The Secret to Happiness

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Series: Cape Cod Creamery #2

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: May 2, 2023

Return to Cape Cod for another great story!

Callie is at the top of her career, until one mistake brings it all down crashing around her. Needing a place to hide out and determine what is next in her life, Callie flees to Cape Cod to visit her favorite aunt. But her cousin Dawn is not thrilled to see her. There has been some tension in the past that left Dawn feeling second best to Callie. But even Dawn can see that Callie is struggling with depression. To get her out of this, Dawn drags Callie to a local community college class about finding happiness. While skeptical at first, Callie discovers this class, and its instructor, might be just what she needs.

I was so happy to return to the Cape Cod Creamery for another lighthearted feel-good story. This one focuses on Dawn’s cousin Callie and her current distress. Fisher does such a great job of introducing characters who just fold right into your lap and make you want to be their friend. Callie was one of those characters who you felt for right away and just wanted to see her happy again. I also loved meeting new characters as well as visiting some recurring characters from the first book. Such a great read to start off the summer reading season!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Windswept Way

Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Hope Harbor #9

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 4, 2023

Another edition to the fantastic Hope Harbor series that will easily sweep readers away into the magic Hannon has created!

Ashley Scott has experienced some difficulties in life recently and decides buying a haunted house in Hope Harbor might be her next step in life. Her new neighbor is Jonathan Gray, a wounded warrior that likes to keep to himself until she must ask for his help. It doesn’t take long for Jonathan to develop feelings for his new neighbor despite his best efforts. This historic town is in for a battle as its newest arrival stirs things up in the hearts of all.

The Hope Harbor series is a fan favorite for a reason, so much to love about this cute little town and those that reside within. Nine books into this series and it is still one that I look forward to picking up and losing myself in this little beach town. Each book has a new set of main characters but also gives us a continuing look at returning characters such as Charlie, he may be the best character in the whole series. His little wise tidbits at his fish taco stand are the best nuggets in each book. Ashley and Jonathan were a good pair of main characters that had a good chemistry and way of moving the story forward. Faith is always a big element in this series and helps the characters through their difficult situations, readers will be able to pull something no matter what they are going through. I always appreciate Irene Hannon’s way of crafting characters and situations that the readers can relate with. This is a great book for those that love contemporary romance and have been following this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Second Time Around

Author: Melody Carlson

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 7, 2023

A fun quick romance that readers will greatly enjoy!

Mallory Farrell inherits her grandmother’s tourist shop in Seaport, Oregon; however, she doesn’t want to spend the time and energy it would take to get the shop back up and running. That is, until her old crush shows up wanting to add the store to make a cookie cutter outdoor mall. Mallory now has the determination to make the shop what it can be. She catches the eye of a renovation TV producer who wants to feature her shop and the apartment above she has been living in. The apartment is much worse than the shop and Mallory is ashamed, causing her to almost pull out of the show all in trying to keep Grayson at arm’s length.

Melody Carlson is a great contemporary romance author that has a way of transporting readers to a faraway place in her stories. One thing I have come to love about her writing is the way the main characters interact; it is dynamic and fun and with the perfect amount of romance at all the right times. Whenever I pick up a book by Carlson, I know I am going to have a quick and enjoyable read. These are the types of books that when I pick them up, I don’t have to think too much or worry about the story.

In the way that Grayson wanted to turn Mallory’s shop into a cookie cutter shopping mall, this book is somewhat of the same thing. For me at least, contemporary romance novels are very much cookie cutter books. That’s not a bad thing as much if you are just looking for a quick read that doesn’t require much thinking. They are still entertaining, but readers don’t have to worry about a deep story. And in the world that we live in that can be great sometimes.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

What Happens Next

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: January 17, 2023

A little different that what I’ve come to expect from Nelson, but I like it!

Recently divorced Faith Byrne has taken her past career as an investigative reporter and shifted to performing a podcast that focus on redemptive stories of people who have experience traumatic events. When her ex-husband gets permission to take their two daughters to Hawaii for the entire summer, Faith isn’t sure what to do with herself until she receives an unexpected letter from one of her childhood friend’s sister. Faith had always wondered what she had done for her summer of 1987 friend to never respond to her letters, but she finds out that she went missing after school started that year, but her family never told her. Heather’s sister, Brooke, solicits Faith’s help on her podcast to bring her missing sister’s story to light so that her family might finally find closure. But as Faith digs into the story, what she finds is anything that she expected.

