Tea with Elephants

Tea with Elephants: A Suitcase Sisters Novel, Softcover, #1
By Robin Jones Gunn / Revell

Just when I thought tea with honey was the cat’s meow, now here comes Tea with Elephants to catapult to the top spot. Of course one is a beverage and the other is a new release from Robin Jones Gunn, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison. But reading this book will yield the same comfy and cozy benefits. Guaranteed! I can only list superlatives to describe this book. I chose to read Tea with Elephants due to the African setting. Robin Jones Gunn expertly describes the savannah and the African animal life. She offers a realistic safari ride-along complete with sensible cautions for lion spotting and one predator/prey sighting. I immediately drew close to the main characters she named the “Suitcase Sisters”. The two women met decades ago while serving as counselors at a Christian conference center in Costa Rica. Now all grown up, the duo celebrates their long-term, long-distance friendship by reuniting for an African adventure.

Each woman has faced recent challenges. Fern experiences a life-altering set back when she is let go from her dream job just prior to embarking on her trip. Her marriage to a wonderful man with a teenage adoptive son was at first a rocky road. Eventually their family life smoothed out and this blended family landed in a good place. Lily fears she is losing her zeal for love and life after decades of marriage and child rearing. The two friends face these challenges head on. When the time is right, a good heart to heart talk helps both ladies see a brighter future.

I love that each chapter begins with an African proverb, Bible verse, or literary quote. Each one is worthy of printing on the tags attached to tea bags. The Christian message was explicit from beginning to end. I noticed Tea with Elephants is book one in a series featuring the “Suitcase Sisters”. I look forward to reading book 2 when it releases in January 2025. I recommend these books to readers who enjoy a well written contemporary fiction story with characters who wrestle with real-life problems and rely on their faith to stay strong. I received a complimentary paperback copy from the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review. #TeaWithElephants and #RevellFiction!

Meddling with Mistletoe

Meddling with Mistletoe: A Red Door Inn Christmas Romance, Softcover
By Liz Johnson / Revell

Liz Johnson’s newest book is a joy to read. I chose this book to review because she is one of my favorite authors. Meddling with Mistletoe earns high marks for its setting, delightful plot, and characters you will grow to love. It’s a multigenerational story brimming with Christmas cheer and a bounty of plot twists and turns. The romance that blooms between our two main characters, Whitney and Daniel, is equal parts fun and serious. We see them share a stroll through a holiday light display and feel their sense of awe and joy. They grow closer while selling Whitney’s delicious homemade pies at a local farmers’ market. At the mid-point their growing bond is disrupted by a backstory that threatens to tear them apart. All ends well, just in time for Christmas.

Aretha Franklin Sloan is Daniel’s meddling aunt. It’s easy to walk in her shoes and understand why she’s working so hard to micromanage Daniel’s love life. The story resembles real life when despite her best efforts, her plans go awry.

If you’re looking to pick up a genuine and satisfying romance novel with the expectation of enjoying a respite from crazy schedules then this book is for you. I read a print copy supplied by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple

Clever is the one word I would use to describe this book. I appreciated both the literal story and the figurative one. The author showed a high level of skill and successfully wove all story elements together into a satisfying read. The religious theme was ever present, but never heavy handed.

The antagonist Josiah Fairchild is a believable and active accuser. In this story, he is the “father of lies”. Should the novel ever become a screenplay, he would be the personification of the Bible’s devil.

Naturally the main character’s friend and companion would be named “Peter”. No other name would fit his steadfast presence in Lily Temple’s life. He was her rock and literally an ambassador for Christ.

The cases Lily Temple and Peter Driscoll teamed up to solve added to the overall story. One allowed us to meet characters who showed unconditional love towards one another. The case of the lost girl who eventually was reunited with her father was a picture of restoration that warmed the heart.

I loved the setting of the story. The character’s dialogue and their movements about the English seaside towns of Brighton and Hove and St. Anne’s Well Gardens was captivating.

I would recommend this book to my book buddies. My copy of the print book fell on hard times when it suffered a fatal accident with my cat. I was only one third of the way through so naturally I purchased an electronic copy. Now as I look back on my highlights I’m reminded again of the wonderful word choice employed by the author. I’m impressed by the plot’s sophistication and the layers of storytelling.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review. When my print book disintegrated, I purchased the ebook immediately. I had to know how the story ended. The conclusion was consistent with my expectations. The characters found a sense of peace, an emotion many of us are currently seeking. They walked a long steady journey back to the garden and restored a personal relationship with the Father who is full of love, grace, and mercy and always ready to draw us near.

