What will happen at: A Lakeside Reunion by C Chilove

This book appears to be the first in a series. I am glad because I would be happy to see this book’s characters again.

A Lakeside Reunion has so many elements that readers of women’s fiction will enjoy. There is an appealing Southern U.S. setting, a wide cast of engaging characters and enough romance and plot to satisfy.

Here is what Goodreads says about this one.

Chareese “Reese” Devlin spent every summer of her childhood in the lake town of Mount Dora, Florida, where her days were filled with fun in the sun. Reese never realized that the idyllic haven hid a deep divide between the town’s haves and have-nots. Not until the summer she turned seventeen and fell for Duncan McNeal, a boy who lacked the pedigree so valued by her parents and their equally well-connected friends. After her family squashed the budding romance, Reese refused to return to the place she lost her heart. Now, ten years later, she’s back to attend her sister’s debutante ball and must come to terms with all she’s missed. But the biggest surprise of all is that Duncan is now a successful real estate developer in Mount Dora—and time hasn’t weakened the connection between them. Behind the multimillion-dollar homes of the Shores lay old grudges and secrets capable of collapsing any family legacy. As the summer progresses, Reese must fix the sins of the past by facing the lines between truth and deception, tradition and breaking free, and family expectations and self-discovery.

This could easily be added to a summer reading list.

Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 April 2023

Now out: Feminist Prayers for my Daughter

In these pages are musings and prayers that uniquely reflect the lives of girls and women, mothers and daughters. Some of the topic headings include Relationships, Spirituality, Wholeness, Justice and Milestones, among others. Each of these topics receives about ten prayers; for example for supportive female friendships or for body acceptance, or for vocational choice. A couple of sample quotes: “When she is tempted to limit what she eats, remind her that her body is worthy of nourishment” or “May my daughter have a vision of the woman she is to become, and may no one convince her it is not enough.”

Dip in and out of this title. Readers will find something to think about in these pages.

Many thanks to Baker Academic and Brazos Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

Prayers that Resonate with the Feminine Experience
Kaitlin Curtice Endorsement
Hillary L. McBride Endorsement
Shannon K. Evans Bio
Rewilding Motherhood
Sacred Belonging

Experience: Joy by Mike Bond

The very first poem in this collection captured my heart. “Burgundy” felt wise and profound. This was true for many of the works in this collection. Who wouldn’t love the words “To see your face across a room delights my heart…To hold your hand heats my soul with love.” Some are sadder, as for example, the poem titled Gray Clouds.

What all of the poems in this collection share is their approachability (maybe not a real word but the concept I want). These are works that one may contemplate but that can be understood. I will be dipping in and out of this book for a while.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Big City Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in November 2022.

What would happen: If Wishes Were Fishes

A Celebration of Animal Group Names

by Anne L. Watson

#IfWishesWereFishes #NetGalley

This short, brightly illustrated title informs kids of the names for groupings of animals, for example, a pride of lions. There is whimsy here with some rhyming and appealing illustrations. A cute story for sharing with a young child.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Skyhood Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 April 2023