I love Christina Suzann Nelson’s contemporary stories and look forward to her newest book every year. This one was a little different than anything she has written in the past, but I loved it! It was interesting to see how everything played out and if the reader could follow the clues to discover the truth before Faith did. Nelson did a great job of balancing mystery and intrigue with hope and healing for Heather’s family. Showing how grief support groups can help families heal and not store grief for years is something that needs to be shown more throughout our society. If you love a good mystery, this will be a good story for you to pick up on!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Everything is Just Beginning

Author: Erin Bartels

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 17, 2023

Bartels delivers yet another unparalleled story about friendship, conflict, and healing.

On New Years Eve of 1989, the world is changing and possibilities seem endless. But for Michael Sullivan, its just another reminder of how his life is turning out. After being kicked out of his band and apartment, he ends up sharing a room in his uncle’s trailer across the road from a sprawling mansion of a talented music artist and producer. His uncle shares his name and goes by Mike, so when Michael stumbles on an invitation to a New Year’s Eve party at the mansion and his uncle on an extended road trip in Vegas, Michael decides to test fate and go see how the other half lives. While at the party, he meets Natalie, daughter to the music legends who live in the mansion. Through this chance encounter, he learns more about music, more about this family, and more about himself than he could ever bargain for.

I love that Erin Bartels usually releases her novels around the start of the year because she sets the bar for what I expect of the year! Each book is so different from the rest that you can’t help but be pulled into each new story. Michael and Natalie’s story is just so good that you’ll want to read it again and again. Set in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan in 1990 brings back so many memories of life and music during that time, I just loved it.

As with most of her novels, the emotion is raw and laid out bare for all readers to see. It deals with some heavy things that people deal with today, not just 30 years ago. It is so easy to connect with her characters and have them draw you into their story so that you feel more like a participant than an outsider. This will easily be one of my favorite books of 2023!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Her Heart’s Desire

Author: Shelley Shepard Gray

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: January 3, 2023

What a fun story to kick off the New Year!

Mary Margaret Miller has always had trouble connecting with people, especially in her small Amish community. So, she decides that she needs to get away and selects a bed in breakfast in Pinecraft, Florida, which will be much more pleasant than her snowy Ohio home. On the bus ride, she meets two other girls that she begins to connect with. When bad weather delays the trip in Georgia, they share a motel room, and their friendship deepens as they even stay at the same bed and breakfast in Pinecraft. While there, they encounter two Amish men and a romance ensues, but appearances do always hold the truth as Mary Margaret will soon discover.

Amish fiction is not my usual go to genre, but this one was a good read. With chance encounters and romance, it took the edge off some cold weather while I read (especially being set in Florida). While an enjoyable read, it also featured some valuable lessons concerning forgiveness, especially when it is difficult to do so after you’ve been hurt.

I recommend this book to people who like Amish fiction, contemporary romance, and an overall good story.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

2022 Top Contemporary Fiction

We hope that everyone had a great Christmas and were gifted all the new books you wanted! If you still hunger for more, check out our top picks for Contemporary Fiction!

Top Pick: The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

The Extraordinary Death of Mrs. Kip is just that, an extraordinary book, especially when you realize this is a debut book. Sara Brunsvold has written a delightful new story that is going to be in the running for one of my favorite books of the year. This book hit me in all the right places and even had me wiping away a tear or two towards the end, not something that happens often when reading.

Read the full review here.

Order your copy today!

Runner Up: No More Lies by Kerry Lonsdale

If you enjoyed No More Words, then you will love this book even more. I was initially expecting a continuation, but this is a retelling of the same time period from Jenna and Josh’s perspective. So, readers know the elements of what happened to Lily, but now get to read about it firsthand and understand how the characters became who they are today. Needless to say, Lonsdale placed plenty of intrigue throughout the pages to keep her readers hooked through the full story. There are references to events in the first book that readers may need to go back and enjoy again to get the full effect.

Read the full review here.

Order your copy today!

Honorable Mention: The Local by Joey Hartstone

As a fellow Texan, I have friends who are patent lawyers in Marshall, so it was fun to pick their brain while I read this story to get an idea of what goes on. The book centers more on the criminal case of the murdered judge instead of patent law, which probably makes the book move faster and get readers more engaged. Hartstone did a great job of setting up the scene quickly and bringing characters in to connect with readers.

Read the full review here.

Order your copy today!

Honorable Mention: Among the Innocent by Mary Alford

Normally a book on Amish fiction would not be one I eagerly pick up to read, but I’m happy to say Among the Innocent was so much better than I expected. Mary Alford crafted a story set within the Amish community that was engaging, suspenseful, delightful, and more.

Read the full review here.

Order your copy today!

Honorable Mention: Shaped by the Waves by Christina Suzann Nelson

Christina Suzann Nelson always manages to craft characters who are hurting, yet strong willed, and make them become a reader’s best friend while trying to help them work out their problems. I have been a fan of many of her books and this is an excellent addition to the collection. The main character within the pages is my favorite character from any book this year!