On Moonberry Lake

On Moonberry Lake
By Holly Varni / Revell

We’ve all seen those signs, “Life is Better at the Lake!”. Holly Varni’s novel proves the truth in this statement. Her novel On Moonberry Lake is chock-full of characters to love and plots you fall for hook, line, and sinker. From beginning to end, readers are treated to equal parts of heartwarming sentiment and comedy.

The book opens with a spotlight on broken relationships experienced by the main character Cora Matthews. She attends her mom’s funeral and can only think about how the words, distant and estranged, perfectly describe their relationship. Two weeks before the funeral, she cancels her wedding plans and breaks her engagement. When she makes the trip back to her childhood hometown she feels the weight of being alone and untethered to anyone and any place. She never dreamed she would be back at Moonberry Lake where she spent carefree days living in her grandparents’ lakeside lodge. A lodge she and her mother left decades ago due to a family dispute that remained unanswered all the years they lived away. Cora learns at the funeral that she has inherited the lodge. It’s a structure that suffers from neglect, but can be a temporary home for Cora while she starts to find a new path forward.

Cora indeed finds a full life lakeside made up of quirky but loyal new friends. She and two other characters work hard to repair the lodge and bring it back to life. The characters, Cora meets while carrying out her daily tasks can only be described as one-of-a-kind. Trust me when I say, you’ll be hard pressed to pick a favorite. From the bossy checkout clerk at the local store to the math genius who suffers from agoraphobia, each one is revealed to be a beautiful soul. There’s romance in the story too and what a love story it is. Finally Cora is able to invest in someone and build connections with her new community. She is naturally apprehensive but she listens to the wise counsel of her new neighbor Kitty when she says, “Happiness is yours for the taking. Sometimes you just have to do things scared and see how they work out.”

On Moonberry Lake is pure book joy. Pick up a copy and enjoy this delightful story. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review. #OnMoonberryLake!

He should have told the bees

He Should Have Told the Bees: A Novel
By Amanda Cox / Revell

Amanda Cox is a gifted writer who shines a light on characters struggling with mental health issues. She handles these difficult subjects with empathy. I had read her first book, The Edge of Belonging and loved it so much I gave it away immediately and recommended it to others. When I read about this new release I knew I had to read it. It’s a heart-warming story that mirrors the social problems prevalent in our communities. The issues of substance abuse, insecure housing, and people suffering from crippling anxiety are driving factors in the story.

While these issues are real and heavy, the two main characters emerge through their family struggles victorious. I haven’t given the book away yet, because I’m interested in keeping it in my personal library. In addition to an engaging plot, it is written beautifully with smart, concise prose. The secondary characters offer so much to the story. I loved all the dialogue shared between one main character and her counselor. The two male characters who develop into romantic interests for our two main female characters are sincere and prove themselves to be trustworthy. The thoughts the men shared always moved the story ahead in a positive direction.

I am a beekeeper with six years of experience. I appreciated the accuracy in this novel. The apiary and farm setting added great appeal to the story.

I highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Everything is Just Beginning

Erin Bartels’ Newest Release is Extraordinary!

Wonderful novel. Fun to read with characters to love. Their movement through such a unique and specialized setting makes this book an enjoyable reading experience. Musicians take center stage in this book and the year is 1990. The main characters are musicians who care about lyrics and original melodies. Natalie and Mike combine to create a new sound and are eager to share their music with a larger audience. Between the pages, readers get a glimpse of what it’s like to have a passion for music and the hurdles that must be overcome once a performance date is set. The song lyrics included in the book read like top-shelf poetry.

The plot is enriched by more than one down-on-their-luck character who just can’t seem to get ahead. Once their back story is revealed, you can’t stay angry with the consequences of their poor choices.

Erin Bartels’ plot is multi-layered. The book is beautifully crafted both in word and graphic design. The music theme is pervasive. No chapters here, only tracks. Two sides, A and B make the complete book. QR codes at the end send readers to digital destinations where the music is performed by the author and her musical duo partner.

I’ve read four out of five novels written by Erin Bartels. I have found them all thought provoking and engaging. I’ve given all my copies away for friends to enjoy, but truthfully now I wish I had kept them for my personal library. Each one is a novel of distinction.