truly love novels set in an English countryside, filled with unexpected surprises and romance when you least expect it, give this one a try! I'd rate it a charming 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion and I have found a perfect home for this collection in my personal library.

For more information about Finding the Rainbow, Traci Borum or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Finding the Rainbow by Traci Borum

You can find Traci Borum on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Painting the Moon

If you are looking for a charming series, set in the idyllic countryside of Cotswold's, filled to the brim with delightful and charming characters, you can't help but love, then look no further than Tracy Borum's Chilton Crosse series. In Painting the Moon, the first novel in the series, we are introduced to the small town of Chilton Crosse, buried in a quaint English village. Noelle Cooke has made the journey to the town after hearing of her late aunt Joy's death. She has 3 days leave from her employer in San Diego to settle the affairs and get back to work.

Among those details are not only getting her Aunt's cottage ready for sale, but sorting through the years of belongings to decide which must stay and what she can donate or ship home. What she doesn't expect to find is a locked door upstairs and no apparent key. Thinking she will tackle that one later, she heads to the gallery her Aunt also owned and finds that it is bordering on bankruptcy unless she can raise enough money to salvage it. It's been quite some time since Noelle has been back and is looking forward to connecting with her childhood friend Jill while she is in town. She just never expected Jill to invite her former crush Adam Spencer who is working nearby on a renovation project in the town nearby.

However she tries to fight her emotions, she knows that Adam is the one man she wishes she could have fallen for many many years ago. Even though for Noelle, the relationships she has attempted to have, have all fallen flat. As the time draws to a close, Noelle realizes that 3 days isn't enough time to settle what she needs to accomplish in England, however when her boss gives her an ultimatum, she immediately considers the implications of staying. Would it be possible to find a job if she stayed? Would there be a future with Adam? Did her Aunt Joy have more in store for her than just what her eyes can see? Only time will tell!

I received Painting the Moon by Traci Borum compliments of Red Adept Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. This is such a heartwarming series and I can't wait to pick up the next one, Finding the Rainbow! The characters you meet in this village are as real as the pages in the books from Mac MacDonald, the local handyman with a strong Scottish accent that always dispenses wisdom along with a sharing a cup of tea to the 90 year old gentlemen outside the bakery passing out samples of his daughters blueberry scones. You might just want to brew a pot of tea, pick up some biscuits or scones and settle down for a evening by the fire for this one. Well worth all 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion.

For more information about Painting the Moon, Traci Borum or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Painting the Moon by Traci Borum 

You can find Traci Borum on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

Seeking the Star

As a book lover, almost any time of the year is exceptional when you find a great novel, but by far for me, Christmas books are my favorite, especially if they contain a great message behind them just perfect as we begin to roll into the holiday season. Traci Borum has written a truly inspirational and heartwarming book, Seeking the Star and one I can honestly highly recommend if you love Christmas books half as much as I do.

Late one winter's night a drifter collapses just outside the door of an elderly couple, George and Mary Cartwright, in the English Cotswold village of Chilton Crosse. They immediately take him in and nurse him back to health, not knowing why he's been out in the weather or what his story is. They fell that when he is ready he will open up, and for now set about making him feel welcome. They invite him to stay through the holidays as a winter storm approaches and soon learn that Ben has a past that he isn't ready to share just yet. He finds solace in working among the people in Chilton Crosse as a way of staying busy enough until it is time to move on, a journey of no destination and one he wishes he could find a sense of peace with.

As the days move forward, Ben soon begins to make small changes, first shaving his overgrown beard, then his hair and finds a confident in Mac MacDonald, a man of many talents. Ben begins to let down his guard with Mac and is able to share a few things with him while the two working on the nativity set for the town. He is that wise old sage that offers advice without needing to know the full story and can see that Ben is still working something out from his past.

As more time unfolds, Mary is able to get Ben to open up more as George shares the story of the death of their son Sheldon and how they are able to find peace without him being with them any longer. Mary tries to talk to Ben about God, but Ben has simply given up on the God he used to know. She explains that only through her faith in God have they found that peace to keep going in spite of their difficulties, but she knows she can't push him to reveal what he is trying so hard to forget. The only clue is a silver angel that Ben keeps close to him at all times.

I received Seeking the Star by Traci Borum compliments of Red Adept Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation aside from a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I can't imagine dealing with the things that Mary and Ben have had to face and still hold onto their faith, but I also know that without it, you are truly locked in a prison of your own making. My only hope after finishing this book is that Traci will create a sequel to tell us what the outcome of Ben's life will be. If not, I guess we can all dream up our own outcome to what happens next, but I believe that is what all readers want when they read such an exceptional and heartwarming story like this one. I've truly been blessed to read this one and now it's my turn to share it with you in hopes you'll pick this one up and add it to your Christmas collection. It has now found a permanent home in mine and thus a 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion. This is the third book in the Chilton Crosse series.

For more information about Seeking the Star, Traci Borum or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Seeking the Star by Traci Borum 

You can find Traci Borum on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest books.

You can pick up a copy of this book at Amazon in paperback or for your Kindle.