Read the full review here.

Order your copy today!

Pretty Little Pieces

Author: Carmen Schober

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: December 6, 2022

Carmon Schober follows up her debut novel with another great contemporary read that fans of HGTV will fall in love with!

Georgina Havoc and her boyfriend Lance Broussard are the newest up and comers following in the footsteps of Chip and Joanna Gaines. But when their fairytale romance falls apart, Georgina comes up with the idea of reinventing herself and creating her own show by renovating a cottage in a tiny town on the outskirts of Tennessee. Having been billed as a package deal, Georgina now must prove that she has enough to offer the network without their star, Lance. The town and trying to get her show in order are stressful enough, but when her sister comes to town, things get even tougher. To top it off, she finds herself around Cassidy Stokes, an ex-sniper that quickly develops feelings for Georgina. While trying to pick up the pieces of her life, she must decide if she is going to stick with what she knows or trying something new.

Carmen Schober blew me away last year with her debut novel, After She Falls. I was excited to read her next book, Pretty Little Pieces. The hard thing is when an author writes such an amazing book it becomes difficult to follow it up with something as wonderful. Pretty Little Pieces was a good read but falls in a completely different genre than what I was expecting. The story of Georgina and all that she went through while Lance decided he needed time is well played out, it is written where it is very easy to dislike Lance and cheer for Georgina to come out on top. Schober has a way of writing characters with such depth that readers will be pulled in deep and not be able to look away until the story is over. Georgina and Cassidy had a great connection and I loved the way they are written. Georgina has gone through a lot in a very short amount of time and as a reader I felt for her deeply and that is the mark of a great author. I recommend this book to readers that love contemporary romance novels.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

All My Rage

Author: Sabaa Tahir

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: March 1, 2022

A contemporary story that will pull at your heartstrings and climb deep into your soul long after you have finished the very last page.

Starting out in Pakistan, Misbah has just married Toufiq in a pre-arranged marriage and they quickly leave the country they have always been in to move to America and open a motel. Jump ahead many years to the present with Sslahudin, the son of Misbah and Toufiq, is trying to navigate the world he is growing up in and the ever-changing relationship with his best friend Noor. They are both outcasts at school and try to restore their relationship after a huge fight. When Misbah falls ill, Sal tries to run the family business as his father drinks away his grief. Noor works for her uncle who owns a liquor store and wants nothing more than to get away, so she applies to college to hopefully leave him and the town that means so little to her. Sal and Noor must figure out what they mean to each other and if what they have is worth fighting for.

This is not the normal novel written by Tahir as this is very different but in a very good way. In All My Rage, readers get to see characters that grow in such a drastic way you can’t help but feel for them and all they go through. I thought it was very helpful that the front of the book contained trigger warnings for those reading it to be aware of some of the content. Even though this book is in the Young Adult category, I think that label can be misleading at times. I wouldn’t consider this great for young teens but older teens and those in their early twenty’s would probably really enjoy this one.

I enjoyed the way the story played out and the characters; I loved many of them and the ones I couldn’t stand were okay because I wasn’t supposed to like them. Being able to write characters in this way shows just how amazing Sabaa Tahir is as an author. Her first series is nothing like this and goes in a completely different direction, which shows she has great range.

I would recommend this book to those that enjoy seeing characters go through very difficult circumstances but work hard to overcome them and grow with the story.

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch

Author: Julia Brewer Daily

Publisher: Admission Press, Inc.

Release Date: November 1, 2022

Unique story set amongst scenic South Texas.

Emma Rosales is the heir to her family’s ranch, The Thorn. As owners of the largest ranch in Texas, each generation of Rosales produce only one child, a daughter who inherits and runs the ranch. For five generations this pattern has continued, and Emma is next in line, but not sure she wants the life set out for her. While obtaining her veterinarian’s degree at Texas A&M University, Emma begins to wonder what it would be like to settle down in a small town with her own vet practice, but she still returns home after graduation. One day while riding out on the ranch, her favorite horse breaks his leg, and she must put him down and walk back to the ranch house. But what she discovers along the way will not only prevent her return home but change everything she knew about the ranch she has spent her life on.

This book turned into nothing that I expected. I was intrigued by the setting of Southwest Texas, which is near the area I live and have traveled through much of it, so I always enjoy books set close to home. I’m not sure what I thought I would get into, but this was very different than what I thought it would be. That said, I still enjoyed the story of Emma and how she went from heir apparent to captive amongst an almost primitive tribe. The story was written very well and believable given the different story lines between Emma and her mother Josie. I also enjoyed the switchover to Kai when Emma become sick and turned into a shell of herself. The ending, while partly sad due to what is implied by Kai working on the ranch, was still an overly happy ending with two people that seemed destined to be together.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.