Blue Stars by Emily Gray Tedrowe

• Title:  Blue Stars
• Author:  Emily Gray Tedrowe
• Genre:  Women’s Fiction
• Pages:  352
• Published:  March 2016 – St. Martin’s Griffin
• Source:  Publisher

My take:  Blue Stars is the story of two women, Ellen and Lacey, who never would have met if Ellen’s adopted son and Lacey’s husband hadn’t gone to war in Iraq in 2005. Two very different women and yet they find a bond when they become the primary advocates for their loved ones. They learn new perspective and discover strength they didn’t know they possessed.

Loosely based on the housing scandal at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Tedrowe’s novel drew me in – something I wasn’t expecting to happen. Ellen, a university professor from Wisconsin, never dreamed she would have a child who enlisted. She was more inclined to protest wars, not write letters to a son serving in one. Lacey, who lives in the Bronx, is a tough nut. She has a young son, works when she can get hours, and her marriage has turned cold. It’s almost a relief when her husband deploys. A few months after deployment life changes for everyone.

Blue Stars wasn’t an easy novel to read and yet Tedrowe kept me turning the pages. I imagine anyone who has had a loved one go to war would relate to it on a few levels. I was invested in Ellen and Lacey’s story and was pleased with where it went and how the author chose to end it. I think it would be a good book club selection.

Once a Rancher by Linda Lael Miller

• Title:  Once a Rancher
• Author:  Linda Lael Miller
• Series:  The Carsons of Mustang Creek, #1
• Pages:  320
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  March 2016 – HQN
• Source:  Publisher/NetGalley

Synopsis:  The Carsons of Mustang Creek: three men who embody the West and define what it means to be a rancher, a cowboy and a hero in this brand-new series from the queen of Western romance.

Slater Carson might be a businessman by trade, but he’s a cowboy at heart—and he knows the value of a hard day’s work under the hot Wyoming sun. So when he sees troubled teen Ryder heading down a dangerous path, he offers the boy a job on the ranch he shares with his two younger brothers. And since Ryder’s temporary guardian is the gorgeous new resort manager, Grace Emery, Slater figures it can’t hurt to keep a closer eye on her as well…

Grace Emery doesn’t have time for romance. Between settling in to her new job and caring for her ex-husband’s rebellious son, her attraction to larger-than-life Slater is a distraction she can’t afford. But when the past catches up to her in Mustang Creek, she’ll discover just how far Slater will go to protect what matters most—and that love is always worth fighting for. (publisher)

My take:  Linda Lael Miller builds on her Bliss County series with her newest book Once a Rancher – book 1 of The Carsons of Mustang Creek series. It was fun to see characters from the four previous books as they made brief appearances. That said, you don’t have to have read the previous books to enjoy Once a Rancher.

The new series involves the Carson family of three brothers. This book is about Slater Carson, a documentary film producer and Grace Emery, manager of a high-end hotel and spa in the area.

Slater is between projects and is looking forward to a few days of R&R at the ranch. That plan  gets tossed when Grace and her step-son Ryder arrive at his door. Their story takes off from there. It’s what you’d expect from LLM and I enjoyed it all. I liked that there was a bit of a mystery to be solved that grew more and more sinister as the book progressed. I loved the setting – both the hotel and the ranch.

Of course, all’s well that ends well – and this book did. I look forward to the next book in the trilogy. Recommended to fans of the author and contemporary and western romance.

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The daughter of a town marshal, Linda Lael Miller is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than one hundred historical and contemporary novels, most of which reflect her love of the West. Raised in Northport, Washington, the self-confessed barn goddess now lives in Spokane, Washington. Linda hit a career high in 2011 when all three of her Creed Cowboys books—A Creed in Stone Creek, Creed’s Honor and The Creed Legacy—debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Linda has come a long way since leaving Washington to experience the world. “But growing up in that time and place has served me well,” she allows. “And I’m happy to be back home.” Dedicated to helping others, Linda personally finances her “Linda Lael Miller Scholarships for Women,” which she awards to those seeking to improve their lot in life through education.

More information about Linda and her novels is available at http://www.lindalaelmiller.com. She also loves to hear from readers by mail at P.O. Box 19461, Spokane, WA 99219.

Sunday Post

Book arrivals: (linked to Mailbox Monday)

      

• Change of Scene by Mary Kay Andrews  (St. Martin’s Press/NetGalley)
• Looking Back by Joyce Maynard (purchased)
• The Girl From Home by Adam Mitzner (Gallery Books/FSB Associates)
• Family Tree by Susan Wiggs  (William Morrow Paperbacks/Edelweiss)

Last week on Bookfan:

• Review:  Home on Apple Blossom Road by Sheila Roberts
• Review:  Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
• Giveaway (US/CA):  Sister Dear by Laura McNeill

      

Reading plan for this week:

  

Giveaway (US/CA): Sister Dear by Laura McNeill

I’m excited to tell you about a giveaway of SISTER DEAR by Laura McNeill. You can check out Goodreads for more information about this novel.

Social Media for author Laura McNeill:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraMcNeillBks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauramcneillauthor/

Click the link for a Rafflecopter giveaway of three copies of SISTER DEAR.

Good luck!

Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

• Title:  Summer At Little Beach Street Bakery
• Author:  Jenny Colgan
• Series:  Little Beach Street Bakery #2
• Pages:  416
• Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
• Published:  March 2016 – William Morrow Paperbacks
• Source:  Publisher via LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Description:  A thriving bakery. A lighthouse to call home. A handsome beekeeper. A pet puffin. These are the things that Polly Waterford can call her own. This is the beautiful life she leads on a tiny island off the southern coast of England.

But clouds are gathering on the horizon. A stranger threatens to ruin Polly’s business. Her beloved boyfriend seems to be leading a secret life. And the arrival of a newcomer—a bereft widow desperately searching for a fresh start—forces Polly to reconsider the choices she’s made, even as she tries to help her new friend through grief.

Unpredictable and unforgettable, this delightful novel will make you laugh, cry, and long for a lighthouse of your own. Recipes included.  (publisher)

My take:  Jenny Colgan takes readers back to Mount Polbearne. I loved seeing what was new in the lives of Polly, Huckle and all the rest. We meet a few new characters and yes, Neil the puffin is back.

Colgan’s novel lived up to my expectations. There’s love, loss, humor and drama in the lives of the residents of the tiny seaside village in Cornwall we first visited in Little Beach Street Bakery. It was great to visit and my hope is that we might someday meet up again.

Even though Colgan provides a brief catch-up of the first book I highly recommend reading it before this book because I enjoyed it so much. Fans of small town settings and characters will find a lot to love in these books.

Home on Apple Blossom Road by Sheila Roberts

• Title:  Home on Apple Blossom Road
• Series:  Life in Icicle Falls #9
• Author:  Sheila Roberts
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Pages:  384
• Published:  March 22, 2016 – Mira
• Source:  Publisher/NetGalley

Description:  Home is where the love is… 

Colin Wright and Mia Blair grew up in Icicle Falls, but they left years ago—and not on good terms. Now Colin’s grandmother, Justine, has died, and they’ve come home to honor this woman they both loved. That’s when they get some unexpected news. They’re about to inherit something. Jointly. They just have no idea what. It turns out that Justine’s designed a treasure hunt for them, like the ones they enjoyed when they were kids and best friends. 

But they’re not kids anymore, and they sure aren’t best friends. As for that young love they once shared? Well…it’s complicated.  

On the trail of Justine’s treasure, they follow a series of clues that take them down memory lane—ending up at the orchard on Apple Blossom Road. What will they find there? And what did Justine know that they didn’t?  (publisher)

My take:  Home on Apple Blossom Road is a sweet story about two people finding their way back home. They didn’t intend to take this journey but Grandma Justine had a plan that they had to finally pay attention to. She’d tried to tell them when she was still alive but to no avail. Now they’d have to listen to her – via her treasure hunt – and just maybe her plan would work.

Sheila Roberts’ characters are never perfect so I find them relatable on a few different levels. I could understand Mia and Colin’s reluctance to try make things the way they used to be. Colin is involved with a beautiful young woman and Mia just received a promotion at work. This is not a good time to resurrect the past. Hmm, is it possible Justine misjudged these two?

I enjoyed this installment to the Life in Icicle Falls series. It’s filled with character cameos from previous books making it that much more fun to read. That said, don’t worry if you haven’t read other books in the series. You won’t be lost. I thought this novel was one of the best of the series. Recommended to fans of the author and small town contemporary romance.

Sunday Post

Book arrivals:  (linked to Mailbox Monday)

An empty mailbox so I’ll enjoy a catch up week.

Last week on Bookfan:

Except for vacation weeks I can’t remember the last time I went a week with no posts. I’ve been reading though so reviews will start appearing this week 🙂

Reading plan for this week:

  

Sunday Post

Book arrivals: (linked to Mailbox Monday)

    

    

• Discovering You by Brenda Novak  (MIRA; NetGalley)
• Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley  (NAL)
• Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye  (Putnam)
• Crushed by Deborah Coonts  (purchased)
• The Park of Sunset Dreams by Ava Miles  (purchased)
• Blue Stars by Emily Gray Tedrowe  (St. Martin’s Griffin)

Last week on Bookfan:

• Review: The House on Primrose Pond

Reading plan for this week:

  

The House on Primrose Pond by Yona Zeldis McDonough

• Title:  The House on Primrose Pond
• Author:  Yona Zeldis McDonough
• Genre:  Women’s Fiction
• Pages:  400
• Published:  February 2016 – NAL Accent
• Source:  Publisher

Synopsis:  After suffering a sudden, traumatic loss, historical novelist Susannah Gilmore decides to uproot her life—and the lives of her two children—and leave their beloved Brooklyn for the little town of Eastwood, New Hampshire. 
 
While the trio adjusts to their new surroundings, Susannah is captivated by an unexpected find in her late parents’ home: an unsigned love note addressed to her mother, in handwriting that is most definitely not her father’s.
 
Reeling from the thought that she never really knew her mother, Susannah finds mysteries everywhere she looks: in her daughter’s friendship with an older neighbor, in a charismatic local man to whom she’s powerfully drawn, and in an eighteenth century crime she’s researching for her next book. Compelled to dig into her mother’s past, Susannah discovers even more secrets, ones that surpass any fiction she could ever put to paper… (back of the book)

My take:  Susannah and her two children move to New Hampshire from Brooklyn a year after the death of her husband. They move into her family cottage on Primrose Pond and start a new chapter in their lives. While adjusting to her new circumstances Susannah makes a few discoveries that make her question all she knew to be true. There are issues of guilt and anger concerning her husband’s death and the fallout experienced by Susannah’s daughter and son. Family dynamics are certainly at the forefront in this novel.

Susannah, a historical fiction author, starts to work on a new book. It’s different from anything she’s written before. The research takes her on a journey that will, in some minor ways, affect how she looks at events in her life and bring her to a place of acceptance and, quite possibly, forgiveness. I’m a fan of historical fiction so I enjoyed the passages of the book Susannah was writing.

All in all, the novel held my interest. I liked most of the characters and wasn’t ready to let them go as I turned the last page.  Included at the end are a conversation with the author and discussion questions.